JAWBONE – Loss of Innocence EP (Blood and Ink): Indiana Christian hardcore band JAWBONE play up their 90s metallic hardcore influences with alarming tenacity and heaviness on this five song EP. Immediate comparisons go right to TURMOIL, INDECISION/MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, and BURIED ALIVE. Standout elements come from the cleanly shouted lead vocals and the stiff as a steel wall recording quality, which blasts another layer of fortitude onto the music. Although the band rarely sails into breakdown territory, they go for whole hog on the brilliant “Faithless”. Stellar debut release.

DEEP SLEEP – Turn Me Off (Grave Mistake): Baltimore melodic hardcore/punk band DEEP SLEEP go for an extended, extended play on the 10 song release, Turn Me Off. Calling it a full-length is a bit a stretch however, the whole thing is done in less than 14 minutes. Keeping in stride with the band’s handful of prior EPs, DEEP SLEEP continue to fine-tune their blend of “DESCENDENTS-style punk rock plus bonus nastiness and grime”. It’s a good thing the release includes a lyric sheet since the spitted-out vocals move along at the speed of light (at least there are backing ooohs, ahhhs, and whoaahs to grab onto). DEEP SLEEP’s musical architecture draws a deep nostalgic connection to early California hardcore/punk and that element only seems to strength with each subsequent release. If Flipside was still around, DEEP SLEEP would definitely have been adopted as cross-coast favorites.