Cuckoo! (single)

Band: Neon Horse

Song: "Cuckoo!"

Album: Neon Horse

Genre: Indie Rock

Rating: 8/10

I enjoyed the song "Cuckoo!" by Neon Horse. It has a very electronic, rough sound that is unique. The opening to "Cuckoo!" actually reminded me of the opening to the song "Black Mirror" by Arcade Fire. I also liked how the mood of the song changes from the introduction to the actual body of the song itself.

I recommend that you download "Cuckoo!" if you like music that takes a break from your average pop/punk or alt/rock song. I also reccommend "Cuckoo!" if you enjoy the music of Arcade Fire.

For the Love of the Game

Band: Pillar
Song: "For the Love of the Game"
Album: For the Love of the Game
Genre: Rock
Rating: 7/10

I thought that For The Love Of The Game had a decent sound to it. The opening riff was pretty catchy, but the rest of the song was too plain , in my opinion. I liked the guitar on all the Pillar albums so that didn't let me down, fortunately. I don't know how the rest of the album is, but I think this track was pretty good.

I recommend "For the Love of the Game" to anyone who liked The Reckoning and, in particular, the opening track "Everything." I also recommend this song to you if you like a harder rock than other bands such as Reliant K.

Dance All Night (single)

Band: Inhale Exhale
Song: "Dance All Night"
Album: The Lost the Sick the Sacred
Genre: Scream
Rating: 8/10

Inhale Exhale is another one of my all-time favorite bands. "Dance All Night" is a pretty sweet track off their debut album. Although the instruments can be repetitive sometimes, the lyrics are unique and the guitar and bass play actual music, as opposed to some other scream bands, who call slamming the strings as hard as they can "music."

I enjoy listening to Inhale Exhale and I hope that they come out with a new album soon, because I like them so much. Who could I possibly compare them to? . . . Their sound reminds me a bit of Spoken or The Devil Wears Prada (the band, not the movie, obviously), but then again I haven't listened to The Devil Wears Prada in a long time, and I don't own their album so don't quote me on that.

A Moment Encased in Ash (single)

Band: The Showdown
Song: "A Moment Encased in Ash"
Album: A Chorus of Obliteration
Genre: Scream/Classic Metal

Rating:10/10

Let me say it now: I LOVE THE SHOWDOWN!!! Seriously, they're one of my favorite bands. The first time I saw them was at Purple Door Music Festival and I was hooked. "A Moment Encased in Ash" is probably the best song off the album. It starts off with a drum beat and then goes into this insane speed metal twin guitar riff. Needless to say, the song is amazing.

Eventually I'll probably need to buy A Chorus of Obliteration as well as the Showdown's newest album, Temptation Come My Way because this song really rocks my world. I highly recommend downloading at least this song if not the whole album. I can't really think of any other band to compare The Showdown with other than Dragonforce, because of their guitar lines, but even then they aren't that much alike. You should really check out The Showdown to see what I mean.