2. Dillinger Escape Plan - Irony is a Dead Scene EP
Dillinger is the best hardcore band of all time, hands down. There is no substitute. They can't put out a bad release. I remember when John Sant first told me about them and how Calculating Infinity was the best hardcore album ever. I didn't want to think I was missing out on something so big, but yeah he was right, and this release with Mike Patton is just a step neither ahead nor behind but to the side. It's equal in intensity but with the vocals of a shape
shifting monster. I can't get those sounds out of my head. Oh yeah I can't mention Dillinger without mentioning Shane Blay (formally of Evelynn). He can play this entire cd (and Calculating Infinity), so if anyone needs a guitarist I think he is available. Released August 27, 2002.
3. Norma Jean - Bless the Martyr & Kiss the Child
Dude, Throwing Myself sucked so hard but I liked the cover art so much that I actually listened to it for awhile, but today I just can't stand it. It's too perfect, it's too produced and blah. Man is Bless the Martyr not the polar opposite? Rough and dirty, like spit in your face but tight and live so it's more like the chaos that first time you saw them open for Sacrifice. Oh and that last track
has some Frodus in it, I swear.
4. Underoath - The Changing of Times
Pop and metal never fit so well. I liked Cries of the Past a lot but it was just so over the top it got ridiculous. The pop on this is really consistent (especially after coming from something so metal). You'd think the band wouldn't have the balls to do such a change, I was expecting this pop-metal fusion on a hidden track maybe, you know the experiment one, but the band made the whole thing an experiment which turned into an invention of sorts. You gotta love the keyboards and the samples put to that pummeling double bass and those shreaking vocals. It's a developed taste, go take a bite if you have not yet. Released February 26, 2002
5. Hopesfall - The Satellite Years
This release is not as good as No Wings to Speak Of but still Top 5 worthy. You can compare some elements to the EP but the vibe is a lot different. The new singer is mostly the cause (you don't hear Doug so it doesn't sound like the Fall). Also, I freakin love Hum and Matt Talbott of the latter does production and sings on a track so you know it's worth it just for that. I'm pissed at the band for
kicking out Ryan Parrish, especially after he helped write the CD. "Here dude help this sound good then we don't need you anymore". Bad move guys, you won't be able to pull off a beauty like this again. Released October 15, 2002
David Allen, Managing Editor of HM Magazine
1. Tom Waits - Blood Money
2. Botch - An Anthology of Dead Ends
3. Killswitch Engage - Alive or Just Breathing
4. Eminem - The Eminem Show
5. Isis - Oceanic
Matt DeBenedictis, Contributor to Buzzgrinder
1. Audio Slave - Audioslave
What can a group of musicians who are known for strong liberal convictions do with a singer known for his conservative convictions? My thought would be focus on putting out one of the best example of true rock and roll to come out in a while. Full of mesmerizing solos and songs that can only be called low down and dirty. It’s great to have Chris back I’ll say that. Released November 19, 2002.
Article comments
1 - Marko
What about Sigur Ros?? Can I hear it for Sigur Ros? Anyone?
2 - markbrandt
So for Christmas people gave me CD's and 2 of these have the chance of making my top 5 if I would have had them before I wrote the top 5.
Anthallo - Sparrows: This is good. It makes all other emo look silly and unimportant
Hopesfall - The Satellite Years: melodic hardcore but better then the other melodic hardcore bands. It's beauty mixed with brutality
so consider these honorable mentions
3 - mike larkin
Matt DeBenedictis writes:
Cornell is conservative? I didn't know that; I guess I just assumed that because he hangs out with the Vedder crowd, he's a leftie. Are you sure?; if true, it's too bad, although it doesn't effect my admiration for his talents.
4 - Matt Debenedictis
yes Cornell is know to be conservative. in what end I'm not sure as he is not very public about his political convictions. That was the first thing he made clear when Audioslave started no politics...human rights..yes. Politics no.
"I have allways respected Chris for never backing down on his convictions." Eddie Vedder speaking on Chris cornell.
If you remember chris did some rock the vote PSA's back in the day on MTV. Which he soon spoke out against because rock the vote was using it's platform to get kids to vote democratic straight ticket style. Which even though I'm far from a conservative Chris was right to speak out like he did. Rock the vote was shifty and not honest.
5 - mike larkin
Thanks! I have a friend who's a big Soundgarden fan, and he said the same thing. He's a conservative himself, so i guess i should have figured.
I take solace in the thought that Cornell can't be all THAT conservative if he hangs out with ex-Ragers and with Vedder.
And you're right about Rock the Vote; that was a fraud, little more than a Clinton front group, really.
6 - markbrandt
Rock the Vote was lame. Instead of having kids get informed they just brainwashed them..lame...I don't really like Audioslave, but that's not the point.
7 - Menddave
YOU ALL FORGOT STAVESACRE. SHAME ON YOU.
8 - Solamente Frost
no, actually none of us forgot stavesacre.
9 - jess
ouch.
10 - jess
ouch.
11 - Matt DeBenedictis
I didn't forget the Stavesacre record. I think it's an a mazing record. their best to date. I just felt the other records i mentioned had a bigger effect than that record did.