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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)

Constants

The Foundation, The Machine, The Ascension
The Mylene Sheath (2009)

Boston-based shoe-gazing space-rockers Constants return with their second full-length and follow-up to 2006's The Murder of Tom Fitzgerril EP. With The Foundation, The Machine, The Ascension Constants continues to make waves in the rock world as they showcase their talent towards writing intricate, dynamic, and ominous rock music. The Foundation, The Machine, The Ascension is ultimately broken up into three segments, each of which corresponds to a portion of the album's title. The meaning behind the title and this distribution of tracks isn't given, and without a lyric sheet for the album, it's difficult to explain exactly why this is done. I'm sure there is a deep-rooted meaning, but without an inkling to go on, I'll just leave it as a mystery. The first group, The Foundation, begins with "Genetics Like Chess Pieces." The listener is entertained with a well-balanced combination of spacey indie rock, mid-tempo post-rock, and straightforward alternative rock. The sound falls someplace between Oceansize, and Cave In. Notably, the drum work of Rob Motes is quite fantastic toward the latter part of the song. The two-song venture "Those Who Came Before Pt. 1" and "Those Who Came Before Pt. 2" showcases guitarist/vocalist Will Benoit's skills. Whether he … Read more

Wilco

Wilco (The Album)
Nonesuch (2009)

By now, everyone should know the story of Wilco: Chicago alt-country pioneers-turned-alt-rock gurus record the most ambitious record of their … Read more

Coreline

Bone and Blood as Stone and Mud
Sonic Mainline (2009)

There's something very important one has to keep in mind when reviewing a Coreline album, or indeed merely when listening … Read more

Cult Ritual

Cult Ritual
Youth Attack (2009)

Before I begin, let me get this off my chest: I wasn't a big fan of Cult Ritual's EPs. I … Read more

Iron Age

The Sleeping Eye
Tee Pee (2009)

Texas natives Iron Age return with their second long-player, The Sleeping Eye, after making quite a name for themselves with … Read more

Black Hell

How the Rest was Lost
Hater of God (2009)

Venture deep into the desert of the Southwest and you'll find Black Hell, a doom metal quartet featuring ex-members of … Read more

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One from the archives

Death is Not Glamorous

Demo
Independent (2005)

Death is Not Glamorous comes at you from the swamps of...Oslo, Norway? Yes, that's right, Norway. The country most well-known for producing myriad Black Metal bands has given us one of the best up and coming melodic hardcore/punk bands currently going. Having released this demo in late 2005, the band has since gained quite a following here in the United States, and signed with State of Mind Recordings (Dead Hearts, and, at one point, This Is Hell.) If you didn't catch the reference above, Death is Not Glamorous is unabashedly influenced by New Jersey's golden boys, Lifetime. The band keeps the energy going over the course of this five song demo, with upbeat tempos and shouted vocals throughout. "The Fallback" cracks the demo wide open with absurdly catchy leads, and … Read more

More album reviews

Unholy

New Life Behind Closed Eyes
Prosthetic (2009)

Unholy returns with a brand new full-length effort, and with it comes a number of new beginnings. First off, the band has seen a major lineup shift, trading out vocalists and its rhythm section. Secondly, the band has upgraded to a more high profile home at Prosthetic Records. In spite of these changes, Unholy has continued to deliver a quality … Read more

Weekend Nachos

Unforgivable
Deep Six (2009)

When I heard Punish and Destroy for the first time, Weekend Nachos easily became one of my favorite punk/metal bands. I was positive that these guys, along with Trap Them, would be the leaders of the next wave of great extreme music. Then Trap Them released Seizures in Barren Praise, a significant drop-off from their first two releases, in my … Read more

Cough

Sigillum Luciferi
Forcefield (2008)

The liner notes for Sigillum Luciferi are emblazoned with the phase "tune down, smoke up," which really ought to be the motto for any self-respecting stoner/doom/sludge band. Cough definitely fits that sound to a "t," and the packaging of the album, adorned with naked chicks, occult symbols, and pot leaves, does as well. But how does Cough stack up with … Read more

200 Words Or Less

At Our Heels

At Our Heels
Heart In Hand (2009)

At Our Heels is yet another in the ever growing list of bands to emerge from the Bay Area's excellent hardcore scene. Alex Pulisci began piecing together what would come to be At Our Heels following the breakup of Love, Hope and Fear. Musically the group treads similar water, fast-paced hardcore with a rock swagger. Pulisci, who enlists the drumming … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Tigers Jaw

Spirit Desire
Tiny Engines (2009)

Scranton, PA's Tigers Jaw has really captivated listeners since releasing their second full-length album last year. Sure, they released their first full-length two years prior, a release that A LOT of people missed, but sometimes it just takes time for a band to have an impact. Spirit Desire is a three-song 7" that follows through on the direction the band … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Strangers

Night Minutes
Action Man (2009)

Night Minutes is the latest release from New Zealand's Strangers. The group made quite a splash with their 2007 debut, Holding., and the subsequent full-length, Weight. This six-song 7" release continues Strangers destructive and abrasive metallic assault, beginning with "Voyeur." It's fast and raw; the guitars are loud and the low end is extremely powerful. Fans of Jane Doe-era Converge … Read more

200 Words Or Less

In the Hollows

In the Hollows
Mightier Than Sword (2009)

The pedigree of Baltimore-based In the Hollows is impressive, featuring members of Champion, Pulling Teeth, and Ruiner. The group offers up their debut release, a three-song self-titled EP. "Move Away" starts things off, and is a rock meets punk concoction similar to what bands like The Bronx and Hour of the Wolf are offering up. "In the Static" is centered … Read more

200 Words Or Less

The Recluse

Summer Showers
Heart In Hand (2009)

Summer Showers is my first exposure to Alabama group The Recluse. I swore I heard their name before, in fact I think I saw them once... maybe not. I can't quite place where/why/how I know them. "Pre-Death Realizations" is the leading cut and it is an odd song as it walks the line between equal parts melodic hardcore and metallic … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Masakari

Eden Compromised
Halo of Flies (2009)

After one listen to Eden Compromised, it's not surprising to find that Masakari take their name from a battle-axe used in ancient Japan. The four songs that make up this debut 7" are as destructive as a blow to the skull with such a weapon. "The War Within" is a thundering, metallic slab of meaty riffs and pummeling, chaotic drums. … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Oak & Bone

Oak & Bone
Hex (2009)

Oak and Bone hail from upstate New York, but when you listen to their debut 7" you would definitely not assume that by any guess. While their history is rooted in hardcore punk, the three-piece from Syracuse take a different approach to the style. The 7" opens with "On Your Own or Not at All," which is a sludgy punk/grunge … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Higher Giant

The First Five
Runner Up (2009)

Kid Dynamite. Grey Area. Paint it Black. Lifetime. Warzone. Yeah, these guys were in more than just a few quality bands over the past years. But this is something new, and Higher Giant brings forth their debut 7", a five-song offering of melodic punk. On these five songs the band delves in a melodic punk sound akin to The Bouncing … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Mirrors and Wires

Colourized Audio Transmission
Headcount (2009)

Well. Colourized Audio Transmission from Mirrors and Wires is the most random album that I've received to review thus far this year. Released on Headcount Records - a mostly hardcore/punk label - we get anything but that sort. This 7" EP is a mixture of surf-punk and rock and roll. I really know little of the genre other than Dick … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Zhenia Golov / Botox Party

Split
Railroaded (2009)

Railroaded Records teams up two Eastcoast acts on this limited split 7" release: Zhenia Golov from New Brunswick, New Jersey and Botox Party from Richmond, Virgina. Zhenia Golov return with two new cuts of fast, raw hardcore punk. They've built of their previous 7" release with more fury and it suits them well. I'd like to see what they'd offer … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Adams Dagger

The Ripper
Durty Mick (2009)

Adams Dagger - California by way of Florida. This reminds of the 80's hardcore scene when bands moved from all over to California or New York to make it big. So in a way, this is nostalgic and so is the music. Adams Dagger play an 80's-inspired hardcore punk. The guitars definitely remind me a lot of the first Bad … 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)