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)

Batoche

Terra Incognita
Independent (2007)

Batoche is a fast-paced, self-proclaimed DIY hardcore/metal band from Vancouver, Canada. They have released three records independently (and changed their name) all before releasing their most recent, Terra Incognita. They boast that "new elements of chaos, atmosphere, flow and power" are found in their music, which is accompanied by insightful lyrical thought. Terra Incognita, the Latin term for "unknown land," opens with "Flesh and Stone." Feedback and piano start off the track and are quickly forgotten when the pounding drums of Colin Tether and the the voices of Shawn Gabel and Kevin Grindon arrive. The press sheet explains that both of the guitarists (Gabel and Grindon) share vocals with Tether, which makes sense because parts with "gang vocals" appear in the song. With three-fourths of the band dedicating themselves to do vocals, it is obvious that there's a focus on Batoche's lyrics. A brief excerpt displays the thought that goes into their writing: The archetypal roles that we're obliged to fill leave us as hallow shells, automatons performing empty gestures. Voluntary submission, protective servitude. The desire to feel that we contribute to institutions and ideology. We strive to rebuild those ghastly bridges, those passages between souls. We reach out to … Read more

Indian Summer

Science 1994 (Reissue)
Future (2008)

Following up the recent release of their live "discography", Hidden Arithmetic, Indian Summer is re-releasing their "studio" discography to make … Read more

Lords of the North

Lords of the North
Radio Optik (2008)

Ah, the sludge. The slow and heavy beats that make you want to grow out your hair just to make … Read more

Inhuman

Last Rites
I Scream (2007)

Inhuman have been around since the dawn of time. Well okay, fifteen years. They are always pegged as "The Most … Read more

History

Ghosts in the City
24-Hour Service Station (2007)

I hate being lied too. I remember wanting this CD for review because the one-sheet was all about this Orlando, … Read more

Ocrilim

ANNWN
Hydra Head (2008)

Metal is constantly making relatives with classical and orchestra. Sometimes though, you have to remember why they are separate. Mick … Read more

Browse our review archives

Review categories

200 Words Or Less

748 reviews

Book Review

42 reviews

Classic Album

25 reviews

Multiple Authors

300 reviews

Review

4853 reviews

Video/DVD Review

19 reviews

One from the archives

Where Fear and Weapons Meet

Control
Eulogy (2003)

I enjoy this record. Coming in fully expecting some new metal-core band, I was surprised with some old school style hardcore. This reminds me of being in high school and fucking ripping up the ole' skate spots years ago. This shit is just fun hardcore. Boasting some ex bands you wouldn't picture to play this music (Against All Authority and Keepsake?! Are you kidding me?!), this is for people who like NY style hardcore such as Sick of It All, who you can draw the biggest comparison to. If you like non flashy hardcore, check this CD out. I am going back to find their older releases myself. Read more

More album reviews

Ability

Expired
Fineprint (2008)

Ability is a five-piece hardcore band from the Northern outskirts of Los Angeles. Expired is their debut effort and the 7" features five cuts of solid mid-tempo hardcore. Musically the band mixes together the guitar tones of Bad Brains with the thick rhythm sounds of Burn. "Work of Ages" is a good example of what the band has to offering. … Read more

Police & Thieves

Amor Y Guerra
Youngblood (2008)

It must have been two or three years ago now that I received Police & Thieves demo in the mail. I think it came with record I ordered from Youngblood actually; I can't remember. Anyway, that demo was pretty darn good; I was actually more impressed with it than the members' previous outings - Worn Thin, among others. Well the … Read more

Coptic Times

Temptation
Youngblood (2008)

Coptic Times is the latest output from the Texas hardcore scene, but after repeated listens to Temptation that might be one of the last places you'd think they were from. Featuring members of Iron Age and Drop Out, Coptic Times doesn't really fit in with their Texan peers. Rather, the sounds of these fives tracks would be better suited to … Read more

Pitfall

Another Day at the Zoo
Neutral Territory (2008)

Massachusetts is always churning out quality hardcore and Pitfall is no exception. Another Day at the Zoo is the band's first official release following a promising demo. The band delivers punishing and relentless hardcore that draws similarities to Outbreak and Think I Care. The band sums things up best on the track "Edge of the World" with the lines, "These … Read more

Counting the Days / Hollywood

Split
State of Mind (2008)

Counting the Days is back with two new tracks following an LP release in 2006. These songs are very much in line with their previous ventures. They mix melodic hardcore of Champion and Reach the Sky with the faster style of American Nightmare. "Tonight" is the better of the two tracks. The songs should provide a holdover until the band's … Read more

Braindead / Blackbirds

Split
Burn Bridges (2007)

The split effort from Burn Bridges teams up two underrated bands that definitely deserve more attention. Pennsylvania's Braindead and Michigan's Blackbirds each deliver original songs as well as covering classic The Stooges songs. Braindead offers up three originals of melodic hardcore that draw influence from the likes of Turning Point and Kid Dynamite. In between the two "songs" is an … Read more

Pressure

Beasts
Burn Bridges/High Fidelity (2006)

So we normally stick to reviewing albums that have been released within the last six months, but sometimes we make exceptions. I don't know why we didn't cover Pressure's Beasts already, but we haven't. So I apologize. This LA outfit pretty much destroys all on this six-song 7". Over the course of the record the band unleashes an off kilter … Read more

Triac

Blue Room
Forcefield/Reptilian (2008)

Grindcore is a genre that you either fanatical about, or you just don't seem to care. I can't say that I'm all that jazzed about the genre. I don't really find grindcore bands to be that entertaining, for the most part. Triac hail from Baltimore, Maryland and they have somehow found a way to keep me interested! These guys mix … Read more

Playing Enemy

My Life as the Villain
Hex (2008)

To say I was dismayed at the inevitable collapse of Playing Enemy is to understate it. I felt a pretty genuine sense of loss knowing that they would never come back through Arizona (and I would never be the only person at their show again) or that I would never get another plaintive song - but wait! I did! And, … Read more

Playing Enemy

My Life as the Villain
Hex (2008)

When Playing Enemy announced their recent demise not long after James Brown shuffled forth this mortal coil, the announcement fell on mostly deaf ears to the majority of underground/ independent music, which is almost as unfortunate (maybe more so) than the band actually calling it a day. Besides the continuation of an impressive lineage of like minded, noise mongering bands … Read more

The Old Haunts

Poisonous Times
Kill Rock Stars (2008)

What is it with bands changing drummers so often? I know it's not uncommon to change a member in a group but it seems like the drummers are slightly over-represented in these statistics. Research into this band from Olympia, Washington shows that for each one of their releases they have introduced a new drummer to the fold. For Poisonous Times … Read more

Century

Black Ocean
Prosthetic (2008)

Thanks to the ever increasing popularity of whack bands like Bullet for My Valentine, Trivium, etc. among the metallically-naïve listeners out there, it seems that metalcore has taken the place of nu-metal as the classification that bands most want to avoid - although deathcore is aggressively seeking the title, as well. Century is one band that can carry the metalcore … Read more

A Caesar Holiday

A Caesar Holiday
Independent (2008)

The five-piece A Caesar Holiday offer up six tracks totaling forty-five minutes on their self-titled debut release. Featuring the combined instrumentation of violin, dual guitars, bass, drums, and accordion the Indianapolis group offer moody and mostly instrumental music falling somewhere between prog and post-rock. The album is at its strongest in the tracks featuring the violin work of Eison, most … Read more

The T4 Project

Story-Based Concept Album
Mental (2008)

Before this monstrosity hit my mailbox the only concept album that I own was Hüsker Dü's Zen Arcade. Even that double album by those St. Paul hardcore pioneers isn't even that good for a concept album as it ends up being all a dream. I thought that trick only worked on 80's prime time sitcoms. I really don't like concept … Read more

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

Advertisement

DCxPC 2025