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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)

Blood Redemption

Blood Redemption
Genet (2007)

For years, it's been without question that Europe is the breeding ground for so many metalcore acts. Now even more bands seem to be coming out of the woodwork with the recent boom of this style being on the rise. That's not to say these are all your average newcomers; they are seasoned veterans hoping to continue playing a style of music they show a love for as well. Blood Redemption comes from the ashes of several other acts that had a great run in their time. Featuring ex-members of Spirit of Youth, Legion, and Solid, Blood Redemption has brought their lessons onto this new group with intentions of doing something different. This is evident in their opening track "Choices." The album begins at a great pace and lacking the dramatic opening most bands feel the need to throw in these days. There is no acoustic opening, instrumental marching coup of some sort, or anything along these lines. After the first song, you start to think this band has promise; I wouldn't put it past them that this was the last song written before they entered the studio because it's their strongest by far. I mean you do need to … Read more

The Locust

New Erections
Anti (2007)

The Locust is an extremely polarizing group. On one hand, people take them as a complete joke. On the other, … Read more

Skin Like Iron

Demo
Independent (2007)

Most demos you hear today can be put into two categories. The first is a bunch of fifteen year old … Read more

The Hold Steady

Live at Fingerprints
Vagrant (2007)

The Hold Steady is a rock and roll band. With this title come certain expectations with loud electric guitars topping … Read more

Low

Drums and Guns
Sub Pop (2007)

Low are known as pioneers of the slow-core genre, or what I like to call "intense sleepy-time music." They reached … Read more

Rwake

Voices of Omens
Relapse (2007)

Progressive sludge? That sounds like an oxymoron. When I think of progressive in terms of music I think of Rush … Read more

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One from the archives

Cave In

Perfect Pitch Black
Hydra Head (2005)

About a year and a half about I was fortunate enough to catch a Cave In performance at which they debuted a handful of new songs, many of which made their way onto this release. When they played these new songs, they were sprinkled about a set-list of recent songs from Jupiter and Antenna as well as old jams from Until Your Heart Stops. The use of the new songs to bridge the gap between spacey rock and hardcore/metal sums up the collection of songs on Perfect Pitch Black perfectly. Following an electronic-heavy, noisy intro track, 'The World is in Your Way' starts things off. The song begins as a rock tune very much like 'Stained Silver' with vocalist/guitarist Stephen Brodsky's trademark harmonies. But as we enter into the first … Read more

More album reviews

Consular

Don't Cross the Swine
Makeshift Origami/Abort the World (2006)

South Florida is usually known for being the breeding ground for such bands as A New Found Glory and Dashboard Confessional. What many don't recognize is that the area also has a seedy underbelly of sludge, metal and generally heavy music. I guess living a couple miles from swamps and Jeb Bush can do that for you. For the past … Read more

Smoke or Fire

This Sinking Ship
Fat Wreck Chords (2007)

Sophomore slumps are a bitch. Smoke or Fire's debut full-length, Above the City, was a nice, short, potent shot of melodic punk with introspective lyrics that felt honest and kept it simple, but This Sinking Ship sounds more like the band is trying too hard to prove that they're relevant. This Sinking Ship is overflowing with political rants, tales of … Read more

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Some Loud Thunder
Wichita Recordings (2007)

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah had a lot of pressure on them for their second album, mainly due to them being the most hyped up band of 2005. Their story was one told over and over ever since their first album came out: five indie rockers out of Brooklyn that released and distributed their debut album themselves. By great reviews … Read more

Multiple Authors

Hot Cross

Risk Revival
Equal Vision/Hope Division (2007)

If you consider yourself a fan of traditional screamo, you're already familiar with Hot Cross's roots. If not, no big deal. Just click your way over to Wikipedia and do a bit of research (it's worth knowing a band's origins). Risk Revival is the perfect album name for a band that lost one of its guitarists and avoided a break-up. … Read more

Multiple Authors

Hot Cross

Risk Revival
Equal Vision/Hope Division (2007)

Contemporary hardcore is beginning to swing toward a repetitive joke. If drop-d jun jun's and massive amounts of double bass explosions followed by 2-step drum beats sounds familiar, then you know what I mean. Hardcore is not about the breakdown, well not in the common sense of the word anyway. Hardcore is about aggressiveness and honesty. Unfortunately, many upcoming artists … Read more

Justice

Escapades
Reflections/Youngblood (2007)

A band of Belgian hardcore enthusiasts who, in the summer of 2003, had only one goal: to stir, shake and move the hardcore/punk scene. Justice, is their name and their latest album Escapades can only be described as powerful. If they were out to change the genre, they definitely succeeded with Escapades. Labeled as a hardcore band, I personally consider … Read more

Hoods

Ghetto Blaster
Eulogy (2007)

In the event of a worldwide nuclear war, I have come to the conclusion that only one thing will survive. And no, it is not the cockroach; it's Hoods. The Sacramento-based hardcore band has survived it all, including constant line-up battles, DIY tours across the globe, and a brief tenure with Victory Records that didn't go so well - see … Read more

Marillion

Somewhere Else
Intact (2007)

Throughout their over twenty-five year history, Marillion and their music have maintained what many thought impossible: prog without pretension. This has been a key component to their rabidly loyal fan base. It would appear that nobody jumped ship after the band's loss of their original frontman, Fish, way back in 1988. What would have signaled the death of many a … Read more

LCD Soundsystem

Sound of Silver
DFA (2007)

This is the LCD Soundsystem experience; the more you test it and the more you take a sip, the more you become engulfed in it. Suddenly you realize you're singing LCD at your school, in your dorm, in your bathroom. Suddenly your shower is the best party you have ever been to. Your life turns over like an overdone pancake … Read more

Champion

Different Directions | The Last Show
Bridge Nine (2007)

I'm not going to lie; I was never the hugest fan of Champion. Actually, I think Champion's greatest achievement lies nine seconds within "Harrison and Broadway" where the music stops suddenly and Timm McIntosh does that little guitar squeak. I don't know why I think this is so splendid but I love it every time I hear it. Throughout Champion's … Read more

Multiple Authors

Arctic Monkeys

Favourite Worst Nightmare
Domino (2007)

Not many albums open with a song like "Brianstorm." I'm talking Dick Dale on angel dust. I'm talking a sentient '68 Ford Mustang playing a sentient '68 Fender Mustang. Seriously, surfboards in the seventh dimension. The future of rock and roll, so retro it makes me want to dance like a Pulp Fiction character. Actually, Pulp Fiction came to mind … Read more

Multiple Authors

Arctic Monkeys

Favourite Worst Nightmare
Domino (2007)

If I am to believe Wikipedia.org, this album is one of the greatest albums ever released. If I have to believe Wikipedia.org, this band is one of the greatest ever to spawn from the United Kingdom. If I have to believe the professors at my school, Wikipedia.org should never be trusted - and damn, they're absolutely right. Favourite Worst Nightmare … Read more

Volt

Rorhat
Exile on Mainstream/Southern (2006)

There are a lot of bands out there that sound like nothing more than the sum of their influences, without adding anything particularly interesting to the mix. But then there is a rare breed of band whose influences are obvious, yet at the same time, manages to produce something compelling in its own right. Volts, a three-piece hailing from Chemnitz, … Read more

Trash Talk

Walking Disease
Rumble (2007)

Some bands are like wine; they only get better with age. Trash Talk's new "full-length" effort is a great example of just that. Trash Talk has been playing shows since late 2005, with a demo, seven inch, and split with Bay Area friends Steel Trap put out in just over a year. But this is what we've really been waiting … Read more

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