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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)

Souvenirs

Tired Of Defending You
6131 (2012)

When I first heard that Souvenirs was signed to 6131 I was expecting another straight-up generic hardcore band. However, upon listening to their first release from last year, Sadder Days, I was pleasantly surprised to find a pop-punk/emo crossover band: one taking the lyrical writing style of ‘90s emo bands and the upbeat feel of pop-punk. This was right up my alley.The band’s newest release, Tired of Defending You, leans closer to emo side by favoring groovier jams rather than upbeat tempos. While the change is good and shows progress for the band they did, however, seem to lose some of the uniqueness in the blending of genres they had before. Notably the band has matured lyrically and it is noticeable throughout the EP and it’s refreshing to see this band still has a lot of steam.The single for the EP, titled “Sinking,” is easily the standout track on the release. Comprised of well-written lyrics and slow accenting percussion and guitar, it really captures the feel the band is going for. This contrasts well with the song “Sucker,” which is closer to the sound from the first EP.Overall, Tired of Defending You is a solid release from a good band. … Read more

Cloudkicker

Fade
Independent (2012)

If there's any one artist who should make you happy to listen to music, it's Ben Sharp, aka Cloudkicker. Though … Read more

Japandroids

Celebration Rock
Polyvinyl (2012)

Japandroids, a Canadian two-piece rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia, has released their second full length album entitled Celebration Rock. … Read more

Periphery

Periphery 2: This Time It's Personal
Sumerian (2012)

I don't have a good history with Periphery. Their debut album, though it had a few good moments, left a … Read more

Evoken

Atra Mors
Profound Lore (2012)

New Jersey quartet Evoken have consistently produced genre defining funeral doom throughout their twenty year career and Atra Mors is … Read more

Barren Earth

The Devil's Resolve
Peaceville (2012)

If there’s anything I love, it’s some fucking metal. And if there’s any band out there that can deliver some … Read more

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One from the archives

Toys That Kill

Fambly 42
Recess (2012)

It may have been six years since Toys That Kill put out a full-length, but Fambly 42 sounds like it could have been released immediately after Shanked. The melodies are seamless and the precision between band members sounds like they haven’t missed a beat—maybe that’s because the band plays sporadic shows and the pieces of their line-up comprise a number of other San Pedro, CA bands that have released items on Recess Records in the meantime. Anyway, Fambly 42 is a rocker, and it totally lives up to the wait. “Mobbed by the 3’s” is a quick reminder of what sets Toys That Kill apart from their related projects: the upbeat energy and singalong nature of the songs and the subtle changes therein that alter the progression without hindering the … Read more

More album reviews

Storm Corrosion

Self Titled
Roadrunner (2012)

Steven Wilson and Mikael Åkerfeldt are both two musicians I hold in incredibly high esteem. Wilson’s flabbergasting diversity of styles covered with Porcupine Tree or his various solo projects and Åkerfeldt’s amazingly thoughtful and moving compositions with Opeth both continue to astound me no matter how often I listen to them. It should go without saying they are both gifted … Read more

Aaron Freeman

Marvelous Clouds
Partisan (2012)

Rolling Stone didn’t do Aaron Freeman any favors in running their interview that announces the end of Ween before I got my hands on this record. Now, besides having to overcome the shadow cast by his band, it also has to overcome being the record that broke up Ween. Anyway, Freeman has been making music since the early 1980s and … Read more

Various Artists

Dan Andriano/Brendan Kelly - European Vacation
Red Scare Industries (2012)

To coincide with their romp across Europe, the split 7” from Brendan Kelly And The Wandering Birds and Dan Andriano in the Emergency Room, European Vacation, doesn’t cover much ground, but packs a hell of a lot in a short span. Those familiar with the two musicians won’t be surprised by either of their respective songs, but both leave their … Read more

Anthony Raneri

New Cathedrals EP
Gumshoe (2012)

While he’s best known as the front man for Long Island pop-punk juggernauts Bayside, Anthony Raneri has been making a name for himself as a solo artist for some time. Participating in the inaugural Where’s The Band tour a few years back, Raneri charmed crowds with acoustic renditions of Bayside songs and select covers of Death Cab For Cutie, Bad … Read more

Banquets

Top Button, Bottom Shelf
Black Numbers (2011)

New Jersey might get a lot of crap for being such an unlovable state, but Banquets is keeping the Jersey music scene fresh and alive with their debut album Top Button, Bottom Shelf. It’s pretty easy to get lost and washed away in the midst of melodic pop-punk bands, but Banquets sits on the shores by proving themselves to be … Read more

Momentum

Whetting Occam's Razor
Halo of Flies (2012)

Momentum is a melodic hardcore band from the UK that writes music with a message. Whetting Occam's Razor is a full length that explores many different ideas with smart lyrics. Front man Alex (of Light Bearer and formerly Fall of Efrafa) writes with reason and intent combined with powerful music. At times, this album comes together to be something special. … Read more

Cynic

The Portal Tapes
Season of Mist (2012)

In order for me to talk about this album, you're going to need some [CONTEXT].If there's one thing I absolutely hate about Cynic, it's their squandered potential. In 1993, right in the middle of the technical death metal craze that bore the likes of Atheist, Nocturnus and Suffocation, as well as refined the raw sounds of Death, Sarcófago and Meshuggah, … Read more

Lento

Live Recording 8-10-11
Denovali (2012)

When a band releases a live album, there's usually some great importance behind it, whether it be documenting an important performance, showing off some otherwise unreleased material. or just the band sharing a once-in-a-career quality set. Live recordings released for the sake of releasing a live recording otherwise tend to be bland, boring, and unnecessary, and if they're not handled … Read more

Rotting Out

Street Prowl
6131 (2011)

There's something generally referred to as a summer record. That elusive album that you can blast out of the windows of your car and feel perfectly in that time frame and state of mind. Most of the time these records are otherwise questionable pop albums that may be slightly embarrassing otherwise. Rarely it works out that these records are just … Read more

Isis

Live VI 11.16.07
Independent (2012)

A year after their dissolution, post-metal powerhouse Isis is preparing to digitally re-release its entire live discography on a fortnightly basis throughout the summer of 2011. The set of five—wait, hold up a moment. I finished those last summer. What's with the new release?Turns out Isis still have a few cards left to play despite, you know, not actually being … Read more

Jimmy Cliff

Rebirth
Universal (2012)

It’s always curious to see a veteran musician team up with their junior. Last year Jimmy Cliff joined with producer Tim Armstrong (Rancid) for the Sacred Fire EP, a pairing that sparked Cliff’s creativity and lead to this follow-up full-length. While it’s easy to note Armstrong’s presence on Rebirth (the album features a reappearance of the EP’s “Ruby Soho” cover), … Read more

Samothrace

Reverence To Stone
20 Buck Spin (2012)

Doom quartet Samothrace follow up 2008’s widely acclaimed Life’s Trade with the majestic and tragedy filled Reverence to Stone. Comprised of two tracks, “When We Emerged,” - a reworking of a song found on their 2007 demo - and “A Horse of our Own,” Reverence to Stone is thirty-five minutes of wonder and solemnity. Having disappeared somewhat after Life’s Trade … Read more

Daylight

The Difference Between Good and Bad Dreams
Run for Cover (2012)

Daylight is one of those pop punk bands that run in the same vein as Run for Cover label mates Basement and genre heavyweights Title Fight, characterized by upbeat melodies and catchy riffs while retaining a clean sound. The Difference Between Good and Bad Dreams is the band’s latest release and follows their acoustic EP. The four songs come to … Read more

White Lung

Sorry
Deranged (2012)

If you were a fan of White Lung's debut album, It's The Evil, for it's raw and straight forward approach, then you might be a little taken aback by the sophomore record, Sorry. They've re-evaluated their style of songwriting and have turned it into something more melodic and refined. It was all for the better though. Make no mistake, the … Read more

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