Defiance Press

At The Skylines will be releasing an acoustic EP with 4 tracks on it on September 18 via iTunes. As a thank you to their fans for purchasing their debut album, the band is giving away Turbulence (Acoustic) here.

After (insert long time period here), I The Mighty have finally released a new song entitled “The Dreamer” off of their new EP Karma Never Sleeps in stores and online March 27th, 2012 on Equal Vision Records. The band has released a lyric video for the track and have posted pre-order packages.

Check out all the info on their label’s website.

(Source: defiancePress)

Band: Alive, In Standby

Album: Dream Status EP

Label: Unsigned

Release Date: August 23, 2011

Purchase: iTunes or at a show

For Fans Of: At The Skylines, Woe, Is Me, Emarosa

While some people think of Eminem when they hear of Detroit, Michigan, I think of Alive, In Standby. With all band members being under the age of 20, Alive In Standby are showing more maturity than any 20 year old I know. With sponsorships from Stheart Clothing and Rockstar Energy drink the guys are blowing up quickly. The band even caught the attention of Alternative Press back in April when they released a single from the EP, “Mac Attack”.

For those of you who haven’t heard of Alive, In Standby, their recently released EP, Dream Status will be a good introduction. With the EP being about 25 minutes in length, the quintet uses this time effectively. The intro track on the EP is called “Summary” and it does just what a summary does. The track features lyrics from almost every single song on the EP and makes you feel as if you’ve experienced deja-vu while listening later on.

Don’t let the intro track fool you with its piano notes played throughout. This band is aggressive and catchy in a balanced dosage. “Direction” displays this aggressiveness with an initial snare drum hit at the beginning of the song. It also puts you into dream state with it’s fantasy-like synth present throughout each verse. Within 15 seconds of the song, you’re already introduced to the unique, strong singing voice of Chris Koo and the raspy, brutal screams of the drummer, Anthony Persichetti. About halfway through the song, you again are exposed to familiar part filled with piano and lyrics you’ve heard before; a part from the previous song - “Summary”.

In track three, “Mac Attack”, Chris Koo starts by singing “Trust me, a promise is worth waiting for”. He must be subconsciously suggesting the rest of the EP is worth waiting for; that’s because it is. This track is my favourite song on the EP because it showcases the band’s talent. This song gives the band every right to show off due to the fact that this song shows the band’s ability to not only play their instruments well but their ability to write a well-structured song. The chorus, “Where do I go?” will be stuck in your head for the rest of the week.

Next we have “Shady, Shady” on the EP, which was one of the band’s first songs released which also happens to be a favourite of mine. I think it became the favourite of many as well because the Detroit band ended up releasing an acoustic version of the song which allowed them to gain fans who aren’t into the band’s typical style of music. Track five, “The Safety In Sleep” demonstrates the band’s use of programming early in the song just as the rest of the EP does. For me personally, the song doesn’t seem all that aurally appealing when I first begin listening; however, later in the song my mind was changed when a synth-based breakdown hit.

“Load-In, Load-Out, Strife” is the second last song on “Dream Status” and is filled with deep, heart-felt lyrics (as is the rest of the EP). Alive, In Standby made a fantastic choice of making this song one of the last couple tracks on the EP as it has a happier tone to it. “Load-In, Load-Out, Strife” seems as if it’s a song(or story) about relief. With hammer-ons, hammer-offs, and syncopated bass drum hits,this song is sure to grab your attention.

The EP’s concluding track, “Whispers” has a bit of a different feel to it than the rest of the songs. I think one reason may be due to the structure of the song as well as has a bit of a ballad feel to it early in the song. It may sound out of place, but hey - it works! The song may start off a little slow but this changes quickly. Very quickly. There’s a reason why the band left “Whispers” as the final track (in my opinion at least). The reason they left it as the final track is because the final 25 seconds of the song (and EP), the band’s clean vocalist surprises you with something you thought you’d never hear.

-Patrick

Mac Attack - Alive, In Standby by DefiancePress

(Source: defiancepress)

Band: Divided By Friday

Album: Prove It EP

Label: Hopeless Records

Release Date: August 30, 2011

Purchase: iTunes or in stores

For Fans Of: Mayday Parade, All Time Low, Every Avenue

Where can you find catchy chorus`, epic verses and a great message all in one place? Look no further than from the newest EP from Laurinburg, NC’s very own Divided By Friday! This alternative/ pop punk band has made huge strides since their debut EP “Constant” back in 2010 with their sophomore EP “Prove it” which dropped on August 30th. For those who don’t know these guys, they’re definitely worth checking out, with their All Time Low meets Mayday Parade sound that will leave you wanting more!

The first track on the EP, entitled “Prove it” provides the chorus that will be stuck in your head for hours after. It also comes at you with a great message about holding on, being patient and continuing to strive for your dreams. It’s a great way to start the EP, and it’s no wonder that it titles the EP itself. Following this, we’ve got a song about growing up, titled (what else but) “Growing Up”, “The Dark Passenger” and “Closer”. All of these are typical Divided By Friday, with captivating melodies and riffs complimented by the very unique vocals of Jose Villanueva and Matt Morgan, often going back and forth creating a very Mayday Parade kind of feel. The third song on the album “Lost in Limbo” is definitely the most intriguing songs on the EP. It’s a concept song that could very well be in the movie Inception. It’s a lot of fun to listen to, and you’ll be singing along with it all day! The last song on the EP “Face to Face” is certainly my favourite. It’s a slow-like ballad also featuring Tonight Alive’s Jenna McDougall, whose vocals mesh so exceptionally well with those of Jose that you’ll find yourself listening over and over. I know my play count has almost made it to 85! Overall a great EP to pick up! This band is certainly going places in the future so keep an eye on them.
Keep rocking guys!
-Neil

(Source: defiancepress)