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Street Dogs - State of Grace
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Metalcore is the new pop-punk. Think about it. Fat girls with jelly bracelets have given As I Lay Dying their unfaltering love when just a few years earlier they were worshipping the nude backsides of three pop-punk pranksters on MTV. But it's not just fat girls, it's also angry young boys with dyed black hair and plugs in their earlobes. And it's a bunch of nü-metal fans, as well. You know. Fat guys who love Slipknot.

What we have missing on this release, though, is the muffin-top of all metalcore albums as of late: the singalong wuss-boy chorus. Nope, none of that here. Just straight out, blast-beat double bass pedal drumming and metal riffs galore. There's nothing mind-blowing about this music. I mean, after DragonForce, it's hard to be impressed with anything on the guitar. The thing is, it's all done fairly well. The cookie monster growls and howls are believable instead of laughably bad. The drumming is impressive at times, and the guitars are unfaltering in their dual metal assault.

Sure, all the songs sound the same. Aren't they supposed to? This isn't a piece of modern art to be interpreted. It's metal. It's supposed to be listened to when you put on a pouty face when your mom won't let you go to the mall. I mean, c'mon. There are zombies on the cover and their Pumpkinhead logo looks too much like a rip-off from Creature skateboards (side note: anyone remember Creature?).

What's extremely refreshing about this record is that the only singing on it is during the song "Headwound," and the singing is completely early Black Sabbath/Ozzy style. There are no shrieks of girlish pallor, no Chris Carrabba rip-offs. I mean, these guys know their metal. They understand their roots, which is more than I can say for most groups like them. Plus, the last three songs are live recordings, and even though the snare is the the most ridiculous piccolo woodblock I've ever heard, they are proving that they're not a pussy studio band. This might even have gotten a better score if I generally listened to metalcore at all. Plus, the closing riff on "Flawless Seasons" is super sick. Just pretend that they don't look like losers and you'll be fine.



People who liked this also liked:
Akimbo - City Of The StarsThe Icarus Line - Penance SoireeThe Velvet Underground - The Velvet UndergroundAnimal Collective - Sung TongsLords - SwordsBrian Costello - The Enchanters vs. Sprawlburg Springs [book]Akimbo - Forging Steel and Laying StoneThe Sword - Age of WintersMaritime - We, The VehiclesCougars - Pillow Talk



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    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 26, 2006 at 6:33 PM (EST)

    chupen la tula sapos culiaos

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 28, 2006 at 10:12 AM (EST)

    has anyone noticed how "origional" this band is
    haunting hallow graves ahs exactly the same riff as a7x's unholy confessions

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 28, 2006 at 10:11 AM (EST)

    track six ruins the album much in the same way that micheal graves ruined the misfits

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 28, 2006 at 10:06 AM (EST)

    can someone pleas explain how this is at all like the misfits
    okay they may have songs bout killing stuff n other sickness but that doesnt make em like the misfits a better description would be they sound like send more paramedics

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 2:52 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    To the guy/girl thinking this band is rippin Misfits.....What the hell horror-punk or horror-anything band isn't a bunch of misfit biters?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 9:51 AM (EDT)

    Yeah.
    This is the best Metal/horror metal band I have heard in a long time.
    A very long time.
    They are right up there with Converge.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 17, 2005 at 6:32 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    summers end is the greatest band of all time. anyone who disagrees deserves to have their eyes plyed from their sockets with a rusty screwdriver and be left for deomns to devour their soul until the end of time.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 10, 2005 at 7:08 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    really a good band and a nice album, it's the best of metalcore.
    If you d'ont like metalcore... d'ont go a this site for vote
    Everybody d'ont like metalcore.... FUCK YOU BITCH ,EAT MY SHORT

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 at 7:38 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    summers end is better than little gay slipknot

    Posted by bogey4 on 2005-03-02 20:34:20
    My Score:

    Score is for fat jokes.

    Posted by punkcorekid on 2005-02-28 20:43:04
    My Score:

    "Is this the same summer's end from Chicago that plays actual pop-punk?"

    Somebody obviously didn't read the review.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 27, 2005 at 9:30 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    DragonForce was a badass game for the Sega Saturn. I hope that band pays some fucking respect.

    -Ken

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 27, 2005 at 9:29 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    You might as well scrape the "-core" off of metalcore...because its just as fucking boring as regular metal. I hope these shitty bands enjoy their 15 minutes of fame, because when this shit dies, its gonna drop like ska in '99.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 27, 2005 at 5:39 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Is this the same summer's end from Chicago that plays actual pop-punk?

    Posted by EerieTom138 on 2005-02-27 17:25:09
    My Score:

    I don't see why being a conservative makes you an asshole.

    Posted by TahoeJeff on 2005-02-27 17:24:14
    My Score:

    "Sure, all the songs sound the same. Aren't they supposed to? This isn't a piece of modern art to be interpreted. It's metal. It's supposed to be listened to when you put on a pouty face when your mom won't let you go to the mall."

    Fucking classic..nice work. Good call on Metalcore becoming the new pop-punk. Its kind of nice that the kids have moved on to something different.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 27, 2005 at 3:45 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Jesus fucking christ... these reviews are so goddamn bad I can barely read them. This is the best you've written recently and it's still terrible...

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 27, 2005 at 1:25 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    A) Their talent meter registers aobut fairly regular for a meltacore band. Tons of metalcore bands are really talented, even if they play shitty metalcore.

    B) Dude, the fact that it's Michael Graves makes this band drop down to a 1. Michael Graves is the biggest fuckwad ever. Conservative punk, eh? He can go ram a pike through his eye. And I'm talking about the fish.

    -Jesse (at work and too lazy to sign in, but yes, it is me)

    Posted by EerieTom138 on 2005-02-27 13:15:04
    My Score:

    Hey everyone, yes I am new; so please don't rag on me. I agree with your review, but have to give it a higher score simply because of the talent these guys have. They aren't like other metalcore bands, for the fact that they have talent, and have almost a blackmetal sound to them. The lyrics are great, and the songs are executed perfectly. And the singer on track 6 is Michale Graves from The Misfits (95-2000 era.)
    Great review man, I love how you knock on fat Slipknot kids.

    Posted by sethcohen on 2005-02-27 00:04:42
    My Score:

    "Those are probably the same Slipknot fans that wear jelly bracelets and have shirts that say 'You Laugh Because I'm Different, I Laugh Because You're All The Same.'

    Honestly, I'd love to stab every kid who has one of those shirts in the neck. Or any other similar shirt with sayings that 13 year old Staind fans think are clever."

    The best shirts are the orange button down shirts and in military style stenciling say Psycho War Inmate #69-420-24-7 or some other nonsense like that

    Posted by Anchors on 2005-02-26 12:31:43
    My Score:

    Those are probably the same Slipknot fans that wear jelly bracelets and have shirts that say 'You Laugh Because I'm Different, I Laugh Because You're All The Same.'

    Honestly, I'd love to stab every kid who has one of those shirts in the neck. Or any other similar shirt with sayings that 13 year old Staind fans think are clever.

    Posted by ThriveToFailure on 2005-02-26 08:25:00
    My Score:

    Metalcore or straight-up metal? Who gives a shit? I like these guys a lot. Good review Jesse, especially for mentioning yer typical fat Slipknot fans, that made me chuckle.

    Posted by Jesse on 2005-02-25 18:20:50
    My Score:

    This is the first time anyone's really mentioned the Buddyhead schtick. Well, to be honest, I started writing reviews well over a year ago, and went to Buddyhead for the first time about 5 months ago. Trust me, it's just a coincidence.

    Posted by moneenerd on 2005-02-25 18:20:17
    My Score:

    Funniest review I've read in a while.

    SUMMER'S END is definately fucking crucial

    Posted by punkcorekid on 2005-02-25 15:59:08
    My Score:

    you haven't changed my mind. still not metalcore.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 25, 2005 at 3:45 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    This score is for mentioning Dragonforce.
    No band possesses their power.
    -benz

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 25, 2005 at 3:26 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    summer's eve?

    apropos

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 25, 2005 at 2:06 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Nope, this shit is metalcore through and through. Just because they don't dress like it doesn't mean they aren't jocking that shit. I mean come on they have two cr00sh breakdowns in just the one song I heard.

    Oh and if anyone was wondering they are in love with the misfits. In the video on their site one guitar player as the misfits skull on his headstock, the bass player has a misfits skull on his wristband, and the singer is wearing a danzig shirt. Biters.....

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 25, 2005 at 1:29 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Seriously you don't have to steal your schtick from Buddyhead. Be original in your review.

    Posted by Inspection12e on 2005-02-25 13:12:05
    My Score:

    Im glad i hate metal then. It's tough to keep track when you don't listen to any bands in a certain gerne. I just assume and we all know assumption is the mother of all fuck-ups.

    Posted by punkcorekid on 2005-02-25 12:30:47
    My Score:

    To the guy below me...this isn't metalcore. It's metal. The guitar riffs are definitely well played and entertaining. All the dark imagery probably comes from the fact that they all love The Misfits (hence the devillocks). This is a good CD. Also...Dragonforce is the fucking shit. Best metal band out there right now.

    Posted by Inspection12e on 2005-02-25 11:38:58
    My Score:

    I'm glad I hate metalcore.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 25, 2005 at 10:47 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Man Jesse, you have proven me wrong and writen a good review! Kudos to you sir!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 25, 2005 at 4:36 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    great review jesse... this weeks theme of ragging on fat girls is also a nice touch... seriously.

    Posted by Archangel on 2005-02-25 00:33:49
    My Score:

    Wow... a review by Jesse that didn't completely suck ass. Keep 'em coming.

    Posted by kenjamin on 2005-02-25 00:31:08
    My Score:

    "Metalcore is the new pop-punk." Those words were in my school paper today. Fucking weird. Of course, the paper also blows so I didn't bother reading it.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 25, 2005 at 12:07 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    that album art is amaizing.

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