Review: Guardrail – Yikes

Adam Grundy Sep 29, 2020

The Chicago-based band Guardrail has self-described themselves as “Diet Punk” since they are heavily influenced by punk bands, yet their sound doesn’t stray too far into that genre. Lucky for them, genre lines continue to get blurred in today’s scene and it matters very little what category a band gets placed in as long as they continue to write good music. The band is comprised of Kevin Andrew (vocals), Ken Ugel (guitar), Alyssa Laessig (bass, vocals), and Doug Brand (drums) who each bring their own strengths directly back into their sound. Guardrail reminds me of the melodic, guitar-driven rock of bands such as Autopilot Off, The Bouncing Souls, and Fenix TX. Comparisons aside, they have delivered a well-crafted new EP called Yikes that directly examines the pitfalls of growing up.

Adam Grundy Sep 28, 2020

Flash back to the year 2000, and a group of awkward young 20-ish-year-olds were looking for their own voice in a crowded punk field. What made Good Charlotte so charming was their ability to speak to the misfit youth of America by connecting directly to the underdogs of the world. They made this clear on their first radio single, “Little Things” with the spoken introduction of, “This song is dedicated / To every kid who ever got picked last in gym class / To every kid who never had a date to no school dance.” The band made it clear that they were making this type of music for the outcasts of the world, and they had the musical chops to back up what they wanted to accomplish. It never came across as a “gimmick” or an act, and their authenticity is what led to a lot of their future success.

Adam Grundy Sep 21, 2020

It’s amazing to think how much things can change in just 20 years time. Bands form and can run their course over that period, whereas some of the best bands can stand the test of time by reinventing themselves over and over again. Enter AFI, who would continue to evolve and release some of the best melodic punk rock of this decade with this record. The Art of Drowning feels just as immediate, punishing, brooding, and essential as it did on its release via Nitro Records in the start of 21st century. Black Sails in the Sunset marked a smaller musical turning point for the band, as they began to explore some darker elements, and featured some new band members in Jade Puget (guitar) and Hunter Burgan (bass). But The Art of Drowning would remain the album that changed this band’s life for the foreseeable future. This core lineup would go on to record some of the more quintessential Gothic punk rock that future bands would try to emulate for years to come.

Adam Grundy Sep 17, 2020

Sundressed was originally formed by lead vocalist Trevor Hedges in 2012 out of necessity to battle his quest for sobriety. After some soul searching and through the addition of a few more band members, the band were signed to international label Rude Records to record a full-length record with producer Mike Pepe. The songs that would become Home Remedy became an almost cathartic experience for Hedges and his bandmates, as they crafted songs that directly give back to their core influences. Hedges mentioned in a recent interview about the new record that, “Home Remedy is a record about getting better by any means necessary. Despite many setbacks, I truly believe we were able to make our most authentic and honest record yet.” Sundressed remind me of the early Drive-Thru Records bands that were searching for their own voice in their early works, with equally pleasing results.

Adam Grundy Sep 10, 2020

The former American Idol Season 7 winner, David Cook, is back with a great new single and video for “Reds Turn Blue.” In this track, Cook dives head first into the manic highs and lows of anxiety, and lyrical material solidifies his path to dealing with his anxiety in therapeutic modes such as songwriting. In a recent interview with People, he mentioned that, “This song became a therapeutic process for me, as a way to personify my anxiety and make it something other than me — which in an odd way has helped me navigate my relationship with it.” David Cook is currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on his yet to be named next full-length record.

Adam Grundy Sep 7, 2020

My memories surrounding Anberlin’s fifth studio album, Dark is the Way, Light is a Place is kind of a mixed bag of emotions. While on one hand, I found the aggressive and darker tones to the music presented here as a nice change of pace from the brighter material that came before this, I couldn’t help but feel like some of the lyrics on this record were a tad too repetitive to connect with me on a deeper level. Anberlin worked on this record with veteran hit-maker Brendan O’Brien, and under his watchful eye, the band was able to create some of their best material as well. From the brilliant first single “Impossible” to the thoughtfully-crafted “Take Me (As You Found Me),” the band appeared to be hitting the right groove in the latter stages of their career. While some fans of the band regard this album as a rare misstep in the band’s evolution, I feel like Anberlin were at the cusp of something incredible during this moment in time. When asked about the possible impact of this record, Stephen Christian replied in one interview, “I feel like we’re on the brink of something…either world domination or destruction, but either way we’re on the brink.” By pushing themselves to the brink of creativity, the band have made an album that fits nicely into their storied discography.

Adam Grundy Sep 4, 2020

Barely Civil would be hard-pressed to find a more aptly titled moniker for their sophomore record as they explore the quest of discovering what it means to let go of the parts of themselves that no longer fit and move forward in this crazy thing called life. I’ll Figure This Out in many ways is an investigation into what it means to belong to something bigger than yourself, and finding ways to cope with both the good and bad that comes up. The album was produced by Chris Teti (TWIABP, Fiddlehead), and he does a masterful job of getting the best out of the band. The record’s highs seem bigger and brighter, whereas the lows of the LP hit home harder and have a lasting impact on the listener. The Wisconsin-based band have created a record that comes at a perfect time, as it will likely carry us through the uncertain fall and winter seasons as we say goodbye to this abysmal year.

Adam Grundy Aug 27, 2020

Amber Bain, or better known as the band The Japanese House, is ready to bare her soul in order to get listeners to feel something. From the cover art of the Chewing Cotton Wool EP to the music, it all feels very symbolic. It’s almost as if Bain is saying, “This is me. This is the pound of flesh that you are getting, whether you wanted it or not.” It’s all a very powerful artistic statement for her to get this comfortable with herself in laying everything out there for the world to evaluate and unpack.

Bain has never been a stranger to releasing her music in the form of an EP to continue to engage her audience in her evolution as an artist. The Japanese House moniker released several EPs leading up to the proper full-length debut, Good at Falling. I first heard of The Japanese House through recommendations from friends mentioning this up and coming artist that incorporated synth elements into a unique rock, pop, and indie-styled songwriting package. I wasn’t expecting the Good at Falling record to end up being my favorite LP in 2019, and finding a new artist that I felt like was transcending the expectations of what a solo artist can accomplish. Chewing Cotton Wool is a short collection of four songs that continues Bain’s evolution as an artist willing to take risks to leave haunting stamps in our memory through her music.

Adam Grundy Aug 24, 2020

A few days ago I was able to have a conversation with Ali of Fear No Empire, and we chatted about why he decided to form a new, politically-charged rock band after so many years with pop-punk band Zebrahead. Fear No Empire is Ali Tabatabaee – Vocals (Zebrahead,) Ben Ozz – Bass (Zebrahead,) Dan Palmer – Guitar (Zebrahead, Death By Stereo,) and Mike Cambra – Drums (The Adolescents, Death by Stereo and Common War). Their new single, “Revolt” captures their punk rock spirit with some hip-hop elements thrown into the mix. During my conversation with Ali, we discussed the formation of this new band, what makes Fear No Empire unique, and the recording process of their new self-titled EP that will be released this October.

Adam Grundy Aug 20, 2020

Today I’m happy to share with you the exclusive video premiere of “The Worst Part of December,” the great new single by Barely Civil. Frontman Connor Erickson had this to say about the direction of the record, “I feel like our music revolves around the process of analyzing who we are and where we come from. Possibly, even, where we belong.”

Barely Civil’s new album, I’ll Figure This Out, will be released on September 4th via Take This to Heart Records. Pre-orders are now up.

Adam Grundy Aug 18, 2020

The sophomore EP from Buffalo, New York emo-rockers Wild Once expands upon their ideas they tinkered with on their debut, with mostly favorable results. Much like their debut, Perennials, their heart on their sleeve lyrics mesh well with the indie rock sound brought forth by the four-piece band. Led by vocalist/guitarist Tom Mayer, his prominent take on songwriting makes for an overall enjoyable listening experience. Wild Once is rounded out by guitarist Anthony Granica, bassist Jay Fritzius, and drummer Matt Bratcher, and each of these musicians brings plenty to the table. We Did It Anyway was recorded in late 2019 with producer Jay Zubricki (Every Time I Die, Beach Slang), but due to the on-going pandemic, they mostly shelved the promotion cycle of this EP until quietly releasing it for their fans this past Friday. This collection of five songs mesh well together and showcase the improvements of the band as they move forward in their career.

Adam Grundy Aug 13, 2020

Anytime we can get new music from Acceptance it feels like a treat. Having waited for over ten years between full-length albums in Phantoms and Colliding by Design, the fact that the band is releasing new tunes semi-regularly now feels almost surreal. The Wild EP couldn’t have come at a better time, as 2020 has left us wondering what else could go wrong in the world around us. This particular record covers some new territory for the band as they have regained a lot of the momentum that was lost during their hiatus, and they pick up right where they left off from their last LP. Whereas Colliding By Design reintroduced their band to the world, Wild showcases what Acceptance are capable of creating when the pressure is on them to deliver.

Adam Grundy Aug 10, 2020

A couple weeks ago I was able to chat with Alex Basovskiy (Vocalist/Guitarist) of a new band called Only Sibling. We talked about his band’s new album Get Well Soon, the struggles of promoting a new record during a pandemic, unique memories from the recording process of the LP, and what fans can expect from the band when they’re able to get back on the road. Get Well Soon will be available everywhere music is sold this Friday via Other People Records.

Adam Grundy Jul 31, 2020

There was a time when we all really didn’t know if we would ever get another Neon Trees album. After the release of their excellent third studio album in 2014, Pop Psychology, the band took a lengthy hiatus. Front-man Tyler Glenn released a solo album in 2016 that detailed his internal struggle with religion and his sexuality called Excommunication. There were a few teasers of new music from the band in the form of one-off singles such as “Feel Good” and “Songs I Can’t Listen To,” but no further announcements of them working towards anything concrete. The song “Used To Like” made its appearance out of nowhere in the middle of November, and that sparked a newfound interest in the band after so much time away. As shitty as a year as 2020 has been, we give our thanks to Neon Trees for making a brilliant comeback album called I Can Feel You Forgetting Me. This album is a collection of songs detailing the heartbreak in Tyler Glenn’s personal life and possibly a dual meaning of making their longtime fans remember the band they fell in love with in the first place. The vibes set forth on this LP teeter on the verge of a nighttime summer album, and the songs lend themselves well to the lofty expectations placed upon themselves in the legacy of their discography.

Adam Grundy Jul 27, 2020

The Richmond, Virginia pop-punk band Broadside have been through some intense changes in their lives, and they are still alive to tell the tale on Into The Raging Sea. Lead vocalist Oliver Baxxter looked inward for inspiration on this latest chapter on his band’s journey to finding their own voice in the crowded punk scene. The themes of overcoming the odds, growing up, and finding inspiration for a “rebirth” of sorts are prevalent on this record. When asked about his plan for overcoming all of the past heartache and the current state of his life, Baxxter said, “From the very beginning, my attitude was: I don’t have shit to look forward to, and everything behind me is trash, so I’m going to make myself the hero of my own story. I’ve always known struggle. As I get older, it’s more mental than physical, but it’s always there.” By taking his own lumps and persevering through it all, Baxxter becomes an instantly relatable presence for the misplaced army of his followers. Into the Raging Sea is a sprawling collection of songs that teeter on the edge of epic proportions, and every now and then Broadside meet their lofty goals on this expansive record.

Review: Guardrail – Yikes

Review: Good Charlotte – Good Charlotte

Review: AFI – The Art of Drowning

Review: Sundressed – Home Remedy

Review: David Cook – Reds Turn Blue

Review: Anberlin – Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place

Review: Barely Civil – I’ll Figure This Out

Review: The Japanese House – Chewing Cotton Wool EP

Interview: Ali Tabatabaee of Fear No Empire

Barely Civil – “The Worst Part of December” (Video Premiere)

Review: Wild Once – We Did It Anyway

Review: Acceptance – Wild

Interview: Alex Basovskiy of Only Sibling

Review: Neon Trees – I Can Feel You Forgetting Me

Review: Broadside – Into the Raging Sea