Coma After Crash - The World In Transition

1. And It Was

2. Red Nights & Fist Fights

3. The Nothing Will Destroy Everything

4. In Conclusion

Coma After Crash have released their second album titled "The World In Transition". This album has the sound and feel of young metalcore band. They have a similar sound to that of an Avenged Sevenfold or other similar bands. On first listen, it feels like there is some work to be done here.

When looking at the recording quality of this album, the album has been recorded to just an okay quality. These songs sound more like they are demos or off the floor recordings more than a finished project. The vocals seem to echo and the quality of the songs is just not quite there. With the instrumentation, you can hear that the band has some skills, and they can certainly play. This is probably the best part of the album here, but honestly, nothing is really going to blow you away. A lot is just guitar tapping and bending strings. Not bad though.

Now onto the vocals an lyrics, the vocals on this album, the screamer can scream, and he has potential, it could use just a little work. Now the singer has a bit of work to do, as the singing parts seem a little iffy, but thats usually do to just getting a random member to sing clean parts. We think this could work here though. With the lyrics, the band goes for songs about relationships and struggles. These seem to be the topics of most, especially younger bands. We do feel that the people they are targeting to hear their music will feel these lyrics and associate with them. They are a little hard to hear and understand, but if you really listen, you can get the meaning behind the songs. Not too bad.

If you are looking for a single for this album, there isn't really one, so just pick a song and give it a listen, or listen to the whole thing, it's only four songs, then you'll have an idea of the band.

Coma After Crash have added to their music and put out another album that gives the band something to play shows from. There is a lot to work on here, as far as quality and overall sound and doing things differently, but theres a base here. We don't think it's too bad. We liked what we heard. Listen to this album to decide for yourself what you think about it. They have since called it quits (R.I.P.)

Genre: Metalcore/Post-Hardcore/Metal

Release Date: January 6th, 2012

Location: Peterborough, Ontario

Label: None

Wave - State Of Mind

1. State Of Mind

2. That's How It Feels

3. Moon Under Water

4. Don't Say Sarah

5. Save A Little Part

6. So High

7. Let It Ride

8. Morning Delight

9. Where Ever You Are

10. New Sensation

11. Midnight Driving

Wave have released their second album titled "State Of Mind" This album has a similar acoustic pop sound that their previous album had. These guys have a SoulDecision or BBMak sound, so if you like those groups, you could like this album. They have done an alright job here.

When looking at the recording quality of this album, the album has been recorded very well. Someone spent a bunch of money on this album to make sure everything was nice and crisp here. This is probably the best part of the album since it is so produced. With the instrumentation here, it is very basic and poppy. They have pretty standard everything on the album, and nothing is going to get you to go, wow listen to that playing. It does its job and thats about it.

Now onto the vocals and lyrics, the vocals on this album are pretty good as well. These guys can certainly sing, but it's very industry singing. They have the American Idol style of singing where it's pretty structured. They can sing, and they have really nice clear voices, just nothing really unique here. With the lyrics, the band sings songs about relationships and girls mostly. When this album came out, these were the big topics and targets the teenage girl who mostly listened to this kind of pop.  It is pretty bland, but hits their target audience.

If you are looking for a single to this album, give the song "That's How It Feels" your attention, as it is really the only good song on this album, and shows off the bands signature sound the best.

Wave have made their second album, and unfortunately it was a commercial flop. We can see why, as the songs mostly sound like fillers, hoping the hit single Thats How It Feels gets you to buy the album. We are not a big fan of this music or the album, and we don't feel like there is anything really different from their last album. Listen to this album to decide for yourself what you think of it. They have since called it quits. (R.I.P.)

Genre: Pop/Rock

Release Date: October 15th, 2002

Location: Niagara Falls, Ontario

Website: http://www.officialwave.com

Label: Warner Music Canada 

 

I Hate Sally - The Plague

1. Clean Up The Blood

2. Hand That Beats Us Down

3. Transplanted Hearts

4. The Plague

5. Iron Fist (Live)

6. In The Name Of Democracy (live)

 

(Note: This is the re-release version with two extra live songs on it)

I Hate Sally have released their second album titled "The Plague" This album follows along with the same style and sound that the band established on their debut album. They have a very aggressive, screamy, in your face sound. The album is again pretty raw, but you can see whats there with the band. They have a similar sound to that of a Flee The Scene or a Johnny Truant here, so if you like those bands, you could like this album. They have done an okay job here. 

When looking at the recording quality of this album, the album has a pretty raw and low quality on this part of the album. This makes is especially hard to pick out what the singer is saying. As a whole, this record could use a clearer, crisper, overall fresher recording. With what is here, you can this still could work. With the instrumentation, you can here the band going crazy and switching up directions and times within the songs. You can tell the band behind the singer knows what they are doing and giving you some chaos while showing their talent. This is probably the strong part of this album

Now onto the vocals and lyrics, the vocals here are pretty hard to get much of an understanding to what the vocalist is singing about. They also a pretty hard to hear with the lower quality recording to them. We do however feel like she is doing a solid job on the screams, and really makes you think what could be with everything mega produced. We really like her vocals. With the lyrics, the band sings about death, gore and having ideals, but someone else is making choices for you, and death is a byproduct of that. Some of the lyrics are pretty deep and political. Now we don't think everyone can agree on all the lyrics, but they are powerful hard topics to get into. We think this may push some people away, but the heaviness will certainly bring people as well. All in all, a balance will happen with that. 

If you are looking for a single to this album, there really isn't one, so we suggest the first song "Clean Up The Blood" as it is also on the previous album, so it would figure they have improved upon it and given you the best version. 

I Hate Sally have made an album that carries on what they have been doing, and gives them something more to showcase the band as a whole. The last two songs on the album are recorded live, so you really only get four songs to judge this album on. With those four songs, you get a fierce punch to the gut, and we think people will like this. We can't wait to hear what a more produced version of this band will sound like. Pretty good job on the album. Listen to it to decide for yourself what you think of it. They have since called it quits (R.I.P.)

Genre: Hardcore/Metalcore/Screamo

Release Date: 2005

Location: Kingston, Ontario
Website: http://www.ihatesally.com/

Label: db Records

Magneta Lane - Dancing With Daggers

1. Bridge To Terabithia

2. Broken Plates

3. Wild Gardens

4. 22

5. Secrets Aren't So Bad

6. Carnival In Spain

7. Artistic Condition

8. Daggers Out!

9. The Better Plan

10. Butterflies Are Blue

Magneta Lane have released their second album titled "Dancing With Daggers". This album has the same style and sound of their previous album. They have a typical Can Con sound to them, as a lot of bands are sounding like this from here. They have a similar sound to that of Tokyo Police Club, Metric, or even a Broken Social Scene, so if you like these bands, this album/artist could be for you. They have done a really good job on this one.

Looking at the recording quality of this album, the recording quality has been done to a little bit of a grittier, under produced quality. This is something that helps out with the bands style and sound though. They are going for a more raw, indie feel, and I think this quality helps achieve it. The vocals could be a little louder, and overall its pretty average , but it works. The Instrumentation on this album is nothing that going to blow you away, thats for sure, but these ladies can certainly play. There is nothing flashy in this category of the album, it is just good old playing, and this also works for a genre that doesn't really want any flash.

Now onto the vocals and lyrics, the vocals here have somewhat of a monotone sound to them. You can't really hear any emotion or happiness in the vocals, but she can sing, and sing well. We feel like the vocals and the music pair well with each other, and has a nice clear voice so you can her just what is being sung about. With the lyrics, the band sings about the struggles faced with trying to make dreams a reality, relationships, love, waiting for life to get better, and more. These songs have a fairytale feel to them, and its pretty interesting how they wrote like that. We feel like people will be able to get the meaning and relate to these songs if they listen a bit harder than a casual listener. These topics should work with their fans. We think they did a good job here.

If you are looking for a single to this album, give the song "Wild Garden" your attention, as this is the best song on the album, and it really shows off the continued sound the band has done here.

These ladies have continued on with their music, putting out their second album, and this one helps solidify the band in their sound. This gives them a bunch of stuff to pull from now, and can really give a good variety at shows. We are not particularly fans of this music or genre, but we can understand why this band has gotten to where they are. Listen to this album to decide for yourself what you think of it. They have since called it quits (R.I.P.)

Genre: Indie/Alternative/Rock

Release Date: April 4th, 2006

Location: Toronto, Ontario

Label: Paper Bag Records

Alanna Gurr & The Greatest State - Late At Night

1. Swimmer

2. By My Side

3. Hell Or High Water

4. It's Been A Long Time

5. Golden Coast

6. Weight Of Love

7. Trouble

8. Thunder Rolls

Alanna Gurr has released her third album titled "Late At Night". This is the first album she has done with a full band supporting her. You can immediately tell that this album has a bigger sound than that of her previous two efforts.  She has a similar sound to that of Matthew Barber or CF Watkins. If you like these artists, you could like this album. They have done a good job on this album.

When looking at the recording quality of this album, the album has been recorded to a pretty decent standard. This is probably her best quality album, it terms of recording so far. Now the vocals could be a little louder, but thats her style, soft spoken vocals. The instrumentation on this album is pretty basic. Her band can play, but it is nothing thats going to make you notice. They are pretty much just there to keep a beat, but it works in her minimalistic music.

Not onto the vocals and lyrics, with the vocals Alanna goes for a softer, melodic, pleasing vocal style that she has used now throughout her past two albums. She has a nice vocal style that works with the type of music she is making. Listening to the album, you can certainly tell that she can sing, and its pretty clear, so you can hear the words and get the meanings of the songs. We do however wish that her voice was a little louder, but thats the charm of her. With the lyrics, Alanna sings songs about relationships and being there for each other, wondering what people think, love, interactions with your person and more. We feel like these are a little more on the older peoples relationships, as opposed to youth. These do also seem to be coming from the perspective of the singer, and feel like her audience would be people in similar age to her. She has done a really good job on this music.

If you are looking for a single to this album, there isn't one, but we think you should give "Hell Or High Water" your attention as it is the song we like the best and feel it really shows what the whole album is about.

Alanna Gurr has continued on with her style and sound on this album. We do really like how it's more than just a single person now so it feels fuller. Although her genre doesn't get tons of attention, we feel like she is going a good job and bringing people to her. This is a nice album, and we are glad to see the progression here. Listen to this album to decide for yourself what you think about it.

Genre: Folk/Indie/Country

Release Date: April 22nd, 2014
Location: Guelph, Ontario

Website: https://www.alannagurr.com/
Label: None

Arcane Ghosts - Traveller

1. Pay My Dues

2. Alive

3. Flower City

4. Ghost

5. Black Forest

Arcane Ghosts have released their debut album titled "Traveller". They have made an album that shows the band in a faster pop-punk kind of way. These guys have a similar sound to that of Calling All Captains, Citizen or even a Basement. If you like those bands, you could like these guys. They have done an not too bad job here.

When looking at the recording quality of this album, the album has been recorded to a pretty average level. When listening to some of the songs, things seem a little rough and unpolished. The vocal recording could be a little crisper and louder on here, it just sounds a little to far back in the mix. The instrumentation on this album isn't too bad. These guys can play, and they play pretty fast. There isn't really one thing that stands out in this department, just pretty alright playing for a young band on their first album.

Now onto the vocals and lyrics, the vocals on this album are not bad. You can certainly hear what the singer is singing, and what he is talking about. The thing is, the vocals could be louder at spots, and could be a little crisper. We certainly don't think he's a bad singer, just a little too fast and could be clearer in spots. With a little work, this could be pretty solid, not bad though. With the lyrics, the band goes for songs about shutting out the negativity, relationships, finding yourself, and more. These songs seem to have the type of subjects younger people who more commonly listen to this, are going to connect with. These song target their audience, and will bring people to this band. We think they have done a good job on the lyrics.

If you are looking for a single to this album, give the song "Pay My Dues" your attention, as it's the single to this album, and gives you a good idea of what the band and album is about.

Arcane Ghosts have made an album that really shows off what the band is about, and gives people their first taste of this band. It also gives the band something to play shows with, and get the band rolling. Now this doesn't quite have a defined sound or direction, but hopefully on the next album, they will give a more definitive rock, pop-punk or indie sound. Some songs sounded like one of those three genres. We look forward to seeing what they do next. Listen to this album to decide for yourself what you think about it.

Genre: Pop-Punk/Punk/Rock

Release Date: February 22nd, 2017

Location: Brampton, Ontario

Label: None

Atlantic Division - Home Opener

1. Ten Thousand Feet

2. Lighthouse

3. Now You Know

4. Save Your Heart

5. Broker Fields

Atlantic Division have released their debut album titled "Home Opener". This album shows the band in a very pop punk way. This has a really young, underdeveloped pop punk sound, but it will get there. These guys have a similar sound to that of a July or a Bearings, so if you like those bands, you could like this one. 

When looking at the recording quality of this album, the album has a pretty decent quality to it. The vocals on this album could use a little work in the recording quality. They have a bit of a rough sound to them. This is alright for the first album from a band though. The instrumentation on this album is pretty average. There is nothing in this department that's really going to wow you. They can certainly play, but it is certainly not turning heads, it's just good old regular playing.

Now onto the vocals and lyrics, the vocals on this album are not the greatest. Their vocalist has a very generic voice and way of singing. This does hurt the band and any way of being unique, but he can sing and you can hear the lyrics. This is a positive so you can understand what the songs are about. With the lyrics, the band goes for songs all about relationships. This is something that seems to be pretty popular with pop punk bands. Having said that, their target audience will certainly be looking for songs with this topic. It does also help that this is pretty generic in songs, so they can hit a wide amount of people with them. Not bad all in all

If you are looking for a single to this album, there isn't one, so just pick a song and give it a listen to get the idea of the album.

Atlantic Division have made an album that shows off what the band is all about, and introduces people to their sound. This also gives them something to play shows off of, and have people know the songs. We feel like this band has a bit of a ways to go, but you have to start somewhere to go further. We look forward in seeing what the band comes up with next. Listen to this album to decide for yourself what you think about it. They have since called it quits (R.I.P.)

Genre: Pop-Punk/Punk/Rock

Release Date: August 23rd, 2015

Location: Hamilton, Ontario

Label: None