Time to wet your beaks with more delicious metalcore from the underground.  I didn’t get a lot of submissions direct this time around, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me.  There’s always good music to be find for those willing to look, so I took to Bandcamp in search of the best and brightest.  This little scavenger turned up the following bands for your listening pleasure.  Side note, if you have not heard the new Periphery album, you are missing out.

SALVATION FOR ME

Salvation For Me is a Russian metalcore band from Saint Petersburg.  As the candle continues to flicker out for once pivotal groups like Killswitch Engage and All That Remains, groups like Salvation For Me are using the remaining flame to light their own torch.  And it’s burning brighter than ever on Keep.  This is another group that takes the formula to the heights that groups in the early 2000’s used to.  Engaging, varied vocals, monster riffage, powerful and infectious drumming, and careful attention to production and mixing all make this an album that deserves plenty of attention from the droves currently wasting their money on tired, old mainstays.  I also dig the sparing use of modern touches like electronic flourishes and vocal glitching a la Periphery and Born of Osiris.

NOBLE LIE

Noble Lie is a progressive metalcore band from Albuquerque, New Mexico.  In addition to the killer tunes, I am impressed with the level of branding this band is taking advantage of.  They have a striking logo, notable album cover, and sharp Facebook image; all things that are important to getting an edge up in any genre these days.  As for the EP, these four tracks are sharp as nails.  Noble Lie‘s sound is lean, mean, and incredibly enjoyable.  They tend to error on the heavy side of things, focusing on intensely harsh vocals and crunchy binary riffs, but they’re much more than a 0-1-1-0-1 kind of band.  In between we get the perfect amount of clean vocals and technical guitar melodies to soar to the stratosphere and beyond.  Simply hit play on first track Voices and I guarantee that those opening riffs will put you on your ass.  Name your own price.

DIMENSIONS

Hey look, we’re in Australia again.  I’m sorry, but I really can’t say enough about how overrated I consider Parkway Drive to be.  There’s so much more talent to be found in this region from metalcore to black metal, so any opportunity I get to flaunt someone better is one I am going to jump on.  Dimensions certainly fits that bill with their less-is-more philosophy when it comes to the genre.  While a lot of other bands are constantly aspiring to the wall of sound, Dimensions does some refreshing play with dynamics.  Traces from their most recent EP is a fine example.  Often the vocals and drums are given most of the space, only throwing in a riff long enough to give us a taste.  In a way, I am so used to the other approach that this felt disconcerting, but it pays off when the band finally does kick all of the elements into high gear.  It’s the difference between screaming for 5 minutes straight and whispering for 4 only to hit max volume for the last 60 seconds.  Who is going to make more of an impact?  The dips into deathier growls and occasional “bleh!”‘s don’t hurt either.  Just 1 AUD for this one.

CONSCRIPTS

I’ll be honest and say that Conscripts caught my eye due to being tagged as “crycore” among other things.  I don’t know what that is, but I was intrigued.  Weird labels aside, their album ‘Everything I Love’ is just everything right about post-hardcore/melodic hardcore.  I continue to be of the opinion that this genre is an angsty, young man’s game.  Always has been, always will be.  You have to hit that sweet spot of having matured enough as a musician, but not having aged enough to become completely numb and cynical to the world.  These songs are filled with youthful aspirations, unabridged contemplations, and complete emotional catharsis.  Have they perfected the formula?  No, but that’s not really the point.  I like it raw.  Bottom line: great vocals, great guitars, stellar drumming.  Plus, just look at those mugs.  God I miss those carefree days.  Name your price for this one as well.