Justin Croteau

Justin Croteau

HM Album Reviews

I The Breather

Life Reaper

For five years, I The Breather has been reimagining and redefining metalcore. Taking cues from veterans like The Devil Wears Prada and For Today, the band fronts an aggressive,...

HM Album Reviews

Light Up the Darkness

Waiting

Light Up the Darkness is a four-piece hard rock outfit that knows how to execute their sound professionally. It’s an underrated experience on several levels from an underrated band....

HM Album Reviews

Rhema

Rhema

The hardcore scene has come a long way since its birth, not always for the better. One coupling that became popular was mixing ambient and hardcore/metal elements, and Rhema...

HM Album Reviews

A Sight to See

The Arrival

These days, most metalcore bands seem to have an “–er” complex. The drums have to be faster, the guitars chuggier, the vocals crazier. A Sight to See has taken...

HM Album Reviews

Sumerlin

Runaways

Christian radio rock has been dominated by Red, Switchfoot, Thousand Foot Krutch and Pillar for years, but there is always room at the top for new acts, and Sumerlin...

Finding the Groove

Featuring Beware the Neverending

Beware the Neverending lives by the groove, laying low, staying low, but keeping spirits positive

ForChristSake

Featuring ForChristSake

Author Justin Croteau gets into ForChristSake's world and returns with 'Apocalyptic' truths

HM Album Reviews

This Divided World

The Missing Pages

When a group joins the “core” genres, there is a proverbial checklist of things they must do: breakdowns, double bass, breakdowns, maybe some keyboard work, melodic choruses … What...

HM Album Reviews

The Letter Black

Rebuild

Three years after its first full length, worship-band-come-rock-group The Letter Black has followed up its critically-acclaimed debut with Rebuild. The group has expanded on some of the elements of...

Lessons' Plans

On the heels of releasing ‘American Ghosts,’ lessons is primed to take 2014 in stride

HM Album Reviews

Impending Doom

Death Will Reign

Impending Doom’s new album, Death Will Reign, is a shining example of every era from the California-based deathcore masters. This album captures the in-your-face feel of their 2012 release,...

HM Album Reviews

Lust Control

Tiny Little Dots

Lust Control, a four-piece punk rock band out of Texas, has brought more than just their namesake to the topic list on their latest release, Tiny Little Dots, covering...

HM Album Reviews

Safemode

Gold Digger

Swedish metalcore band Safemode – who leans more towards the punk side of the metalcore genre, but still delivers that familiar metalcore punk – is at their best on...

HM Album Reviews

Dorean Lives

A Cold Fire from the One I Love

Dorean Lives’ A Cold Fire from the One I Loved is one of the best rock albums of 2013. Combining almost every element that has made rock famous, Dorean...

HM Album Reviews

Reveler

Iridescence

Reveler’s new album, Iridescence, is a throwback to the early days of metalcore. The group has managed to meld the modern with the traditional for a beautiful result. Though...

HM Album Reviews

Afterimage

Unveil the Unseen

When you pick up Afterimage’s new release, Unveil the Unseen, and see it is labeled as deathcore, you’d probably assume two things: It’s extremely breakdown-driven, and it’s massively repetitive....

HM Album Reviews

The Restitution

Waves

Progressive metal has been increasingly gaining notoriety in the predominantly generic metal field. With its roots stretching back to the days of Pink Floyd, more and more bands have...

HM Album Reviews

Unspoken

The World is Waking

In a scene with world-class bands like Crowded House, Mercy Me and Third Day, it’s hard for a band to really stand out. Unspoken’s new EP, The World is...

HM Album Reviews

Building 429

We Won't Be Shaken

Building 429’s new release, We Won’t Be Shaken, is a heartwarming record with songs that will be stuck in your head for days to come. The album does explore...

HM Album Reviews

Damien Deadson

Crown Me, Destroyer

Ryan Helm, formerly of Demon Hunter and The Ascendicate, and his project Damien Deadson have just released their sophomore album Crown Me, Destroyer through Infamous Empire Records. The album...

HM Album Reviews

The Color Morale

Know Hope

The Color Morale comes out swinging with their third studio release, Know Hope. This album is more melodic than their previous releases, but what it lacks in brutality, it...

HM Album Reviews

Golden Youth

Quiet Frame; Wild Light

Golden Youth’s debut album Quiet Frame; Wild Light carries a wide array of sentiments, from playful tracks (like “Brother In the Morning” and “Seven Seas”), to mellow (like the...

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