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Our latest album reviews, featuring the records we've most enjoyed (or not) over the past few weeks.

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Browse our album reviews according to score: Highest (9.5/10 or more) or Lowest (2/10 or less)

The Blood Brothers

Burn Piano Island, Burn
Artist Direct (2003)

A year and a half ago, I picked up this band's first full-length CD, This Adultery Is Ripe. and brought it with me through Italy that summer. The urban centers seemed like a perfect backdrop for the music. The uncomfortable humidity, overflowing materialism and excessive amount of skin all embody the Blood Brothers' sound. Burn Piano Island, Burn is the Blood Brothers' third full-length release and although their style has changed considerably, I still get the same unnerved feeling when listening to them. Everyone was shocked when The Blood Brothers signed with the father of "nu-metal", Ross Robinson, but the major label production and budget has only made the band's sound more exciting and disquieting. The sonic ambush in Burn Piano Island, Burn is a slap in the face for all the anti-major-label hardcore purists. And the Blood Brothers haven't forgotten their frantic hardcore roots. They have embellished them. Burn Piano Island, Burn is brutal and earsplitting yet, disturbingly sexual and feminine. The vocals are more polished; Jordan Blilie and Johnny Whitney work off each other's voices creating piercing layers of shrieks, and dynamic mellower parts, reminiscent of that Queen/Bowie collaboration (hmm..). The band truly takes advantage of having two … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Plot To Blow Up the Eiffel Tower

Dissertation, Honey
Happy Couples Never (2003)

The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower are a daring young band from California. The band comes together in … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Plot To Blow Up the Eiffel Tower

Dissertation, Honey
Happy Couples Never (2003)

I had heard one song before getting the whole album so I kind of knew what to expect from the … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Plot To Blow Up the Eiffel Tower

Dissertation, Honey
Happy Couples Never (2003)

This band was supposed to play at a show I went to a while back, but something came up. I … Read more

Multiple Authors

A Static Lullaby

And Don't Forget To Breathe...
Ferret (2003)

I know this band is something-core; I am just not sure which one. With song titles like "Love To Hate, … Read more

Multiple Authors

A Static Lullaby

And Don't Forget To Breathe...
Ferret (2003)

The most fun thing I found with this CD were the song titles. The music itself combines "emo", metalcore, and … Read more

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One from the archives

Pala

We Don't Exist
A389 (2011)

Pala are a band that went seemingly unnoticed upon release of their debut EP. While the band did have some growing to do they managed to have the pieces to make an interesting sound overall. This growth was embraced a little more on their follow up split with In The Hollows. While both releases did seem to drift under the radar, this full length seems to have garnered a bit more attention overall. The band combines many different styles to create their general sound. Including 90's emo, heavy hardcore, noise rock and metal. While all of these sounds could create a rather muddy experience overall they, within the right context can create a massive and interesting sound as well. The focus at all times is on the guitar. While not … Read more

More album reviews

Multiple Authors

A Static Lullaby

And Don't Forget To Breathe...
Ferret (2003)

Tolerable but tossable. This CD is filled with that modern hardcore edge mixed with pop melodies that the kids are going nuts about these days. This is nothing new in anyway, but it does have a few catchy songs. The background singers are sub-par, while the frontman pulls off some decent screams most of the time. If you're a fan … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Suicide File

Twilight
Indecision (2003)

An excellent debut LP from this Boston, MA band. Boasting ex-members of some impressive bands (Death By Stereo, The Hope Conspiracy, No Reply) they have come together to make an equally impressive band. All new songs with the exception of Ashcroft (formerly released on a split with THC, also my favorite song of theirs before this release), they have plowed … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Suicide File

Twilight
Indecision (2003)

Even though adding metal and hardcore together is the newest equation for success, some bands are still keeping it real. A fine example of keeping it real is this album. At the same time that they are playing hardcore, they are adding new elements into make it sound different, but nothing too drastic. The vocals are nice, they are very … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Suicide File

Twilight
Indecision (2003)

I consider myself at least somewhat picky when it comes to hardcore. At least, I don't jump at everything with fast snare; however, this album is undeniably a great hardcore record. Lots of finger pointing fun and plenty of room for floorpunching and windmills. If you're into hardcore, or even if you aren't, check this album out. Read more

Reviews by score
Browse our album reviews according to score: Highest (9.5/10 or more) or Lowest (2/10 or less)