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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)

Tesseract

Perspective
Century Media (2012)

TesseracT made quite a splash in the djent scene with their debut last year, the aptly titled One. Though the album itself wasn't particularly impressive, it still struck a chord with a lot of listeners and garnered the band quite a following. It's no surprise they've rushed to produce something to follow it up, and that follow up is 2012's EP Perspective.If there is one thing I cannot fault the band for, it's doing the same thing twice. Sure, the bulk of Perspective consists of rerecorded songs from One, but the band reimagines them with an “acoustic” set up (which basically means just acoustic guitars and lighter drums). I readily admit, that was a very unexpected surprise, but what's really interesting about Perspective is how well TesseracT's rhythmically-based djent sound actually translates into this instrumentation—the thick, muted strumming of acoustic guitars actually makes a good substitute for the downtuned, near atonal noise of eight-string guitars. Instead of just mere novelties, the rerecordings here are actually on par with their originals.“Perfection” in particular sounds very good in this stripped-down instrumentation; being mostly an ambient, vocal-focused interlude means it doesn't have much to lose from the lighter guitars, but a lot to … Read more

Deathmøle

Meade's Army
Independent (2012)

Jeph Jacques may be primarily a cartoonist, but he's somehow managed to turn that profession into an outlet for his … Read more

Swans

The Seer
Young God (2012)

This is the third review of this that I am writing and the first two were these rather objective and … Read more

Swans

The Seer
Young God (2012)

Approaching Swans, and in particular attempting to “review” a Swans record is much like approaching a rock face you know … Read more

Aesop Rock

Skelethon
Rhymesayers (2012)

The big complaint since Aesop Rock’s breakthrough, Labor Days, seems to be that he hasn’t had the memorable singles. At … Read more

Mission Of Burma

Unsound
Fire (2012)

In the early eighties when the Boston post-punk band Mission of Burma announced their decision to stop playing and recording … Read more

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One from the archives

Twin Towers

Replacing God
Independent (2018)

Replacing God by ultra-prolific Kansas-based experimental musician Twin Towers at times seems to be an experimental metal album, but there's much more to the work and I think it has a nice sense of progression as it moves forward. By the end, you feel like you've experienced something. The opening track is rather ominous. Starting off with a somewhat ambiguous bit of keyboard, it suddenly morphs into a noisy cacophony of static and gurgling undertones. "Wretched Communion" is arguably the album's most chaotic track in which guitars initially chug away over a relentless and frenetic rhythm. By the end, the track has lessened in intensity and become more atmospheric, with eerie synth lurking below the surface. "III" is more a lower key mood piece, one that establishes a pattern for … Read more

More album reviews

Elway

Hence My Optimism
Red Scare Industries (2012)

Following a name change from the audibly slick 10-4 Eleanor and absurd legal debacles with John Elway of the Denver Broncos comes the follow-up EP from the Colorado 4-piece’s Red Scare debut. Hence My Optimism shows little progression from Elway’s previous efforts but proves there’s little merit in fixing what isn’t broken. Packing enough energy and rambunctious attitude to rival … Read more

Balance and Composure

Acoustic
No Sleep (2012)

From Doylestown, PA, Balance and Composure has created a lot of buzz in the past few years for their melodic and emotional contributions to the ever-changing underground scene. They’ve released two EPs, a split with Tiger’s Jaw, and a full-length called Separation, all on No Sleep Records. Again teaming up with No Sleep, we have an acoustic 7-inch in which … Read more

New Bruises

Chock Full of Misery
Kiss of Death (2012)

Chock Full of Misery as a title sets a bleak tone for a group best labeled as pop-punk. Yet, New Bruises don’t let the downer subject matter override their energetic and singalong anthems. In song titles past and present, the group has namedropped both Kurt Vonnegut and Johnny Cash—and both are apt examples for New Bruises common tone of frustration, … Read more

Absolace

Fractals
Spellbind (2012)

Emirati band Absolace certainly know their stuff. After releasing their debut Resolve[d] in 2010, they easily paved their way for a followup. That album just so happens to be 2012's Fractals. How does their new album hold up? Unfortunately, not as well as you'd hope.The main issues stem from vocalist Nadim Jamal--it just doesn't sound like he's trying that hard … Read more

Ephel Duath

On Death And Cosmos
Agonia (2012)

Releasing new material for the first time since 2009, Italian avant-garde/progressive/jazz/black metal group Ephel Duath cast aside their woes and channel their frustrations into On Death and Cosmos. Having been incredibly prolific before the sudden enforced hiatus after 2009s Through My Dog’s Eyes, Ephel Duath return with a refreshed group of musicians, a three track EP and a new outlook. … Read more

Teenage Bottlerocket

Freak Out!
Fat Wreck Chords (2012)

I’ve been hearing about the new wave of pop-punk for a while—how bands like Menzingers and Teenage Bottlerocket are reshaping the genre, building off predecessors like The Ramones, Screeching Weasel, The Queers, etc. while bringing something new to the table. It’s personally taken me a while to get around to checking them out myself, but with the release of Freak … Read more

Terror

No Regrets, No Shame: The Bridge Nine Days
Bridge Nine (2012)

Terror is a band that needs no introduction. Hardcore legends in their current age, Terror hails from Los Angeles, California and has brought a more metallic sounding hardcore into the foreground of the scene. This is a live CD/DVD of a show in 2003 at the Showcase Theater in Corona, California and the entire thing is interconnected with interview clips … Read more

Gaza

No Absolutes In Human Suffering
Black Market Activities (2012)

Continuing where 2009s He Is Never Coming Back left off, Gaza move forward as a band whilst remaining true to their core values as a dangerous and destructive entity. No Absolutes in Human Suffering is a monumental and much matured work, with Gaza finding their space as a group with something important to say whilst focusing their aggression in a … Read more

Reks

Rebelutionary
Gracie Procuctions/MIM Entertainment (2012)

Taking Reks’ past few years of productivity into account—dating back to 2008’s applauded Grey Hairs and last year’s R.E.K.S, a record that earned him a “Best Album of the Year” award in his hometown of Boston—it is clear the revered underground emcee is not one to idle by in tranquility for too long. Even with accolades for his Statik Selektah … Read more

Fang Island

Major
Sargent House (2012)

Two years since the release of their eccentric eponymous debut, Fang Island return with Major, the band’s second album on LA record label, Sargent House. It’s quite evident that their self-proclaimed pursuit to “make music for people who like music” ensues. Picking up right where Fang Island left off, Major is an epidemical power rock album, affluent in frenzied, fuzzed-out … Read more

Elizabeth

Where Vultures Land
Throatruiner (2012)

Throatruiner Records have steadily increased their presence in the world of black/hardcore/completely mad music of late, and this little French label continually put out some of the most exciting and interesting sounds out there. The Phantom Carriage, Love Sex Machine, Clinging To The Trees Of A Forest Fire....each hold massive sound and that little something extra that gives Throatruiner that … Read more

Titan

Burn
Hypaethral (2012)

Burn, the debut full-length from Toronto, Ontario’s Titan, wastes no time in establishing itself as the devastatingly heavy powerhouse that it is. Thunderous drums and relentless guitars introduce the bleak, crushing atmosphere that stands through the entirety of the record on the almost 8-minute long “Feast,” with the chillingly powerful vocals kicking in soon after. With 10 songs spanning almost … Read more

Xibalba

Hasta La Muerte
Southern Lord (2012)

It would be impossible to have missed the mark Xibalba have left on the hardcore scene thus far. The band has toured incessantly and released a small handfull of recordings in the past few years. A389 took notice last year and released a discography LP and shortly after Southern Lord took notice and staked a claim upon the band's follow … Read more

Adam Widener

Cola Kids Hanging Out in the Bubble Dome
Big Action (2012)

There are a few red flags that make me avoid records or, if you will, to judge a book by its cover. First, solo records in a punk or garage world. While the last few years have wiped this misconception away in many respects, I’m still hesitant when I don’t know the name coming in. Second, a record with a … Read more

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