HEARTSOUNDS – Drifter (Epitaph): Oh hell yes. Teenage me is leaping out of my skin while listening to Drifter, feeling that oh-so-awesome rush of adrenaline that smacks of the first time I played STRUNG OUT’s Another Day In Paradise. HEARTSOUNDS’ second full-length is a blistering mash of breakneck melodicore with dual male and female vocals. The smoothness of the band’s songwriting, plus the top-notch Castle Ultimate recording has HEARTSOUNDS operating with the deft grace of a jumbo jet nailing a perfect landing. Forceful forbidden-beat drumming, and a killer guest vocal spot by Jason Cruz (perfecting an influence!) round out the highlights, and my only quibble is that the lead vocals occasionally get overshadowed by the crankin’ rhythm section (the backing ooohs-and-ahhs are simply heavenly however). The slower, ballad-like “Echo” isn’t the band’s best outfit, but it’s an effective pause before the final three songs blow on through. Is it too early to teach my 3 year old how to skate to this?

THE TURBO A.C.’S – Kill Everyone (Stomp): I let out a bit of a laugh when Kill Everyone arrived a few weeks ago – THE TURBO A.C.’s were still around?!? With a career that’s gone through several twists and turns, including stints in Blackout Records and Nitro (Fuel for Life came out more than 10 years ago…), the reformulated garage/bar punk band is back with another grizzled attack. Age hasn’t exactly hurt the group; I’m getting less Detroit rock in their sound hearing something with extra bit and style – THE EXPLOSION and THE BRONX aren’t bad references, though the origin of the THE TURBO ACs predates both of those bands by more than half a decade, if not much longer. Maybe I hear some ZEKE in here too? There’s a dark countrified element, for sure. I dunno – a fun listen, and punk rock that’s got a timeless vibe.

HANDGUNS – Don’t Bite Your Tongue (Pure Noise): The fellas in HANDGUNS are about half the age of the veterans piloting THE TURBO A.C.’s, and it shows on Don’t Bite Your Tongue,  a very green, friends/love/life-themed seven song release. The energy-filled pop-punk/melodic hardcore band slides into position next to early SET YOUR GOALS and THE MOVIELIFE, but lacks the sting in the melodies to truly draw in the listener. With little tempo variation, several of the songs on Don’t Bite blend into one another, and the vocals, overplay excitement, almost to a fault. These guys seem to have their hearts and heads in a good place, but I energy alone can’t overcome average songwriting.