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Fear Before the March of Flames - The Always Open Mouth
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Chasing Victory

The Minor Times

The Velocet

Mayday Parade

Empire! Empire!

Chasing Victory
Fiends
(Mono vs Stereo Records)
Buy Now: Smartpunk
Our Review: View Here

Growing up basically in the middle of no where Georgia, Chasing Victory didn't really get a lot of exposure to independent music, most of what they loved growing up was just stuff that was on the radio. Now they've grown up a bit, and developed into a band that has managed to merge those solid rock jams they grew up loving with a hardcore / power pop style to create something that, well, to be honest, I don't think a lot of people are trying right now. This is an album that you need to check out, if only to determine where you stand on the issue. I thought it was a pretty decent jam myself.

The Minor Times
Summer of Wolves
(Prosthetic Records)
Buy Now: Smartpunk
Our Review: View Here

This has to be one of the best heavy albums I've heard since Botch's Anthology of Dead Ends. When you listen to The Minor Times, what really jumps out at you is the fact that they pull no punches, and pummel you to death with offtime beats and devastating guitars. If you don't already have this album yet, it needs to be in your collection immediately. I'm not kidding. This is in the running for metal album of the year, if there is a running at all. They might just win it out right, and as far as I can tell, they already have.

The Velocet
A Quick and Dirty Guide to War
(Eyeball Records)
Buy Now: Smartpunk
Our Review: View Here

When I think Brooklyn, the first thing I think is hip hop, the second thing I think is the Dodgers. What I didn't expect from Brooklyn is a solid indie rock band like The Velocet. They've got the skills behind them to push this band as far as they can possibly go and they're sound is akin to a more sincere and hard working version of The Killers. It's a disc that needs attention, and lots of it. Hop on this bandwagon now, I think these guys are gonna get pretty huge.

Mayday Parade
A Lesson in Romantics
(Fearless Records)
Buy Now: Interpunk | Smartpunk
Our Review: n/a

This isn't an album that we were sent to review, but I do endorse it whole heartedly. These are some of the best dudes I've ever met and they have grown from the small local bands they were in to form Mayday Parade, which has since spun completely out of control and is about to take the world by storm. Look for them to be on MTV2, Fuse, Warped Tour, etc. constantly. They're hard working kids, playing music that may sound similar to other bands in slight ways, but definitely stands alone. Buy this album immediately.

Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate)
When The Sea Became A Giant
self released
Buy Now: Smartpunk
Our Review: View Here

Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate) is a solo project from a boy in Michigan, assisted by his wife and friends. Think something along the lines of Mineral meets American Football meets Cursive. Albums like this are usually released by a team of creative musicians, not just one man. When I learned that this was a one man operation, it just made it even more impressive to me. If you're a fan of Crank! Records bands like The Gloria Record and Mineral, you need to get this album. It's well worth the money.







The Minor Times

Band Lineup

Brendan McAndrew » Vocals

Tim Leo » Guitar

Brian Medlin » Drums

Matt Leo » Bass

Related Coverage & Links

Prosthetic Records Website

Summer of Wolves CD Review

The Minor Times Website

 


For the well-initiated in the hardcore scene, Pennsylvania’s THE MINOR TIMES are a welcomed throwback to a genre that once showcased intelligent lyrics, technical yet jarring riffs and unyielding passion behind the music over heavy-handed breakdowns and straightforward lyrics. Having graced multiple Hellfests, a plethora of venues, boasting a relentless DIY attitude and staying undoubtedly hardcore by nature, THE MINOR TIMES have already successfully proved that bands can tour with the likes of Dead To Fall, Ed Gein and Drowningman, yet still stay rooted enough to pour as much passion their live show at New England Metalfest as they do in the dingy confines of a VFW hall.

After releasing theChris Chambers Never MissesEP in 2002, THE MINOR TIMES followed that up with a 2004 release of Making Enemies via Level Plane Records, quickly catching the ears of hardcore diehards across the country, as well as garnering critical praise and ultimately landing a 2005 re-release of the record through Prosthetic Records. Now, with a few more years and an abundance of shows already in the books, THE MINOR TIMES is ready to releaseSummer of Wolves, an eagerly-awaited release brimming with ferocity and passion that is matched in quantity, and quality, only by the jarring and technical riffs and the unrelenting screams of frontman Brendan McAndrew.

Summer of Wolvesshowcases creative, unconventional song structures and uncommon ideals as much as it does caustic, pissed off hardcore angst. Showcasing the ability to pace themselves across the record’s length and somehow still pulling off the 8-minute “This Is The Blues” alongside more turbo-charged two- and three-minute anthems like “+ + +” and “Bring In The Suit” and “Firespitter,” THE MINOR TIMES proves that there’s still plenty of room for intelligence, creativity and ingenuity within the confines of an easily pigeonhole-able genre.

Spanning 41 minutes across 11 tracks,Summer of Wolvesis a more than worthy follow-up to Making Enemies, sure to keep fans already on the band’s side happy, while still catching newcomers’ ears…and eyes. With detailed artwork and layout from artist Mark Price, mastering from Alan Douches (Shadows Fall, Mastodon, Converge) and a crystal clear recording from returning producer Vince Ratti (A Life Once Lost, Bury Your Dead), Summer of Wolves is a complete package, necessitating a hard copy in the digital age.

(Bio extracted from prostheticrecords.com)



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