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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)

Turbonegro

Sexual Harassment
Volcom (2012)

Much could be said about Turbonegro from the Turbojugend (Their self appointed fan club), Their lyrics that tend to make not so vague references to partying fucking up and homosexuality, and their overall sleaziness. Well coming back from what had seemed like their final break up with their last vocalist Hank Von Helvete leaving to be in an industrial rock band. Well, the Turbojugend has made more of a mark than expected as that is exactly where the band found their new vocalist in The Duke Of Nothing. Following that they managed to also find a new drummer this one from the band Sereena-Maneesh. With all the parts in place the devilish Norwegians are back in full.New members or not the band have managed to perfect a sound for themselves. Including the filth and fury of both The Stooges and Motorhead with a dash of classic glam and a hand held out to the devil himself. The band are one of the few truly evil sound rock bands out today. For all the psuedo evil or sorta goths there is Turbonegro that put them to shame with tongue remaining firmly in cheek. The band opens strong with the opener "I … Read more

Various Artists

Vestiges / Ghaust- Split
Replenish (2012)

So this is the immediate follow-up to the debut album The Dissent Of Man for Vestiges, sharing a split record … Read more

Jodis

Black Curtain
Hydra Head (2012)

It is roughly 5:30 AM at the time of my finally getting down to writing this and the sun is … Read more

Hidden Hospitals

EP 02
Independent (2012)

Hidden Hospitals, based in Chicago, IL, have released their new EP titled simply EP02 and it is an amazing release … Read more

The Casket Lottery

The Door
No Sleep (2012)

There was definitely a time a few years back (or ten if you are keeping score) where I followed (along … Read more

Murder By Death

Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon
Bloodshot (2012)

Murder by Death are back with their sixth studio album, and it's their moodiest album yet. It's a stark contrast … Read more

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One from the archives

Pharaoh

Negative Everything
A389 (2014)

Pharaoh’s debut full-length, Negative Everything, is an absolutely crushing release. The New Jersey three-piece play a blend of doom, sludge, hardcore, and crust that is generally slow, sometimes fast, never predictable, and always heavy. The record’s opening track, “Recease,” starts with a slow, chugging, unaccompanied guitar and effectively sets the pace for the record. Pharaoh has no need for frills, theatrics, or oversaturated technicality. The band takes a calm, calculated approach to a sound which successfully invokes a feeling of frenzied unease. “Recease” cascades into a seven minute bad-trip epic, an infectious stoner slow-groove which compelled me to headbang while simultaneously embracing the crushing hopelessness of life on planet Earth. “The Slasher” picks up the pace with a faster rhythm (awesome rolls and fills from the drummer), a denser use … Read more

More album reviews

Sutcliffe Jugend

Blue Rabbit
Crucial Blast (2012)

Sutcliffe Jugend started as an offshoot of British power electronics specialists Whitehouse, using this project to reveal the outer reaches of the human psyche—both sexually and otherwise—more so than their counterparts. Most times, in the past, the music had managed to match the questionable content. The question is: how does one react when a band that is so reactionary responds … Read more

Oiltanker

Shadow of Greed/Crusades
Southern Lord (2012)

A while back I caught Oiltanker in the midst of the second day of Midwest Hell Fest—a one-off weekend crust punk festival that was happening in, of all places, a sports bar in Kimberly, Wisconsin. I was thoroughly enthralled by the outpouring of anger emanating from the stage while they were up there, yet I was simultaneously battling the inevitable … Read more

Lymbyc Systym

Symbolyst
Western Vinyl (2012)

Lymbyc Systym's third studio-album was released September 18th via Western Vinyl. This effort comes three years after the band's Shutter Release (Mush Records) and their split Field Studies with This Will Destroy You on Magic Bullet Records. So what were the Bell brothers up to during this three-year span? Traveling, living on separate continents, studying, and adding personnel to their … Read more

Fist City

It's 1983 Grow Up!
Black Tent Press (2012)

Alberta-based four-piece Fist City continue to make a name for themselves with the genre-blending It’s 1983 Grow Up!, their second full-length record. The album marks the band’s first release since being signed to Black Tent Press and is reflective of their signature sound while presenting more cohesively as a whole than their previous effort (2010’s Hunting You). Producer Paul Lawton … Read more

Fire & Ice

Not Of This Earth
Reaper (2012)

Fire & Ice is a groove infused hardcore band out of Richmond, Virginia. Their newest release, Not of This Earth has been put out on Reaper Records. Opening for legendary acts and touring consistently with some of the best in the game, these guys are quickly going to the top of everyone’s lists as far as newer hardcore bands go. … Read more

Converge

All We Love We Leave Behind
Epitaph\Deathwish Inc (2012)

This is not a review but more a lament, and I am not sure exactly who or what this lament is meant because there is a definite sense of utter confusion while listening to the latest album, All We Love We Leave Behind, from the almighty Converge on my part; let us get this out of the way since I … Read more

Cadette

Flesh Without Hunting
Independent (2012)

If first impressions are what make or break an artist, Cadette is a whole bunch of angry. The Minneapolis, MN trio’s debut release Flesh Without Hunting rips through eight songs, drawing a heavy 1990s influence but maintaining their own identity, rooted in the present, throughout. The easiest point of reference comes with vocalist and primary songwriter Laura Larson’s previous band, … Read more

Every Silver Lining Has A Cloud

Self Titled
Projekt (2011)

This French band may have one of the longer band names in recent memory. Let us gloss over this even though through the ever accurate Wikipedia it may refer to a Julian Schnabel record. This band focuses on a slight version of the general post rock template. While most bands tend to forgo vocals and play the line by making … Read more

Enabler

All Hail The Void
Southern Lord (2012)

Enabler managed to make some big noise for themselves very quickly. after 2 eps and numerous splits the band got snatched up by the newly crust leaning Southern Lord. The question is after making such a big splash with these eps could the band manage to make nearly as big of a splash in the full length medium? The band … Read more

8MM

Between The Devil and Two Black Hearts
ChelseaGirl (2012)

8MM has been around for a while now and their sound is maturing with every release from their first EP 2004's Opener to the new album Between The Devil and Two Black Hearts they just keep getting better. Lead by multi-instrumentalist / producer Sean Beavan (Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, No Doubt) the band was able to raise $40K via … Read more

La Coka Nostra

Masters of the Dark Arts
Fat Beats (2012)

Masters of the Dark Arts marks the return of La Coka Nostra, a rap supergroup who were last heard from in ’09 on their then long-awaited debut album A Brand You Can Trust. LCN had originally assembled sometime in ’05 as a much larger entity than they are today. With a large contingent of Caucasian members in tow, the original … Read more

Split Cranium

Self Titled
Hydra Head (2012)

So, here we have Split Cranium an interesting project band formed by some of the people behind the acclaimed Circle with the addition of Aaron Turner (of Old Man Gloom, House Of Low Culture, Mamiffer, Jodis and formerly of Isis amongst others); and this band is nothing like anything else that these gentlemen are all known for churning out in … Read more

Behexen

Nightside Emanations
Debemur Morti Productions (2012)

Oh Behexen....what the hell (pun intended) happened? It was all going so well. My Soul for His Glory was a definite career high....those classic Finnish riffs, the evil sound, demonic undertones and the sense of something quite frightening occurring. Skip forward four years and we have Nightside Emanations – a record so mediocre that even the cover art looks second … Read more

Ace High Cutthroats

Black Fire
Independent (2012)

With a name like Ace High Cutthroats, it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to determine what the band is about. On their debut Black Fire, the group delivers rollicking rock with big guitars and a lot of swagger—keeping their rock’n’roll lifestyle close at heart underneath their black leather jackets. The band includes members of Nightgaun and Prosthetics, and the … Read more

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