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)

Night Jobs

Shop Dog EP
Independent (2024)

Can a band sound too personal? Too local? These are my burning questions as I break down the latest EP from Night Jobs of Minneapolis. The lyrics of these five songs are highly personal, from adopting pets to local transit routes to calling out people, by name, who have caused strife. They say to write what you know, and Night Jobs absolutely takes that to heart. Last time I saw them live they talked about the stories behind some of these songs, and I’ll simplify by stating that these are about past experiences over many years, cultivated into 3-minute reflections, memoir-style. It’s personal, it’s local -- but it’s inviting instead of insider. It works. Think The Lawrence Arms meets Jawbreaker, but maybe slower or just a lot of “Bivouac” on repeat, set to that reflective storytelling structure. I personally get the most out of it via their built-up harmonies and well-placed bridges or, in the case of “Shop Dog,” crescendos. This EP definitely is more somber and plodding that their previous releases. Personal favorites are “Purple Weed” and “Jetbreaker” (which even brings in a trumpet). “Nirvana” and “Hennepin to Lowry” have their moments, but the pacing is a bit more … Read more

The Dopamines

80/20
Rad Girlfriend Records (2024)

On the brand new 80/20, The Dopamines break into a whoa-oh! about six seconds in, then their trademark shouted vocal … Read more

The MES

Evil Echo and Deaf Mind-
Independent (2024)

Divine intervention from Finland weaving this ripsnorter straight up the nasal cavity producing flashing lights and heightened endorphin production ……. … Read more

Various Artists

Middle-Aged Queers / The Raging Nathans - DCxPC Live Volume 20
DCxPC Live, Wave Mage Records (2024)

Beginning with the layout of their album covers and continuing with the live recording theme, DCxPC Live releases are inspired … Read more

Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin

Records
Rock On Records (2024)

Rob Moss was a member of one of my favourite D.C early hardcore bands, Government Issue as well as Artificial … Read more

Vicious Dreams

Turn Off My Brain
Brassneck Records, Dirt Cult, GC Records, Swamp Cabbage Records (2024)

Poppy punk from Florida, Vicious Dreams is a dual vocal trio who recently released Turn Off My Brain. This record … Read more

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One from the archives

Calico System

Outside are the Vultures
Eulogy (2007)

Sadly it seems that this review took a little too long to finish and the band that was to be reviewed has called it quits. But Calico System have arguably left an impression and their LP Outside are the Vultures is a must listen for those who like run-of-the-mill music. This review will start with the bands mission statement explaining what the band means to do musically, but unfortunately and quite humorously it shines a light of irony instead of knowledge. We Use the Vulture as a Metaphor It is the scavenger feeding on every dead trend and decaying idea. It's the exploitation and glorification of every meaningless fad and empty emotion. It's the music business. It's the scene. Its insincerity. It's the danger in doing anything heartfelt during a … Read more

More album reviews

Stoke Signals

Make Dying Fun
Independent (2024)

Stoke Signals are an emo-punk hybrid. The band bears most of the marks of the midtempo, singalong gruff-vocal punk I enjoy. But with some song structure and lyrical patterns of the far more popular emo-rock style that took off some 20 years ago. And: live by emo, die by emo. It’s a genre that puts the lyrics front and center … Read more

Assistert Sjølmord

Assistert Sjølmord
Static Shock Records (2024)

They say love is a universal language. But this eponymous EP by Norway’s Assistert Sjølmord is downright angry, so maybe they got that one wrong. I don’t know what they are singing about on here at all, though I can discern a few words from the song titles. But this 7” is a 7-song rager. The drums set the tone, … Read more

The Mocks

Do You Want Me Too?
Wap Shoo Wap Records (2024)

Retro music as retro as this is not something I listen to a lot. Nick Waterhouse is the closest comparison I can make that I actually listen to. So why on earth am I reviewing this album, you might wonder? Well, I discovered their label last year. Wap Shoo Wap is a Dutch label specialized in old school punk and … Read more

Lucta

Eterna Lotta
Static Shock Records (2024)

Lucta come from Milan, IT and play heavy, fast hardcore that sounds straight out of 1984. It’s aggressive, while also feeling unpredictable and a little bit unstable, like it could break into pure chaos at any moment. There are some metallic flourishes, kicking off with a minute-plus heavy atmospheric instrumental lead in the intro track, “Sacrificio,” but then it shifts … Read more

Geneviève Beaulieu

Augury
Union Finale Records (2024)

There is no doubt that Menace Ruine is a pioneering force in the extreme music space. The Quebec-based duo of Geneviève Beaulieu and S. de la Moth honed their avant-garde sound by encapsulating components of drone, neo-folk, and tinges of black metal. This unique mix resulted in some of the seminal works of the ‘10s, particularly Alight In Ashes and … Read more

Scrunchies

Colossal
Learning Curve Records (2024)

I’ve covered a lot of bands in the Scrunchies family tree in the past, so Colossal is pretty much what I expected. Yet, at the same time, it’s a slight turnaround in style for the band, who released Feral Coast in 2022, which was a punkier sound. Their third LP, on new label Learning Curve, Colossal takes a hard ‘90s … Read more

MakeWar

A Paradoxical Theory of Change
Fat Wreck Chords (2024)

This is the third album from MakeWar and they have their sound pinned down. I mean that, in the best way possible, A Paradoxical Theory Of Change is exactly what you want from the band. I also note it because, as it’s my third time review them, I’m trying not to repeat myself. This album introduces a new drummer, Alejandro … Read more

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 … Read more

Bootlicker

1000 Yd. Stare
Neon Taste Records, Static Shock Records (2024)

This full-length record might fit on a 7”. It’s short and fast, but still definitely a full record with 10 fully-formed tracks of stomping punk rock just over 15 minutes overall. I’ve written about the band before and this record continues their trajectory. I remember a little more barking and aggression last time, but that isn’t to say this record … Read more

Various Artists

DCxPC Live Volume 22
DCxPC Live (2024)

Volume 22 of DCxPC Live, a live album vinyl record label for punk, hardcore, ska and metal bands, features Sticky Steve, Borrowed Sparks, Jacob Danielsen-Moore and Dougie Flesh and the Slashers. This iteration leans heavy into folk punk and psychobilly sensibilities. Think Laura Jane Grace if she was obsessed with Spirit Halloween and B-horror movies. The vinyl itself didn’t seem … Read more

Swami & The Bed Of Nails

All Of This Awaits You
BMG, Swami (2024)

Some artists slow down as they get older. Who knows if that’s because of day jobs or family or something about the new creative process. It’s all case by case and speculation, and that’s not why I’m here talking about John Reis’s latest project anyway, other than to give a lengthy intro to Swami & The Bed Of Nails, which … Read more

Ulvtharm

7 Uthras
Cyclic Law (2024)

A pioneer of the extreme ambient scene, Jouni Ollila's work with Mz.412 has been instrumental in tying the dark ambient scene with a black metal perspective. In effect, Ollila has influenced an array of artists from the brutal, dungeon chaos of Abruptum to the horrifying, noise dreams of Gnaw Their Tongues. While Ollila continues to produce dark visions through Mz.412, … Read more

Mannequin Pussy

I Got Heaven
Epitaph (2024)

One of the rare instances of a band getting more raucous with time (and success), Mannequin Pussy’s third studio album I Got Heaven sets the mood with heavy drums and cutting vocals. While the sound doesn’t swing in as hard, or as messy, as previous albums, the band hits their stride with lyrics equal parts scalding and snotty. Album opener … Read more

Uboa

Impossible Light
Flenser (2024)

It comes with the territory. The harshness of noise, the unbearable coldness of industrial music, and the vastness of dark ambient naturally combine with the most visceral and dark themes. Uboa’s 2019 opus, The Origin of My Depression, weaponized these sonic arsenals to weave a story of the personal struggle of artist Xandra Metcalfe with transitioning and dealing with mental … Read more

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