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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)

Anathema

Weather Systems
Kscope (2012)

Liverpool's Anathema are a curious entity. Starting life as a death-infused doom band full of intense lamentation and a deep-seated despair they struck a path that no-one could see coming. Eternity heralded a change in direction for Anathema in 1996 and ultimately led them to the stratospheric height of We're Here Because We're Here in 2010, a record of loss-filled hope and the pinnacle of a career being driven towards a more progressively atmospheric sound and now, to Weather Systems.Weather Systems is a beautifully natural evolution in a career that began in a completely different place, yet Anathema has always been able to make this change seem organic. Their sound and style developed with each successive record but they never lost that sweet despondency inherent in the music, the core members of the band may have changed a little (and back again) over time but the message has not. Laying the foundation for the tone of the record with "Untouchable Part 1," Weather Systems begins with a sublime acoustic guitar line which ushers in Vincent Cavanagh's unmistakable voice, one that is veiled in darkness and sacrifice. Words such as "I had to let you go...." sound so full of heartbreak … Read more

Black Breath

Sentenced To Life
Southern Lord (2012)

Black Breath came out of the depths of the Seattle hardcore scene about 6 years ago and released a sole … Read more

Meshuggah

Koloss
Nuclear Blast (2012)

Meshuggah is one of those bands I have an unnatural reverence for. Ever since I first heard Nothing, I've been … Read more

Pick Your Side

Let Me Show You How Democracy Works
A389 (2012)

Pick Your Side came out last year seemingly out of nowhere. The band was merely touted by many as the … Read more

The Mars Volta

Noctourniquet
Warner Bros. (2012)

There are few bands as polarizing as The Mars Volta. And while I've found both good and bad in the … Read more

Rise and Fall

Faith
Deathwish Inc. (2012)

Rise And fall are a hardcore band from Belgium formed in 2002 out of the ashes of bands The Deal … Read more

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One from the archives

Nat’s What I Reckon

Life: What Nat to Do A hot take on the advice you never asked for
Penguin Publishing (2022)

Nat’s What I Reckon wears many hats – ranging from having established himself firmly on the firmament of successful content creating YouTubers, accomplished musician with a penchant for the heavier side of things, comedian, chef and mental health advocate, who is very outspoken not merely about his disdain for packaged foods but also topics like toxic masculinity. Confronting his battles with anxiety and depression headfirst, he actively destigmatises its implications with his idiosyncratic message of positivity and encouragement. Having become an accolade decorated bestselling author with his first two books, with the proceeds having been donated to mental health charity Beyond Blue, Life: What Nat To Do is exclusively centred around inclusivity, positivity and his much lauded commitment to never punch down. Refraining from tired, clichéd calendar motto like advice, … Read more

More album reviews

L'Assassins

7 PM Go!!!
Big Action (2012)

Big Action Records’ latest release, 7pm Go!!! from L’Assassins is definitely in line with their recent catalog. Instead of throwback garage, however, L’Assassins have a surf-rockabilly sound that’s takes inspiration from the original genre instead of the bastardized psychobilly that rules punksubgenreland today. This sounds like the kind of record your parents (or, for you younglings out there, your grandparents) … Read more

The Sidekicks

Awkward Breeds
Red Scare Industries (2012)

Cleveland, Ohio's The Sidekicks have always had it in them to make a record like this. It’s their most polished, mature, and best to date. There is not one bad track out of the eleven here. It’s musicality at its most honest.Taking the influences from past acts like The Replacements and Elvis Costello, The Sidekicks created 2009’s Weight of Air … Read more

Iggy & The Stooges

Raw Power: Live In The Hands Of The Fans
MVD Visual (2011)

I am a monster Stooges fan, particularly from the Raw Power era on to their incendiary demise (not a long time period in any case, I know), and was immensely elated to hear that the reformed Stooges mark II lineup was playing in my back yard. I purchased tickets with quickness and spent several months chewing on my arm and … Read more

Pink Floyd

The Wall (Experience Edition)
Capitol (2012)

The last of the three major Pink Floyd albums to be expanded and reissued is their 1979 double-album opus The Wall. If you haven't heard of this album already, then...well, you're probably lying. I'm willing to bet that, when I type "WE DON'T NEED NO EDUCATION", literally all of you now have "Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2" stuck … Read more

Shambles

Self Titled
Independent (2012)

Shambles is a pop-punk band from Boston, with a love for melody, circle pits and post ironic song titles. On the surface, they seem to be a fairly generic pop-punk band and I won’t completely dismiss that but there’s a lot of great aspects to this self-released EP. The best thing about this album is the honestly that really comes … Read more

The Love Below

Every Tongue Shall Caress
A389 (2012)

California's The Love Below seemed to sadly fly under the radar upon the release of their last EP. Said EP "Reproductive Rights" played a speedy yet heavy style of hardcore the record benefited from grungey production and equally grimy lyrics. This trend continued on their split with Homewrecker last year managing to add slight touches of sludge to further accentuate … Read more

Pharaoh Overlord

Lunar Jetman
Sige (2012)

Sweet jesus did this record ever hit my stereo at just the right time because Lunar Jetman is making its third consecutive journey on my turntable as we speak (after listening to it a few times without noticing just how good the album is, maybe due to some preoccupation with something else), and to be perfectly honest, Pharaoh Overlord lays … Read more

Graf Orlock

Los Angeles
Vitriol (2012)

Graf Orlock has never been a band to waste time. Much like any of their other releases there's never a meandering part or ambient build up. Instead it is and always has been no nonsense grind with a touch of hardcore and a tongue puncturing their collective cheeks. Their music remains dead serious but is leavened with a liberal use … Read more

Joyce Manor

Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired
Asian Man (2012)

My hopes weren’t set high in regards to the second album by Joyce Manor. Even through all the praise and acclaim their self-titled album received, it didn’t separate the fact that the band was super young and just starting out. Their debut reeked of freshness and harkened back to beginnings of bands like Jawbreaker, and Alkaline Trio. So there it … Read more

Revilers

Self Titled
Patac (2012)

Boston punk outfit Revilers have been kicking about on their local scene since 2008, and finally dropped debut album Revilers on Patac Records at the end of March. Containing thirteen no-holds-barred and vitriolic as heck anthems, Revilers builds on the EP's (Isolation, Stand or Fall - both on Patac) the band have released previously and fully realises their stance on … Read more

Special Providence

Soul Alert
Hunnia (2012)

A lot of cool music can come from unexpected places. I’ve never been to Hungary myself, but they must be doing something right over there if they’re producing bands as good as the instrumental, prog-rock powerhouse Special Providence, especially considering their latest album, 2012’s Soul Alert.The most noticeable thing about the music is that nearly everything, especially the main melodies, … Read more

Dirty Three

Toward The Low Sun
Drag City (2012)

The things I like about this album start with the art itself; guitarist Mick Turner's beautiful artwork perfectly captures his music's mood and sound. In fact, it's the best visual summary I can give of Dirty Three's newest album, Toward the Low Sun.Primarily, the album seeks to obtain this extremely casual, laid-back atmosphere, as if just a collection of rough … Read more

Young And In The Way

Amen / I Am Not What I Am
A389 (2012)

Young And In The Way is a band from North Carolina with some influence from second wave black metal as well as the steadily growing holy terror movement. This double LP combines their 4th release, I Am Not What I Am with their 3rd release, Amen. While holding up as a satisfactory release for any fan of the genre, neither … Read more

fun.

Some Nights
Fueled By Ramen (2012)

I'm just gonna say right now that I'm a huge fan of The Format and fun. I could go on and on about how easily I can gush over either band. Aim & Ignite was one of my favorite albums in years. I became overly excited and anxious anticipating Some Nights. I was interested in seeing how a hip-hop influenced … Read more

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