That Riot Agents live for the energy of punk rock and the speed of thrash metal could be no more apparent than with their latest album Who Cares!. The album features nine tracks of gruff melodic speed drawing upon everything from The Ramones, Iron Maiden and The Misfits, to Judas Priest, Kiss, Ozzy, and The Adicts. Plenty of loud times to be had. They’re quite opinionated and extreme, so don’t say I didn’t warn you! Oh, and their first effort, Too Hard To Fall, ain’t too shabby either.
I can’t really find much about this band other than being based out of Sweden, but this album is well worth posting anyway. The sound seems to fit somewhere between hardcore and punk, with a bit of a scratchy streetpunk overtone to it. It’s pretty easy to get into, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have much bite. It sounds a little rooted in the 80′s, and has some of those great background solos to keep things moving, and a hit of metal in spirit.
Here’s one I really enjoy. The boys from Samuel Caldwell’s Revenge are graciously offering up their Wyld Stallyns Split EP for the season’s Free Music Month. Two songs are from SCR, with the other two coming from In Bad Taste. The EP runs a quick sixteen minutes, but offers up a great argument for tuning in to both of the punk/metal hybrids. For those already familiar with SCR, the EP serves as a pleasant little surprise for those looking for something to tide them over until the eventual full length.
Samuel Caldwell’s Revenge - The Power To Consume Ourselves
Darko is an fresh new punk metal band out of the UK some some serious technical know how. They’re a little shoutier than A Wilhelm Scream, but certainly no less able. As far as I can tell, the band came out of nowhere earlier this year, and with the year winding down, has probably earned the title of most promising new melodic technical punk group. For my full impressions, check out my full review.
Death To False Hope Records is is usually a home for crusty punk rock, but now the label seems to trying its hand with melodic, technical hardcore punk with the release of Recover’s From The Tracks. The UK/Sweden based band is a real breath of fresh air for the label, and should easily satisfy fans of Strung Out, Millencolin, and A Wilhelm Scream as predicted on the label description.
Metal edged punk with hardcore overtones has exploded over the past several years. The Bellicose Whores have all the edge that has made the genre so dominant over the years. Fans of lighter Trustkill Records offerings or harder Fat Wreck Chords releases should take note.
If you’re like me and you enjoy a punk-metal fusion like that of Strung Out, then Dallas’ Samuel Caldwell’s Revenge is right for you. Speedy metal riffs and gruff but professional excecution make this a must have. There’s also a notable Rise Against influence here too. It’s only being offered free for the next couple of weeks, so get it while you can!
Download The Album From Jamendo
Download The Album From Jamendo
