We're playing one local show January 15th and then will close the shutters for the winter and write/record. We've got 8 releases scheduled this year and we've gotta get going. Goals, man. Goals.

We apologize if you've written us lately and haven't gotten a response. We're notoriously bad at responding to emails/myspace messages to begin with and then you tack on some of the other shit we've been devoting time to and you've got a perfect storm of non-response.

This blog is just a quick heads up on some of the younger locals. We have never really waved our city flag. Some bands have city pride; we always wanted to get out of our city. So I feel like a corndick suddenly advocating for bands from the area. Also, they don't really need our stamp of approval, they've been doing their own thing without anyone's "OK." But as long as we get a lot of views to this thing, and I've got 10min before work, I thought I'd mention a few of the bands coming out of our area.

Coughing Fit (formerly Reptar) is currently on their first significant tour and probably selling more records than End of a Year. They play hardcore with unintentional powerpop parts. I hope future releases will have more powerpop parts than hardcore parts but I'll be with it either way. There is so much fast hardcore in this world, I can understand why someone would dismiss yet another band doing this style. But keep that mind open and give it a listen. Break down the walls, man.
www.myspace.com/coughingfitxxx

Surrounded By Teeth play a style dudes like us aren't supposed to like. It's chaotic metalcore with screamy vocals. Because people are fucking babies who allow websites to define their music tastes, this is something that is often dismissed. Don't get me wrong, most people playing this shit are goofs and their bands suck, but that also applies to these supposedly legit hardcore acts with obscure releases and is certainly true in the indie rock world as well. So whatever, if something is above par, it's worth a listen. Surrounded By Teeth are above par. They've recently released an album that is getting positive reivews from metal rags and are already writing more mature material.
www.myspace.com/surroundedbyteeth

Caleb Lionheart play a style of music I don't feel on any level. I remember seeing Saves The Day on Endeavor's goodbye tour and thinking "Yo, please don't be the next thing people are into." I jinxed it. Now I can't go to a party without some STD song coming on at some point in the night. Painful. But like I said about Surrounded By Teeth, if something is good at what it is, you can't deny it. That's how I feel about Caleb Lionheart. I don't want to like this. But I can't deny it is very good at what it is. I've caught them live a few times and they deliver. I may not ever be a fan of this style, but I'll continue to back Caleb Lionheart.
www.myspace.com/caleblionheart

It's Alive recently announced they're part of Reaper nation and we can expect a 10" in 2009. These dudes play hard shit that they promise will soon be heavier and harder. They're veterans of other heavy bands and it reflects in their approach. Like every band in 2009 should be doing, they've been offering their demo for download. Go get that shit.
www.myspace.com/itsaliveson

These are a few of the bands who got together over the last couple years, but the Albany area has a number of bands who have been around for a while and some of them are good. Don't be afraid to click some of the top friends on the above profiles and stumble around Albany virtually.