Picks of the month…

It’s a new month, so new picks from my man John over at US site www.decoymusic.com Head on over there to see my four picks a bit later on…
Codeseven – This band is pretty much all I’ve been listening to for about a month now. They transformed from a hardcore/metal band into the best prog/space rock band in the world today. Think Cave In, but more melodic. Their new release Dancing Echoes / Dead Sounds is a masterpiece.
Relient K – I saw these guys play a local show five or six years ago and they were awful. Since then they have grown and matured their pop/rock/punk sound, released three albums on the indie Gotee Records, sold a million records and now are gearing up for their major label (Capitol) debut Mmhmm. This record will surely put them in the big leagues with the likes of NFG and Yellowcard. The difference is that Relient K is waay better.
He Is Legend – These Carolina rockers will release their full length debut I Am Hollywood November 2 on Solid State Records and within a few months will be the biggest band on the roster. Their blend of hardcore and rock lies somewhere between Dead Poetic, UnderOATH and Beloved and this cd has not left my car’s stereo in three weeks. Listen to it loud, but don’t be embarrassed when you inadvertantly throw the rock fingers while driving…One of the best debuts I’ve ever listened to.
Melee – Piano-based rhythms, sugar-coated pop hooks and Beach Boys-esque harmonies aren’t things you’d expect to hear from the Hopeless/Sub City roster, the labels that launched the successful careers of such punk greats as Thrice and Avenged Sevenfold. But Sub City’s latest signing, Orange County-based MELEE, incorporates these aforementioned elements to formulate an album rich with songs that merge the indie-rock sound with pop sensibilities that will strike a chord with just about anybody.