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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)

Ultra Dolphins

Why Are You Laugh
Robotic Empire (2006)

Prior to receiving this album, I was only aware of Ultra Dolphins by name. I'd seen their name plastered on various websites and heard a few mentions from friends of mine. But outside of that, I was clueless to what they were about. Perhaps you are in the same situation right now. Well, then Why Are You Laugh is a fitting introduction. This release is a collection of the band's previously released material in one convenient package. The six songs that make up Why Are You Laugh are a concoction of angular guitars, playful basslines, solid drumming, and obnoxious snarly vocals. The first track, "Duck Butter, Then," sets the tone with is slightly chaotic almost metal-ish opening. The song cycles through moments of this metal-tinged punk and more rock-ish ones. In fact, each song works in this formula with constant change-ups in style and tempo. "The Humans" is their best execution of this songwriting style, but at times they do come off sounding like a generic version of The Blood Brothers. "Playground Politics" is probably my favorite song on this release. It has a definite At the Drive-In feel to it musically. I rather enjoy the moments of this song … Read more

Rise and Fall

Into Oblivion
Deathwish Inc./Reflections (2006)

On last year's Hellmouth Rise and Fall showed obvious signs of influence from metallic hardcore acts Integrity, Leeway, and Ringworm. … Read more

Engineer

Reproach
Hex (2006)

Hot off the heels of their split with labelmates Achilles, Engineer serves up Reproach. This album was born from the … Read more

The Hidden Hand

Devoid of Color
Southern Lord (2005)

Being the latest creative outfit of one Scott "Wino" Weinrich (formerly of The Obsessed, St. Vitus, Spirit Caravan, and more), … Read more

Ceremony

Ruined
Malfunction (2005)

Ceremony is hateful and unrelenting hardcore/punk from California. Why people from California are so angry is beyond me, but since … Read more

Stop This Fall

Scream Till You're Free
Independent (2005)

Stop this Fall performs a unique mix of melodic hardcore and punk. The closest contemporaries that come to mind are … Read more

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One from the archives

Broadway Calls

Comfort/Distraction
No Sleep (2013)

Broadway Calls has been around the pop punk scene for quite a while, originally hailing from Rainier, Oregon and now based in L.A., they have been a fixture on the tour circuit since 2005 and when a band tours as hard and as frequently as these guys you can usually hear it in how well they play together and this record proves that theory correct. The new release Comfort/Distraction their third album is a treat for fans of the bands classic hardcore punk/pop sound, which came perilously close to not getting made due to label issues. The band lineup has changed slightly and now consists of Ty Vaughn on Guitar, Adam Willis on Bass and Josh Baird on Drums but their sound is just what you'd expect from a group … Read more

More album reviews

Rubikon

The Hollow Men
Category 5 (2005)

Mainstream music is constantly changing. Congruently evolving with it are the numerous bands attempting to make it big by cashing in on whatever sound is currently popular. Assuming it is Rubikon's intention to make it big, they might need a little help from a time-machine to accomplish that task. Rather than trying to fit in with the countless bands that … Read more

Norma Jean

O' God, the Aftermath
Solid State (2004)

Norma Jean went through a googolplex of vocalists between their last album and O' God, the Aftermath. After choosing one, the band took to the studio with Matt Bayles. Apparently they picked him because they love Botch. Funny, I remember this band being nu-metal with a DJ. The album opens with typical moshy metalcore, nothing surprising. On the second track, … Read more

Neglect

The Complete Don Fury Sessions
NGS (2005)

Neglect are one of those bands that I always heard about, but never really took the time to listen to. Musically, they are on par with the mid-ninties hardcore bands that leaned towards the metal approach as opposed to those that were punk oriented. The lyrics of are very disturbed, often filled with hateful sentiments and pessimistic attitudes. Apparently they … Read more

Mouth of the Architect

Time and Withering
Translation Loss (2004)

It is quite likely that Mouth of the Architect has been flying under your radar for quite some time. This is unfortunate, for both them and you. The Dayton, OH outfit's debut offering is four songs tracking in at an impressive forty-three minutes, with three of them clocking in past the ten minute mark. The songs that make up this … Read more

Kasabian

Kasabian
RCA (2005)

There was a slight revival in retro rock-n-roll a few years ago with the breakout albums from The Strokes and The White Stripes. But in the last year, we have seen a different take on this revival trend come to light. But rather than being limited to simply rock-n-roll, this second wave shares as much in common with New Order … Read more

Gratitude

Gratitude
Velvet Hammer Music/Atlantic (2005)

Those among the cult fanbase of former Far frontman Jonah Sonz Matranga were likely shocked when they heard that his latest project, Gratitude, would be signing with a major label. Matranga is well known for the personal relationships he has developed with his fans through intimate recordings and performances. Signing to a major label seemed to go against everything he … Read more

Dälek

Absence
Ipecac (2004)

There's rap and there's hip hop, or at least that's how things used to be. Now there's Dälek and there's everything else. Dre, Outkast, and Lil' Jon aren't worthy enough to share a mixed tape with this trio. Collectively known as Dälek, Dälek, Oktopus, and Still work together to create an original recipe of hip hop that at times shares … Read more

Armor for Sleep

What to do When You are Dead
Equal Vision (2004)

Armor for Sleep is a band that for me failed to live up to the potential they were capable of on their debut album, Dreams to Make Believe. They had recorded a great demo, but when the record came out those re-recorded songs were the only shining moments. A few years have passed and now we have a new album … Read more

All Hell Breaks Loose

All Hell Breaks Loose
Surprise Attack (2004)

South Florida must be a breeding ground for hardcore bands. It seems every three months I'm hearing about another band featuring members of past bands I enjoyed. This usually means that I'll be stoked as hell or extremely disappointed with what I hear. All Hell Breaks Loose, the latest culprit, features members of notable bands Until the End, Santa Sangre, … Read more

The Sword

Age of Winters
Kemado (2006)

Wow, talk about under the radar. Friends of mine have been telling me about this band for sometime, including IDB's (Industry Douche Bags) at that. So, I was a bit skeptical. Plus these guys are from the Texas. So, again anything that comes from the country of Texas is suspect (see the Vanilla Ice debacle for proof). When The Sword … Read more

Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan

Ballad of the Broken Seas
V2 (2006)

I must admit that I was shocked to hear of this collaboration, being familiar with Mark Lanegan and his work in Screaming Trees, Mad Season, Queens of the Stone Age and as a solo artist. A great deal of his material is dark, harrowing, and tends to exemplify the dirty, gravel cut images that the sound of his voice so … Read more

Fallen from the Sky

Tune Out the World
JMB (2005)

Fallen from the Sky are a five piece band from Boca Raton, Florida. The band plays a style of melodic punk/hardcore with an aggressive edge reminiscent of Friends, Lies, and the End of the World-era Reach the Sky or The Movielife's Forty Hour Train Back to Penn. At one time or another, those bands had defined a heavier sound in … Read more

Bitter End

Mind in Chains
Malfunction (2006)

Bitter End is a five piece hardcore band from Helotes, Texas of all places. Helotes is a smaller city that is just northeast of San Antonio. Right now, this is the farthest place I can think of that I would find a band playing NYHC in the vein of Leeway and Killing Time. Okay, I know there are other bands … Read more

Shook Ones

Slaughter of the Insole
Revelation (2006)

In 2005, Shook Ones quietly released their debut LP Sixteen on Endwell Records. Okay, so maybe quite a few people noticed, but I'm just trying to cover my ass for not reviewing it when I damn well should have. As a result of that stellar release this Washington state group ended up signing with Revelation Records and subsequently released this … Read more

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

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