Donny F.T.W. Presents...: Fearless Records

Showing posts with label Fearless Records. Show all posts

Sunday, 13 February 2022

Special: First Listen Thoughts: As It Is "I Went To Hell And Back", Comeback Kid "Heavy Steps", William Ryan Key "Everything Except Desire"

As It Is - I Went To Hell And Back

Label: Fearless Records

Press release: Transatlantic trio, As It Is — Patty Walters, Ronald Ish, and Alistair Testo — have today announced their brand new album. I WENT TO HELL AND BACK, will be released on February 4th 2022 via Fearless Records. The album might have come to life over a two year period where Testo, Walters and Ish questioned their life choices and wrestled with a world in a constant throng of chaotic uncertainty, but the band’s fourth album couldn’t sound more excited. The fourteen tracks are powerful, and fearlessly chase the unexpected. It’s the sound of a band still having fun.

My thoughts: As It Is have never been shy about changing their sound around the pop-punk genre. Their first album on Fearless was a great batch of modern pop-punk songs (at the time) akin to Neck Deep and The Story So Far, they followed that up with a throwback pop-rock sounding record in Okay before going full MCR for their last release. On this newest release they take their previous two albums and smash them together while adding 808's and other elements of modern production on top. The album is a mixed bag for sure once through but there is enough high's (I Miss 2003, I Lie To Me) to come back and with the chances they took here it definitely has some enduring potential.

Comeback Kid - Heavy Steps

Label: Nuclear Blast

Press release: Today, one of the biggest names in modern hardcore, COMEBACK KID announce their seventh studio album, "Heavy Steps" will be released January 21, 2022 via Nuclear Blast worldwide (and New Damage Records in Canada). Although the members of the band are currently residing on different sides of the country in Vancouver and Toronto, the band decided to write and record their latest effort in the band’s originating city of Winnipeg, Manitoba at Private Ear Recording Studio and once again enlisted the services of producer John Paul Peters who recorded the band’s debut album "Turn It Around". In addition to co-production by Peters, on "Heavy Steps", COMEBACK KID collaborated with prominent Grammy award-winning mixer and long-time fan of the band Will Putney. "Heavy Steps" is no longer a prerequisite to realizing COMEBACK KID’s influence on modern punk, but a delivery of pure anthemic chaos, sheer speed and force. It is a statement of intent.

My thoughts: For those that miss "Wake The Dead" era Comeback Kid, firstly their output has never been weak (maybe Broadcasting...), secondly check out Shadow Of A Doubt that sees Comeback Kid play in their old sandbox. Gang Vocals are ever present especially on the title track and Comeback Kid's production has never sounded cleaner. It's not all sugar and rainbows as I still can't get behind Crossed but Comeback Kid has positioned themselves as the best hardcore band from the early 00's onwards.

William Ryan Key - Everything Except Desire

Label: Equal Vision Records

Press release: Titled Everything Except Desire, the upcoming EP from the former Yellowcard vocalist is his brand new solo effort and is scheduled to be released in February next year, via Equal Vision Records/Rude Records. The upcoming EP was conceived and produced by Key on a month-to-month basis through Patreon at the start of Summer 2020. Speaking about the upcoming EP, Key says, “ever since I started making my own music, I think I’ve been searching for what became Everything Except Desire. I took a risk and created something completely unlike anything I’ve released in the past. This record felt like a big step for me both as a writer and a producer.”

My thoughts: I haven't really liked any of WRK's EP's to date. I understand he's trying to distance himself from "singer of Yellowcard" moniker and it's hard to do that if you pump out songs that sound like Yellowcard but this was clearly an attempt to do just that and practice with a bunch of new toys as a producer. WRK will always be among my favourite songwriters but with a 5.5 minute instrumental to lead off the album and a closer that has minimal lyrics to it. Brighton is a 6 minute song that could've been shorter but actually has some instruments on it (or sounds like it anyways).

Sunday, 24 October 2021

Special: First Listen Thoughts: Ice Nine Kills "The Silver Scream 2: Welcome To Horrorwood", Grayscale "Umbra", rationale. "If The Problem Persists"

Ice Nine Kills - The Silver Scream 2: Welcome To Horrorwood

Label: Fearless Records

Press release: At a totally sold-out fan event at the Mystic Museum in North Hollywood, CA, horror metal titans, Ice Nine Kills announced their long awaited sequel The Silver Scream 2: Welcome To Horrorwood. The fresh slice of horror-themed brutality will be released via Fearless Records on Friday, October 15 and can be pre-saved here. Speaking on his band’s newly announced album, Ice Nine Kills frontman and driving creative force, Spencer Charnas shared: “True to horror franchise tradition, there is always a sequel…”Welcome To Horrorwood” follows in the bloody footsteps of its predecessor, paying tribute to 13 more of the most gruesome tales to ever grace the silver screen. In this latest INK offering, the last album and video series is portrayed as a work of fiction. The new story line thrusts the band into a brutal “real world” slaying. The only traces of the crime are 13 songs left behind by the suspected killer…

My thoughts: People are losing their minds over this record. I'm sitting here thinking did I miss something? It's predecessor was much better in my opinion. Horrorwood does still have some strong moments but the pop song structure that made these songs based on movies so strong is seemingly lost here. Maybe it was as a result of constructing an overall narrative that was not found on the earlier records, or maybe Spencer and co. just wanted to push a louder sound that was sprinkled in on TSS to be the overarching sound on this record. I'm still excited to see where the videos go from here, especially since they've already covered some of my least favourite songs (Assault & Batteries, Funeral Derangements) so now we can see what they do with some of my favourites after one listen (Ex-Mortis, The Shower Scene).

Grayscale - Umbra

Label: Fearless Records

Press release: Philadelphia's alt rock band Grayscale are pleased to announce third full-length Umbra. The album finds the band not reborn but refined and truly coming into their sound. Umbra arrives on August 27 on Fearless Records. For Grayscale, Umbra is the end of the beginning. All previous records served as stepping stones accumulating and shaping the band's course and leading them down an artistic and aesthetic path to this point. Umbra is more of a feeling than a concept; it is an energy. It is all the things we keep underneath or to ourselves. It is the cold feeling of internal conflict, the bargaining, and the wickedness that exists within a space otherwise covered in light. The sounds don't necessarily match the stories; the energy doesn't always match the intent. It's not about the light or the dark. It's about the light and the dark.

My thoughts: I'll keep this one short. This is an incredible record. Grayscale started playing with new sounds and instrumentation on their previous record but it made for a mishmash of songs that sounded like their old stuff, great songs that evolved the band and bad songs that they did too much with. That being said Grayscale clearly realized what worked on that album and ran with it here giving us an AOTY contender.

rationale. - If The Problem Persists

Label: Self-released

Press release: rationale. have revealed that they are releasing a new record, and it's dropping next week! 'If The Problem Persists' is set to drop digitally on September 24. It will be released on vinyl in early 2022 via Smartpunk Records. The Chicago trio consists of Joe Taylor (Knuckle Puck), Dan Lambton (Formerly of Real Friends) and Ryan Rumchaks (Knuckle Puck, Homesafe).

My thoughts: Those that did not feel the new Real Friends album gave them what they wanted (not sure why you'd feel that way but whatever) then behold rationale.'s new EP featuring Dan Lambton vocals. That being said this sounds more like early Real Friends then the strides they took on Composure which seen Dan write a lot for the first time. I had high hopes but it left me a little disappointed but still a worthy listen especially if you need to pick yourself back together (get it?).

Saturday, 7 August 2021

Special: First Listen Thoughts: Rise Against "Nowhere Generation", Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! "Gone Are The Good Days", Against The Current "Fever EP"

Rise Against - Nowhere Generation

Label: Loma Vista Recordings

Press release: Lauded US punk outfit Rise Against is back with a provocative and dynamic new album, Nowhere Generation, the group’s first new studio effort in four years. On the upcoming release, the outspoken band points a finger at big business and politics for stacking the social and economic deck against Millennials’, Gen Y’s, and Gen Z’s pursuit of The American Dream. Musically, the album is blazing, aggressive punk rock; lyrically, the eleven songs were inspired in part by input from band members’ young children and Rise Against’s community of fans. Nowhere Generation is set for a June 4 release and is Rise Against’s first with new label Loma Vista Recordings.

My thoughts: You could argue that over 20 years into their career Rise Against are likely too far removed from the problems that they saw in their younger days but singer Tim McIlrath and the rest of the band are able to keep going strong by going with what they see as well as what the younger generation is living through (as mentioned above) although not as powerful as Siren Song or The Sufferer & The Witness but this is still a solid batch of songs (4 of which were released prior to the album releasing in full). The best deep cuts are honestly found on the back half (not terribly surprising since the 4 aforementioned songs are found on the front half) with Sooner Or Later being the stand out for me.

Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! - Gone Are The Good Days

Label: Fearless Records

Press release: “Chunk is back — FINALLY,” says vocalist Bertrand Poncet. “Our last album came out six years ago. Since then, we’ve grown so much as individuals and as a band. We have had a lot more life experience, as humans and as musicians, to draw from. In addition to producing this record ourselves, we experimented with our songwriting approach and have tried new things that we cannot wait for you to hear. Don’t worry. It still has all the old Chunk feels that you know and love – with a fresh new sound that will knock you off your feet.”

My thoughts: Nostalgia is obviously a big thing right now and that's the theme throughout the album that was mostly worked on pre-pandemic but tinkered with over it. In a pandemic world that nostalgic feeling is even more important. Not that Chunk! is simply rehashing their previous albums as their is a lot of playing with sounds here some turned out rather well (Pinkillers) and some not so well (Good Luck). The highlights include all 3 singles, especially the latest, Complete You, a mid-tempo banger of a song featuring AJ Perdermo of The Dangerous Summer along with the heavy hitters (Made For More, True Colors) and Blame It On This Song which was released way back in August 2016. The low point for me was probably Tongue Tied. It's just a little bit too slow and somber for me but I can appreciate what the band were trying to do.

Against The Current - Fever EP

Label: Fueled By Ramen

Press release: Fueled By Ramen recording artist Against The Current have announced their new EP fever, arriving July 23rd. The seven-track collection marks the first new body of work since the group's 2018 album Past Lives. "I wanted to encapsulate the maddening feeling of being trapped in a vicious cycle in your own head, and especially show that just because it's all in your head, doesn't at all detract from how real and potent that feeling can be," commented frontwoman Chrissy Costanza.

My thoughts: So I had already heard the first four tracks before the album since ATC like dripping singles before an album announcement. The band recently announced this would be EP1 and there will be a second EP that together would comprise an album and it's definitely some of the best work they've done on a record since their debut album and with time I may end up liking this EP better than their early EP releases. The four singles are solid so let's focus on the three "new to me" songs. Shatter is a slow repetitive song that didn't do anything for me. Burn It Down throw it back to their pop rock roots that reminds me of those early EP's I love. Lullaby is a dark rock track similar to their debut album and I'm all here for it. It appears this could be the deep cut with the most staying power unless ATC opts for a post release video.

Sunday, 11 October 2020

Special: First Listen Thoughts: 5 Seconds Of Summer "Calm", August Burns Red "Guardians", Taurids "EP"

5 Seconds Of Summer - Calm

Label: Interscope

Press release: 5 Seconds of Summer (5SOS) will release CALM – their fourth studio album and first for Interscope Records – on March 27. Says lead vocalist Luke Hemmings, “For a band to make it to four albums is no small feat in itself but to be reinventing and constantly pushing our songwriting and to come out with music that we’ve never been more proud of makes me so happy to be in 5 Seconds of Summer. CALM speaks on a journey through a young man’s life, for better or for worse. We are all human and all make mistakes, sometimes we hurt the ones we love and inevitably, ourselves in the process.

My thoughts: Calm shows that 5SOS have found their lane as they're able to perfectly combine their pop sensibilities that the label wants to see, along with the emo influences they grew up on and the sound experimentation that the boys are playing around with now. On one hand the guitars are grinding, the next the bass is thumping and then we get hit with some synth beats. Upon first full listen the singles seem to be the highlights but to be fair that makes up half the album thus far.

August Burns Red - Guardians

Label: Fearless Records

Press release: Guardians is the name of the new album. It's their eighth overall, and it's on target for an April 3 street date via Fearless Records. the group is calling it one of their most collaborative efforts to date. Guitarist JB Brubaker says, "Guardians is the culmination of a complete and total team effort. Dustin and I collaborated musically more than we ever have before. Jake and Brent collaborated vocally more than they ever have before. Matt bounced more drum ideas off of us than we could even comprehend. It was the most time we've ever spent in the studio on one album. We're all so proud of this record, and we can't wait to share it with the world."

My thoughts: Guardians first single Defender is by far the strongest track on this record. That's not to say that the rest of Guardians is subpar, ABR is by far one of the most consistent band in metalcore. The blastbeats are always strong, the breakdowns are intense and the shouts are always on point. The problem with consistency is that it leaves less room for growth. If you hear a random track from Guardians or from their first album with Jake Luhrs on vocals you'd think they'd be on the same album from the same place in time.

Taurids - EP

Label: Self-released

Press release: Singer Will Pugh of Cartel announced a new side-project today saying "I started writing this a long time ago and finished it last year. I’m so excited to share this with everyone now because it was gonna be a while before we released this. With the situation at hand, it seemed like the universe was telling me “now”. The lyrical content and the overall theme of this EP are suited for what we’re all going through.

My thoughts: Cartel was one of my favourite bands of all time, mostly on the strength of Will's vocals. I'm sad they autotuned him up on this despite the fact that that's where the industry is going I hoped it'd keep it clean. Down Here is the highlight as a mid tempo bop with a dreamy synth providing the backdrop along with the regular instrumentation and of course the closest we get to classic Will vocals.

Sunday, 19 July 2020

Special: Ranking Grayscale's "Adornment"

As of Today's writing (July 15th), Grayscale just announced a new EP of reworked tunes coming at the end of the month so I figured now is as good of time as any to look back at Grayscale's Fearless Records debut album "Adornment".

11. Slept

Slept is the penultimate track off of Adornment but it ranks at the bottom of my ranking. This is the 2nd time the 2nd to last track ends up at the bottom of one of my rankings but unlike the previous time (Waterparks - Crybaby) this is not a bad song, just the worst on Adornment.

10. Atlantic

Bring on the hate! Atlantic is Grayscale's most popular song and was the lead single on this album and it also introduced me to the band, unfortunately it has not aged well and I'm thankful I bought the album on a whim as some deep cuts ended up being my favourites.

9. Fever Dream

Yet another single and fan favourite ends up near the bottom as this is their 2nd most played song off Adornment (after Atlantic) it's dark tones are fine but other songs on the album do it better although the creepy music video that accompanied this song was stellar.

8. Slipping Away

Despite being at #3 in the tracklisting, joined by singles and fan faves within the first 5 tracks, Slipping Away is often forgotten which is sad cause it really is a good song but much like Fever Dream above, other songs channel the pop punk darkness better.

7. Come Undone

I'll be the first to admit the juxtaposition of Patty Walters (As It Is) vocals with lead singer Collin Walsh seem like an odd fit but it works well together. Fearless Records had both of their bands on their roster so it made sense at the time however Grayscale's popularity has since soared.

6. Echoes (Carry On)

We've made it to the midpoint of our list with a song the band loves but seldom plays (only Come Undone and Slept have been played less according to Setlist.fm. However they did play it on their last run of shows so maybe it'll end up in the mix some more going forward.

5. If I Ever See You Again

The last song on the record, the last of 5 music videos to be made for the album, If I Ever See You Again deserves a spot in the front half of this ranking. It's loud chorus and gang vocals make you want to scream along in celebration of getting over a bad relationship.

4. Forever Yours

A romantic sounding song that is anything but, Forever Yours was the 3rd single released and ranks the highest out of the 5 on this ranking. It has recently passed Atlantic as their most streamed song on Spotify and it's just a matter of time before it supplants Atlantic as the set closer.

3. Mum

The most punk sounding song lands in the top 3 though ironically this is also one of the most polished sounding songs on the record. Mum deals with a difficult subject, a parent's fight with drug abuse which hits close to home for myself.

2. Beautiful Things

Speaking of songs dealing with difficult subject matter, Beautiful Things deals with mental health issues such as depression and the suicidal thoughts that come with it. I have no idea if this song was written about Collin's cousin Tommy who tragically took his own life but one would think he'd like the opportunity to play this to his cousin once more regardless.

1. Let It Rain

Track One: Let It Rain. You'll be hard pressed to find a better album opener than this, though Grayscale has a tendency for starting off albums with straight up heat so if this is bested it might be by their own hand. It's about wanting a fresh start and encompasses the album's tone in one bop.

Sunday, 8 December 2019

Special: Top 10 "This Christmas" songs

Alright so there is a large amount of different songs in the scene that are titled "this Christmas" or a variation there of. So what better time than to count down those songs then to cap off this first week in December?

10. MxPx - You're The One I Miss (This Christmas)

9. Every Avenue - This Christmas

8. Set It Off - This Christmas (I'll Burn It To The Ground)

7. Fireworks - Maybe This Christmas

6. The Summer Set - This Christmas

5. The Click Five - My Girlfriend (Forgot Me This Christmas)

4. The Fold - This Christmas

3. For All Those Sleeping - Maybe This Christmas

2. I Call Fives - This Xmas

1. July - This Christmas

Sunday, 1 December 2019

Special: First Listen Thoughts: All Time Low "It's Still Nothing Personal: A Ten Year Tribute", Silverstein "Redux: The First Ten Years", As It Is "The Great Depression: Reimagined"

All Time Low - It's Still Nothing Personal: A Ten Year Tribute

Label: Fueled By Ramen

Press Release: 10 years after first releasing Nothing Personal, we returned to Red Bull Studios in LA to revisit the making of the album. "It's Still Nothing Personal: A Ten Year Tribute" features all new recordings of the classic album. While we were there, we filmed the entire recording process and checked in with a few familiar faces for a documentary about the album.

My thoughts: I love Nothing Personal and I can listen to most of these songs over and over again so I'm obviously pleased with this album but it doesn't do much to the original songs. It just kinds of gives us a clean production version of how they sound live. So in the end: Love the songs, but doesn't add anything new... You're probably better off just listening to the original Nothing Personal recordings or one of their "Straight to DVD" concerts.

Silverstein - Redux: The First Ten Years

Label: Silverstein Music

Press Release: Canadian post-hardcore outfit Silverstein has announced a new release titled Redux: The First Ten Years. The album will feature new recordings of classic Silverstein songs. The goal was to update the recordings and make them sound the best they can — not change the songs from what has made them resonate with people for so long. You're going to hear the clarity and dynamics in a new way, but the magic of the original songs is kept intact.

My thoughts: Much like All Time Low above, this record doesn't necessarily change a whole lot, we get an acoustic version of 1 song which is nice but for a non-audiophile like myself the only thing I'm happy about is the production on the WBIEF tracks got cleaned up and aren't so raw anymore. I'd definitely be on board with Silverstein re-recording that album in full after this album.

As It Is - The Great Depression: Reimagined

Label: Fearless Records

Press Release: As It Is have reimagined their 2018 album 'The Great Depression' in its entirety, and are releasing it as four separate EPs. The EPs are produced by frontman Patty Walters.

My thoughts: Unlike the other two above, As It Is flipped The Great Depression on it's head with this album. There's a Hardcore song, a few jazz hits and some dark moody songs that used to be bangers. The problem here is that most of the songs aren't as good as on the original. The highlight here for me is probably their hit The Stigma (Boys Don't Cry) that gets an updated 80's vibe that is so satisfying. On the flip side, The Fire, The Dark just gets the acoustic treatment and it's not as exciting as the original.

Sunday, 6 October 2019

Special: First Listen Thoughts: Sleeping With Sirens "How It Feels To Be Lost", Roam "Smile Wide" and Grayscale "Nella Vita"

Sleeping With Sirens - How It Feels To Be Lost

Label: Summerian Records

Press Release: SLEEPING WITH SIRENS will release its fifth full-length album, "How It Feels To Be Lost", on September 6 via Sumerian Records. The follow-up to 2017's "Gossip" was recorded at MDDN Studios in Los Angeles and produced by Zakk Cervini (YUNGBLUD, GOOD CHARLOTTE) and Matt Good (ASKING ALEXANDRIA).

My thoughts: This is definitely the heaviest SWS have been since 2012. The naysayers that said they went pop need only to listen to Break Me Down to know they're still able to write a barn burner like they used to and although I liked the Madness record the best (I will not be proved wrong here). This is a nice tip of the hat to longtime fans while still having a handful of songs that have Madness and Gossip influences showing that the band has no plans of a full 180 back to their post-hardcore roots of 2011.

Roam - Smile Wide

Label: Hopeless Records

Press Release: ROAM have announced the details of their upcoming third album 'Smile Wide'. Out on September 06 via Hopeless Records, the album was recorded in Texas with producer Machine who has previously worked with the likes of As It Is and Fall Out Boy.

My thoughts: Roam's third full length is reminiscent of the latest The Story So Far record is the sense that they clearly want to evolve with tracks like Loud and I Don't Think I Live There Anymore but don't want to leave behind their previous sound as heard on Toy Box. Overall it's a nice mix that is half old Roam records, and half like something off of Seaway's Vacation thanks to the 90's Alternative influences.

Grayscale - Nella Vita

Label: Fearless Records

Press Release: Grayscale have announced that their new album ‘Nella Vita’ will be released via Fearless Records on 06 September, 2019. Grayscale traded their hometown of Philadelphia for Austin, TX, holing up in the Machine Shop alongside producer MACHINE [Lamb of God, Four Year Strong]. The resulting collection of tracks is one that sees the band chronicling life, its many facets, and its many complications, as they themselves have experienced.

My thoughts: Grayscale definitely went poppier on this record and that's not a bad thing though they definitely buried the lead with the two lead singles even if they had pop twinges to them. If I wasn't for lead singer Colin Walsh's distinct voice I might think this was a The 1975 record (again not a sleight) but even if you're not into that there s still a few pop punk bangers like Twilight and Desert Queen along with the previously alluded to Painkiller Weather and In Violet.