Yellowcard Acoustic Video

Yellowcard released an acoustic video of their song "Telescope" off their latest album "Southern Air".

The video is frontman Ryan Key playing guitar and in the background are videos of Yellowcard back in the day. It's cool to see him reflecting on the past and the band's success and how far they have come.

The clips they play are really neat, they're jumping around and playing for these insane crowds. It's actually really punk rock and I love it.

As I Lay Dying New Album Stream

As I Lay Dying has grown to be as popular as bands like Slipknot, Killswitch Engage, and Lamb of God.  Today they released their latest record with Metal Blade Records titled "Awaken".

This album is seriously sick! I haven't really listened to these guys since I was in high school but after listening to the first couple tracks I am definitely going to buy this!

They have the entire album up online for free listening right here! If you love the unique beauty of metal then you will love As I's new album!!

ALSO!!!! Today there are tons of records being dropped other than this one.

Mumford and Sons has "Babel" up on iTunes with a deluxe edition that is over priced and the still overpriced regular one. It is cheaper if you get the normal album and then buy the 2 bonus tracks separately.

This or the Apocalypse released their sophomore album "Dead Years" (this is at a normal price, just fyi) and Showbread has their album "Cancer" up for free on Come & Live!'s website.

I bought all of these so I will be taking a listen to them this week and telling you guys what I think!

Thi'sl

So I am not really into rap or hip-hop but I really like this dude Thi'sl!

He has been involved in the rap scene since he was a kid and uses his music to convey the pain and struggles that he has been living in the inner-city of St. Louis, Missouri.

He has five free tracks available right here to promote his new album "We Are Blind" coming out on November 20th.

I really love his passion and that the listener can really feel what he is conveying. It's beautiful, it's poetry.

The Rocket Summer Fall U.S. Tour

The Rocket Summer is going on a fall United States tour and is bringing his friends The Classic Crime and William Becket.

The list of dates and venues is right here!

TSR's Bryce Avary will be promoting his latest 2012 project "Life Will Write the Words". He will most likely be performing his single "200,000" and will expect everybody to know the words.

I personally do not like TSR, I don't like his voice. In his single, I like the instrumental part but his lyrics and vocals just don't do it for me.

On the flip side, I adore The Classic Crime! Their music is brilliant, the lyrics are deep and raw, and Matt MacDonald's vocals are gorgeous.

They will be promoting their latest album "Phoenix" which they did independently with the help of Kickstarter and hundreds of donors.  Check out their song "Dead Rose".

My favorite video from these guys is "Abracadavars" from their sophomore record "The Silver Cord".

Then the opener of the tour is The Academy Is...'s William Beckett who has recently started doing his own solo work. He released his second EP titled "Winds Will Change" this year.

At this link you can listen to his full EP for free! It sounds pretty good so hopefully he will be able to survive on his own independent label and flourish as an artist.

Uprise Festival and The Reckoning Tour

                                                                  Oh, Sleeper      

 Wolves at the Gate

Switchfoot

This past weekend I went to Uprise Festival in Shippensburg and right after the festival I hit up The Reckoning Tour put on by Needtobreathe to promote their new album. So I'm going to talk about the festival first and then the concert!

Uprise Festival: At this 2 day festival I got to see almost all of my favorite bands which was totally worth the $50 for my ticket!

On the first day I saw Switchfoot perform and they were awesome as always! They played a lot of songs from their latest album Vice Verses like "Where I Belong", "War Inside", and "Restless".

After they finished the frontman, Jon Foreman put on an acoustic set which I LOVED!! He did a lot of unreleased songs that he will be putting out on the new Fiction Family album, coming out...someday. He played a few songs from his Seasons EPs from a few years back which was really cool.

The next day the event opened up with Wolves at the Gate and they were amazing! I love seeing them and chatting with them after the show. Seriously, the nicest guys ever.

After them Nine Lashes, Flatfoot 56, Project 86 played. P86 was fantastic by the way, their new songs are sick!

Oh, Sleeper was the last band I saw at the festival and by far my favorite show! They have been my favorite for 2 years and they certainly live up to that title in my mind. Frontman, Micah Kinard was beautiful and his screaming was wonderful. He has so much talent.

The Reckoning Tour: This show was the icing on the cake for my show filled weekend. Needtobreathe KILLED it. They had sold out the venue and they rightfully did.

They had an incredible stage set up with fancy lights and typewriter keys that lit up that said "The Reckoning".

Every member of the band was spot on with notes, harmonies, and general stage presence. They ooze talent and put on an amazing show. If you haven't gotten a chance to see them you seriously should consider it. You will not be disappointed.

Here are some pictures taken from the show taken by a girl I work with!!


Random Stuff: I am SO SO SO psyched!!! This blog has reached 405 views today I can't even believe it. I just made this so that I could practice writing and people are actually glancing at it.

Thank you for reading!! I really, really appreciate it.

Of Monsters and Men New Video

Of Monsters and Men released their latest music video on Friday from their current album "My Head is an Animal".

"Mountain Sound" is the title and the video is simply them playing at a large outdoor venue.

This Icelandic folk group is currently on tour and will be making their rounds in Iceland (duh), Sweden,  Canada, the United States (YAY!), the United Kingdom, and the rest of Europe.

Check out their Facebook (which is linked above) for dates and tickets!

This or the Apocalypse

This or the Apocalypse is a metal band from my home state of PA and they are releasing their sophomore record, Dead Years on 9/25 with eOne Entertainment.

I just listened to their first single from the album "In Wolves" and it is sick!

They have been together since '08 and released their first project "Haunt What's Left" in 2010. Here is their awesome video for their single, "Subverse".

Their fans have been patiently waiting for the release of this album since it's been 2 years since they've put anything new out.  The album will hopefully satisfy all of the hungry appetites for something fresh.

To pre-order the album and choose from various packages (t-shirts, a shot glass (?), and a backpack) right here!

Love and Death

Love and Death has just been signed to Tooth and Nail Records!

This hard rock band that Brian "Head" Welch, the former guitarist of Korn, has put together has been touring and playing at festivals since 2010 has finally gotten their big break.

Head's haunting vocals and his bands' powerful guitar and drums all come together on their latest EP Chemicals (available on iTunes and Spotify).

Personally, I have seen them twice and it is just not my cup of tea. Yes, I love music that is depressing, raw, and rock solid but this is too much for me.

I love Head as a person, I've heard his life story and think that he is a very true individual. But his music is just not for me.

But don't let my negative comments dissuade you from checking out their stuff though!

Check out their "Chemicals" music video!

My Heart to Fear on Solid State Records

Really, really, really stoked for these guys in My Heart to Fear! I did a previous blog entry about them if you want to check that out (it's under the August tab)!

Yesterday they announced that they have joined the Solid State Records family and will coming out with their EP "Lost Between Brilliance and Insanity" on November 20th.

This is the link to more about the EP here and their classy biography here!

I've seen them grow up and really develop as a band since 2008 when they played at an event my home church put on. I even went to youth group with the lead guitarist throughout high school (second dude on the left). So finally seeing them catch this huge break is incredible.

Best of luck guys!

The Vespers

The Vespers are a quartet of folk glory! The sisters, Callie and Phoebe Cryar and brothers Bruno and Taylor Jones create beautiful music together with banjo, harmonizing vocals, upright bass, and a few other instruments.

The four friends just released their most recent music video for "Lawdy" off their latest project, "The Fourth Wall".  Trust me, it's brilliant.

I have seen them live twice and was swept away by their undeniable talent. I am still confused how they haven't been signed yet.

Here is a 6 minute documentary that they put together about their band, if you're interested about learning more.

Here are a few more videos for you to enjoy:
"Cotton Field" Live (don't worry it doesn't sound awful)
"Flower Flower"

Underoath

Underoath the post-hardcore legends are releasing some vinyl records of their earlier projects, "Changing of Times" and "Chasing Safety".

At their online store you are choose from their album and there are also multiple bundles if you are a huge Oath fan.

If I had a record player I would be getting "Chasing Safety" in a heartbeat! This band is what got me into the hard music scene in the first place.

I would constantly play "Define the Great Line" which plunged me into exploring other hardcore bands. That album is now one of my favorites of all time.

Here are some of their awesome videos!
"Writing on the Walls"
"In Regards to Myself"
"You're Ever So Inviting"

The Overseer

The Overseer just released their newest music video for the song "Absolve" off their 2012 project "We Search, We Dig".

This quartet of Arkansas natives are one of the newest bands to be signed to Solid State Records and are still getting their feet off the ground in the metal music scene.

Their full-length is of the hardcore genre and really gets the listener pumped up. If you are looking for an adrenaline boost, this is a band you want to check out.

At Creation Festival this summer, I got the chance to chat with the frontman, Anthony Rivera and drummer, Abishai Collingsworth when I was at the festival. They were super nice guys and I really enjoyed talking with them both.

Their show that night was awesome! They got the entire crowd moving even though most were not familiar with their material.

This fall they will be on tour with: The Color Morale, Of Mice and Men, and August Burns Red. You can check out tour dates by clicking here.

This is going to be a seriously sick tour, if you're going I am completely jealous.

New Found Glory

New Found Glory has been in the punk music scene for 10 years now and they are more than excited about celebrating it with their fans.

In honor of this anniversary, they are touring the States with The Story So Far, Seahaven, and Candy Hearts. This tour is particularly special because they will be playing their first album "Sticks and Stones" the entire way through!

For show dates check out their site!

They are having a pre-sale for tickets on September 6th at 12pm (which ever time zone the venue is in) and then the general sale will being on the 13th.

Get your tickets while they're still available! The show should be sick.

Flyleaf "New Horizons" Video

Today the band Flyleaf just released their newest music video for their single "New Horizons".

The song and video is completely different from their previous work. The scenes are not dark or crazy, they are playing in a room and frontwoman, Lacey is in the middle of their circle. Then at the end it goes to her outside with plants and her husband and baby (yeah, totally wasn't aware she was a mother) sitting on a blanket.

After seeing the video it has given me no hope in the band continuing with their harder sound. I loved Flyleaf for Lacey being raw in her vocals and lyrics and this track lacks all of those things.

Hey, maybe I'm wrong! Maybe when their third album comes out I'll be blown away but until then I remain disappointed.

UPDATE!!! So I have had this song on repeat for about 10 minutes now and it is really growing on me. Maybe this less edgy Flyleaf isn't too bad.