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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)

Timeshares

Bearable
Kind Of Like (2011)

When I first heard the NY band Timeshares, I knew they were going to be a punk band to lookout for. After excessively playing the few songs they had and their split with Captain, We’re Sinking, the guys finally released their first LP Bearable. I have to admit—it was definitely worth the wait. Each song off of Bearable varies in style, but this creates an incredible flow throughout the album. There is never a dull moment. One of the best things about this record, and Timeshares in general, is that you can’t pin-point who they are or what they are about. The music just feels genuine, like the only intention the band had was to make awesome music to be enjoyed. I’d say they accomplished that mission pretty damn well with Bearable . The record starts off strong with “From An Admirer Not Darryl,” a fast-paced song that is sure to grab your attention and get you interested in the entire record. The variation on Bearable is what really makes the record so good, and I just can’t get over it. None of the tracks feel like filler material because there is a song for every musical taste and for … Read more

Greys

Brightly Our Stars Did Shine As The Sea Reached Into The Sky
Music Ruins Lives (2011)

After being slowly consumed by the subtle graces of In Fades (the debut cassette from this project), the longing for … Read more

Bayonet

Self Titled
Mightier Than Sword (2011)

Bayonet is a Jersey super group or sorts. taking members from such bands as Senses Fail, The Banner among others. … Read more

Tommy Stinson

One Man Mutiny
Done To Death Music (2011)

In the long-honored tradition of solo records from Guns N’ Roses members, Tommy Stinson delivers One Man Mutiny. Of course, … Read more

Scythia

...Of Exile
Independent (2011)

I admit, I sometimes forget folk metal actually exists. Sure, I toss around the term frequently when discussing Opeth, but … Read more

Servile Sect

TRVTH
Handmade Birds (2011)

Do you ever cringe whenever a music critic or what have you precludes a genre of music (which sometimes makes … Read more

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One from the archives

Radio War

The Rising of the Talentless
Copper Lung (2008)

Richmond has always had an impressive hardcore scene, so it's no surprise to hear good things from the city in Radio War. The Rising of the Talentless is the band's first label release and the second for upstart Copper Lung Records. This 7" comes packed with four tracks of gritty and groove-heavy hardcore punk. "The Boy Gangs of Richmond" is a nice building number that demonstrates that a hardcore band can show some restraint and still capture the intensity of aggressive music. Radio War chugs through this EP with a concoction of metallic hardcore, also showing hints of influence from d-beat mainstays Tragedy. Lyrically, the songs mostly focus on discussing sociological issues. Overall, a solid band that I'm looking forward to hearing more from. P.S. I can't believe they named … Read more

More album reviews

Grouper

AIA: Alien Observer
Yellow Electric (2011)

Oh the dreamy sounds of Grouper, how is it that you so mellifluously consume my both my conscious and subconscious mind while your records turn on my turntable, and why can I not control my hand each time that it flips your vinyl platters in a near incessant buffeting of my weary mind? AIA: Alien Observer is the sister album … Read more

Grouper

AIA: Dream Loss
Yellow Electric (2011)

Where have you been all my life, and why in the name of hell have I missed out on you for these last several years? These two questions have been dominating my mind for the last four hours while exclusively listening to the latest two albums from Liz Harris, or more commonly known as Grouper; seriously, four hours of hazy … Read more

Ash Borer

Ash Borer
Pesanta Urfolk (2011)

YES! So this is without a doubt one of the five black metal releases that I can point to as my answer to the question regarding what black metal records (modern era only as I refuse to get into the nascent progenitors here) I like most because in my black metal dabbling journey, this is one of the better examples … Read more

Gnaw Their Tongues

Per Flagellum Sanguemque, Tenebras Veneramus
Crucial Blast (2011)

Nightmares are a hard thing to quantify. As they happen without any control or uniformity. The terror invoked can be quite real and seem silly later when described out loud. This is a problem many musicians have in trying to deal with dark, evil or, dare I say, nightmarish sounding music. Since the early days of metal (and possibly earlier) … Read more

Sutekh Hexen

Daemons
Dead Section (2011)

At this point, Sutekh Hexen is one of those groups that has reached full on obsession with me to the point where I could not say if there are days where I do not pop on something by them; Daemons (the second vinyl offering from the group) is a fine addition to the duo’s discography, which is quickly growing to … Read more

Boris

New Album
Sargent House (2011)

New Album is a bit of a misnomer, at least on this side of the pond. It was actually released all the way back in March in Japan, two months before Heavy Rocks and Attention Please were released globally. The rest of the world had to wait until November to get their paws on it. Somewhat frustratingly, there are actually … Read more

Action Bronson & Statik Selektah

Well Done
Dcide (2011)

Individually it has already been a busy year for both of these East Coast cats. Well Done marks the third release of 2011 for the culinary chemist-turned-rapper Action Bronson—following the the Bon Appetite…Bitch! mixtape and the impressive Dr. Lecter album—and the fifth for producer/DJ extraordinaire Statik Selektah, who dropped collabo joints with Freeway, Freddie Gibbs, and Freddie Foxxx, as well … Read more

Locrian

The Clearing
Fan Death (2011)

OK, so I finally get to sit down with album number four (or three depending on who you ask) from Locrian and not because I did not want to listen to this sucker; but rather I waited and waited to hear this spin on my turntable first until at last I gave in and listened to the advance copy that … Read more

Banner Pilot

Heart Beats Pacific
Fat Wreck Chords (2011)

I’ll be honest. I was kind of hoping somebody else would review this record. I like Banner Pilot. A lot. The reason I didn’t want to do this myself has more to do with the fact that I’ve reviewed their past couple releases and I’m not sure I can bring much new insight to the table. Nate Gangelhoff and Nick … Read more

Lonesummer

There Are Few Tomorrows For Feeding Our Worries
Music Ruins Lives (2011)

Philadelphia based one man band Lonesummer deal in black metal. Sorta. It's an interesting take on a genre which in recent years has become even more experimental, bands such as this adding layers of personality and tone to a style of music most people would likely associate with early 90's Norway. Thank the dark lord then for bands like Lonesummer. … Read more

Uneven Structure

Februus
Basick (2011)

It takes a lot of chutzpah to have a double-disc debut. That doesn't seem to faze French/Swedish band Uneven Structure, as proven by their debut release on Basick records, the 90-minute opus Februus.The first disc is one 55 minute unbroken suite. It takes a lot of cues from the thick, layered ambiance of bands like Dirge and the deep-seated spaciness … Read more

Sutekh Hexen

Luciform
Wands (2011)

After a number of demos and EPs the members of Sutekh Hexen have unleashed their debut LP upon the world. Unleashed seems to be the only fair way to describe the release of this record as any other terminology feels as though it is undermining the nastiness of this recording. While the band play a form of black metal it … Read more

Fucked Up

David Comes To Life
Matador (2011)

It was one of the most anticipated albums of the year, and was welcomed with such positive reception. Needless to say, my expectations were high. Chemistry of Common Life was one of my favorite albums of 2008 and the idea of Fucked Up writing a rock-opera was intriguing to me. Now it's months later, and I'm still trying to figure … Read more

Seven Sisters Of Sleep/Children Of God

Split
A389 (2011)

Dear lord is this ever one of the heaviest split records in quite a while, and I am sure that I don’t have to explain how that is saying something; but both bands on this could wreck your speakers on their own anytime so having them both on one slab of wax is a completely different kind of punishment altogether, … Read more

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