Sum 41 - "Fake My Own Death" Single Review

Sum 41 are back! They'll be busy this summer on Warped Tour 2016. And then this fall their comeback album, "13 Voices" drops! Lead single, "Fake My Own Death" is a throwback to the band's 2002-2004 sound. Intense, angry punk rock. 

To preoder the album click this (link). And of course, you should check the band out on Warped Tour this summer. 

The Color Morale - "Walls" Single Review

A day before Warped Tour kicks off in Texas, The Color Morale have treated fans to the first single off their upcoming 5th album, "Desolate Divine". This will be the band's second album on Fearless Records, their previous, "Hold on Pain Ends" came a little over a year after their much loved 3rd album, "Know Hope". 

Click this (link) to get the single, and preorder the album on iTunes. And be sure to catch them on Warped Tour this summer!

Warped Tour 2016 Lineup Review Pt. 2

Not a conventional review, but we're going to break down this year's choices for the 2016 lineup of Warped Tour. 20+ years on the road every summer, bringing you all kinds of music. And this year, it seems the tour is getting back to basics. Lots of great pop punk bands, and not as many heavy headliners. This is PART 2 of a two part post covering the 2016 edition of Warped Tour. Click this (link) to read PART 1. 

Click this (link) to visit the tour's official website.

Warped Tour 2016 Lineup Review Pt. 1

Not a conventional review, but we're going to break down this year's choices for the 2016 lineup of Warped Tour. 20+ years on the road every summer, bringing you all kinds of music. And this year, it seems the tour is getting back to basics. Lots of great pop punk bands, and not as many heavy headliners. This is PART 1 of a two part post covering the 2016 edition of Warped Tour. Click this (link) to read PART 2. 

Click this (link) to visit the tour's official website.

Featured Band - Hands Like Houses

Hailing from Canberra, Australia's capital city, Hands Like Houses are our "Featured Band" for February. The Aussies will release their 3rd studio album next Monday, so if you haven't already pre-ordered it, and you're a fan, we suggest you go do so. "Dissonants" is set to be the band's finest release thus far, and we're all eager to hear it. 

To get "Dissonants" on iTunes, click this (link). And if you want to read reviews of the album's singles, we have provided links in the full post below. 

Speed Reads - Seaway, 5 Seconds of Summer, and SayWeCanFly

Speed Reads is back with another set of quick reviews! We've got pop punk albums from Seaway and 5 Seconds of Summer (don't try to deny it, they are a pop punk band), plus the latest EP from SayWeCanFly. If you have a suggestion for a future Speed Read entry, please let us know. To read our previous "Speed Read" post, click this (link). And to buy each respective album please click the links below! 

New Years Day - "Malevolence" Review

After months of patient waiting, it's finally here! New Years Day's much anticipated 3rd album, "Malevolence". After releasing a string of singles this summer, October brings us the full length effort from our gothic rock band. To read our reviews of songs "Kill or Be Killed", "Relentless" and "Left Inside" click the links. And you can click this (link) to buy the album on iTunes. 

New Years Day - "Left Inside" Single Review

New Years Day, one of our "Bands to Watch in 2015" have slowly been climbing to the top of the hard rock world. Their dark, sometimes theatric music and performances have captured the hearts of fans everywhere. So with less than a month until their album's release, the band have debuted another new song. New Years Day's album, "Malevolence" is set to be released October 2. Click the links to buy the albums on iTunes.  

Knuckle Puck - "Copacetic" Review

Knuckle Puck's debut record "Copacetic" is the epitome of pop punk. If you didn't already know what genre the band is, the album title should have given you an inclining. An up-in-coming band that has its origins in Chicago circa 2010, these fellows have kicked things off with a strong debut. After completing a run on Warped Tour 2015, the band have found themselves with a growing fanbase, and a surprisingly successful debut. Click this (link) to buy their album on iTunes.

Featured Post - We Came as Romans

This month's featured band is We Came as Romans. If you haven't already checkout out their new self titled album, we recommend you do before reading this post, as we will be discussing it. Feel free to leave comments, tell us why you love or hate this band. And leave suggestions for future featured bands, and reviews!

To read our full review of the band's latest album click this (link) 

Hands Like Houses - "I Am" Single Review

Though this single was released back in March, this is one review I've been dying to write. I love Hands Like Houses. Fan or not, you can't deny these guys are talented. Their upcoming 3rd album, "Dissonant", is set for a fall 2015 release date, so here's to hoping we get another single soon! You can check the dates and get tickets for their upcoming tours in AUS, US, and UK by clicking this (link).

Top 10 Essential Pop Punk Albums

Though today the genre is often coated in a shiny exterior, pop punk started out with over sized board shorts, tongue in cheek lyrics, toilet humor, simple power chord anthems, and of course Converse or Vans. But without these now iconic albums, you wouldn't have the modern pop punk sound we all know and sometimes love. Spanning two decades, and several generations of fans, pop punk would be nothing without these bands and their music. 

We have managed to whittle down the long list of albums to these 10. We've mainly stuck with pop punk albums that are iconic due to influence on the genre's contemporary sound, or albums that are considered classics among fans. If you think we missed an album, please comment below! And if you get butthurt, we're sorry. 

*Please note we have tried to stick to bands whose albums are noted by critics and fans as pop punk. It's a matter of deciding what genre to classify the album under (You won't see Bad Religion, The Offspring or Rancid here as their music is more punk rock) Honorable Mentions can be found on our Top 10 page (link)

Four Year Strong - "Self Titled" Review

I wish I had seen these guys on Warped because I love their new album! I started work on this review around the same time I wrote I the Mighty's "Connector" review, but never got around to posting it until now. Which works out perfectly since this is our inaugural pop punk weekend! 

Four Year Strong is a band that has experienced ups and downs throughout their career. In the past the band has been inconsistent in the quality of their albums. They're sound varied from pop punk, to alt. rock, to hardcore punk. Building upon the genius that came from their EP "Go Down in History" these past two years have been the highest points for the band. 

As It Is - "Never Happy Ever After" Review

2015 is full of pop punk throwback albums. Amidst many complaints that pop punk has "become full of mainstream sellouts, and pop travesties" bands like A\\ and Neck Deep have brought back the 2000s vibe to the genre. As with many debuts in this vein, the overall album isn't too ground breaking, or inventive. But what pop punk lacks in originality, it makes up for in guitar riffs, catchy lyrics, and good vibes. I'm a sucker for a good 2000s throwback album, and this is no exception. 

Beautiful Bodies - "Battles" Review

Today we will be reviewing the debut album from alt. rock band Beautiful Bodies. In the wake of PVRIS' rise to the top, Epitaph Records has found their own female fronted 3 piece electronic superstars in this Missouri band. Headed by Alicia Solombrino, this band is currently on Warped Tour 2015. So can they breakout from the shadow cast by their tour-mates with this debut? Click this (link) to buy the band's debut, "Battles", on iTunes.

Quick Picks: 10 Bands to Watch (Mid 2015 edition)

A "Quick Picks" countdown, here we will be counting down the 10 bands you should be watching in the coming year. Be sure to leave comments if you think we missed a band!

Top 10 Debut Albums (2010-2014) Pt 2

Some bands have debut records that miss the mark. Then there are bands who release debut albums so put together, and well written that we wonder where they've been hiding or entire lives. Here are some of the best debut albums released from 2010 to 2014. The albums aren't listed in any particular order (1 is not the top, 10 is not the bottom). Each entry is accompanied with a mini review and rating. Click this (link) to see Pt 1 of this list. Honorable mentions can be found on our Top 10 page.

Please keep in mind that I'm only one person, and can only listen to so many albums before my brain explodes. If you think there's a debut that I should listen to, please contact me at platypusreviews1486@gmail.com with the band and their album (for this list the album has to have been released between 2010 and 2014). 

I have excluded bands that were formed after a member's previous band broke up or bands with members who were has previous success in another group (i.e, Of Mice and Men, Beartooth, Falling in Reverse, the many, many Jonny Craig bands, etc). These are bands who are fresh off the rookie circuit, and are cutting their teeth with this release. EPs are off limits, as they are often not good representations of what a band is truly capable of (though there are always exceptions to the rule). 

We Came As Romans - "Self Titled Album" Review

If you're a metalcore fan then you've at least heard of We Came As Romans. Formed in 2005, this band is currently performing on Warped Tour 2015. An electonicore band based out of Detroit, they have spent the last few years mixing up their sound. Drawing from a more diverse pool of influences, the band has made the switch to a more mainstream sound like so many other metalcore bands have (Of Mice and Men and Bring Me The Horizon in particular). 

Top 10 Debut Albums (2010-2014) Pt 1

Some bands have debut records that miss the mark. Then there are bands who release debut albums so put together, and well written that we wonder where they've been hiding or entire lives. Here are some of the best debuts that were released from 2010 to 2014. The albums aren't listed in any particular order (1 is not the top, 10 is not the bottom). Each entry is accompanied with a mini review and rating. Click the Top 10 page to see our honorable mentions for this list. Click this (link) to see Pt 2 of this list. 

Please keep in mind that I'm only one person, and can only listen to so many albums before my brain explodes. If you think there's a debut that I should listen to, please contact me at platypusreviews1486@gmail.com with the band and their album (for this list the album has to have been released between 2010 and 2014). 

I have excluded bands that were formed after a member's previous band broke up or bands with members who were has previous success in another group (i.e, Of Mice and Men, Beartooth, Falling in Reverse, the many, many Jonny Craig bands, etc). These are bands who are fresh off the rookie circuit, and are cutting their teeth with this release. EPs are off limits, as they are often not good representations of what a band is truly capable of (though there are always exceptions to the rule). 

Memphis May Fire - "Unconditional: Deluxe Edition" Review

Memphis May Fire is one of those bands with loyal fans, and fervent haters. Either way, the band has built quite the reputation in the metalcore community. Last March they released their 4th album, "Unconditional", and was met with great reception from critics and fans. And now their record company, Rise Records, has decided that like the rest of their bands, MMF will put out a deluxe version of their album. Does it strike out like some of the label's other re-releases? Well... you'll have to read the rest of the review to find out.