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)

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 sounds like Snapcase vocalist, Daryl Taberski, is at the helm. The band doesn't slow down as they go into the second track, "The Child, The Prince, The Martyr."--where they add in more licks. The band adds a little more Snapcase sound on, "I Don't Believe in Revenge," with a more complex guitar riff and fills. You'll hear a little of everything in the track. The bridge sounds straight out of Circle Takes the Square's, As the Roots Undo. Of all the tracks, I'd say the final track, "The Growth of Man" has the most unsuspecting time signatures, however I find it the least interesting of the four. I'm very excited for this band. This is a great EP and debut that offers quite a versatility in only a matter of minutes. I can't wait to hear more. 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 … 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 … 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. … 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 … 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 … Read more

Browse our review archives

Reviews by year

Choose a year to view reviews of albums released in that year.

Reviews by artist name

Choose a letter to view reviews ordered by that letter (band name first).

Review categories

200 Words Or Less

752 reviews

Book Review

42 reviews

Classic Album

25 reviews

Multiple Authors

300 reviews

Review

4964 reviews

Video/DVD Review

19 reviews

One from the archives

Down to Nothing

Splitting Headache
Thorp (2005)

With their debut, Save it for the Birds, the Richmond, Virginia straightedge outfit turned quite a few heads with their high-octane approach to hardcore. The furious noise assault was teamed with vocalist David Wood's straight-to-the-point lyrical approach - I recall the episode of The Simpson's where everyone 'tells it like it is.' With a combination like that, the recipe for success was in sight. On their follow-up full-length, Splitting Headache, Down to Nothing mixes things up slightly as they branch out from their Count Me Out meets Gorilla Biscuits twist on hardcore. The band chose to incorporate elements from the heavier side of hardcore. And while many might fear change, it's something that works well for Down to Nothing. From the get-go of the first track 'Go Ahead Wit Yo' … Read more

More album reviews

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

200 Words Or Less

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

Pujol

United States Of Being
Saddle Creek (2012)

Pujol seemed like an odd pairing with Saddle Creek when I first heard of the signing last year. In 2011, the band released X File on Main Street a surprise find that got me interested not only in the band, but in the Nashville scene as a whole, playing lo-fi garage rock with a rough, dirty edge. Well, United States … Read more

A Whisper In The Noise

To Forget
Exile on Mainstream (2012)

The 2 piece "band" A Whisper In The Noise has been kicking around for the better part of the 2000's playing a style of folk that contains elements of shoegaze, dream pop, and ambient electronics. So one may come to the conclusion that the band has an identity crisis of sorts with such a striking mix of sounds. Well it … Read more

1982 (Statik Selektah & Termanology)

2012
Brick\Showoff (2012)

In what makes for a numerically confusing artist/album title (and opening sentence,) 2012 is the new record by 1982—the producer/rapper duo Statik Selektah & Termanology.At just 30 years old, DJ/Producer Statik Selektah has enough projects under the flattened brim of his New Era cap to have earned veteran status—utilizing his turntablism skills and signature Golden Era-influenced boom-bap production, he holds … Read more

Burzum

Umskiptar
Byelobog Productions (2012)

The prolific post-prison output of Burzum has verged on the slightly more experimental side of the black metal musical spectrum. Taking a more ambient turn after career highlight Filofosem and incorporating a neo-classical edge in Belus (2010), a new sound was forged by Varg Vikernes after his incarceration. Belus encapsulated a purer tone; less cold and frostbitten than previous efforts … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Ab Imo Pectore

The Dissociative Path
Debemur Morti Productions (2012)

Ab Imo Pectore has come out of Portugal and after 3 years as a band have managed to put together their first demo and get it released by a label. As with many black metal bands that represent themselves as being of the TRVE variety they have released it on cassette as well. The real question is how does this … Read more

200 Words Or Less

September Malevolence

Our Withers Unwrung
Tendervision (2011)

There are some albums that you can just tell everyone can like, and September Malevolence's 2011 album Our Withers Unwrung is one such an album.Prominently, the music features an enjoyable post-rock reminiscent backing, with tons of light, melodic guitars and repetitive themes. However, the overall experience sounds closer to alternative rock; this is mostly a result of the vocals, which … Read more

Craig Finn

Clear Heart/Full Eyes
Vagrant (2012)

Clear Heart Full Eyes starts off curiously. Sure, “Apollo Bay” establishes that Finn’s solo debut is a separate project compared with The Hold Steady, but it’s also a minimal and boring song—among the worst and most forgettable on the record. He speaksings over a wandering guitar with some occasional slide that ultimately gets repetitive: something I won’t say about the … Read more

Æges

The Bridge
The Mylene Sheath (2012)

Los Angeles band Æges are a beautiful combination consisting of equal parts post-hardcore and sludge metal, and you can plainly hear this on their 2012 debut The Bridge. It combines weighty and languid guitar churning with fast-paced and frenetic songwriting to create a stunningly vivid result.You can prominently hear the hardcore facet of Æges's sound on the majority of their … Read more

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