Bite Me! FAST Reviews

(In no particular order at all...)

Artist: Spiritu / Village of Dead Roads

Album: Human Failures

Label: MeteorCity

What: Split release featuring New Mexico’s Spiritu and Pennsylvania’s Village of Dead Roads. 

Sounds Like: This aggressive yet atmospheric disc pairs Spiritu’s upbeat & groovy jams with VODR’s doom based offerings. Don’t get the wrong idea, as there are plenty of crushing riffs and pummeling rhythms to be found. If you’re a fan of Kyuss, Cluth, Crowbar, and Eyehategod you’ll want to check this out.

Artist: Bril

Album: Airless

Label: Alarm/Kirtland

What: This L.A. based unit delivers a delicious blend of alt and Brit rock. 

Sounds Like: Bril’s Airless is a refreshing album full of richly dynamic music. 

Artist: The Lovemakers

Album: Times Of Romance

Label: Cherry Tree

What: 80’s influenced electronic rock dance unit.

Sounds Like: Highly pitched falsetto vocals swim in a sea of teen bubble gum pop. Word is their live show is a “must see” event.

Artist: Antimatter

Album: Planetary Confinement

Label: The End Records

Who: This duo—comprised of Duncan Patterson & Michael Moss—has a penchant for penning experimental space rock.

Sounds Like: I’ll get back to you on that.

Artist: J4

Album: A Dozen Dead Flowers

Label: LOL Records

Who: This indie unit formed in Canada and has since found a home in L.A. 

Sounds Like: Solid rock for modern radio with a hint of ska and jazzy undertones.

Artist: Peccatum

Album: The Moribund People

Label: Quick Time

Who: Norwegian extreme metal outfit featuring former Emperor band member Ihsahn and rounded out by Ihriel & PZ.

Sounds Like: A unique hybrid of metal & electronica

Artist:  Grasshopper Takeover

Album:  Elephant Dreams

Label:  Echo Park Records

Who:  Alternative band from Nebraska who hangs with 311 on occasion but doesn’t sound like it at all.

Sounds Like: The Ramones meet AM radio meet Guided By Voices?  Hard to explain…Poppy, rocky, happy, moody sometimes with some math rock stylings built in and lyrics based on reality.

Artist:  Gibby Haynes and His Problem

Album:  Self-Titled

Label:  Surfdog Records

Who:  The ex-lead singer of the Butthole Surfers’ first solo release.

Sounds Like: Irreverent rock designed for partying with an occasional surprise mixed in. 

Artist:  Motion Picture Demise

Album:  Rebuild/Reform

Label:  Orange Peal

Who:  Richmond, VA based emo/screamo band

Sounds Like: Everyone else, but somewhat off-key which does not endear them to me.

Artist:   The Bouncing Souls

Album:  Do You Remember?  15 Years of the Bouncing Souls      

Label:   Chunksaah       

Who:  If you don’t know The Bouncing Souls, you haven’t read Bite Me! long enough.

Sounds Like:     An amazing 15 years

Artist: Dynamite Boy

Album: Self-Titled

Label: Fearless

Who: Pop-punk foursome

Sounds Like: These boys have been going at it for about a decade.  Their latest is built around gorgeous vocal harmonies and is reminiscent of early 90’s pop-punk.

Artist:   Flashlight Brown

Album:  My Degeneration     

Label:   Hollywood Records      

Who:  Self-described Canadian-style Southern California punk band

Sounds Like:     Another generic punk band a la Blink 182.  Why?

Artist: Inouk

Album: Search For The Bees

Label: Say Hey Records

Who: This little indie band is in a league all its own. 

Sounds Like: Search For The Bees—a four song EP—offers just a taste of the quartet’s talents.  Akin to Modest Mouse but not quite as refined this disc offers rich harmonies, prog-rock references, and indie melancholia.   

Artist:  The Juliet Dagger

Album:  Turn Up The Death

Label:  Good Charamel Records

Who:  All female “death pop” (from the bio.  What a misnomer!  Where’s the “death” part again?) band.

Sounds Like: Chugga-chugga simplistic rock-pop a la The Go-Go’s or the more complicated and deep Avril Lavigne.    They even do a dead-on rendition of “Our Lips are Sealed”.

Artist: Moments In Grace

Album: Moonlight Survived

Label: Atlantic

Who: Power pop rock act

Sounds Like: Moments In Grace is sure to delight Bon Jovi fans with their sugar coated melodies and big fancy hooks.

Artist:   Noise Ratchet

Album:  Self-Titled 

Label:   The Militia Group           

Who:  San Diego emo-riffic!

Sounds Like:     A more theatrical King Diamond meets Dashboard Confessional.

Artist:   Piss Ant

Album:  Your Best Sucks     

Label:   GenXtasy Records       

Who:  Punk/Rock eternal club band from the LA area.      

Sounds Like:     Missing Persons meets The Ramones, without the catchy hooks.

Artist:   Stunt Monkey

Album:  Self-Titled     

Label: UTR Music Group         

Who:  San Jose punk rock band 

Sounds Like:     Guttermouth, but whinier

Artist: Trouble Is

Album: Every Solution Has Its Problem

Label: Columbia

Who: Simply put, Trouble Is is the bastard offspring of the Bloodhound Gang.    

Sounds Like: This album came out at the beginning of the year and I’m not sure the band is even still signed to the label.  However, I do suggest you seek this out.  The band’s satirical lyrics and catchy melodies are just too good to pass up.

Band: RustBelt

Album: Self-Titled

Label: Jet / Electro Records

Who: Honest, unpretentious rock ‘n’ roll outfit from Los Angeles that is sure to be a big hit in the Midwest.

Sounds Like: The band’s organic rock style is reminiscent of Bon Jovi mixed with a little bit of country.

Album: Manhunt (Remixes)

Label: Rockstar Games

What: Electronic remixes of the Manhunt Theme

Sounds Like: If you like electronic music in any way, shape, or form, this remix makes for a great background CD.  

Artist:  The Boils

Album:  World Poison

Label:  Thorp Records

Who:  Punkers from Philly

Sounds Like: Old-school street punk with a titch of oi!  This CD is a reissue with extra tracks and new artwork.

Artist: Various

Album: Take Action Vol 3

Label: Subcity

What It Is: A 45 track enhanced double CD featuring Thrice, Thursday, Good Riddance, The Ataris, Yellow Card, Further Seems Forever, and a whole lot more. This year’s comp includes multimedia content and a few other goodies.  A portion of the proceeds go to National Hopeline Network for Suicide.  Pick it up, help a good cause, and get involved.

Artist: Smokestacks

Album: Self-Titled

Label: Firm Records

Who: Origins unknown

Sound like: Reminiscent of early Rolling Stones, Smokestacks’ vintage rock ‘n’ roll sound is blended with just a titch of alt-country twang.  

Artist:  5 Cent Deposit

Album:  Focus on the Negative

Label: Radical Records

Who: a bunch of punks

Sounds Like: Not quite the anti-pop.  Simple, consistent songs delivered gruffly.