The Way of All Flesh is available now - Click here to download it from iTunes

Let's be honest for a moment. I would not be the person who would hear the new Gojira album is coming out and lose my mind. Turns out the guys in Papa Roach ARE those people - so when I was hanging out at the music video shoot for their upcoming video and they were talking about how much they can't wait for the new Gojira I became intrigued. I instantly sent a note to Monica, one of the coolest publicists on the planet who handles rediculously experimental bands as well as some huge name artists giving her an extremely awesome roster that I hope to present to you on a regular basis.

History aside, let me say that following artists you like and their influences and pleasure-listening is a great way to find new music. Jacoby and I have somewhat similar tastes, we both grew up on punk and metal, Mr. Bungle and Faith No More, and came of age sometime around the Rap Rock era. So when he was raving about Gojira, I knew it was something to follow.

The Way of All Flesh is a fairly extreme metal record - Gojira is considered one of the most extreme French bands. It is a record, however, that I can honestly recommend to anyone who likes their rock with a groove. Yes, you have to get over ominous and growling vocals, and a general lack of melody throughout, but hooks are abound in grooves and guitar lines. On my first full listen to the record, I put my earphones on and started playing Texas Hold 'Em on my iPhone - 45 minutes later I had experienced much of the album and never once been bored.

What keeps the record interesting and listenable, despite that it is generally VERY extreme, is that it is never over-the-top extreme. The screams are not full-on screams but more sinister drones. The lyrical content is thoughtful and thought provoking, decrying the human races unfortunate treatment of our home planet - The Way of All Flesh is to death, but this record is written in the sadness of death by our own hands rather than rejoicing in death as many metal bands choose to do.

Whenever I write a review, I like to ask myself, who is this record for? This record is for people who like fairly extreme metal and perhaps have a penchant for some industrial, but who want a break from senseless screaming and violence and would prefer to spend some time with some more thoughtful headbanging.

You Can't Spell Slaughter Without Laughter is available now - Click here to download it on iTunes.

I Set My Friends on Fire is a two-man experimental punk and metal band that melds genres in ways that nobody would ever call seemless. I'm not saying that's bad at all. Actually it's quite entertaining.... but it's abrupt also.

If you ever asked yourself, what happens when a couple of punks with a sense of humor get together and start writing music that at once showcases and makes fun of every genre of music that is popular today - including Pop, Hip-Hop, Rock, Metal, Hardcore, Death metal, Grind-Core, Hardcore, Punk, and every other genre you can add a "Core" to the end of. The end result is You Can't Spell Slaughter Without Laughter.

What is impressive about this album is that there are actually some good songs and melodies.... but there are also sections where there are death metal screams over pop-hip-hop beats. It's odd, but it's odd on purpose.

The band became famous by doing a hardcore/emo-core/grind-core cover of the party hit of the summer, "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" which they dubbed "Crank That Cavalry Boy." The cover sounds something like the Beastie Boys with a case of terrible food poisoning - but it's quite entertaining and the fans responded very well. The subsequent hit, HxC 2-Step is pretty awesome. I have never heard anyone explain exactly how to hardcore dance before - California punks could use an education from this song.

As you can probably tell from the description above, this record is not for everyone at all. I recommend you stop by iTunes and download a song or two for 99 cents. If it strikes your fancy, test out another song. Eventually, you may find yourself with the whole record.

Or you may vomit after the first listen. I don't really think the band would mind that reaction either.

Everything's Better in Space: Listening to Innerpartysystem
Innerpartysystem - Innerpartysystem In Stores September 30, 2008
By Jason Eskin

Nice, long title to start out this review - a real mouthful.

I'm going to be honest with you, the loyal reader. I'm going to be honest and say I was not a fan of Innerparty System before this review. I don't know any of their previous material. However, that doesn't seem to be too much of a problem because, according to Wikipedia, they only had one release before that and it was a self-recorded EP. So, I think my not knowing them before this release is irrelevant, so pipe it.

Anyway, you're reading this because you want to know what I thought of this album. Again, because you're such a loyal reader, I'm going to be honest with you: since last week, I've probably listened to this album about 10 times. Yep. 10. No lie. You know what happens each time? I start listening, start getting my schwerve on, then bam: I stop paying attention.

It's not that I don't like the album, it's that the appeal of Innerparty System comes from enjoying them in one of three conditions:

- Driving down the highway, in space
- You're at an Innerparty System concert, in space
- You're making love, IN SPACE

It comes from one of these three conditions (or a combination, OF ALL OF THEM), and not from listening to them at your desk, in an office- like I've been doing.

The singles off the album are good, "Heart of Fire" and "Don't Stop," they're good, I promise. But again, if you're at a desk, staring into a computer screen, you're probably going to stop paying attention. These aren't just techno beats without lyrics or diversity, they have both, and they exhibit them well. The songs on this debut are a little heavier than your average ambient techno music. It's actually on the heavier ones where you really hear the band come to life. The slow songs are perfect to put on while sleeping, in space.

So, what's the bottom line here, aside from this review being disjointed, awkward, and of very little help? The bottom line is this: the album itself is great background noise to a long night drive or something to got to sleep to. But, live, that's where I can really imagine this music coming to life. Don't be surprised if you see me at their next show, shaking my tight little ass during these hard, ambient beats.

Bleeding Through - Declaration
In Stores and Online September 30th
www.Myspace.com/BleedingThrough

Bleeding Through is the Rock fans' Metal-core band. They combine classic Death metal, orchestral Black metal and classic hardcore all in one sound. The result is not quite as niche as any of the three. They are a band for those who seek some heart and groove from their extreme metal bands.

For the most part, Bleeding Through avoids the "deeper-than-the-bassist" vocal growls of death metal, and the long cinematic orchestral meanderings of Black Metal (though they do dabble on Sister Charlatan). They also tastefully incorporate the "so-fast-it's-hardly-a-beat" drums of both genres. What sets Bleeding Through apart, is the incorporation of classic Hardcore Punk elements, ranging from their independent DIY style and ethics, to the crunchy guitar grooves and slow hardcore breakdowns at the bridge.

The resulting amalgamation of genres (I know, everyone brings together multiple genres these days), is one of the most accessible, yet still extreme metal albums of recent years. There is heart, there is groove, there is melody.

Now, I'm not claiming that, if you've never listened to Hardcore or metal you can jump straight from Mötley Crüe to Bleeding Through and just be converted instantly. But if you're looking for an interesting record to check out, and you've only dabbled in these genres before, maybe download a couple of songs and give it a shot. Recommended tracks are: "Reborn from Isolation" for an extreme, catchy groove, and the raging anger of "Seller's Market."

Take a listen and leave a comment to let us know what you think!

Available Everywhere September 16, 2008

There is a youthful exuberance that springs from this record - despite mature songwriting and even more mature, often progressive arrangements, there remains a playfulness that evident from the first track (and especially on the first track). From the moment singer John Gourley intones "Lay me back down, in a bed with a whole lot of people..." and then leads into his schoolyard sing-song "Bop-badada" melody we get a vibe for the stylistic home of this album. As one listens on, however, it gets deeper.

The subsequent songs, after the playful "Lay Me Back Down," are a journey of different emotions about life and death, love and loss, and the usual singer-songwriter subjects. What makes Censored Colors a worth-while listen is the delivery of the subject matters.

Modern sonic references for Portugal. the Man include Cold War Kids, My Morning Jacket, The Shins and Spoon amongst others. These references only really hold due to a commonality of influences and a penchant for heavy reverb. Portugal. the Man draws clear inspiration from the usual rock influences - the Beatles to Zepplin. They are set apart, however, by the Gospel/Blues/Soul (and a touch of Reggae) infusion, largely delivered by a backing choirs, lush orchestration and John Gourley's cherubic voice. This sound is best illustrated on the album's 4th track "Salt" as Gourley croons over a choir "This can't be all that we have..." Portugal. the Man never really ROCKS hard, tending more towards a subdued sound that grooves occasionally.

Censored Colors hits the stores tomororw. The bottom line here - if you like modern indie rock, good songwriting, a little bit of soul and some interesting lyrics. Go pick up this record.

Check out Portugal. the Man at Myspace by CLICKING HERE

Album Due out on September 9th on Epitaph Record
Listen to the whole thing now at www.MySpace.com/TheSoundofAnimalsFighting

I love to create impossibly anthropomorphic situations around bands: If Radiohead and Sigur Ros were to mate (don't ask me which is the female... I couldn't tell you), and their lovechild were raised on a commune populated by Tool, Mr. Bungle, Massive Attack, Beck, the Mars Volta and a Persian Spiritual leader - perhaps we would produce the Sound of Animals Fighting. Instead, this band comprises an amalgamation of such bands as the RX Bandits and Circa Survive amongst others.

The Ocean and the Sun is a sprawling, progressive album of seven minute songs and two minute interludes. There are spoken word sections, complex instrumental interludes and meaningful metaphoric meanderings - all of the things one would expect from a modern and youthful progressive rock project. What saves The Ocean and the Sun from crossing a line and being as pretentious as the first paragraph of this review is genuinely good songwriting.

Within the first minute of the second track (the first real song and title track of the record), there is an eirie, but instantly catchy melody. Upon continuing, one realizes that, through the instrumental acrobatics and complexities, there are genuinely good hooks here. These melodies and the pop sensibilities allow an emotional core to show that is often missed in progressive music.

The Sound of Animals Fighting, on paper, could very easily have been a group of young musicians attempting to stretch a little bit far beyond their musical means. Instead, we find a great melodic rock record with a little more focus on a journey and less focus on editing.

While it may not be music you want on in the background when you're trying to get laid (though occassionally it does work out that way), it is indeed a good idea to give it a listen.

And hey, you can listen to the whole record for free by CLICKING HERE!

Buy this Record Here
Check out My Ruin on Myspace Here

Let me say two things.

1. This record (and this band in general) are the epitome of Rock.
2. This record (and this band in general) is not for everyone.

What My Ruin does so well, is bring together an amalgamation of Rock, Hardcore, Old-school Punk and Metal in a way that many have tried but not many have achieved with this level of skill. The riffs throw back to Black Sabbath, the drums call out a more modern rock/metal sound and the vocals that are more akin to Hardcore a la Rollins era Black Flag.

I met this band on Friday night at the record release party (video interview coming SOON) and rather than tell you all about what I think of this record, I recommend you check it out for yourself. If what I described to you sounds appealing - go in with a positive attitude and you won't be disappointed. If all that I described sounds horrible to you, go in with an open mind - take a listen and see if it's for you.

Buy this Record Here
Find Xavier Rudd on Myspace

Xavier Rudd is quoted as saying "There's a lot of sunshine on this record." Dark Shades of Blue does not, for me, refer to blue music... but rather the shades at the depths of the ocean.

Xavier Rudd - activist, surfer and full-time self-proclaimed bare-footer - is an exceptionally creative and talented individual who delivers an impactful and spiritual but never stale or preachy performance throughout "Dark Shades of Blue." He deftly walks the lines of Folk, Rock and Reggae while incorporating elements of Dance and World music to more up-beat tracks.

To get a sense of what to expect from "Dark Shades of Blue" the best thing to do is take a walk down the strand in Venice, CA (or your equivalent surf town full of restaurants, music and street performers). Keep your ears open to the sounds of the world and you'll hear the influences of Xavier Rudd - people, living with the earth.

At times, this album does get a little repetative in sound as the songs jam-out a bit. For me, the absolute top stand-out tracks include the 6 minute Reggae jam "Secrets," the dancy rocker, "The World as We Know It" and the final folk anthem "Home."

Anti- records is one of my absolute favorite record labels. Under the Epitaph umbrella, they pride themselves on interesting, good music of many genres. While it may not be what we all think of as ROCK I will continue to bring you reviews from them as long as they're nice enough to send me more CDs to enjoy.