Recent reviews

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)

Ninja Gun

Roman Nose
Sabot Productions (2011)

Ninja Gun draws from a lot of sources, playing in the Suburban Home-style market of alt country derived from obtuse punk influences. They tend to eschew chord progressions in favor of soft music and easy articulation built from the steady, honest delivery of their frontman Johnathan Coody. Roman Nose is their latest EP, this one coming from Sabot Productions. Ninja Gun’s style is mellow and maybe a little coy. The band draws from country, but their delivery and dominant sound are more steeped in power pop, with the country influence honing the lyrical tone and the somber, reflective atmosphere while the music is more ethereal with a touch of Southern eeriness at its backdrop. Coody keeps the mood steady, never bursting into angry aggression or sorrowful misery, but walking a calm line down the middle. If there is a fault, it’s that Coody’s delivery is so even keel that it can lull the listener at times, without the dynamics to push forth a more positive energy. For a band with two guitars, this record is surprisingly calm throughout. The music is collected, with layered acoustic guitars and careful arrangements that maintain an emotional gray area. “That’s Not What I Heard” … Read more

Explosions in the Sky

Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
Temporary Residence (2011)

Explosions In The Sky proudly create post-rock music that, though sounding simple, is far from being simplistic. Consistency remains a … Read more

Jesu

Ascension
Calo Verde (2011)

Ah Justin Broadrick how you torture my twisted mind with your teasing Jesu EPs and side projects and reunions and … Read more

Big China & Little Trouble

Lo-Panning
Magic Bullet (2011)

Have you ever seen the schlock masterpiece that is Big Trouble In Little China with its crazy martial arts story … Read more

Swingin' Utters

Here, Under Protest
Fat Wreck Chords (2011)

You can’t accuse Swingin’ Utters of phoning it in. Here, Under Protest is the band’s first studio record in eight … Read more

Tyler, The Creator

Goblin
XL Recordings (2011)

By definition, a goblin is an ugly, evil creature of legend; a lowly monster of sin and filth, and represents … Read more

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One from the archives

Kaada & Patton

Bacteria Cult
Ipecac (2016)

John Erik Kaada and Mike Patton. Two great tastes that taste great together. It's been twelve long years since the pair released Romances - a sometimes lush sometimes harsh always beautiful collection of soundscapes.Bacteria Cult is the sum total of two artists that have grown into their own and are completely at ease with what they each can bring to the table. Both are now coming into the collaboration with much more soundtrack experience and it shows in the cinematic scope of the album.Whereas Romances consisted of ambient ideas, Bacteria Cult has more defined themes with each song painting their own crystal-clear visage.Rarely quotes in promo materials are accurate, but Kaada has described the album as residing "in the twilight zone where spooky and seductive meet". This serves as a … Read more

More album reviews

After Oblivion

Vultures
Independent (2011)

After Oblivion have an extremely modest discography under their belt—a debut EP and that same EP repackaged in a split album. I suppose that this should have tipped me off that After Oblivion weren't necessarily up to snuff yet, but I can't help but feel after listening to Vultures that I went into this particular EP with my expectations too … Read more

Mug

Self Titled
Independent (2011)

Müg are a pretty new band on the punk scene of London, yet they're already making waves and booking shows left, right and centre. Formed between friends and colleagues and featuring a drummer who had never before drummed, Müg are firmly stamping their mark on the punk rock world. This coming year sees them playing Amplitude Festival, supporting The Flatliners, … Read more

Pulling Teeth

Funerary
A389 (2011)

Pulling teeth have always taken the term metalcore to an almost literal degree. Much like Integrity has done in the sense that for every breakdown there is a strong guitar solo or heavy thrash riff. The band found more than a couple detractors with their last release Paranoid Delusions | Paradise Illusions . While im not certain if that was … Read more

Seraphim

The Light In The Distance
A389 (2011)

Seraphim created a good bit of buzz with an EP release last year on A389. What the Ep proved is that this 3 piece was capable of creating an immense amount of power with very little bells and whistles to speak of. While many bands are capable of making a memorable first release very few can take those strengths and … Read more

Pala

We Don't Exist
A389 (2011)

Pala are a band that went seemingly unnoticed upon release of their debut EP. While the band did have some growing to do they managed to have the pieces to make an interesting sound overall. This growth was embraced a little more on their follow up split with In The Hollows. While both releases did seem to drift under the … Read more

The Kills

Blood Pressures
Rough Trade (2011)

Allison Mosshart is one sassy bitch (meant only as an endearing term… honestly). What, you doubt this statement or just flat out refuse to believe it? Go get Blood Pressures from her less known and, in my opinion, much better outfit The Kills (you may better know her as the lead singer of the Jack White group The Dead Weather). … Read more

Beastie Boys

Hot Sauce Committee Part 2
Capitol (2011)

As is common place whenever the Beastie Boys release an album, there is cause for celebration—usually the popular music of the time has grown stagnant, and, on average, it’s been at least three years since the last Beasties’ release. This time jubilation is even more warranted, as this record almost didn’t see the light of day. Scheduled to be released … Read more

Khuda

Iecava
Field (2011)

Khuda are extremely good at making me feel uncomfortable in new and interesting ways. For only two people, Tom Brooke and Steve Myles have done a lot to take the standard post-metal formula and twist some new life into it. And though the result is a bit confusing at first, it's certainly an interesting and rewarding listen.The first thing that … Read more

Weekend Nachos

Black Earth
A389 (2011)

Since the release of 2009’s Unforgivable, Weekend Nachos has been taking the hardcore scene by storm with their signature blend of modern down-tuned hardcore and old-school powerviolence. Signing on to work with A389 Records, run by Pulling Teeth guitarist Dom Romero, the band has crafted the four-song EP, Black Earth. The album wastes no time with the title track, creating … Read more

Ancient Shores

Step To The Edge
A389 (2011)

This may not come as a shock to anyone, but West Virginia isn’t exactly the breeding ground for heavy music. Anyone that has crossed into the state’s border would know that it’s the estranged son of the south. However, sometimes a shock will come in the form of a band emerging from the most unexpected of places and ripping your … Read more

Wovenhand

The Threshingfloor
Sounds Familyre (2011)

After taking some nighttime cold medicine and falling asleep to Lawrence of Arabia, you awaken bleary-eyed alongside an endless stretch of desert highway, the endlessly distant horizon broken up only by the vague figures of far off mesas. Stumbling to your feet, you lurch past the desiccated remains of an antique cantina just as a dirt-crusted radio sputters to life … Read more

Silverstein

Rescue
Hopeless (2011)

They say if it ain't broke, don't fix it but I wish someone hadn't told Silverstein that. Rescue is the definition of a generic post hardcore album, which at this point in their career is a little disappointing. Though old fans will feel right at home with Rescue, those looking for more of the progress we heard on A Shipwreck … Read more

The Phantom Carriage

New Thing
Throatruiner (2011)

I first came across The Phantom Carriage whilst browsing bandcamp for new things to hear. I tag searched black metal, saw the cover and clicked download. I wasn't quite prepared for what happened next. This record does have some black metal elements, but there's also hardcore, some mathcore, some jazz. Yes, jazz. New Thing is one of the maddest albums … Read more

Atmosphere

The Family Sign
Rhymesayers (2011)

Atmosphere’s MC, Slug has made a career, literally, out of exploiting and exercising his own personal demons as well as of those around him. He has an uncanny knack for telling a deeply personal story—sometimes his, sometimes someone else’s—all while moving the crowd. In short, he’s the heart-on-his-sleeve guy who rocks the party. Though, as Slug gets older, there’s a … Read more

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