Band: The Ghost Inside
Album: Returners
Year: 2010
Label: Mediaskare Records
Myspace

Best Song: The Conflict
Score: 9/10
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With so many melodic hardcore bands out there lately it takes a lot to be that something extra that separates them from everything else. The Ghost Inside have kept their considerably unique form of melodic hardcore and just kept on going. The ability to create such aggressive music while keeping it melodic… It’s as amazing as it always has been.

Band: Sing It Loud
Album: Everything Collide
Year: 2010
Label: Epitaph Records
Myspace

Best Song: Sugar Sweet
Score: 8,5/10
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On a first impression based on their Myspace profile picture I immediately get the feeling that the members of Sing It Loud love what they’re doing. They all look so sincere. Since they’ve toured together with well known acts such as All Time Low, We The Kings and Forever The Sickest Kids, Epitaph were lucky to have noticed their big potential when they did.

Band: Go Radio
Album: Do Overs And Second Chances
Year: 2010
Label: Fearless Records
Myspace

Best Song: It’s Not A Trap, I Swear
Score: 7,5/10
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Based on the looks of the members of Go Radio, I’d say they play some kind of mainstream rock n’ roll-ish stuff. But it’s nowhere near (not very surprising, they’re signed to Fearless after all!); they play typical pop punk that sounds a LOT (emphasis) like early Mayday Parade. And since lead vocalist Jason Lancaster used to sing in Mayday Parade it would be only weird if Go Radio didn’t remind me of them.

Band: Social Siberia
Album: Waterworks
Year: 2010
Label: Panic & Action
Myspace

Best Song: Fences
Score: 7,5/10
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Here I was expecting to hear a classic purely acoustic side-project, but it turns out it’s more to it. Joakim Jensen, guitarist of ‘Chemical Vocation’, has created his very own form of acoustic music with a tad of pop punk.

Band: Her Bright Skies
Album: Causing A Scene
Year: 2010
Label: Panic & Action
Myspace

Best Song: Heartbreakers
Score: 4,5/10
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It’s been going pretty well for Swedish post-hardcore act Her Bright Skies. Hearing about them every time I turn around sure means they’ve gotten a lot of attention. So, does this album make justice for their celebrity? Tough question…

Causing A Scene is a mix of post-hardcore, alternative rock and pop punk, basically. The fact that there are alt. rock elements gives it a very radio friendly sound. I’m not certain if this is something a band should aim for if in this particular scene – I’m not even aware if they actually ARE aiming to do so. It puts them in that category, however.

Band: I Am Abomination
Album: To Our Forefathers
Year: 2010
Label: Good Fight Music
Myspace

Best Song: The Deceiver
Score: 8/10
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To Our Forefathers came as a wonderful surprise. Not only because I had no idea it was coming, but I’ve loved I Am Abomination since the moment I first heard them. Fairly recently they got signed to Good Fight Music and therefore share label with great bands such as This Or The Apocalypse and Cancer Bats. So how will To Our Forefathers be in comparison to their previous release, Jaw Dropper?

Band: Various Artists
Album: Punk Goes Classic Rock
Year: 2010
Label: Fearless Records
Myspace

Best Song: More Than A Feeling (Boston) – Hit The Lights
Score: 5/10
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Another year, another Punk Goes-compilation. This time we get a taste of modern bands covering old classics such as Queen, Aerosmith and Ozzy Osbourne. So, will this be as big a success as Punk Goes Pop 2? I’m afraid I have to say no.