Album Review: Epitaph Records - New Noise Volume 1

Whilst a payable compilation release in an age of free downloads is questionable, Epitaph Records have enough substance and quality to make 'New Noise Volume 1' a reasonable purchase. Showcasing the best (and some of the worse) from the labels' roster from the last 12 months or so, this release crosses several genres from the metalcore of Escape The Fate to the pop-rock of Sing It Loud and the punk rock of Street Dogs.

There is something here for nearly everyone with contributions from Alkaline Trio, Veara, New Found Glory, Set Your Goals and Heartsounds being the more favourable content here and shows the label as a whole has a lot going for itself, and to an extent sticking to its roots.

Whilst the inclusion of I Set My Friends On Fire continues to be questionable; sub-standard screamo on such a well established "punk rock" label has people wondering what Epitaph were thinking. Nevertheless Parkway Drive are here to show how to be a heavy, aggressive band with 'Sleepwaker'.

Frank Tuner's 'Poetry Of The Deed' is refreshing as his grass roots, folk-y punk rock brings a moment of insincerity. 'Across The Ocean' by Our Last Night turns out to be one of the more surprising and favourable tracks; the bands brand of Underoath-like metalcore isn't anything new but leaves a good impression of the band.

On the whole 'New Noise Volume 1' serves its purpose of promoting the label in a strong light and shows how successful the label has been doing recently. It's label that you can't fault a lot of the time, as it has kept it's independence and knows what music fans want.

4/5

'New Noise Volume 1' is available now on Epitaph Records.

Purchase on iTunes

1. Veara - My B-Side Life - 3:10
2. Sing It Loud - Addicted to When You're Gone - 3:14
3. Our Last Night - Across the Ocean - 4:24
4. Parkway Drive - Sleepwalker - 4:03
5. Set Your Goals - Gaia Bleeds (Make Way For Man) - 2:54
6. Alkaline Trio - The American Scream - 3:01
7. Frank Turner - Poetry of the Deed - 3:25
8. Off With Their Heads - Drive - 2:46
9. Street Dogs - Rattle and Roll - 1:53
10. New Found Glory - Truck Stop Blues - 2:17
11. Heartsounds - The Song Inside Me - 3:37
12. Every Time I Die - After One Quarter of a Revolution - 2:07
13. Escape the Fate - Bad Blood - 4:18
14. I Set My Friends On Fire - Excite Dyke (Demo Version) - 3:13

Sean Reid