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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 English Beat

The Complete Beat
Shout Factory (2012)

For fans of The English Beat this one was a long time coming. Coming in at a whopping 80 tracks of pure gold, this one has something for everyone. The English Beat’s place in music history is solid, topping the charts in the early eighties with hit after hit and mixing political lyrics with their brand of up tempo music. The Complete Beat consists of re-mastered versions of their first three studio albums. First 1980’s I Just Can’t Stop It which is loaded with hits like “Mirror In The Bathroom”, “Hands Off She’s Mine”, “Twist And Crawl”, and “Can’t Get Used To Losing You,” to name a few. When this album was first released it shot to the top of the charts and solidified The English Beat as a driving force in the ska/2 tone scene.The second album is 1981’s Wha’ppen, with danceable classics like “Too Nice To Talk To”, “Monkey Murders”, “Get A Job”, and “Which Side Of The Bed.” It’s generally another classic album that has the deep cuts that you don't hear all of the time. While this album wasn't a chart topper, that wasn't what the band cared about: they cared about making music and getting … Read more

Crowhurst

Aghoree
Independent (2012)

Some bands just don't know when to slow down. California-based dark ambient/electronic musician Crowhurst definitely falls into that category, as … Read more

Quicksand

Manic Compression
Island\Revelation (1995)

How many people do you know that absolutely love Quicksand (personally, there is not a person that I know who … Read more

Curl Up And Die

…But The Past Might Be Through With Us
Revelation (2003)

Seeing Curl Up And Die the first time has always vividly stuck out in my mind if not for the … Read more

Damnation A.D.

Kingdom Of Lost Souls
Revelation (1998)

Sometimes over the course of a lengthy tenure in being completely absorbed in music in some fashion, certain bands and … Read more

Bold

The Search
Revelation (2005)

Some honesty is required with regards to Bold because while I think some of their music is completely ripping, I … Read more

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One from the archives

No Consequence

IO
Basick (2013)

The djent movement is still the "next big thing" in metal music, meaning that there are a lot (and I mean a LOT) of new bands coming up from the woodwork every day. However, in sifting them through, it's always been a safe bet to check out the new releases from Basick Records, who have a pretty good track record for scooping up worthwhile progressive metal bands. However, I'm still baffled at their decision to bring No Consequence into the fold, as it's clear from their 2013 album IO that they are not quite up to snuff.Far from the creative minds that sprung acts like Chimp Spanner and Uneven Structure, No Consequence seem perfectly content to regurgitate djent tropes at face value without a thought put toward any ideas of … Read more

More album reviews

Chain Of Strength

The One Thing That Still Holds True
Revelation (1996)

“TRUE ‘TILL DEATH!” If you subscribe in any way to the adage that life is about living in the moment, then no matter where the people may be at in their lives or what they do with themselves, perhaps millions of people have sung along to this line through countless plays of this record and the myriad of covers that … Read more

Ides Of Gemini

Constantinople
Neurot\Sige (2012)

Ides Of Gemini probably seem to have come out nowhere to most. Looking at their members there isn't a long ex members of list or any long time battling it out with a ton of releases either. The band seemingly came from nowhere last year by self releasing an EP or demo. Said EP The Disruption Writ was a brief … Read more

Ruin Everything

Lioniser EP
Independent (2012)

There's a new hardcore quartet on the rise in The UK named Ruin Everything, and they just released their debut EP, Lioniser. When I read that they're described as, "tech-hardcore" I was a bit wary. Fortunately my doubts were shattered. The first track, "Leave No Man Behind," kicks things off just right with an aggression reminiscent of Defeater, while it … Read more

Ahab

The Giant
Napalm (2012)

German titans Ahab and their deep love affair with the sea began with 2005 demo The Oath and continued into their debut The Call of the Wretched Sea in 2006. Self proclaimed as Nautik funeral doom due to this affection for the ocean, Ahab began a journey into the fathomless depths of emotion and despair. Basing their works on Moby … Read more

Oh No

Ohnomite
Brick (2012)

Following two collaborative efforts already this year alongside his fellow beatsmith and emcee The Alchemist as the duo Gangrene—the Vodka & Ayahuasca LP and the Odditorium EP—the West Coast producer and rapper Oh No returns once more for a solo mission with Ohnomite. Oh No—the younger brother of Madlib and son of singer Otis Jackson—was granted unmatched right of entry … Read more

Wavelets

Athaletics
Tiny Engines (2012)

The term emo is an overused and wrongly purposed adjective in today’s music culture, often used to describe overbearing metalcore. To this young writer “emo” music comes from bands of the nineties that are in the vein of Sunny Day Real Estate and The Promise Ring, characterized by a healthy balance of vocal strain and heartfelt lyrics, not sick breakdowns … Read more

Lions Lions

To Carve Our Names
Hollywood Waste (2012)

Lions Lions are a band you should be listening to, but probably aren’t. Regardless of the years spent developing in the local New England scene in a myriad of other very talented bands (including Vanna and Therefore I Am), Lions Lions continue to fly under the radar amongst the throngs of typical pop-punk bands now clogging up a new generation’s … Read more

Rush

Clockwork Angels
Roadrunner (2012)

On some days, when I'm really brutally honest with myself, I can safely admit that all of my favourite old rock bands from the 1970s have gone completely past the point of no return; they'll never release an album of the same calibre as those from their heyday, they'll never sell out huge stadiums and get the attention they used … Read more

State Lines

Self Titled
Tiny Engines (2012)

Hailing from Long Island, NY, State Lines come from a long list of notable punk bands who call the area home. They have been quick in establishing themselves as a talented, young band with strong potential. Last year’s Hoffman Manor was a clinic in catchiness with a raw, familiar sound that garnered comparisons to Tigers Jaw and Brand New, but … Read more

Antigama

Stop The Chaos
Selfmadegod (2012)

After what amounts to a 3 year break the Polish grinders of Antigama are back with a new label and everything. Those familiar with the and know that they have always been outside the norm of their given genre. Whether that means the inclusion of alternate lyrical concepts or even electronic bits. So their return is something to be happy … Read more

Ufomammut

Oro: Opus Primum
Neurot Recordings (2012)

Ufomammut are certainly not a new band by any means. The Italian psych-doom trio have been kicking around since the turn of the century and over the past 2 years have managed to catch the eye of Neurosis. The previously noted Neurosis noted their power and signed them to their own label. So now with a proper North American label … Read more

Ihsahn

Eremita
Candlelight (2012)

Norway’s Ihsahn (or Vegard Sverre Tveitan if we're being formal) has continued to produce some of the most exciting and progressive music since his days as a member of the influential Emperor. Gradually turning from the black metal aspect of his career, Ihsahn has taken his skills as a songwriter and instantly recognisable vocalist to an entirely different and powerful … Read more

Maudlin Of The Well

Leaving Your Body Map (Re-Issue)
Antithetic (2012)

(This excessive treatise is continued from my review of Bath)You can already tell the second album is going to be different from how it opens. Completely abandoning the soft, melodic introduction, "Stones of October's Sobbing" instead begins with an almost dissonant combination of winds and acoustic guitar which begins to build into a massive doom-laden epic, the various brass instruments … Read more

Maudlin Of The Well

Bath (Re-Issue)
Antithetic (2012)

I think I can tell you the exact moment my perception of music changed. It was a complete Gestalt switch, an utter reconception of the possibilities that lay open to the artists I enjoyed so much. Several artists had widened my view and primed me for this change--hearing the pulverizing waves of Isis, the mathematical crunches of Meshuggah, the vast … Read more

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