Author: Shannon Shumaker

Review by Shannon Shumaker Pop-punk acts Have Mercy and Somos make the perfect combination for a split EP. Have Mercy, with punchy choruses and gravely yet melodic vocals compliment Somos’ lower vocals, mellow tones and bass heavy sound well. While split EPs can be a bit hard to judge a band’s sound accurately by, the combination that Have Mercy and Somos have made on this EP is definitely captivating. Right off the bat, Have Mercy definitely manage to hook you with the emotional acoustic version of their track “Two Years.” Acoustically, “Two Years” is a soft and quiet stripped down version…

Review by Shannon Shumaker There’s something for everyone in Janet Devlin’s new release, Running With Scissors. From folk and country to indie and pop, she has mastered this release, and the outcome is phenomenal. Devlin is bound to have you smiling within the first few notes of “Creature Of The Night” and her unique sound will keep you captivated all the way to the end of the album’s final track, “Whisky Lullabies.” The first thing that really stands out about Running With Scissors is the warm and inviting tone of Devlin’s voice. On top of that, her amazing vocal range…

Review by Shannon Shumaker All That Remains have done it yet again. The band’s seventh studio album, The Order of Things is bound to keep old fans satisfied while still allowing All That Remains to grow and change. The album, which opens with a somber piano intro before diving into the explosive and captivating sound on “This Probably Won’t End Well,” absolutely deserves to be listened to in one sitting. The journey that All That Remains takes you on with this record has its ups and downs, but ultimately leaves you on a high note, and sends you off with…

Review by Shannon Shumaker I think it’s safe to say that Western Settings’ Yes It Is is just what the punk scene needs. This album is fast paced, full of energy and soul, and catchy as hell. It’s hard not to bob your head along to the aggressive verses and melodic choruses on Yes It Is, and by the time the album is through, I’m left wishing it was summer already. From the very first track, the energy in Yes It Is is prominent. The gang vocals and upbeat chorus in “Revhead” is more than enough to hook you, and…

Review by Shannon Shumaker Fatherson’s newest release, I Am An Island is absolutely gorgeous. When trying to think of the perfect way to describe this album, that’s what comes to mind. From the quiet intro of simple vocals and a soft guitar part, to the album’s huge, anthematic choruses, to the theatrical and big ending, I Am An Island absolutely kills. The lone vocals on the album’s title track are the perfect opening for I Am An Island. The quiet, beautiful track sets the tone for the album, as it’s very pretty and emotional. When the track explodes about halfway through,…

Review by Shannon Shumaker  Pryti’s new album, Tales of a Melancholic, is eerie, melodic, but most of all, memorable. Tales of a Melancholic has a huge sound, which is only backed up by Pryti’s phenomenal, haunting vocal work. Her voice fits the tone of this album flawlessly – it’s eerie, but surprisingly easy to listen to. The third track on the album, “Abyss” was the song that sold me on Pryti, and it is definitely a high point on the record. While I listened to this song before listening to the entire record as a whole, it sounds even more…

Review by Shannon Shumaker To be able to tell a story simply with your lyrics is hard enough, but to be able to tell a story with the tone of your voice and your music as well is a feat that many musicians strive to achieve. Lucette, however, manages to do all three with Black Is the Color, and she makes it seem easy. Right off the bat, the overall tone of the opening track, “Bobby Reid,” is dark and mellow, but then Lucette’s gorgeous songbird voice comes in and contrasts with the eerie tones of the track perfectly. Her…

Review by Shannon Shumaker There are many reasons why the anticipation has been so high for Stick To Your Guns’ new album Disobedient, but the one that stands out the most is in the band’s ability to write meaningful, aggressive and memorable songs. Disobedient is no exception to this. The album, while a little bigger sounding production-wise from their old material, is a perfect follow up to Diamond. The tracks on this album are loud, in your face and aggressive, but above that, they’re meaningful. A simple guitar riff and beautiful clean vocals open the album in the perfect anthematic way.…

Photos & Review: World Tour Featuring: Pierce The Veil, Sleeping With Sirens, Mallory Knox & PVRIS The Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO. 1/31/15 Photos and Review by: Shannon Shumaker Full photo gallery HERE When I arrived at The Fillmore Auditorium for the Denver date of the World Tour to find a line of excited fans so long that it literally wrapped around the block, I knew I was in for an exciting night. The anticipation was palpable, and by the time the doors opened and the crowd began piling in, kids were rushing to be right up front for undoubtedly one of the most…

Review by Shannon Shumaker With every single release (no matter how close together they may seem) Mogwai always deliver. Music Industry 3 Fitness Industry 1, while only six songs in length – three of which are remixes from the band’s previous album, Rave Tapes – is dreamy, poppy and ambient all rolled into one. The EP starts off with the dreamy anthem, “Teenage Exorcists.” There’s a lot to this track, especially considering the fact that it’s the only new song on the EP with vocals. The guitar work on this track has a really pretty fuzzy tone, which meshes perfectly…