Eighteen Visions - Obsession (Trustkill)
Another album, a whole new face! After their killer last album,"Vanity," Eighteen Visions come back with their old style along with a new touch of an active alternative style. The first song "Obsession" opens up with a creative twist and only makes you want to hear more. Eighteen Visions lead vocalist James Hart's inspiration has to be from Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots and now of Velvet Revolver. Currently spinning on MTV2, Eighteen Visions is a band to look out for in the near future. This is one active and different album. When I first listened to it, I couldn't believe I was listening to Eighteen Visions and felt like I was listening to a whole new band! Check them out on tour on select Warped Tour dates as well as with Lostprophets and Midtown.
Dom's Rating: 4

A Faith Called Chaos - Forgive Nothing (Volcom)
Hailing from the city of Dallas, Texas, these guys bring the great guitar riffs, the great melodic singing and the great SCREAMS! This new 10 track album brings you a different taste of rock and roll with screamo! If you like such bands as AMEN, Will Haven, or Grade, this is a must check out band. Check out the website (afaithcalledchaos.com) full of media and downloads. This is one crazy band to check out if you are ready to get your head kicked in. See them out on the Volcom stage this summer on the Warped Tour.
Dom's Rating: 5

Bad Religion - The Empire Strikes First (Epitaph)
The punk-gods are back with their latest album "The Empire Strikes First." This is one of my favorite new albums; the 14 tracks bring back their old style with a newer style as well. Also on this album the song "Let Them Eat War" features Sage Francis, one of my favorite rappers. Both singer Greg Graffin as well as guitarist Brett Gurewitz write intense lyrics about the war in Iraq. What better band could headline this year's 10th year for the Warped Tour? Go pick this album up sometime and see what you think about it. One of the best of the summer, I honestly don't think mine would be complete without Bad Religion in my stereo.
Dom's Rating: 4

Heaven Shall Burn - Antigone (Abacus/Century Media)
This German band has been a great import for the United States metalcore scene! HSB have great elements of such luminaries as At the Gates and Earth Crisis. After their 2002 album "Whatever It May Take," they began to show who they are. With their new album, "Antigone," they are truly showing their dark side. This band is the type for all hardcore and metal heads. Check out Heaven Shall Burn at heavenshallburn.com and see what this band is really about!
Dom's Rating: 4.5

Swingin' Utters - Live in a Dive (Fat Wreck Chords)
Swingin' Utters live at the Troubadour in Hollywood and hail from San Francisco. This band, born in '95, has great formation and is one of the best punk bands out from California. Swingin' Utters show the intensity of a live show and how much fun it can be. I myself have never seen this band live, and I would after I heard this album. You may think this is some big band who tours a lot. Well, they may tour a lot, but they have families to support and actually still work their regular day time jobs at home. This live album which was sold-out, also includes an enhancement with live footage and interviews. Also, inside it includes an excerpt of a comic they created. This is a must get album for all OI! Punkers!
Dom's Rating: 5

Number One Fan - Compromises (Pat's Record Company)
Numberonefanonline.com is where you need to go to check out this alternative/indie-rock band from Appleton, Wisconsin. Veteran rock manager and Mosaic Media Group partner Pat Magnarella (Green Day, Goo Goo Dolls, The All-American Rejects) discovered this band and took them right in. For fans of The All-American Rejects, Something Corporate and Diffuser, this is your new favorite band. Go to livejournal and join the community, and go to the site and jam out to Number One Fan!
Dom's Rating: 4.5

Ozomatli - Street Signs (Concord Records)
After two full length albums and one E.P., OZOMATLI is back with "Street Signs." After leaving ALMO records, they were signed to Concord where OZO has the chance to do what they want. When first formed, Jurassic-5 members Cut Chemitst and Chali2na were in the original line-up but then departed. At that time, OZO got a new DJ and rapper and took off from there. Nobody really bought their last album or even saw it the day it came out - September 11, 2001. Ozomatli, a 3/4 multi-racial crew who have never been shy about their commitment to social justice, progressive politics, and anti-war convictions, decided to keep their dates and keep playing. In my opinion, that is one of the only ways to express yourself. With this new album out, OZO reunites with Chali2na on one song and also have a great beat throughout the album. This band, with a blend of salsa, hip-hop and Spanish alternative, won themselves a Grammy in 2002, video spins and have been on movies like Never Been Kissed as well as television shows like Late Night With Conan. They have shared a stage with bands varying from Go Betty Go to Santana to Rage Against the Machine! This may not be a hardcore, punk, or emo band, but this is a must check out to discover a new style of music. To find out more, see them on tour from West Coast to East Coast. OZO is being featured in Target, Best Buy and other retail stores for low prices; go buy it or check them out at ozomatli.com.
Dom's Rating: 5

Atreyu - The Curse (Victory Records)
When I first slipped "The Curse" into my CD player in the record store's parking lot on June 29th (the release date), I experienced an immediate rush of excitement. Atreyu took a brave and different route in this album in overall style and pulled off an amazing array of hardcore unlike any I've heard before. Imagine a mix of eighties guitar and traditional hardcore raspy vocals and you have "The Curse," a surprising, yet refreshing combination. The lyrics of the album are darker (hence the vampire cover) as they make references to Anne Rice, a horror/terror and myth novelist who wrote The Vampire Lestat, as well as The Queen of the Damned. On a limited edition copy of "The Curse" (only 30,000 released), a bonus track of "You Give Love a Bad Name" is covered from the old Bon Jovi single, thus revealing its eighties rock era influence. This summer, Atreyu can been seen on Ozzfest's second stage among the many other hardcore bands lined-up like Bleeding Through, Throwdown, Lamb of God, and Darkest Hour, just to name a few. For any hardcore fan, this is a MUST buy!
Kel's Rating: 5

Alexisonfire - Watch Out! (Equal Vision Records)
"Watch Out," in stores on June 29th, makes a bit of a different comeback from Alexisonfire's debut self-titled album (2002) with much more of an emo-screamo feel. This new album, compared with the last that is bursting with intense, melodic breakdowns and steady hardcore influence, takes a step down in intensity and screaming vocals. The first time I heard "Watch Out!", I was caught off guard at its lighter feel from the first album, but I gradually warmed up to the change. It reminded me somewhat of From Autumn to Ashes in comparison and proportion to its amounts of melodic singing and screaming, but its not quite so emotion-inducing. If you're into bands like Funeral for a Friend or Hopesfall, this will be a good emo-core album to add to your collection. Look for Alexisonfire this summer at Edgefest, Warped Tour and Hellfest.
Kel's Rating: 3

Burn the 8 Track - The Ocean (Abacus)
Formed in 2001, BT8T consider themselves a high and energetic band. Formerly named Guy Smiley, they have created post punk/pop-punk styles that can be closely compared to Thursday. BT8T has shared the stage with bands like Good Riddance, Propaghandi, and NOFX, just to name a few, and have also toured the US, Canada (their home) and Europe. BT8T is one of the best known underground bands out now, a must check out band for fans of Thursday or any fans of pop-punk with melodic and post punk influences and screaming involved! Check them out at Burnthe8track.com.
Dom's Rating: 3.5

Tragedy Andy - It's Never Too Late To Start Over (Pop Smear Records)
The energy of this pop-indie-rock band's live shows has landed them a spot on this year's Warped Tour in San Francisco. Tragedy Andy has shared the stage with Rufio, The RxBandits, Strung Out, Boys Night Out, Park and Save Ferris and fits right in. This is one of the coolest and most awesome underground bands out now. Tragedyandy.com is where you can find some mp3's and other great info, and it's one awesome website as well. Go check them out sometime, it's worth it.
Dom's Rating: 3.5

Another Damn Disappointment (A.D.D.) - Hooligan (Volcom)
Alright, AFI is a good band from the past, but imagine a band taking over the "Whoas", "OI's!" and the fast pace styles they used to bring them to fame. That's basically how I feel now when I listen to A.D.D.: A great style that makes me feel like I am living back "when it was core in '94!" For any old AFI fan or 90's punk fan, this album is a must have! The band is featured on the Volcom stage this summer at the Warped Tour. Go check them out at addsucks.com! As I am currently writing this at 1:50 AM, I am here dancing and jamming this really loud, so that's a clue to check it out!
Dom's Rating: 5

Band Review

If you like Coldplay or AIR you will like BIKINI TEST FAILURE!
From the UK, mastermind genius James Blague created an awesome style with Bikini Test Failure which includes only James Blague who plays all musical instruments (except where noted), and vocals. This melodic "band" brings in awesome styles and well produced material. Bikinitestfailure.com is where you can check out the music and pictures. Get a hold of James Blague and see what he can do if you like the music. This is one hard working man and is getting radio spins around the nation and around the world. Go check out BTF and let me know what you think. I WANT FEED BACK! If you don't like it, I will reply to you saying thanks for your opinion!