Gods' Love For Hardcore: 2014

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Top 15 EP's of 2014

.15.

Oh Tear the Veil

Oh Tear the Veil

progressive metalcore

This is a really good under the radar debut release from the 4 brothers of Oh Tear the Veil. Spirit-filled all the way, with solid versatile instrumentation.

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.14.

Chorder

Warmonger

djent

Grooves for days... I personally don't like the term 'djent', but they do it extremely well.

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.13.

Household

With Or Without

melodic hardcore/punk

This popular trend of emotional melodic hardcore is hit or miss. You're either really good or really bad, with me. Household is really good. They don't water down the Christian message to find acceptance, but mix the secular sound with profound lyricism perfectly.

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.12.

Sleep Now

Cast Out

hardcore

For those of you who were fans of old Gideon. This should be your new favorite band. I personally love their sound. They have enough added melodic elements that perfectly blend together this style of in your face hardcore. They have been silent a while on Fb, but a great debut none the less.

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.11.

Hashem

Martyr

death metal

Leaving the core out of things, and being straight metal. Solid death metal act with a really powerful sound. Second year in a row on this list. I would really love for them to experiment more and take things to the next level.

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.10.

Mailman

Elder

metalcore

This is a band that everyone needs to know about. Elder went almost unknown in Christian music releases this year. I found them this summer and immediately featured them on the Summer Compilation. Huge potential for a small band that already has a popular sound.

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.9.

Endure

Nothing Is Our Own

melodic hardcore

This was Endure's final release before disbanding. Such a solid band, ended with such a solid release. Really good melodic hardcore on faith, love, and hope.

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.8.

With A Voice

Unending

post-hardcore

With A Voice sent us off with Unending, another band calling it quits with an EP release. Which is sad, but good, because this EP is superb. Raw, catchy, grown man post-hardcore, not for your average scene teen. So sad to see them go.

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.7.

How The West Was Won

Wild And Waste

metalcore/metal

This release came as a surprise to me, I was waiting for them to release new stuff and didn't hear about a release until after Wild and Waste came out. So I can imagine it did the same for a lot of people. Wild and Waste is really good, from a very consistently good band.

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.6.

CrossFire

The Catalyst

progressive metalcore

This is a release you most likely have not heard. This band took an extremely large jump this year musically with this release, and created a really solid EP. It's close to my top 5 for a reason, it's good.

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.5.

Nomadic

Terminus

progressive death metal

Really diverse release. My cut off on length for releases was they had to be more than 2 songs. But this 2 song EP was just too good not to place.

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.4.

O'Kingdom

Empires

progressive metalcore

O'Kingdom is another band that seemed to go under the radar in the Christian circut and released an extremely catchy EP, without trading awesome musicianship in the process.

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.3.

All Have Sinned

Desecrate Their Graves

deathcore

Thee... heaviest and darkest EP release of 2014, hands down.

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.2.

The Valenzetti Equation

Trial of Eden

progressive deathcore/death metal

Another extremely diverse metal EP to release this year. It's heavy, technical, experimental in all the right ways.

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.1.

A Feast For Kings

Hell On Earth

progressive metalcore

Eric Gentry's legacy is forever implanted in our souls, his impact will be felt forever. Hell on Earth is a perfect release. AFFK worked extremely hard to release this EP, and they rightfully earned the best EP of this year. AFFK will continue on as the band XXI. Expect something huge.

Check out my Review of Hell On Earth here!

AFFK - Hell On Earth Album Review

XXI Facebook

In honor of Eric Gentry. We love and miss you!

Honorable Mentions

Among Millennials - Idle Hands, Burdened Hearts - Lost In Myself, Consecrate - Holy, Holy, End Of Atlas - Immaturity, Essentials - Trials, Nazarene - Fade Away, Outstretch - Outstretch, Owls In The Attic - Old Souls, Young Hearts, Reveal Renew - Phrases For The Living, Revivalist - Brother, Wait Here - Empty Reflection

Other Notable Releases

Achaia - King, Anchor To My Soul - Demo, Armory Infirmary - Rest, Atrocities - Set Free, The Beckoning - Desolate, Between Now And Then - Collections, Beyond Vision - Fire Is Coming, BoughXBlood - Restoration, Captain Roselyn - Heartmatter, City of Auburn - Soul Searcher, Deadweight - No Place Like Home, Despite My Pride - Cold Blood/Simple Math, Elizabeth Crim - My Suicide, Embers Of Earth - Release the River, Emya - Viera II, ternal Covenant - The Storm, Eyes of Eli - Ignite, Heart of A Servant - Heart of A Servant, Hollow Vessels - Rumination, I Am Eternity - Restructure, In This World - Maiden Voyage, Lambs Like Lions - Lambs Like Lions, Me and the Trinity - Crux, Judgment Day x Strength - Split EP, Messengers - Deux Chansons, Nazarene - Heart and Mind, New Heart - Demo MMXIV, Parallax Withering - Disintegration, Poured Out - Inner Poverty, Reasons - Coffin, Remnants of Rome - Open-Hearted, Righteous Vendetta - Defiance, Servants x Endeavor - Split EP, A Sight To See - The Arrival, Soundcult - Mindset, Stop, Drop, & Burn - Face Down, Subtle City - Life After Death, Timoratus - Black, Timoratus - Death, Torn - Demo 2014, Vitriolic - The Road To Damascus, What We Do In Secret - The Migration, Whose Hearts Were His - Whose Hearts Were His, Windvent - Truth, Your Hands Write History - The Pentateuch

This year was a deep field full of talented EP releases! I want to thank all the bands for their hard work for the kingdom! If your band (or a band you know ) did not appear, be sure to contact God's Love For Hardcore throughout the year with your future releases to secure a submission for the annual Top 15 lists.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Silence The Ocean

Broken Vessels

Album Review

metalcore/post-hardcore

release date: November 15, 2014

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Silence The Ocean is a hard working modern metalcore/post-hardcore band from Ohio. Broken Vessels is their debut full length album following up their 2013 EP, Changes. With a goal to spread God's love to everyone, they come rare in this day and age among metalcore and post-hardcore bands, while bands lean more towards an open positive world message.

Broken Vessels is a solid release in the midst of a crowded lineup of 2014 releases. Their style has very reminiscent influences of the genre that made this style of music popular: dirty and clean vocals, fun riffs, chuggy breakdowns, clean guitar and bass work, and crisp, precise drumming. And they get right into it with the opening titled track, Broken Vessels. This is an intro track, and as with all good intro tracks, it entices and builds up excitement and curiosity as to what follows. Keys play over atmospheric background music to begin, the instruments kick in continuing the build up, and before you know it, Conner shreds the microphone with screams of "We are broken vessels!" "Make us whole again!" Build up music is still playing a few seconds after Conner's barrage, and then immediately kicks in gear to Dethrone. Personally I feel this song could have been so much more intense, following a heavy intro. It starts off heavy, fast guitars, diverse, and layered screams. Ultimately I think it would have been a more powerful song without the cleans to start off the album, or placed in the middle of the record.

Endless is the third track, and is a notable point on Broken Vessels. It has a beautiful intro, bringing backs memories of old We Came As Romans. Leroy Hamp of War of Ages is featured and appears around midway through the track. The song lyrically talks about how time is ever moving, you can not control it, and every day is a new beginning. Fragile is the fourth song, and it continues on a high note following Endless. Structures follows, and it is probably my personal favorite on the album. It has everything I enjoy in a modern metalcore/post-hardcore album; good use of cleans, enjoyable riffs, a beat to go along with, and a good heavy breakdown or two. The Wolf is the sixth track and is made up of all the familiar elements the album has showed thus far, keeping the albums pace.

Unconditional Love follows up The Wolf. It is strictly a ballad with all clean vocals that is presented with a pop rock feel. Lyrically, as well as the style switch up, the song comes of more as a worship song to God exalting His love for us even though we continually stumble. Personally I am a stickler with bands who have single songs that delve off direction of the rest of the album, and tho i feel it could have been more passionate, the song is a refresher, and a reminder of our brokenness and His ever forgiving love for us. As the song concludes, it immediately picks back up with a very solid song in My Disgrace. Frayed Paths is track nine. This song gives me the vibe it would be a really good live show song, with it's darker feel and mosh friendly breakdowns. Born Machines ends the album in good fashion, fading the album out with beautiful melodies.

Overall Silence The Ocean has the sound as well as the work ethic to really reach people and grow as a band. Broken Vessels has a lot of enjoyable moments. Musically it is filled with beautiful melodies, and it also hits hard. The bass is really enjoyable, crisp, and clear resembling the likes of old Fit For A King, Gideon, and more recently the band Convictions. Most bands the bass goes unnoticed, blending with the guitars, but its presence is felt in Broken Vessels. I do feel the clean vocals could have been utilized differently throughout the album. At times they seemed to miss the emotional mark of the feel of the song at times. But none the less, where the band lacks, their strong suits make up for it. The band has goals they are striving for this year, with possibilities of getting signed and going on tour. Broken Vessels is a good stepping stone in the right direction for them. They are always busy creating new music, and with such passion for God, expect nothing but great things from the boys in Silence The Ocean!

A - [B+]- C - D - F 

Monday, December 8, 2014

Emya

Viera II

indie/post rock/melodic hardcore

release date: November 24, 2014

1. Acacia

2. El Ultimo Enemigo que Sera Destruido es la Muerte

3. Hueles Mi Garganta

4. Ellos Trajeron la Lluvia

5. Endecha

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(Argentina)

Monday, November 17, 2014

Deadweight

No Place Like Home

hardcore

release date: November 17, 2014

1. Intro

2. American Dream

3. The Fair Ain't Fair

4. We See The Answer, But Remain The Same

5. Those Who Have Ears

6. Let Them Hear

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Your Hands Write History

The Pentateuch

experimental metal

release date: November 11, 2014

1. The Still Small Voice (The Party Pirates Private Property)

2. In The Jaws Of The Deep (She Sells Seashells By The Seashore)

3. Golden Keys And Divine Tongues (Eleven Benevolent Elephants)

4. Honestly Give Me Wings (Peter Piper Picked a Peck Of Pickled Peppers)

5. Under A Dead Son's Gaze (The Three Thieves Short Sword Sheathes)

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Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Timoratus

Death

death metal

release date: November 4, 2014

1. Confrontation of the End

2. No One Left

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Monday, October 27, 2014

Fire The Sun

An Evolution In The Creation Of A New Self Being

hardcore/old school metalcore

release date: September 10, 2014

1. The Noise Of Machinery, Jet Engines & Rock N' Roll

2. The Fight Of Your Life

3. Save Me From Myself

4. In All Gloriousness And Warmth

5. An Evolution In The Creation Of A New Self Being

6. Be Still My Heart

7. To Bring Encouragement To The Fallen And Conflicted

8. Let Us Rise With You

9. Make Me Beautiful Again

10. The Coming Of Fatigue And Faith

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Saturday, October 25, 2014

Captain Roselyn

Heartmatter

chaotic hardcore

release date: October 25, 2014

1. Goodbye Dinosaur

2. Heartmatter

3. This World Won't Tear You Down

4. The Arsonist

5. Enter Sonship

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Friday, October 24, 2014

Revivalist

Brother

Album Review

hardcore

release date: October 21, 2014

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Revivalist is a hardcore band coming from Abilene, Texas. Within the year they have grown their name within the Christian community, signed with On The Attack Records, and released an EP. They have clearly laid down a foundation for their future with their hard work.

This year seemed to show a similar theme in hardcore music, with bands either playing a brand of hardcore that sticks to the basics, or a hardcore brand that has minor metalcore influences.

With what seems like every other band taking that step in direction at almost the same time, it is refreshing to hear hardcore that has hardcore style and passion without blending into the latter.

   Brother is a solid debut ep, but, it is not just an ep, it is a dedication. A dedication to Joshua Parvin, the brother of the lead vocalist, who passed away at 25. And with this dedication, comes a personal heartfelt message brought with an intense passion.

   The ep starts off with 'Paradise', an energetic song that sets off Revivalist's style. The lyrics are short and simple, and the song overall feels as just an intro. Paradise transitions into the second track, 'Jeremiah'. This is a song that steps up in the spirit. Speeding up those hardcore riffs, and screaming lyrics of being torn down by the Cross. Josiah Lyle of Mouth Of The South is featured on the title track, screaming words of conviction after the loss of a brother. The song is, rightfully, full of sincere apologetic passion, displayed both vocally and instrumentally. 'Vanity' is the fourth track and here we come across the bands melodic side. While the first few songs were more straight hardcore, 'Vanity' throws in a little adversity. This songs message is about being dead to the old man and being different. The ep finishes off with 'Free'. This track is also following in the more melodic hardcore that 'Vanity" displayed. The name of the track portrays everything that the word means in a follower of Christ, screaming lyrics of freedom and promise.

   Revivalist has built themselves a solid foundation to build upon. By no means is 'Brother' breaking down walls within the genre, but any avid hardcore follower will find familiar aspects with this release. It is very well produced and up to date with todays music quality, and features a guest vocalist that is relevant in Christian music in his own band, which will appeal to many. Musically the riffs are aggressive with a few fun and enjoyable breakdowns. Revivalist brings simple passionate lyrics, which at times get repetitive. But any true hardcore kid knows that's not an unfamiliar aspect of the genre. They also come off as refreshing because they are personal and experience oriented, instead of lyrically bickering about the secular world and mistreatment of Christians, which has made it's rounds within Christian hardcore music.

   Not to many young bands show promise or staying power, which mostly is a product of work ethic and passion, but Revivalist doesn't lack in any. This ep shows their passion and that they have an old school hardcore work ethic, and as a bi product, an enjoyable record was produced. Given the amount of growth they have done in one year, I can't imagine them slowing down in the upcoming year.

A - [B+]- C - D - F