Fallin'

Its time for another favorite! This is a popular, christian post-hardcore band that hails from Phoenix, Arizona. And yeah, they definitely bring the heat. If you haven't guessed it yet, I'm talking about Blessthefall.

The band was born from the high school days in 2004 of Mike Frisby (guitarist), Miles Bergsma (guitarist), Matt Traynor (drummer), Jared Warth (bassist/screamer).  Craig Mabbitt (original vocalist) was then added to the mix a little bit later and in 2005, Bergsma left for college at Berklee and Eric Lambert stepped in to solidify the fab 5. They released a three track EP that same year and toured with names like Greeley Estates and got recognition for their religious stadpoint, getting them a deal with Science Records.  They stepped up, touring with Norma Jean and Alesana.  Then in April 2007, they debuted His Last Walk and completed an entire stint with Warped Tour.  They've also played with some amazing bands like A Skylit Drive, Dance Gavin Dance, Escape the Fate, From First to Last, and Before Their Eyes to add to their repitoire.  

But towards the end of 2007, Craig left the band's european tour for "personal reasons", which were said to be with his son and girlfriend. Mabbitt tried to come back, using his personal myspace as a message board. But the boys said "no". They had other things in mind and, I assume, didn't have time for someone to flake out again. Jared filled in with vocals, getting some help from Aiden Louis of Dear Whoever.  Then in September of 2008, after a rumored request for Craig to return to the band (which he refused after joining Escape the Fate), Blessthefall announced Beau Bokan as the new lead singer. On October 6, 2009, they released Witness, toured a bit, and released a video for "What's Left of Me" in December.

Sadly, Blessthefall will not be at warped tour this year, but will be reording their third full-length album, starting in May. But they won't be joined by Frisby, who left to pursue other things, so Elliot Gruenberg (ex-Legacy and Before Their Eyes) is helping out on guitar. Its sad to see Frisby go, but I'm super stoked for the band's next album.

I'll be honest, when Craig first left the band, "for personal reasons" (ruining Escape the Fate?), I didn't think I would like them so much anymore. Craig was a good frontman. But after seeing him in Escape the Fate, I turned up my nose. No one can replace Ronnie Radke, no matter how many times he goes to prison (right?). So I looked back to Blessthefall for some musical enlightenment and I was pleasantly suprised. Although Beau doesn't scream like Craig did, his voice is strong and evokes a great deal of emotion into the band's songs. And besides, Jared did most of the screaming before anyway. If it isn't broken, why fix it?

I've seen this band numerous times, but not with Beau as frontman. I've seen them at Warped tour and in Charlotte at Amos Southend. I plan on going to see them at Bamboozle in April, and hope they play "To Hell and Back", one of my favorite songs. I don't think I'll be disappointed!

Everything's Louder in Texas

So this week, I thought we would get a little more...gritty. Let's take a trip down south to Dallas, Texas to kick up some dust with the boys from Memphis May Fire.

Don't take 'em lightly, this ain't your grandpa's band. Take a heaping helping of southern swag, a pinch of Underoath, and a little bit of Attack Attack! and you get Memphis May Fire. They seamlessly combine southern-rock, metalcore, and post-hardcore vibes to create the perfect storm of hard-hitting, shout-at-the-top-of-your-lungs madness.

This five man band consisting of Kellen McGregor (vocals, lead guitar, piano), Ryan Bentley (rhythm guitar), Matt Mullins (lead vocals), Cory Elder (bass), and Jake Garland (drums/percussion) will knock your socks off. But like any band, MMF has dealt with some change in their lineup, like loosing Tanner Oakes, Chase Ryan, and Eric Molesworth in the past. But now, I think they have the recipe just right.

I am a fairly new listener to the band, with recommendations from some of my favorite music buffs. So after searching around Grooveshark for awhile, I've concluded that "North America Vs North Carolina" is my personal favorite song. Sleepwalking is a great album all around, certainly something to get the blood pumping. But one full-length album just isn't enough right?

MMF recently switched from Bullet Tooth Records to Rise records, with big names like Emarosa, Miss May I, and The Bled. They are set to release their second full-length album, The Hollow, with the label this April according to the Alternative Press.  It's supposed to be heavier and a bit more electronic than their previous albums. So if you're into music from Underoath, then it will probably be right up your alley.

While they're finishing up with that, MMF only have two tour dates posted in Texas. Maybe they'll be added to Warped Tour soon? That would be fantastic,  but until next time, the promo for The Hollow is below, hope you enjoy it!

Viva la Circa!

Hola amigos! And welcome to the very first edition of The Hardcore Post, your guide to the latest and greatest of post-hardcore music. We’ll start off with my favorite band at the present, Circa Survive.  

Formed in 2004, the quintet, including front-man Anthony Green (ex-Saosin) has all but taken over the post-hardcore scene. Although they’re post-hardcore, Circa ties in experimental and indie flavors to create a poetic, yet driven, sound.  The group has produced two EPs and three albums, with their latest being Blue Sky Noise. Starting off with Equal Vision Records and moving to Atlantic, Circa has been able to capture the hearts and minds of the scene, weaving together the wistful words from Greene’s musical mind. On their website, the band’s bio begins, "Whatever you think Circa Survive's new album means, you're right.", in reference to Blue Sky Noise. Love them or hate them, Circa Survive has a little something for every music lover.

I went to a show not too long ago in Charlotte with Circa and Anberlin co-headlining and Foxy Shazaam opening. Circa Survive didn't disappoint. It was well worth pushing through the mosh pits and dodging crowd surfers in Amos Southend to get a glimpse of the band up close. When I got to the stage, the band started playing "Stop the F*cking Car", a favorite from Juturna. With the whole crowd singing with Green, you could feel the energy, and well, it was AWESOME. I can proudly say that I touched the man as he dove into the crowd. Maybe some of his genius will rub off on me, fingers crossed!


If you're looking to see the band soon, you'll be sad to hear that they don't have any tour dates planned for North Carolina as of right now. So you may have to go that extra mile to pay homage to the boys.  They'll be touring with Lincoln Park, Thrice, My Chemical Romance (yay!), and so many others. All of the dates can be found here. They’ll also be at Bamboozle in April, so mark your calendars!