WHITE NOISE ZINE - ISSUE 11 by White Noise Zine

Issue 11 // DEC 2016

MIKE SCHIAVO + royal teeth + more weight + marina city + MORE!

White Noise (noun) - A steady, unobtrusive sound, as an electronically produced drone or the sound of rain, used to mask or obliterate unwanted sounds.

S TA F F / /DECEMBER Co-Founder - Art Director Crisanne Glasser Co-Founder - Features Editor Danielle Gittleman Contributing Writers Casey Wolfe, Gianluca D’Elia, Danielle Gittleman, Ryan Pugh, Emily Klingman, Rebecca Panico, Nicole Cortese Contributing Photographers Sheri Berman, Alyssa Kromelis, Crisanne Glasser, Sam Polonsky, Ryan Pugh, Dani Sacco We are currently looking to expand our team. If you would like to become a contributor to WHITE NOISE ZINE, please contact either crissy@whitenoisezine. com or danielle@whitenoisezine.com

Another issue for the books! I feel like I say this every time we release an issue but I can’t believe this is our 11th one so far. It seems like the months are flying right on by. This issue will be the last for the year, but don’t worry, we’ll see you again in January with our first issue of 2017! This upcoming year also marks our second anniversary as a Zine and it’s incredible to see just how far we’ve come since the very beginning. We’ve done some really amazing things over the past two years and I really can’t wait to see what this year brings us! That being said, we have some awesome content for this issue — we got to chat with Mike Schiavo about his journey on the hit TV show The Voice! We also caught up with Mariana City and Failure Anthem. We also have some kickass reviews for DNCE and Heart Avail, just to name a few! We really hope you enjoy this issue as much as we loved making it for you! Here’s to a fantastic 2016 and an even better 2017! See you next year!

CONTENTS Failure Anthem

Royal Teeth

Marina City

Mike Schiavo

More Weight

Top 10 Records of 2016

Album Reviews

FAiLURE ANTHEM NOTHING’S STOPPING THEM NOW Words by Emily Klingman // Photo by Adrienne Beacco The guys of Failure Anthem just don’t know how to take a break. “This year has been super busy, I think at the end of this run that we’re starting we will have done 240+ dates this year,” said guitarist Kile Odell. “We’ve had a really good year touring.” With such memorable and positive experiences from over the summer, like their part as supporting act in Buckcherry’s “15” Anniversary tour, they’re keeping energy high for the rest of the year. “It’s been such a crazy year,” he said, “Probably will never forget that tour or those guys.” Starting this past July, right before they started on the Buckcherry tour, a dramatic shift in the band’s lineup came about. Their lead singer, JD Eubanks, announced he wanted to leave the band. Luckily, their new singer Chris Pierson, was able to step up and fit right in. “It’s been great, he has a great personality, he’s an extremely positive individual and he has a powerful voice,” said Odell. “Coming in after JD who is an incredible singer, that’s tough shoes to fill. Chris does an amazing job at it, he brings a lot of positivity and a great mindset to the band.” Odell kept the details of what happened brief, saying the band was overall understanding of Eubanks and proud of how Pierson had done great in his first few shows under the circumstances. “Basically JD didn’t want to tour anymore, and that’s understandable,” he said. “This life is hard, it’s not easy. He wanted to be a father and everyone was understanding of that. Chris hopped in, did a couple rehearsals and it was go-time from there. It was pretty last minute but Chris made it work and it’s been good.” With the whirlwind craziness that comes with starting a new tour, there wasn’t much time to even think about any weirdness that might have come with suddenly bringing in a new member to the band. “We didn’t really have time to pay attention to if there was,” Odell said. “We were in the middle of a very hectic tour cycle, so we just kind of had to dive in and ignore anything else that was going on.” 4

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That crazy tour cycle gave Failure Anthem a great deal of insight to fan reactions of their debut album. With First World Problems coming out almost a year ago, Odell said the fans’ reception of it since has been “overwhelming with positivity.” Since the album’s release, the biggest lesson the band has learned was to take things lightly and be grateful for what they have. “The music industry and the world is such a gamble, it’s hard,” said Odell. “The biggest thing all of us have is the deep appreciation for our fan base, or for anyone who gives us a chance and listens to the music. We just write songs that we enjoy and we hope other people will enjoy. Being appreciative of the reason for why you do what you do is the most important factor I think.” Being a primary songwriter for the band, Odell discussed the various inspirations he draws from to help create Failure Anthem’s sound. He credits such variety in his inspiration to being a producer outside of the band. “I record a ton of bands, some people know and some people don’t know yet,” he said. “I’m just inspired by the whole gauntlet. Anything from matchbox twenty to Metallica to heavier stuff like Killswitch Engage, even pop stuff like Demi Lovato. Lyrically, it’s just stuff that happens in my life, things that I’ve been through or things that I’m going through and seeing other people going through. I try to keep it personal, because I think that helps people identify with it.” Odell also stated the addition of Pierson to Failure Anthem won’t change the band’s sound entirely, so “No one has to worry about a dramatic shift in what the band’s sound is like.” “It’s going to retain the same identity, and Chris will bring his own flavor and personality to it now, which will be awesome I think,” he said. Looking toward the new year, Failure Anthem’s goals include getting new music out to fans. “Get some stuff out with Chris on it, I think that’s a big goal of ours,” Odell said. “Tour a lot more, get our music in people’s faces and hopefully win some new people over.” The band is also looking forward to the possible tour dates in the next year, hopefully, Odell said, in places they haven’t been yet. “We look forward to doing stuff like Japan and Europe hopefully this next year,” he said. “We haven’t been to Canada yet either, which I’m surprised about so hopefully we’ll do that again next year also.” On behalf of Failure Anthem, Odell wanted to let fans know how grateful they are for the support through this past year. “The band is alive and well,” he said. “We appreciate everything the fans have done for us, and we’ll see them on the road.”

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ROYAL TEETH

Louisiana indie pop

Interview by Danielle Gittleman Photo Courtesy of BMF MEDIA

Following the success of their mega hit single, “Wild,” Royal teeth have recently released their newest EP, Amateurs. We had the chance to catch up with them and chat about new music, touring, and what’s next for them this year and the upcoming new year. WNZ: YOU GUYS ARE SET TO RELEASE YOUR NEW EP, AMATEURS ON NOVEMBER 18. CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EP? WHAT CAN WE EXPECT? We recorded it in Charleston, SC. We wanted to capture the vibe of us playing live together so it has more energy than our last release. WNZ: SO FAR YOU’VE RELEASED TWO SONGS OFF OF THE EP, “KIDS CONSPIRE” ND THE TITLE TRACK “AMATEURS.” HOW HAS THE RECEPTION BEEN SO FAR? DO YOU THINK THESE TWO TRACKS REALLY SUM UP THE SOUND OF THE EP? It has been great. It’s fun to see people connecting to the new music while we are touring. I think there are a couple different vibes that will be fresh to hear when the EP comes out but those two songs definitely capture the energy we were going for. WNZ: WHAT’S YOUR WRITING AND RECORDING PROCESS LIKE? HOW WAS IT FOR THE EP? It’s different every time. We went in with a ton of half written material for the EP. We decided in the first few days how many songs we wanted to record and which ones were feeling good to us. We only had a few weeks so it was important to trust our gut on what was feeling good in the studio. WNZ: YOU GUYS HAD A HUGE HIT, “WILD” THAT WAS FEATURED IN MANY ADS AND YOU EVEN GOT TO PLAY IT ON AMERICAN IDOL. HOW WAS THAT EXPERIENCE? It was pretty crazy. We are very grateful for all of the opportunities that song has provided for us. We have made a lot of new fans and friends because of it. WNZ: DID YOU FIND IT HARD TO FOLLOW UP WITH NEW MUSIC WITH THE SUCCESS

OF “WILD”? OR DID YOU FIND IT MUCH EASIER? We are always writing so we didn’t find it difficult. WNZ: RIGHT NOW YOU GUYS ARE ON TOUR WITH ROONEY. HOW HAS THE TOUR BEEN SO FAR? IS THERE ANYTHING YOU’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO? It has been a fun tour. The vibes at the shows have been great and we have met a lot of people that are new to the band. We just finished the first half so we’re looking forward to sleeping in our own beds for a little bit so we can recharge for the 2nd run. WNZ: SINCE THE TOUR RUNS THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR, DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY PLANS TO TOUR IN THE NEW YEAR? ANY PLACES YOU REALLY WANT TO PLAY THAT YOU HAVEN’T YET? We are already working on some dates for the new year. We haven’t toured overseas so we would love that. WNZ: WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU GUYS AFTER THE RELEASE OF THE EP? WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR? The plan is to release the new music, tour, and finish writing and recording our LP. WNZ: WHAT ARE SOME GOALS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE AS A BAND? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU GUYS HAVEN’T DONE THAT YOU’RE DETERMINED TO DO? Our main goals are just to keep it fun, real, and to love what we are doing. Gary is determined to replace his handheld confetti cannon with one of those big ones that shoot out for you. WNZ: IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO TELL YOUR FANS? It won’t take us another 3 years to release new music. We promise.

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Marina City Marching to their Own Beat Words by Casey Wolfe // Photo by Penelope Martinez

What

do you get when you mix sounds such as those from bands like Fall Out Boy and Avenged Sevenfold? The aggressive pop rock genre welcomes Marina City to the stage. “Take heavy instrumentals, groovy beats, and catchy pop melodies and you got Marina City,” said lead vocalist, Ryan Argast. According to bassist Aaron Heiy, the band is influenced by modern pop punk artists such as Blink 182, A Day to Remember and classic rock artists like Metallica. Heiy credits these musicians for his love of performing music. Lead vocalist Ryan Argast said that Marina City fuses different genres together to create a sound all their own. “In our songs you will hear jazz, soul, pop, metal, punk, funk, rock, and whatever we feel will make the song interesting and fun,” said Argast. “We don’t limit ourselves. It also helps that we have three vocalists, a keyboardist, two guitarists, a bassist, and a drummer. We can do a lot.” Marina City has won quite a few awards, including the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands, which Heiy is most proud of. “This has given us so many amazing opportunities that have really helped us grow as musicians,” he said. The band will also head out on tour this month with Craig Owens and badxchannels. “We are all also very excited to play in front of a new demographic. We are also preparing by rehearsing our material like crazy to put on the best live set as possible,” said Heiy. “Trying to make it new and interesting for potential new fans we can gain as well as keeping our original fan based interested so they don’t get bored with the same set over and over again.” Touring has not always been easy, but it has been cathartic for some members of the band. Guitarist and vocalist Brian Johnson recalls the show right after Ryan’s grandfather passed away. “I remember playing “Keep Your Faith In Me” and struggling to hold tears back. When the last chorus started, I lost it and basically balled my eyes out in the middle of the song while the whole crowd sang the words back to us. It was the most emotionally taken back I’ve ever felt on stage before. Absolutely incredible,” said Johnson. While the band will be busy performing, they will not stop writing and recording. Argast said, “We have been writing a lot and will hope to continue to do that to record something early 2017 and release it before the summer!”

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MIKE SCHIAVO THE VOICE THAT DOESN'T QUIT Words by Danielle Gittleman // Photos by Stefanie Murphy

THE

Voice has quickly that the weight was off showcased us my shoulders and I just had fun. so many talented voices over Blake turning was a bonus, and the past few years. Some of I was speechless at the end of them have been familiar faces the performance.” like Juliet Simms and Cassadee During his audition, Pope, while others are some Schiavo noted that he loved fresh faces. Maroon 5 growing up, and Mike Schiavo, a New Adam Levine joined him on Jersey native, was one of stage to sing a cover of the hit those brand new faces on The song, “She Will Be Loved” — a Voice just over a year ago. moment that he’ll never forget. Performing Tove Lo’s “Talking “It was amazing! As many Body,” for his blind audition people saw on the show, I have — Schiavo managed to turn been a Maroon 5 fan for a long three out of four of the judges’ time. Songs About Jane was chairs around. Before he knew one of the first albums I listened it, Schiavo had Adam Levine, to that was more modern and Pharrell, and Blake Shelton got me interesting in the pop/ fighting over him to be on their rock crossover,” said Schiavo. team as Christina Aguilera “MY GOAL HAS BEEN FROM THE looked on. BEGINNING, THAT NO MATTER HOW “It was a surreal experience getting to perform FAR I WENT ON THE SHOW, TO KIND for the coaches. I respect them OF BREAK THROUGH THE STIGMA OF all so much in so many different CONTESTANTS ON THESE SHOWS NOT ways. It’s hard to really put BEING ABLE TO FIND MAINSTREAM into words how it felt, but I was shocked at how comfortable I SUCCESS” felt on stage knowing they were there which I feel is a sign that “I was so nervous mostly about I’m on the right path hopefully,” not forgetting the lyrics. It’s said Schiavo. overwhelming for something As for the judges turning to happen so spontaneously their chairs for him, Schiavo of that magnitude. Luckily couldn’t have been happier I powered through it and it with the turnout. “You go into felt amazing. He was so cool that experience just hoping to about it, it felt like we were just get one coach to turn. After hanging and jamming. That was spending weeks preparing with a moment I will never forget all of the other contestants, no matter what happens in my you realize how incredible career.” every single person is and that Ultimately, Schiavo everyone around you deserves decided to go with Team Adam, to be on the show. So having much to Pharrell and Blake three of them turn was just Shelton’s disappointment. humbling,” explained Schiavo. Schiavo went on to train and “The first thing that went compete in the battle rounds through my mind was just relief. of the show, but unfortunately, Adam and Pharrell turned so didn’t make it through. “It was 12

definitely tough to leave the show so soon, but working with Caroline [Burns] in my battle was so much fun, and we became so close. The best part of the entire experience is walking away with such incredible friendships. It’s definitely hard leaving, and can affect how you feel about yourself, but you need to remember that it’s reality TV, and you have to have something special about you to be on in the first place,” said Schiavo. “My goal has been from the beginning, that no matter how far I went on the show, to kind of break through the stigma of contestants on these shows not being able to find mainstream success. So I’m using every little bit I got out of it, and am in the middle of that fight now to break through.” Since his elimination from the show, Schiavo has been working hard writing and recording music. “The past year has been great, the show gave me a great push to continue doing what I’m doing as well as give me a platform for opportunities to keep me working hard.” The singer released a new single, “Without You” over the summer, and fans have been absolutely loving it. “The reception to my single has been great. I was so excited to get new original music out following my appearance on the show. I am so lucky with the fan interaction I continue to have,” said Schiavo. “It’s tough to keep everyone interested when there’s so much else happening but those who began to follow my journey have really been great to me.” http://whitenoisezine.com

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“Without You” is only the beginning for Schiavo. Fans can expect even more music in the upcoming months. “I cannot wait to get the music I’ve been working on out. I just wrapped up my debut EP which has a couple of my favorite songs I’ve ever written on it,” explained Schiavo. “This project has been in the works for months and months and I’m eager to get it out there. I really have put a lot of myself into these songs so I think you can look forward to getting to know me as an artist much better through these tracks.” Besides working on his own original music, Schiavo has also been posting some covers for fans every Monday, sparking #MiniCoverMonday. “MiniCoverMonday was an idea I had because I used to put out a lot of YouTube videos and was struggling to find the time to do them consistently for a

while. Instagram is such a huge platform now, and I thought why not use it to keep people interested, and also show people all the different songs I enjoy playing and listening to? I recently did start posting full covers to YouTube again about every two weeks,” said Schiavo. I love writing but I am also such a huge music fan and I love taking songs and interpreting them in my own way and showing others that. I think my fans love hearing the covers. People love familiarity so it’s a great way to interact with them while they’re waiting to hear my original stuff.” The next few months should be a pretty busy time for Schiavo, and fans can start getting excited to see a lot more from him. “The net month or two is going to be focused on solidifying the details of my upcoming release and making sure i have all the content i feel

is needed. Once the EP is done, I plan on shooting a music video very soon for one of the songs as well. So all of that is getting sorted and then the EP will come out and it’s game time!” There isn’t anything in the works just yet as far as a tour for Schiavo. He just played a run of shows with Owen Danoff, including a special hometown show back in New Jersey. He does, however hope to tour the new EP in the Spring, once it’s out. Until then, fans will just have to wait until Schiavo can share his new music with them, and he appreciates their support and patience. I just want to thank everyone who has been supporting me so, so much. It truly is soley because of you guys that I have been able to continue doing what I love this year. I hope you’re ready for everything I have coming your way!”

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more T H G I E W

TWIN CITY

HARDCORE o t o h p & Wordsryan pugh by

DIY. A term that means Do It Yourself. Most people would immediately think of a home improvement project, but when you look into the music community outside of Warped Tour, and the major touring circuit in general, you find a tight-knit family-esque group of people. All across the US, people are in bands from your local area grinding out to either make it to the top, or as an outlet for their free time. In the Midwest in particular, the hardcore punk community is a prime example of the DIY ethic. Shows are happening every weekend in someone’s house, a bar, or a local venue, the bands are printing their own merch, and everybody knows everybody, whether or not they’re from the same state. We reached out to one of the bands that are starting to make a name for themselves, More Weight. From Minneapolis, MN, More Weight came out spin-kicking and they’re here to stay. WNZ: WHAT DOES DIY MEAN TO YOU? DIY for us is about being able to do this stuff without someone over our heads telling us what to do. More Weight for us is a direct message to established multimedia that were not going to listen to your bullshit about success anymore. The status quo is definitely different for different bands in hardcore and we just don’t give a fuck. We want to write angry music for angst kids and have an outlet for our fans to express their hatred and malcontent for society. WNZ: WHAT DOES HARDCORE MEAN TO YOU? Hardcore to us is about not listening to what people tell us we should be, we are a bunch of goony teenagers who want to make in your face aggressive music and we don’t give a fuck what people think of us or how they perceive us. Hardcore is about unity and family in a world that beats you down from birth. WNZ: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF HARDCORE RIGHT NOW? The current state of hardcore is better than what it was just a few years ago, kids today are starting to wake up to the fact that they do not look cool or tough, but they just look stupid. Besides, we are all a bunch of dumb idiots doing the monkey mosh and it’s about letting go of your rage for society; not trying to look good for your roughed up girlfriend. Also, women in hardcore are not delicate flowers and they have a place in

hardcore and they don’t need any man to stand up for us at shows. Our drummer Grace feels pretty passionate about that. WNZ: WHAT MAKES MORE WEIGHT SPECIAL? WHY SHOULD WE COME TO YOUR SHOWS? You would want to come to a More Weight show if you’re looking for a more aggressive form of punk or you need a new outlet. We don’t care how we look and we don’t care how you look. Passion before fashion; also were cool dudes. WNZ: WHERE DID THE NAME MORE WEIGHT COME FROM? The name More Weight originally came from Giles Cory/Salem Witch Trials. It was thought up by our vocalist Gabe Szalay. WNZ: WHAT’S A LONG TERM GOAL FOR MORE WEIGHT? The long term goal for More Weight is to take over the world, but on a more realistic note, play some good riffs for the kids who feel that they don’t have a place in this world. We know that feeling, come to a More Weight show; it will be cathartic to your mental health. WNZ: WHERE DO YOU SEE MORE WEIGHT 3 YEARS FROM NOW? More Weight three years from now? I don’t know, probably buying appetizers at Denny’s at 1am, to be honest.

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TOP 10 RECORDS OF 2016 Panic! at the Disco - Death of a Bachelor Panic! has blown fans away yet again. The Sinatrainspired songs are perfect for both old and new. The album is arguably one of the best from Panic!.

Crown the Empire Retrograde Crown The Empire gave us yet another exceptional hardcore album this year. The band can truly tell a story through their music and we love it.

Blink 182 - California Releasing their first album in five years, Blink fans weren’t disappointed to hear some new tracks. Even though it was the first Blink album with out Tom DeLonge, the Blink we all know and love was back yet again.

Emarosa - 131 Bradley Walden blew us away with his vocals on 131. Song after song this album is amazing - there isn’t a song that we don’t like.

Attila - Chaos This record is nothing short of a hot mess and we have no idea whether to twerk or mosh to it and we love it that way.

Soasin - Along the Shadow With Anthony Green back, the album reflects what original Saosin fans originally knew and loved about the band.

The Devil Wears Prada Transit Blues The Devil Wears Prada came back with the hardcore music we know and love - but with a more mature sound. TDWP have shown us how far they’ve come with a kickass album.

Jimmy Eat World Integrity Blues The band came back strong with Integrity Blues, featuring mostly mid-tempo and slower songs, but with powerful and introspective lyrics that hit close to the heart.

Set it Off - Upside Down This album is filled with a little something for everyone - with tracks including horns, soulful ballads and party songs, this album has it all.

Modern Baseball - Holy Ghost Holy Ghost is Modern Baseball like you’ve never seen them before - the lyrics are deeper and more raw than ever, rooted in life struggles.

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LORNA SHORE Flesh Coffin

U Words by Ryan Pugh

M R

Lorna Shore are back and heavier than ever. Clocking in at just over 45 minutes, the album Flesh Coffin has more breakdowns and brutality than even the most die hard fans can handle. However, compared to their last effort Psalms, the band had gotten more technical and progressive. The riffs, (yes, riffs!) drum patterns, and even vocal dynamics put Psalms to shame. With it’s heavy atmosphere and creepy lyrics, Lorna Shore raises their flag in the realm of deathcore.

While the instrumentals kick ass and bring the heavy, I can’t help but pay attention to the vocal mix. The lower register vocals sound way less clear than any other vocal track on the record. I don’t know if the band was going for lows so unintelligible for maximum brutality, but it sounds like they were recorded with a cupped Rock Band microphone. Other than that, I don’t have any other gripes or complaints with the record. It’s a traditional, yet progressive deathcore record that just slays all of its enemies. Lorna Shore are quickly on their way to becoming the new face of the modern deathcore genre.

Favorite Tracks: FVNERAL MOON, Black Hollow, Denounce The Light

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THIEVES No Motive

B U

Words by Gianluca D’Elia

M R

Thieves, a pop-punk band from Austin, Texas, are back with their second album No Motive, their first full-length release since 2011’s Just Give Up that launched their extensive career over the past five years. The band has toured with The Wonder Years, Modern Baseball, and most recently, The Story So Far. In a genre where it’s easy for songs on one album to sound similar, Thieves provides an impressive amount of variety on No Motive, packing the album with high-energy pop-punk jams and showing off incredible lyrical and instrumental tact on every track. The album begins with “Drag Me Into the Light.” I wasn’t hooked right away when I started listening, but as soon as the song slows down at the end of the chorus, Thieves caught my attention with their introspective lyrics. The second track “5748” also packs a hard punch, with the lyrics “I can’t be saved” sticking in my mind long after the track ended. Instantly, “Stone Eyelids” became one of my favorite tracks. Not only is the chorus extremely catchy, but the guitar riffs and pulsating drums in this song make it a full experience — and let’s not forget about that fantastic guitar solo in the bridge. Slower, atmospheric and less aggressive songs like “Fade” and “Fair-Weather” show us what Thieves might sound like on a ballad. Though No Motive gives us strong variety, most of the songs are fast-paced, so this song was refreshing. Then, song like “Decoder” and “Pulse” pull us out of the spacey, trailing guitar lines and back into energetic riffs, highlighting the skills of Thieves’ excellent guitarists. Another one of my favorite tracks is “Stay,” a track that, melodically, stands out from the rest with an anthemic chorus and a unique, long instrumental introduction. Meanwhile, on “Generation Why,” squeezing in a few more intense guitar riffs and fast percussive beats to keep us truly satisfied. The title track, which closes the album, is one of the best, full of those moments where you scroll back to listen to the same 10-second section over and over again — the soaring chorus “don’t turn me down, I’ve still got meaning in myself” is one of those moments. No Motive was a wild ride from start to finish, and it’s certainly a pop-punk album you won’t want to sleep on.

E V I E W S

Favorite tracks: Stone Eyelids, No Motives, Pulse

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HEART AVAIL Heart Avail

U Words by Danielle Gittleman

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Hard rockers Heart Avail are set to release their new self-titled EP this December and fans should definitely get excited. The EP features five tracks that are reminiscent that of Evanescence. Lead singer Aleisha Simpson showcases her amazing vocals, proving further that bands with female singers are pretty kickass. The EP kicks off with “Broken Fairytale,” a track loaded with heavy riffs and synths. Simpson shows off her vocal ability and the range that she is able to hit as she sings of a princess in despair. I absolutely love the harmonies, and it’s a great opening track. Not to mention, there’s a pretty rad guitar solo too. “Vacillation” opens with some sick guitar riffs that would get anyone’s head banging along to the beat. You can hear the pure emotion in Simpson’s voice, and this song was definitely one of my favorites on the EP. “Always” has a more techno vibe to it, as it opens with a synth that flows seamlessly into the guitar. This song is the longest on the EP, coming in at a little over seven minutes. This track felt more gritty to me, but still really passionate. “No Remorse” brings the heavy on to the EP. The instrumentals on this track are by far my favorite. Bringing the EP to a close is “Pink Lace.” This track further brings the heavy and feels like a high point on the EP. It’s full of everything — energy, emotion, and edginess. The repetition of “if you could see what you do to me,” makes you feel what Simpson is feeling. It’s by far one of the best tracks on the EP, and definitely one of my favorites. It brings the EP to a high point, and then a close that leaves you wanting more and more. Overall, I really loved this album. Simpson’s voice reminded me a lot of Amy Lee of Evanescence. She truly has amazing vocal ability, as she can hit any note, low or high. She can hold her own in the mix of heavy riffs and drum beats, and I truly enjoyed every track on the EP.

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Top Tracks: “Broken Fairytale,” “Vacillation,” “Pink Lace”

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DNCE DNCE

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Words by Layne Edwards

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Going up against the modern Prince of Pop Bruno Mars, DNCE slid into the spotlight covered in glitter and lack of last nights regrets with their debut self titled album. The band stitched together by front-man Joe Jonas started their all night disco electronica way to fame with multi platinum single, “Cake By The Ocean,” in the summer of 2015. Since, they have been touring with Selena Gomez and floating through the year on their Kids Choice and Radio Disney nominations. The album opens with a self titled track that could literally encompass the entire album on its own.The funky slightly deranged mix of musical genres somehow come together to create a new wave dance track to carry you through the summer, just in time for winter. Every track on the album leads you through one long hazy night of broken glow sticks, tequila shots, and sex on your best friends couch. The album doesn’t take a breath until the horns are traded in for a smooth electric lead guitar guiding you into a rare deep reflection with songs, “Almost,” and “Truthfully.” While the tracks are a fresh breath of air in the sweaty heat trapped dance floor, DNCE invites their listeners to, the party is just a little too long for my taste. After a full listen most of the album’s events are blurry at best. That being said, they were able to truly capture the band’s dirty party electra pop essence, and wrap it into one average album. You win this time Bruno.

E V I

Top Tracks: “Almost,” “Good Day,” “Cake By The Ocean”

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CRYSTAL LAKE True North

U Words by Rebecca Panico

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Crystal Lake’s fourth full-length album, True North, will surely have a place for metalcore fans in Japan and across the pond in the United States. Hailing from Tokyo, the band’s lyrics are in English and serve up a more melodic side of metal. Tracks like “Metro” showcase lighter vocals, catchy choruses, and ambient guitar solos. The 10-track LP is set for release Dec. 2, and those looking for more traditional metal tracks should tune in to “Six Feet Under” or “Omega.” “Breathe Deep” is a breath of fresh air at about the halfway-point of the album, but may seem out of place for a metal band. Nonetheless, it shows that the band isn’t afraid to break free of their genre. Meanwhile, “Hatred” highlights how the band can intermittently “drop the beat” (just like the song’s lyrics imply), while easily switching back to fast runs, intense distortion and double kick drumming. At times, Crystal Lake sounds a little too much like Ghost Inside, an American metalcore band that have been at it since 2004. But in Crystal Lake’s defense, they formed in 2002. The album closes with “Waves,” which weaves between genres yet again. The atmospheric track features reverberating guitar, lighter drums and crisp vocals before ending on a metal chant of “We’ll carry on.” And after this powerful LP, there’s no doubt that Crystal Lake will forge ahead.

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Top Tracks: “Breathe Deep,” “Metro”

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