Hardcore, Punk & Heavy Metal > L Hardcore, Punk & Heavy Metal > Ska > Golf

Advantages: Great melodies, catchy lyrics
Disadvantages: none!

...1996 on Capitol Records, and Hello Rockview followed two years later. They were re-released as a double album in 2000. Later full length albums by the band are Borders and Boundaries (2000), Anthem (2003) and In with the out crowd (2006). Hello Rockview is more 'mainstream' Less Than Jake, being classic punky ska, while songs on Losing Streak put heavier emphasis on a ska style horn section. The fact that its almost a 'buy one get one free' with ...
...16. Lockdown Hello Rockview: ----------------------- 1. Last One Out Of Liberty City 2. Help Save The Youth Of America From Exploding 3. All My Best Friends Are Metalheads 4. Five State Drive 5. Nervous In The Alley 6. Motto 7. History Of A Boring Town 8. Great American Sharpshooter 9. Danny Says 10. Big Crash 11. Theme Song For H Street 12. Richard Allen George...No, It's Just Cheez 13. Scott Farcas Takes It On The Chin 14. Al's War ... Read review

Advantages: See Review
Disadvantages: See Review

This was the first Less Than Jake album I bought, after having heard "Gainesville Rock City" round a mates house. After hearing that song I really wanted to find out what the rest of their music was like. I put the CD on and upon hearing the bassy intro to the first track, pretty much fell in love with the band. The CD itself is upbeat, chirpy and bouncy as you would expect ska-punk to be, but at the same time they also manage to vary the pace - ... Read review

Advantages: Beautiful, haunting, clever lyrics
Disadvantages: Not for everyone

I came across Nightwish when I was in Finland and they destroyed my assumptions about Metal music. Their CDs are firmly in the metal section of the shops, but they have strong melodies and some beautiful and thought-provoking lyrics. Though the beat of the music is strong, it doesn't drown out the vocals. Indeed, many of their songs include sections of incredibly moving poetry, spoken while the takes on a softer tone. They are a Finnish band, but ...
...for me at least, a huge plus point. I think vocals are the key point to a song and I like to be able to understand what I'm listening to. The words are beautiful and often clever, and all the more to be praised given that these people speak English as a second or third language. This CD was the first Nightwish CD I bought and it inspired me to go out and buy a handful more. ~~~ Tracks ~~~ 1. Stargazers 2. Gethsemane 3. Devil and the Deep Dark ... Read review

Advantages: Songs that imprint themselves on your brain!
Disadvantages: None

...is fantastic!!! Downloaded the Glamour of the Kill album after encountering the guys at this year's Download Fesitval where they played mainstage (but were still keen to personally hand out their own promotional flyers!). Since it's been uploaded onto my mp3 player, I swear it has not been out of the car - perfect wake-up music if you like it loud! - and seems to be on a continual loop! I find myself humming the riffs at abscure moments throughout ...
...album! What you get for your money is a brief intro before launching into 5 tracks of pure addiction. The stand out track for me is 'Rise from your Grave', but all the tracks on this first offering are fantastic. In a similar vain to Bullet for my Valentine, you will not be disappointed with this first submission from a great band! Buy it, and play it as loud as you can! ... Read review

Advantages: Some accomplished bits.
Disadvantages: Screaming and samey drum beats.

In Flames - Come Clarity Yet another of my 14 year old (next months) son's offerings which he insists 'You must listen to this dad'. This is by no means my longest review as I am not going to 'fill' when I have not much to say. Wikipedia tell me that these are a Swedish melodic death metal band.....not a good start, however, being am open minded dad I thought I should give them a a go. Though I do fail to see how Death Metal can be melodic, ho, ...
...5. Scream 6. Come Clarity 7. Vacuum 8. Pacing Death's Trail 9. Crawl Through Knives 10. Versus Terminus 11. Our Infinite Struggle 12. Vanishing Light 13. Your Bedtime Story Is Scaring Everyone I am not going to review every track as I have to say they are all quite similar. They are fast, drum based songs with some pretty fast and accomplished guitar work, both lead and bass. The vocals go from screaming to well, screaming. The intro drum work on ... Read review