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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)

Gifts From Enola

Self Titled
The Mylene Sheath (2011)

Gifts From Enola should be fairly recognizable to anyone into the post rock scene at this point. The Virginia based band have been putting out music and logging road time for the better part of 6 years at this point. The band have worked hard to progress their dynamics-laden post rock sound. So it comes as little surprise that after the well received From Fathoms LP the band went back into the studio to write more songs. With their chosen style most bands are good to zone out to without giving the listener anything to hold onto after the record has ended. Gifts tens to avoid this by including strong guitar hooks within their ambient / heavy dynamic. This record in itself begins with a strong opener "Lionized". The song progresses quickly into its many pieces making for an interesting if not slightly disconnected 8 minute opener. The song seems disconnected from the rest of the record as it plays to many of Gifts' strengths and adds additional layers but seems to have trouble keeping them connected at all times. In addition to this it ends with a turn of the century style jingle making it more separate from the … Read more

Caïna

Hands That Pluck
Profound Lore (2011)

Hands That Pluck is uncompromising. The final album under the Caïna name for (one man) band leader Andy Curtis-Brignell is … Read more

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 … 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

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One from the archives

Nadja & Picastro

Fool, Redeemer
Broken Spine (2011)

Hate me for it, but this release was the one that kind of soured me on Nadja and (in particular) all of their collaborations because, right from the word “go”, Fool, Redeemer was an absolute chore to sit through my first full listening “party” of the album; now, let me be up front and declare that given my obsession with the duo, I voraciously devour any and all music from Nadja or rather I did until this collaboration / split with Picastro and that is part of the problem in that everything about this album both refers to it as a split and a collaboration (and this confusion might be part of the issue for me). Now, while this may not be fair to Picastro (I had never heard anything … Read more

More album reviews

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 matter of attrition—two bands, one record. Sometimes it is seasoned vets paired with upstarts, like Misery and Hellspawn. Other times it’s the covers idea—each band's songs being covers of songs originally performed by the other bands, like the BYO Records … 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 are feeling? A simple question really but one that means serious implications for people’s listening habits, it certainly goes back to what Rob Gordon says in High Fidelity, “What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids … Read more

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

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