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200 Words Or Less

Who Calls So Loud

Who Calls So Loud
Protagonist Music (2009)

…Who Calls So Loud features ex-members of Funeral Diner and Portraits of Past, but that's not the only reason you should listen to their self-titled release. Their label, Protagonist Music, is well known for its incredible acts such as In First Person, Pyramids, Osceola, and Suis La Lune. The band plays emotional hardcore that breathes with quieter ambient sections. Heed … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Stella Dawes

Contrasts
Independent (2008)

Stella Dawes sent us a promo of Contrasts with a press sheet on which they wrote too much about themselves. In all honestly, it turned me off to their album before I even listened to the twelve songs. They say their influences are "Poison the Well, Underoath" and "'screamo' bands." Thankfully, the music isn't exactly what I anticipated. The vocals … Read more

200 Words Or Less

A Death Cinematic

A Parable on the Aporia of Vengeance and the Beauty of Impenetrable Sadness
Simple Box Construction (2009)

Limited to a number of 250, A Death Cinematic's most recent release features two discs and impeccable packaging. Comparisons can easily be made to certain output by A Silver Mt. Zion or Godspeed You! Black Emperor, but A Death Cinematic's sound is someplace else. It is distant, eerie, and always brooding. The long song titles such as "Their Blood Crawls … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Lymbyc Systym

Carved by Glaciers (Reissue)
Magic Bullet (2009)

Magic Bullet reissued Lymbyc Systym's first release, but with two bonus remixed tracks. The five original songs sound as good as ever. Lymbyc Systym's brand of ethereal electronic noodling has grown since Carved by Glaciers, becoming even more cohesive and brilliantly layered. However, to be able to revisit the band's earliest material is a treat. It's good to learn about … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Drain the Sky

Haunted by Rivers
Level Plane (2008)

"Haunted by Rivers" begins Drain the Sky's first release on Level Plane Records. Use of repetition, low vocal pitches, and no percussion make the song oppressive. However, the rest of Haunted by Rivers does not follow in the same fashion. "Sightless" increases tempo and dabbles in hardcore punk. I really like the juxtaposition between the first two tracks. Everything about … Read more

200 Words Or Less

The Thucydidean Theory

Chapter III: World Reclamation
Independent (2008)

Chapter III: World Reclamation is a bizarre release. The Thucydidean Theory combine punk and trance arrangements that are heavily bass-driven. This four song release features female vocals that mingle with vocal-like synth sounds. "Please Stop Calling My Office and Yelling 'Cunt' at Whoever Answers the Telephone" is the most upbeat track on World Reclamation. Although the band's hybridized ideas are … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Eksi Ekso

I am Your Bastard Wings
Magic Bullet (2008)

Eksi Ekso is a group of six musicians from Boston. Their debut, I am Your Bastard Wings, highlights a musical prowess that dances between free-form and orchestrated. The breadth of instruments - viola, oboe, violin, flugelhorn, trumpet, bass, guitar, keys, drums - adds to Eksi Ekso's complex sound. Easy comparisons might be Ghastly City Sleep and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Birushanah

Akai Yami
Level Plane (2008)

Three songs, forty minutes. Akai Yami was my first introduction to Japan's Birushanah. The band uses two metal percussionists as well as a drummer, a fretless bassist and guitarist. "Jyodo" is a calm and intriguing opener that features traditional Japanese percussion. However, this doesn't last long, and the twenty-minute track, "Akai Yami," begins. Vocals vary greatly during this song. Long-held … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Light Yourself on Fire

Intimacy
Seventh Rule (2008)

Light Yourself on Fire combine hardcore and death metal on Intimacy, their second release. Ex-Reversal of Man vocalist Matt Coplon gives us notes on his lyrics, which draw from writers such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, and Kierkegaard. It's always a bonus to get insight into the thoughts behind an album. The six song long release lasts only seventeen minutes, … Read more

Future of the Left

Travels With Myself and Another
4AD (2009)

It doesn't look like a man. It doesn't talk like a man. But does it fuck like a man? Does it? Does it fuck like a man? It doesn't smell like a man. It doesn't taste like a man. But does it fuck like a man? Does it? Does it fuck like a man? Wise words there from album highlight … Read more

Minute of Arc

Future Forests
Independent (2009)

People make it a point to search far and wide for new music. I'm not against this by any means; I've found many quality bands from the other continents besides mine. But oftentimes there is little to no effort needed when searching as there is quality music being produced right under ones nose. A perfect example of this is Minute … Read more

North Lincoln

Midwestern Blood
No Idea (2009)

Most bands that are signed to No Idea Records have a sound that's usually expected from them. That, of course, being raw punk rock with gruff vocals and catchy melodies. North Lincoln are another band to add to that long list as they fit into this style almost perfectly. This album has been in the making since 2007 but recording … Read more

Nadja

Belle Bêtes
Beta-Lactam Ring (2009)

Look out now because Nadja's release schedule is kicking into high gear with the release of Belle Bêtes via the fine folks of Beta-Lactam Ring in a limited edition of five hundred vinyl LPs, and I am pretty sure that some of their more rabid collectors are both begging for more and crying at the amount of material that the … Read more

Sunn 0)))

Monoliths & Dimensions
Southern Lord (2009)

Okay, I must say that Sunn 0))) lost me with Oracle, particularly after some mild disappointment in Altar. My eventual listening of Domkirke came quite a while after its release, but it did revive my interest in the band. Now, finally delivering a new studio album (it has been quite a while since their last studio album Black One), Sunn … Read more

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