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)

Municipal Waste

Massive Aggressive
Earache (2009)

Municipal Waste's popularity blew up in 2007 with The Art of Partying, an album with almost every song revolving around drinking, partying, or just having a good time. It was the perfect soundtrack to any frat party but those who are looking for the sequel to that should turn the other way, as their new album, Massive Aggressive sees the band taking a more serious approach lyric-wise but still maintaining that heavily D.R.I.-influenced crossover thrash sound that they do so well. Don't worry thrash fans, just because the lyrics are less humorous on this album doesn't mean that this album is any less fun to listen to. Municipal Waste haven't changed much from musical standpoint. Just about every song is full of driving thrash riffs, shout along gang vocals (see "Wrong Answer" and "Media Skeptic") and that fierce, headbanging inducing sound that Municipal Waste are known for. There's also a few parts where guitarist Ryan waste throws in a few melodic leads to add some more touch to the tracks like the introduction to the opening track, "Masked by Delirium." He even throws in a few welly executed solos ("Wolves Of Chernobyl"). Many of these leads carry a NWOBHM feel … Read more

Merit

Arson is for Lovers
Independent (2009)

Merit is from upstate New York and annoys the living fuck out of me. Sadly Merit wants to be Paramore. … Read more

Banner Pilot

Collapser
Fat Wreck Chords (2009)

Banner Pilot's last album, Resignation Day earned them a lot of praise among punk fans. To me, I thought it … Read more

Black Boned Angel

The Endless Coming to Life
20 Buck Spin (2008)

Sometimes, curiosity completely gets the best of me, as is the case with my musical listening habits. And because of … Read more

Disembodied

Psalms of Sheol
Prime Directive (2009)

As the crushing, bottom heavy sonic force of "Enochian Prayer" plays, the only thought running through my mind is: "YES! … Read more

Merauder

God is I
Regain (2009)

Oh hey what do you know, Merauder is back. For those that don't remember, Merauder put out the classic crossover … Read more

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One from the archives

Lamella

Love Versus Dirt
Contract Killers (2006)

I'll openly admit to the fact that the vast majority of my music preferences fall to the heavy side of the medium. However, there are times in my life when I just want to get away from all of that and chill out to something that is non-threatening and created for relaxing. Love Versus Dirt, the first full-length from the one-man project Lamella, is an ideal selection for a mood such as that. Lamella is an ambient solo-project and brainchild of Austin, Texas based musician Loren Dent. I don't really know much about his background as a composer of music other than he is a member of the post-rock group Purchase New York. But unlike that group, the music that he has created under his Lamella moniker is of a … Read more

More album reviews

Cub Country

Stretch That Skull Cover and Smile
Future Farmer (2009)

I honestly did not think that Jeremy Chatelain was still active as Cub Country seeing as how it has been some time since his last record, Stay Poor, Stay Happy back in 2004. But here we have Stretch That Skull Cover and Smile as proof that Cub Country is still alive and kicking. Cub Country is the alt-country project of … Read more

Water & Bodies

Water & Bodies
Rain City (2009)

One of the newest bands to come out of Portland, Water & Bodies are looking to make an impact in the music world. Despite only forming a few months before, they have already recorded an EP and are hoping it'll lead to great things. Judging from this EP, it will be a while before they make an impact, maybe even … Read more

Polar Bear Club

Chasing Hamburg
Bridge Nine (2009)

Polar Bear Club is essentially the musical version of the story, The Little Engine that Could. Here we have a band, that started out merely four years ago, playing shows wherever they could when the mood struck them to do so. With their debut EP, there was great promise; everyone that heard it realized it. But it really didn't click … Read more

Cable

The Failed Convict
The End (2009)

Exciting is a good term to use to describe the feelings from Cable putting out another album, particularly after they had apparently called it quits. Thankfully, their farewell turn juiced the band up enough to write and record a new album. The Failed Convict is the latest album from the Cable institution and the first with guitarist Bernie Romanowski in … Read more

Jon Snodgrass

Visitor's Band
Suburban Home (2009)

Jon Snodgrass used a sling a guitar in Armchair Martian and Drag the River but decided to go with the singer-songwriter route and dropped Visitor's Band on us in 2009. I never familiarized myself with the country-fried Drag the River. However, I recall Armchair Martian being a guitar heavy pop-punk rock band that Bill and Stephen from ALL always seem … Read more

For.The.Win.

The Black & The Blue
Asian Man/Solidarity (2009)

The Bay Area has always been known for producing some great punk acts. One up-and-coming band is the newest addition to the Asian Man family, For.The.Win. This three-piece play a pretty solid mixture of melodic punk and positive hardcore on their debut album, The Black & The Blue. What we have here is about twenty minutes of sometimes hardcore, sometimes … Read more

Andrew W.K.

55 Cadillac
Skyscraper Music Maker (2009)

If I were to comprise a short list of individuals that I would love to sit down and just have an open-ended conversation with, Andrew W.K. would be at the head of that list. No doubt in my mind. For whatever reason, everything that he does has me on the edge of my seat. The multi-talented W.K. returns with 55 … Read more

Wino

Punctuated Equilibrium
Southern Lord (2009)

What is more difficult to believe? That Wino is releasing his first solo album in his music career or that his music career is as long and solid as it has been? A pillar of consistency with stints in the Obsessed, St. Vitus, Spirit Caravan, The Hidden Hand, and the coming soon Shrinebuilder (along with members of Neurosis, The Melvins, … Read more

True Colors

Rush of Hope
Powered (2009)

The European hardcore scene has always fascinated me, and for many reasons. But perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the world of hardcore on the other side of the Atlantic is that it always comes of as very nostalgic. I don't mean that in a disrespecting way, but more times than not, it seems as though the Euros go out … Read more

Pussygutt

She Hid Behind Her Veil
20 Buck Spin (2008)

Pussygutt is a two-piece ambient droning doom outfit. Well, not exactly but a more accurate description may be given as Pussygutt is a group that works their magic with two actual members and a revolving cast of collaborators as its two masterminds (Brittany McConnell and Blake Green) see fit. She Hid Behind Her Veil is the third album from the … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Lanterns

Apocalypse Youth
Independent (2008)

Apocalypse Youth, this EP from San Diego band Lanterns is best described with one word: rich. It's a pop album that is rich in sound and rich in harmonies. The five songs here are surprisingly noisy for a band playing such a delicate kind of music, booming from every corner with loud drums and feedback. The guitar slings echo deeply … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Black Market Fetus / In Defence

Split
Give Praise (2009)

Split 7" releases are great when both bands are good. And luckily this time both Black Market Fetus and In Defence are good underground groups and this nasty little piece is as sweet as it is short- seven songs pass by hastily but it's certainly good enough to warrant repeated listens. Another positive is that both bands differ slightly in … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Useless I.D.

The Lost Broken Bones
Suburban Home (2009)

The Lost Broken Bones is the first release on Suburban Home for this four-piece from Israel. This is my first exposure to this band, but they have been together for quite some time. Recorded at The Blasting Room, sonically all the right buttons are pushed. Sometimes the vocals veer into Unwritten Law territory, but I guess this is a chicken … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Red Light Driver

…and Now We Can Be Ourselves
MFT (2009)

Get out the lava light kids, and get ready to take a trip! Okay, maybe not that wacked out, but the influence is there. Produced by Paul Mahern (of Zero Boys fame), this band's debut full-length hits all the right buttons. Fans of 90's rock will hear Ride, Echo & The Bunnymen, maybe even a little Julian Cope. It's hard … Read more

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