Category Archives: Emo

Box Set, Bragging Rights, Claudio Sanchez, Concert, DVDs, Emo, Music, New Release, Punk, Rock

Bragging Rights: Coheed & Cambria – Neverender: Children Of The Fence Edition

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After 4 long months of waiting it finally came:

Coheed & Cambria: Neverender: Children Of The Fence Edition
Coheed & Cambria: Neverender: Children Of The Fence Edition

I am now the proud owner of Coheed & Cambria’s Neverender: Children Of The Fence Edition DVD/CD box set.  This is the ultimate Coheed & Cambria collection and I know I have mentioned it before on my site and I have the right to as I am a HUGE Coheed & Cambria fan. That’s what fans do!

For those of you that did not know, Coheed & Cambria put on a concert series tour like none other last October that spanned four days in the select cities of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and London.  The band performed one of their four albums from beginning to end each night in sequence.  This DVD/CD box set is all four performances both on DVD and CD from the live show in NYC.  As bummed out as I am for having missed this amazing set of shows I am so happy I have this box set in my possession.

The Neverender: Children Of The Fence Edition includes:
– 4 Live DVDS
– 4 Live CDs
– 1 Documentary DVD
– 10×10 hardcover photo book (and I have to mention that my actual name appears in the “Children Of The Fence” portion of the book as I was quick to order this back in December.  I know, I am the ultimate geek)
– Custom metal dragonfly keepsake piece 7.5 x 5.5

The collection comes boxed and lucky me even got an added certificate of authenticity signed by all four band members.  During the initial pre-sale it was said that the first 3000 copies sold would be autographed by the band.  I feel gypped in a sense as I thought they would sign the actual box set and not a tiny piece of paper.  Still this thing is awesome.

I have yet to watch the actual DVDs as I know I will want to try and watch it in one sitting.  I listened to all of the CDs already and loved it.  Coheed & Cambria really put on an amazing live show and I can say that having seen them three times now.  Add a sold out crowd that is just as excited as the band is to be a part of music history and you have yourself a masterpiece of a live show.

Having ordered months ago, this was well worth the wait and undisclosed amount of money I shelled out for it.  I am pretty sure this will tie me over too until I cross paths with them at Bonnaroo in a couple of months…

Emo, Music, New Release, Punk, Review, Screamo

Thursday – Common Existence – CD Review

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New Jersey post-hardcore act Thursday has a lot to be proud about.  Being credited with bringing the screamo genre to the mainstream level as well as have been labeled in 2004 as SPIN Magazine’s “The Next Big Thing” are just a couple of reasons why.  This six-piece did not invent the screamo genre but rather took it to a new level.  With all they have accomplished I can not believe they have been a band for just over ten years now.

Currently the band is about to release their fifth full-length album, entitled Common Existence.  This time around the band has teamed up with the punk rock independent label Epitaph Records and hopes to continue to wow their fans while, at the same time, recruit new ones.  The band will be headlining the Taste Of Chaos tour this year in support of their new release alongside rousing acts Bring Me The Horizon, Four Year Strong, Pierce The Veil, and the Cancer Bats.

Just in case you have no idea what screamo exactly is, imagine melodic emo music mixed with post-hardcore fury and occasional throat-destroying screaming throughout.  Some find the music terribly annoying but there are many like myself who can not get enough.  I just love the fragile, sorrow feel during some songs only to be smacked over and over with screams not many can endure.  The first time I heard screamo was actually the first time I listened to Thursday’s debut with Victory Records called Full Collapse and I admit I was highly entertained.

I had already gotten a preview of the CD single “Resuscitation Of A Dead Man” earlier this year when the band streamed the song on their website, but it was not until this second helping that I realized how great of a song it is.  Less screamo and more hardcore is all I can think about on this track that features Rise Against’s Tim McIlrath contributing vocals.  “Last Call” follows with Geoff Ricky’s all-so-familiar, lamenting vocals.

Previously appearing on the band’s 2008 split EP with Japanese hardcore band Envy was “As He Climbed The Dark Mountain.”  The song hinted towards Thursday’s juvenile years with more of their signature screamo fashion but came with a twist as heavy distortion and pitch shifts dominated throughout.

“Friends In The Arms Forces,” which featured Quicksand’s Walkter Schriefels, seemed a little cut down from the other tracks on the CD but was still enjoyable.  The song, inspired by the band member’s friendship with someone currently serving overseas, is a protest of the basis but full of wishes of protection as different emotions spiral throughout.  “Beyond The Visible Spectrum” was very astray from the Thursday norm at times with a more mellow, mostly post-hardcore sound.  As much as I want to say I was not getting into it, the truth is…  I was.  I especially dug the reverb throughout the track and the sudden conclusion that left me wanting more.

“Time’s Arrow” was almost a whisper compared to everything else on this CD.  The song started out ever so gentle and had this, dare I say, almost a Muse/Radiohead experimental style going on.  I loved it.  This song was the most untried song I have heard Thursday perform so far and I still crave more of it.

This album deserves to be listened to over and over again by old school fans of Thursday as well as by random newcomers.  I myself can not keep Common Existence out of my CD player.  The overall sound suggests that the band has taken a departure from the genre commonly attributed to them.  It appears the one-time pioneers of screamo really focused on taking what they know and have expanded it with their musical creativity.  The result is some really amazing songs, some of which I did not expect to hear.

It’s nice to see the band try something new while still holding on to their own uniqueness. Common Existence is ongoing evidence that Thursday continues to mature and, honestly, this album has turned me into an even bigger fan.

Here is a recently released clip of the making of Thursday’s upcoming music video for “Resuscitation Of A Dead Man”:

Thursday – Making The Video: “Resuscitation of A Dead Man” from absolutepunk.net on Vimeo.

???

One of the first songs that got me hooked on Thursday:

Emo, Music Video, New Release, Punk, Screamo

Thursday To Release New CD Soon…

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New Jersey’s Thursday has a new album Common Existence coming out. Here is one of the new tracks for your listening pleasure called “Resuscitation of a Dead Man”:

I was going to review the album early but since some a$$ hat out there leaked the feed I was given, it was removed and now I have to wait.  I am ok with that wait though because I am very excited to hear this release.

I also found this video of Thursday performing “Friends in the Armed Forces” live last month that was featured on AP Magazine’s website.  This song as well will be released on Common Existance which is scheduled to drop on Feb. 17th.  The CD will be released through Epitaph Records.


Thursday – “Friends In The Armed Forces” live (AltPress.com exlusive) from Alternative Press on Vimeo.

Box Set, Concert, DVDs, Emo, Indie, Live Shows, Metal, Music, Music Video, New Release, Rock

Coheed & Cambria Neverender Box Set

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For all you Coheed & Cambria fans:

Neverender was the landmark event where for the first time ever, Coheed and Cambria performed all four of their concept albums in entirety over four nights. Now for the first time, you can re-witness this incredible journey through an amazing box set containing not only a DVD and audio CD of each night’s performance, but also a must-have photo book and documentary DVD that captures the journey leading to this spectacular event. In addition, the limited edition deluxe NEVERENDER: CHILDREN OF THE FENCE EDITION box set also contains a collectible dragonfly.

Set includes:

– 4 Live DVDS
– 4 Live CDs
– 1 Documentary DVD
– 10 x 10 hardcover photo book
– Custom metal dragonfly keepsake piece 7.5 x 5.5

Plus if you pre-order before 12-16-2008 your name will be printed in the special “Children Of The Fence” section of the book.  If that is not enough, the first 3000 pre-ordered box sets will be signed by the band.

The box set is scheduled to be released on 03-03-2009.

I may have or may not have pre-ordered one… I am a pretty big fan of them you know…

…and for the record this is one performace I wished came a little closer to my home so I could have see it live in the flesh.  I kick myself for not making arrangements to travel to see it.  It is one of those one in a life time things I missed out on, but with good reason.  I am a working man you know.  I am just glad they are releasing the DVD so I can at least say I saw it, even it I was not there.