TOTAL Deathcore & More

Pollution People - Future Trash (2011)

2011-09-14T23:01:00.008-04:00

Genre: Mathcore
From: Barstow CA, USA

1. .
2. Panic Hands
3. I'm Scally
4. Gnashing Of Teeth
5. Going Ghost
6. Army Arms
7. Amputee

Used to be called Duck Duck Goose. This is seriously one of my favorite bands of all time, and this album is fucking phenomenal. If you were a fan of DDG, this album will blow your mind. I love it so much you don't even know. You can buy it on Itunes, or download it for free here since they're probably too wasted to give a shit.

Knuckle Up, Creations, Stand Your Ground: Mediaskare Review Trifecta

2011-09-14T02:44:00.013-04:00

I recently reviewed 3 of Mediaskare Records releases from this year: Knuckle Up - Motivation From Misery, Creations - The Gospel, and Stand Your Ground - Despondenseas. I won't be doing a track by track review, because they're not really all brand new or anything and it would simply take too long, so I offer a brief overview of my opinion. So if you were trying to find a new band or cd to listen to this may aid you. COMMENCE REVIEWS.

Knuckle Up - Motivation From Misery
Genre: Hardcore
From: New Jersey
Rating: 6/10

A pretty good fast, loud hardcore band with some real potential. The album kind of just gets repetitive after a few songs though. Some real hardcore fans will dig this, and I dig their sound and style, but most of the time it just feels like I'm listening to the same song again. And there were times when I was like "wtf?" at some of the vocals where it kind of sounds like they were going for an old-school hardcore punk sound but sound like the voice of a villain from MMPR. Whatever though, like I said, fans of legit hardcore will probably really like this, and it's a well executed album. Just not exactly my cup of tea, and I'd like to see this band explore more with their sound in the future.

(click to view/buy merch and/or album)

Creations - The Gospel
Genre: Deathcore / Hardcore
From: Sydney, Australia
Rating: 6/10 (-2 for trying to sound tuff about God)

Preachy Christiancore is the best way I could possibly sum this up. A bunch of you would probably really like this, because a bunch of you like albums that sound exactly the same as everything you've already heard. This album really is just another Acacia Strain sound-alike, but with lyrics all about God. It's kind of hard to sound like a badass when youre calling out other christian bands on how much they believe in Jesus. Tuff guy+Jesus just isnt cool at all bro. Religious beliefs aside, I guess theyre pretty good, even though it's obscenely generic. They're just a bunch of try hard tuff guys, but hey, that's what sells nowadays.

(click to view/buy merch and/or album)

Stand Your Ground - Despondenseas

Genre: Melodic Hardcore
From: Kingsport TN, USA
Rating: 9/10

I really dig this band and their sound. Phenomenal melodic hardcore. It kind of reminds me of Misery Signals but with a more hardcore sound, so if you dig MS, you'll probably like this band, and if you dont like MS, I hope you get your head out of your ass, but I digress. This isn't a CHUG CHUG breakdown oriented band, which i think is refreshing in todays hardcore scene, though there are still breakdowns for you who can't live without them. This is more the kind of music I just like to chill and listen to. You can actually hear emotion in the songs, which is something I feel is severely lacking in most music today, whether it's metal, hardcore, pop, rap, or whatever else.

(click to view/buy merch and/or album)

Thus concludes the Mediaskare Review Trifecta. Of the 3, Stand Your Ground is definitely my favorite, but since most of the TD fanbase is generic deathwhores, most of you will probably like Creations a lot. I just hope at least a few of you with common sense will check out Stand Your Ground, and get the enjoyment that I got out of it. I still cant believe that Creations is serious with that tuff guy christfag shit. If you're christian and offended by my words, I dont care.

Reckless At Best - Return Of The Hardpop EP (2011)

2011-09-14T01:29:00.006-04:00

Genre: Pop Punk / Hardcore
From: Chicago IL, USA

1. Return Of The Hardpop
2. Safehouse
3. Breakout
4. April Showers Bring May Flowers
5. You're Not Born Cold, You Turn Cold (feat. Ronnie from War Hound)

Sick as fuck new pop punk/hardcore band from Chicago. Not just the same pop punk that every other band makes, check them out. The EP is streaming on their facebook and is free to download via this attached mediafire. Now go cry about how it's not CHUG CHUG deathcore bullshit.

Dead Letter Circus - This Is The Warning - 2011 - [REVIEW]

2011-09-13T22:26:00.000-04:00

Genre: Alternative

Tracklist:
1. Here We Divide
2. One Step
3. Big
4. The Space On The Wall
5. This Long Hour
6. Cage
7. Reaction
8. The Drum
9. The Design
10. Next In Line
11. Walk
12. This Is The Warning

By: Christopher Guinn
Sumerian Records built their name on the backs of crushing progressive metal acts like Born of Osiris, The Faceless, and Veil of Maya. For many this style of modern metal is synonymous with the Sumerian title. When one hears that, “so-and-so has signed to Sumerian Records,” the connotation has been that “so-and-so” is probably a pretty heavy band that enjoys their polyrythms.
For a few years that was a pretty safe bet, but in 2011 the sphinx is a bit of a different beast. Their roster has branched out substantially and now includes everyone from Stray From The Path to Borgore. Sorry internet metal nerds, but the term “sumeriancore” no longer holds any merit. To attempt to use it to actually describe a Sumerian band’s sound in 2011 is pretty pointless given the array of artists that now comprise their eclectic roster.
This brings me to one of the label’s latest acquisitions, Australia’s Dead Letter Circus. When I went to listen to their Sumerian debut This Is The Warning I had my expectations. I went into this review anticipating something “sumeriancore,” but only when when I pressed the play button did I realize just how obsolete the term “sumeriancore” has become, because what I heard was not what I was expecting.
My first conclusion was that this record definitely wasn’t something I’d call metal. It still has some balls to it a la some heavier grooves and emphatic crescendos, but it’s definitely not a metal album, so if you’re looking for some good ol’ fashioned loud and heavy This Is The Warning will probably leave you wanting more.
Given the fact that I’m reviewing this album for a website called “Total Deathcore,” the album didn’t have much of a chance from the get go. Not to slight it for being “un-metal” or anything, but this is a metal website so I was hoping for something a little more on the heavy side.
The album does however have some points worth praising. I can tell DLC definitely know how to play their instruments. The vocals are done well for this sort of thing, soaring at times, always melodic, they match the instrumental side of the band perfectly. Also the production value is on point, everything is clear and it’s mixed well, all of the little nuanced bits really cut through and I love that the bass is right up front with everything else. I enjoy the fact that Dead Letter Circus really revel in melody and like to explore with more ambient sounds as well, but when they do I’m reminded of their Sumerian Records counterparts who are better at playing with the same ideas.
While Dead Letter Circus have their punchier side (the glimmer of a ‘breakdown’ at the end of “The Long Hour” and the second half of “The Drum” for instance), their “heavy” side would hardly be considered such under the umbrella of metal. It’s punchy, but not punchy enough for someone who actively listens to much heavier music.

In sum, I was expecting a metal record and got something that sounds watered down. I’m sure this band could crank out some pretty interesting metal tunes if they wanted, but that’s just not their thing, and I can only give them so much flack for being themselves. Honestly I can’t really give them any flack for being themselves, I’m just recognizing the fact that at a metal website we want our metal!
I certainly respect this band for doing their thing, they do it well, it’s just not for me. For me this record had too much of a “Top 40” vibe too of it. I couldn’t shake the idea that Dead Letter Circus sound like an updated version of a band like Incubus, heavy where they need to be, but still friendly enough that most of suburbia will get behind it. For a label, having a band have an accessible sound that appeals to a wider mainstream audience makes sense, but if you, the consumer, are looking for something a little more on the brutal side of the spectrum, This Is The Warning isn’t your record.
I’d recommend you give it a listen anyway. Sumerian are clearly thinking outside the metal box these days, and I think that’s great. Perhaps if you approach this album with the same mentality you might really be into Dead Letter Circus.

Longshot - III (2011)

2011-09-13T01:40:00.005-04:00

Genre: Melodic Hardcore
From: Boston MA, USA

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://longshot.bandcamp.com/track/the-apathist"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The Apathist by LONGSHOT&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
1. The Apathist*
2. Hiatus
3. Five Years On

*Press play to preview

A while ago I posted this band's Realignment EP and they're among my favorite hardcore bands. Real emotion driven music not just, "WE'RE TUFF GUYZ! EDGE 4 LIFE". Hardcore fans need to check this out as well as the old album. Both are free on BandCamp.

Awaiting The Apocalypse - At War With The Dead (2011)

2011-09-13T01:17:00.011-04:00

Genre: Deathcore
From: Sacramento CA, USA

1. A-T.A.P.
2. Falling Down (D.M.F.)
3. J-Town Kool-Aid
4. They Rise
5. I Will Beat You To Death To Prove My Love To You
6. Therapist
7. The Battle At Yonkers
8. Below The Influence
9. The Battle Of Hope
10. M.H.A.L.D.

I don't normally post deathcore (the irony, I know), but this band is sick. Heavy, "brutal", and at times melodic. Many of you will like this a lot.

Every Single Lie - Theories EP (2011)

2011-09-12T12:29:00.006-04:00

Genre: Metalcore

Location: Greenville, NC

Track List:

1. Theories

2. Convoluted

3. Mind of the Closest

4. Hindsight Bias

Support! Buy their album off iTunes!

Another band out of NC still bringing the heavy. If you're a fan of 2 step, this band is for you.

*Band Request*

Stray From The Path - Rising Sun [REVIEW]

2011-09-11T16:45:00.000-04:00

Stray From The Path - Rising Sun
Tracklist:
1. Rising Sun
2. Death Beds
3. Mad Girl
4. Bring It Back To The Streets
5. iMember
6. Dead Rabbits
7. Prey
8. Center Of Attention
9. The Laughing Man
10. The Escape Artist

Before setting out to do this review, I had never really listened to much Stray From The Path. I had heard of the band before, but hadn't taken a serious listen. Going back and researching the band, reading comments, and reading their bio made me incredibly curious to hear their music.

Not just because everything I read led me to believe that I'd be listening to one of the most pissed off hardcore bands out there, but because of their extensive history and background. Stray From The Path has been kicking hardcore ass since 2001 and have managed to pump out at least 6 solid releases in that time. (People Over Profit (full-length, 2002) Audio Prozac (full-length, 2003, Pride Recordz) Our Oceania (full-length, 2005, Five Point Records) Villains (full-length, 2008, Sumerian Records) Make Your Own History (full-length, 2009, Sumerian Records) Rising Sun (full length, 2011, Sumerian Records).

The band has been fighting their way to the top for quite some time and they don't appear to be taking it easy anytime soon. With a rigorous touring history, a few lineup shifts, and record label changes the band eventually made their way onto the coveted Sumerian Records roster where they have remained since 2008.

Their latest release entitled "Rising Sun" is my first Stray From The Path listening experience and I was thoroughly impressed! The band definitely lives up to their reputation as being extremely pissed off and for having a tough as nails sound.
One thing that really caught my ear though, was the band's ability to carve out an interesting and original approach to the hardcore sound. The band offers a unique mathy and alternative take on the traditional hardcore sound and really stand on the cutting edge of the genre.
The guitar and bass guitar work is inventive and creative and the compositions are anything but straight forward. The drumming is fierce and compliments the music extremely well. Lastly, the vocals are penetrating and razor sharp.

With these elements working together, this album definitely doesn't disappoint. After hearing Rising Sun, I am compelled to go back and listen to prior releases and explore this bands musical history in full.

Rising Sun - The album kicks off with ambient/twangy guitars that sound muffled and in the distance - accompanied by vocalist Drew York screaming a message to the listeners...then as the song kicks in the band let's you know what their all about. Power and Presence! The highlight of the song is a big vocal call followed by a nasty "blegh!" into a sick and creative breakdown...It's during the first song that you notice the amazing production and truly hard sound the band creates. Rising is a fun, bouncy song that will get the listener pumped for more! The drummer, Dan Bourke really kills it on drums and adds a great feel to the tunes so far.

Death Beds - The second track takes a more serious tone and darker approach..."Your American Nightmare!" the vocalist screams!...This song contains a little more of the traditional hardcore riffage and
there are some great breakdowns near the end of the song - Guitarist Tom Williams, and bassist Anthony Altamura really mesh well together to create memorable passages...the rapping beat of the vocals during the last breakdown is awesome. The sheer anger and heaviness of this band is seriously impressive.

Mad Girl - As the name of the song would imply this song has some seriously crazy and inventive effects and riffs throughout...there are some amazing sound effects that enter the mix early on that sound like lazers or alien spaceships or something! This song is definitely spacey and chaotic. Complex compositions and truly inventive guitar work is present. Very creative work here for a band labeled as "hardcore", which can be a sterile and repetitive genre as of late.

Bring It Back To The Streets - Song kicks off with some interesting drum work and builds into a main riff that is very ominous...bass guitar is chunky and present during the bridge, and gets a moment to shine..."blegh!" then breakdown seems to be a staple and a trademark for this band and it never gets old!
"This world is all about digital lives..." the singer states. End of this song is amazingly dark and epic, very forboding tone until we get to the final blow/finishing move/dissonant breakdown. Brutal.

iMember - By this point I'm realizing how truly great the guitar work is in this album...this song definitely highlights the bands ability to craft truly creative and imaginative compositions. Hardcore can be really straightforward at times, and this band seems to add their own signature mathy/progressive spice into the mix, which keeps it entertaining.

Dead Rabbits - "sit around and see the rich get richer...the sick get sicker" This song is very political, very empowering, very strong message. Very much a hardcore song...great drum break, snare work thrown in the middle. Overall great tune.

Prey - (starts off with sample about religion)..."get off your knees" the singer screams!...This song contains some really strange vocal patterns and melodies at certain points and some cool vocal layering. Great song for vocals! Great lyrics.

Center of Attention - This is by far my favorite song on the album. Very heavy. Very brutal. The guitars are relentless and unforgiving in this song. I was sure this would be the heaviest song on the album...but I was wrong. It would turn out that somehow the heaviest, most brutal songs; the most "metal" songs on the album are all here at the end! It makes me wonder if this was done on purpose. Just when I thought I had heard what I needed to hear from this album, I was treated with 3 incredibly heavy tracks! It continues...

The Laughing Man - Super brutal...so evil sounding! the fading guitar slides in this song are sick!...so sick!...the drum parts in this song compliment the song so well, and really find their own voice in this song...tom fills are interesting and creative. "fuck you!" the singer screams!

The Escape Artist - continues this trend of heavier songs being at the end of the record! Blast beats! followed then by epic/nasty scream. This song is a lot different from the rest of the songs and really stands out in my mind. It's a viscious song and one of my favorites I've heard so far.

Crashing Down - tribal feel...drums are very present in this song...snare build sounds great in this song!Mathy, interesting structure...tribal beats near the end...ends on a really heavy note. Awesome.

Overall, this album is worthy. Brutal, Angry, Punishing...yet Thoughtful, Creative, and Inventive. Definitely worth checking out. Stray From The Path has produced a truly entertaining album with "Rising Sun". Hardcore lives!

Album rating: 4.5/5

You can order the album on iTunes.

ÆTHER REALM - Odin Will Provide (2011)

2011-09-11T15:22:00.006-04:00

Genre: Viking Metal

Location: Greenville, North Carolina

Track List:

1. Ravensong

2. Odin Will Provide

Viking influenced metal, whats not to like about it?

Preview

*Band Request*

Straight On Target - Mediocritas (2011)

2011-09-11T15:05:00.005-04:00

Genre: Deathcore

Location: Piacenza, Italy

Track List:

1. Intro One Among The Ineptitude

2. He Spreads Hypocrisy

3. A Sadistic Painter

4. Addictionhated

5. Aborted Insignificance

Another deathcore band, this time their hailing all the way from Italy. These dudes honestly know how to bring interest into their music. I'm just now on the fifth track and I have yet to be disappointed in this album, its a must to download. Get to it!

*Band Request*

What The Sea Left Over - Debut EP (2011)

2011-09-11T14:50:00.009-04:00

Genre: Metalcore
Location: Vienna

Track List:

1. Fragility

2. Courtesy

3. Story With Two Endings

4. To The Shore

5. My Sweet Decay

6. No Excuses (Greetings From My Demon)

7. See Through You

Not your average metalcore band, very melodic with a touch of heaviness. For fans of Horizons Fall.

*Band Request*

Commotio Cordis - Creatures of the Night - NEW SONG - 2011

2011-09-11T01:27:00.003-04:00

Commotio Cordis just put up their brand new track 'Creatures Of The Night' as a "reward" for them getting to 1000 likes.
Click the poster to download.

http://www.swimmingwithsharksrecords.us

Tre Watson - Gravestones EP (2011)

2011-09-10T04:34:00.011-04:00

Genre: Progressive Metalcore
From: Baltimore MD, USA
Price: Name Your Own

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://trewatson.bandcamp.com/track/the-mortal-coil"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The Mortal Coil by Tre Watson&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
1. The Mortal Coil*
2. Demise
3. Thread of Humanity
4. Dancing on Gravestones

*Embedded

A pretty solid genre-blending release. It's mainly metalcore with progressive elements, but there's some deathcore influence, some symphonic, and some 8bit. I personally liked his old album Death Of A Monarch better, which is free on his bandcamp as well.

Metropolis - Weight Of The World - 2011

2011-09-09T14:28:00.002-04:00

Genre: Hardcore / Metal
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Tracklist:
1. Intro
2. Conquering A Kingdom
3. A New Beginning
4. Oblivion
5. Ulga
6. M.M.R.S.
7. Weight Of The World

Another band out of Raleigh. This time some melodic hardcore with some breakdown deathcore for good measure.

Shades Of Dusk - Squalor - 2011

2011-09-09T14:17:00.002-04:00

Genre: Death Metal
Location: Montreal, Canada

Tracklist:
1. The Sycophant
2. Refractory
3. Gold Us
4. Priapism
5. The Satyr
6. Morning Qualm
7. Effluvium of Virulence
8. The Miscreant
9. Beloved Excreta
10. Opulence

Finally some more death metal from Quebec. Over the past several years, Quebec, has done nothing but impress me. The consistency in which solid bands come out of there is absolutely mind blowing. And Shades of Dusk is no exception. This album has not yet been released, but you can check out 'Refractory' and 'The Satyr' on their facebook page.
Below is some of their older material you can use as reference.

You can pre-order 'Squalor' here

The Mortis Sermon - The Overseer - Single 2011

2011-09-09T14:08:00.003-04:00

Genre: Deathcore / Death Metal
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina

Tracklist:
1. The Overseer

Brand new single from "Raleigh's Finest" The Mortis Sermon. This is off of their upcoming EP The Overseer.

Cold Blooded Theory - The Overseers - 2011

2011-09-09T13:59:00.005-04:00

Genre: Metalcore / Hardcore
Location: Glendale, Arizona

Tracklist:
1. Part 1: The Intervention
2. Charlie
3. Human Morality: Revised
4. Some People Age Backwards
5. Madison
6. Part 2: The Revival

Some good old fashioned metalcore mixed with some breakdowns and two steps. Not too much to write about this release, simply, because in my opinion, it's far too similar to a lot of other stuff out there. I'm in no way detracting from the quality of the release. Simply stating my opinion on this.
It's well executed metalcore, and I'm sure a lot of you will enjoy it.
I can't find a good enough youtube video to offer a preview, so just go check their facebook if you're dubious.
They are however only offering this release on iTunes.

Foreboding Ether - Beyond Conjecture - 2011

2011-09-09T13:51:00.004-04:00

Genre: Death Metal / Tech / Progressive
Location: Margate, UK

Tracklist:
1. Fore20
2. Deadline
3. Tunabhuna
4. Conscious Altered
5. House of Cards
6. OD

Foreboding Ether is another newer band that I think is going to get a lot of popularity in the next little while. For a band that only started playing shows in April of 2010. These guys have it together. They have a solid mix of tech reminiscent of Necrophagist blended with the ever so popular off beat progressive riffs. Along with a solid death metal backing. This band has something for almost everyone.
Definitely a band to check out and keep your eye on.

Weighed In The Balance - EP - 2011

2011-09-09T13:43:00.003-04:00

Genre: Metalcore / Hardcore
Location: Central New Jersey

Tracklist:
1. Who Can Blame The Believer
2. Severance
3. Years From Divine
4. A Fear of Imperfection

Not the absolute greatest production on this. However, they have a tight sound. There's clean vocals on the tracks, and that's definitely a strong point for this band. The cleans aren't whiny. They're solid. Anyone into "djenty" stuff with a hardcore/metalcore edge, should be into this.

Inception - Instrumental Demos

2011-09-09T13:37:00.004-04:00

Genre: Progressive
Location: Hope Mills, North Carolina

Tracklist:
1. Hymn of the Fallen
2. Devastation to Us All
3. Shadows of Ruins
4. B.A.O.S.
5. Destroyer
6. Breaking All Ties
7. Juggernaut
8. Retribution

This is a full CD of instrumental deathcore/progressive tracks. The band did not want to physically use these, so they want to let other people use them for whatever.

*New CD coming out soon*

Sad Panda - Happy Cat EP (2011)

2011-09-09T08:02:00.007-04:00

Genre: Chiptune
From: Mundelein IL, USA

1. David Bowie's Bulge In Labyrinth
2. Firefli3s (Owl Shitty)
3. Close 2 You (Da Cure)
4. D3sert 5ong (My Homosexual Bromance)
5. Ra1nbow Conex1on
6. Lon3ly Day (SOAD)
7. Through The Fire And The Flames (Dragonforce)
8. 3l Scorch0 (=w=)
9. Stumbleine (Smashing Pumpkins)
10. 1 (Brotallica)
11. Doyouthinkhesaurus Rex
12. Robotic Uprising Preview

So I made this EP of chiptune covers, none of which are really metal unless you wanna count Metallica, but I don't. I don't care about promoting myself on a deathcore site where you expect me to upload free albums of BRUTAL SHIT ALL FUCKIN' DAY. Some of you who aren't deathwhores might like this. Anyway listen to any of the tracks below, and download full album from HERE. Also go like my music Facebook, I make more than just chipshit.

Happy Cat EP by mylifeispixels

Demolisher - Recognition (2011)

2011-09-08T01:24:00.006-04:00

Genre: Hardcore / Deathcore
From: Chicago IL, USA
LINKS ARE UNNECESSARY

1. Abomination
2. Two Sided Coin
3. Corporal Punishment
4. Deliverance
5. Recognition
6. World of Hatred
7. Repercussions
8. The Holding Pattern
9. The Free Fall
10. Condemned to the Vile
11. Bloodthirsty Ways

Demolisher broke up over some gay drama, and some members leaked their album since it will probably never get a real release. So enjoy, this is the last you will probably ever hear of them.

A Baleful Agony - Conquest

2011-09-06T16:37:00.007-04:00

Genre: Deathcore
Location: Germany, NRW

Tracklist:
1. Harbinger Of Calamity
2. Spreading False Hope
3. Perdition
4. Conquer Everything Feat. Nils Of AHOV

Pretty decent, chuggy deathcore. Lots of blast beats for all you blasturbators and their breakdowns/beatdowns are solid. Worth checking out.

Of Humanity's Demise - Amygdala

2011-09-06T13:06:00.005-04:00

Genre: Deathcore

Location: Sweden

Track List:
1. Prologue

2. Obscure Treason

3. Dolorous Burden

4. Hourglass

5. Amygdala






Download Link:

Merch Link:

The Social Impact - Promo Track (2011)

2011-09-06T12:58:00.004-04:00

Genre: Technical Deathcore
Location: Kissimmee, Florida