In Flames – Sounds of a Playground Fading

In Flames helped define the Gothenburg sound, and became a metal phenomenon in the process. But it’s been a while since the band’s glory days. This may not be 2000’s Clayman, which I personally consider one of the best metal albums of all time, but In Flames shows they’ve still got something to offer. Unlike some of their Swedish counterparts who blew up at the turn of the century and never delivered another listenable album, In Flames has kept putting out decent to excellent albums, even while abandoning the sound they helped define. But the ethic of putting out interesting and powerful metal records of one kind or another has stayed in tact, which makes Sounds of a Playground Fading worth a spin without a doubt.

The Wonder Years – Suburbia I’ve Given You All and Now I’m Nothing

Pop-punk gets a bad rap, and that’s often something the genre brings on itself. But there are plenty of exceptions to the rule that says pop-punkers are a bunch of poseurs selling a faux genre to the mall crowd. The Wonder Years a loud exception to that broad brushstroke. The Philly group rocks with an integrity and lack of posturing that would make any blue collar rock n’ roll fan proud. Suburbia I’ve Given You All and Now I’m Nothing is a heart-on-the-sleeve collection of up-tempo shout-alongs that will stick in your head from start to finish, showing clearly that these guys haven’t forgotten the importance of the punk in pop-punk.

Touché Amoré – Parting the Sea Between Brightness and Me

It’s been a great year for hardcore so far, and Touché Amoré is another band responsible for adding a boost of freshness to the genre. Parting the Sea Between Brightness and Me is a record of urgency, angst and passion, just like the best of hardcore. But the approach to capturing that power here isn’t super heavy guitars, or chug-a-lug mosh parts. Instead, Touché Amoré constructs their brief songs with great riffs played on jangly guitars, and sung by a vocalist who sounds like he’s putting his heart on display, rather than trying to sound super tough. That said, it’s still hardcore, and it’s still awesome.

Pentimento – Wrecked

This record made my week. Seriously incredible, emotional, thoughtful post-something punk-ish rock from Pentimento and Panic Records. The melodic dual vocals go from gutsy and raspy to frayed at the seams and back again. Every instrument is doing something awesome for each song, nothing whacky, just the right combination of pummeling and interesting. Pentimento has put together a record of power and immediacy that will have you pumping your fist and singing along. Don’t miss this one!

Demonical – Death Infernal

We’re bookending this week’s Hot Stuff with Swedish metal. Demonical plays death metal with a melodic touch. Not quite “melodic death metal,” but not straight up death metal either. These guys are about mining the badass riffs, rather than just blasting insanity, and Death Infernal is the perfect straight-up metal album.

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