Solid State Records (various artists) - This is Solid State #4

Not being a huge fan of Solid State Records, I found this compilation to be pretty good. The label has put together a 2 disc set, the first being music, the second being a variety of videos and live footage of their bands. The label is well-known for being a home for the heavier side of the typically Christian oriented Tooth & Nail Records and has helped put names like Stretch Arm Strong, Living Sacrifice, Blindside, Zao and Norma Jean on the map. Disc 1 (the music) might not last long enough for some people; 11 songs really isn't that much. But it averages out to be a fair demo of the label's history with strong tracks by a variety of Solid State bands. Disc 2 (the videos) would probably be one's reason for purchasing this. A combination of 13 music videos (including 2 from Stretch Arm Strong!) and some live footage from Furnace Fest 2002 makes this a good, if not great buy, if you care for the label's fair reflection of the hardcore/metalcore scene at all. Mewithoutyou, Norma Jean, Dead Poetic and Strongarm are only a handful of the bands who you get to see in action on this one. Compilations are tough to nail in a review for the simple fact that there are people who might love a compilation just for a few songs and could care less about the rest. When it comes to (This is) Solid State Volume 4, it really just depends on how much you care for some songs you've probably heard and some videos you probably haven't seen. [www.solidstaterecords.com]