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10. The Loved Ones: This self titled EP was such a melodic rush mixture of The Explosion and Hot Water Music that I listened to it with a smile on my face the whole time. Jade Tree
9. Scout's Honor-Roots in Gasoline: Bands that get compared to Hot Water Music and Against Me! have really been catching my ear lately. All of these bands are so good, and so honest that you can't help but love them. Scout's Honor is a bit more raw than the previously mentioned bands, but that works in their favor. Thinker Thought Wrong
8. Wow, Owls!-Pick Your Pattern: The exclamation point really fits this band, as they jump right out at you with their chaotic style of hardcore that also features group vocals and a touch of dance. So good. The Perpetual Motion Machine
7. Comeback Kid-Wake the Dead: Such good hardcore, even though a lot of hardcore sites have given them shit for adding a bit more melody to their songs. I saw them play Metal Fest last year and they sounded exactly like Bane. Now they have an identity, so those sites can screw. Victory
6. Bright Eyes-I'm Wide Awake, Its Morning: This is an album that didn't disappoint at all. Conor Obrest returns with his depression hidden in instrumentation and a voice that isn't all that great, but adds to the sadness of the music. Saddle Creek
5. Brahman-A Forlorn Hope: So many punk rock styles that fit so well together. This Japanese band really blew me away when I first heard their album, and I'm still loving it today. They might want to stay out of China though, as they were pelted with beer bottles (there were 10,000 people where they played) because they were from Japan. Revelation
4. Buried Inside-Chronoclast: Jesus, this album is so fucking heavy. Its chaotic and has a bit of that Level Plane feel to it, but they just beat the hell out of their instruments, especially their drummer. Relapse
3. Smoke or Fire-Above the City: Such honest much coming from this Virgina band. If you're a fan of Hot Water Music or Avail, you'll want this. Fat
2. Doosh Bags-Holy Shit Not Again: This album features probably the best cover ever: a version of "Minority" by Green Day with lyrics changed to talk about having sex with minority women. They also give you songs about testicles, strip club addictions and other various perverted subjects. The music is punk rock as well and should appeal to all kinds of punks, at least the ones with a sense of humor. Porno Punk Productions
1. Paint it Black-Paradise: The album title says it all. These 28 minutes of music are pure hardcore paradise that could only be expected by Dan Yemin and company. Yes, they switched up their style slightly with longer songs and a touch of melody, but its still fucking incredible. Jade Tree
There were a couple other albums that I've really been digging that I haven't had a chance to review yet: The Academy Is-Almost Here and Converge-Petitioning the Empty Sky (reissue). Also check out Spitalfield-Stop Doing Bad Things, Gratitude, High on Fire-Blessed Black Wings and Crippler Cross Face-Where Did We Put That Dead Horse We've Been Beating?.
Written by: RF