Epitaph US Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Originally released in 2003, the third full-length from Seattle sasscore legends The Blood Brothers is still heralded today as one of the defining projects of early noughties post-hardcore. ...Burn, Piano Island, Burn was produced by the incomparable Ross Robinson (known for his work with Slipknot, Limp Bizkit and The Cure), who helped the expansive collective to plum the depths of their artistic experimentation by drawing on elements of post-rock, harsh noise and essentially supporting an embracing of avant-garde sensibility to imbue their theatrical hardcore machinations with a sense of intimidating unpredictability. Delivering the classic standout single 'Ambulance vs. Ambulance', and receiving heaps of praise upon initial release, the album has only grown in stature and influence in the two decades since its unveiling, with many modern revivalist sasscore outfits such as SeeYouSpaceCowboy owing an indelible debt. Celebrating its 20th anniversary with a long sought after deluxe reissue, this limited pressing offers a rare chance to immortalise a genre and scene so influential and of its time, yet rarely thrown into the discussions it subtly dictates.

Review: Kings of midwestern emo return on their exceptional, devastating eighth full-length Some Of It Was True. Known for putting Scranton, Pennsylvania (home to the likes of Tigers Jaw, Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, Title Fight) on the map, The Menzingers have accomplished a relatively unique feat for artists of the emo/punk variety and that's staying together. Where most acts often have a brief lifespan in which they distil malaise and emotions of that slice of life, what happens when a group continue to remain together, writing, touring and growing over multiple decades? Musically refined to the point where the band sonically toe a line closer to the likes of The Gaslight Anthem and the realms of Bruce Springsteen-inspired Americana-punk, yet lyrically as brazen, dour, uncomfortable and honest as ever, The Menzingers are rare, living proof that an emo band can make it well into thirties/forties, but according to them, it still hasn't really gotten any better.