Heiress - Heiress

THE SKINNY: Based out of Seattle and featuring former members of Himsa, Botch, and Undertow (to name a few), Heiress combines elements of dissonant post hardcore with a slight metallic edge. Preceded by a 2007 demo, the band’s selftitled effort offers up 3 songs (5 on the digital download), heavily reminiscent of later Botch on tracks like Tyrant Sin; but Pettibone’s well-seasoned vocals and a solid rhythm section keep the material fresh and interesting throughout.

INFO: 3 tracks on coke bottle blue vinyl. Independently released in 2009. Matrix etchings: N/A. Press: N/A.

PAID: $5.00, distro.

Order of the Vulture - Order of the Vulture

THE SKINNY: Based out of Portland, OR, Order of the Vulture combines elements of hardcore punk with crust and first wave black metal. Relatively simple and subdued riffing over driving & punchy drums (e.g. Skitsystem, Totalitar), with a caustic vocal delivery (e.g. early Bathory, Venom). The LP flirts with monotony, but is still a quality listen. Plus, it holds a special place in my heart as being a part of my first visit to 2nd Avenue Records.

INFO: 7 tracks on black vinyl. Released on Aborted Society Records in 2006. Matrix etchings: N/A. Press: 500 copies.

PAID: $12.00, retail.

XO Skeletons - Asthmagasm

THE SKINNY: Released in 2006, XO Skeletons were Wes Eisold’s follow up to Some Girls; mixing minor elements of screamo and punk with synth-based new wave weirdness. Part Blood Brothers, the Locust, and Rah Bras, but put to the most basic of drum machine beats. Asthmagasm (and XO Skeletons for that matter) is no where near as bad as it was made out to be 6 years ago… but it’s not exactly something I would have paid for either.

INFO: 4 tracks on pink & white mixed vinyl. Released on Malfunction Records in 2006. Matrix etchings: N/A. Press: 1000 copies.

PAID: $0.00, gift.

Bone Dance - Snakecharmers

THE SKINNY: Presenting their first vinyl outing, Boise’s Bone Dance offer up three crushing tracks in the form of Snakecharmers. Bringing to mind the likes of American Heritage, Botch, and Engineer; Bone Dance holds their own with dissonant riffing interlaced over mathy, brutal attack and a caustic vocal delivery. As contrived as dark/crust-influenced hardcore and metal can be, Bone Dance is one of the few truly genuine bands currently producing material. Keep an eye out for them.

INFO: 3 tracks on white & black mixed vinyl. Released on Prototype Records in 2011. Matrix etchings: N/A. Press: 300 copies.

PAID: $10.00, distro.

Converge & Dropdead - Split

THE SKINNY: Converge and Dropdead both offer up an exclusive track to celebrate 20 years of existence with a full-on aural assault. Converge’s Runaway is a return to form for the band; setting aside the riff-heavy dirges in lieu of a pummeling and driving attack. I’m not full of enough to shit to pretend like I’ve ever been too into Dropdead in my 25 years of existence, but Paths of Glory is a quality track. The split is quick listen and the two bands compliment each other well.

INFO: 2 tracks on green & black swirl vinyl. Independently released in 2011, distributed by Armageddon and Deathwish Inc. Matrix etchings: N/A. Press: Armageddon exclusive, 2000 copies.

PAID: $0.00, gift.

Minority Unit - C.M.F.

THE SKINNY: Well, it’s been awhile. Remind me not to post anything even remotely negative about Touche Amore again; because my inbox looked like a bad break-up letter. Minority Unit are an LA band featuring members of Rotting Out, Sleepwalkers, and Soul Search. They play classic, old-school straight edge with a modern twist, and plenty of Southern California attitude and vibe. C.M.F. is everything you expect it to be - fast, no-frills, plenty of groove - but the record still offers up a nice surprise on its b-side.

Also, I’ll do my best to start scheduling/staggering out updates from now on. I listen to and own more than enough records to ever justify taking 4 months to post.

INFO: 6 tracks on marbled purple vinyl. Released on 6131 Records on 2011. Matrix etchings: N/A. Press: N/A.

PAID: $5.00, distro.

Envy - A Dead Sinking Story

THE SKINNY: Hailing from Japan, Envy are an influential, emotive, powerful post-rock/metal band, whose career has seen them evolve from everything and anything between punk and screamo. You don’t have to speak Japanese to feel the weight of A Dead Sinking Story’s emotion absolutely level you, or be lost in its wall of crushing, melodic, and beautiful sound.

INFO: 8 tracks on clear with black & silver haze vinyl. Reissued by Temporary Residence Limited in 2008. Matrix etchings: N/A. Press: 400 copies.

PAID: $12.00, distro.

Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (2008)

THE SKINNY: Crystal Castles are a two-piece Canadian electronic group playing dark, relatively lo-fi “club” music. Ugh, that felt awful typing out and sounds worse when reading it back in my head. It’s fairly rare for me to get into a project like this, but both Crystal Castle LPs are good spins for a grey morning. Fun fact: I got my friend in a lot of trouble with his boss when he tried giving me his employee discount. Sorry again, Kevin.

INFO: 16 tracks on black vinyl. Released on Lies Records in 2008. Matrix etchings: N/A. Press: N/A.

PAID: $24.99, retail.

Touche Amore - Parting the Sea Between Brightness and Me

THE SKINNY: Touche Amore are another band I’ve gone back and forth on with my opinion. I thought the Dead Horse release was fair, but didn’t really buy into the hype or so-called “skramz revival” sound it was pinned with. When Parting the Sea went up for pre-order, I took the opportunity to pick up the deluxe package in hopes of furthering my appreciation for the band… and this is a good record overall. I think some have been a little overzealous with their praise for it, but I’m hard pressed to find much that I don’t like about Parting the Sea aside from some corny lyrics. Touche Amore may not be the most original band, but they are powerfully sincere with their delivery, and humble with their popularity.

INFO: 13 tracks on black vinyl. Released on Deathwish Inc. in 2011. Matrix etching: N/A. Press: 961 copies.

PAID: $20.00, distro.