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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)

Nightmare of You

Infomaniac
Brookvale/The Bevonshire Label (2009)

With the release of their self-titled debut in 2005 Nightmare of You made it a point to distance themselves from their post-The Movielife buzz and define their sound as something unique. The band's fusion of cool indie rock, Joy Division-inspired new wave, and Morrissey-like musings created quite a clamor with fans expecting output akin to their roots but everyone else was enamored with what they heard. Since then, the Long Island group has kept busy with a rigorous touring schedule and adventurous songwriting with the self-released Bang EP as well as a split 7" with brother-band This is Hell on Run for Cover Records. The band continued to gel Brit-pop with a flourishes of dance-pop, which kept in line with the band's original direction, but Infomaniac sees the band distancing themselves from this sound. Opening number "Good Morning, Waster" is essentially an acoustic piece that showcases the sweet harmonies of vocalist/guitarist Brandon Reilly layered over simplistic guitars brushes. Eventually the song jumps to a full-rock ensemble, but at this point, the song has about run its course and it just eases into the next track. "Eustacia Vye" is very much in line with the band's debut offering with its slightly … Read more

Necrophobic

Satanic Blasphemies
Regain (2009)

Necrophobic are one of the classics of the legendary old school Swedish death metal scene, along with underground titans such … Read more

Every Time I Die

New Junk Aesthetic
Epitaph (2009)

There's always a lot of different opinions surrounding the band Every Time I Die. A lot prefer the more chaotic, … Read more

The Creeps

These Walls
Black Pint (2009)

What much can I really say? This style has been done numerous times. The Creeps play infectious, upbeat punk, born … Read more

Soul Control

Cycles
Bridge Nine (2009)

Cycles marks a couple of firsts for Soul Control. After a slew of releases (an EP, a split 7", a … Read more

Bad Secrets

Bad Secrets
Robotic Empire (2009)

Considering the make up of this musical project, my interest is rather high with several questions bubbling to the surface, … Read more

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One from the archives

the_Network

This is Your Pig's Portrait
Black Market Activities (2007)

The_Network poises itself to be one of the weirdest albums of 2007 despite the fact that it was released on the twenty-third day of the year. While they were lead to write the songs on This is Your Pig's Portrait after attending a Bloodlet show, I don't think all but the most trained and knowing ears would pick Bloodlet as an influence on the band. While there is a good bit of the heavy, mid-placed groove of old Holy Terror bands, they mess around a lot with making grind kind of…poppy? Their blast beats have a weird jangle to them that sounds off to me, and I'm sure it's intentional since it's most frequently accompanied with screamo-squeals. And just as you're becoming acclimated to the oddities of the first minutes … Read more

More album reviews

Trapped Under Ice

Secrets of the World
Reaper (2009)

Normally it would concern me seeing the amount of hype leveled at a band, let alone one with only three short releases to their name. The demo was released only two years ago; it was energetic and capable but not truly breaking any ground. Then they got signed to Reaper Records and released Stay Cold, a short EP that was … Read more

David Moore

My Lover, My Stranger
Doghouse (2009)

My Lover, My Stranger is the first solo record from David Moore, formerly of Chamberlain and Split Lip. It is difficult to imagine Moore extricating himself completely from a self-imposed anonymity in order to refashion himself as some indie country troubadour, but from the sounds of this, at times, intimate album, he is attempting just such a feat. Considering the … Read more

Jesu

Infinity
Avalanche/Daymare (2009)

Is it strange that Jesu is finally releasing something new after a gap of some time longer than two months (a small exaggeration surely)? Infinity is an interesting direction for Justin Broadrick to go considering the trajectory of recent releases under the Jesu moniker, but his publicly proclaimed predilection for EP's and the opportunity for experimentation that they provide explain … Read more

We are the Living

Encouragement by Assault
Hungry Ghost Collective (2009)

Do not confuse this Louisiana band with the Tennessee band of the same name. Otherwise you will find yourself looking at a very nice flash based website with a band that has some really bad hair. Louisiana's We are the Living seem to have decent do's and play 90's influenced indie hardcore that you wouldn't be surprised to see on … Read more

Wolves in the Throne Room

Black Cascade
Southern Lord (2009)

Taking black metal by storm, or maybe pushing black metal out of the basements and into the conscious of many whom have ignored the genre thus far, Wolves in the Throne Room give the listening world their third full-length album, Black Cascade, as further evidence of their genre label being too constrictive. Wolves in the Throne Room seem to subscribe … Read more

Trigger Effect

Dare to Ride the Heliocraft
Signed by Force (2009)

When first opening this record, I glanced at the cover art, track titles, and album length and made the assumption that this band must sound pretty damn cocky and aggressive. And I was right for the most part. The fact that there are only two songs on the whole record that are over two minutes and considering the first track … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Reaching Hand

Threshold
Chorus of One/Thorp (2008)

We are off to Portugal for this five-piece female-fronted hardcore band. Reaching Hand play mid-tempo to fast chunky hardcore with nasally high pitched vocals. All the photos looks like the audience is having the time of their lives singing along and getting sweaty as the band jumps around on stage. If you liked Comeback Kid or even Have Heart and … Read more

200 Words Or Less

The Cold Beat

Dumbwaiter
Independent (2009)

Dumbwaiter is a decent enough EP from this Boston four-piece. The first track, "Watch and Ward" is the best one as it recalls a fuzzed out Pixies mixed with any catchy latter day Replacements songs. After "Watch and the Ward", The Cold Beat go through the motions of being your average indie/college rock bar band with their roots firmly planted … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Golden City

Golden City
Magic Bullet (2009)

This eight-song EP is completely and utterly awesome. I really wasn't expecting much from former Christie Front Drive guitar player Eric Richter since last I heard he was in the coma-inducing Antarctic. However, Golden City is just great. I'm having a hard time expressing just great these eight songs really are, but I'm going to try, really, I am. Imagine … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Locked In

Walk the Plank
Hurry Up! (2008)

We head off to the land of pizza and the Pope for this full-length release by Locked In. I never thought of Italy as a hotbed of hardcore bands and Walk the Plank does nothing to deter that as I'm forced to review yet another run of the mill hardcore band. Locked In play metal influenced hardcore with high-pitched yelled … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Driving on City Sidewalks

Where Angels Crowd to Listen
Count Your Lucky Stars / Strictly No Capital Letters (2008)

Driving on City Sidewalks is a Canadian duo who play a heartbroken strain of indie post-rock, with a few heavy nods to folk. This five-song EP begins with "To Finish the Race," which has instrumentals heavily ripping off The Appleseed Cast. This band uses simple and slow vocal patterns, drawing out every lyric with a melancholy tone in this particular … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Government Issue

The Punk Remains the Same
DC Jam (2009)

New live E.P. from these DC music legends. Featuring an earlier line-up than on their last live record (Strange Wine), this fits neatly on your shelf sandwiched between that record and Finale. Besides John Stabb on vocals and Tom Lyle on guitar, this release sports Marc Aberstadt (sans headband) on drums and Mitch Parker on bass. Two different live shows … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Jakob Dylan

Seeing Things
Columbia (2009)

I tried to listen to this one with an open mind. I know The Wallflowers never did anything for me. And Bob Dylan? Listening to his vocals is like having all your hair pulled out with pliers. I do have to admit that the musicianship is solid throughout on this release. But nothing here piqued my interest. "I Told You … Read more

Multiple Authors

Owen

New Leaves
Polyvinyl (2009)

Most people who listen to Owen are all-too-aware of what I like to call the Kinsella continuum. Chicago-based brothers Mike and Tim are responsible for some of the more infamous 90's Midwest bands, being the minds behind Cap'n Jazz, American Football, Owls, and the ever-revolving doors of Joan of Arc. Their prolific nature has even brought in younger brother Nate … Read more

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