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)

A Step Behind

This is What We've Become
Independent (2007)

I knew this was bound to happen. I feel slightly invaded by the fact that it has. I've never been one to shun a good pop-punk record, but I can't remember the last time I found a rock band whose music I can enjoy on the most base level, that being the level where it inspires absolutely nothing except the need to rock out. Could have been at the turn of the millennium with Fenix TX, I guess, although "Katie W" used to put me in a pretty damp and thoughtful mood. Funnily enough, when I listen to This is What We've Become I do start to feel as though I'm fourteen again, listening to the same pop-punk bands once more, with the same tired palm muting, yardstick leads, and checklist vocal harmonies. And I can't get enough of it. The follow up to A Step Behind's 2004 debut kicks off with "Kicked Our Fate and Killed Desire." It's actually a fairly impressive song, with a definite sense of anticipation leading to a towering stadium rock chorus of "I know we will survive / Our lives are on the line." It's cute, a real movie moment; Pearl Harbor perhaps, although … Read more

Pulling Teeth

Martyr Immortal
Deathwish Inc. (2007)

Pulling Teeth have quickly emerged as one of hardcore's most respected groups following their formation a couple years back. With … Read more

The Hives

The Black and White Album
A&M (2007)

You either like The Hives or you don't. Yes, it's that simple. The whole shtick, the outfits, the ego, be … Read more

Grave in the Sky

Cutlery Hits China: English for the Hearing Impaired
Heart & Crossbone (2007)

Grave in the Sky is a three-piece from Israel that plays thick, but still raw doom-y music. The tempos are … Read more

Jay Eff Kay

America: Suicide Notes Vol. 1
Independent (2007)

I don't see myself as a hip-hop expert, but I think it's fair to say that the genre is pretty … Read more

Capital

Homefront
Revelation (2007)

There is presumably no one this side of the Mississippi that is more stoked than me on hearing the latest … Read more

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One from the archives

The Tim Version

Decline of the Southern Gentleman
No Idea (2008)

At The Fest last fall I saw a lot of bands, most of which I had a previous idea of what they were about beforehand. One band I didn’t know, but lucked out to see because they were slotted before Bloodbath & Beyond and Tiltwheel, was Tampa's The Tim Version. Decline of the Southern Gentleman in the group's newest release and their first on No Idea Records. No Idea and the aforementioned bands are a good basis when trying to identify the melodic-yet-gruff punk of The Tim Version. At times their melodies remind me of catchier bands like Off With Their Heads, but their more aggressive moments also spring thoughts of Avail. Then, when you think you've got them pegged as a fast, hoarse Florida band they'll throw in a … Read more

More album reviews

Black Moth Super Rainbow

Dandelion Gum
Graveface (2007)

Making themselves known to a national audience by opening for The Flaming Lips and already slated as an opener for Aesop Rock this winter, Black Moth Super Rainbow latest release, Dandelion Gum, was lent to me by a friend. The psychedelic/drone-pop is repetitive and spaced out in all the right ways, but the jams never get in the way of … Read more

J Church

The Horror of Life
No Idea (2007)

With the passing of Lance Hahn, the fragile punk continuum lost one of its all-time greats. Smart, critical, and relentlessly prolific, Hahn's work provided a formidable example of what could be accomplished in DIY music: punk not as a costume contest or stale doctrine, but a design for living. Hahn refused to separate his art and his life, delivering record … Read more

Antlers

Antlers
Rorschach (2007)

While taking a risk at such a lofty statement, Antlers is the reason to keep listening to independent music. Not that the band are the saviors of sound, but the ideas around what the band is doing are what makes this scene so worthwhile. Take a group of people, all from accomplished bands, and put them together to form a … Read more

Ramones

It's Alive 1974-1996
Rhino (2007)

The Ramones are finished. Over. Unlike their peers from the 1970's, there will be no reunion tours. Joey, Johnny and Dee Dee have passed on. That's three out of the four original members. Tommy's playing with Uncle Monk, a bluegrass duo bringing full-circle the original mission statement of CBGB's. Marky's in and out of the Misfits. Ritchie's now brought up … Read more

Prideswallower

Lifeswallower
Auxiliary (2007)

Anyone educated in the Louisville family tree of hardcore punk bands - Coliseum, Breather Resist, Young Widows, Black Cross, etc - already knows what to expect from Prideswallower, the latest Kentucky export. But for the unfamiliar, allow me to explain: While each band has a sound unique enough to stand on its own, there is a unifying thread to all. … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Skeletonwitch

Beyond the Permafrost
Prosthetic (2007)

Skeletonwitch is the latest band from Ohio to make it to the big-time. These five dudes sport some silly names - Nate "N8 Feet Under" Garnette and Derrick "Mullet Chad" Nau for example - but the jokes end when they pick up their instruments. Beyond the Permafrost is twelve tracks of metal that'll give even the most experienced Hessian a … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Dirty Money

No Escaping This
Dead & Gone (2007)

Dirty Money is one of the latest upstarts to emerge from the U.K. scene and take hardcore by storm. Dirty Money set forth a furious attack of fast-paced hardcore that draws great influence from the New York scene. No Escaping This features four new songs, all of which blend together the classic NYHC sound with flairs of metal and crossover … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Deal With It

World Coming Down
Dead & Gone (2007)

Deal With It is the latest hardcore export from the U.K. This five-piece group of fellas churn out five brand new songs on World Coming Down. And with the CD version you are gifted with the band's demo recording from last year. World Coming Down is a high-octane blast of meaty hardcore that draws influence from the classic New York … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Show No Mercy

Death is My Religion
Hand of Death (2007)

Show No Mercy hail from Maryland and deliver seven tracks of crossover/thrash/metallic hardcore over the course of Death is My Religion. Musically, the band shows an obvious homage to their namesake, Slayer, with blazing riffs that call to mind the early Bay Area thrash scene. Show No Mercy also mix in some nice mid-90's hardcore grooves and even a solo … Read more

The Black Dahlia Murder

Nocturnal
Metal Blade (2007)

I cannot think of another record label that could have released The Black Dahlia Murder's new full-length Nocturnal. Sure, any number of labels could have released it financially, but it just would have seemed out of place. This is a metal album from start to finish, so it only makes sense for it to be released by the label that … Read more

UGK

Underground Kingz
Jive (2007)

It's not easy being a Southern rapper these days. With the airwaves of mainstream radio becoming overcrowded with the "ringtone rap" of such groups as D4L and Dem Franchize Boyz, backpackers and hip-hop purists are quick to point the finger at nearly every rapper south of the Mason-Dixon Line. I guess they forgot about UGK? They've only been in the … Read more

Akimbo

Navigating the Bronze
Alternative Tentacles (2007)

Navigating the Bronze is Akimbo's fifth full-length since their inception in about seven years ago and their first for new label Alternative Tentacles (AT did re-release an album early in '07 as well). This three-piece is a vicious outfit that has garnered a reputation for their busy touring regimen and all around hectic work ethic. At ten songs in roughly … Read more

Fueled by Fire

Spread the Fire
Metal Blade (2007)

Let's not beat around the bush. Despite a valiant effort at bringing thrash back to the masses, Fueled by Fire just aren't the ones to do the job. It's a tall order - there'll always be the diehards (mostly in their late thirties) that will buy pretty much anything remotely thrash related. This album is for them. The albums that … Read more

Anchor

Captivity Songs
Refoundation (2007)

One thing that I love about hardcore bands from the 80's and 90's is that they often included background info on the songs' lyrics. Perhaps this is because the music then seemed to be fueled more by the substance of its words as opposed to how the music sounded - this fact can be argued to death and I have … Read more

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