As a band, Killing Joke has had numerous peaks and valleys in their career over the past 30 plus years most recently with the death of longtime bassist Paul Raven. The band has been one of the few to successfully tap into different genres over the year’s punk, Goth, metal, rock and experimental dub to name a few. The band’s ability to effortlessly move between these different genres and try different things with their music has kept them fresh sounding even today. Killing Joke's desire to continuously evolve is one of their main attributes that have kept them on my radar for so long.The new release Absolute Dissent contains elements of what Killing Joke fans have come to appreciate and expect over their long career, in a package of a dozen new songs. The first two ‘Absolute Dissent’ and ‘The Great Cull’ bring in the early Killing Joke industrial / punk sound with screaming guitars and tribal drums the majority of Killing Joke’s fans love the band for. Songs like ‘European Super State’ and ‘In Excelsis’ hearken back to their 80’s club period and sound like ‘Eighties’ and ‘Love Like Blood’ but both sound fresh here and are not just … Read more
In 1957 the Soviet Union launched the first satellite into orbit. In 1969 Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins … Read more
Off With Their Heads have built a reasonable fanbase within the fest related punk scene. This is due to certain … Read more
Their first record for Matador; their first record featuring new bassist Marty Key: The Brutalist Bricks is a record of … Read more
Did you ever just want to pop on a record to zone out to while you are either doing work … Read more
Choose a year to view reviews of albums released in that year.
749 reviews
42 reviews
25 reviews
300 reviews
4881 reviews
19 reviews
Cave In has been on hiatus for a couple months now and Stephen Brodsky has decided to not sit still. Rumor has it he is working on a new solo album, there is a video being worked on for his solo stuff, and he finally got around to putting out a New Idea Society full length, a follow-up to their 2001 self-titled EP. Hey, Kid Kilowatt took eight million years, there is no reason why No Idea Society couldn't take close to four years. What is served up on this record is ten songs of Steven Brodsky and Mike Law (Euclid) performing some very mild indie-pop with a bit of a lo-fi vibe. In other words, these two got hold of a bunch of old Brian Wilson/Beach Boys LPs, went … Read more
Hailing from San Diego, California, The Bombpops are a female fronted quartet and a force to be reckoned with. Their 6 track debut EP, Like I Care delivers some of the quickest and most melodic punk tracks of the year! The Bombpops open up Like I Care with “Outta Hand.” Taking cues from 90’s skate-punk, “Outta Hand” delivers swift and … Read more
Neige, the sole contributor of Alcest, has stayed remarkably busy throughout 2010. Between his other projects (Lantlos, Ameseours) and the first actual set of stateside touring for Alcest. The man has been a consistent fixture in France's black metal scene throughout this decade. Much like the projects named above Alcest shares little with his More Blackened projects of past (Forgotten … Read more
It’s been four long years since the last STNNNG album. In that time, though, the band hasn’t wavered from their dynamic and aggressive style of confrontational rock. While original drummer Jeremy Ward may no longer play with them, Twin Cities veteran Ben Ivascu jumped in and, once the band felt comfortable as a unit, they finished up their third full-length: … Read more
Ever hear of the term “outsider” music? I have certainly seen the term thrown around when referring to different albums or artists and never quite understood how or why that particular artist or record was graced with such a vague descriptor when attempting to relate the music to someone or an audience of some sort. Well, if ever there was … Read more
It’s very rare that an album can be described as “charming.” However, it’s an appropriate way to describe indie-punk outfit The Thermals’ fifth full length album Personal Life. That’s until you get past the music and listen to the story.From the start, it’s apparent that The Thermals are taking a softer approach than previous works. Themes of love, loss, and … Read more
Here is a Cali band that has been performing together since seventh grade as a cover band doing Led Zeppelin tunes, now that they have matured and are seniors in high school it’s only natural that they release an album. I suppose it doesn’t hurt if your lead singer is the daughter of a famous musician like Layla “Brooklyn” Allman … Read more
Seattle based Nazca Lines have been garnering rave reviews since their formation in 2005 have a new three song EP which highlights the new and hopefully final incarnation of the band. Original members Cory Alfano and Brett Wedeking are here along with newcomers Andy King on drums and Ryan Minch on Bass. The first song on the EP “This Crippled … Read more
Well anyone that names themselves after Floorpunch most be good right? Well Twin Killing is. Fast youth crew styled hardcore with prerequisite breakdowns, singalongs, and everything else that makes a good hardcore good. However Twin Killing doesn't win any points in the originality bracket and everything on ...If This Could Last Forever you have heard before if you own anything … Read more
A recent SPB interview with Lauren Measure found that the band has released 18 pieces of wax so far in their career—yet Notes is only their second official full-length in that bunch. For being as prolific as they are, releasing a full album should be a big deal for the New Jersey four-piece. This one sees them making the jump … Read more
What do you get when you throw Jawbreaker and Alkaline Trio into a blender? One of the finest pop-punk albums of the year. The Gamits’ Parts takes a competent formula and uses it to keep the listener coming back for more.It doesn’t take long to notice this trio has an ear for melody. Parts gets right into it with the … Read more
Theta Naught have holed up in Salt Lake City after playing together since 2002. Omnium Gatherum, their fifth release, features more than one hour of instrumental music across 15 instrumental tracks. My introduction to Theta Naught, "The Sixth Planet," feels a little too drawn out, maybe because the song is pretty violin string-heavy in its mixing, which isn't to say … Read more
Midwestern Minutes is the fourth full-length from Defiance, Ohio. The band has crafted a sound that draws from Americana and Plan-It-X-style DIY pop punk. The instrumentation of the six-piece adds to their distinction. While the members split songwriting and lead vocal duties, there is a communal feel as most of their songs end up with a group chorus leading the … Read more
The first track sounds like Kid Dynamite so right away I thought I found a new melodic hardcore band to fall in love with. Then there's track two...okay...this sounds like Quicksand or Handsome. The only way I can tell it's the same band is the vocals, which are far too gruff for this type of post hardcore rock. It's still … Read more
Night Owls are a relatively new rock band from Syracuse New York. They have ex-members of some notable bands from hardcore recent past, but they only one I'd like to mention is Spark Lights the Friction who put out a great album on Trustkill many moons ago. Anyhow, Night Owls play rocking post hardcore that reminds of Quicksand boxing it … Read more
Looking for the SPB logo? You can download it in a range of styles and colours here:
Click anywhere outside this dialog to close it, or press escape.