Band of the Week #13 - Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters was a band that was formed directly after the end of Nirvana, the band lead singer/guitar player David Grohl played drums for. David went into the studio for a week after hearing the news of Nirvana's lead singer Kurt Cobain's suicide. He recorded songs about how he felt, and released it as a demo tape dubbed "Foo Fighters".  Grohl wanted to stay anonymous for a while since Nirvana was one of the most famous bands at the time, and he didn't want to be under the microscope of the public for a short while. The demo tape garnered a lot of attention, and almost two decades later, the Foo Fighters are still going strong, writing hit songs like "Rope", "Monkey Wrench", and "The Pretender"

I initially got into this band when my old friend Jason showed me "The Pretender" music video back when it came out in 2007. The lyrics were almost mystical to me at the time, but what really made my jaw drop were the instrumentals. I never really heard anything quite like the Foo Fighters at that point. After hearing "The Pretender", I didn't really listen to them a lot until four to five years later. It wasn't because I didn't like them, it was just that I never listened to full albums a lot at that point. I only listened to a track here and there, but one day I just decided to listen to The Colour and the Shape and Echoes, Silence, Patience, & Grace from cover to cover and it was quite possibly one of the greatest decisions I ever made as a musician. There were songs on the albums that were soft acoustic tracks, and then there were tracks that were loud, kickass rock tracks. Each album had a perfect blend of soft tracks and loud tracks, thus providing the fans a very dynamic, strong catalog.

Foo Fighters have a lot to offer musically. They were never a four chord band, and they always wanted to push the envelope as musicians. Drummer Taylor Hawkins is a monster drummer and knows how to embellish tracks without overplaying and making pieces sound awkward. Bassist Nate Mendel keeps a great groove, and if you listen closely, adds nice tags to his bass lines to make sure that they don't just follow the simple root notes of the guitar. Chris Shiflett, the lead guitar player, plays very percussive lead parts that add a lot of flavor to the songs. Pat Smear, David Grohl's guitar player whilst in Nirvana, lays down a great rhythm guitar along with lead singer David Grohl. Grohl's vocals are an even blend of old school punk screaming, and melodic phrases make the band truly unique. Lyrically, their songs are varied and stretch across various topics. They don't strictly stick to romance and love as a point of topics, thus making them a well rounded band lyrically. The Foo Fighters have been one of those bands that has stood the test of time and I am sure they will be relevant in the music industry for years to come due to the bands' unique songs and their sheer creativity when it comes to writing songs. 

Rope: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbpqZT_56Ns

The Pretender: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBjQ9tuuTJQ

Monkey Wrench: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7rCNiiNPxA

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Band of the Week #12- A Day To Remember

History:

Coming straight from Ocala is pop punk/ post hardcore band A Day to Remember. Like most bands, all the members were all in different bands until they all met up and formed ADTR. They were originally signed to Indianola records where they released their first EP as well as their debut album And Their Name Was Treason. This album was able to get the band a lot of attention throughout the DIY tour of which they were a part of. Through various connections, the band was able to talk to a representative of Victory Records and was eventually able to get signed to their label after the representative saw them play a show in Chicago. On this record label they would release all of their albums, except for their most recent album Common Courtesy. Right after they got signed to Victory Records, they changed drummers to Alex Shelnutt. They released their sophomore album For Those Who Have a Heart in January of 2007, and it gained them the spot of Number 17 on the Billboards Heatseekers Chart. They toured this album for two years, and even played shows as far as the UK and Bamboozle.

In 2008, they went back to the studio to record their third album Homesick. Their guitar player Tom Denny would leave the band during 2008, and was replaced by Kevin Skaff. Denny still had a say in how the album was written. They released the album in February of 2009 and then went on tours to support it. They even had their own North American Tour, dubbed Toursick. This album is widely considered to be their best album to date, as well as their breakthrough album. They toured this album extensively, and then they their fourth album What Separates Me From You. They originally released their first single off the record, "All I Want", in October of 2010, followed by the release of the full album in November of the same year. The album was well received, although fans consistently compared it to Homesick. The album had a great mix of heavy tracks and pop punk tracks. It was overall well received, but then they would soon have fallouts with their record label, Victory Records. With all of that aside, the band was able to self release their most recent album, Common Courtesy last Tuesday. The band is currently on the House Party Tour with Pierce the Veil and All Time Low.

My Thoughts:  

ADTR is probably the band that helped me get into "scremo" music. I got into their most recent album at the time, What Separates Me From You, and then progressively started listening to heavier and heavier material. They were a great band to help me transition into listening to heavier acts such as Protest The Hero and Between the Buried and Me. The band overall is fantastic and  although they may be a little bit generic when it comes to lyrics, their instrumentals are really good and dynamic. The guitarists work well together and the rhythm section know hoe to keep a tight groove. Jeremy McKinnon, the lead vocalist has a lot of energy and passion when it comes to singing and writing his lyrics. The band overall is amazing and their new album is stellar. I will be releasing an album review of it in the upcoming week. 

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Band of the Week #11- Pierce The Veil

History:

Pierce the Veil is a post hardcore band from Sand Diego, California that was formed by lead singer Vic Fuentes and his brother Mike Fuentes in 2007. They left their prior band "Before Today" and they recorded their first album together under the moniker Pierce the Veil with their old record label Equal Vision Records. Their first album, A Flair for the Dramatic, was released on June 26, 2007 with Mike Fuentes on drums and backing vocals and Vic Fuentes on bass guitar, electric guitars and vocals.  Prior to touring this album for the next year and a half, the brothers found guitar player Tony Perry, and bass player Jaime Preciado to take up the open positions in the band. The band then went on to go back to the studio for their second album Selfish Machines. It released in 2010 around the same time as their first album from three years ago. It featured their hit single "Caraphernelia" featuring Jeremy McKinnon from pop punk/ post-hardcore band A Day To Remember, as well as songs such as "Bulletproof Love", and
"I Don't Care If You're Contagious". Like most post- hardcore bands, they toured this album with various Warped Tour dates. They also accompanied various of their label mates on the Alternative Press Tour.

The band switched labels from Equal Vision Records to Fearless Records prior to their third album Collide with the Sky which was announced in 2011. The band was recording material while on their various tours and released the album on July 17, 2012. It's first single King for a Day featured Kellin Quinn from the post hardcore band Sleeping with Sirens, and was a great hit with the fans. Their second single Bulls on the Bronx received similar reception. The band continues to tour that album up until the present day, and they are going to be releasing a DVD soon of their first world tour.

My Thoughts:

I originally heard of Pierce the Veil when I got a hold of Punk Goes Pop Vol. 4 and heard their cover of "Just The Way You Are". I really liked their interpretation of the song and it made me want to listen to more of their material. I then starting listening to " Caraphernelia" and their more recent material such as "King for a Day". What really drew me to the band were the vocals and the guitar work. It really stood out to me and made them unique in comparison to other bands in the same music scene. I really recommend them for anyone who is interested in rock with a tad bit of heaviness since Vic also tends to do unclean vocals. I really recommend their most recent effort, Collide With The Sky, because it is their most versatile album to date and it is a joy to listen to. Vic's voice is very different, it has a certain grittiness to it that makes Pierce the Veil fun to listen to vocally The drums really push their songs forward in a good way and I can't wait to watch their DVD when it releases! 

Caraphernelia- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN-dRCGh-ME

First Punch- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twp8XL0xzr0

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Band of the Week #10 - Mayday Parade

History:

I honestly do not remember how I got into Mayday Parade. I believe a friend of mine must have turned me onto them two years ago, and I haven't looked back since! Mayday Parade is a band from Tallahassee, Florida and they currently have three albums out, and are releasing a fourth this coming Tuesday. They released an EP titled Tales Told by Dead Friends on  Fearless Records. It garnered them a little attention, but it set up the band to release their debut album, A Lesson In Romantics. This is the only album to feature the second singer Jason Lancaster, who would leave the band soon after the album's release for personal reasons. This album has a lot of fantastic tracks and defines Mayday Parade. The band has two singers, which adds a great dynamic to their sound. Songs like "Jamie All Over" and "Black Cat"  are crowd favorites, as well as tracks such as "I'd Hate To Be You When People Find Out What This Song Is About"
and "Take This To Heart". The band toured the album at the 2007 and 2008 Warped Tour and then they went off to record their next album which would be titled Anywhere But Here. It was the first album to not feature Jason Lancaster, but the rest of the band picked up the slack as back up vocalists for this record. Songs that stood out in this alum to me were "Kids In Love", "Save Your Heart", and "I Swear This Time I Mean It". The album was a little bit on the softer side, but the lyrics packed the same amount of punch as their previous record.

The band kept on rolling with their momentum and recorded their third album which would be a self titled record. It released on October 4, 2011 and had a few stand out tracks. The band's sound changed quite a bit in comparison to their older material, but the core Mayday Parade sound still remained the same, which is a good thing. The single ”Oh Well, Oh Well", was an amazing dynamic single, and the track "A Shot Across The Bow" was another stellar track off of the album. They toured this album as they toured all others and are currently all prepped up for the release of their new album Monster In The Closet

My Thoughts:

Mayday Parade was always a solid band to me. They are a very lyrically infused band, discussing relationships and love a majority of the time, but then again, don't most musicians do this? What sets them apart to, in my opinion at least, is the harmonizing that is heard in the vocals as well as the drummer. He is able to add a variety of dynamics that make songs sound fuller and much more dynamic. In the first album, A Lesson in Romantics, the guitar was very high and the guitarist Alex Garcia even took a couple of solos here and there. After this record, he would take less and less solos, and let the vocals and bass stand out more. Mayday Parade are a stellar band and they have cemented their spot as band that never stops working and always pushes themselves to be better musicians and a fantastic show.

Black Cat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-wCyQXvri8

Shot Across The Bow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isT800RXnoI

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Band of the Week #9- Disturbed

Band of the Week- Disturbed

For this band of the week, I'm going to try something different. I don't want to just read off facts about the band which can be found anywhere; that's boring. So I'm going to try and change it up a bit. I'll mainly focus on what makes them a unique band as well as what album was their "breakthrough album" and got them to become 'famous' and my usual thoughts on the band

History

This Chicago rock/ metal band came on to the scene in 2000 with their debut album The Sickness. It garnered a ton of success for a debut album, probably due to vocalist David Draiman's whacky noises as well as the sheer heaviness of the record. The second record, Believe was released in 2002 and it received much more popularity than their first album. It debuted at Number One for the Billboard 200. They toured with this album for an even longer period of time, playing Ozzfest and their own tour Music as a Weapon II (A tour title that is still used by them to this day for their various tours). They broke out into the mainstream with their third album, which I would consider their breakthrough album. It was the first album to feature "The Guy" on their album covers. It is also the first album to extensively include guitar solos, something they hardly included in previous records. They only toured this album for short amount of time because the band wanted to start working on their fourth, and possibly their most well known album, Indestructible. The album was released in 2008, and would be yet another Number One album by Disturbed. The track Inside The Fire would be the first single on the album and it would greatly reflect the overall tone and sound of the album. They received a Grammy for this song in 2009, and they even released two more singles after Inside the Fire; Indestructible and The Night respectively. This album went Platinum in various countries and is widely considered to be Disturbed's best album to date. The band's fifth and most recent album Asylum provided listeners with a much more darker tone and sound than any of their previous records. The lyric writing matured greatly in comparison to previous records as well. David was singing about much more current and pressing issues in this album. The band went on hiatus after they toured Asylum, and they have yet to come off of it.

My Thoughts
Disturbed always interested me as a band. Their sound is something that is quite distinct, yet unique. I could listen to almost any Disturbed song and identify it within seconds, not because I've listened to them a lot, but because the sound itself just SOUNDS like Disturbed. The drums, bass, and guitar all sound unique on their own, but together they create an iconic sound that is tough to miss. I got into Disturbed around 2009, but I was completely blown away by their older records such as Believe or  The Sickness because of the lack of guitar solos, Up until that point, I had been listening to bands that always put guitar solos into their songs, and this band didn't. It confused me at first, but then it started to grow on me and I started to appreciate the lack of solos, because it makes their songs flow better. Nothing sounds out of place and there is no single moment where the song dies down or lacks feeling. As I started to listen to Ten Thousand Fists and Indestructible I started to hear guitarist Dan Donegan show his musical prowess with solos in songs such as The Night and Deceiver. They were intricate, but they fit the song perfectly, thus making everything sound whole and continuous, something I greatly like. Mike Wengren's drumming on the records is amazing and tasteful. What I liked about him and his playing was that he never overdid something. His fills always had the right amount of flare, without going overboard and hitting every piece of the kit at once. They fit the song in such a way that it could only accentuate the song in a positive manner. His double bass work is solid and he is overall a great drummer. Bassist John Moyer is a solid bassist, and even plays in the metal super group Adrenaline Mob, with progressive rock drummer Mike Portnoy. Disturbed overall have been a great band, and I cannot wait for them to go off of hiatus. They stand out so well in the music scene and they never compromised their playing for anything or anyone. Each Disturbed record SOUNDS like a Disturbed record and fits their growing catalog!

Inside The Fire- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxujAPhxlo0

This Moment- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3n5t6A9FUk

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Band of the Week #8- Avenged Sevenfold

History:

The band formed in 1999 in Huntington Beach California by Matt Shadows, Zacky Vengeance, The Rev, and Matt Wendt, who would be later replaced by Justin Sane. Lead guitarist Synyster Gates would join the band at the end of 1999, making the metalcore band a five piece. They recorded their debut album Sounding the Seventh Trumpet in 2001 and toured with it up until Justin Sane attempted suicide via cough syrup. He was placed in a mental ward and was replaced by Johnny Christ. They would go on to release their next record Waking the Fallen in 2003, an album that sounded much more mature and refined than their debut record. Songs such as Chapter Four and Unholy Confessions greatly stood out in this record. The band would soon be signed to Warner Bros. Records.

In 2005, they released City of Evil. This album differed greatly from their other previous two records on a lot of levels. For one, the songs were much longer than before, plus there is no screaming on this record. Instead, Matt decided to obtain a grittier voice, while still maintaining the core 'sound' of the band. The album was a mainstream success and it really put the band on the map. They toured the album for two years, and then use that very same momentum to release their self titled album in 2007. It garnered great reviews and the fans enjoyed the record as well, but the enjoyment would slowly turn into sadness on December 28th, 2009 when Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan died of a drug overdose. The band faltered for a bit thereafter, but released their fifth album dedicated to the Rev, entitled Nightmare. The record was a very emotional one for both the fans and the band since they were all one big family. Mike Portnoy, Ex- Dream Theater drummer played drums on this record, and even toured with them for the subsequent tour. The band did work with Activision and their Call of Duty Series for the next three years. In 2013, they released their most recent effort, Hail To The King, a old school metal album featuring their new drummer Arin Illejay from the metalcore band Confide.

My Thoughts:

I got into Avenged Sevenfold around my sophomore year of high school, which would be around four yers ago. I got hooked onto the band because of their hard hitting tracks like Bat Country, Unholy Confessions, Crossroads, MIA, Brompton Cocktail, and Chapter Four, all stunning tracks in their own right. The band has always kept a fresh sound, thus keeping them moving and advancing musically. Zacky Vengeance and Synyster Gates are a fantastic guitar duo, and Shadows' vocals are fantastic, very unique and distinct. Johnny Christ is a good bassist, and connected well with The Rev, an insanely talented and energetic drummer in his own right. I can't wait for the band's next album!

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Band of the Week #7- Bullet For My Valentine

History:
Bullet for my Valentine formed in 2005 after changing their name from Jeff Killed John, a name the used from 1998 to 2005. They signed to Sony BMG records after declining an offer from Roadrunner Records. They released a self titled EP in the UK in 2004, and then their EP Hand Of Blood in the United States in 2005. Later in 2005, BFMV released their debut album The Poison within the UK. The U.S. saw the release of this album in 2006 on Valentine's Day. The debut album had tracks such as 4 Words (To Choke Upon), Hand of Blood, Tears Don't Fall, and Suffocating Under Words of Sorrow. Bullet toured the album extensively, gaining fans, and playing larger shows like Vans Warped Tour, Download Festival and other large tours. They're second album Scream Aim Fire, released early in January of 2008, and it was characterized as a much more aggressive album. Tracks such as Last to Know, Waking the Demon, and Take it Out On Me exemplify this concept. They toured for a while on this album, playing with bigger bands like Atreyu and Avenged Sevenfold on the Taste of Chaos tour. Their third album Fever was released in April of 2010 and the band stated that the sound would be similar to debut album, as opposed to SAF.  The album stands out in comparison to both their other records. It has a more hard rock feel, and there is considerably less amount of screaming and more guitar harmonies. Their follow up album Temper, Temper sounded a lot similar to Fever, but also has a specific uniqueness to it.

My Thoughts:
This hard rock/ metal band has been one the very few bands that have been able to change their sound on every album, minus Temper Temper, and still sound good. The sound change from their debut and SAF, and then SAF to Fever was so drastic, but they make their songs sound so good and intense. The lyrical content varies, but it mainly talks about relationships, a pretty common topic within music. The band does have a ballad or two, but most of their songs are hard rock songs that pump you up. The first song I heard by them was Hand of Blood, and the second was Waking the Demon. Both tracks have amazing guitar riffs that hook the listener, and the drum and vocal work are superb. They are a fantastic band, and they never seem to disappoint!

Waking the Demon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2I0ulTZWXA

Hand of Blood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0SrxSMHDmE

Dignity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Var0o6AUvF8

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Band of the Week #6- Rage Against The Machine

History:
The band was originally formed in 1991 when Tom Morello was in a club, and heard Zack De La Roche freestyle rapping on stage. Morello asked him after his set if he wanted to be in a band, and Zack agreed. They drafted Brad Wilk to play drums, a drummer who had auditioned for Tom Morello's previous band Lock Up, and Zack asked his childhood friend Tim Commerford to play bass. They recorded a rough demo of their album and put it in a 12 track cassette tape and passed it around to record labels. After playing a couple of shows, various labels took interest in the band, but they agreed to sign to Epic Records since the label would give the band creative freedom and wouldn't restrict them. They went to Sound City and recorded their debut self titled album that would eventually go Triple Platinum. It was because of this album that RATM could perform at Lollapalooza in 1993. The album had fantastic tracks such as "Killing in the Name of" "Take The Power Back", "Know Your Enemy", and "Freedom". They toured extensively with this album, and later in 1996, they would record their second album; Evil Empire

 

RATM in the early days!

Evil Empire featured great tracks like "Bulls on Parade", "Tire Me", and "Down Rodeo". The album got them to the number one spot at the Billboard 200 and garnered them more fame. They were able to tour more with better acts such as Limp Bizkit, Wu Tang Clan, and more. They would later go on to release two more records, "The Battle of Los Angeles" in 1999, and their cover album "Renegades" in 2000. Both of these albums had great tracks, but they did not meet with as much success as their predecessors did.

My Thoughts:
It should be noted that Rage Against the Machine is my favorite band of all time, and that their self titled debut is my favorite album of all time, plus it's the album that influences me the most as a musician. I feel it has really powerful tracks and loud ones at that. Loud in the sense that there is only one guitarist, one bassist, one drummer, one vocalist, and a tad bit of guitar overdubs. Otherwise, the album is very raw and hard hitting. Although I was never a huge fan of rap or rap lyrics in general, Zack De La Roche fits the band amazingly and raps on important social topics, as well as political ones. Their later works such as "Evil Empire", and "Battle of Los Angeles" are great records as well. What draws me to the band the most is the groove that the bassist incorporates into the tracks. It keeps the songs moving and he fits in great with Brad Wilk, the drummer of the band. Tom Morello's crazy guitar effects, and heavy riffs never cease to amaze me, and I simply cannot wait to hear more of his solo work or work with Street Sweeper Social Club. It should also be noted that although "Battle of Los Angeles" did not get as much attention as their self titled debut, the album still has one of my favorite Rage tracks of all time, "War Within a Breath". The band overall is a strong act, and although they might not be everyone's cup of tea, no one can deny that they are a powerful band and stood out in the 90's for their heavy, but groovy riffs, tight rhythm section, and its controversial vocals.

Take The Power Back- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-l01lOKj3k

Killing in the Name Of- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxk3c_SbWMg

War Within a Breath- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY5vTcLBnNk

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Band of the Week #5- System of a Down

History:
System of a Down got together after singer Serj Tankian and guitar player/ backing vocalist Daron Malakian formed a band called Soil, which was later revamped to create System of a Down. Shavo Odadjian, the band's bass player, was originally the band's rhythm guitar player up until he switched. The band also went through a drummer or two until they found John Dolmayan. The name itself was originally "Victim of a Down", but Shavo thought that changing their Victim to System would be better for fans to find their music since they'd be closer to their musical idols such as Slayer.

The band released a few demo tapes that got popularity as the internet age went on. They played shows in popular clubs and bars, which eventually garnered them the attention of Rick Rubin and with him; they were able to record their debut self titled album, as well as getting signed to American Records. They had decent success, but their second album "Toxicity" gained insane amounts of success, getting them to #1 on the Billboards. Songs that stood out were Deer Dance and Toxicity, as well as Chop Suey, due to its release around 9/11. Despite all of this, they still received massive airplay on MTV and VH1. Their third album "Steal This Album!", was actually leaked on the internet prior to its release. Unfinished versions of the songs were leaked, and the band released a statement, saying that they weren't the final versions of the songs. They subsequently released the album once all the tracks were finished. Their fourth album and fifth albums were double albums that were released six months apart from each other. They were "Mesmerize" and "Hypnotize" respectively, and they released in the year 2004. Mesmerize yielded tracks like "BYOB" and "Cigaro", while Hypnotize yielded "Lonely Day" and "Vicinity  of Obscenity". Both of these albums were great in their own right, and they put themselves up there with the Beatles and Guns N Roses for releasing two albums within the same year. After extensive touring for each one of their albums, they announced a hiatus which they have yet to completely come off of.

My Thoughts:

System of a Down is a pretty controversial band. They're lyrics discuss political issues like America, the Armenian Genocide, and what politicians are doing, as well as sexual topics, drugs, and a lot of other controversial matters. With that being said, they are great musicians and I love their musicianship. Serj has a one of a kind voice, Daron does great guitar playing and has a distinctive voice for backing vocals, Shavo is monster bass player and I love his playing style, and John hits really damn hard while maintaining great grooves. I know of a lot of people that don't necessarily like SOAD for things that they've done and sang about, but to me it's not as controversial. I really like SOAD for what they sing about and how the music is made, it's really simple at times, and really in your face at other moments. Songs like "Deer Dance", "Lonely Day", and "Chop Suey" exemplify that, as well as some of their older material like "Sugar", and "Shimmy"

Fun Fact: Serj, Daron, and Shavo all went to school together at Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School, but since they were all different ages, they never all met until later on life.

Sugar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vBGOrI6yBk

Deer Dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkkOQjK71Ss

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Band Of The Week #4- Paramore

History:
Coming as the fourth band of the week is Franklin, Tennessee's Paramore. They were originally formed back in 2003 with Hailey Williams on vocals, Josh Farro on lead guitar, Zac Farro on drums, Jeremy Davis on bass, and  Jason Bynum on rhythm guitar. Prior to this, Hailey had been in a funk cover band called The Factory with Jeremy Davis and a friend of theirs. Within their first band rehearsal, they felt that they were all on to something and that being a band could work. Record labels tried to get Hailey to become a pop star, but she was adamant and wanted to see where things would go with Paramore. In the end, they were signed to rock label Fueled by Ramen, a label they still reside on. Jeremy left the band shortly for personal reasons during the writing process of their debut album "All We Know Is Falling", and the band continued on, replacing him with John Hembree. Soon after, Jeremy came back and was reinstated into the band, but their rhythm guitar player Jason left, and was appropriately replaced by Hunter Lamb. They released their first album in 2005, but it didn't get very far with airplay. Music videos were produced and shot, but they did reach 30th place on the Billboard's Heatseekers chart.

They did grow with fame as time went on, and they played Warped Tours, and sold out headlining tours prior to their second album, Riot!. Hunter had left the band, forcing Josh Farro to record both rhythm and lead parts for the album, but Josh and Zac's old bandmate Taylor York quickly stepped into to play rhythm guitar, thus making the band a five piece once more. The album released in mid June and received a lot of attention. The album was named riot due to it's literal definition which is "a sudden outburst of uncontrolled emotions". The album went Platinum and they were rated Best Band of 2007 by various critics.

Their third album release, Brand New Eyes, was different in comparison to their first two albums. It was released that Hailey had been dating Josh Farro, and they broke after, causing the lyrical content of this album to sound a bit more grittier and angrier than Riot!, as well as more emotional. The album was recorded in Nashville, which is their hometown, thus giving the band a cozier feel since they were in a surrounding they knew very well. The album was widely written in early 2009. The album went to be a Gold Record, Paramore's success continued. The band was starting to feel the pressure when recording this record due to the success of Riot! which went Platinum.

The Farro brothers left the band in 2010/2011 due to various reasons, many having to do with Hailey and how the band was an overproduced band created by a label. Many interviews were done with the remaining members of Paramore to sort of what was real and what wasn't when it came to the claims the Farro brothers made, specifically Josh Farro. The band went on a slight hiatus, although they did record the song "Monster" for the movie Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon. Then in 2013, Paramore announced and released their fourth album which was a self titled record.

My Thoughts:

Paramore has always been a fantastic band to me. I love the fact that there is a female singing because I don't really hear of too many females singing in a rock band. Her vocals are stellar and I am a big fan of all of their records, including their newest release. Although I was taken aback by it at first, the album has grown on me and I have come to appreciate how far Paramore has come since their debut release 8 years ago. The instrumentals may be a bit typical at times, but the band has a way to add little nuances that make me want to listen to them more. They're not the most technical band in the world, but to me, they are a fantastic rock band and I simply cannot wait for their next record.

Here are two of my favorite Paramore songs

Ignorance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxlzVQ-U4T4

Fences: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKZ66gl4Kr8

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Band of The Week #3 - Atreyu

Orange County’s Atreyu is this week’s band of the week. They formed in 1998 and released their EP Fractures in the Façade of Your Porcelain Beauty with the underground label Tribunal Records. In 2001, they were quickly signed to Victory Records where, in my opinion, they released some of their best work. Their debut album Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses released in 2002, followed by their 2004 release of The Curse. It is probably my favorite album by them and it has a lot of great tracks such as Demonology and Heartache, This Flesh A Tomb, and The Crimson. The album introduced their drummer Brandon Saller as the clean vocalist while their lead singer/ screamer Alex Varkatzas did the unclean vocals/ screams as he had done on their debut album. This album definitely garnered them a lot of attention with metalcore fans all around. Their third album A Deathgrip On Yesterday reached just as much popularity as their sophomore record. At this point in their career, they had their songs in video games and a couple of movie soundtracks, thus getting them more attention. Possibly their most well known release is their fourth studio album Lead Sails and Paper Anchors. It was also the first album under their two new record labels Roadrunner and Hollywood Records. This album relied more on the clean vocals than then the unclean vocals, but Alex’s parts were still quite memorable. Songs such as Becoming the Bull, Two Become One, and Falling Down became instant hits with the fans. Their song Falling Down was even included in Guitar Hero: On Tour “Modern Hits”. Their fifth album Congregation of the Damned, is their most recent album that released in 2009. They received lots of attention for this record, but their fans also considering this album to be a complete sellout in comparison to their older material

The first song I heard by Atreyu was Becoming the Bull. It was such a hard rock track and it always got me pumped to play video games when I was younger. I listened to other tracks of Lead Sails and Paper Anchors, but I didn’t really listen to their other stuff because at the time I didn’t like unclean vocals. As time went on, I got into unclean vocals and went back to listen to their older material such as The Curse and A Deathgrip on Yesterday. I was completely floored by how good these tracks were and the overall presentation of the album. To me, they were a band that was able to combine the grittiness of unclean vocals and the melody of cleans vocals in such an interesting fashion that it made me want to listen to more of their work. Dan Jacobs on guitar is no joke either with a tight rhythm section and blistering solos and licks in between. Some people didn’t like the idea of Brandon on clean vocals because they wanted Atreyu to remain “heavy”, but I felt it was a good change and it added a lot of new dynamics to the band. It gave them a wider audience and it showed how far they could push themselves as musicians

They are one of my favorite metalcore bands and they have immense talent, it was sad to see them go on hiatus, but I guess every band needs to take time off to recuperate from all the touring and music production. With that being said, there is news that they might record a new track for the fans as a way to thank them for all of their love and support and that the song would sound like something that would have been released on their second album The Curse.

Falling Down: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf256Pbo88A

Demonology And Heartache: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBIpreLNtpg

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Band of the Week #2 - Rise Against

History:
Chicago’s Punk Rock band Rise Against is this week’s band of the week! They released their debut album, The Unraveling, in 2001 and got signed to Fat Wreck Chords. I would say they got their first big break with their follow up release in 2003, Revolutions Per Minute. This album definitely put them in a good position to gain exposure in the underground punk rock scene they were part of. It is a good record and it shows what they were made of. RPM got the attention of DreamWorks Records, a major label who signed them in late 2003. After a record label takeover on Universal Music Group, Rise Against was signed to Geffen Records and released their first album on a major label in 2004, Siren Songs Of The Counter Culture. With an immensely heavy opening track like State of the Union and supporting tracks such as Life Less Frightening and Paper Wings, Siren Songs Of The Counter Culture quickly became a hit, although it wasn’t as heavy and chunky as RPM was for fans. They thought Rise Against was changing for the worst, but their follow up albums The Sufferer and the Witness, and Appeal To Reason, and Endgame  show that they are able to blend the punk rock feel that old Rise Against fans fell in love with, and blend in melody and harmonies that make Rise Against such a fantastic band.

My Thoughts:

The first song I heard by them was “The Strength to Go On”, but the first memory I have of Rise Against is listening to Paper Wings and hearing the bridge. The song overall was so fast but the lead guitar played a riff that fit perfectly over the punk track, while still maintaining originality. I checked out some more of their songs such as Life Less Frightening, Drones, Behind Closed Doors, and Audience of One. All the tracks were amazing and inspiring in their own way. I picked up their discography from a friend and never looked back. To me, Rise Against has always been a band that stands up for what they believe in and sound amazing doing it. 

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Band Of the Week #1 - The Story So Far

The Story So Far:

This week’s band of the week is pop-punk outfit the Story So Far. Hailing from Walnut Creek, California. They had been an independent band for a long time during which they released a plethora of EP, but quickly gained fame and exposure when their 2011 debut record Under Soil and Dirt released. Songs such as “Roam” and “High Regard” quickly became fan favorites. I personally found this band when a friend of mine posted a link to their single “Roam”. I was simply blown away by it. The singer, Parker Cannon, has a really unique sounding voice and their backup singer and guitar player, Kevin Geyer, also has a good voice and blends well with Parker’s. What struck me was how the bass was mixed into the song itself, it was very punchy, but at the same time, it could be heard and it stands out as its own part as opposed to following the root notes of the guitar. This was a really cool to hear because I don’t really hear bands putting emphasis on the bass as much as they do on the guitar or the drums. Another cool factor is the way the lyrics are written. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but the way the lyrics are written and the choice of words is very intricate, and it shows that they didn’t want to put as much thought as they possibly could in every factor of their music.

In their 2013 release, What You Don’t See was just as hard hitting as their debut album, with tracks standing out such as “Stifled” as well as “Face Value”. The overall production of this album is great and they have an amazing live stage presence from what I have seen on Youtube videos and have heard from friends who have seen them live. The rhythms are insane in this record and the drummer knows how to keep a tight groove. It can easily be seen that this band has put a lot of effort into their music and it shows when one hears the overall production of their records. Check out their single Roam and a personal favorite track of mine, Stifled, below!

Roam- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_iHep06jqk

Stifled- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r8gqoDykFQ

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