Various Artists

Item: Ears to the Ground Vol. 2
Author: Josh Spencer

Ears to the Ground Vol. 2

(2002)

Reviewed by Josh Spencer

Discogs YouTube

Label Burning RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2001

death metal hardcore indie rock punk

There are bands that are underground because they choose to be and there are bands that are underground because they elicit grimaces from those above-ground. Most of those on this compilation fall in the latter category. Mildly competent pop punk, hardcore, metalcore, death metal, and rapcore make up the bulk of this second sampling of Burning Records bands. On the positive side, they do each manage the remarkable accomplishment of standing out from one another in sound. They aren't imitators, even if they are mediocre. Most of them have EPs or full length CDs out, for those who have money to burn and a soft spot for morlock music.

A few bands here seem to have a sprinkling of originality and a germ of talent. Undermind explore a distorted mixture of darkwave, industrial, and goth. One Way Out has a decent female siren to accent their melodic rock. Severance is strangely transcendent with their terrific tortured howls and soft-spoken interludes. Hero's Drive goes for an odd but refreshing guitar tapping solo in the midst of punk with emo leanings. Vessel play paint-by-numbers hardcore like pros, with some nice atmospheric breakdowns.

If this compilation costs less than $10, it might be worth a listen for those just getting into hard music. From one who's been around and heard a lot of music, though, I'd recommend most of these bands keep to the basement or their brother's backyard birthday bash.

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