More 2010 Stuff

Touché Amoré / La Dispute - Searching for a Pulse/The Worth of the World  (Spilt)

• This spilt comes from two awesome hardworking bands. Touché Amoré is a post-hardcore/hardcore band that blends "traditional" hardcore with screamo (reminiscent of Orchid at times) and put on a hell of a live show, I saw them open up for Converge back in May and they killed it. La Dispute is a post-hardcore band with quite the experimental edge to them, if you haven't heard either bands yet I highly recommend both of them. This spilt sounds amazing, both bands incorporated a consistency with each other that lacks in must splits and the end result makes you wish it wasn't just a 7". Touché Amoré also have another spilt with Make Do And Mend (another awesome hardcore/post-hardcore band) that is really good but this one is my favorite so far.

(for the more metal-minded)

Kvelertak - Kvelertak

• I'm a little confused what genre to exactly call these but I think Kvelertak is a hardcore band first and while they incorporate a variety of other influences that mindset is still pretty obvious. Kvelertak is a hardcore punk band from Norway that incorporates black metal influences, classic rock influences and rock n' roll into their sound. This is one of my favorite albums of the year almost just because there is nothing else like it. They feature three guitarists in the band to create a heavy thick sound (which a lot of hardcore lacks) and go from melodic riffs and intros to that trademark Norwegian black metal chaos. It's loud, it's fun and I love this album. On a side note it should be noted that Kurt Ballou (best known as the guitarist from Converge and one of the best metal producers around) produced this album if you need any other reason to check it out.