The Hills and the Rivers - Apocalyptic Dreams

Pittsburgh folk punk group, The Hills and the Rivers, appropriately released their album Apocalyptic Dreams last November, and it's the perfect music for the modern times. With both XVI - The Tower, and XX - Judgement's, symbology woven together into the album cover, this album promises right from the start to tell a story of the upheaval our world is going through.

"Secondhand Grin" goes through a few musical shifts, showcasing this band's excellent musicianship.

"The Tower" starts off with the card from Tarot's Major Arcana of the same name - which represents such things as chaos, upheaval, and destruction, losing the "crown" that you've built up as things start to come crashing down - then applies that to our lives in the world today. All with a catchy chorus.

"The Collapse" follows, with some descriptive apocalyptic imagery, laid over a smooth melody.

"Sorrow" is slower, with some lower vibrations, but it really hits home with how many of us feel right now.

"Lift the Veil" conjurs up more apocalyptic imagery, outright saying, "We are living in an apocalyptic dream."
                                       

"Lot's Wife" was good, but the symbology went beyond me on this one.

"Wild Wolves" asks questions about nature - is everything just chaos, or is there an order?

"Misery's Company" brings up things like how all life is meaningless, and everyone dies, but that we can't think that's all we are.

"Folk Steady" is a groovy finish to a great album that lifts the energy back and gets you wanting to create some movement.

Check out Apocalyptic Dreams on Bandcamp before it's too late!

Also, see album reviews for Straight Line Arrival - If No Place, or Broken Glass Kids - Another Step Back

Straight Line Arrival - If No Place.....

The first full band release by Straight Line Arrival, If No Place....., came out in May, earlier this year.

Starting with "P.A.W.S.", we get the confession that Sky doesn't believe he deserves to be where he is in his career compared to more talented friends, something I personally connect with 100%. It delivered so good, too. Very catchy.

"I Don't Got Money, I Got Friends" is more agressive, and filled with some self-loathing.

"Of Floods" starts off calm, but builds up quickly. The flow of this song is kinda like tides coming and going.

"I Just Want My Sweatshirt Back" is another agressive song, not showing any remorse at a relationship that is over.

"No Place" calms it down again, and is also very catchy. This is, in my opinion, the best track on the album by far. Definitely a great song to round out this short, but powerful release by Straight Line Arrival.

Check out IF NO PLACE..... on Bandcamp today!

Also, see album reviews for Wolfe Sunday, and Icabod Kobain - Demo '94

Wolfe Sunday

Wolfe Sunday released his self-titled EP earlier this year. Starting off with the catchy "Song For You", this album declares, "This was never just a phase, we will never change our ways."

"Mixtape" asks to go back and start over, when nothing is left but a mixtape to remind you of how it used to be.

"Damage Control" is about having a party at your house, there's people you don't know, more keep coming, beer is on all the shelves, and you're just trying to maintain the damage control.

"I Spend More Time At Service Stations Than On Stage" is a song about Wolfe Sunday's daily life.

"The Barstool Brawler's Son" tells the story of someone who grew up with a hard life that turned into a life of violent alcoholism.

"Let's Start A Fire" is a quick one about singing songs to light fires within those listening.

"Making Memories" is about Wolfe Sunday's memories with his ex's.

"Everything We Lost" sounds remorseful remembering what has been lost in a previous relationship.

"Shoes" is a weird audio file add-on with instructions for getting a bottle of Coke out of a car.

"I'm Still Not A Rockstar, But I Sure Wish I Was" is a song about trying to be successful making music.

"Living Rooms Aren't For Living In, Anyway" is fast-paced punk.

"English Water" ends the album with a more heavy metal feel.

This self-titled EP by Wolfe Sunday is filled with potential radio hits. I'd recommend checking it out for yourself over at Bandcamp!

Also, see album reviews for Icabod Kobain - Demo '94, or Broken Glass Kids - Another Step Back