Departures

It’s been happening more and more often lately. Bands, seemingly out of nowhere, inexplicably erupt onto the scene, often being hailed as the next “thing”. However, rarely do they profoundly command attention and even less frequently, do they actually deserve it. Hardcore act, Departures, on the other hand, is an exception to this sentiment.

Departures, hailing from the UK, are currently signed to Fist in the Air Records. With their debut EP, Escaping, they proved themselves to be a powerful and thoughtful act in the scene. Heavy, chaotic, and filled with wonderful melodies, Escaping was a 2010 hardcore stand-out.

On June 13th, the band plan to unleash their debut full length, When Losing Everything Is Everything You Wanted. The album, having been streaming for a number of weeks, has already garnered a surprising amount of praise. Carrying over everything that made their EP such a thrill to listen to, When Losing Everything… should rightfully place Departures amongst their peers, whom include Defeater, The Carrier, and More Than Life.

When Losing Everything Is Everything You Wanted can be listened to in full on the bands facebook

Album Review: Touché Amoré – Parting the Sea between Brightness and Me

Though we may be losing Kyle Minton, who will make a post or two more before moving on to other things, we have another Kyle joining us. He's already shown his excellent writing skills (as seen below), and we are very happy to have him with us here.


Touché Amoré, a post-hardcore group hailing from Los Angeles, presents us with their second LP in Parting the Sea between Brightness and Me. The album undoubtedly maintains the band’s core sound, consisting of short, abrasive songs full of dark, pensive lyrics. However, the band shows greater maturity on Parting the Sea… with a more dynamic sound that will surely garner Touché Amoré much deserved attention from new fans. The album was recorded live with Ed Rose (The Get Up Kids, Emery, The Spill Canvas) at Black Lodge Studios and is slated to be released on June 7^th through Deathwish, Inc.

Album Review: Laura Stevenson and the Cans - Sit Resist

One of the several new writers that will soon be joining us, Eli is a consistent reviewer on SputnikMusic. However, he will now be joining us as a full time staff reviewer. He has plenty of experience with writing reviews, and will be covering a wide variety of genres.

In mid 2009, armed with an acoustic guitar and a dulcet croon, a young woman by the name of Laura Stevenson captured the hearts of an entire scene. With her EP, “Holy Ghost,” Laura Stevenson did in 15 minutes what many folk/indie artists could barely achieve in a length of twice that. Bursting with poise and personality, the EP captured a feeling of drama and urgency, whilst coming off a wholly fun and capricious. “Sit Resist” is her first full length, but even more so, it is solid, wonderful album that signifies what could possibly be a truly exceptional career.

Album Review: Mental Architects - Patience, Communcation, Understanding, Go!

My good friend Sean Rizzo has decided to devote his time to us as a guest writer. Though he doesn't have the time to be a full staff writer, he will once in a while be donating his writing to us. Be ready to see some big changes in Muzik Dizcovery over the next week or so, and be ready to see a bunch of new names on the screen.

I've been at a quandary about how to approach this review for a few days now, and you'll see why momentarily. Hailing from Sofia, Bulgaria, Mental Architects are something I like to call a blender band. Most bands who take on this characteristic are side project supergroups, and it's often to their detriment. Bands like Isles and Glaciers and even The Sound of Animals Fighting on their second album fall victim to a destructive tidal wave of pent up creativity. The music lacks cohesion, the various components clash more often than not, and it's not uncommon to have a very difficult time enjoying the warfare between all the creativity that couldn't take place in a main project.

Artist Spotlight: Giants

Like so many acts that are ignored, the Giants EP was basically shrugged off at its release in 2005 for bigger and better things. However, half a decade later, the band is going strongly, with two full lengths and a third in progress, so they decided to take a second shot at the EP. Sharing sounds akin to Final Days Society, yet almost completely their own, I'm surprised the EP didn't attract more attention than it did - it's truly fantastic, down-to-earth post instrumental music. The tracks are mostly lead by either acoustic or clean electric guitar, and there are some very creative, albeit repetitive, choruses that suggest an introspective feel with a simple, breathtaking effect.

You can follow the band and stream some tracks on Myspace here, and check out some of the Mylene Sheath's other sounds here.
The EP is released on June 14th.

The Rocket Summer Releases Free Live Acoustic Album

For the past couple of weeks Bryce Avary of The Rocket Summer has been teasing fans via Facebook about a big time announcement he was going to make. Many people became excited for a new album or a big tour, but that wasn't the case. However, a free acoustic live album was probably the next biggest thing he could have announced. Recorded from several of his intimate acoustic shows from 2010, Bryce's voice sounds studio quality singing many of the band's fan favorite tracks from each of their last three studio albums. The tracklist was perfect except for the five minute jam session in the middle of the album, hitting all of the band's best tracks such as  "Hills and Valleys", "Never Knew", "Do You Feel", and "Of Men And Angels". The one unfortunate thing about the album is the crowd, getting in the way of songs such as "Never Knew" and "Hills and Valleys" with their extremely off-beat clapping and many other songs due to being extremely off key in their singing. However, Bryce did encourage fan participation for the album (as seen in the title Bryce Avary, His Instruments, and Your Voices), and it does give the feeling of the intimate experience of the shows. Bryce is a genuinely good guy, and passionately appreciates his fans. Giving away this excellent live album for free just shows his dedication to his art. You can download the album for free after the jump.

Album Review: Jesu - Ascension

For those of you who don't know Jesu (and trust me, most of us are duly ashamed at this point), think along the lines of Envy, who Jesu has done a split with, and Isis. Jesu embodies the lighter side of post-metal and a heavier side of post-rock, creating a median between the two genres to create something as influential as Explosion in the Sky's Take Care, Take Care, Take Care. The band shares a bit of the same sound, as well as taking some ideas from bands like Pelican and hashing up some ideas for Ascension that fans have longed to hear since the release of the last true full-length, Conqueror, in 2007.

Austra

For me, the best thing about the underground music movement is all the opportunities for fusion between genres that have not been explored before.  Toronto group Austra is poised to be a jewel in a diadem of these genre-bending indie groups.  Lead songwriter and vocalist Katie Stelmanis is a classically trained soprano opera singer and her rich, evocative vibrato is possibly one of the most spellbinding voices in the indie music realm.  But Austra is very decidedly a new wave electronica band.  The band's lead single "Lose It" from their new album Feel It Break is a dark anthemic piece.  Their electronica is decidedly melancholy, but also claims a complementary sprightly atmosphere.  Be sure not to miss the album's closing piano masterpiece "The Beast," a sophisticated and gorgeous track dripping with all the emotion of Stelmanis' desperate vocals.  Check the band out on MySpace here.

Album Review: By Surprise - Mountain Smashers

In a different, better world, By Surprise replaces the absurdly popular examples of pop-rock "fun" bands, is released in my final summer before college, and all the girls I'll ever meet fawn over Mountain Smashers like it is this reality's latest All Time Low record. Unfortunately for me and By Surprise, I am already a year deep in higher educational debt and Mountain Smashers' unique collection of silly, intimate, and summery compositions won't get the attention that a truly adolescent record like itself should. I don't mean to lead readers in the wrong direction by using terms like pop-rock and adolescent; Mountain Smashers' love for never taking itself too seriously and its occasional spots of emotional honesty make the record feel as accessible as it is fun, and the band is far too focused on guitar noise, drum racket, and a large heft of indie-rock influences to be confused with the majority of pop-rock fluff that is focused on a cleaner sound. By Surprise's Mountain Smashers isn't polished at every corner, it doesn't sport pristine vocals, and it certainly never becomes a repetitious package of catchy choruses. It is however, a record of insecurity, summer joy, and the album that cements By Surprise as an excellent part of the Topshelf Records family.

Hidden Pictures - Synchronized Sleeping

It's 85 degrees outside, and I feel like just laying in the sun and listening to music. This is the time of year when upbeat, beachy music is exactly what many people are looking for. Hidden Pictures' new album Synchronized Sleeping is perfect for those situations. Compared to She & Him due to the shared male and female vocal harmonies, the record simply sounds like summer. The guitars have a surf rock sound to them, and the heavily used glockenspiel adds a positive touch to the record. But Synchronized Sleeping is more than just a simple summer rock album, as song writer, producer, vocalist, and guitarist Richard Gintowt heavily orchestrates many of the tracks, including segments of saxophone, cello, viola, and trombone. At the core of it all, Hidden Pictures is a pop band, constructing sweet hooks to go in front of the tan inducing instrumentation. Get your swim suit on, apply sunscreen (important!), and  listen to Synchronized Sleeping through your headphones. Summer is going to be great. You can stream the entire album (on purchase Tuesday, May 31st) on the band's Bandcamp page here.

Album Review: Eksi Ekso - Brown Shark Red Lion

A listen to Brown Shark Red Lion will change one's entire view of what post-rock can really accomplish. Eksi Ekso manages to throw together, from what sounds like atypical experimental rubbish, a radically innovative and unexpected piece of work. The Boston, Massachusetts-based group has been known for their interesting instrumentation and unorthodox style, but as I haven't listened to anything prior to the March release, I've been pleasantly surprised by the interesting tonal shifts and overall progression of how each song adds something completely unique and yet relevant to the overall feel of the album.

Album Retrospective: Something Corporate - Leaving Through The Window

Something Corporate sold out two shows in two nights very quickly on their reunion tour to my hometown of Washington DC. Quite a feat for a band that only has two commercially released albums and had been on hiatus for six years. But anyone who grew up a fan of the band as well as younger fans who discovered the band through Jack's Mannequin immediately jumped at the opportunity to see the elusive band live. Any fan knows that the band's cult following began with the extremely influential Leaving Through The Window, a record that started a huge trend of piano-rock as well as launched both the band and Jack's Mannequin to stardom.

Select Start - The New Atlantic

I'll admit, I only checked out this EP because of Daniel Lancaster, better known as Jason Lancaster's brother. Select Start's pre Lancaster material was very familiar, as that was back in the day when I did nothing but scour PureVolume for new pop-rock bands. Looking back at the old material now, it's amazing that Select Start has released one of my favorite EPs so far this year. The band has ditched all the synths that devoured their powerpop sound, and now embraces a harmony heavy, indie influenced pop-rock style.

Album Review: Fireworks - Gospel

2009 and 2010 marked the introduction to the newest wave of pop-punk. The Swellers began to redeem Fueled By Ramen with their first record on the label, Man Overboard and Transit released excellent debut full lengths that consequently got them signed to Rise Records, and The Wonder Years became somewhat of a cult icon due to the release of The Upsides. However, fans of this new era of pop-punk worried that these debuts would be difficult to top. Though Fireworks was an often forgotten name on the list of upcoming pop-punk acts, they are the first to show that they could follow up a strong debut with an outstanding sophomore effort. Gospel is stronger than All I Have To Offer Is My Own Confusion in every single musical aspect, and will no doubt launch Fireworks to the head of the pop-punk class.

Artist Spotlight: Actors & Actresses - We Love Our Enemy

Judging by how well it's bands are coming along, the Mylene Sheath will have a successful year - especially in part of the re-release from Actors & Actresses. The previous, seemingly-unappreciated release, We Love Our Enemy, is being remastered in every way, shape, and form in order to give it the spark that it failed to attract before, and to draw more people into the heavy post-rock / shoegaze sound that A&A does so well. It's amazing to hear the depth and complexity that is portrayed on a first release like this, with incredible transitions between what is essentially audio anarchy, to a simple, delicate, tranquil melody; the band shows they hold full control over any progression in their songs, and the entire EP is an awe-inspiring harbinger of pure post-rock.

We Love Our Enemy will be released on June 14th, on The Mylene Sheath, and you can stream some free tracks here.

Video Game Soundtrack Spotlight: Shatter

Whether the Jack Thompsons of the world would care to admit it or not, the video game industry has become a viable medium of entertainment for consumers and there’s simply never been a better time to come to accept it. Whether you’re witnessing your middle-aged relatives waste away on Facebook with Farmville or enjoying the meatheads in your college class converse about how "sick" their latest streak on Call of Duty was, the nerd culture that was once tucked away in the corners of society is now acceptable, unfortunately fashionable, and even capable of incorporating impressive levels of other entertainment industries within it. In laymen’s terms, I’m speaking about the wealth of original soundtracks found in modern video games. In this new feature, we’re going to take a look at a few soundtracks that stand as not only impressive within their respective product, but stretch far enough to be able to be found respectable under musical criticism as well. Specifically, the albums spotlighted will be completely original pieces of content, games containing pre-existing songs that have been collected to form a soundtrack will not be highlighted as we specifically want to find the original soundtracks that stand apart as worthy pieces of music themselves. Today, we highlight electronic artist Jeramiah Ross, who performs under the alias Module and his outstanding, dynamic work for PlayStation Network game Shatter. 

Like So

This past week has contained a loss of one of the bigger names that consistently use guitar tapping, as the lead singer of This Town Needs Guns has quit the band to be with family. Though the band can still possibly recover, it remains to be seen whether the band and their new vocalist can ever return to the greatness of Animals. Now, Like So really seems to want to This Town Needs Guns, but other than the guitar tapping, they really aren't that similar. They're poppier, and they stick to more conventional song structures. There are some time signature changes, but they aren't as prevalent or technical as This Town Needs Guns. The vocals are reminiscent of a rougher Stu, but they do not make the band a perfect replacement. However, Like So is still extremely talented when you look past the comparisons, and you simply just need to enjoy the mathy-pop band. You can download the band's new EP Has A Pajama Party right here for free.

Tilian Explains Saosin/Archives

With the new song posted by Tilian Pearson (ex Tides Of Man) for the band Archives, there were a lot of questions if he was still working with Saosin. I chatted Tillian and this is how he responded.

Lydia Return and The Cinema Appear

After teasing Lydia fans with ambiguous twitter messages, the indie-pop group (duo?) consisting of lead singer Leighton Antelman and drummer Craig Taylor are set to head back into the studio to continue the band's career soon. As Antelman and Taylor are apparently the only individuals behind the band at the moment, it's difficult to tell whether or not the sound of Assailants will be continued, but it's nice to see the group responsible for Illuminate back in the saddle and making music again. While the news is now buzzing about Lydia's future, Antelman has also revealed the single from his and Matt Malpass' new project The Cinema and the project's new song "Kill It." The song sounds extraordinarily like, you guessed it, Lydia. Antelman hasn't strayed very far from his signature murmuring within his croons and Malpass has crafted nothing but a poppy background for Antelman to do his thing in. The song's lack of unique qualities is slightly disappointing considering the duo's excitement surrounding the project, but hopefully Lydia fans can at least be satiated with The Cinema's similarity to the band until Lydia returns with a product in hand. You can find the Alternative Press statement from Antleman here, and the brand new The Cinema song here.

Album Review: Final Days Society - Ours Is Not A Caravan Of Despair

Upon the dawning of the first sounds of Ours Is Not A Caravan Of Despair, I immediately made connections with a Sigur Ròs-esque, atmospheric sound, and I have to say that it doesn’t disappoint. Swedish project Final Days Society utilizes the tools and sounds given to them by big names in post-rock, and creates something just as beautiful and meaningful as any record that Jonsi or The Album Leaf ever made. The first mature release since Noise Passes, Silence Remains in 2008, the new album is a clever blend of ambient, shoegaze, and traditional post-rock (or what can be considered traditional in the genre) to create something unique and impactful.