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Epitaph Records -- Millencolin

Rosemead, California is where these guys are from, formed in the summer of 1995 with the current line-up finalized in 1998. One of these members ran into Ataris lead singer Kris Roe and handed him a demo, which lead to the signing of this band on Kung Fu and this full-length produced by no other than Trever Keith of Face To Face.

Let me get rid of all of your doubts: Audio Karate is the revelation of 2002 for me thusfar. Throwing in 2 riffy guitars that spit out loops and hooks as if they are there for grabs, a voice that is a bit more gruffy than the average pop-punk band and an over-all sound that just brightens up your day with joyful and pretty uptempo choruses. No, it's not new, why should it, this is Kung Fu greatness all the way. This label really should apply for a patent on this sound. MI6 and Ataris is what first comes to mind because of the nice catchy harmonies, but the hand of Trever Keith is surely to be noticed as well with this perfectly layered harder guitar-virtuosity that really amazes ("T-San").

Some people take the word "emo" in mouth when they talk about this band, but I never had the feeling this has anything to do with emo as I experience it. Maybe the boy-girl lyrics are there, but this is damn fastpaced for the biggest part of the album. Extraordinary is also that these songs last a bit longer than the average in these kind of releases, and although I prefer short songs in general, these guys manage to prolongue these songs only with pouring some additional magical stuff out of these guitars that keeps your attention all through the disc.

Highlights were there in abundance, but "Rosemead", "Halfway Decent" and "Senior Year" are simply out of the league. Hey, this was easy to write.



People who liked this also liked:
The Loved Ones - Keep Your HeartJawbreaker - 24 Hour Revenge TherapyJawbreaker - Dear YouDespistado - The Emergency ResponseThe Replacements - TimSmoke Or Fire - Above The CityAlkaline Trio - GoddamnitThe Lawrence Arms - Apathy and ExhaustionA Wilhelm Scream - RuinerLatterman - Turn Up the Punk, We'll Be Singing [reissue]



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    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 10, 2004 at 6:07 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    'Im sorry but any record with a song which mentions writing your name on my folder a thousand times is just begging to be punched in the good kidney'

    you know that songs not about a girl, its about Arts old band.

    Posted by drummadict on 2004-06-08 08:32:19
    My Score:

    this band kicks ass don't fucking rip on them

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 5, 2004 at 12:05 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    This band sounds like Audio karate, not Something Corporate....Cant figure out why though...

    I like em....And frankly I dont give a rats ass what you think.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 10, 2002 at 1:15 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    they suck though their unreleased song "betrayed" is okay.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 18, 2002 at 8:34 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i saw them when they opened for the ataris last year. not a bad show- it's kind of a fuzzy memory but i swear two of them looked exactly the same. anyhow, just another standard pop punk band. good to sing along with, but nothing more than that.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 18, 2002 at 12:43 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I've sen this band play a few times, not by choice, but they've always been on the bill. Anyway, the singer always looks like he's run a marathon. He's a bit chubby and he gets tierd easily then basically stand there and the show becomes even more boring due to their boring music and performance.

    JAM

    Posted by wyzo on 2002-08-17 19:05:15
    My Score:

    Im sorry but any record with a song which mentions writing your name on my folder a thousand times is just begging to be punched in the good kidney.

    wyzo

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 17, 2002 at 7:03 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    audio karate asked me to smoke out with them.

    Posted by maverick on 2002-08-17 17:54:16
    My Score:

    Actually, I thought you had already left the site when I was "hired." I dunno. Brand New rocks, though, so I guess [in the words of Mills Lane] I'll allow it.

    -Scott

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 17, 2002 at 4:48 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Scott,

    I was Scott when you were Scott here too! Well I was "Skatt" I was "hired" here the same time you where, and I hate baseball so even though Kirby Puckett is the greatest baseball player ever, MLB players now are just cocks. Plus I'm on my laptop so I don't feel like logging on.

    I'm still listening to Brand New.

    - Scott
    http://www.local-felons.com

    not

    -Scott
    http://www.a dkg.com/~scott/

    Posted by AtomicGarden on 2002-08-17 15:19:12
    My Score:

    Okay, I take back that they sound like Something Corporate. SC also does not sound like Saves the Day -- but my point is, not only is it JUST another pop-punk SoCal band, their live show sucks. But hey, everyone has an opinion on every band - sorry for the lame trashing earlier. :)

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 17, 2002 at 1:42 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    This is a really good cd, definitely grows on you. Sounds NOTHING like Something Corporate...Definitely worth the buy and listen, I mean shit, Strung Out did take em on tour.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 17, 2002 at 12:55 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I've seen these guys open up for ataris and yellowcard and strung out and many awesome shows, and they always kept me interested, not the best band in the world but they are pretty damn good. senior year is a very good song. good review bro

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 17, 2002 at 11:35 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I have listened to this Cd and I think Audio Karate sounds absolutely nothing like Something Corporate. I don't think SC is trying to be like STD, either, though, so maybe it's just me.

    Audio Karate is ok, but unless the CD was like 5 dollars or something, i wouldn't buy it.

    Posted by AtomicGarden on 2002-08-17 02:03:29
    My Score:

    Oh my lord, I've never given a one to any review but this is the stupidest band I've ever seen. Granted I have not listened to this CD, they opened for Strung Out/Rise Against and were PATHETIC. Just another band trying to sound like Something Corporate.. which is just a band trying to sound like Saves the Day.. etc etc. Fuck this band.

    Posted by maverick on 2002-08-17 00:48:55
    My Score:

    Kirby-
    There is only *one* Scott on this board, and it's me. You better start logging in as KirbyPuckett, or shit will hit the fan. =)

    I'm listening to the new Hot Water Music disc right now - it ain't too shabby.

    -Scott

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 17, 2002 at 12:23 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    It's taking me a couple of listens but this CD is pretty decent. I failed to realize that this record was produced by Trevor though, thanks!

    - Scott
    http://www.local-felons.com/~uw/