STABBED IN BACK / THE SCANDALS: Split EP New States: 7″

STABBED IN BACK is a melodic hardcore band from Albuquerque, New Mexico and was started in 2004. THE SCANDALS are a punk rock band from Bayonne, New Jersey and was started in 2004 as well. 

STABBED IN BACK starts off their two songs with “Under The Black Flag” a fast-paced punk song that has the band playing with a vengeance, with a great guitar solo, shouted vocals with some gang vocals, pummeling drums and throbbing bass add up to a killer start. “100 Proof” is a great cover of 88 FINGERS LOUIE and keeps the intensity up with inspired playing. Up next is THE SCANDALS with their first song “The Motions” which has a harder and heavier punk sound with gruff lead vocals, lots of gang vocals and woah-ohs, thick bass, thundering drums mixed with the rumbling bass, and tasty lead guitar playing. “Needle and Thread” has those great gruff vocals and lots of background vocals, plus more inspired guitar playing.

A really short, but well done four song single that has two bands complimenting each other’s styles and having every song being high quality, not just throw aways. Totally worth checking out, so go to the website, or have your favorite store order you a copy.

https://www.facebook.com/sibnm  http://stabbedinback.com/

https://www.facebook.com/NJscandals  http://thescandals201.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Dangrecordsmusic  http://www.dangrecordsmusic.com/

 

SAMUEL CALDWELL’S REVENGE: Nonstarter: CD

This quartet from Denton, Texas plays punk rock with hints of metal and hardcore and with tons of feeling. This EP shows off the huge amount of talent they have and the emotion that they wring out of every note.

“The Real Lost Boys Of Sudan” has a fantastic guitar sound right out of the scum rock bands like NASHVILLE PUSSY, and adds just a touch of sheen to the wicked leads to keep it a bit more metal, the rough vocals added to the ripping guitar really give it a nice punky, metallic gloss. “Inside Every Cynic is a Disappointed Idealist” has a more punk rock sound than the first song and keeps the great guitar playing in the hard rock / metal arena, the heavy drums mixed with the bass lock together for a kick ass punch that get you moving. “The Agents of Intolerance” goes further into punk mixed with hardcore and has enough energy to power an eighteen wheeler and has a ton of melody as well. “Roothogs” goes into the more metal end of the spectrum, but succeeds in not making it generic, but infusing it with guts and power. “Tea-Bagging America” is another metal influenced song with guitar playing that just devastates the landscape. These guys really show a lot of diversity on here with the ability to go from one genre into another and still make for a cohesive album. The level of their skill on this album shows that they have the right stuff to get songs locked into your head and make them stick.

This was a definite winner from start to finish and proves that punk rock can have a bunch of other pieces in it that still keep the punk rock going and will be a treat for people into metal as well, without going into metalcore or losing that punk edge. SAMUEL CALDWELL’S REVENGE put everything they have into this and the payoff is fantastic.

https://www.facebook.com/SamuelCaldwellsRevenge  https://www.facebook.com/Dangrecordsmusic

http://www.dangrecordsmusic.com/

PERDITION: Hispaniola: CD

This quartet from Fort Worth, Texas put out their debut ten song album filled with melodic punk and tons of humour, but they’re not just a bunch of goofs, they kick ass! With one great song after another, you can be sure that you will be smiling and rocking while listening to this album.

The album has raspy, melodic lead vocals, bouncing bass, roaring riffs and pounding drums all doing their part to give you an album that has catchy songs and captivating melodies that will have you hitting replay on this album. The band plays with heart and energy enough to give other bands a lesson in how to have fun. Although the songs are upbeat, the lyrics show a more down mood and give you a real insight to the real feelings and thoughts of the band, and making the songs not seem cynical or a drag is a definite talent that they exploit. The mix of the street punk and more melodic punk is a treat when played with the intensity and skill that PERDITION have in spades, especially because the songwriting is so good and the band truly sound like they love what they did on this album. “Gatorade Punch”, “Beartown”, “Cricket Dance”, “I Don’t Get Drunk, I Get Awesome”, “Why Buy the Cow When You Can Have the Sex for Free”, “Race For The Rabid”, and “El Oso” were great melodic punk / street punk influenced songs that got the thumbs up from me.

With the quality that PERDITION showed on this album, they are a definite crowd pleaser and have the ability to play more acoustic songs like “The Narwhal Bacons At Midnight” and the thoroughly epic “Bitch, I Hold Babies All the Time”. Grab this album, go see them if you can and support a band that truly is far from average, they really grab your attention and hold onto it.

https://www.facebook.com/theperdition  https://www.facebook.com/Dangrecordsmusic

http://www.dangrecordsmusic.com/