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Every Second Counts

Every Second Counts
6131 (2007)

Here's a band from Southern California that I'm not familiar with, and for the style they play I find that odd. There hasn't been any mention of them on messageboards or any bulletins on Myspace about them being "good dudes" who are "backed hard." It says on the one sheet that Every Second Counts tours but they have probably never … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Matadors

Flame the Whisper
Devil Doll (2007)

Yippeeeee! It's Matadors time! Plug it in and lets party like it's 1992! Yes, that's right. 1992! Forget those bands of way back when. Gas Huffer. Mother Love Bone. The Mono Men. All great bands that never had a tribute band until now (zing!). Fifteen years late, but who the hell's counting? Matadors work on Swedish time, baby. It's not … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Glorior Belli

Manifesting the Raging Beast
Southern Lord (2007)

See: Obscurus Advocam Just kidding. But let's face it. They are pretty interchangeable, no? Both bands are the vision of French musician Infestuus. Both bands are all just too melodic. Now, call me old-fashioned but melody has no place in black metal. Bleak, sure. Twisted? Frightening? Suffocating? These are all bad adjectives for relationships, yet all good adjectives for heavy … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Obscurus Advocam

Verbia Daemonicus
Battle Kommand (2007)

I've been told that France has been home to a few good bands over the years, but like you, aside from Air I'd be hard pressed to name them. Sure we've read about those wacky French kids jumping on the church-burning, murderous bandwagon, but can they play music? Well, let's just say they try, but don't quite get there. Obscurus … Read more

200 Words Or Less

By Night

A Shape of New Desperation
Lifeforce (2007)

Where to begin, where to begin... For starters they're Swedish, which would normally be a plus, but in this case it is not because they opt to sound like every other 'Mercan scream-core band you've ever heard and that's really about it. Do you like Lamb of God? Do you like every band like this that tries to sound like … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Hell Within

Shadows of Vanity
Lifeforce (2007)

Taken verbatim from the initial notes of the reviewer: Starts out promisingly enough with Derek Jay beating the snare like he just caught it pooching his wife. Same energy as early Metallica (hey kids! remember them?). Vocalist reminiscent of the Avenged Sevenfold dude. Christ, I hope he looks cooler.) The song being referred to is the opening and title track … Read more

The Geeks

Every Time We Fall
Think Fast! (2007)

The Geeks: Korean straight edge hardcore with a youth crew twist. I know what you're thinking; the first time I heard it I didn't believe it either. After hearing mention of The Geeks, my first inclination was to write them off as a novelty band. But then I heard The Geeks' debut 7" What's Inside and I knew they were … Read more

Funeral Diner

The Doors Open
Independent (2007)

So far this year the genre that is 'screamo' hasn't been delivering much of anything. Luckily we have Funeral Diner, one of the few epic screamo bands still out there who are still alive and together, and still have time to pump out a new release here and there while they aren't at their shitty part time jobs doing nothing. … Read more

Multiple Authors

Do Make Say Think

You, You're a History in Rust
Constellation (2007)

Instrumental music, I've found, requires patience to fully appreciate it. Sitting through detached, quiet parts of songs is by no means difficult, but it can definitely test a listener's musical patience. Canadian cohorts Do Make Say Think have been writing instrumental music since the mid 90's. Akin to label-mates Godspeed You! Black Emperor, they write extremely cohesive, powerful and moving … Read more

Multiple Authors

Do Make Say Think

You, You're a History in Rust
Constellation (2007)

In recent years, post-rock has become the urban sprawl of independent music. Invasive, bloated, and undeniably comfortable, it has steadily, albeit consciously, delineated from its richer, more substantive origins to assume the role of pleasant background music, antiseptically reliable but hopelessly predictable. Tortoise's feral meanderings and Mogwai's bulky, aggressive overtones have been replaced by Explosions in the Sky's brand of … Read more

Marnie Stern

In Advance of the Broken Arm
Kill Rock Stars (2007)

It took me a little while to hear the music in this music. At first and even tenth listen, Marnie Stern sounds more dedicated to experimentation, or newness, or maybe just weirdness than to melody or even song structure. Her ideas appear, collide, and disappear - she's less an architect than a demolition-woman. She presents a hook or riff and … Read more

Holy Roman Empire

The Longue Durée
Hewhocorrupts Inc. (2007)

The first time I heard The Longue Durée was driving back from the Holy Roman Empire's record release party. I was lucky enough to accompany a friend's band that was also playing and they invited me along. That was a nice gesture on their behalf since they knew I was a fan. Anyway, on some stretch of highway between Wisconsin … Read more

Profundi

Omega Rising
Profound Lore (2006)

I don't know much about the Swedish band Naglfar, but I get the impression that they are well respected in black metal circles. But what I do know is that Jens Ryden, ex-vocalist of Naglfar and a veritable black metal jack-of-all-trades, knows how to make an impressive album all on his own. Ryden did it all on Profundi's Omega Rising: … Read more

Child Abuse

Child Abuse
Lovepump United (2007)

Sometimes when a reviewer receives an album, it can be difficult to decide how best to approach the review. The "spin" so to speak. Is a band history in order? What are their associations with other bands? Is there a glib, irreverent take to be done on the music that will entertain the reader? Not unhindered by other commitments that … Read more

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