Defiance Press

If you thought the Floridians known as Broadway were lost and forgotten - think again. The band is finally back with a new single from their sophmore album Gentleman’s Brawl titled “Vagrant Stories”. Gentlemen’s Brawl drops May 22nd on Uprising Records. Head over to Alternative Press’ website to take a listen to the new single! 

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Hands Like Houses, the Australian band that recently has started playing America for their first time ever have released a video via the band’s YouTube channel titled “Snow Sessions”. The video features acoustic versions of both Act Normal and Lion Skin - both which are featured on the band’s debut album Ground Dweller. Watch the video by visiting the band’s YouTube.

(Source: DefiancePress)

Band: Kady! Danger

Album: Gold Blooded

Label: Unsigned

Release Date: December 6th, 2011

Purchase: iTunes or at a show

For Fans Of: Confide, Like Moths To Flames, Scarlett O’Hara

Within the metalcore genre, there are many over-produced bands which result in over-produced albums. Kady! Danger ARE an exception of these types of bands found within the genre. The band’s EP produced by (and featuring) Joel Piper Gold Blooded is heavy, raw, and energetic. Up until the release of their EP, I had not heard of the band before; I can truthfully say I was missing out. This Fresno, CA quartet has written a catchy EP opening with the line “I won’t give up on my dream” introduced by the band’s vocalist Anthony Polanco. The screams this guy let’s out are aggressive and unique - but it doesn’t stop there.

Kings and Pawns is the first song on the EP which has a chorus provided by Mr. Joel Piper. One thing in particular that I really enjoy about this song is that it doesn’t waste much time with transitions (from verse to chorus etc). The band has a story to tell with each song and doesn’t waste any time with boring you. One moment you’ll find yourself listening to an in-your-face screaming verse while within a second, millisecond or possibly a nanosecond the band welcomes Joel Piper to sing a catchy chorus you’ll be posting as your social networking status. “Are you ready” to hear more about this EP? (Go listen to The Open Road and you’ll see what I mean.) On this track too, the band kills it again with a catchy chorus, dance beats, and a bit of programming that is sure to get you grooving. While the band recently released a revised version of the song that I prefer a little bit more, the EP version is still one to rock (and dub) out to.

The second last track on the EP, “Best Intentions” is so energetic that I can imagine arms flailing in a circle pit. If I ever get the chance to see these guys play live, this will definitely be the song I make sure to sing the loudest for. Though the song may be a bit repetitive lyrically, it is sure to help you learn more about this band’s range in style. The final song on Gold Blooded is Mirrors. The soft synths that open the song are sure to calm you down; but not for long. Kady! Danger kicks it up a gear to finish the EP which is evident with the beastly growls found within the verses of the track.

Within 4 songs, Kady! Danger demonstrates what they’re all about through pounding breakdowns found in Mirrors or through melodic choruses found in both Kings and Pawns and The Open Road. Though the production on this EP may not appeal to everyone due to the raw sound of the vocals, those who it does appeal to will appreciate Gold Blooded to a great extent.

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Review by Patrick of Defiance Press

(Source: DefiancePress)

When we last reviewed their single, Hands Like Houses were unsigned. The band recently signed to Rise Records and have been anxiously waiting to release their full-length Ground Dweller. They are finally unleashing the beast on March 13th, 2012. Coops (who you will meet in just moment) told us a few secrets about the album with respect to guest vocals, what we can expect genre wise, and some “behind-the-scenes” facts. Read the interview below and be sure to check out the sweet pre-order packages on MerchNOW.

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Tell us who you are, what you do, and why you do it and why you should be America’s Next Top Model.
Hello! my name is Coops, i play guitar in Hands Like Houses i do it because it means i get to travel, play music and not have a lame job working and being stuck in one place. I should be the next top model because a moustache currently inhabits my face and with it i really do look good in a dress.

Haha, But really! Let’s start it off. How long have you been a member of Hands Like Houses? How did you guys ever end up agreeing on a genre you wanted to play?
I have been been a member of HLH since the very beginning. Joel (bassist) and myself decided we wanted to follow in our brothers footsteps when we were in high school and started a band. From there we went though a few genre changes and a few line up changes picking up Matty P, Jamal, Alexander and then Trenton [Tt] and became the HLH we are today. In terms of genre, its a little tricky to answer; as we still don’t really know what exactly it is we play. I think having a vocalist like Tt really opens up possibilities for the rest of us to explore different methods and avenues musically as versatility has always played a major role in our writing process. If we want to write a section with dual harp harmonies and a xylophone melody and strip down the guitars; we can. Trents voice and lyrics will work as our watermark in that regard; in that it sort of coats the music with the “HLH” sound so no matter what we write it still sounds like us; not a different band. You can’t get that sort of freedom with a lot of singers out there, especially screamers. We’re very lucky.

That being said back in the early days of the band we went through a ‘hardcore’ phase, and then a more pop phase, and finally became HLH. It’s heavy, energetic and experimental which is what we had all been wanting from the start but had never had the right ingredients.

In your early teenage years, what music genres were you into and how has it changed? What genre seems to influence your writing individually?
For me personally, my brothers introduced me to the ‘punk’ and ‘pop punk’ scene when i was super young in grade 3. I was hooked, and grew up listening to bands like The Ataris, NFG, Strung Out and a lot of the fat wreck chords bands. As well as what my parents were in to; Simon & Garfunkle, Cat Stevens, Don Mclean, Michael Jackson etc. In highschool i got in to Thrice and The Receiving End Of Sirens whom really consumed my musical tastebuds as i was just starting to get in to writing my own music and playing guitar. These days i pretty much enjoy listening to anything thats produced nicely. i tend to listen to a lot more folky and indie sort of stuff.

After recently being signed by Rise Records, how’s that been? Have you made any label-“mates” yet? There are so many awesome bands on Rise.
The response has been amazing. Admittedly we were a little nervous at the possibility of receiving a lot of hate as we don’t scream and aren’t too heavy. But Rise seem to be doing a really good job at expanding their label through different genres and bands which is awesome to see. Apart from the few people who cant conceive of an alternate taste in music, its all been really well received.
We are good friends with the Dream On Dreamer guys and the Woe, Is Me dudes, but that all came from before the signing. We haven’t toured yet since the the announcement, but there are lot of great bands on Rise whom i really hope we grow friendships with.

Your sound is very unique, it attracts metalcore fans (along with many others) but there is no screaming and no “breakdowns” so-to-speak. Your new album Ground Dweller coming out next month (March 13th, 2012)..how would you describe it in terms of genre?. Are there any particularly heavy songs on the album? Really soft songs?
I think in terms of ease we usually just say we play a sort of ‘heavy rock’ sound, and when that doesn’t work we say ‘kind of like a heavier panic at the disco’. and if THAT doesn’t work we’ll say we’re an ’ Enya cover band’.
There are a few heavy parts through out the album, the heaviest song is definitely Watchmaker. The song kind of started off as a little in joke as Alexander wrote a bunch of heavy breakdowns and put them together. But then we thought we should definitely see what we can do with it all, and added a solid structure; chorus’s etc and instrumentation behind the breakdowns to add an additional element to it all. I think this song is definitely a solid example of ‘being heavy with out screaming’. We also got Matty Mullins (memphis may fire) to do a sneaky verse.

Slowly, you have been releasing lyrics from the album through your Tumblr. Lots of interesting ideas in the lyrics. Who writes the lyrics and where does the inspiration come from? As well as, where did the album title “Ground Dweller” come from?
Tt definitely writes the majority of the lyrics on Ground Dweller. The inspiration comes a lot from his personal life, so you’d need to ask him. Though there are a few songs that draw inspiration and ideas from a few films and books. There are pretty much direct quotes from Where The Wild Things Are, Peter Pan, and Inception (The Definition of Not Leaving, Antarctica, Spineless Crow).
Ground Dweller came from a song name we had which never made the album.

When your album comes out…I’m sure the band will be touring - especially the US. Are you excited for that? Nervous? Any hints at who you’ll be touring with?
We’re all super excited to get to the US and tour. We cant wait to have the opportunity to play to people that will know all the songs rather than just a couple of singles. We’re not too sure ourselves who the tours will be with yet!

Originally, Hands Like Houses recorded an EP with Cameron Mizell but then you decided (way before announcing your signing to Rise Records) that you should instead record a full length. How was that idea brought about?
Essentially once we had the initial EP, it didn’t really feel complete. We had talked to a few people in the industry and it was unanimous that if we wanted to pick up label interest we had to have a full length as EP’s just don’t sell. So we saved our pennies for 12 months, wrote the rest of the record and ventured back to Chango. I think it will be interesting to see if people can tell the difference between the two halves. Songs like spineless crow were written almost two years after One Hundred and Antarctica.

If there’s one thing that fans of the band should know, what is it?
Hmmm. Just that we’re super thankful for everyone of you, and please please come up and introduce yourself to us at shows, hang out and lets become friends.

Thank you for your time and I wish you all of the best with the album release as well as future tours.
Thank you!

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Interview by Patrick of Defiance Press

(Source: DefiancePress)

We’d just like to wish all our followers and people we’ve had the opportunity to work with a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holdays.

Best wishes,

Defiance Press.

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The last night of the Siberia tour(November 25th, 2011) to no surprise, was spectacular. This particular show was sold out filling the The Sound Academy located in Toronto, Ontario with 2,500 sing-along fans. With trippy lights (pun unintended), added dubstep and the infamous incorporation of the keytar…LIGHTS put on a truly remarkable show for her hometown and favourite city.

LIGHTS opened with Banner (both a crowd pleaser and the fourth track off her newest album - Siberia). While fans screamed at the top of their lungs during the verse, I didn’t think it could get any louder. I was proved wrong when the chorus of the song hit the awaiting crowd. Cameras, phones, hands all waved back and forth assisting LIGHTS in yet another one of her sing-alongs.

LIGHTS played a song for everyone. Whether you prefer her catchy pop tunes or her the new direction found on Siberia, you fell in love with the performance many times throughout. Particularly, LIGHTS performed her song Heavy Rope on the piano which was impressive and refreshing giving fans a chance to catch their breath before the next song - Face Up. Another highlight of the show was her encore (of course the crowd chanted “One more song!” to make this happen). She performed her song Lions which is about an online game (World of Warcraft) and brought her acoustic guitar out to conclude the show with February Air.

This was my fourth time seeing LIGHTS perform and each time she surpasses her last show. If you haven’t seen her live before, I highly suggest you check out a show. I look forward to seeing her perform again and again in the future.

Photos from the spectacular show can be seen by clicking here. (Link to ToroMagazine online)

The Setlist Can Be Found Below:
Banner
Second Go
Ice
My Boots
Drive My Soul
Flux And Flow
Everybody Breaks A Glass
Heavy Rope (Piano Version)
Face Up
Siberia
The Last Thing On Your Mind
Suspension
Where The Fence Is Low
(Interlude)
Saviour
Toes
Encore: Lions
February Air (Acoustic Version)
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Review by Patrick

(Source: defiancepress)

As you may or may not know… Punk Goes Pop 4 is in stores and online NOW. The album features Pierce The Veil, Silverstein, Woe Is Me, Sleeping With Sirens, I See Stars and many other great other great artists. The album can be purchased on iTunes. With the help of your favourite record label (Fearless Records) we will be giving away a FREE copy of Punk Goes Pop 4.

How to enter the contest:

• Reblog this post ONCE (do not edit this post in any way)
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**Please note: A winner will be chosen at random. Once the winner has been contacted, the winner claim their prize within 48 hours. If the winner does not claim their prize within this time period, another winner will be chosen at random. The contest runs from Monday, November 21, 2011 until Monday, November 28, 2011 at 12:00am**

If you have any questions, feel free to use our ask box here on Tumblr!

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