Recent reviews

Our latest album reviews, featuring the records we've most enjoyed (or not) over the past few weeks.

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

Overcast

Reborn to Kill Again
Metal Blade (2008)

I would say ninety percent of the fans of the current bands (Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage, Seemless) that the members of Overcast are in weren't even out of diapers when these metalcore rippers were originally in action. While the members have seen significant success with their current musical endeavors, it is the time spent crammed into a van touring the U.S. for little to no money at all with Overcast that they'd likely cherish most. Reborn to Kill Again features fourteen songs from the band's back catalog, including twelve of which were found on Overcasts two very popular full-length recordings - Expectational Dilusion and Fight Ambition to Kill re-recorded. The album opens with the combo-track of "Diluting Inertia / Grifter" from Expectational Dilusion. Immediately I am thrown back in time to those days of the 90's Ah 90's hardcore, how I love thee and all your thundering basslines, chugging riffs, and pounding rhythms. "Root Bound Apollo" is one of the previously unreleased tracks. It's interesting to hear parts of the song that were eventually reused with Shadows Fall. Still, it's a great cut with its thrashy riffs and Brian Fairs bellowing vocals. From here on out the band launches through … Read more

Crime Desire

Crime Desire
Life Is A Rape (2008)

The singer of Crime Desire is dead ringer for Rasaraja/Robert Fish of 108/Judas Factor fame. So I can't help to … Read more

Multiple Authors

Thursday / Envy

Split
Temporary Residence (2008)

Envy is having an extremely busy year in 2008: re-releasing much of their back catalog, the Abyssal EP, a split … Read more

Multiple Authors

Thursday / Envy

Split
Temporary Residence (2008)

The pairing of a so-called emo band from New Jersey and a screamo/post-rock band from Japan may seem odd. But … Read more

Grails

Doomsdayer's Holiday
Temporary Residence (2008)

Having only just been introduced to the wonder and at times awe inspiring music of the outfit known as Grails, … Read more

Estatic Sunshine

Way
Cardboard (2008)

What if an album isn't an album? What if it falls into absurdity while no one is listening? Does it … Read more

Browse our review archives

Reviews by year

Choose a year to view reviews of albums released in that year.

Reviews by artist name

Choose a letter to view reviews ordered by that letter (band name first).

Review categories

200 Words Or Less

752 reviews

Book Review

42 reviews

Classic Album

25 reviews

Multiple Authors

300 reviews

Review

4973 reviews

Video/DVD Review

19 reviews

One from the archives

Shehehe

Namedroppers
Say-10 (2024)

  Shehehe, from Athens, GA, deliver a powerful sound that’s part rip-roarin’ rock ‘n’ roll, and equal part Ramones. It’s as classic as it gets in a way, while still feeling like a unique band that’s doing their own thing. Throw in a dose of DIY grit, and you’ve got their general sound. It’s punk rock from the heart, where you can tell the band is having just as much fun playing it as you are listening to it. The song structures are predictable, but filled with energetic vocal tradeoffs, singalong choruses, and the occasional guitar solo -- just enough of them to keep it interesting and unpredictable. I’ll take the hint, since they named the record Namedroppers, and try to keep the comparisons to a minimum. I only have one … Read more

More album reviews

Integrity

Walpurgisnacht
A389 (2008)

Ah, Dwid, where have you been hiding your mischievous and malevolent musical vehicle Integrity for the last five years? Ever since 2003's To Die For, Integrity's absence hangs over the hardcore scene like a looming spectre waiting to strike down pretenders and infidels alike. Sure the usual re-issues of Integrity's back catalog and singles as well as live records continue … Read more

Black SS

Terror of the North East: 2004-2007
Reaper (2008)

I've mentioned it before in other reviews that I usually try to find bands to enjoy musically by their own personal likability. Although I do realize that most of these likable factors are usually based on preconceived assumptions that I pull from band photos and lyrics. Let's take Black Sheep Squadron for example. We both have a love affair with … Read more

Multiple Authors

Dillinger Four

C I V I L W A R
Fat Wreck Chords (2008)

Being from the same state as well a fan of tuneful catchy pop-punk one would think that I would be really into Dillinger Four. Yes, one would think that. The fact of the matter is that I've always been a casual fan of this rambunctious often inebriated foursome. I've actually only seen them once in the last fifteen years and … Read more

Multiple Authors

Dillinger Four

C I V I L W A R
Fat Wreck Chords (2008)

As my age teeters closer to thirty than twenty, I continually ask myself three important questions: Am I still punk? Was I ever? Does it matter? Sure my love of punk music grows exponentially with every year I age, but is it just a label for me to wear on my shirt, or is it truly a way of life? … Read more

Helms Alee

Night Terror
Hydra Head (2008)

Following up a surprising teaser EP with a limited release earlier this year, Helms Alee drop their debut full-length on a mostly unsuspecting public; Night Terror is a great point to latch onto this three-piece and enjoy some noisy music that will leave heads spinning or throbbing or whatever head trip that it could impose. The ten tracks that Night … Read more

Cannabis Corpse

Tube of the Resinated
Forcefield (2008)

The equation is very simple. Take several old school death metal fans and add copious amounts of bud. The result is Richmond's very own blaze-driven Cannabis Corpse. The band, whose idea was to express its love for smoking weed and listening to Cannibal Corpse, released their second album, Tube of the Resinated, on April 20th, a fine day to champion … Read more

The Eye The Ear and The Arm

Paths
Portia (2008)

Remember when music had regional traits? You know - Chicago Blues, East Coast Swing, Seattle Grunge? Yeah, me neither. No one reading Internet music criticism does. But you can imagine, yes? It's kind of cute. Exciting, for the sort of person who loves over-precise analysis of pop-culture artifacts. Which I totally am not. In any case, I've got some good … Read more

Cold World

Dedicated to Babies Who Came Feet First
Deathwish Inc. (2008)

Thankfully raps inclusion into the world of heavy music has been greatly ignored in hardcore minus a few forays into the ugliest parts of New York City, North Jersey, and a couple sightings in California in the early 90's. Then came Cold World from Wilkes-Barre, PA with their cute little samples and lyrics lifted from various hip hop artists. Next … Read more

Deadbird

Twilight Ritual
At A Loss (2008)

Right off the bat, allow me to bring notice to the cover art for Deadbird's latest album, Twilight Ritual (following up 2005's The Head and the Heat) because it is rather stunning; John Baizley (guitarist/ vocalist of Baroness, and artist for such bands as Torche, Darkest Hour, Pig Destroyer as well as his own) continues his busy schedule of art … Read more

Exodus

Let There be Blood
Zaentz (2008)

Why re-record your own album almost twenty-five years later? Some, including this reviewer, find the redundancy almost laughable, but yet it appears to be more and more common, crossing across all genres everyone from Dimmu Borgir to the Cowboy Junkies is doing it. The more mainstream of bands could certainly be accused of doing it solely for financial gain. After … Read more

Ceremony

Still Nothing Moves You
Bridge Nine (2008)

I could easily give Ceremony's latest album a token crappy review because quite frankly I find this band a bit too overrated to garner an actual unbiased review from me. I really hate to be "that guy" but I haven't enjoyed anything from this North Bay based hardcore unit since their demo and subsequent 7". Everything afterwards just came at … Read more

Decades

Numbered
State of Mind (2008)

Ah yes, Texas hardcore. In spite of the recent loss of many of its key bands, the various scenes within Texas continue to strike back with more young and promising hardcore bands. Decades, from the greater Dallas region, is amongst this new crop of bands bringing new life. Numbered is the band's debut effort, a six-song EP. "Caravel / Mediastinum" … Read more

The Sea and Cake

Car Alarm
Thrill Jockey (2008)

That easy, jazz-infused post-rock has come a long way since adopting a mispronunciation of their intended band name (The "C" in Cake). The Sea and Cake have extended themselves as a group after almost fifteen years, and now eight full-lengths, of playing. After taking a three-year hiatus, The Sea and Cake returned to the studio with last year's Everybody. Although … Read more

Grey Daturas

Return to Disruption
Neurot (2008)

Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Grey Daturas is an enigmatic trio whose music is an amalgamation of many musical styles from metal all the way to free jazz. Now, I know what people might think upon seeing such a lofty description as many groups who aspire to such allegiances of musical styles or name check them end up falling well short, … Read more

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