This week’s most played releases around the office come from Heartsounds, Calling All Cars, Braid and Youthinasia. We also sent Deborah Konopnicki along to the Melbourne Rise Against show to give us a rundown of how it went. Click below to expand this post and find out more information / opinions about each release and the gig.

HEARTSOUNDS – Drifter [Out Now via Epitaph] [Get It]
One of my favourite discoveries of last year was this band when Epitaph grabbed them and re-released their album. Now a newy is here and it’s just as good as the last. Cool 90′s punk rock with duel male female vocals. Easy to digest, catchy enough to remember the chorus the time it rolls around the next time, and solid enough to hold your interest throughout. They do a sound that has been done a lot but still manage to put their own mark on it and keep it fresh. Highlights include, ‘Drifter’, ‘Race To The Bottom’, ‘Echo’ and ‘Uncomfortably Numb’. If you are into your 90′s style punk rock, get on the Heartsounds train. It’s a good ride.
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CALLING ALL CARS – Dancing With A Dead Man [Out August 5th via Shock] [Get It]
Second album from these always busy Melbourne lads, and what a giant leap forward it is. Their first was good, but seemed to lack the want to go back to it often and didn’t really have that big track that stand out. This one is loaded with them. Powerful, infectious and anthemic are a few ways to describe it. Perhaps the million live shows they’ve done have really helped them step up their game because it’s almost a whole new band here sound wise. Highlights are ‘She’s Delirious’ which sits somewhere between Silverchair and Foo Fighters, ‘Throw Me To The Wolves’ and ‘Worlds Collide’. Keeps getting better each time I listen to it too. Out next week, look out for it!
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BRAID – Closer To Closed [Out Early September via Hobbledehoy] [Get It]
This four track EP from these 90′s heroes is getting a 12″ release locally in September, and this week have been spinning the digital version. These guys are on a lot of favourites list from folks for very good reason, and they’ve spawned some great bands since their disbanding. So new material is quite a treat, and like all the band’s releases, they manage to expand their sound further and further. This time around it’s still the Braid we know, but a little more modern in sound, not a bad thing. A chance for new ears to get into the band, and old ears to hear something we probably never thought we’d get too. Highlights are ‘Do Over’ and ‘You Are The Reason’. Will sound good on vinyl.
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YOUTHINASIA – Feed The Machine [Out Now via Pee] [Get It]
This Canadian outfit impressed with their last release a couple of years back, now after a bit of a break and shuffle, they are back, bigger and better than before. Three guitarists fatten the sound while addition of piano and violin keep things interesting by mixing up the sound. They start with a base of hard hitting pop-punk driven by solid vocals, then throw all kinds of layers on top throughout the EP. Definitely taking on the best parts of various elements and blending them into one. Pigeonhole them, nope you can’t, Sounds like? nope, can’t do that either. Can say it’s a catchy, memorable listen. Refreshing in sound, a taste of what may come on their future full length. Highlights are ‘Feed The Machine’, ‘Meet Your Maker’ and ‘There Comes A Time’.
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FROM THE CROWD
RISE AGAINST / SICK OF IT ALL / BREAK EVEN
FESTIVAL HALL, MELBOURNE – THURSDAY 21ST JULY – Words by Deborah Konopnicki

As we reach the peak of winter there isn’t much that is going to be motivating enough to leave a warm cup of team and heated house. There was only one band that I was willing to leave the warmth of home for and that band was Rise Against. The boys from Chicago have been kind to their Australian fans of late; gracing our shores for Big Day Out last year with some sideshows in between and a few months ago we were delivered their latest offering “End Game”. The crowd was a mixture of seasoned punters and eager kids who were all there despite the horrid weather to catch a glimpse of a band that has perfected their sound and just keeps on getting better and better live.

Perth boys Break Even kicked off proceedings in the massive and imposing space that can be Festival Hall but is seems that these lads are big enough to draw crowds on their own merits and there are a lot of people around keen to support them.

Next up were the absolute legends/godfathers/icons of the hardcore scene Sick Of It All who have consistently come back and wowed Aussie audiences with their impressive stage show. Every single member in the band was dashing around on stage with the upmost charisma that demanded your attention. The crowd was loving it. They blasted through their back catalogue of gems in a brilliant manner leaving the crowd all psyched up for the main event of the evening. Although there would have been many Sick Of It All fans in the audience I have no doubt that they would have caught the eye of every single Rise Against fan there.

As the lights dimmed the crowd knew what they were in for; a hell of a lot of fun! Rise Against opened with their passionate anthem (aren’t they all?) “Chamber The Cartridge” that got everyone on their feet. Everyone in the room was singing along with lead singer Tim, letting the audience have the spotlight during certain moments in the song that always make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. The new songs sounded great live. “Help Is On The Way” is a song with many faces. It has a great bridge that allows you to have a breath before jolting back into the chorus. “Make It Stop” sounded a little slower than on the album which made it lose a bit of it’s bite, but it was still great to hear it live. They blasted out the hits in meticulous fashion like “Audience Of One”, “Survive”, “Prayer Of The Refugee”, “Re-Education (Through Labour)”, “Architechs” and throwing in the standard ‘older track’ in “Paper Wings” that got a small section of the crowd excited.

The predictable ‘acoustic set’ happened 3/4 of the way into their set with “Swing Life Away” and “Hero Of War”. Despite the fact that it feels like I’ve heard both songs a million times live you still can’t resist that chill that you get when there are thousands of people singing along to a song that meant something to you at some point in your life. Having the full band come on stage close to the end of “Hero At War” makes that song sound just that little bit more powerful. Even if you’re not a fan of the lyrical content there is no denying that the song packs a hell of a punch towards the end. I was totally surprised and delighted when the band came back on stage for the encore and played “Entertainment” off of their last record “Appeal To Reason”. It’s a song with a great tune and fantastic lyrics that sounded just as amazing live as I had imagined. “Ready To Fall” was clearly the crowd favorite for the evening along with the long-time fan favorite in “Give It All”. I left the venue full of energy, half a voice and even more admiration for the band. All in all, a cold and wet Thursday evening was the perfect time for a punk rock show.

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