Casey Boland

Contributions

Underoath- Cries Of The Past

Cries Of The Past Underoath continue to hone their progressive-minded metalcore assault on 2000’s Cries Of The Past. It’s ironic to hear music owing much to such avowed atheistic death-metal bands as Death and Morbid Angel created by Christians. But it’s nearly impossible to discern any sentiments through the scratchy squall of Dallas Taylor’s screams and growls. Drummer Aaron Gillespie hints at the […]

Underoath- Act Of Depression

Act Of Depression It’s hard to recognize this early version of Underoath. Few could have predicted the impact this Floridian band would have on secular and Christian metalcore alike, especially with this debut. Act Of Depression introduces a young group focused on Christ and complex metal. Far from the melodic leanings of their later incarnation, this record seethes with the shrill shrieks […]

Circa Survive - The Inuit Sessions

Circa Survive The Inuit Sessions It’s hard to remember a time when Doylestown, Pennsylvania’s Circa Survive were better known primarily as ex-members of Saosin and This Day Forward. Such was the case when Equal Vision introduced the band with this limited (and now collectable) EP. On The Inuit Sessions, Circa Survive made loud and clear […]

Various Artists - Joan Of Arc Presents: Don't Mind Control

Joan Of Arc Presents: Don’t Mind Control Arguably among the most fearless of modern indie bands, Chicago's long-running Joan Of Arc refuse to follow traditional paths or formats. Paths and formats ineluctably lead to mediocrity or worse, and this is a group who'd rather risk failure than be boring. Don't Mind Control is not a […]

The Wooden Birds - Magnolia

Magnolia As the Wooden Birds, singer/songwriter Andrew Kenny continues the minimal, repetition-heavy moves he pursued in American Analog Set. Eschewing his former coterie's angular guitar sound, his Birds give flight to sparse, mostly acoustic material. Minimal percussion provides a firm backing to the sometimes-folk, sometimes-pop songs, all coated in Kenny's ethereal vocals. He sings fragile […]

Isis - Wavering Radiant

Wavering Radiant After a decade of mining for musical gold in the existential muck of human despair, Isis continue to evolve from their humble beginnings of Neurosis worship. Wavering Radiant continues the progression, introducing increased use of Rhodes piano and melodic vocals-welcome additions that sturdily balance the soul-smashing doom passages. Isis have beaten heaviness to death, and […]

Psyopus - Odd Senses

Odd Senses It takes a virtuosic level of instrumental prowess to make tech-metal compelling. Psyopus possess the skills, but, as the Steve Vais of the world prove, proficiency alone doesn't necessarily translate into edifying songs. Odd Senses consists of sonic bursts of varying speed haphazardly sewn together. It works in spots, like on the piercing guitar squalls […]

Nakatomi Plaza - Ghosts

Ghosts 19th century American author Horatio Alger taught us that hard work and persistence leads to great reward. This dictum has never been less applicable than to music. Oftentimes the hardest working and gifted bands go cruelly unnoticed. Such has been the case with recently defunct Brooklyn group Nakatomi Plaza. The band logged in serious […]

Kudrow - Lando

Lando EP One of the problems with contemporary punk is its distinct lack of regionalism. Whereas in its formative years location was nearly as pivotal to a band as it is to real estate, the internet effectively quashed the borders. Bands tend to make the same sounds and sing the same lyrics regardless of their […]
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