A Chronological History of my Music Library

Two weeks after my last release and two years since their debut "...And Life Is Very Long", The Acacia Strain released their second album "3750" on July 13, 2004. Bassist Karrie Whitfield is no longer with the band and he is not replaced as lead guitarist Daniel Laskiewicz also plays bass on this record and they reduce to a five-piece. The Acacia Strain are still playing the same super heavy style of metal as their debut, let's check out the latest! The album begins with a short song called "Carbomb" and after some indistinct chatter they slam very heavily into a pretty brutal breakdown that hits HARD! Laskiewicz's guitar sounds super heavy and awesome and Vincent Bennett's screams sound even clearer and heavier than last album! This song is only 1:17 long, but it's a fantastic way to kick things off! Up next is "Brown Noise" and it's got another super heavy, but this time pretty simple, main riff driving things and Bennett co...

It's a triple release day! Two years since their last album "Vapor Trails" Rush released an EP titled "Feedback" on June 29, 2004. This is Rush's first EP and it's entirely covers of songs that inspired Rush from the 1960s. Let's listen to some Rush covers! The EP kicks off with "Summertime Blues", a Blue Cheer cover, and after a short intro they settle into a nice rock-and-roll main riff with Alex Lifeson leading the way with the catchy guitar and Neil Peart playing some pretty solid drums in the background. Geddy Lee still sounds solid singing the catchy verse overtop and he also gets a little chance to show off in the second round with some sweet bass! Lifeson delivers a decent little guitar solo and they end things as they began with the slower riff that they break down nicely into a classic rock and roll flourish ending. Pretty good way to kick things off I'd say! Up next is the first of two Yardbirds covers called "Heart Full...

It's a double release day! Two years after their debut album "Saturate", Breaking Benjamin released their second album "We Are Not Alone" on June 29, 2004. This was their big breakthrough with a few succesful singles and it propelled Breaking Benjamin and their post-grunge/alternative metal style into the mainstream. Let's check out the latest! The album kicks off with it's lead single "So Cold" and Benjamin Burnley plays a slow but decently epic rhythm guitar riff, Aaron Fink adds some nice light lead guitar and once Mark Klepaski and Jeremy Hummel come in with the heavy rhythm section Fink switches to some pretty cool and heavy lead guitar. They quiet things back down for the start of the verse and Burnley sounds super epic and solid singing softly for the most part but mixing in some nice yells as well. Things get heavy again as they shift to the chorus and Burnley sings a catchy and solid chorus overtop. This seems to be the perfect blend o...

A week after my last release a new band joins my library when Atreyu released their second album "The Curse" on June 29, 2004. But who is Atreyu? They are a five-piece metalcore band from Yorba Linda, California consisting of lead singer Alex Varkatzas, guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, bassist Marc McKnight and drummer/clean vocalist Brandon Saller. Atreyu are definitely metalcore with plenty of heaviness and Varkatzas doing screaming vocals, but they also have a bit of an emo side to them and Saller does lots of singing as well. Let's see what Atreyu is all about! The album starts with "Blood Children (An Introduction)" and it has screaming and singing, but everything sounds like it's way in the background. This only lasts just over a minute until things come in fully for "Bleeding Mascara" with Varkatzas holding a long, low heavy scream and some pretty sweet shredding guitar right from the get-go! The rhythm section is plenty heavy and ha...

A week after my last release, a year since their last EP "Seal Beach", and three years since their last album "One Day I'll Be On Time", The Album Leaf released their third album "In A Safe Place" on June 22, 2004. Jimmy LaValle is still playing post-rock, but for the first time he has a lot of people helping him out! This album was recorded at Sigur Ros's home studio and several members of Sigur Ros contribute on this album with guitars, keyboards, drums and even strings! It was also The Album Leaf's breakthrough as a couple songs were featured in popular T.V. series. Let's see what the latest from Jimmy has to offer! The album begins with "Window" and it has some super light and dreamy keyboards in the background while more distorted keyboard riff takes the very slow lead. It's alright but fairly bland for the first couple minutes, then some strings and other trippy noises join the light fray to spice up the rest of the song...

On the same day as my last several releases and a little over two years since their last album "The Changing Of Times", Underoath released their fourth album "They're Only Chasing Safety" on June 15, 2004. There's a lot of turnover since that last album with half(!) of the band now gone. Bassist William Nottke was only around for one album and is replaced by new bassist Grant Brandell. Original members Octavio Fernandez and Dallas Taylor are also gone and they are replaced by new rhythm guitarist James Smith and new lead singer Spencer Chamberlain. That's a lot of turnover! Underoath continue to move away from their progressive death metal beginnings and build off their more radio-friendly previous album, while still being plenty heavy. Let's check out the latest from Underoath! The album kicks off with "Young And Aspiring" and they jump right into a hard-hitting and heavy main riff led by some pretty cool lead guitar by Timothy McTague. We...