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)

Iroha

Self Titled
Denovali (2011)

Admittedly, I was knocked off my seat when I first heard Iroha (their split with Fragment, Bittersweet was an engaging listen) and immediately began awaiting the release of their first LP; but herein lies the problem, there was waiting and waiting and more waiting until I literally forgot about this record coming out at all (which certainly is a shame). After pre-ordering the album (yes, I still pay for my music), even more waiting ensued; and after enduring a minor calamity (long story involving crashing hard drives and sheer chaos), I finally was able to sit down with the first LP from Iroha. Now, there is a great deal being made of the sonic resemblance of Iroha to that of Jesu (with whom Iroha bassist Diarmuid Dalton has also performed and recorded); and while any notions to that effect are not inaccurate, it is certainly a disservice to Iroha to simply write the group off as a Jesu clone because there are subtle differences that do show a different perspective of that sound or style. Iroha is much more a band than Jesu and that comes through on the performances on the record as the songs sound more like a … Read more

Until Your Heart Stops

Errors
Creator-Destructor (2011)

This album begins with a short acoustic introduction. With tense melodic vocals leading to background screaming. this song lasts for … Read more

Symphony X

Iconoclast
Nuclear Blast (2011)

Dream Theater is beginning to stagnate. Queensrÿche has jumped the shark. Nobody even knows what Devin Townsend is on anymore. … Read more

Various Artists

Spraynard & Sundials - Split
Evil Weevil (2011)

Spraynard hail from Pennsylvania and they play a style of punk that blends the varied melodic subgenres of punk rock … Read more

Various Artists

Backslider & Nimbus Terrifix - Split
Give Praise (2011)

I have long been a fan of the split record format for a few reasons. The simplest one being a … Read more

Planning For Burial

Untitled
Music Ruins Lives (2011)

Do you listen to music that reflects your mood, or do you listen to music to alter just how you … Read more

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One from the archives

Keelhaul

Subject to Change Without Notice
Hydra Head (2004)

Remember when you and your friends formed your first band? It didn't matter what kind of music you were going to play. As long as you had a really awesome sounding name. So when a band takes the stage and screams "We are Keelhaul, from Cleveland, Ohio," I bet the first thing that pops into your head is what the heck is a keelhaul, or how the hell do you keelhaul something/someone. Webster's defines keelhauling as an act of "discipline by dragging under the keel of a ship." That should clue you into the type of music Keelhaul plays. After two previous full-lengths, the hardcore/metal quartet brings to the table their most versatile release to date. Drawing influence from technical metal, math-rock, and stoner/sludge, Keelhaul has carved themselves a niche … Read more

More album reviews

Random Axe

Self Titled
Duck Down (2011)

After a few years of anticipatory mixtapes, the debut album by Radom Axe has finally seen the light of day. A multiregional supergroup of sorts, Random Axe is comprised of three men who have cut their teeth in the hip-hop underground: Detroit’s Black Milk and Guilty Simpson and NYC’s Sean Price. Individually, these three carry lavish resumes, but as a … Read more

Balance and Composure

Separation
No Sleep (2011)

Separation is not a complicated album nor is it very diverse, yet Balance & Composure have managed to create a record that truly sets them apart from their peers. While that in itself is quite an accomplishment, what is astonishing is the fact that this is the bands debut full length. Though the name Balance & Composure may not stir … Read more

Cannabis Corpse

Beneath Grow Lights Thou Shalt Rise
Tankcrimes (2011)

You may think you know everything there is to know about Cannabis Corpse. Which is two things (maybe three if you're into Municipal Waste - as they share Philip "Landphil" Hall in common).They love Cannabis And Cannibal Corpse. Whilst these two statements are more than true, Cannabis Corpse are a damn fine band in their own right and Beneath Grow … Read more

Keith Canisius

This Time It's Our High
Darla (2010)

Keith Canisius is a lesser known musician who managed to be born in the USA and move himself out to Denmark. This album is not his first for certain. In the time between albums he has made a mark on the growing dream-pop and shoegaze scenes. The man has clearly been able to create a fan base using a backing … Read more

Various Artists

Homewrecker & The Love Below - Split
A389 (2011)

A389 Records announced earlier this year the signing of Homewrecker. The band play a nasty style of hardcore with nods to powerviolence and straight out heavy hardcore. While this may sound awkward the band work in these influences in a rather seamless manner. Those who have been paying attention to the site have probably heard of The Love Below. Having … Read more

40 Watt Sun

The Inside Room
Cyclone Empire (2011)

40 Watt Sun were borne from the ashes of English band Warning, a band that ceased to exist after only two full length albums (albums separated by seven years and an extensive hiatus). Their demise was much mourned in doom circles, and then this little gem came along to brighten the day. If slow, down-tempo riffs are the kind of … Read more

Elway

Delusions
Red Scare (2011)

Pop structures with gruff vocals? Check.Group singalongs at the chorus?Check.A lyrical focus on being lost in the world while simultaneously abusing alcohol semi-therapeutically?Check.There’s definitely a format at play for Elway, the Colorado band who just issued their debut on Red Scare Industries. Say what you will about the whole “beard punk” sub-subgenre, but I’m a sucker for it and Elway … Read more

Nick 13

Self Titled
Sugar Hill (2011)

Many were intrigued when Tiger Army frontman, Nick 13, first announced he’d be releasing a solo country album. It was a sound that fans were already familiar with from Tiger Army songs like “Outlaw Heart” and “The Long Road.” However, I’m not sure everyone was prepared for the genuine country vibe that Nick 13 managed to execute on this record. … Read more

Mock Orange

Disguised As Ghosts
Wednesday (2011)

Mock Orange took me completely by surprise. They only just came to my attention despite having been a band for nearly 2 decades. Although, they didn’t begin to gain some exposure until their third album, Nines and Sixes, in 1998. It’s 2011 now, and they still seem to be Indie’s little secret after the Spring release of Disguised As Ghosts.The … Read more

Heinali And Matt Finney

Conjoined
Independent (2011)

Heinali and Matt Finney are a meeting of the mind's in a way. Consisting of a spoken word artist (Finney) and a predominantly Ambient composer from the Ukraine (Heinali). The pair have never met and act as an internet only project. This may concern a few as rarely do these sort of projects make their own name, save for a … Read more

Dirge

Elysian Magnetic Fields
Division (2011)

Dirge, the self-described 'neurotic post-core' band from France, may have gotten just a bit big for their britches. Ever since Blight and Vision Below a Faded Sun was released in 2000, Dirge have been pushing the limits of how much space they can cram into their music and get away with it. 2004's And the Sky Shall Descend saw this … Read more

Isis

Live.05
Independent (2011)

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 albums unfortunately does not contain any new material, but for those of you who skipped acquiring them while the band was still active, some of these albums may satiate your … Read more

My Morning Jacket

Circuital
ATO (2011)

My Morning Jacket’s latest release titled Circuital, especially because of the first single “Holdin on to Black Metal,” has been called something of a long departure from their previous album, but Jim James and company remain consistent where it counts: in making great, rounded, listenable records. Circuital is chock-full of repetitious, exhaustive lyrics and chord progressions, but it more than … Read more

Kingdom

Threads
Dead Truth (2011)

In a time where the only things that garner a hardcore band’s attention is how heavy they are, it’s hard to find bands with an actual proactive message. Everywhere you turn, the next hype band has little to nothing to say lyrically but are the most talked about based on their music, which is usually beatdown at its most basic … Read more

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

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