Chris Vandeviver – Sakes Alive!! – Rochester, NY
Glass and Ashes – S/T
Man Man – Rabbit Habits
Fucked Up – Chemistry of Common Life
Damiera – Quiet Mouth Loud Hands
Scream Hello – Everything is Always Still Happening
Dead to Me – Little Brother
Transistor Transistor – Ruined Lives
Radiohead – In Rainbows
The Fest 7
Against Me! – B-sides from ‘New Wave’
Sakes Alive!! quickly return with a three song follow-up to the band’s insanely impressive debut. Continuing along the lines of the band’s first material, this is 6+ more minutes that speak to the passion and undying energy of Sakes Alive!!. The anticipation the band builds up in the first thirty seconds of Act I’s first song, “I’m Religious”, is enough to gently tease the listener before pummeling them in a haze of gloriously raging melodic hardcore. The short and sweet “Staff Meeting” speaks to the insanity of how numbing our day-to-day lives can get. Act I’s final song, the mid-paced “Relax”, might be the most melodic song the band has written so far in their young career. It speaks to what great heights this band might just be capable of in the future. And speaking of that, the band is already gearing up for their next release. On “I’m Religious” lead singer/guitarist Chris Vandeviver sings We spread the Gospel of fervent rage and Scream Sakes Alive!!/We are born again. With bands like Sakes Alive!! at the helm, melodic hardcore might experience a rebirth of its own sooner rather than later.
Genre: Punk/Rock/Hardcore
RIYL: Strike Anywhere, Glass And Ashes, Polar Bear Club
Label: Barrett
I’m Religious
I can remember listening to Glass And Ashes‘ demo quite a few years back now when I worked for a record company. I also remember when the band signed to No Idea and thinking to myself that was a good move! Anyway, Glass And Ashes play a brand of screamy melodic hardcore that frankly would not sound out of place on Ebullition. This is the band’s second record and these guys continue to have the same driving, powerful sound. Although, this LP is a bit more varied in places and adds a healthy dose of rock to the band’s brand of pissed off hardcore. The album is also more expansive and not as chaotic as the band’s debut LP. Whatever the case, Glass And Ashes are still mining the same virtual territory and muscling their way through it with grit and passion. My positive opinion of the band has not changed since I first heard them. Perhaps I would have hoped for a bit more growth by now but fans of this style probably won’t be complaining. Glass And Ashes do what they do extremely well.
Genre: Punk/Hardcore
RIYL: Planes Mistaken For Stars, Hot Snakes, Turbonegro
Label: No Idea
Seconds Before The Floor Drops Out
LaGrecia “My Lightning” (new band from Jason Shevchuk of Kid Dynamite and None More Black)
Annuals “Sore”
Glass And Ashes “Seconds Before The Floor Drops Out”
GlassAnd%20Ashes_Seconds%20Before%20the%20Floor%20Drops%20Out.mp3
13ghosts “The Lonely Death of Space Avenger”
The Tim Version “W.H.A.”
TimVersion-WilliamHarperAndrews.mp3
Ghost Buffalo “The Latest Wonder”
GhostBuffalo_TheLatestWonder.mp3
I Love Math “Josephine Street”
Jr. Juggernaut “Another Two Weeks”
JrJuggernaut_AnotherTwoWeeks.mp3
An Horse “Company”
Mt. Wilson Repeater “All Night Every Day”
As the first guitar chords ring out, you can tell that Rochester, NY’s Sakes Alive!! mean business. Initially started as a solo project of Chris Vandeviver, Sakes Alive!! have expanded into a full-blown melodic hardcore behemoth. The band blisters through three punk rock anthems that emphasize a frenetic, unhinged energy. Vandeviver’s raw vocals match the powerful roaring attack of the band. Lyrically, Sakes Alive!! touch on all the monotony of life and thumbs their nose at the apathy that instinctively affects us all. On “Riders United” the lead singer begs us all to come along on the journey:
Let’s be reckless riders of the roads already chose; Nomads who drift from place to place To follow their hopes I want to thumb my nose, cut all my ties, So I can celebrate my fucking life!
Beyond the music, I dig the way Sakes Alive!! approaches their craft. There is a professional quality to how the band handles themselves. Yet, they do it all in true DIY fashion. In reality though, it all comes down to the songs. Even at barely seven minutes, Sakes Alive!! are able to make one hell of an impression. If these first three songs are any indication, Sakes Alive!! will be a name on the tip of a lot of tongues sooner rather than later.
(You can download the songs from the band’s myspace player or here.)
(Artwork by Stan Doll)
Genre: Punk/Rock/Hardcore
RIYL: Strike Anywhere, Glass And Ashes, Polar Bear Club
Label: Self-Released
Our Mistress The Sea
sakesalive!!_ourmistressthesea.mp3
Your Money’s No Good Here (Fuck You)
sakesalive!!_yourmoneysnogoodhere(fuckyou).mp3
Riders United
