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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)

Omnium Gatherum

New World Shadows
Lifeforce (2011)

As I listen to New World Shadows, the latest opus from Finland's Omnium Gatherum, I am awash in triumphant and majestic riffs that are far prettier than anything that a sub-genre of death metal should ever produce. But therein lies the rub. The reason I stay up at nights listening to New World Shadows followed by Scream Bloody Gore. These are not the same. Should they be considered in the same genre? The same sentence? The same subtext? The answer is.... I don't know. But I do know this album makes my balls tingle when I hear it. Melodic metal is something I have had to come to terms with in my declining years, casting aside the thoughts that metal is the soundtrack for punching things and hate sex, not to envision lush landscapes and unicorns.Ok, this isn't unicorn music, but it really does create a dichotomy of the beauty and the brutality that is somewhat ahead of it's time. Sure metal and heavy music in general isn't the one-trick pony it used to be. It can send the listener to a whole brochure of different destinations besides the ninth circle of hell.Omnium Gatherum know this and use it to … Read more

Crowbar

Sever The Wicked Hand
E1 (2011)

What can be said about Crowbar that hasn't already been said? Easily one of the heaviest band's in modern metal … Read more

Broken Gold

Recovery Journal
Volcom (2011)

When a band names their record Recovery Journal it should come as no surprise that the dominant impression is one … Read more

Austerity

Self Titled LP
Deathsmile (2010)

After some blind stroke of luck and the whims of fate, I picked this cassette tape up along with another … Read more

The Last Felony

Too Many Humans
Lifeforce (2010)

This band is what one supposes would be the great Canadian deathcore hope. That is to say they follow in … Read more

Bob Mould Band

Live At ATP 2008
Granary Music (2010)

A new live record finds the artist covering all phases of his storied career with whiplash intensity. Husker Du, Sugar … Read more

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One from the archives

Brendan Kelly & The Wandering Birds

I'd Rather Die Than Live Forever
Red Scare Industries (2012)

I’ve never thought of Brendan Kelly as much of a singer. Sure, I’ve followed his career—hell, Slapstick played at the first real DIY show I ever saw—but he’s always been in that category of “punk vocalist,” who relies on attitude far more than vocal chops. As such, I had pretty mixed feelings coming into his solo project Brendan Kelly & the Wandering Birds for their debut full-length I’d Rather Die than Live Forever. Brendan Kelly & the Wandering Birds, though, is a different beast than his Wasted Potential material in 2010. There, he did the singer-songwriter thing with an acoustic guitar. The Wandering Birds is a full band, and they don’t waste time is introducing the concept. Opener “Suffer the Children, Come unto Me” is a rocker. Sure, it starts … Read more

More album reviews

LEADTHEWAY

And In Vengeance We Strike
Not Shy Of The DIY (2011)

LEADTHEWAY has been around since 2002, but they broke up once in 2004. By 2009, they were back together and self-released their debut full length, And In Vengeance We Strike, through online music outlets. After nearly a decade since their incarnation, the band finally found a label to give their debut album a proper release. They open the record with, … Read more

Hotels

On The Casino Floor
Hidden Shoal (2011)

On The Casino Floor is the newest album from the Seattle-based band Hotels, this release is a seven-song concept album that tells the story of a secret agent and his attempts to save the world from an evil galactic prince. Overall the album has a more refined sound than “Where Hearts Go Broke” their previous release, gone are the Devo … Read more

As They Sleep

Dynasty
Solid State (2011)

This album starts with a quick drum blast jumping right into the sort of melodic death metal that was popular a couple years ago. Apparently As They Sleep is pretty consistent in their style. The band is part of the recent signings to Solid State Records and seems like a perfect fit. This is heavy spirit filled metal to put … Read more

The Famine

The Architects Of Guilt
Solid State (2011)

The Famine are certainly not a new band per se. They contain overly experienced members of the band Emboyment. While Their previous band seems largely forgotten The Famine have set out to make a name for themselves far beyond their previous band and christian metal itself. The Famine have also changed since their last album 3 years ago. Replacing members … Read more

Football, Etc.

Away Game Football
Count Your Lucky Stars (2010)

Football, Etc. are a Texas three piece and this is the most recent piece of their shortly building discography. There is much to be said about the trend of bringing back 90's style emo. Whether this is applied to the poorly named Skramz genre with bands such as Daitro or the more melodic midwest style that bands like Balance And … Read more

Son Of Man

Self Titled EP
Good Times (2011)

Son Of Man are a new band from California. They exemplify the new school of what gets referred to as Holy Terror style hardcore. While i refuse that genre suggestion this is merely a very strong metallic hardcore EP. There is very little to be known about the band but they play heavy and hard. The Guitars screech and squeal … Read more

Sailors With Wax Wings

Self Titled LP
Angel Oven (2010)

Alright, alright, so this is completely a love / hate affair with this record. It has nothing to do with the music or the sound quality; basically, I did not get the record at first (you know like understand it at all). Then summarily dismissed the Sailors With Wax Wings as simply OK but nothing that completely blew my mind … Read more

The Young International

Self Titled EP
Paper Swan (2011)

The Young International is a new band you should know about, if you are into lush pop music laden with hooks. The band manages to put a unique spin on a familiar sound and works it to their advantage, they seem new but feel like old friends. You know after listening to this EP we will hear more from them … Read more

Cradle Of Filth

Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa
Peaceville (2011)

Most people already have a clear opinion of Cradle Of Filth. Generally speaking the band are rather polarizing and have done little over time to change that fact. While some opinions may be unfounded, the band also do much to make the most of their fanbase. The band plays a very dramatized style of what could almost be called Orchestral … Read more

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead

Tao Of The Dead
Superball (2011)

…And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead are at their best when they are at their biggest, and Tao of the Dead is a big album. Don’t be fooled by the track list when you see a majority of the songs clocking in at two minutes. This album is massive. Like a dinosaur running through your house … Read more

Sleeping in the Aviary

Great Vacation!
Science Of Sound (2010)

Sleeping in the Aviary begin Great Vacation! with a sparse, plodding guitar line that builds into the skeletal indie-folk of “Y.M.C.A. (No, Not That One)”. Instead of starting with a rocker, this sets a tone that showcases their many elements: quirky poppiness, lyrics that border between absurd and genuine, and a penchant for the big, memorable refrain. The record plays … Read more

Tristan Clopet

Purple EP
Sussex (2011)

Whenever anyone is described as a blend of Jeff Buckley and Anthony Kiedis like Tristan Clopet is an alarm goes off in my head, having been a Jeff Buckley fan for years and back and forth with the Chili’s as I like most of their overall catalog. I must admit after my first listen I was surprised by pretty much … Read more

Rot in Hell

As Pearls Before Swine
Deathwish Inc. (2011)

This record has been a long time coming. It had been announced quite awhile back with little to no info given to anyone outside of the Deathwish camp. In the meantime Rot In Hell went about further building their name as one of the next great European Hardcore bands. Rot In Hell are generally related to the sound Integrity has … Read more

Mind Spiders

Self Titled LP
Dirtnap (2011)

The Marked Men were the best band you’ve never heard. Well, one of them anyway. The beloved-by-some, under-the-radar-of-most band from Denton, TX may have taken the dreaded “hiatus” last year, but the members didn’t go into hiding. Instead, guitarist Mark Ryan returns with a solo project under the moniker Mind Spiders. On the eponymous debut Ryan plays the majority of … Read more

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