Recent reviews

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)

Kid You Not

Here's To Feelin' Good All The Time
Bypolar Records, Sell The Heart Records (2022)

If it was 1993, this would be called emo. But a lot has changed in scenes and sounds since then, so I won’t go there. Instead, I’m going to call Kid You Not elastic punk. Here’s To Feelin’ Good All The Time is constantly shifting complex moods but it always stays strong, dynamic and somewhat positive. It’s about our relationship with the world around us and the broken hearts caused by the crushing weight of the world. The lyrics in all 10 songs follow this theme: the uphill push against forces beyond your control. Underlying that desperation, though, there’s a power-of-music positivity that shines through. The lyrics know they are heavy-handed and futile. It’s self-knowing, but cathartic. There is power in words, but that power comes from letting loose more often than it causes real societal change. It understands where it lies in the bigger picture. Even the pacing feels like an uphill hike. It’s midtempo and plodding. It’s punk rock, for sure, but the tempo fits more with head bobbing emo and post-hardcore than circle pit punk. I could pull a dozen lyrics snippets to emphasize that point, but instead I’ll just list song titles: Last of a Lost … Read more

Parkway Drive

Darker Still
Epitaph, Resist Records (2022)

As it stands, in the grand scheme of things I didn't discover Parkway Drive until quite late on in their … Read more

She/Her/Hers

She/Her/Hers
Don Giovanni (2022)

I’ll start by saying I have a love/hate relationship with folk-punk. Done right, it’s one of the most authentic styles … Read more

Pembroke

All The Brightest Pictures
HANDSTAND RECORDS (2022)

Let's say this is my first assignment at Scene Point Blank and this time I'll do a review for a … Read more

Book Review

Boogeyman and Edward Kearns

The Devil's Song
Independent (2022)

The Devil's Song is the accompanying book to Boogeyman's self titled debut album; you can check out the album review … Read more

Book Review

Nick Cave

The Complete Lyrics 1978–2022
Penguin Publishing (2022)

The staying power of music is partly due to how timeless the lyrics are as they capture confused or illicit … Read more

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One from the archives

Taking Back Sunday

Self Titled
Warner Bros. (2011)

Taking Back Sunday were once the face of the new alternative underground movement often labeled as “emo” but over the last few years they seemed to have lost their footing. After losing pivotal member in Fred Mascherino and releasing the uninspired New Again, an album that met a negative critical reception, many fans including myself gave up on the band and expected very little from them in the future. That was all before news that John Nolan, original lead guitarist and back up vocalist, had rejoined the band.If you’re not familiar with John Nolan, he was part of the original line up with Jesse Lacey of Brand New and was a major creative force on the TBS staple Tell All Your Friends. Shortly after the release of TAYF, he left … Read more

More album reviews

Stuttr

Stuck in the Muck
Early Onset Records (2022)

It seems like a knock, doesn’t it, when you say that a rhythm section carries a band. It seems like you’re knocking the vocalist and guitar player. Like you’re dismissing them. Like you’re dismissing their contributions. So, I have to be careful here, when I say the rhythm section is carrying this band. This band is, of course, Stuttr and … Read more

Won't Stay Dead

Purgatory
Don't Panic Records & Distribution (2021)

Four piece horror themed punk band Won't Stay Dead from Chicago, Illinois formed in 2017. After independently releasing two five-track EP's The Devil Was With Us (2017) and Hellion (2020) they headed to Million Yen Studios to record their magnum opus... this thirteen track full length album Purgatory. Won't Stay Dead, to me, are pure 90s pop punk nostalgia. The … Read more

Stop Talking

Consequences Can Be A M.F.
Scat Boy Records (2022)

You know how every band is a skate punk band? Every band now, right now in 2022, is a skate punk band. Maybe not every band, fine, but most of them. 30-40 year old men with disposable income who can’t fend off the ghost of 90s nostalgia, singing about a simpler time when they didn’t have responsibilities like recycling their … Read more

Ken Mode

Null
Artoffact (2022)

KEN Mode have always favored a dark and oppressive path for their extreme music aspirations. From their early days up to the release of the seminal Entrench, the act from Winnipeg, Canada has not held anything back. In 2013 it would be difficult to imagine how KEN Mode could surpass their seminal works. The release of Success in 2015 felt … Read more

Dead Cross

II
Ipecac (2022)

Dead Cross consists of only four members. Vocalist Mike Patton, bassist Justin Pearson, guitarist Michael Crain and drummer Dave Lombardo. Between these four gentlemen, I could list the other bands they currently play in and meet my word count quota in less than five minutes. Suffice to say, these are not guys to rest on their laurels and the literal … Read more

Fields Of Regret

Fields Of Regret
Bassick (2022)

Fields Of Regret is the brainchild of musician Filip Van Lysebeth, a producer based in Belgium. This self titled five track EP, released through Bassick Records on November 18th 2022, unveils Fields Of Regret's blend of horror fuelled gothic and industrial metal crossed with punk rock and a carnival style theme. In a statement from Bassick Records the EP is … Read more

Graduation Speech

Controlled Burn
Jetsam-Flotsam (2022)

I mostly enjoy acoustic albums during my cruising time to work by bike. I can't explain what makes the acoustic sounds special when you listen to it in the morning. Maybe I'm a typical kind of guy who is slow to wake up and acoustic tunes are perfect to build up my mood. Graduation Speech is a moniker project initiated … Read more

Robby Bloodshed

Dripping Red
Independent (2022)

Robby Bloodshed is a musician from New Jersey and has been recording since 2010. With five EP's, seven albums and a number of singles to his name, Dripping Red is his eighth album to date. The digital and CD release has seven tracks which include covers of "The Crystal Ship" by The Doors and "Growing Up and I'm Fine" by … Read more

Dr. Acula

Dr. Acula
Silent Pendulum Records (2022)

First of all, I can’t believe Dr. Acula is back! When I saw the promo from Silent Pendulum that there’s a new album on the way, I had to triple check and listen to the single a couple of times. It still took a while for the reality to sink in and I’m not going to lie, I had some … Read more

Drakulas

Drunk Dial #10
Drunk Dial Records (2022)

My first thought on seeing that Drakulas cover The Jim Carroll Band on this was, “Huh, that’s a weird choice.” But about 10-seconds in, everything clicks. You see, Drakulas is a concept band, set in a dystopian, Warriors-esque world of broken streetlights, shenanigans, violence and smut. And, well, let’s just say that 1970s New York inspired a lot of that … Read more

More Kicks

Punch Drunk
Dirtnap (2022)

I was thrown the first time I listened to this. I came in blind, expecting “the Dirtnap sound.” But what matters isn’t the brand, it’s if the music is good, so it’s a silly bias to begin with. It also took me a few listens before I realized that the files I was sent weren’t tagged right, so I was … Read more

VoidOath

Ascension Beyond Kokytus
Cognitive Discordance Records, Cursed Monk Records (2022)

Four piece doom/sludge/death metal outfit VoidOath crawled their way up from the nether realms of San Jose, Costa Rica in 2018. In May 2020 they released a three track EP entitled Illumination Through Necromancy, a 30 minute taster preparing us for the abysmal horror doom of this debut full length album Ascension Beyond Kokytus. Kokytus translates (by the power of … Read more

Ann Beretta

Rise
Bully Me Now (2022)

I've been sitting on this record since it came out, and I wasn't sure exactly where I was with it until now. I really wanted to love this record, but my musical taste is that of a 47 yr old guy who has listened to so much music and been in so many bands, that I was afraid the review … Read more

Night Jobs

Never Happener EP
Independent (2022)

I was introduced to Night Jobs with The Shape of Bummers To Come tape. I liked it overall, but I did feel there was room from growth. I mean, there always is…but I digress. The band is back in 2022 with the new 7”, Never Happener, featuring four new songs. And I do hear that “growth.” Sure, Night Jobs play … Read more

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