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Hawks & Doves

Year One
No Idea (2011)

Not knowing how much in the majority that I am, the passing of Gared O’Donnell’s previous band (Planes Mistaken For Stars for those that were unaware) was a sad occasion in my household as the burly riffing and impassioned performances by that band both live and on record were a huge hit in my household; so when Hawks & Doves … Read more

Abiotic

Symbiosis
Metal Blade (2012)

South Florida's Abiotic join the death metal race as a young band. The band, over a short time, have managed to take their brand of tech-death with shades of metalcore a rather long way in catching the ears of Metal Blade. As a band that is barely two years old one could question their prowess, but that may be a … Read more

200 Words Or Less

The Ergs! / Grabass Charlestons

Split
No Idea (2007)

The Ergs have suddenly become everyone’s favorite pop-punk and with good reason. They contribute two songs of fun catchy songs about girls that will no doubtingly be stuck in your head for weeks on end. Grabass Charlestons come to me as a bit of a surprise. I was expecting either some cowpunk or Hot Water Music inspired rock, but instead … Read more

Ty Segall Band

Slaughterhouse
In The Red (2012)

It’s hard to know just how much back story/preamble to include when discussing the music of San Franciscan rocker Ty Segall. His career, to date, has been incredibly varied and his ridiculously prolific output includes countless albums, EPs, cassettes, split 45s, etc. To wit, this year alone has seen the release of three full-length albums: one with White Fence (Hair), … Read more

Green Day

¡Uno!
Reprise (2012)

Thank god it's not another concept album.That's perhaps untrue, though: maybe this is just a concept album broken over three separate records: ¡Uno! is the first in a trilogy (wittily to be followed by ¡Dos! and, of course, ¡Tre!). That said, the forty one minutes of this, Green Day's ninth record, don't seem to contain the same kind of forced … Read more

Masked Intruder

Self Titled
Red Scare (2012)

It’s probably impossible not to smile at Masked Intruder’s self-titled debut. Hidden behind a veil of anonymity, the foursome have converged through a myriad of cell bars and prison yards to construct some of the catchiest, colour-coded pop-punk tunes ever written. Between being as violent and delusional as it is hilarious and heartwarming, Masked Intruder successfully pairs the impeccable harmonies … Read more

Whirr

Pipe Dreams
Tee Pee (2012)

Formerly known as Whirl this band has been within the emerging hype machine of the shoegaze / Dream pop underground. After a demo and EP that were both well regarded they managed to both change their name, get noticed more, and get signed by psych rock label Tee-Pee Records. Their past EP Distressor contained showed a band with the ability … Read more

Planks

Funeral Mouth
Golden Antenna (2012)

The successor to Planks 2010 release, the warmly received The Darkest of Grays, is the destitute sounds of Funeral Mouth – a record which bridges the blackened gap between sludge and hardcore and maybe a little crust with frantic shouts and depth of purpose. The German trio have been treading the fine lines of genre cross-over for many a moon … Read more

Grouplove

Never Trust a Happy Song
Canvasback/Atlantic (2012)

Every person with a Smart phone has been in this situation. You’re in a traffic jam and you hear a song you don’t know on the radio. “Might as well shazaam it,” you think. If you’ve heard one of Los Angeles natives Grouplove’s songs and are surprised after finding out the song you didn’t know, “Colours,” was by the same … Read more

Black Moth Super Rainbow

Cobra Juicy
Rad Cult (2012)

Black Moth Super Rainbow are a great group of musicians led by one person mysteriously known as Tobacco that pump out some of the most psychedelically delicious sounding records that I have ever heard in my life, and they are the type of musicians that do whatever the hell they want while still making ass shakingly fun records. With the … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Dave Hause

Time Will Tell EP
Chunksaah (2012)

Dave Hause recently embarked on a little project that involves five indie labels. He took two artists from each label and covered a song from each. The first in the series comes from Chunksaah (though it wasn't the first to be released.) The first half of the 7-inch features alternate versions of Hause's, "Time Will Tell" and "Meet Me at … Read more

Eagle Twin

The Feather Tipped The Serpent's Scale
Southern Lord (2012)

Sophomore albums are always an intriguing milestone for musicians and bands because they kind of serve notice as to how they react to people’s reception of their work (and that reaction ranges from full on ignoring critics and listeners alike and following their own directions to modifying and mass alterations to style and sound depending on what grabbed people’s ears … Read more

The Secret

Agnus Dei
Southern Lord (2012)

Southern Lord have been on a roll this year – Martyrdöd, Wolfbrigade, Eagle Twin and Acephalix to name but a few - and the fourth full-length from Italian masters of all out noise, The Secret, is a worthy addition to a roster that is always expanding and never diluting. Agnus Dei is pure, unadulterated fury and the bile and venom … Read more

Ill Nino

Epidemia
Victory (2012)

Well most people reading this will either look at the and ask one of 2 questions. "who?" or "wait, they're still around?" The who is simple, Ill Nino joined the Nu-Metal races slightly later than most forming in 1998 and releasing their debut for Roadrunner in 2001. That already put them behind the curve what set them apart was their … Read more

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