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)

Nadja

Desire in Uneasiness
Crucial Blast (2008)

Where to start with Nadja? To be honest, being inundated with hype from the Internet's hype machine forces my hand into checking out what this duo has to offer my ears. Desire in Uneasiness is the two-piece's first full-length of new material after a slew of re-releases and re-recordings. But the promise in what I am hearing about Nadja truly piques my interest in just what they sound like. Much of the music that Desire in Uneasiness contains is very similar: swirling keyboards and electronics which create atmosphere, drums that keep the beat and propel the songs along their path, and a bass guitar that toys with and bellows out through the material. The muted thrum in the beginning of "Disambiguation" is equally soothing and grating (yes I know this is mostly an oxymoron) at the same time; so, depending on one's mood this could seriously affect the listening experience which is interesting that it works on multiple levels like this, and the rumbling bass and drums further add layers to the composition. "Sign-Expression" exudes a lethargic but upbeat vibe until at roughly the midway point the tempo picks up significantly; this shifts the track into a mellow but driving … Read more

The Gaslight Anthem

The '59 Sound
Side One Dummy (2008)

Make no assumptions about it, The Gaslight Anthem are one of the best active rock and roll bands. You can … Read more

Supermachiner

Rise of the Great Machine (Reissue)
E-Vinyl (2008)

Supermachiner is the short-lived project of Jacob Bannon of Converge and Ryan Parker where they eventually enlisted the input of … Read more

The Riot Before

Fists Buried in Pockets
Say-10 (2008)

The Riot Before hail from Richmond but look and sound like a Gainesville band. Musically, I'd lump them in with … Read more

The Shaky Hands

Lunglight
Kill Rock Stars (2008)

It's raining today. No sun. Shaking angly tree branches. Impenetrable sky rising up out of the ground. Hourless glide from … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Grace Alley / Skin Like Iron

Quake City
Spiderghost (2008)

We all know how much I love the Bay Area music scene, so it's really no surprise I'm loving this … Read more

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One from the archives

Mommy and Daddy

Duel at Dawn
Kanine (2005)

I probably should have known something was up when two thirds of the reviews I read of Mommy and Daddy's Duel at Dawn talked more about how much fun they are live when you didn't quite know what to expect from them than about the album. Let it be a lesson to me. Who knows? Maybe, had I been in a room full of those Friendster scene people who think they're too good for MySpace (and, let's face it, they probably are), with a beer in each hand, and the freedom to quietly mock the whole "Emperor's New Clothes" feel to it all, I might not be so down on this album. But I am. I'm pretty darn down on it. It's just that I wanted to like this duo. … Read more

More album reviews

200 Words Or Less

Heavy Hearted

Heavy Hearted
Farewell Party (2008)

Heavy Hearted is based out of Rochester, NY. It's been quite some time since I've heard anything new from that area of the state. But, then again, sometimes the good things come to those who wait. This 7" release is, from what I can gather, a companion release to the band's debut full-length, Overcast, which was released earlier this year. … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Creatures

Creatures
Independent (2008)

Orange County was a breeding ground for hardcore in the early 80's. While many might suggest that the scene there has died off, they couldn't be more wrong. Creatures is one of many upcoming hardcore groups bringing credibility back to the area. After turning heads with a demo, Creatures quickly recorded for a new EP. The six songs that make … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Wraith

Wraith
Reflections (2008)

Wraith is the latest U.K. export to hit my doorstep. Following on solid releases from Rot in Hell, Deal With It, and Dirty Money, the scene over there is starting to look rather promising again. While only a band for a year, Wraith has already built a massive following. And when you listen to this 7" you'll know just why. … Read more

200 Words Or Less

All Through a Life

All Through a Life
Clue #2 (2008)

Unsolicited review materials are either one of two things: great surprises or extreme disappointments. Vancouver, British Columbia natives All Through a Life is of the first grouping. Prior to its arrival in the mail, I had never heard of All Though a Life. Over the course of this three-song 7" the Canadian four-piece experiments with a crossing of Dischord-esque punk … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Resonance

Transfuse
Collapse (2008)

Now defunct Virginia Beach outfit Resonance sees their two demos put to wax on this 12" affair. Transfuse boasts ten tracks of hardcore that is as potent as it is tenuous. On first listen, the ten songs that compile this recording may appear to be nothing more than standard fare melodic hardcore. However, after repeated spins, the diversity of the … Read more

200 Words Or Less

In First Person / Storm the Bastille

Split
Ape Must Not Kill Ape / Protag (2008)

In First Person from New Jersey starts off the a-side with their dissonant and pummeling metallic hardcore sound. The band's highly concentrated and volatile sound is reminiscent of Cursed, Tragedy, and Deadguy. The three-piece outfit, which boasts former members of You and I as well as The Assistant, destroys it on these four songs. If you missed their previous full-length, … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Ghostlimb

Bearing and Distance
Level Plane/Adagio (2008)

Ghostlimb is a project spearheaded by Justin Smith of Graf Orlock. Bearing and Distance is the band's second full-length release and first for Level Plane (vinyl was handled by Adagio). Whereas Graf Orlock takes a novelty approach to grindcore, Ghostlimb takes a more direct and serious approach to hardcore. In fact, the band's sound has a lot more in common … Read more

200 Words Or Less

O Pioneers!!! / The Anchor

Split
Triumph of Life (2008)

The great state of Texas offers up two songs a piece from O Pioneers!!! and The Anchor. In the works for over a year, this split 7" is finally available to all who boast a beard! O Pioneers!!! offers up two cuts of dirty punk that will appeal to anyone who loves Asian Man and No Idea Records. I've had … Read more

Coffins

Buried Death
20 Buck Spin (2008)

Hailing from Japan, Coffins play a vicious style of doom that relentlessly pummels listeners while at the same time is raw and unhinged. Buried Death is the three-piece group's third full-length (all released since 2005 after a long career without an album and an eventual reformation in 2003). In any case, there is a significant amount of hype flying around … Read more

Glissando

With Our Arms Wide Open We March Towards the Burning Sea
Gizeh (2008)

I have a confession to make. I love local music. I am seriously biased with regards to it and will shamelessly plug it to whoever is unfortunate enough to be around me when the topic crops up. Fortunately for all of you however, I am currently living in Leeds which is a hotbed of genuinely interesting and varied music. There … Read more

Fucked Up

The Chemistry of Common Life
Matador (2008)

In Fucked Up's early years, they only released songs on seven-inch records, two songs at time, sometimes three, very rarely four or more. Songs during the fifties and sixties were released in a similar fashion, the jukebox single on the a-side with one or two more on the back. Songs rarely exceeded the four-minute mark due to the space constraints … Read more

Mouth of the Architect

Quietly
Translation Loss (2008)

It has been a rather tumultuous year for Mouth of the Architect. Late last year the band announced their breakup as a result of the departure of their main songwriter and guitarist/vocalist. Not more than a few days later the band had a change of heart, revealing they would be continuing on, and with original vocalist/guitarist Alex Vernon returning to … Read more

Mogwai

The Hawk is Howling
Matador (2008)

The usual post-rock sites were ablaze with "new Mogwai is boring" posts a few weeks before it was released, which signaled not only the impending leak had finally happened, but also the expected, but all-too-easy, tendency to judge before really listening. I would have just ignored these dismissals anyway, but they got me wondering what to expect with album previews … Read more

Broadcast Sea

Wounded Soldier
Pluto (2008)

Wounded Soldier might be a concept album of sorts since its lyrical compositions are full of themes dealing with the experiences of the brother of Broadcast Sea's vocalist and guitarist, Sterling Wilson, while he serves time as a soldier in Iraq. So right off the bat, Broadcast Sea might present one heavy album. Even though the band is not generally … Read more

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

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