All of a Kind

Wow. Just wow. Thats all that really needs to be said about this next band (which also hail from New Jersey).

All of a Kind are really a one of a kind. Their music is pop/rock but they sound like awesomeness baked into a cake. Some of their songs remind me of Dispatch if Dispatch did this type of music. This is the first band that I’ve come across that’s had a full album to show off. After listening to the album, I was absolutely blown away. It’s a beautiful masterpiece of well written songs, brilliant harmonies, and sensational singing. If i didn’t know any better I’d say that these guys were music majors.

The album opens up with “Rosas”, a song that features some really nice A Capella before diving into the an unforgettable drum beat and then the album just takes off from there. I don’t know why I keep making this connection, but the chorus of this song really reminds me of “The General” by Dispatch. Anywho, the rest of the album just gets better from there on out. There’s one point in a song where no one is playing at all and it’s just Chris (the singer) and he’s absolutely wailing it like Robert Plant in a Zeppelin tune. Overall their album, “Tired Times for Relevance” is brilliant. The production is as solid as the playing. It’s really good stuff that ALL OF YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT!!!

Right as I was about to write this review, I get an email from Chris telling me he just posted links to a covers EP that his band did.  The songs they covered are all diverse and far removed from what they normally do with their music. They covered “5 O’Clock” by T-Pain, “Grand Theft Autumn” by Fall out Boy and “(You Drive Me) Crazy” by Brittany Spears.  If you want my opinion on covers, you can look at my review on the new Counting Crows album, but overall, if the band are able to make it their own and still sound good and relevant, then it works for me. That being said, they totally nailed these covers. My favorite part is during the Fall out Boy tune, where they take the final chorus up a fifth. It sounds awesome.

Bottom line, you guys have to check this band out. As long as you’re a fan of music, then you’ll love this band. You can check out their facebook page or some of these other links that i have so generously posted below because I know how lazy people are:

reverbnation.com/allofakind1
allofakind1.bandcamp.com

These guys are looking for some summer dates so please help them out.

Luke Helker

War of Ages: Return to Life

Represent Pennsylvania Yo!!

Arguably one of (if not) the best christian metalcore band around right now, War of Ages have just released another magnificent record. Return to Life is definitely going to be a fan favorite. When they released the first single, “Redeemer”, I knew this was going to be something well worth listening to. Now that I’ve heard the full album I think it’s AMAZING!

I’m not religious at all and the idea of christian metal music may strike people as being an oxymoron, but when I hear bands like these guys, Demon Hunter, For Today, and I the Breather, I can’t help but feeling some sort of spiritual connection. They’re all just sooooo good.

There’s nothing new really going know with how War of Ages sound and what they do on record, but that’s totally ok. I don’t think we would want it any other way with them. When you’ve got songs like “Redeemer”, “Psalms”, “Fallen Idol” and “Silent Night”, I think fans will be just fine with this record.

Because I’m not terribly religious and not the best authority on what religious music is all about, I asked my friend Billy Wilson, a die-hard War of Ages and metal fan like myself,  his opinion on the new War of Ages record. He said:

“It makes my nipples hard and gives me a boner all at once.”

He also said, “War of Ages’ songwriting just keeps getting better and more mature. I can’t wait to see them keep growing.”

I think both responses sum up the album in a nutshell quite well.

If you read my review on Demon Hunter’s new album, I said that that was another really strong christian metalcore album and worthy of being in my top 20, well now that I’ve heard this album, it looks like my top 20 is going to be filled with these bands tis year. War of Ages, Demon Hunter, and I the Breather have all released really strong records this year and I’m sure For Today will follow through as well. This is going to make this year a really tough year to list.

Luke Helker

Cancer Bats: Dead Set on Living

This is the newest release from Canadian hardcore band, Cancer Bats.

I’ve always been a fan of this band ever since I found out about them although their first two albums always felt like the band were bridesmaids and not the bride, if that makes sense. Then Bears, Mayors, Scraps, and Bones came out and that changed everything. That album was one of the best records of 2010 and finally established Cancer Bats for what they are as a band. This new album isn’t as good in my opinion, but its still a close second.

Liam of Cancer Bats stated that this album is more “upbeat’ than Bears, Mayors, Scraps, and Bones and I can totally agree with that. For a band that’s more inspired by bands like Fleet Foxes rather than contemporary hardcore bands, there’s a lot going on this record. I’ve always thought the hardest thing about most hardcore bands is getting the gnarly-ness and ferocity of their live shows on record. Cancer Bats did it before with Bears… and I’d say they did it again with Dead Set on Living.

The two singles on this album, “Road Sick” and “Old Blood” are some of the best songs this band had written even though I’d say “Road Sick” is one of the weaker songs on this record. But, as always, there are so many more great songs to go crazy over. The opening track “RATS”, which features Rob Urbinati of Sacrfice on it, is a real fist-pumper of a tune. “Bastards” and “Breathe Armageddon” are also huge tunes!!

About a week ago, Cancer Bats did one of the most metal things you could ever do. They played six shows in london in one day, but here’s the catch! If you googlemaps London, the venues they played make the shape of a pentagram!! You can’t get much more metal than that?!?!

Overall, it’s heavy, it’s brilliant, it’s catchy, and I seriously doubt you’ll hear anything else quite like this in 2012. If you’re a fan of hardcore music at all, you HAVE to check it out (although I’m sure every fan of hardcore is already well aware of what Cancer Bats are all about). It’s a fucking great record from one of Canada’s heaviest bands.

Luke Helker

Defamation

Born in Asia and raised by ducks, Defamation are a heavy metal band  that currently reside in Orange County and  really have a good thing going for them. They’re super tight with lots of galloping bass drums with some Avenged Sevenfold influenced guitar melodies and last, but not least, a singer to wrap it all up beautifully with his snarling vocals and impressive melodic choruses.
My personal favorite song of theirs has to be “Apotheosis” because I feel like this song best demonstrates who they are as a band.

One thing about them that really stood out to me was what they posted on their information section of their facebook page:

Our mission is to bring a message of love and to restore peace and harmony to the world through our music. We believe that a better world is worth fighting for. We have been working very hard in order to reach everyone who is willing to listen. As a band, we want to create an environment that makes our fans as much a part of our music as we are.

To me, I think that’s amazing. It’s that kind of attitude where, even if you’re not a good band, I feel like you should still go far. Fortunately, these guys have both, the right attitude and some really strong tunes to back them up. What really amazes me is that they’ve only been seriously performing and writing music since 2011! They’re really making leaps and bounds and I applaud them on their current accomplishments and their EP. Please check out their EP. It’s called The Defamation EP and you get via Soundcloud, itunes, facebook, etc. Below are some links:

 

http://www.facebook.com/defamationofficial

http://soundcloud.com/defamationofficial
http://www.youtube.com/defamationofficial
http://www.defamation.bandcamp.com

Now go check them out. If you’re a fan of heavy metal like me, then there’s absolutely no reason for you not to enjoy listening to this band. Buy their EP; it’s well worth it.

Luke Helker

Departures

Here we have another band from Jersey already making some waves in the punk rock community. They formed in 2009 and since then have gone to tour with the likes of New Found Glory and Crime in Stereo, two very big names in that category.

The band also recorded an EP with John Naclerio, who is known for working with Polar Bear Club, Brand New, and My Chemical Romance. If that’s not credentials for you then I don’t know what is. I mean, this band are already halfway there and with the aforementioned EP ‘Without Fear” out now for purchasing, I’d say they’re well on their way getting on some more sizable tours, venues, etc.

If you like any of the bands mentioned at all then there’s no reason not to like this band. They’ve got great songs, a great punk rock ethic meshed with the more modern deliverance of that style of music. They’d be a perfect band to enjoy in the early stages of a Warped Tour gig. They can get the crowd going and are really upbeat but can get down and dirty if they have to.

Here are a few links for you to check out. Please do because I feel like we might hear more from these guys in a few short years.

http://wearedepartures.com
http://wearedepartures.com/store
http://myspace.com/DeparturesNJ
http://twitter.com/DeparturesNJ
http://www.purevolume.com/DeparturesNJ

They also have a facebook page for you to check out as well. Out of all the bands so far, these guys are the only one’s who are expressing serious interest in a possible interview date. For all of you who have contacted me or haven’t contacted me yet, if you guys want interviews and the whole nine yards, i’ll do what I can to give it to you. All you gotta do is ask.

Until next time,

Luke Helker

100th Post

Hey guys,

I’m pleased to say that this is my 100th post thus far. This truly a milestone for me as a writer and I thank all of you who read my reviews and such on a consistent basis. I hope you all join me on my journey as I add more posts to this site. I plan on purchasing the rights to this domain as well so “Hear Me Out” can officially be mine. Please take this time to share your own opinions on what you think about this site. What do you like/dislike about the things I say and do on this site? What would you see me write about more or less of? etc.

Please keep reading and please keep in touch

Luke Helker

Jack White: Blunderbuss

Jack White = Brilliant. Period.

This is White’s debut album as a solo artist and I gotta say it’s an excellent piece of work. Ever since the White Stripes, Jack has kinda hidden in a few other bands like The Dead Weather where the songwriting was more of a collaborative process. This is all Jack White and it’s Jack White at his finest. It’s the best thing he’s ever put his name on since The White Stripe’s 2003 release of Elephant. It’s probably his most expansive album since as well. His lyrical prowess continues to dominate the record and the musicianship and songwriting abilities of this man are nothing short of unbelievable. He really knows how to cut a person down yet build you back up again wanting more by the end of the record.

Every track is a stand out track. “Love Interruption” is the big single, but songs like “Sixteen Saltines”, “Blunderbuss” and a brilliant cover of the R&B staple “I’m Shakin” by Little Willy John. There’s a lot going on this record and it’s very dynamic and covers a lot of genres. There’s elements of country, funk, R&B, folk, alternative, and even punk. There’s also a wide array of instruments supporting this including a mandolin, steel pedal, fiddle, and much more.

That’s another thing worth talking about – his backup band or the Nashville Cats. Even though this is “Jack White” it’s not a “Jack White and friends” type of record. Everybody in the rest of the band contribute immensely to the overall sound and if you didn’t have these guys, the album would have no weight to it. There’s a lot going on and the band provide the best possible backdrop for everything that Jack White is preaching.

Overall, this record is exactly how Jack wanted it and as a fan, it’s exactly what we want. It gets stranger, yet much more fascinating as the album progresses and doesn’t hold back at all. If you like anything White has done in the past, you’ll absolutely love this. He’s not the type of person to hang around a particular musical niche for a long time, so everything is new and exciting and he never fails to be brilliant.

You can definitely expect to see this album in my Top 20 for 2012.

Luke Helker

Andare

Named after the Italian word fro “travel”, Andare, a local Pittsburgh hardcore band are trying to evoke new emotions and push the boundaries of their creativity within their niche by combing hardcore/metal music with some ambient influences. If you like any form of hardcore music with metal influences at all, you’re bound to like this band.

The best part about reviewing all of these local bands is that they’re all really good. Regardless of their genre, each of these bands have a lot to offer and have some really good songs. Andare are no different. Their sound is super tight thanks to their rhythm section. The guitars slice through like a hot knife in butter, but also provide a melodic backdrop for everything else thats going on rhythmically as well as vocally. Say what you want about that shouty-hardcore-scream type of singing, the fact of the matter is though that it’s extremely emotional and accents the music perfectly. This guy can also do some deep metal vox too, which is always a plus in my book. Overall, it’s kinda difficult to say they sound like this or remind me of that because there’s a lot in their music that sums up what they are and I feel like they’re really influenced by whatever local scene is thriving in Pittsburgh at the moment.

For most of you in the lancaster area reading this, Andare have performed with Belie My Burial, a popular band that have made a significant impact in the local hardcore scene here at Lancaster, so thats a great reason to check this band out. You can do so by going onto their facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/Andareband, and checking them out. This band would favor extremely well if they were to come to Lancaster, so hopefully we’ll be seeing much more of them. Like I said though, they’re based out in Pittsburgh so that’s not the easiest of journeys. Andare have a couple gigs coming up though, which you should check out regardless of wether you’re near Pittsburgh or not (just make sure you don’t wear a Flyers jersey). You can find more information about their shows, their music, etc. on their page, which I highly recommend doing.

Peace out!!

Luke Helker

Lost in the Middle

Lost in the Middle, a D-I-Y rock band from South Carolina, are looking to gain some more exposure and some industry support.

To me, they sound like a mixture of Staind and Tool. Say what you want about Staind, but Staind are a really good band (if you don’t believe me, listen to their self-titled record) and Tool are obviously Tool. But being compared to Tool is high praise, so is it really worth it to say that about this band? A little bit. The vocals are undeniably like Aaron’s of Staind and the music is fairly progressive. There’s heavy bits and slow bits within the songs and there’s definitely a lot going on within a short time frame.

They’ve a facebook page where you can check out they’re music as well as a reverbnation page:

www.facebook.com/lostinthmiddle

www.reverbnation.com/lostinthemiddle,

One bit of constructive criticism though. This may just be me, but I feel as though the production is lacking on the tracks that I’ve heard. If you listen to Tool, everything is a)mathematically precise and b) clean as a whistle, and half of that comes from really good album production. When you have bad production, your songs don’t get their message across and no one pays attention to what’s actually going on with the music. In the song “Tell Me How” the guitar amp clips and you hear it plain as day.

Once that is cleaned up then I feel they could really go somewhere. The band have already had quite a number of gigs around their area, so they’re off to a good start. Now they just need a record out. Trust me, I know how hard it is. I’m rooting for all these bands out here and this is one way I’m trying to help all these guys out. But I can’t do it alone. I need all of you reading this to go to these pages, like them, and follow through and spread the word and everything.

Good job guys. Keep up the good work.

Luke Helker

Mike Giordano

Mike Giordano is a singer/songwriter/producer based out in NY “with overwhelming talents and a voice that will swift you off your feet” (facebook “about”). While I think that “swift” should be changed to sweep, I wouldn’t argue with that claim in the slightest. This guy is extremely talented and could certainly be a force to be reckoned with. The music he plays is pop-indie blend, but his voice is unlike any other.

It’s almost like you’re listening to your favorite post-hardcore band like A Day to Remember or something and then there’s an acoustic track and you think to yourself, ‘man, he can really fucking sing’. That’s exactly what I thought when I was listening to “Letting Go”. It reminded me of when I first listened to A Day to Remember’s Homesick with that song “If it Means that Much to You” closing out the album. That’s not the best analogy and I’m not trying to compare Mike to Jeremy, but you get the idea. This guy can sing to the stars and then some more.

If you go on his facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/MikeGioMusic) you’ll find to tracks of his to check out and enjoy. The first is “Letting Go”, which is delivered solo acoustic, but I feel like the song really lends itself well to a backing band. The other track, “Runaway” features some percussion in the background as he strums his ukulele. Classic chill-out song and perfect summer anthem. Strike that. BOTH songs are perfect summer anthems.

As a musician/songwriter, he’s got some mighty fine chops. There are tons of hooks and the tunes are really catchy. The voice helps to bring it on home, but a voice is meaningless unless the words that he’s singing have some truth and conviction to them and he totally has all of the wrapped up in a little bow I like to call production. In a world where everyone can be their own producer nowadays, Mike is definitely displaying his abilities behind a mixing board with these songs and I think the songs are very well produced.

All he really needs are more fans to support him….that’s your cue to come in and take over. Check out his stuff and even if he doesn’t quite tickle your fancy, then please keep spreading the word.

Thanks guys

Luke Helker