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Mind Spiders

Meltdown
Dirtnap (2012)

Mark Ryan may not tour all that often, but you can’t fault the man’s productivity. Meltdown marks the second release from solo project Mind Spiders in a year, although the “solo” seems to be a stretch on this release. The first time around, Mind Spiders was Ryan’s project. He wrote the songs, he sang them, and he played almost all … Read more

Spire

Metamorph
Art Of Propaganda (2011)

Australian extreme metal is one of wonder. Whether it's the heartbreaking sorrow of Austere and by extension Woods of Desolation, the war/black/thrash stylings of Deströyer 666 and Sadistik Exekution, the nightmare inducing death metal of Portal or the absolute majesty of doom legends Mournful Congregation - Australia produces some truly crushing music. And to the fore, come Spire. Clad in … Read more

After The Last Sky

There's No Light at the End of This Tunnel
Power It Up (2011)

While this is not a particularly good album, as a band After The Last Sky does possess some promising attributes. It takes only one listen to realize they are undoubtedly talented musicians. A fact that is not surprising, considering the rate at which they genre-hop their way through There’s No Light at the End of This Tunnel. The two axe-slingers … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Cape Of Bats

Transylvania
Holy Terror (2012)

Cape of Bats is probably the least known about band in the Holy Terror Roster. Cape has slowly been releasing songs online for free throughout the past couple years. Now one the cusp of their first physical release one may ask what are they about. Well, with as many ill founded conclusions one could come to between their name and … Read more

Classics Of Love

Self Titled
Asian Man (2012)

Classics of Love have a hill to climb. Considering that leader Jesse Michaels has been in bands like Common Rider, Big Rig and, oh, let’s see…Operation Ivy, there’s always going to be that inevitable comparison between 2012 and 1989. His most recent project takes a definite harder edge than the Common Rider song from which the band draws their name, … Read more

NunFuckRitual

In Bondage To The Serpent
Debemur Morti (2011)

Just look at that album cover. It's stuff like this, guys, that explain why we can't have nice things. Good thing I'm not religious, or I'd cry blasphemy in a heartbeat. Thankfully for my interest in black metal, I possess no easily offended sensibilities and can share with you the shockingly-named NunFuckRitual. Given that all of the band members have … Read more

Dr. Dog

Be The Void
Anti (2012)

These days, few musicians are fortunate enough to have released seven consistently pleasing albums, thrive on live performance, partake in the DIY method of surviving making music for a living and have a blast doing so. The Philadelphia bred Dr. Dog manage to do just this.Anyone can compare a modern band drawing influences from 60’s and 70’s baroque pop and … Read more

Cremation Lily

Sexless Merit
Strange Rules (2011)

Sexless Merit is a release that I have been fixating on for some time (listening to all three tapes over and over again, much to the annoyance of some people that may or may not live in my house anymore) all the while enjoying every minute but not quite having anything to say about the six pieces that inhabit these … Read more

Van Halen

A Different Kind Of Truth
Interscope (2012)

Let’s get right to it. I think we can all agree that lead-off single “Tattoo” is a shitty song. And any album that has the opening lyrics of I've got Elvis on my elbow would have any sane, reasonable consumer checking online for iTunes refund policies.* But this is David Lee Roth we're talking about. The man can get away … Read more

Pale Creation

Twilight Haunt
A389 (2011)

Twilight Haunt is an album that has been affecting me since before it was originally released in 1999 on CD by East Coast Empire (who I believe is now defunct), and when a demo of this was sent to the place that I worked at back then, I stole it from the owner’s “I am not paying attention to this … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Dead Swans

Anxiety And Everything Else
Bridge Nine (2012)

Good hardcore bands from the UK are a rare occurrence. Dead Swans, however, are one of the few exceptions. With a heavy melodic sound and powerful vocals from Nicholas Worthington, the band is able to pull themselves out of the realm of mediocrity. Anxiety and Everything Else is the first since Sleepwalkers three years ago, and does a good job … Read more

Metallica

Beyond Magnetic
Warner Bros. (2011)

Long story short: Beyond Magnetic is a collection of four tracks recorded for, and left off of, Metallica's 2008 album Death Magnetic. Dull description? Yes. Dull music? Not as much.Like Death Magnetic, there are a lot of great song ideas here, and I for one appreciate the return to their more complex thrash metal roots. All the songs here feature … Read more

Enforcers

End Of Time
A389 (2011)

Enforcers are a band out of Montreal. While the city has a long history of technical metal many forget about the hardcore scene that had been birthed there. The most notable bands include names such as A Death For Every Sin and Final Word. While these bands had their time and seemed overlooked by many, the members of the aforementioned … Read more

Blueneck

Repetitions
Denovali (2011)

I wanted to write an introduction that accurately conveyed the sound of Blueneck's new album Repetitions, but my editor wouldn't let me write in size 2 font. Stupid "legibility" rules.I'm not kidding about the comparison, though; Blueneck's brand of post-rock is even lighter than Sigur Rós, featuring incredibly minimalist instrumental and vocal arrangements. Sure, the pieces swell and (eventually) get … Read more

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