Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Iconic hip-hop superstar Kanye West is back with his eagerly anticipated follow up to 2008's 808's and Heartbreak, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. This effort finds Kanye getting back to his pure hip-hop roots that seemed to be non-existent on his last release, and also attempting to put his past trials and tribulations behind him and focus on the only things that he's here to do, entertain the masses and making music.

The album starts off with a beauty on "Dark Fantasy", an ecstatic, entertaining jam that shifts tempos every now and then to give the listener a little bit of variety in the process. Kid Cudi and Raekwon guest star on "Gorgeous", a sweet, urban flavored jam that features Kanye's relaxed vocals set amidst the backdrop of instrumentation laid out before you. The disc's first single, "Power" is an anthemic and fast moving track that best encapsulates the subject matter of the album: gritty, unpredictable, and no holds barred. My favorite song off the album is "Monster". The star studded collaboration features an assortment of musicians including Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, and Bon Iver. The song is a thumping, bombastic treat with Kanye's raps moving at a pretty good clip and all guests equally contribute to an absolutely mind blowing track.

The album's second half gets underway with a return guest appearance from Rick Ross on "Devil In A New Dress", a mellow, laid back affair that offers the listener a little something different and also shows the remarkable amount of musical diversity that's found in abundance on this album. "Runaway" features Pusha T of Clipse and includes an intricate piano styled beat heard in the background that gives off a dark and mysterious vibe to it which coincides well with the overall subject matter of the disc. "Hell of A Life" is an uptempo, bombastic blast that allows Kanye to let loose and have some fun with synth samples and unique instrumentation thrown in for a change. We wrap things up with "Lost in the World" featuring another guest appearance from Bon Iver, who sounds almost unrecognizable amidst the synthesizers and random instrumentation mixed in on this unusual but interesting track. It's really hard to figure out who Kanye West really is. Of course, there's the Kanye West who bum rushed the stage during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the VMA's last year, there's the Kanye West who has written some very bizarre tweets on his Twitter account that recently became satirized in The New Yorker magazine, and finally there's the Kanye West who has churned out album after album, year after year, and has already cemented himself as one of the best hip-hop artists out there today. Regardless of what you might think of him as a person, you can't deny his musicianship and how hard he works at perfecting his craft.

All in all, a great effort here from Kanye West, who has made a name of himself both musically and infamously. While this album is not his greatest effort, it is a brilliantly executed one that doesn't leave any stone unturned and is riddled with unexpected twists and turns that keeps you listening all the way through until the very end.

                                                                                                                                 Album Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Dark Fantasy
2. Gorgeous (f/Kid Cudi & Raekwon)
3. Power
4. All of the Lights (Interlude)
5. All of the Lights
6. Monster (f/Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, & Bon Iver)
7. So Appalled (f/Jay-Z, Pusha T, Prynce Cy Hi, Swizz Beatz, & The RZA)
8. Devil In A New Dress (f/Rick Ross)
9. Runaway (f/Pusha T)
10. Hell of a Life
11. Blame Game (f/John Legend)
12. Lost in the World (f/Bon Iver)
13. Who Will Survive In America

Artist Spotlight: Stars Above

Hey everyone!

Hope you had an awesome Thanksgiving!! I'm back after the long Thanksgiving break and I present to you this week's edition of Artist Spotlight! This week I introduce you to a band called Stars Above! Stars Above are a band based out of Lynn, Massachusetts that consists of James Morrill on guitars and vocals, Andrew Greeley on drums, and Steve Heddon on bass. The band has a intense, youthful pop-punk feel to it, very reminiscent of the bands that I would hear playing in VFW halls and community centers back when I was in high school. The band has a very strong musical relationship with one another and each member contributes  equally to the musical dynamic heard here. With intense lyrics, blazing guitar riffs, and intricate bass lines, Stars Above has it all for you in one package! Some recommended tracks for you to check out include "Where Did I Go Wrong?" and "You Were Only Mine".

For more info on Stars Above, head on over to their MySpace page at: http://www.myspace.com/consequencesofanabsence  and check out their list of upcoming shows to the Boston area! To become a fan of theirs on Facebook, jump on over to  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stars-Above/139680159375558

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!

Hey everyone!

Today is a big day here at The Music Box Blog! Today marks the 1 year anniversary of when I first started this blog! It has been an incredible first year for the blog doing weekly album reviews, Artist Spotlight features, and occasional breaking music news pieces. The very first album review I did here on the blog was Person L's "The Positives" and it's one that I'll always remember as getting word of mouth about them and I feel that's what got the blog off the ground in the first place! First and foremost, there are alot of people that I'm very indebted to for all their support and those people are you guys! I personally want to thank each and every one of you who have viewed the blog, left a comment, or have come up to me in person saying how much you've enjoyed the blog and what I've had to say in my posts! It means everything to me hearing all the praise and the effect that my work has had on readers in purchasing certain albums and on local musicians in general. I've had the distinct pleasure of doing writeups on several up and coming musicians from the Boston area and beyond, who have clearly demonstrated their unique ability to entertain and inspire others, and I want to thank those artists from the bottom of my heart, you know who you are!

Since I've started the blog, I've had readers from countries all over the world including Denmark, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany. I never imagined that my words would be viewed all across the globe, so I would like to send a special thank you to all my overseas viewers!

I'd also like to take this opportunity to announce some major changes to the blog that will greatly enhance the viewing experience for all! These changes include:

- A Facebook fan page where I'll post updates on new posts to the blog! Click on the following link and become a fan of The Music Box Blog! http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Music-Box-Blog/142351515814847

- A Twitter page to keep readers in the loop about new posts to the blog! Click on the following link to head on over to the Twitter page: http://twitter.com/TheMusicBoxBlog

- A brand new e-mail address to send in album review submissions, Artist Spotlight features, or any music related topic: peteramara@musicboxpete.net

I've also begun construction on a brand new website that will serve as the future home for this blog! The new site should be up and running sometime in early January 2011, so stay tuned to the blog for periodic updates! Again, thanks everybody for all the support, I appreciate it more than you'll ever know!

The Beatles on iTunes!!

Hey everyone!

I'm sure you've heard the news by now that The Beatles, who have long been holdouts of making their music available digitally, have finally agreed to have their music available digitally for the first time ever, exclusively on iTunes! This has been a long in the making saga for the group, who have been embroiled in a lawsuit with Apple Inc. for the better part of 30 years. The lawsuit stems from an alleged copyright infringement suit, which was filed back in 1978. After the suit was settled in 1981, Apple Inc. came to an agreement with Apple Corps. (The Beatles record label), that they would stay out of the music business. When Apple Inc. launched the iTunes Music Store in September 2003, Apple Corps. sued them for violation of their agreement not to sell music. Eventually, the two parties agreed to a settlement in 2007 where Apple Inc. will own all the trademarks related to Apple, and will license those trademarks back to Apple Corps.

All 13 of The Beatles studio albums from Please Please Me to Let It Be are available, also including their Past Masters compilation discs, Vols. 1 & 2, and The Beatles 1962-1966 (Red Album) and 1967-1970 (Blue Album) compilation discs. Individual tracks are priced at $1.29 each, individual albums go for $12.99, double albums are priced at $19.99, and their entire catalog box set retails for $149.99, which also includes some retrospective documentaries, and video of their first ever concert on American soil at Washington Coliseum in 1964. What do you make of this news, do you think this is a watershed moment in digital music history or do you already own The Beatles entire catalog and feel this news is over hyped and unwarranted? Leave a comment here on the blog and tell me what you think of this!

Artist Spotlight: Manny Alcantara

Hey everyone!

Get ready for this week's edition of Artist Spotlight! This week, I present to you an artist straight out of Lynn, MA named Manny Alcantara. Manny has been making big waves in the local music scene with his debut release Call Me Manny! Manny has been writing his own music since he was 12 years old and started recording a couple years later when he turned 14. His music is a blend of R&B and reggae that isn't too overwhelming and finds a comfortable medium in between with captivating R&B styled ballads and mid-tempo reggae hybrid tunes that get people moving on the dance floor! He evokes a very smooth, charming style that is clearly evident in his voice and one that is guaranteed to make the ladies swoon! While I don't usually listen to this genre of music a great deal, I'm really impressed with his musicianship and his unique ability to express his talents. Some of my personal faves from his debut release include "All I Need" and "Guardian Angel".

To check out more of what Manny has to offer you, head on over to his MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/callmemanny To become a fan of his on Facebook, bounce on over to http://www.facebook.com/callmemanny781 To purchase his debut CD "Call Me Manny", it's available for purchase over at iTunes!

Underoath - Ø Disambiguation

Hailing from Jacksonville, FL Underoath are back big with their 7th studio effort, Ø Disambiguation.  The follow up to 2008's Lost in the Sound of Separation finds the metalcore group finding more ways to expand on their sound from their previous effort, and have succeeded in making this effort the best album of their career so far.

The disc gets off to a roaring start on "In Division", a powerful and intricate composition that greets you with frontman Spencer Chamberlain's intense, screaming vocals gnawing at you with ferocious intensity among the fast moving guitars and powerful drums. "Catch Myself Catching Myself" starts off with an exquisite drum pattern, courtesy of their brand new drummer Daniel Davison, replacing Aaron Gillespie who left the group earlier this year. The newest member picks up right where Aaron left off with intense drumming patterns complimenting the sea of melodies laid out before you. My favorite song off the disc is the first single, "Illuminator", a melodic and haunting opus that features Spencer's amazing vocal abilities and guitarists Tim McTague and James Smith are equally as impressive with each member's guitar skills getting more and more impressive as their prior albums have shown. "Driftwood" is a mostly synth based tune, whose sound is courtesy of keyboardist Chris Dudley, who adds a level of sophistication and is the technical mastermind of the group. While this not a pure metal tune, it is one of Underoath's trademark sounds and one that has helped them get initially recognized among their now loyal and immense fanbase.

The disc's second half continues to roar with "Who Will Guard the Guardians", a stripped yet intense tune that still retains the aural velocity that the first half displayed, but is still slower in both tempo and nature. We begin to wrap up shop with "Vacant Mouth", a ferocious and unrelenting tune that leaves a pile of carnage in its wake with Spencer's ear splitting vocals and Tim and James's masterful guitar work being the sole parties responsible for this jaw dropping tune. "My Deteriorating Incline" is another formidable tune with Spencer's screaming vocals stinging so loud, you may have to get your hearing checked after hearing it. "In Completion" wraps up the disc with a concocted mixture of all the ear-splitting sounds you've heard so far, all presented to you in one unique package. Underoath is one of the very few bands out there today who get progressively better with each and every album that they make, something that is almost unheard of these days, but these guys make it look easy by realizing ways they can improve each song by making it louder and experimenting with electronic based sounds as well. Despite the departure of Aaron Gillespie, who is my all time favorite drummer and one of my musical heroes, Underoath's resolve has never been stronger.

In retrospect, a spectacular and unheralded effort from Underoath who keep their winning streak alive with an intense and resonating effort that cements Underoath as one of the best metal acts out there today. Highly recommended! BUY NOW!!

                                                                                                                              Album Score: 4.5/5

Track Listing:

1. In Division
2. Catch Myself Catching Myself
3. Paper Lung
4. Illuminator
5. Driftwood
6. A Divine Eradication
7. Who Will Guard the Guardians
8. Reversal
9. Vacant Mouth
10. My Deteriorating Incline
11. In Completion

Artist Spotlight: Sirs & Vas Deferens EP Review!

Hey everyone!

Welcome to this week's edition of Artist Spotlight! This week, I present to you a band out of Purchase, NY called Sirs! Sirs consists of Justin Jurgens, Hart Seely, Kyle Seely, and Dave Benton. The band plays an eclectic blend of punk mixed in with a little hint of indie rock that provides for a thorough and enjoyable listening experience. And with the EP coming in at just under 20 minutes long, it provides plenty of bang in that short span of time with indelible hooks and wonderful melodies that will captivate you upon first listen! And without further ado, here is the review of their debut EP, Vas Deferens!


Hailing from Purchase, NY Sirs have made a remarkable first impression with their debut EP, Vas Deferens. The music is a blend of punk rock and indie rock that results in an aggressive outpouring of emotion both vocally and musically that sets this band apart from all the others on the scene.

The leadoff track, "Starting at the Chin" is a fast moving, melodic juggernaut that features loud, piercing vocals and a flurry of guitars that will leave you wondering how these guys put all these remarkable sounds together. "Ready, Boomerang" is another frenetic pleasure with a mix of aggressive guitars and passionate vocals that packs in alot for a track that is only 1 minute and 35 seconds in length. "Is This Your Shirt?" is a little more mellowed out than the other songs we heard previously with chilled out guitars and pleasant sounding rhythms to give the listener a little bit of variety in the process.

The remainder of the disc's tracks "Hibernations Sometimes", a mixture of rock hard rhythms and slowed down melodies, "You're Gonna Be Great!", which features an incredible transition from mid-tempo melodies to harder edged breakdowns, look for it on the last half of the track, and "Hand Check, No Hands", a track that blends together all the rhythms we've heard before and mixes them together in one, cohesive package gives the prospective listener a clear impression of what sound to expect from the band, especially if they aren't familiar with the band at all.

All in all, a great listen from Sirs, who are sure to be a welcome addition to your iTunes library, and have a very promising future ahead of them.
                          
                                                                                                                                   EP Score: 4.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Starting at the Chin
2. Ready? Boomerang!
3. Is This Your Shirt?
4. Hibernations Sometimes
5. You're Gonna Be Great!
6. Hand Check, No Hands

For more information on Sirs, head on over to their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/wesirs To check out their EP Vas Deferens in its entirety, head on over to their BandCamp site at : http://sirsmusic.bandcamp.com/ and from there, you can also download the EP free of charge!

Lil Wayne Released From Jail!!

Hey everyone!

Hot off the presses! Lil Wayne AKA Weezy is finally out of jail! Wayne just completed a eight month jail sentence for weapons possession in a New York state facility and is getting ready to return making some music!

Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to weapons possession in October 2009, after admitting in court that he had a loaded, semi-automatic .40 caliber gun on his tour bus after a concert in Manhattan. He started his sentence in March, but got time off his sentence for good behavior. However, he was disciplined and sent to solitary confinement after it was found that he brought in a charger and headphones for a digital music player, which is deemed to be contraband by prison officials. Wayne kept in touch with fans via letters and his website http://www.weezythanxyou.com/ where associates of his typed up letters from him describing his daily routine in prison and new songs he heard on the radio that he really liked. He sent a letter to his fans saying that he's thankful for all the support that he's received while behind bars:

"I laughed with some of you, reasoned with some of you, and even cried with some of you. I never imagined how much impact my words and life can have. I will be the same Martian I was when I left, just better."

Lil Wayne is currently headed to his home in Miami, where a massive welcome home party is planned for this Sunday. A flurry of excitement has come from dedicated fans and well wishers, even former President Bill Clinton has sent his regards, stating in a radio interview that he hopes he has a good life now. Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments on this story right here on the blog!

Artist Spotlight: Low-Fi & EP Review!

Hey everyone!

It's time for this week's edition of Artist Spotlight! This week, I'm proud to present to you a band out of Naples, Italy called Low-Fi! Low-Fi have been collectively together as a group since 2005, and the group consists of twins Alessandro and Adriano. Alessandro is in charge of vocals, bass, and synthesizers, Adriano also takes care of vocals and mans the guitar, while Marco brings up the rear on drums. The band has a very unique blend of garage rock influences a la The Strokes and occasionally dabble in the electronica genre that makes them stand out from all the others in the music scene today. The band recently released their self-titled EP on Octopus Records and is currently working on their full length debut album which should hopefully be out by the end of the year. And without further ado, here is the review of that EP!:




Coming out of Naples, Italy Low-Fi have made a very strong first impression with their self-titled debut EP. The EP is a daring mix of indie rock and electronica that is bristling with a plethora of unique sounds that you won't hear anywhere else and sounds like nothing you've heard before.

Leading off, we have "Garage Floor", a fast paced, electro rock hybrid that evokes influences of Interpol with a tightly honed, driven sound that never veers off course with its sharp, piercing guitar riffs and Alessandro and Adriano's finely laid out vocals. "No Morning" is a straight forward rocker with echoing guitar riffs and a nice drum pattern from Marco that make this song a real treat. My personal favorite song from the EP is "Something", a fast paced, electro rock hybrid train that takes off right out of the station and never slows down with indelible guitar riffs and Alessandro and Adriano's prominent vocal power taking stranglehold of the song. The last two tracks, "White Lane", a mid tempo rocker that is a bit slower paced than the other tracks, but provides a slower transition into the next song "Wrongness", a  fast paced, indie rock gem that features electric infused guitars and rich, prominent vocals that make this song a great way to wrap up the EP and a good start to a potentially long lasting career.

                                                                                                                                  EP Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Garage Floor
2. No Morning
3. Something
4. White Lane
5. Wrongness

For more info about Low-Fi, head on over to their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/lowfiband To become a fan of them on Facebook, jet on over to http://www.facebook.com/lowfiband and if you like what you hear, buy their EP from the Octopus Records website!:  http://www.octopusrecords.net/shop/Home.html

Trapt - No Apologies

Straight out of Los Gatos, CA hard rockers Trapt are back on the scene with their newest album, No Apologies. The follow up to 2008's Only Through the Pain finds the group strictly adhering to their hard rock formula that helped them burst onto the scene with their 2002 self titled debut, which produced the massive hit "Headstrong". This album shows that the group has matured immensely since then and are still relevant today more than ever.

The album starts off with a bang on the disc's first single, "Sound Off" a loud, crisp rocker that kicks things off with lead vocalist Chris Taylor Brown's powerfully melodic voice emanating strongly from the get go, and adjusts well to the sea of guitars in the process. "Drama Queen" is another fierce rocker that finds slower interludes in between to showcase the group's diverse musical tastes. The disc's highlight, and my personal favorite "End Of My Rope, is a straight forward rocker that features incredibly melodic guitars and Chris's powerful vocals tearing through the walls of the song. The disc's title track slows it down a bit and shows Chris's softer side, which still retains alot of the melodic energy that's left over from the prior tracks, providing for a nice interlude into the latter half of the disc.

The disc's second half starts off much like the first one began with "Stranger In the Mirror", a fierce, intense rocker that builds and builds to the very end with loud, relentless guitars and a strong drum pattern as well. "Are You With Me" follows almost the same pattern, but features alot more melodic guitars and slower interludes and isn't as heavy as the preceding song was. The disc's closing tracks "Overloaded" features a fast paced guitar breakdown that moves at a pretty good clip and is sometimes hard to keep track of at times, but is still a pretty enjoyable listen. "Storyteller" is a toned down rocker that gives the listener a little breather from all the blasting hard rock that we've heard so far and gives time to reflect on the album as a whole. When Trapt first broke onto the scene in 2003, they immediately demonstrated their ability to perform high energy, melodic songs with a dynamic frontman at the helm to make their immediate presence known. This album only furthers their musical quest and shows that Trapt haven't gone away completely, they're just re energized and refocused.

All in all this album was way more than I expected and was an all around great album. Not too often we see bands still able to find that magic in the studio after so many years, but Trapt makes it look easy with a remarkable effort that is definitely worth a listen, you'll be surprised!

                                                                                                                               Album Score: 4.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Sound Off
2. Drama Queen
3. End of My Rope
4. Get Up
5. No Apologies
6. Stranger in the Mirror
7. Beautiful Scar
8. Are You With Me
9. The Wind
10. Overloaded
11. Storyteller 

Artist Spotlight: Burn Down The Charade

Hey everyone!

It's time for this week's Artist Spotlight feature! This week, I have for you a band coming out of Mesa, Arizona (Jimmy Eat World's hometown) called Burn Down The Charade. The band consists of Sean Herring and Daniel Smith and the band has a very unique blend of ambient, alternative/indie rock that is very melodic and easily able to get immersed in right away. The lead singer's voice sounds alot like Brandon Boyd from Incubus, who plays a genre of music that is quite similar to this band, only a little more harder edged than Burn Down The Charade are. Some of my favorites of theirs include "Believe What You Know" and "Serotonin", which sounds alot like the music of Interpol, which adds for an interesting mixture here.

To check out more music from Burn Down The Charade, head on over to their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/burndownthecharade  To connect and become a fan of theirs on Facebook, go over to http://www.facebook.com/pages/Burn-Down-The-Charade/114765700627

Golfer With iPod Disqualifies High School Team!

Hey everyone!

A golf team from Auburn, MA has been disqualified for competing in the state tournament after it was found that one of their members was listening to his iPod for the last two holes. The golfer in question, Matt Carville was brought in to meet with a representative from the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) and was asked if he was using an electronic device and he said yes. The team's coach,  Mike Kacynski said that they were given a rule sheet prior to the game and had the rules explained to them so that everybody understood clearly. The coach also said that he has no problem with the league's decision on the matter:

"It just hurts to go from district champions to not even making the states. But rules are rules, and I have no problem with the decision."

As a result of this, the Groton-Dunstable high school team has been named Central Massachusetts Division 2 Champions. What's your take on this matter? Leave a comment on the blog and give me your thoughts!

Kings of Leon - Come Around Sundown

The pride and joy of Franklin, Tennessee Kings of Leon have returned with their much anticipated, brand new album Come Around Sundown. The follow up to 2008's massively successful Only By The Night finds the group experimenting with some gospel and country tinged influences in their music this time around, while at the same time displaying their Southern flavored rock roots that has made them America's premier rock n roll band today.

The album starts off with "The End",  a cool, laid back jam that brilliantly displays frontman Caleb Followill's deep and breathtaking vocals that adds an element of authenticity to the music that sets this music apart from that of other musicians. The disc's soaring first single, "Radioactive" is a electric infused rocker that showcases lead guitarist Matthew Followill's  incredibly skilled guitar licks and features a gospel choir heard distinctly in the background towards the end of the song. "Pyro" is a melodic, mid tempo number that once again takes center stage for Caleb's vocals to do all their magic and release this song into the public consciousness. "The Face" is a melancholy, straight forward rocker that sticks to the script and never veers off course with its mysterious guitar riffs and potent rhythms. "The Immortals" is a melodic, rhythmic rocker that once again leaves Caleb in charge of the vocals, which seem to match perfectly in sync with the overall mood of the song.

The disc's second half starts off with "Back Down South", my favorite song off the album. The song is a truly Southern inspired gem that features country inspired rhythms and brilliant guitar riffs that set this song apart from all the others on the album. "No Money" reminds me of some of the songs from 2005's Aha Shake Heartbreak, my personal favorite Kings of Leon album, anthemic and one that makes you feel that they're right in front of you, performing a private concert just for you to see. "Pony Up" features  a brilliant bass performance from Jared Followill. and blends together a host of different instruments that might sound a little unusual at first, but end up working pretty well together in the long run. The disc begins to draw to a close with  "Mi Amigo", a cool, laid back jam that is the perfect song to wind down your day after a long day at school or work. "Pickup Truck" winds out the disc with probably the best vocal work I've heard from Caleb out of all the songs on the album. The song is powerful, on point, and is guaranteed to have you listening until the very end. When they first came out back in 2003 with Youth & Young Manhood, I wasn't particularly impressed with the music upon first listen and I didn't really hear too much in the music for me to enjoy thoroughly. It wasn't until Aha Shake Heartbreak came out in 2005 and the song "Taper Jean Girl" totally did it for me and from that moment, I was officially cemented as a Kings of Leon fan and I really grew to love and appreciate Kings of Leon as musicians and in my opinion, these guys are the true embodiment of rock n roll today.

To sum it all up, a sensational effort from brothers Nathan, Caleb, Jared, and Matthew Followill who have crafted a sonic gem that continues to build up their legacy as one of America's best bands out there today and one that we'll be hearing much more from for some time to come.

                                                                                                                               Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. The End
2. Radioactive
3. Pyro
4. Mary
5. The Face
6. The Immortals
7. Back Down South
8. Beach Side
9. No Money
10. Pony Up
11. Birthday
12. Mi Amigo
13. Pickup Truck

Artist Spotlight: Brighter Than A Thousand Suns

Hey everyone!

It's Artist Spotlight time for this week! This week's Artist Spotlight feature focuses on Brighter Than A Thousand Suns. Brighter Than A Thousand Suns are a hardcore band from New Milford, CT that consists of Angelika on screams and clean vocals, Alex on bass and clean vocals, Matt on drums, and Randy on guitar and programming. The band plays a furious blend of hardcore rock that will literally make your ears explode upon first contact with Angelika's voice ripping through the speakers at full velocity. Alex's background vocals blend in nicely and provide a nice contrast with Angelika's screaming vocals upon the vast fury of guitars and drums hitting at every angle imaginable. The band has a unique and dynamic sound that is unlike anything that is currently out there today, so if you're a fan of hardcore metal such as Underoath and The Devil Wears Prada, then Brighter Than A Thousand Suns is the band for you!

The band has been making notable press lately, making an appearance on the Vans Warped Tour this past summer and had a feature run on them in Alternative Press magazine before their debut EP was even released. To check out the music of Brighter Than A Thousand Suns, head on over to their MySpace page at: http://www.myspace.com/brighterthan1000suns To become a fan of them on Facebook, head on over to http://www.facebook.com/brighterthan1000suns Their debut EP, "The Demon Haunted World" is now available on iTunes so check them out today!