After three years of hiatus, Hot Hot Heat is back with a brand new release in Future Breeds. Part of the reason we have not heard from them, is because they have spent the majority of their time building a studio, and learning everything that goes along with creating a record from scratch, all by themselves. They sought creative freedom, and they got it, it shines brightly throughout this new album. The words normal or ordinary are two words that no one in their right mind could use to describe this album. Without listening to the album, you get an impression from song titles alone, an example being “JFK’s LSD”. Read More »
Put your red editing pens away. I know you all have anxiously waited for the chance to grade Mayday Parade’s new album, if only to snidely criticize the Jason-less follow-up to 2007′s A Lesson In Romantics. Open your minds back up and let’s take a look at Anywhere But Here. Read More »
Everybody put on your helmets and military jackets! The new Kill Hannah album, entitled Wake Up the Sleepers, came out Tuesday, September 29. With nothing fresh since 2006′s Until There’s Nothing Left of Us, it was a pleasant surprise to see this band resurface.
Band: Planes Crash Location: Riverside, CA Releases:Planes Crash EP, Running From The Truth, Secrets EP Website:Myspace.com/PlanesCrashRock Rocks If You Like: A Day To Remember, 36 Crazyfists,
It came as no surprise when I ran into Josh Paschke, vocalist of Planes Crash, at the A Day To Remember/The Devil Wears Prada show in San Diego, CA. Bearing both a physical (well, they both have beards) and musical resemblance to Josh McKinnon of ADTR, Paschke wasn’t found in the hellacious mosh pits that night. Rather, he was leaning against the fence surrounding the sound board, watching a near perfect show from afar. He might as well have had a pad and pen in hand, the way he seemed to be studying the band.
ADTR isn’t a bad band for Planes Crash to be looking up to, as they share a similar sound. While the Floridians behind “The Downfall of Us All” have more refined pop/rock choruses, the Californians tend to be a tad harder, leaning towards metal a tad more while maintaining the sing-alongs, such as in the featured video, “Anchors.”
Off their first, self-titled EP, the band showed a more alternative influence, with songs like “Deleted But Still Lurking” that had Top 40 Potential. “Ace” and “The United States of Dramtics” both showed great harmonies over hard rock that have become a staple of the PC sound. Available on iTunes/Zune Marketplace. Read More »
We talked to a few of the boys in VersaEmerge at the San Diego Warped Tour. As you can see above, the gentleman were lucky enough to receive some of the first MindEqualsBlown shirts! Check out the interview to hear about their tour plans, upcoming full-length, and other fun nonsense.
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NOTE: As of today, VersaEmerge drummer Anthony Martone (pictured far right) is no longer part of the band.
Dustin Kensrue of Thrice spoke to us Beggars, babies and upcoming tours. Full interview below.
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Atreyu has posted two new songs from their upcoming album, Congregation Of The Damned. Here’s a few thoughts:
“Stop! Before It’s Too Late and We’ve Destroyed” starts off with amazing promise. I was practically jumping out of my chair when I heard the guitar intro to the song. The “Lip Gloss and Black”-esque lead before the verse is simply sick. Of course, like Lead Sails, Paper Anchors, I then had my what-the-hell moment the second the vocals came in. Screamer Alex Varkatzas sings the first few words in a low, low, LOW voice reminiscent of Marilyn Manson. I’m not a fan. At least it leads into his trademark thrashy scream though, so I can deal. The screams do seem a tad overproduced, but I’m going to blame that on the low-quality myspace music format.
For one of the first times ever, Drummer/clean singer Brandon Saller doesn’t wail out a spectacular chorus in the track, replaced by gang vocals and more screams. While it seems almost tragic not to utilize Saller’s voice, the chorus is pretty solid, especially after a few listens.
Anyone who missed Saller on “Stop!” will get their fix in “Storm To Pass.” He’s certainly the star of the song, with a big chorus that will be hard to miss. Dan Jacobs takes the lead for a ripping solo, then hands the reigns right back for one final chorus. Another solid track.
It seems the band is living up to their promise of combining everything they’ve done for this new record. Those fans who feel betrayed after LS,PA sounded nothing like The Curse should be heading back to Atreyu land pretty soon.
Check the songs out at the band’s MySpace, then head back over to MindEqualsBlown to tell us what you think.
Earlier today, I had the pleasure of speaking with Grant Harris of Breathe Electric over the phone. Below is a transcript of our conversation.
MindEqualsBlown: Just to give you a background on MindEqualsBlown, we are an up and coming music website. We do album reviews and interviews. Thank you for taking the time to do this.
Grant Harris:Yeah, of course man.
MEB: So you’re on tour right now?
GH: That’s correct.
MEB: And how is that going?
GH: The shows have been going really good so far, we’re having a lot of fun and really getting to know the other bands and having fun with them.
MEB: Any upcoming tour plans?
GH: Yeah, we have tour plans for October into November, which are not posted yet. Then we meet up with the Brokencyde tour in Seattle for the entire west coast.
MEB: Is your new EP available in stores, or just online?
GH: It’s in like 25 or 30 different Hot Topics regionally around the Midwest, and it’s on iTunes and Smartpunk.
MEB: So your EP came out last month, do you have any news on an upcoming full length?
GH: I’m actually heading out to the studio in LA at the end of this month, and we will be out there for two weeks. We are hoping to get at least five songs done, and I’m not sure what we are going to do yet as far as whether we are releasing another EP or putting that towards the full length, so I guess we will see.
MEB:Are you in the process of speaking to any labels?
GH: It’s always an interesting thing, I can’t really say too much about it, but, you know, we are definitely looking for something that will be the right fit.
MEB:You were on Warped Tour this year, correct?
GH: That’s right, we just did two days.
MEB:Was it your first time doing Warped?
GH: Yeah, it was actually my first time ever going to Warped, I’ve never been to Warped at all. It was like the best two days of my life.
MEB:Do you have any funny Warped stories?
GH:It’s funny, we didn’t really have that many funny stories because we were only on it two days, but I guess it’s funny because we were so overwhelmed getting there because it’s such a ridiculous production, you know? But it was a lot of fun.
MEB:Now I am going to ask you some random personal questions. What do you do during your free time on tour?
GH: Drive, mostly. Like this tour we have had a lot of drives – long drives. But if we’re fairly close to the venue the next day and we don’t have to load in for a while, we will just see what’s in the area, like music stores and malls and stuff like that and pass out fliers and meet kids and all that kind of stuff.
MEB: What bands would you say have influenced you the most?
GH:I’ve gotten influences from all over the place, but one of my favorite artists, well actually my favorite artist of all time, is Ben Folds. Everything he does I follow.
MEB:Were you home in Chicago during Lollapalooza this year? Because I know Ben Folds was there.
GH: No we were actually playing Warped Tour the first day Lollapalooza was going on, and I ended up not going. I went last year though.
MEB: Did you watch the VMAs last night or hear about what happened between Kanye and Taylor Swift?
GH: Yes, I did.
MEB: Do you have any insight on that?
GH: (laughs) You know, I guess Kanye is gonna be Kanye no matter what. So I mean Taylor Swift definitely deserved the award, there’s no doubt about that. So it’s kinda whatever, he’s gonna do what he’s gonna do.
MEB: That’s all I have, is there anything else that you would like to add?
GH: Just to anyone reading this, please check out the MySpace, check out the music on iTunes and stuff, and check out our tour dates because we’ve got a lot coming up.
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