October

You've got to love that song "Threesome" which has you singing along the first time you hear it .Formerly known as Riverfenix, the quartet was forced by the late actor's estate to pick a new moniker, thus the birth of FENIXtx.

Drenched with harmonies, melodic to the max, and heavily influenced , FENIXtx will inevitably be dismissed as just another bunch of Green Day knockoffs. However, it's anything but.

The group's strength lies in its lyrics. To help slam the message home, the band's addiction to hooks insures every chorus continues scampering 'round your brain for days. Add a beat and some ferocious guitar, and you've got a winning combination.

Also known as Riverfenix, this Houston-based group consists of singer/guitarists Willie and Damon, bassist Adam and drummer Donnie. They also appeared on a Duran Duran tribute album, and their rendition of "Ordinary World" was impressive enough to garner Riverfenix heavy airplay on several modern rock radio stations across the US, which in turn led to tours with Blink 182. 1999 saw the group change their name to Fenix TX, earn a spot on Vans' Warped tour, and release their second full-length album.

One could always count on Live frontman Ed Kowalcyzk to deliver killer vocals, even if he grew hair now. I love this album as I have always appreciated this band . These guys are local to me and that plays into my pride and love for their music. I heard the new release" Simple Creed" and instantly fell in love again with their newest album. I say you got to have this album if you love Live or just like their style cause' they have one all of their own.

Live rose to chart success on the strength of its songwriting, which earned the group frequent comparisons to U2. Live first formed in the early '80s in their hometown of York, Pennsylvania, when members Chad Taylor (guitar), Patrick Dahlheimer (bass) and Chad Gracey (drums) began playing together under the name First Aid while attending middle school. After losing an area talent contest, they decided to pick up singer Ed Kowalczyk, and the group played under a series of names. After earning a local following, in 1989 they released a cassette. A collection of songs based on the writings of Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti, the record "Mental Jewelery" made Live one of the key players in the alternative music scene thanks to singles like "Operation Spirit" and "Pain Lies on the Riverside." Three years later, Live returned with the muscular Throwing Copper, which lingered a number of months on the charts before pushing the group into the rock mainstream; after a series of popular singles like "I Alone," the album's slow build climaxed with "Lightning Crashes," which propelled the album to the top of the charts and paved the way for the hit "All Over You." Secret Samadhi, the third Live LP, followed in early 1997, but failed to match either the commercial or critical success of previous efforts. The band resurfaced two years later with The Distance to Here.

The Boston-based underground metal band Powerman 5000 earned a popular following with Tonight the Stars Revolt.
Powerman 5000's lead singer, has addressed the delays in the band's forthcoming new album, Anyone for Doomsday?, and accompanying tour in a statement issued Aug. 13.

The singer says he and his bandmates were caused "great agony" over deadline pressures to finish the album in time for a planned fall tour. However, other sources say that the label wasn't happy with the album and wanted the group to collaborate with other writers.
"At that point, we should've put the brakes on the project, taking the proper time to finish these new songs and record them. But because the album was scheduled for release in connection with our fall tour, we felt pressure to deliver Doomsday? on deadline -- all of which was causing the band and I great agony."

"So in the interest of releasing a work that we feel is truly representative of Powerman 5000, we've delayed the release of Doomsday?," he continues. "In the end, you have to go with your gut, and I know we're making the right decision. At the same time, I want to extend my apologies to all the bands who were set to tour with us this fall: Saliva, Machinehead, Halfcocked, and Stereomud. We know we've wreaked havoc on their schedules and hope to tour with them at some point in the future. We also want to express our sincerest apologies to the fans who were counting on the August 28 release as well as everyone who bought tickets to the early shows that went on sale. We'll see everyone soon."

Anyone for Doomsday?, the follow-up to 1999's Tonight the Stars Revolt!, doesn't have a new release date yet, but is expected "in the near future," according the band's representatives. Anyone who purchased tickets for the tour can attain a refund at the point of purchase.

Meanwhile, the first single from the album, "Bombshell," will also be featured on the DreamWorks soundtrack to Tough Enough,the WWF soundtrack which is due Oct. 2

This song "kicks ass" with the same sound that powerman 5000 had on their last album with ,I feel more intesity. I can't get this song out of my head. this whole album has that "unclean" , distorted sound that works. If you like White Zombie or Static X then I feel strongly you'll like this album.

System of a Down's sophomore CD, Toxicity, reveals the Los Angeles group as one of todays most straight ahead, '80s thrash-inspired, pre-hip-hop outfits. Rhythms pound, riffs churn, singer Serj Tankian presents his vocals with a rap singing style hard to describe .
There's a clever mix of classical, slow, and metal that makes these songs such as "Chop Suey" just allure you into keeping one ear perked for what's happening next.
What's more, System of a Down isn't afraid of being gentle or even pretty. Throughout Toxicity, Malakian adds the kind of graceful licks that recall thrash metal's early days.

While there's plenty of harsh songs here, SOAD takes a more measured, musical approach, striving to be great players instead.
I loved this album and say if you like metal ballads or like SOAD 's last album then youll want this one too.

Like many late-'90s metal bands, System of a Down struck a balance between '80s underground thrash metal and metallic early-'90s alternative rockers like Jane's Addiction. Their dark, gothic alternative metal earned a cult following in the popularity of such bands as Korn and the Deftones.Vocalist Serj Tankian, guitarist Daron Malakian, bassist Shavo Odadjian and drummer John Dolmayan formed System of a Down in Southern California in the mid-'90s. They quickly earned a strong following in Los Angeles, largely based on strong word of mouth. A three-song demo began circulating through metal collectors, and their fan base soon spread throughout not only America, but Europe and New Zealand. By the end of 1997, the group had signed American, now distributed by Columbia Records. American/Columbia released the group's eponymous debut album in the summer of 1998, securing the band opening spots on the Slayer and Ozzfest tours.

Default formed in the summer of 1999 when guitarist Jeremy Hora and drummer Danny Craig decided it was time to start a serious band after kicking around the Vancouver music scene for four years. Dallas Smith - Vocals, Jeremy Hora - Guitar, Danny Craig - Drums,and Dave Benedict - Bass make up this new foursome. "Deny" is the first single off the debut album Fallout. The group spent the fall of 1999 in the studio with Chad Kroeger from Nickleback at the helm. The debut album is to be released on TVT Records in early October of 2001. With their major label debut now finished, the members of Default are ready to show audiences all over North America they are ready to Rock and that the success they have already experienced at home is only the beginning. This is a great album in my opinion. It puts me in mind of a style somewhat like Creed. There's alot of great talent on this record. It's filled with a "no nonsense" style of straight forward rock. It's a "must have" in my changer. If you like Creed, Nickleback and the likes of, then go get this one.

Vancouver's Nickelback consists of vocalist/guitarist Chad Kroeger, guitarist/vocalist Ryan Peake, bassist Mike Kroeger and drummer Ryan Vikedal.The group formed in 1996 and soon after released the seven-song demo Hesher, which they supported heavily with gigs throughout Canada. As they giged, they generated more and more welcomed support. Their debut album Curb generated greater interest in the band. The State which the band released in 1999 on their own label, was the bands second album. The album was released in the US on Roadrunner Records at the beginning of 2000. Silver Side Up is the bands third album, also released on Roadrunner Records. The first single released off the album "How You Remind Me" is just a small taste of this new album. With good solid heavy hitting rock and solid bass lines as well, This is over all a great mix of solid sounds. Smooth drum tracks and heavy guitar riffs make this a great album. The melodic flavoring of the vocals and solid riffs makes this a great colaboration of sounds. This album is a definate must have for the changer. I highly recomend this one.

Nonpoint's third album release "Statement", is a welcomed sound to the awaiting heavy rock ears. The first single "What a Day" is a solid track with a great mixture of styles. Nonpoint is an interracial alternative metal/rap-metal foursome. Formed in Miami in 1997. Nonpoint's first CD, "Separate Yourself", was released independently in 1997 and was followed by 1999's "Struggle" on Jugular and 2000's "Statement" on MCA. With a style somewhat like Rage Against the Machine on more of a heavy rock steroid, these boys are slammin'. Occasionally, the bilingual Sorian sings and raps in Spanish, although the vast majority of Nonpoint's lyrics are in English. Bassist KB is most definately a true solid all around bass player, with real smooth transitions between styles from song to song as well as within the same track. Vocalist Elias Soriano, drummer Robb Rivera, guitarist Andrew Goldman, and bassist KB make up this fearsome foursome. The Florida-bred band, is touring in support of its MCA debut, "Statement", which was released in October 2000. Currently, the band is on the road with Machine Head through Nov. 25. Nonpoint will join Kittie on the road for some dates of its upcoming headlining tour. Truthfully this album "rocks". Solid bass lines, slammin' drum tracks, great metal guitar riffs, and smooth creative vocal stylings all come together on one cd. Great transitions from slow solid grooves to heavy blasts of metal are right in your face with this one. Check these guys out on tour if you can. I expect a great stage performance behind this music live. They've got that great groove that just keeps the head "bobbin'". It's all over the album not just one track either. I find this in the changer often. If you like this style..........GET IT!

The East Bay Area, CA quartet, Systematic, whose debut album 'Somewhere In Between' is released under The Music Company/Elektra banner, may just be this year's fly in the generic-pop ointment. If this is a taste of what's to come from this foursome, we're in for a treat. These guys are solid "kick you in the face" rock with emotion and feeling in every track. These guys have influences in modern to classic rock, ranging from Led Zepplin to Alice in Chains and everything in between. Meeting in 1996, Tim Narducci (vocals, guitar) and Adam Ruppel (guitarist) are the creative core of the group. Nick St. Denis (bassist) and Shaun Bannon (drummer) later joined and rounded out this "in your face" quartet. "Deep Colors Bleed" is the first single off the album. This album is not a "one hit wonder" in my opinion. There's alot of talent on this record. These guys have something to say and they're not affraid to say it. "Bedsores" and "Begining of the End" are also two very notable tracks that show where these guys are going and where they've been. "Somewhere In Between" is almost like a "Godsmack meets Staind" combination. Some of the tracks are "in you face" heavy like Godsmack, and some are a very melodic and raw feeling heavy ballad. BUT, make no mistake. These guys are coming out hard in their own way. This album was not a disappointment. And in a "nutshell" definately worth having. If you don't have it, you don't know what you're missing. A "must have"!