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)

Divider

At Twilight
Shock Value (2006)

A few days ago I found out that I had Bell's Palsy - the muscles that control the right side of my face are so weak I cannot smile with the right side of my mouth or close my right eye with ease. I will essentially be without the control of the right side of my face for weeks. The cause is said to be a pinched nerve that weakened the muscles on that side of my face, a totally random occurrence. However, it's interesting to note that the week before I got Bell's Palsy, I was listening to At Twilight; a lot of At Twilight. I don't think a pinched nerve rendered the right side of my face useless. I think Divider pummeled the right side of my face into submission. And that is in no way a negative thing. Hailing from Long Island, Divider plays a very fast, very technical, very brutal and chaotic form of hardcore reminiscent of Converge, which makes sense since At Twilight was recorded by Kurt Ballou at God City Studios. Divider is one of those bands that just makes you feel pissed off and angry at society and its current state. Socially and … Read more

From the Ground Up

Words Can't Explain
Round Two (2006)

Words Can't Explain may be the title of this compilation of From The Ground Up's 2004 demo and a handful … Read more

The Dillinger Escape Plan

Plagiarism
Independent (2006)

Some bands churn out albums like they have nothing better to do and some bands release an album every couple … Read more

Maximum Penalty

Demo '89 & East Side Story EP
I Scream (2006)

By the end of the 1980's New York City youth-crew was in its final days and tougher, fatter, metal-laced hardcore … Read more

Dashboard Confessional

Dusk and Summer
Vagrant (2006)

Being in high school when The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most came out, I played the role … Read more

Ambulette

The Lottery
Astralwerks (2006)

When a band breaks up, it can be a good thing. The members who your ears felt a pull for … Read more

Browse our review archives

Reviews by year

Choose a year to view reviews of albums released in that year.

Reviews by artist name

Choose a letter to view reviews ordered by that letter (band name first).

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

Krallice

Ygg Huur
Avantgarde Music (2015)

Krallice was a band that was working like a Swiss clock watch. They were very punctual with their releases, putting out album after album, with just about one year gaps between each release. That was the case at least until and including the release of Years Past Matter. That was also the first time that the band did not release their music through Profound Lore Records. Ygg Huur comes three whole years following the release of Years Past Matter. That wait was quite scary, but it also raised anticipation for what Krallice would do with their music and what we would experience from a new offering from the band. The first aspect that comes into perspective, before even hearing a single note from the album, is its duration. Krallice's albums … Read more

More album reviews

Mind Eraser

Glacial Reign
Painkiller (2006)

I will put this simply. There are too many powerviolence bands. You can find more Myspace pages with Infest and No Comment under their influences than were ever records pressed from either band. I've realized this is a pretty egregious style of music (kind of like moshcore…which these kids call stupid and neandrathalic). So who out there is stopping the … Read more

Betrayed

Substance
Equal Vision (2006)

I just finished watching the trailer for the book-to-film documentary American Hardcore and it got me thinking. Anyone that claims to be a fan of hardcore/punk is bound by an unwritten law to have read that book, as well as Get in the Van. Many - mostly the older blokes - feel that those times documented in those books were … Read more

Empty

Open Aeon
Aphotic Audio (2006)

The alternative electronic world is a strange one. In a realm of, literally, limitless possibilities, beats and effects and bound only by human imagination, there is a clique of acts that all sound the same. These acts make electronic music in the same way that punk bands make punk music. There are, of course, a few exceptions to that rule … Read more

Multiple Authors

Sonic Youth

Rather Ripped
Geffen (2006)

I love Sonic Youth. I've been a fan from the beginning. So it is with a heavy heart I say that their newest album Rather Ripped is neither Sonic, nor Youthful. "Sure", you cynical bastards say, "I've been feeling that way since Goo". But with each subsequent album, the band has found a way to tweak their sound just enough … Read more

Multiple Authors

Sonic Youth

Rather Ripped
Geffen (2006)

Rather Ripped showcases a slight stylistic shift for Sonic Youth. Their trademarked noisy dirge rock has been subdued a bit to allow a bit of melody to accentuate the more subtle nature of their music. Quite possibly, this may be the most accessible the band has been since Goo and Dirty, which is not a bad thing. At more than … Read more

No Trigger

Canyoneer
Nitro (2006)

Melodic hardcore seems to be falling back into favor these days, which is a good thing in my opinion. And Massachusetts' No Trigger provides an excellent debut full-length that doesn't stray from the tried-and-true. Everything you'd expect from a melodic hardcore band is here: breakneck speeds, good ol' guitar solos, gang vocals, etc., and though it's not as fresh a … Read more

Terror

Always the Hard Way
Trustkill (2006)

Terror is one of the hardest bands ever. Not that being hard makes a band good, but it definitely adds a sense of credibility and relativity when listening to Scott Vogel's lyrics. In a scene, no, a world full of "pussy ass fronters" (Vogelism - 6/14/2005 - West Dundee, IL), it's nice to know there is a band that describes … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Hope Conspiracy

Hang Your Cross
Deathwish Inc. (2006)

Hang Your Cross is déjá vu; my ears relay the message to my head, "We've heard this before... we think." The Hope Conspiracy has made some steps since their last effort, Endnote. However, it's up to the listener to decide in which direction these steps were taken. Depending on how you feel about the band - or if you are … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Hope Conspiracy

Hang Your Cross
Deathwish Inc. (2006)

Okay, okay, yes The Hope Conspiracy is back and Hang Your Cross is the clarion call for their abrasive take on hardcore. Keeping with the their usual revolving door of a line-up, Neeraj Kane (also of The Suicide File) is back on guitar, and Tim Cossar (American Nightmare, Bars, and Ten Yard Fight) joins as the second guitarist. In essence, … Read more

Multiple Authors

Envy

Insomniac Doze
Temporary Residence (2006)

"In such an ugly time the real protest is beauty," said some smart dude once. Right now, July 17 of 2006 at 3:36 p.m. I'm living in one of the ugliest times in the history of the homo sapien. Reading any newspaper makes that abundantly clear with who-knows-what on the horizon. At the moment out of everything that I can … Read more

Multiple Authors

Envy

Insomniac Doze
Temporary Residence (2006)

Unless you haven't heard Envy before, which would be a tragic mistake, then you already know how incredible this Japan-based melodic hardcore band is. This band truly is the instrumental representation of angst and sincerity that is a rare find in the crowded pool of crappy hardcore bands today. That being said, their new album, Insomniac Doze is sure to … Read more

Multiple Authors

Envy

Insomniac Doze
Temporary Residence (2006)

I came to Insomniac Doze with no prior knowledge of Envy, but with a strong interest in Japanese culture. As a country, Japan isn't exactly renowned for its success in the international music scene. Its successful exports tend to be few and far between, offering only a brief glimpse into what is in fact perhaps one of the most diverse … Read more

Head Automatica

Popaganda
Warner Bros. (2006)

When searching Daryl Palumbo's name on Wikipedia - a great tool to prolong pointless Internet usage - an interesting passage appears under the trivia headline: "Palumbo is an avid fan of 80's British band Squeeze and the Godzilla universe. He is considered an anglophile." After reading this last line it seems the direction Head Automatica took with Popaganda makes perfect … Read more

Force of Change

The Bond We Share
This Blessing, This Curse (2006)

Metallic hardcore is easily my favorite genre of not only hardcore, but of all musical genres. My fondness of this genre is a direct result of it being the first type of music I truly immersed myself in. Bands like Integrity, Strife, One King Down, Snapcase, and Indecision among others regularly dominated my Walkman. You know, those things like an … 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