
The Kodan Armada - Collections Vol 1
http://www.mediafire.com/?cholznu2cmc
Screamo from Louisville. Released posthumously this picks songs from all the band's releases, all of which are now out of print, and intersperses them with short, poorly-recorded live excerpts of them talking about the band and the songs. Creates a nice effect. They were really hyped at one time and maybe didn't quite deserve the massive amount of praise heaped upon them, but there was a reason for it. They had a distinct, busy, quite full sound, and this is worth downloading for the truly superb song Cops alone. Will probably appeal if you like Circle Takes The Square and Saetia. Oh, and check out the hilarious bit in Butterfly Effect, I nearly fell off my chair the first time I heard that.

Torches To Rome - s/t 12"
http://www.mediaf!re.com/?mkxjozpgev9
Classic Ebullition emo hardcore, influential stuff. They come across a bit like a really beefed-up DC band. I can't think of how to describe this band very well so I'll let someone more skilled than I explain why this is a really important record:
Ok, Torches to Rome. 8 songs, plays at 45 speed. And plants dynamite in my head, lights the fuse, then retires to a not particularly safe distance and proceeds to violently punch me in the stomach till detonation. As soon as the first crunch of "Mass For The Dead" breaks out of it's wavery intro and into the pounding, blasting hardcore powered by the delivery of dual vocaled snarls and desperate screams I'm floored. And once it winds down and then kicks off again into "Young Arsenal" and they introduce the kinda slightly more melodic elements I'm having fits. I'm sure Hot Water Music have ripped off bits of "This Is Not A Life", particularly the intro and the part where it all slows down for some dual vocals. Actually, that's the only comparison I am capable of making. A more political, more frantic, more intense, more heavy Hot Water Music. Argh! Tracks like "The Guards Are Itchy", how the fuck do they pound so hard yet have the vaguest traces of melody in there to keep everything together?
Chuck in some inspiring writing and lyrics on the blood spattered insert and you have the full package. Full on, "fuck you" intelligent, emotional, political hardcore. I just wish it had more than 8 songs, it's not enough! I guess I now need that ultra elusive Fuel compilation CD. *sigh*
I will never be able to listen to emo hardcore comfortably again, as in my mind I will just keep comparing it to this, the record which has redefined that style for me. I heard Boy Sets Fire for the first time the other day, I was expecting it to be awesome. It sounded ok, but kind of limp after having heard this. Oops.
Which about wraps my essay up. I might be a bit late for the train, but at least I caught it eventually, eh? You have no business listening to emo hardcore bands unless you have heard this first. Let me add the same thoughts as however many have had the priviledge of hearing this before me - an absolute classic punk record.