The Reptilian

The Reptilian are a three-piece post-hardcore/screamo band from Kalamazoo, Michigan that formed in 2008. In terms of sound, they play an intricate brand of screamo that takes a lot of cues from Midwestern emo, with the twinkly, reverb-heavy guitar sounds and such. Throw in some complex drum patterns and shouted vocals, and The Reptilian make for a very interesting listen. These guys are incredible musicians with a solid amount of output in the past few years, so there's no shortage of awesome here. I'd recommend Full Health if you're new to them, because that thing is full of phenomenal songs. Enjoy.

Lautrec/The Reptilian/Boy Problems/Osceola (2008)

1. Lautrec - Taylor's Tent

2. The Reptilian - The One Thing I Could Never Stomach About Santa Carla Is All The Damn Vampires

3. Boy Problems - I Swallowed A Bug

4. Osceola - Don't Tase Me Bro

5. Lautrec - Pushin' For Cushion

6. The Reptilian - Untitled

7. Boy Problems - Good Grief

8. Osceola - Malax

We Have Become (2008)

1. The One Thing I Could Never Stomach About Santa Carla Was All The Damn Vampires

2. I Sure Hope Ving Rhames Isn't In This One

3. Neptune Or Mars...Or Neptune

4. Lets Slip Away Under Cover Of Afternoon In The Biggest Car In The County

Boys' Life (2009)

1. I'll Ram My Ovopositor Down Your Throat and Lay Eggs in Your Chest But, I'm Not an Alien

2. So... What Are My Torso Options?

3. Wallkicks Will Work

4. I Can't Drink This, It's Warm!

Unreleased Tracks (2009)

1. Dave Matthews Band Live

2. James Franco: Stoner Of The Year

3. Manaburn

Full Health (2010)

1. Pretty Big Doses

2. Dungeons & Drag Queens

3. Bulls On Patron

4. Peyote Ugly

5. Roman Sideburns

6. 200% Sweater

7. Aerosmith Kids

Jowls/The Reptilian (2011)

1. Jowls - Russ

2. Jowls - Dan

3. Jowls - Jon

4. The Reptilian - Jeff 

5. The Reptilian - Ryan

Annabel/Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate)/Joie De Vivre/The Reptilian - Count Your Lucky Stars 4-Way Split (2011)

1. Annabel - Decisions, Decisions

2. Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate) - The Horror of Riovanes

3.  Joie De Vivre - Vicodin Lite

4. The Reptilian - Eddie's Lane

The Reptilian/Innards (2011)

1. The Reptilian - Gold Blooded

2. The Reptilian - Old Blooded

3. Innards - Goro

4. Innards - No Money, More Problems

Low Health (2013)

1. Pan (Sucks)

2. University Of The Indian In The Cupboard

3. Chimney Wizard

4. Sam Haircut

5. Thousand Year Lease

6. The Paseo

7. Keif Puck

8. DK Mode

9. Cooler By The Lake

10. Underwater Kiss Makeup

The Reptilian/Two Knights/Victor Shores/Boy Parts (2015)

1. The Reptilian - nahimastay

2. Two Knights - Dazzler

3. Victor Shores - Not Yeti

4. Boy Parts - Live a Long Time and Take Care of Yourself

End Paths (2016)

1. Drifter

2. No Path

3. Sad Ghost

4. Fold And Follow

5. Old Growth

6. Arm's Length

7. Wrong Pattern

8. Turn And Coil

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TTNG (This Town Needs Guns)

TTNG (formerly This Town Needs Guns) are a three-piece math rock/indie/emo band from Oxford, England that got started in 2004. They're best known for their very technical and intricate style of playing that was heavily influenced by bands like Owls, Joan of Arc, and of course American Football. However, just like those bands, TTNG have a very melodic sensibility to them, which comes out in the very clean guitar tones and the softer vocals.

They've undergone a few changes in their time, most notably a few line-up changes in their early years, though they've been consistent with their current three-piece set-up for a few years now. There's also the name change, and the reason behind it is because the name This Town Needs Guns was initially meant to be ironic, since there weren't many guns where they came from. However, as they became more well-known internationally, the statement became less of an ironic joke and more of a deranged reality to some. Which is unfortunate, because the original name is kind of funny, but the reason behind the change makes complete sense. Regardless, this is a solid band that I know a lot of people have been waiting for, so here ya go. They also just released a new album, so check that out. Enjoy.

Demo (2004)

1. They Speak With Strange Accents

2. Forever And Always

3. Vaguer Transmission

4. Eleven

5. Curiosity Compels Me

6. This Is Wrong

Hippy Jam Fest (2006)

1. Hippy Jam Fest (The Likes of Which Has Never Been Seen)

2. Denial Adams

3. Like Romeo And Juliet

This Town Needs Guns/Cats And Cats And Cats (2007)

1. Cats And Cats And Cats - Brilliant The Brilli Ant

2. Cats And Cats And Cats - 

3. Cats And Cats And Cats - 

4. Cats And Cats And Cats - 

5. This Town Needs Guns - 26 Is Dancier Than 4

6. This Town Needs Guns - If I Sit Still Maybe I'll Get Out Of Here

7. This Town Needs Guns - 1470 Man

8. This Town Needs Guns - It's Not True Rufus, Don't Listen To The Hat

This Town Needs Guns (2008)

1. 26 Is Dancier Than 4

2. And I'll Tell You For Why...

3. I'll Forget About You Throwing That Rock Cos That Dance Was Pretty Funny

4. 1470 Man

5. Do You Wanna Come Back To My Room And Listen To Some Belle And Sebastian?

6. If I Sit Still Maybe I'll Get Out Of Here

7. Japanese Ultra-Violence In D-Minor (The Saddest Chord)

8. It's Not True Rufus, Don't Listen To The Hat

Animals (2008)

1. Chinchilla

2. Baboon

3. Lemur

4. Badger

5. Quetzal

6. Panda

7. Elk

8. Pig

9. Gibbon

10. Dog

11. Crocodile

12. Rabbit

13. Zebra

Adventure, Stamina & Anger (2011)

1. Adventure, Stamina & Anger

2. Mnspector Iorse

13.0.0.0.0 (2013)

1. Cat Fantastic

2. Havoc In The Forum

3. Left Aligned

4. In The Branches Of Yggdrasil

5. I'll Take The Minute Snake

6. 2 Birds, 1 Stone And An Empty Stomach

7. Nice Riff, Clichard

8. Triptych

9. Pygmy Polygamy

10. A Different Kind of Tall (small)

11. +3 Awesomeness Repels Water

12. 13.0.0.0.1

Disappointment Island (2016)

1. Coconut Crab

2. A Chase Of Shorts

3. Consoling Ghosts

4. In Praise Of Idleness

5. Whatever, Whenever

6. Bliss Quest

7. There's No 'I' In Time

8. Destroy The Tabernacle!

9. Sponkulus Nodge

10. Empty Palms

Animals Acoustic (2018)

1. Chinchilla

2. Baboon

3. Lemur

4. Badger

5. Quetzal

6. Panda

7. Elk

8. Pig

9. Gibbon

10. Dog

11. Crocodile

12. Rabbit

13. Zebra

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Iron Chic

I think I've mentioned this band a few times before, but never actually did a post on them. This is a crime since it doesn't get much better than Iron Chic. They're a five-piece punk band from Long Island, New York that have been kicking since 2008. Along with RVIVR, Iron Chic are one of the offspring birthed by the break-up of Latterman. The band's former two vocalists both went their own ways, and we got two amazing bands because of it. Iron Chic continue Latterman's legacy of catchy pop punk and undeniable energy. They've made a name for themselves in their own right, and I've got to specifically mention 2010's Not Like This, because that is a fucking awesome album, and if you're going to listen to anything by them make it that. Otherwise, they've put out a ton of good, catchy songs that are guaranteed to be stuck in your head for days. Enjoy.

Demo '08 (2008)

1. In One Ear

2. Timecop

3. Steel Wall Method

4. Sensitive Dependence

5. Cry-Baby

Shitty Rambo E.P. (2009)

1. Shits/Giggles

2. The Worlds Greatest Detective

3. Don't Tell Me Stupid, Don't Show Me Fuck You

4. (I Never Get) Winded

Not Like This (2010)

1. Cutesy Monster Man

2. Time Keeps On Slipping Into The (Cosmic) Future

3. Timecop

4. I Always Never Say That

5. Black Friday

6. Know What I Mean, Jellybean?

7. Awes-nificent

8. In One Ear

9. Bustin' (Makes Me Feel Good)

10. Every Town Has An Elm Street

Split N' Shit (2011)

1. Those Heads Are Our Heads

2. Climate Is What We Expect, Weather Is What We Get.

3. Langoliers

4. Jet Ski (Bikini Kill)

5. 85 E. Cleveland (Plow United)

Spooky Action (2013)

1. Spooky Action At A Distance

2. Less Rest For The Restless

3. Goofy's Concern (Butthole Surfers cover)

4. Bonzo Goes To Bitburg (The Ramones cover)

The Constant One (2013)

1. The End (Intro)?

2. Bogus Journey

3. (Castle) Numbskull

4. Wolf Dix Rd.

5. Prototypes

6. Spooky Action At A Distance

7. Sounds Like A Pretty Brutal Murder

8. A Serious House On Serious Earth

9. True Miserable Experience

10. Don't Drive Angry

11. What Ever Happened To The Man of Tomorrow?

Iron Chic/Low Culture (2015)

1. Iron Chic - L'esprit de L'escalier

2. Low Culture - Not A Machine

3. Iron Chic - Subhumanoid Meltdown

4. Low Culture - Oh Jazelle

Ys (2015)

1. Ys

2. The Dreaming And The Waking World

3. Dog Bite (Dead Kennedys cover)

You Can't Stay Here (2017)

1. A Headache With Pictures

2. My Best Friend (Is A Nihilist)

3. You Can't Stay Safe

4. Let's. Get. Dangerous.

5. Thunderbolts!

6. Planes, Chest Pains, And Automobiles

7. Golgotha

8. Profane Geometry

9. Invisible Ink

10. Ruinous Calamity

11. To Shreds, You Say?

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Blank Look

I have to credit Dead Pulpit with showing me yet another great band for me to fawn over, and just had to share them here. This time it's Blank Look, a five-piece hardcore/powerviolence band from Tempe, Arizona. Their Bandcamp has them tagged as "fight metal", and I think that's a pretty accurate description of them. The aptly titled Pain came out earlier this month, and it's devastating as hell. It's basically a cracked-out tantrum of anger that makes you want to tear everything apart and put your fist through as many walls as possible. Fans of Dead In The Dirt and Magrudergrind need to pay close attention here. Without a doubt this is one of my favourite hardcore/powerviolence EP's I've heard all year, so get listening and grab the cassette if you can. Enjoy.

Demo (2015)

1. Intro

2. Neglect

3. Lost

4. Sick

5. Shattered

6. Hollow

Pain (2016)

1. Intro

2. Pain

3. Piss On My Grave

4. Nosebleed

5. Shattered

6. Bomb The Streets

7. Ill Since Birth

Void (2017)

1. Scum

2. Bastards

3. Dragged Beneath The Sea (feat. John Weller of Iniquity)

4. I Am Nieztesche

5. Bite Back

6. Portrait Of A Young Artist

7. Tunnel Vision

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1994!

1994! are a two-piece emo/post-hardcore/math rock band from Lancaster, Pennsylvania that formed in 2006 and are presumably still active, though they haven't done anything for a little while. They are involved in other projects, such as Nah, which might take up most of their time. Either way, a few years back they put out a string of phenomenal releases that I think encompass every aspect of every great band on this blog. By that I mean a fan of anyone interested within the general realm of music this blog is in will find something they like about 1994!. They've got the off-kilter, hard-hitting screamo influence of a band like Off Minor with the catchiness and noodly guitar work of a Kinsella band. From a "math rock" standpoint, they've got some incredible talent. Their drummer is a beast behind the kit, and the guitar shreds through some very fast licks. All the while having the appeal of modern midwestern emo band with a tinge of classic post-hardcore a la Dischord influence. This band is phenomenal, what more can I say. 1994! are an essential to check out for any fan of the music on this blog, so get into it. Enjoy.

Thank You Arms And Fingers (2008)

1. Get Off Our Weed You Pussies

2. Reptile Dysfunction

3. New Holland 1995

4. Termineighbor 2 "The Misspelling"

5. Sexual Alien vs Sexual Predator

6. Steep Cliff Mountain Type Jaunt

7. Stutter Like You Mean It

8. Tough Guy Older Brother Shit

Spires/1994! (2009)

1. Spires - Leaving For Home

2. Spires - Water's Edge

3. Spires - Haunting A Sandlot

4. 1994! - We're Excited About Thinking

5. 1994! - Hunchbag, Bag In Action

6. 1994! - Hilarious Combinations Of People Punching Each Other

FCKYRHED (2010)

1. King Kong Stompin Man

2. Shut Up The Fuck Up

3. Acknowledge The Rage

4. Luke Gone Leidy

5. Thank All You Guy Helpening

6. Damn You's

7. A+ Brain

Most Deaf (2011)

1. Sour Thanks, Man

2. Upsell The Vibe

Summer Singles (2011)

1. 1994! - Proper J

2. Snowing - Big Weed

3. Boys And Sex - High Notes

4. Algernon Cadwallader - (Na Na Na Na) Simulation

Fuck It (2013)

1. untitled

2. i, i, i, me, me, me

3. never into it, definitely over it

4. apologetically american

5. from decay

6. untitled 2

7. non multa, sed multum

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The Exploration

The Exploration were a three-piece emo/indie/math rock band from Grand Rapids, Michigan that formed in 2009 and broke up in 2015. They recorded a handful of demos around 2009, which caught quite a bit of attention. The Exploration focused on very clean, noodly guitars that were reminiscent of bands like American Football. On top of that, they often included light percussion in the background, and half-spoken half-wept vocals at the forefront. It's an engaging, overblown emotional mix that diehard emo fans will eat up immediately. They put out a discography and one official EP in 2013, and then sadly broke up in 2015. Here's everything they did, from the early demos to the sole EP. Enjoy.

Basement Demo (2009)

1. This Will Blossom

2. I Guess, I'm Leaving

3. The Ocean

4. Somewhere In The Middle

Summer Demo (2009)

1. Gone

2. Meeting

3. Watch It Pass

Demography (2013)

1. This Will Blossom

2. I Guess I'm Leaving

3. The Ocean

4. Somewhere In The Middle

5. Gone

6. Meeting

7. Watching It Pass

8. Untitled

9. Goodbye

10. An Ending

For Cabana (2013)

1. Meeting

2. Sergue

3. K____n

4. Nostalgical

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Everybody Row

Everybody Row are a four-piece punk band from the Bay Area, California that formed in 2014. They were started by members of Comadre, and definitely fill the void that that band left. Everybody Row are a lot more of a straight-forward rock band than their predecessor. They punch out some energetic, catchy, uptempo songs that are as hard-hitting as they are catchy. Perhaps most notably they include a prominent organ, which gives them both a very unique sound and a very classic rock vibe, which makes for one hell of a good band. They're definitely highly recommended as a straight-up good rock band. You can't go wrong with that. Enjoy.

The Sea Inside (2014)

1. The Sea Inside

2. Coming Out Close

3. Escape Plan

4. Keep Running

Tiny Empires (2015)

1. Tiny Empires

2. No Direction Home

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