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)

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 in your head. It's probably genetic at this point.What I'm saying is, we've all already been here. We've all already had the experience of listening to this absolutely wonderful album, and at this point, we've pretty much all gotten used to it. Sure, it's still excellent music, but it doesn't carry the same intrinsic emotive power it once did. It's aged, and aged well, but aged nonetheless. Given that, you probably aren't terribly excited about this reissue. I'll readily admit, I actually wasn't, either. The previous two large reissues (The Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here) were literally diametrically opposed in terms of quality. The former was incredibly lacklustre and a terrible letdown, whereas the latter was impressively mature and augmented the listening experience greatly. So my expectations for this one were pretty much "fuck if … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … Read more

Browse our review archives

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

A Storm of Light

Forgive Us Our Trespasses
Neurot (2009)

Following an impressive debut album (And We Wept the Black Ocean Within) and a nice split and collaborative release (see their record with Nadja called Primitive North), A Storm of Light give their latest album Forgive Us Our Tresspasses to show just how far the band has progressed in the interim. The ten new compositions that Josh Graham (Neurosis, Red Sparowes, (Fallen) Black Deer) and company offer on this new record push the boundaries of what the group did previously and traverse new sonic territory. Immediately, there is a noticeable change in the musical motifs that A Storm of Light wields as if the group underwent an evolutionary step between their albums. "Alpha (Law of Nature Pt. 1)," "Arc of Failure (Law of Nature Pt. 2)," and "Time Our Saviour … Read more

More album reviews

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

Tenement

Blind Wink
Cowabunga (2011)

Appleton, WI’s Tenement are a busy beast. The two-plus-piece band (featuring numerous guest musicians) released Napalm Dream in 2011, which I gave a heavy Replacements recommendation on. December 2011 saw the band already unleashing another record, this time the collection Blind Wink, available on varied formats from the likes of Cowabunga (LP), Hang Up (CD), and Dead Broke (cassette). With … Read more

The Hussy

Weed Seizure
Tic Tac Totally (2012)

Just a year ago I was writing about Cement Tomb Mind Control. Here we are in 2012, and the Madison, WI two-piece is already dropping their second full-length,Weed Seizure, on Tic Tac Totally Records. Considering the backbone of The Hussy is to play l-o-u-d garage rock, there isn’t a dramatic shift here in style. The changes are more in nuance.With … Read more

Tyburn Saints

You And I In Heaven
Independent (2012)

It’s truly a pleasure to be listening to new music from Tyburn Saints. Their last full length, 2010’s For the Benefit of Strangers, was a nice throwback to jangly lo-fi artists like The Jesus and Mary Chain and Galaxy 500. With this EP, the band has fully embraced the sonic landscapes of shoegaze and dream-pop, thus giving a more rewarding … Read more

Killington Fall

Keep Your Eyes To The Sea
Independent (2011)

I've reached the point where most post-rock albums start to sound the same. While I won't say I'm completely blasé, unless a band is pulling something out of left field, it's really difficult for a band to stand out. Alas, that is where British rockers Killington Fall find themselves with their 2011 release Keep Your Eyes to the Sea.Don't get … Read more

Various Artists

Drainland / Enabler - Split EP
Halo of Flies (2012)

Splits are, in general, a simultaneously good and bad thing. For each split that flows and feels strong through out (maybe even introduces you to a new band) there are probably 10 more that feel more like a way for bands to get rid of otherwise discarded songs. So with a bit of trepidation i grabbed this split and put … Read more

Enabler

Year One
Creator-Destructor (2011)

Enabler play a style of hardcore that takes clear influence from crust and metal (ala His Hero Is Gone). Over their first year they managed to release two EPs. Now to help those that lack tape decks and record players, Creator-Destructor has compiled these releases for the greater public. Year One contains the EPs Eden Sank to Grief and War … Read more

OSI

Fire Make Thunder
Metal Blade (2012)

OSI are extremely tough to nail down, and that's not just because they seem to have ins with every major progressive band in the books. Jim Matheos and Kevin Moore, the only two actual members of the band, come from such Fates Warning and Dream Theater respectively, and their guest musicians over their career have included names like Mike Portnoy … Read more

War

At War For Youth
Sacred Bones (2012)

Debut 7”, At War for Youth (the band has also released a split cassette) seems totally off-putting. It’s brash, terribly lo-fi, and haunting. There is a strong, almost mesmerising quality that springs forth from its murky depths of whatever genre you might classify it as. And to make it easy on you, let’s just say its post-punk/lo-fi/electronic/no-wave whatever music.Akin to … Read more

John K. Samson

Provincial
Anti (2012)

It’s already been four plus years since the last Weakerthans record. If I weren’t aging quickly myself, that would feel like a long time. While I’m not sure what’s up with their status as a band, ringleader John K. Samson set aside time in early 2011 to record his first solo record, Provincial. The frontman, known for his somewhat nasal … Read more

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