Band:

Best Song: Different Now
Score: 8.5/10
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In 2003, guitarist Justin DuQue, drummer Paul Erickson, and bassist Alan Clark placed an advertisement in the Seattle weekly newspaper that stated, “Rock Vocalist Wanted.” As soon as Matt MacDonald, lead singer, noticed the advertisement, he decided to sign up for the audition and successfully became their vocalist, thus creating The Classic Crime. The well-known indie record label, Tooth & Nail Records, then signed them and they went on to release two full-length albums that set in motion the production of their latest record “Vagabonds”, which is set to release on April 6th, 2010.

The record “Vagabonds” is filled with eleven energetic, catchy and melodic tunes. Bearing this in mind, it is no surprise that their lead single was “Four Chords.” This musical composition of this track was well organized in the way that it begins with a medium slow tempo and then progresses into a fast paced rhythm and upbeat melodic tempo, which will trigger you to dance and clap your hands to the infectious guitar and drums riffs. Besides instilling a well-composed musical texture, this track delivers an essential message about the importance of music and how it influences our lives. More specifically, this track alludes to the fact that composing music it is not about financial needs, instead it’s about being passionate of playing music and to the extent that “If I die tomorrow, I’ll be glad my life is filled with songs.” and “Even if I die tomorrow, these four chords will keep me living on.” Also, music itself is like preserving a photograph or souvenir in the way that it will always have the same value, despite changing circumstances in our lives.

Another great song is “Solar Powered Life”, it is rich with a fast rhythm tempo accompanied with catchy guitar and drums riffs, which will inevitably, make you tap your feet and dance. This track sarcastically alludes to the seasonal affective disorder, which is characterized by symptoms of depression that occurs during the winter season, especially in the months of January and February. With this in mind, it is no surprise that during sunrise “she’s got a solar powered life” because she filled with positive emotions and thus sings “Oh my what a beautiful day outside.” However, when dawn strikes “My baby gets depressed at night” and therefore “She dies without direct sunlight.”

My favorite song is “Different Now”, because of the musical composition and the message that it transmits to the listeners. The musical texture of this track is filled with melodic catchy tunes accompanied with infectious guitar riffs and lyrics that reach to the core of your heart. This track deals with the theme of love in the way that at some point in our lives we have been in a passionate relationship, where intense feelings are involved and thus make you feel like that person is like “A ray of sunlight penetrating my apartment.” However, we are not perfect and we are prone to make mistakes that might lead to the termination of that relationship. Thus, we tend to regret making those mistakes and as a result, we wish we can go back in time and fix those mistakes, because we “Don’t ever want to go back to being alone” without the presence of that special person, but in reality everything is “different now.”

“Broken Mess” is another well-composed and thought out song that will transcend your listening experience due to the passionate vocals and melodic catchy chorus. The opening of the track begins with finely tuned acoustic guitar chords and then gradually progress to a fast rhythm with a combination of infectious lyrics, guitar and drum riffs. This track includes a theme of infidelity. One of the most frustrating and disappointing moment in one’s life is when you realized that your partner or wife has broken “her vowels” and thus “parades her disgrace” to your face, despite that you passionate love her to the extent that you will give your life “in more ways than she knows how.” As a result, you feel like a “Broken Mess” in the way that “He can’t sleep, he can’t eat, he keeps thinking about her behind the locked door of her bedroom.” Thus, love is a “Beautiful thing, she can make your heart sing, when you’re walking on broken glass.”

“Vagabonds” possesses a more mature and different perspective compared to their previous albums. This record is filled with vigorous catchy melodies and chorus that will compel you to stay hooked on it for a while. Also, this record transcends the listener experience in the way that you will have a fun experience because it elicits positive emotions and will make you wants to dance and tap your feet. With this in mind, The Classic Crime is not another rock band that is trying to fit in with similar rock bands because their music has a great deal of integrity and they write about different situations that at some level one can relate, which I believe is the fundamental objective of this band. As a result, it makes this record absolutely unique and therefore distinguishable from other bands. I highly recommend this record for fans of Emery, Anberlin, and Ivoryline.

TRACKLIST:

1. A Perfect Voice
2. Cheap Shots
3. Solar Powered Life
4. Four Chords
5. Vagabonds
6. Happy Nihilist, The
7. My Name
8. Everything and Nothing
9. Count, The
10. Different Now
11. Broken Mess

LAMB OF GOD

JOB FOR A COWBOY

AUGUST BURNS RED

BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME

Band:

Best Song: Cancer Dagger
Score: 8/10
.

So, this review will continue with our Canadian invasion of Corezine.net! Ever since our review of Counterparts, we have had Structures and now King Cobra. King Cobra is a lot different from Counterparts and Structures though. King Cobra is more hard rock instead of hardcore/metal. While King Cobra might be on the lighter side of our recent Canadian reviews, they are in no way inferior.

King Cobra is a five-piece hard rock band out of Canada that is going to be a force to be reckoned with. Their anthem style rock is definitely catchy and built to please. King Cobra brings some big guitars to the party and lets loose some southern metal laden guitar riffs, as well as some well timed solos and uplifting lyrics. In general, I was very impressed with the instrument play. Though, I would have liked the drums to have been mixed in a little louder because they are somewhat drowned out by the guitars.

Vocally, this EP could be considered an anthem album. Garth has a raspy, manly voice that sounds good with the clean vocals and the raw screams. This guy is by far no frat boy trying to be a rocker wannabe. It may not want to make you break stuff in a fit of metal rage, but every song is definitely a song that will have you singing a long with King Cobra. Cancer Dagger is the best song on the EP due partly to its catchy chorus filled with gang vocals. I also enjoy the ending with the lyrics, “This is real I want you to feel it. This is real in your heart you’ll believe it”, as they put they finishing touches on a great song.

All in all this is an outstanding debut effort by King Cobra. The album starts and ends with a bang. But, one area I think they can improve on is their lasting value because it’s kind of difficult to distinguish one song from another. It would be more enjoyable if they had more of a variety of heavier and slower songs. However, that is pretty common with many bands and it doesn’t take away from their effort. If you love memorable anthem style hard rock then definitely go check out King Cobra and support their music.

TRACKLIST:

1. Cancer Dagger
2. From The Ground Up
3. King Cobra
4. The Unbreakable
5. Worth The World

Sky Eats Airplane released their self-titled full-length in July 2008 to rave reviews including Alternative Press (”The cynics among us may say they’ve heard it all before… but don’t give in to that thinking: They’ve never heard it done like this. 4.5 out of 5 stars”) and Outburn Magazine (”These young lads from Fort Worth, Texas could be one of the best things to happen to the tragically hip, emo, melody meets metalcore scene. 9 out of 10″).
The band – Bryan Zimmerman (vocals), Lee Duck (guitar), Zack Ordway (guitar), Elliot Coleman (bass), and Travis Orbin (drums) – will perform the new material on an upcoming co-headlining run with Drop Dead Gorgeous, kicking off March 30th in Salt Lake City:
w/Drop Dead Gorgeous
3/30 Salt Lake City, UT @ Murray Theater
3/31 Pocatello, ID @ Icon
4/1 Boise, ID @ The Venue
4/2 Reno, NV @ Se7en On West
4/3 Orangevale, CA @ The Boardwalk
4/5 Fresno, CA @ The Starline
4/6 Modesto, CA @ Modesto Virtual
4/7 Bakersfield, CA @ Jerry’s Pizza
4/8 Palmdale, CA @ The Crossing
4/9 Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
4/10 Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse
4/11 Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
4/14 Dallas, TX @ The Door
4/15 McAllen, TX @ Incubator
4/16 Austin, TX @ Emo’s
4/17 Houston, TX @ Meridian
4/19 Columbus, GA @ Gallery 13
4/20 Orlando, FL @ The Social
4/21 Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits
4/22 Douglasville, GA @ The 7 Venue
4/23 Raleigh, NC @ The Brewery
4/24 Greensboro, NC @ Greene Street Club
4/26 Baltimore, MD @ The Ottobar
4/27 Hartford, CT @ Webster Underground
4/28 Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
4/29 Providence, RI @ Club Hell
4/30 Vineland, NJ @ Hangar 84
5/1 Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
5/3 New York, NY @ Webster Hall
5/4 Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place
5/5 Pittsburgh, PA @ Altar Bar
5/6 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
5/7 West Dundee, IL @ Clearwater Theater
5/8 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock
5/9 Des Moines, IA @ The House Of Bricks
5/10 St. Louis, MO @ Firebird
5/11 Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
5/12 Lawrence, KS @ Jackpot Music Hall
5/13 Fort Collins, CO @ Aggie Theatre
5/14 Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre
5/15 Colorado Springs, CO @ The Black Sheep