Life Eaters - S/T (Killing Horse Records)

On Life Eaters impressive debut. The Jersey based five piece take the bull by the horns with hard rock bombast and punk rock intensity. The bands personnel, which reads like a who's who of the Jersey indie and underground music scene, forge a tight alliance that, from the outside, seem to possess great chemistry. Featuring Michael Sylvia (Killinghorse Records)
– Vocals, Romel Espinel ('¡No pasarán!')  – Guitar, John Gonnelli (The Rye Coalition,
The Black Hollies) – Guitar John Feuerbach –  (Décir Decir)  - Bass/Vocals and
Gregg Leto (The Rye Coalition) Drums/Vocals. These guys come to the table making a lot of fucking noise.

While the bands sound, approach and delivery can easily be traced to 60's/70's

heroes such as The Stooges, The Dead Boys and even The MC5.

More current acts such as
The Rye Coalition and Cold Fur seem to have heavily influenced the bands overall blueprint.

The twelve song banger opens with the screamer
I'm the one you Wanted. A song that enforces the Loud Fast Rules ethos of Punk Rock.
Searing vocals accompany relentless guitars and savage rhythms. The Life Eaters impress on all levels.
The pummeling continues throughout delivery scorching favorites such as Salt City, Lock it in, Atom Bomb and Government Kids. Overall Life Eaters deliver a perfect debut that stands as one of 2014's best, brightest and downright hardest. Lets hope they stick around for a long time. James Damion

Get it Here Killing Horse Records

Free Download of Those Mockingbirds New Single "A Ballad From Hell"

Montclair New Jersey's Those Mockingbirds are streaming the first single 

"A Ballad from Hell" from their upcoming, yet to be titled debut full length on Soundcloud Click Here to listen and download. For added visual stimulation, be sure to check out the song's You Tube video. James Damion

Cold Fur - Altamont Every Night

The highly anticipated debut has finally landed and damn, it sure is good. For those living outside of Jersey Nation, Cold Fur brings together members of Rye Coalition (Ralph Cuseglio, Dave Leto) and The Want (Adam Valk,Jeff Mackey).

"Altamont Every Night", which was engineered by the legendary Steve Albini delivers eleven songs of 70's Rock N' Roll excess and swagger, featuring
Ralph Cuseglio's signature screams, and  some nice dirty guitar work from  a louder than fuck rhythm section that would impress even the most dedicated Sabbath fan. Not only is it noteworthy, it's bastard sound is flat out praiseworthy.

Tracks like "Bro'd to Death" and "Just Like Brian Jones"deliver rock n roll genius with absolute savagery. While "Fat Vampires From Planet Wolf" drown the listener with its slow stoner pace and slutty guitar. Each song perfectly personifies the embodiment of the records title, with its tight jeans and big mustache imagery you'll feel as if your speeding down a dirty dusty road in search of those elusive Kiss tickets.

Fans of Rye Coalition will not be the least disappointed with this gem. While those seeking a departure from the sound that band delivered might be disappointed. Nevertheless, "Altamont Every Night" goes a long way to live up to its title. Providing everything you would ask for from a Rock N' Roll record and band. Get it. Live it. Let it kill you. James Damion

Get it Here  Bandcamp

Doziac - What Do We Do EP

Formed in October 2012 New York's three piece act Doziac seem to be searching for a place to fit sound wise. Describing themselves as pop punk, grunge, rock, alternative to name a few. They seem to be a band searching for both their sound and identity.
"What we do" features five songs of doze, doze, doze, uninspiring and underwhelming pop rock.
"Had a Baby", the EP's opening track is a good example of what's to come with it's campy and sometimes unbearable vocals. The downward spiral continues with a cover of Zebrahead's "Anthem". A song that would be better left uncovered. "What Do We Do" the EP's title song is by far the best track here. It's sweeping rhythms and vocals offer a nice pop flavor that's reminiscent of 60's pop puppets the Monkees. And while the song "Ecstasy" definitely has it's quirky moments. As a whole, it doesn't really grab me. It's follow up and the Ep's closer "Irrelevant Love Song" is a go nowhere doze fest that perfectly closes the EP out just as it was opened. Poppy, yet dull and underwhelming.
Though there is some very good musicianship on display here. I honestly felt no connection to the songs themselves. "What do we do" did nothing to make me want to hear more or invest any listening time in the band. James Damion
Doziak

A rare side note; I understand the bands members are young and Doziac is still a band in it's infancy. But when describing your band and it's influences, stick to what you love. No one cares about what you don't like. Disrespecting another genre, regardless of any shortcomings it may have in your already advanced opinion is not very smart. And though you may have been influenced by The Beatles and Nirvana (Most bands have whether they like to admit it or not.) "We have been told we sound like The Beatles and Nirvana." 
Might be the biggest load of shit I've ever read.

Voivod Debut Single From Upcoming Album

Canadian Thrash Gods Voivod have debuted a new song via Pitchfork. "Mechanical Mind" will be released as a single on October 9th and will be featured on the bands upcoming release "Target Earth" due out January 22, 2013. Get it here Mechanical Mind

Boxed Wine - S/T EP

I don't know what took me so long to get around to
Boxed Wine. Having first heard about this awesome foursome from Adam Bird of
Those Mockingbirds. It wasn't until Boxed Wine's own lead guitarist Ralph Nicastro contacted me personally that I set aside some time to sample the bands debut.
Now, as far as debuts go,
this is about as good as it gets. Five songs of fun, quirky and very danceable gems that remind me of a cross between Vampire Weekend and
Boy Things. There's a warm, nerdy goodness to the songs that can't be overlooked. Songs like "Oh No" and "Feral" are instantly satisfying yet admirably memorable. The band has a three song follow up coming soon. In the mean time, go download their debut and get dancing.
I know I did.
James Damion

Download  Bandcamp
Boxed Wine  Facebook

Agnostic Front Debut "Us Against The World" Video

The Godfather's of NYHC debut their video for "Us Against the World". Plans to record release new album and tour have been confirmed. Plans to seek out new world are just rumors at this junction. 

Stay tuned.

Pilots in Orbit - Did You Grow Up Fast?

I've only been to Union a handful of times during my ten or so years in New Jersey. Whenever there I always felt somewhat unsettled. Understandable, considering that during each drive through I was in the midst of being completely lost. Maybe if i had known a little more about
Pilots in Orbit at the time.
I might have felt a bit more at ease. Perhaps explored the area a bit more.

On the bands debut EP,
Pilots in Orbit ask the question I've been asking myself for a very, very long time.
"Did you grow up too soon?"
The answer to that question, for me personally,
 is always and will always be a resounding "Yes". Lucky for us, these Union space travelers took their time crafting their sound and didn't rush honing their  sound. Lucky, because that time has produced one hell of a record.

The quartet offer a dreamy, ambient pop sound with guitar parts that are hooky as hell but aren't afraid to rock. Montero's vocals soar but never overwhelm you with any uninvited drama. Being one of the most uncoordinated people in the tri-state area didn't keep this listener from aimlessly dancing around like a wound up Peanuts character during a holiday special. Though not formally schooled in this particular format of sound I was instantly drawn in and comforted by the songs warmth. There's are lot's of interesting melodies and textures throughout and enough power to give it the muscle it needs keep the listener on their toes. "Past, Present, Future" just might be the perfect "rainy day" companion.
While the opening melodies on "As long as we got some…" are bright enough to wake the darkest of souls. They may not be the "Next Big Thing" out of New Brunswick;
But that's okay, because they're  from Union. Can't wait to hear more from these sky pilots.
James Damion


Get it Here

The 65's - Strike Hard

On the night prior to the release of the bands debut record "Strike Hard" I sat with 3/4's of the 65's over coffee and other unknown liquid refreshments to talk about the release. Having been treated to an advanced copy of the record I had listened to each and every track numerous times. So much so that it had quickly become the soundtrack to my work day. Though the interview didn't go quite as planned I felt I was able to convey my excitement about finally being able to officially share my feelings about one of my favorite releases of the year.

Featuring former members of
The Dark Brothers, Shirk Circus,
Electric Frankenstein and Balloon Squad to name just a few.
The band combines an impressive pedigree. The 65's score exceptionally high points on their debut. Mixing intelligent, highly evolved songwriting with catchy, stick to your ribs hooks, riffs and melodies. There's a real sense of maturity and ease about the songwriting that blends almost seamlessly with the rather dirty vibe of the music. Al's vocal quality has a sort of gravely cigarettes and whiskey quality to them that really add a nice dimension to the songs. Opening with the sweeping "Greatest Pretense" followed by the somewhat uplifting "Walk on Selfishly".  I found myself almost immediately hooked. While songs like
"I Will Never Serve You", "Are You Tired of Me Yet" and "Wherever You Are" put the hook in me. It was Cindi's turn on the vocals "Worse Comes To" that made me put me on an emotional respirator.  Thus placing "Strike Hard" at the top of my list for favorite releases of 20011. Top it off with a cover of The Psychedelic Furs 80's hit "Pretty in Pink" and you've got a record that will win over even the most jaded music fan. One can only hope that the future can promise more from this band. James Damion

The 65's  Band Page
Dromedary Records  Buy it Here