Review: Enthrall the Weak - "Lighthouse" (Single)

Hardcore/Metal music has come a long way. Experimentation has created new subgenres and subcategories within the genre, giving the genre a surprising amount of depth and growth. However hardcore music progresses, we, as listeners, cannot forget its roots. Thankfully, Enthrall the Weak is here to remind us all of “core” music’s roots. Their latest single, “Lighthouse” will have you jumping to every hit, kick, and fast riff like a 17-year-old at a basement hardcore show.

Heavy riffs greet your ears before introducing you face-first to an onslaught of fast-paced riffs, harsh screams, and driving percussion.

Vocalist David Darlak brings forth a well-executed display of harsh growls, mids and high screams that are consistent within the genre. Darlak brilliantly blends them with clean vocals that carry a Midwest-emo quality. The overall vocal performance is perfectly gritty, honest, and heartfelt with every yell, note, and scream.

Instrumentally, “Lighthouse” is sure to induce heavy, fast moshing and jumping. Fast-paced riffs from guitarists Amato and Gray are tastefully meshed with intermittent melodic overlays, interludes, and breakdowns. Drummer Jimmy Amato is brutally consistent in his unwavering delivery of driving “core” percussion, never wasting a single fill or kick.

Overall, “Lighthouse” is a brilliant track. Enthrall the Weak has managed to pull off the “traditional” gritty-yet-melodic hardcore sound that you were first introduced to. Enthrall the Weak is the hardcore refresher course that you need. Their sound is addictively fast, edgy, and energetic. If you love hardcore, then you need these guys in your music library. 

9/10

http://www.reverbnation.com/enthralltheweak/song/22529966-lighthouse-2015

For fans of: Know Lyfe, When Skies Go Black, At No End

Katt Hass

Review: The Gospel Youth - Kids EP

Do you miss the early 2000’s pop-punk? The anthemic ballads that fused punk with pop-rock style? Or driving down the road, blasting the melodic, soft riffs of your youth? If nostalgia has been hitting you hard, then look no further than The Gospel Youth. The 3-piece outfit from Brighton, UK has just released their debut 3-track EP, Kids, and they’ve packed it full of catchy riffs that will have you bouncing and bopping your head as you sing your heart out to the sound of your youth.

“Mixtape” kicks off the EP with a display of the bands soft, anthemic sound.  Melodic soft riffs are paired with smartly implemented percussion, creating an overall bouncy sound that you so desperately crave. It’s like All Time Low blended with New Found Glory, and the result is a driving, poppy melodic sound that will easily get stuck in your head for days.

Next up is “Kids”, where The Gospel Youth flexes their pop-rock prowess in this equally-as-catchy song. Light, bouncy riffs and banging drums mark this extremely catchy track that will have you jumping and singing along to well-crafted verse & chorus.

We end with “H.L.B.”, a track in which there is no mistaking the band’s softer pop-rock side in this power ballad. Light melodies are set in the background of their vocalist’s heartfelt words, creating an overall empowering sound that will have you singing and swaying along. 

Overall, this EP is a real catch. The Gospel Youth set my nostalgia sensors ablaze in every song and every verse. You can hear and feel the energy and raw emotion put into every note and every word. Kids is the college refresher course on early 2000's pop-punk/rock blend that you need for the sound you truly miss. You absolutely should keep your eyes and ears on these guys, regardless if you’re looking for a nostalgic reminder of a past sound that you truly enjoyed.

8.9/10

http://thegospelyouth.bandcamp.com/album/kids-ep

The Gospel Youth is graciously offering their EP for free on their bandcamp page. You’d be foolish to not have this EP in your music library.

For fans of: All Time Low, New Found Glory, Since Forever

Katt Hass

The Weekly Tune-Up #2

Ouch That Hertz presents The Weekly Tune-Up! Once a week we carefully select music that we find absolutely necessary to add into your music library. And they’re all free to download by the artist! Of course, if you like what you hear, we encourage you to throw a donation their way!

This week we're giving you a wide variety from folk to jazz-hop. Check it all out below!

Jacky Bastek - "Wonderwoman" (Single) and " Cold Progression"  (Single)

A catchy and impressive fingerstyle singer/songwriter from Germany. If anything, you need to hear "Cold Progression"- a blues-y instrumental that will captivate your ears. "Wonderwoman" is one of her older works (with vocals). You'll find her voice to be quite soothing. 

http://jackybastek.bandcamp.com/track/wonderwoman

http://jackybastek.bandcamp.com/track/cold-progression

Jake Feeny - A Fit of Colours

Singer/Songwriter from Toronto, Ontario. A Fit of Colours is a breezy acoustic folk album mixed with an alternative-blues kind of style. You'll need this, trust me.

http://jakefeeney.bandcamp.com/album/a-fit-of-colours

Todd & Ryan Wright - "Snow"

A sweet, catchy holiday ballad written by a man and his daughter. Oh, yeah, you definitely need this. 

http://orangepopsongs.bandcamp.com/track/snow

Monster Rally & Jay Stone - Foreign Pedestrians

Rap/Hip-Hop set to surf-rock-esque beats. Mhhhmmmm.

http://monsterrally.bandcamp.com/album/foreign-pedestrians

Yeomans - Yeomans

Garage/surf-rock outfit from Toronto. Need I say more?

http://yeomans.bandcamp.com/album/yeomans-ep

Animal Flag - Animal Flag

Indie Rock that will have you wearing beanies and swaying like all the hip kids.

http://animalflag.bandcamp.com/album/animal-flag-ep

ProleteR - Rookie EP

Jazz-Hop/electro swing/abstract-ish... An eclectic mix that your ears need to hear.

http://proleter.bandcamp.com/album/rookie-ep