Recent reviews

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

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

Houseghost

Another Realm
Rad Girlfriend Records (2022)

Houseghost sprung up in late 2020, releasing their debut near Halloween. Two years later the ghost returns with more stories from Another Realm. The band features members of other bands and play poppy punk with a lot of harmonies. It’s peppy, catchy stuff that’s more about singalongs and pogoing than spitting vitriol. The band also has a theme or, arguably, a gimmick. The songs are all about being a ghost. Another Realm sees the ghost stories taking a somber look at themselves as they fade and float in the ether. The songs are upbeat while singing about being stuck in limbo. The broad tone is one of longing and observation, with a cheeky, playful tone that makes me think of Geena Davis and Alex Baldwin in Beetlejuice. This isn’t a Misfits-inspired band, it’s more like Groove Ghoulies or Ramones with some subtle post-punk tones. For example, the guitar in “Night in the Woods,” which effectively leads off the record, has some Cure-esque vibes underneath that bouncy beat. What really stands out on this record isn’t the theme, though, it’s the harmonies. The two primary vocalists work well together. They often trade lead vocals from song to song, while meeting together … Read more

The Brokedowns

Maximum Khaki
Red Scare Industries (2023)

As musicians grow older, they have less time to play live, to tour, and to write. It’s been five years … Read more

Tim Barry

Spring Hill
Chunksaah (2022)

Spring Hill is the latest solo record from Tim Barry and, to be up front, I took the last couple … Read more

Yoko Ono & Plastic Ono Super Band

Let's Have a Dream- Live in Japan 1974
Idol Japan Records (2022)

" She led me up the dusty cobbled dirt path to a small ledge filled with tiny rock sculptures. We … Read more

The Deathtones

The American Invasion
We Are Horror Records (2023)

After a quick detox over the festive season The Deathtones have reanimated and dug themselves back up from the grave … Read more

Goddamnit

All The Time Is Yours Now
Sell The Heart Records (2022)

With a plodding, building guitar line, a slow drum intro and the opening lyrics of “Light a candle / For … Read more

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One from the archives

Nobro

Set Your Pussy Free
Dine Alone (2023)

Last year I discovered Nobro through their EP Live Your Truth, Shred Some Gnar. I cheated a bit and included this EP on my (albums only) yearlist. I still return to that EP (and the one before that) often. So you can imagine, my expectations were sky high. And that made me afraid: was I expecting too much from this young band? Writing an excellent EP is something different from writing an excellent album. So how does Nobro do on Set Your Pussy Free? Before we go into that I think this title deserves some explanation, because I can imagine it is a title that will raise some eyebrows. Apparently the band was playing in the States right when the Supreme Court overturned the right to access to abortion. This … Read more

More album reviews

Perennial

In The Midnight Hour
Independent (2022)

Art-punk is usually a description that makes me move out of the way. Most of the art-punk I have heard so far just isn’t my cup of tea. Every rule has its exceptions, so here we are; I have listened to In The Midnight Hour dozens of times already. There is two things you need to know about this last … Read more

The Christian Family

The Raw and Primitive Sound Of
Voodoo Rhythm (2022)

Repent, Repel, Rejoice, Rejuvenate, Respiritualize, Requiem, Repeat Friends, I come to you today with a message of hope and salvation. In a world filled with darkness and despair, it is easy to lose sight of the light and The Christian Family's love. However, I urge you to remember that no matter how complex your circumstances may be, The Christian Family … Read more

Crisis Party

Welcome To The Party EP
Dirt Cult (2022)

Crisis Party is another band from Matty Grace, who SPB has covered in various capacity, playing with Cluttered, Auditory Postcards, Future Girls, and maybe more. There’s a common lo-fi, high-energy anxiety to their poppy-punk, but Crisis Party is a new band and that comes across instantly. Those other bands (which also deal with serious, heavy topics) feel generally positive in … Read more

Los Morts

Slasher
Monsterbilly Records (2022)

Prolific Peruvian horrorpunk ghouls Los Morts released this 4 track EP, Slasher on the most sacred of horrorpunk holidays... halloween! The 31st of October is the day that many horrorpunk bands look to release material but the year that Los Mort do not, will always make halloween that little bit emptier so all praise to zombie Jesus that Los Morts … Read more

Dead End Drive-In

A Worthwhile Endeavour
Early Onset Records (2023)

Discontent, a few degrees away from unease, oozes from the riffs of Dead End Drive-In’s new album, A Worthwhile Endeavour. Another release from Early Onset Records’ recent slew of disillusioned bands, Dead End Drive-In treads along a well worn path, much like labelmates Stuttr and Brass. On paper the existential crises might be getting old but on record the band … Read more

Lore City

Under Way
Lore City Music (2022)

Under Way is a two track EP from the duo Lore City who are, Laura Mariposa Williams and Eric Angelo Bessel, currently based in Portland, Oregon. Released in October 2022 it is 11 minutes and 17 seconds of dreamy, experimental, gothic, psychedelia that will have you reaching for the play button again as soon as it's over. I'm not one … Read more

The Claudettes

Go Out!
40 Below Records (2022)

I’ve written two reviews about the previous two albums of The Claudettes. As it took me ages to write this review you could be tempted to think I would not cover their latest album. You could not be more wrong. I was so happy Johnny Iguana shared this album with me for review purposes. I blame corona for the late … Read more

Martha

Please Don’t Take Me Back
Dirtnap, Specialist Subject Records (2022)

Martha has been building a name on the DIY scene for quite some time. I know I saw them, probably close to 10 years ago, opening for Toys That Kill or some related band. But they don’t play scrappy punk. They dabble more in power-pop that’s built around tight songwriting chops and melodies that stick with you. Britpop meets the … Read more

Pohgoh

Du Und Ich
Spartan Records (2022)

Well, it's nice to know that this year so many of my favorite bands put out new records and one of them is Pohgoh. Pohgoh is a band that is known for contributing to a legendary emo compilation called Emo Diary. The comp is an influential artifact for emo scenes, containing many notable bands, such as Jimmy Eat World, Planes … Read more

Nightmarathons

Hidden Vigorish
A-F (2022)

Nightmarathons released Missing Parts back in 2019, but I hadn’t heard anything about the group in some time. On October 26, they surprise released Hidden Vigorish, their second LP. It follows the trajectory of their first album, but this time around I see a little more integration of dual vocals and some post-hardcore elements underneath the surface. And I probably … Read more

The Whiskey Bats

Flesh Eaters
Independent (2022)

Right, so who's up for some in your face, straight up no nonsense psychobilly meets angry punk rock?? Well, look no further than Pennsylvanian four piece The Whiskey Bats!! These guys meld high energy 90s style skate punk with a psychobilly twist and are heavily influenced by all things spooky, macabre and monstrous. What is not to like? Not only … Read more

Alestorm

Seventh Rum Of A Seventh Rum
Napalm (2022)

Having left a suitable amount of time since it's release in June this year, I thought it was about time I wrote down my thoughts on album number seven from duck loving, pirate metal drunkards Alestorm. I'm sure everyone has picked up on the Iron Maiden reference and maybe the haters have rolled their eyes before even listening to it … Read more

Pee Wee Gaskins

Get Well Soon
Universal Music Indonesia (2022)

To many Indonesian kids who dig into the melodic punk local scene, Pee Wee Gaskins is one name that has gained national popularity through the years. My first introduction to the band was on a social media platform called Myspace. Yes, Myspace had been the band's wheel of fortune for its career phase. Initiated as a solo project by its … Read more

Nat’s What I Reckon

Life: What Nat to Do A hot take on the advice you never asked for
Penguin Publishing (2022)

Nat’s What I Reckon wears many hats – ranging from having established himself firmly on the firmament of successful content creating YouTubers, accomplished musician with a penchant for the heavier side of things, comedian, chef and mental health advocate, who is very outspoken not merely about his disdain for packaged foods but also topics like toxic masculinity. Confronting his battles … Read more

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