Variants - The Concept Of Color album review

              This album kicks ass. There's no way around that. Variants' full length, "The Concept Of Color" comes out tomorrow, and you do not want to miss it. The album strays from anything you would expect out of a pop punk album today. The 11 track album comes on heavy, and lays it on thick. If you're expecting the upbeat rhythm and nasally vocals of today's pop punk world, forget it. The voice alone is enough to put this band on a path of it's own. His voice reminds me of some metal band I heard one time that I can't remember, but used in a much more melodic and audibly pleasing way. Between the distinguished vocals and flawless harmonies, the words are a true pleasure to take in. The music is no doubt heavier than what you're probably expecting, but I assure you that this is worth venturing outside your comfort zone. All 11 tracks are flawless, I'm off to see if they have some shirts or something. 

Tl;dr

• Variants (New Orleans, Louisiana)
• For fans of: A Loss For Words, Lakota De Kai
• Full Length Release
• Favorite Track: All of them. But mostly "Sentences"
• 5/5. Entirely flawless. 

The Black Sox Scandal - Forward Progress EP Review

          prog·ress [n.] - a movement toward a goal or to a further or higher stage; growth or development, continuous improvement

            The Forward Progress EP embraces just that. A three song release by The Black Sox Scandal focuses on getting over and moving on. The pop punk trio may still be relatively knew, but they have the distinct advantage of residing in the pop punk breeding ground that is the Philly/Jersey area. The vocals on the release are reminiscent of Mayday Parade before we graduated high school, with a distinct melodic style. The EP is good, there's no arguing that. Even if the style isn't your thing, there's no denying the talent put into this music. My biggest complaint is that it's only three songs, but I'm genuinely interested to see what else they come out with. 

Tl;dr

• The Black Sox Scandal (Asbury Park, New Jersey)
• For fans of: Mayday Parade, Head North, Bayside, Anberlin
• Debut Release: Forward Progress
• Favorite Track: Anchors
• 4/5

facebook.com/theblacksoxscandal

http://theblacksoxscandal.bandcamp.com

88 To Yesterday - Choose Your Own Adventure Review

           Shout out to Australia for making love with itself and producing these fine young gentlemen and their reflection of textbook pop punk. The 5 quintet from down under is working their way up with their debut EP "Choose Your Own Adventure." The five song release is everything you thought had worked its way out of the scene. Lucky for you though, here it is. "Choose Your Own Adventure" starts off right with a mellow few seconds and then a power crunch riff that will drag in anyone who was once a Sum 41 fan. The album starts off fast and and the songs slow down towards the end of the EP, but never loses it's ability to captivate. As the latter half mellows out, the aggression is lost, but never the passion. You can hear in the slightly nasally vocals, that these guys care about what they're doing, and that's what's important, right?

Tl;dr

• 88 To Yesterday (Perth, Australia) 
• For fans of: Sum 41, New Found Glory, Blink 182, Yellowcard
• Debut Release: Choose Your Own Adventure
• Favorite Track: Sarah Says
• 4/5

facebook.com/88ToYesterday

88toyesterday.bandcamp.com/

Dugout - Where There Used To Be Meaning Album Review

        Super classic pop punk. Pennsylvania natives Dugout are the band that those 2004 pop punk elitists that hangout next to the venue would actually approve of. If you had to explain the genre to your grandmother, you could probably skip the $70 vintage New Found Glory album and just play her this. As corny as that sounds, this is good stuff. 

        The Lansdale four-piece is holding nothing back and taking no prisoners on this one. Where There Used To Be Meaning is the title needed to describe the "move on and forget you" attitude throughout the album. 8 tracks of mid-song tempo changes, upbeat drums, and one song with some guy named Ziggy changing the vocals up. I couldn't find a bad song on this album, and I would 100% recommend this band to anybody missing the good old days or whatever. 

Tl;dr

• Dugout (Lansdale, Pennsylvania)
• For fans of: New Found Glory, Blink 182, Bowling For Soup, Yellowcard
• Third Release,  Where There Used To Be Meaning
• Favorite Track: Distance
• 3.8/5

www.facebook.com/dugoutpa

http://dugoutpa.bandcamp.com/

http://www.twitter.com/dugoutpa
http://www.reverbnation.com/dugoutpa
http://www.dugoutpa.stereokiller.com
http://www.paintedoxrecords.com

Second-Hand Hero - "Pictures" Album Review

          I recently got my hands on the new release "Pictures" by Berlin pop-core band Second-Hand Hero. And if pop-core wasn't a term before, it is now. The German quartet's 15 track full length packs a serious punch. I'll be honest and say this isn't normally what I'm in too, and after the first few songs I wasn't expecting to really get into it. But about halfway through, it struck a chord with me. It's like the old ADTR we all grew up on that still holds a place in our hearts.
           And boy, do these guys kill it. Unlike a lot of similar music in the scene today, the album has notable variety. No two songs are too alike, and as the cool jazz riff at the end of "Evacuation" establishes, there are no boundaries here. I dig this album a lot, it's actually one of my favorites I've reviewed so far, though if you initially described it to me I probably would not have been too stoked. Funny how that works.

Tl;dr

• Second-Hand Hero
• Debut Full Length: Pictures
• For Fans Of: City A Day To Remember, Four Year Strong
• Favorite Track: Evacuation
• 4.5/5 Stars

facebook.com/secondhandheroband

http://www.reverbnation.com/secondhandheroband

Drop The Act - When The Going Gets Tough Review

       Drop The Acts debut EP, When The Going Gets Tough is not what you expect it to be. Weird, right? Well it is, but in an entirely positive way. I'm not completely sure what I expected going in, but this wasn't it. Hailing from my home state, Pennsylvania, this New Castle five piece is just different enough to really capture your attention. 

       I think it's the voice. Right from the beginning, it's what you'll notice. This cherubic melody of a voice is way off base for what you've come to expect from a pop punk band, but it's rad. The six track release flows very nicely and is soft, but upbeat. I can imagine the album being perfect to play at a pool party, or driving to the beach, or something fun and in need of some catchy music. The track "Sunsets In Silhouettes" can also work well for your summer romance. The acoustic-into-electric ballad is a heartfelt message to some lucky lady out there. All in all, this is a quality release, and definitely mixes up the stream of pop punk consistency. You're either going to love it or hate it, but at least give it the chance. 

Tl;dr

• Drop The Act (New Castle, PA)
• Debut EP, When The Going Gets Tough
• For Fans Of: City Lights, Handguns, State Champs, Mayday Parade
• Favorite Track: Tattoos Gauges, and Ripped Jeans
• 4/5 Stars

droptheact.com

facebook.com/pages/Drop-The-Act

http://droptheact1.bandcamp.com/

Almighty Chicks From The Atlantic - Debut Album

          Back to Europe. I recently got my hands on the debut album of Almighty Chicks From The Atlantic. The group of 5 hails from Bordeaux, France and it pushing this album all over the world. I'll be the first to admit the music isn't exactly my forte, but there is no denying its ability to stick. The eleven song release combines the European trance phenomenon with traditional American pop punk. The first thing I thought of was playing and hanging out with Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! a few months back. The music is by no means bad, it just isn't something I'm in to, and I try to be as unbiased as possible in these write ups. 

        After seeing the turnout for that Chunk! show, I know there is a market for these guys. I'd fully recommend at least giving it a listen, maybe you're into it and you  never even knew. 

Tl;dr

• Almighty Chicks From The Atlantic (Bordeaux, France)
• For fans of: Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!, City Lights, Handguns, Hit The Lights
• Debut Album
• Favorite Track: Waiting Room
• 3 Stars