This year was full of debut full-lengths, new bands breaking out, and unfortunate break-ups. Though it was not an easy task, our staff members have managed to narrow down their top releases of 2012. Here's the first half of our lists. Click the Read More… link to view the lists.
Joe Wasserman, reviewer Hostage Calm - Please Remain Calm (Run For Cover Records)Nothing sounds like Please Remain Calm. The melodies are refreshing, the lyrics are hopelessly confused and defeated, but there’s enough of a fight here to keep you listening a little longer just to hear what else they’ve got to say in hopes that change is possible. Hostage Calm have grown into a band that The Clash could happily and easily call their grandsons. Their maturation came at a perfect time both in terms of all the generic Pop-Punk bands and in terms of how dark and gloomy the general outlook is of the current United States. |
 Dikembe - Broad Shoulders (Tiny Engines Records)Broad Shoulders combines the fantastic new, introspective and emotionally-raw Punk (Apology Not Fucking Accepted) with the fantastic return to ‘90s Emo (Not Today, Angel). It’s obvious that Dikembe cares an exorbitant amount about the music they produce and the way they deliver it. Their debut album is a fantastic evolution from their young, short, and sweet EP Chicago Bowls. Dikembe is a band that’s done all the work they need to earn respect and fans in this scene; now more people just have to listen to them. |
 Basement - Colourmeinkindness (Run For Cover Records)It sucks that Basement’s done being a band for a while. Last year’s I Wish I Could Stay Here and 2010’s Songs About The Weather EP have shown that Title Fight is not the only up and coming band that has something to say about the whole dark Punk/Emo scene. Basement has also shown that the UK has so much more to offer than The Beatles. This band has gone from some young Punks to more mature leaders of the genre who unfortunately aligned their priorities differently than how the rest of their scene wishes. One can only hope that they will reunite to write or play more songs like the confused Covet, the lullaby-esque Comfort, and the epically face-melting haze Wish. |
 The Menzingers - On The Impossible Past (Epitaph Records)On The Impossible Past is the other side of the coin to Hostage Calm’s Please Remain Calm. Whereas the latter could be related to The Clash, The Menzingers could’ve been friends who toured with the English Punks back in their heyday. On The Impossible Past has all the screaming choruses, disgustingly catchy hooks, and relatable lyrics that anyone (male/female, single or not) can find something to attach to. |
 The Early November - In Currents (Rise Records)When a band gets back together, its fans immediately rejoice and anticipate their eventual reunion tour. While excitement brews for the live aspect of a band, anxiety gathers for their inevitable next release. While everyone knew that In Currents would definitely be a TEN record, no one expected it to be their definitive album. The flow of the songs from the somber A Stain On The Carpet to the begging Tell Me Why, from the painful That’s Not Your Real Name to the heartbreaking closer Call Off The Bells displayed how TEN have gone from young New Jersey Punks to the returning crown-bearers of Alternative, Punk, Emo--TEN music. |
Melissa Jones, reviewer
1. Misser - Every Day I Tell Myself I'm Going To Be A Better Person (Rise Records)2. Further Seems Forever - Penny Black (Rise Records)
3. Hostage Calm - Please Remain Calm (Run For Cover Records)
4. Such Gold - Misadventures (Razor & Tie Records)
5. Green Day - ¡Uno! (Reprise Records)
6. Life Between Sleep - The Dynamic Of Brothers
7. Title Fight - Floral Green (SideOneDummy Records)
8. Forever Came Calling - Contender (Pure Noise Records)
9. Silverstein - Short Songs (Hopeless Records)
10. The Script - #3 (Phonogenic Records)
Chris McPartlin, photographerThe Menzingers - On The Impossible Past (Epitaph Records)The Menzingers released their third studio album, On The Impossible Past, in February and even with the record being released so early in the year, it still deserves all credit possible for effortlessly maintaining its strength even since its release. The creative lyrics develop a thought-provoking story, making it impossible to listen to just one song. |
 Pentimento - Pentimento Pentimento has shown time and time again that selflessness and a simple love for music pays off and their debut self-titled full-length is no exception. Saying I know the members of Pentimento is a privilege in itself because they are some of the most genuine people in the music scene to date. They will go to the ends of the Earth to thank anyone who just listened to their record (that they gave away for free). Pentimento’s self-titled has strong vocals, catchy guitars and I couldn’t tell you to listen to just one or two of their songs because it wouldn’t do the record justice. From their acoustic rendition of The Bridge to the beautiful violins in Subtle Words and transition to For Winter, every song has every member’s passion poured into it. |
 The Ghost Inside - Get What You Give (Epitaph Records)The Ghost Inside has been and probably always will be my favorite Hardcore band. I’m not one for classifying a band within a specific genre but we all can agree that The Ghost Inside are heavy, fast, undeniably catchy, and they communicate a great message. Their new record Get What You Give was easily the soundtrack to my Summer. Although I was a little nervous about the addition of clean vocals, it only ended up adding that much more to the record. Get What You Give will leave you with goosebumps and with every song stuck in your head. |
 Pentimento/Young English - Split EP (Panic Records)The Pentimento/Young English split is undeniably one of my favorite splits of the year. Although the band has since broken up, the Young English side will always maintain its strength. Woke Up Under Water is one of those songs that no matter where you are, you will want to scream the lyrics until your voice has gone horse and angrily shake your finger at every person looking at you. Young English’s split with Pentimento will make you wish you heard of them sooner and hate yourself that you didn’t. |
 Real Friends - Everyone That Dragged You Here EP, Acoustic Songs EP, and Three Songs About The Past Year Of My Life EPThis year, up-and-coming band, Real Friends, brought us three amazing releases. Everyone That Dragged You Here, Acoustic Songs EP, and Three Songs About The Past Year Of My Life were all equal in strength and made a notable impression on the current music scene. Real Friends’ song Floorboards really put their foot in the door making them known for their quotable lyrics, “sleepy eyes” and “boney knees”. Their most recent EP, Three Songs About The Past Year Of My Life, showcases the undeniable talent and potential the band has. The upbeat choruses in Dirty Water and emotional acoustic track Hebron really show what this band has to offer. I believe with a little more time and effort, Real Friends could easily develop into something huge. |
Larry Wentworth, photographerThe Ghost Inside - Get What You Give (Epitaph Records)Songs with inspirational and uplifting lyrics always get major points with me. The Ghost Inside's latest album, Get What You Give, is full of songs just like that. The lyrical content along with vocalist Jonathan Vigil's explanations and stories for each song make the album much more meaningful. From beginning to end the album is just a total headbanger that just makes you want to get up and move. Get What You Give is no question my favorite album of 2012. |
 Parkway Drive - Atlas (Epitpah Records)Parkway Drive is one of my favorite bands so when they announced Atlas I expected a lot. As always they delivered with blazing guitars, true brutal lyrics, and long, heavy breakdowns. Atlas focuses on some real world problems like global warming, pollution, and greed. Overall it's a solid album and one of their best so far. |
 Such Gold - Misadventures (Razor & Tie Records)Such Gold blurs the line between Hardcore and Pop Punk. Their unique sound is part of the reason I fell in love with the band in the first place. The album has solid lyrics and a few stand-out tracks such as Two Year Plan, Tell Yourself, and You Are Your Greatest Threat which are my favorites. The only downside to the album is that it feels like it's all one song. Other than that it's a great album that will please fans of Such Gold's previous work and keep you jamming the whole way through. |
 Memphis May Fire - Challenger (Rise Records)Like I’ve said before, inspirational lyrics get big points with me and Memphis May Fire also had quite a few songs on their new album Challenger with some. I only started listening to them in July when my friend forced me to listen to them on the way to Warped Tour. After seeing them live that day and checking out their other albums they’ve quickly become a favorite of mine. |
 The Acacia Strain - Death Is The Only Mortal (Rise Records)The Acacia Strain's new album, Death Is The Only Mortal, is just heavy, brutal, and at times pretty graphic. The album overall is probably one of the heaviest of 2012 and it's my go to album whenever I feel like scaring the people in the car next to me at a red light. |
