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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)

Planet Asia

Black Belt Theater
Wandering Worx (2012)

Planet Asia has built a long history in underground hip hop. While certainly not the best known to most he has built his career from the ground up. Through failed major label deals and a lack of recognition he has made himself known through his hard work and consistency. Most rappers couldn't be bothered with the struggles he has gone through but He seems to come out of the struggles better for it. In the last year or two he has managed to gain a resurgence with a handful of releases and his willingness to mentor younger rappers (probably the best known being Fashawn). So that leaves us with his newest work Black Belt Theater. He has always managed to incorporate a well rounded mix of gangster and emotion within his style and that has certainly not changed. most of the lyrics revolve around his history in the ghettos of Fresno. So with this the listener can glean a strong sense of realism within his rhymes. This allows each line to be felt much stronger than the rappers that talk in gangster-isms within the mainstream. The vocals are performed with a strong sense of cadence and general feeling without ever … Read more

Chimp Spanner

All Roads Lead Here
Basick (2012)

I will say, right off the bat, the composition ability of Paul Ortiz, a.k.a. Chimp Spanner, is undeniably top-notch, as … Read more

Spoonboy

The Papas
Fuck You is a Seven Letter Word (2011)

Do you like songs about gender issues, white male privilege, masculinity, and society in general? If not, you may want … Read more

Maker

Mirrors
6131 (2011)

Maker have been a band for a few years now crawling out of the Massachusetts hardcore scene. The band play … Read more

Les Discrets

Ariettes Oubliées...
Prophecy Productions (2012)

France's Les Discrets have been active for nigh on nine years, yet are only on the cusp of their second … Read more

Sleigh Bells

Reign Of Terror
Mom + Pop (2012)

Derek Edward Miller and Alexis Krauss start this record like it's a Van Halen concert. They're tricking you into thinking … Read more

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One from the archives

Bearcubs

Underwaterfall EP
All Points (2017)

25-year-old English producer and DJ Jack Ritchie, aka Bearcubs, first attracted the attention of the BBC's new music arm, BBC Introducing, after uploading some of his tracks to their website. This piqued the interest of the BBC Introducing team, and saw Ritchie's experimental electronica get praise from the likes of Annie Mac and Huw Stephens. This was followed by the release of the infectiously catchy single "Touch" and his 2016 EP Chroma. Each release was laced with the lithe synth-based music that makes up his latest EP Underwaterfall.The EP packs a lot into its 20 minutes, with a focus on sensation ("Burning Up", "Underwaterfall") and perception ("False Mirrors") that's driven by woozy, enveloping synths. Bearcubs channels the minimalist production values of Jamie xx and blends it with understated vocals that … Read more

More album reviews

Let Me In

The Bag
Penthar Music (2011)

When I was asked to write a review for the band Let Me In’s debut album, The Bag and they were categorized as an Italian pop/punk band I was a bit intrigued. One thing that jumps at the listener from the start of the record is that these guys know how to rock. Italy isn’t known for producing pop-punk bands … Read more

Pallbearer

Sorrow And Extinction
Profound Lore (2012)

Arkansas residents Pallbearer have been a band to watch out for ever since the release of a fantastic three track demo in 2010. Featuring two original compositions ("Devoid of Redemption" and "The Legend" having been re-recorded for this release) and a cover track, this demo served to have many take note of this doom-laden quartet and the hopes for a … Read more

Shell Shag

Fuck Society
Mauled by Tigers (2012)

What if you could have all the great hits of the early 90s on one record: Liz Phair, INXS, Archers of Loaf all on one easy-to-manage collection? Okay, so this cover set from Brooklyn’s Shell Shag also includes DIY punk like Underground Railroad to Candyland and AK77, as well as songs from The Descendents, The Wipers, Warsaw, and The Undertones. … Read more

Cursive

I Am Gemini
Saddle Creek (2012)

Oh, our beloved Cursive--shall we never hear another Ugly Organ from you? No, we shall not, so stop asking for one. For three albums now, Cursive have been bounded to their undeniable masterpiece, The Ugly Organ, and have been expected to reach that plateau with each subsequent release. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't one of those fans, … Read more

Jet Black

Escape Measures
Self Released (2011)

There has been a resurgence over the past few years of Shoegaze style rock. While many of the more known bands of this style tend to mix it with other genres at this point (Alcest mixing black metal or Ringo Deathstar with some electronic music). Needless to say most bands take what is useful to them from the genre and … Read more

Settle For Less

Contemporary
6131 (2011)

Since the rise of Brand New out of the emo scene (around the time Deja Entendu was released) there have been a number of bands trying to make the most of that style. While said style isn't complicated it does require a few things that most bands that copy them can't quite pull off. Settle For Less at times seem … Read more

Lasting Impression

301.9
Self Released (2012)

Hardcore really isn’t my thing. Still, every once and a while I like to break out of my comfort zone with something different. Lasting Impression, hailing from LaCrosse, WI, refer to themselves as “high energy hardcore.” There are a number of scenes or bands that could be name-dropped, but sticking with the basics as they do seems a solid approach. … Read more

Chryst

PhantasmaChronica
Omniversal (2011)

Perhaps it's best I start with this: I really, really want to like this album. Chryst's epic monstrosity PhantasmaChronica is usually the kind of stuff I actively seek out. I'm one applaud a band for taking the risk of writing a 50-minute operatic black metal suite. But I keep finding myself coming back to one hitch: the style of an … Read more

Ghoul

Transmission Zero
Tankcrimes (2011)

Oakland's Ghoul are a mysterious bunch, going by pseudonyms, apparently hailing from Creepsylvania (a quick Google map check tells me this isn't actually a real place), and looking like they just stepped off a 70's horror flick set. Sounds crazy. And it kinda is, but what else would you expect from a band with a Kill-bot and members (supposedly) of … Read more

Locrian & Mamiffer

Bless Them That Curse You
Sige\Land Of Decay\Profound Lore\Daymare (2012)

Without a doubt in my mind, Bless Them That Curse You is one of those releases that without hearing a single note of music, people will immediately become excited by the prospects of just such a pairing (hell, I know I did when both groups of musicians began posting pictures of recording sessions and pictures of pieces of paper outlining … Read more

Twitch The Ripper

Bodiless
Independent (2011)

Connecticut’s Twitch the Ripper is comprised of duo Jon Dobyns and Lonn Bologna. Bodiless is their debut album, which is deeply invested in the Dark Wave genre; emphasising the synth-heavy pop and Industrial elements.The album’s opening track quickly sets the tone for the next 45 minutes that this record lasts; within the first 4 bars strong echoes of Pretty Hate … Read more

My Dad Vs. Yours

Little Symphonies
MDVY (2011)

They must be putting something in the water in Canada if the staggering amount of great bands to have appeared from the Great White North in recent years is any indication. For those of you that are mentally compiling a list, then prepare to add yet another with the post-rock group My Dad Vs. Yours. Virtually disappearing after their first, … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Less Than Jake

Losing Streak (Reissue)
Sleep It Off (2011)

It’s been close to fifteen years since Less Than Jake first released Losing Streak and now holding the rights, they’re re-releasing it with redesigned artwork and a live version of the album (a DVD in the physical release and mp3 format in the digital). Whilst Losing Streak isn’t the best of their albums, that accolade really belongs to Hello Rockview, … Read more

Lana Del Rey

Born To Die
Polydor (2012)

Elizabeth Grant, now better known as Lana Del Rey, aka the ‘Gangster Nancy Sinatra’, or as one of the more prominent faces in the ‘New Boring’ movement that threatens to dominate the charts for a considerable period of time, now releases her debut album, if you ignore the one released under her real name, Born to Die just a few … 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)