Metalcore hasn’t really ever been my thing.  I’ve found a majority of it to be stale and repetitive, but I found something different in San Rafael band Ashkira.  Their catchy and melodic tunes are enough to make any Lamb of God fan faint, and their heaviness could make any Parkway Drive fan weak in the knees.  Even if you don’t identify yourself as a fan of Lamb of God or Parkway Drive, Ashkira are definitely worth checking out anyway.

Bassist/Vocalist David Minhondo’s delivers vocals that remind me of any other metalcore vocalist, but there’s something in them that makes it sound more real; it’s raw and relentless.  They just released their debut, The Honor of Defeat, in 2009.  Ashkira have created a unique offering, in a genre where several fans are drowning in a generic sea of core.  Expect to see them playing some shows in the greater Bay Area for some time, including one at the Oakland Metro on May 21st.

http://www.myspace.com/ashkira