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)

Changing Face

Our Last Chance
Escapist (2006)

Changing Face's debut EP, Our Last Chance demonstrates a side of hardcore that is most commonly looked down upon. The side of hardcore that has been left in the frying pan for far too long, and flipped one too many times by tough guys in camo-gear. However, Changing Face keeps these seven songs nice and short, and put in more ingredients than your ordinary break down. Our Last Chance is as raw as hardcore gets, and if you don't like this band now you better bite your lip because Changing Face aren't going to stand down anytime soon. They're few hardcore records that come out with enough passion and intensity that catch my attention right off the bat and make me want to thrash it up, but Our Last Chance has that magical touch that could pick me up out of this computer chair and throw me into a circle pit, or engage some of my infamous hardcore dancing techniques. Either way, this EP is filled with thrashin' breakdowns and a message that everyone who respects hardcore would appreciate. "Dead End", "Insincerity", and the self-titled track are memorable moments off this record with their harmonious blending of styles and progressive … Read more

Streetlight Manifesto

Keasbey Nights
Victory (2006)

In 1998, Catch 22's first, and defining album, Keasbey Nights was released by Victory Records. The release was a departure … Read more

Set Your Goals

Reset
Eulogy (2006)

Deje vu. Nearly two years ago I was writing a review of the original release of this EP. I closed … Read more

Integrity

Those Who Fear Tomorrow (Reissue)
Fractured Transmitter (2006)

Growing up on a steady diet of Sabbath, the darker aspects of music always held so much appeal to me. … Read more

Ennio Morricone

Crime and Dissonance
Ipecac (2005)

This is a biased review. Fuck you, you don't know me. I refuse to review this on the same bell … Read more

Go it Alone / Blue Monday

Split
Rivalry (2006)

I know very little of Vancouver, British Columbia other than the fact that the bulk of X-Files was filmed there … 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

750 reviews

Book Review

42 reviews

Classic Album

25 reviews

Multiple Authors

300 reviews

Review

4956 reviews

Video/DVD Review

19 reviews

One from the archives

Tim Timebomb & Friends

Mixtape
Pirates Press (2013)

Tim Armstrong (Rancid) has spent over a year releasing a song a day on YouTube under the moniker Tim Timebomb. While astute fans can pull his work right off the internet these days, there’s just something about holding a record and being able to play it at your leisure. Pirate’s Press Records recently dropped three vinyl singles and, as they were quickly snatched up, they paired it with a longer player, the low price 3-disc “mixtape” package. It’s 36 songs, or maybe 10% of the total output from the project thus far. Only “Tulare” is missing from the 7”s.While the song-a-day idea if grandiose and obviously doesn’t lead to success on every attempt, there have been a number of gems and these songs are handpicked as highlights. Some liner notes … Read more

More album reviews

La Quiete

Tenpeun '01-'05
The Perpetual Motion Machine (2006)

For whatever reason, the Italian La Quiete is supremely underrated. They've been putting out releases since 2001 and for whatever reason dudes and dudettes alike are sleeping on them. Well, now's your time to wake up, because their newest release, Tenpeun '01-'05 is a discography of sorts that includes their OOP (out of print) material. Included are their song(s) from … Read more

Ghost Buffalo

Ghost Buffalo
Suburban Home (2006)

Ghost Buffalo is an alt-country-ish band from Colorado. They lean more to the "alt" side of that genre as they don't really use (at least on this record) lap pedal steel guitar, banjo, or any other instrumentation that one would expect to hear on a country record. The record is also largely absent of country twang. This is a good … Read more

Omar Rodriguez

Omar Rodriguez
Willie Anderson (2006)

Recorded between shows on The Mars Volta's recent European tour, Omar Rodriguez' second solo outing is a different beast from his previous release on his GSL label, 2004's A Manual Dexterity: Soundtrack Volume 1. Recorded with a band partially recruited from Mars Volta personnel and other musicians, present to bolster the instrument count, the record serves not just as a … Read more

Resplendent

Am I Free? I Am Free
Mixx Tape (2005)

You might not have heard of Michael Lenzi, aka Resplendent, but if you have, you're probably wondering how a guy like this can go so unnoticed. He's that favorite actor or actress you fall in love with at first sight, but in this case, first listen. If you've missed out on the last three records, be here for what might … Read more

Magrundergrind / Shitstorm

Split
Robotic Empire (2006)

A few years back, I used to be friends with this kid Lee. He played drums in a few local metal bands and he loved blastbeats. He predominantly listened to a grind and death metal bands. I haven't seen him in quite some time, but if I did happen to run into him, I'd suggest that he buy this split … Read more

Let Planes Circle Overhead

Let Planes Circle Overhead
Motivesounds (2005)

Tantric music has its charms, but more often than not, it's boring as shit. What's tantric music you ask? Well I'll tell you, you nosey bastards. We all know what tantric sex is and the music works on the same principle. It starts out soft and mellow, keeps building and building, gets harder and harder, but never busts a nut. … Read more

New Bruises

Transmit! Transmit!
Kiss of Death (2005)

I don't think there's anyone on Scene Point Blank's staff that remembers Mid Carson July besides me and maybe Bob, but I'm grasping at straws there. Mid Carson July was mid-tempo emo band from Pennsylvania that went on to be a mid-tempo melodic punk band from Florida. I owned a couple of CD's from Mid Carson July but never thought … Read more

Cathedral

Garden of Unearthly Delights
Nuclear Blast (2006)

If you are into doom, stoner, or sludge metal and you don't know who Cathedral is, you fail at life. For the sonically impaired, Cathedral are one of the progenitors of the modern doom and stoner metal movement. They have released some of the most enjoyable records of these genres in their lengthy existence. Their first album, Forest of Equilibrium … Read more

Multiple Authors

Anti-Flag

For Blood and Empire
RCA (2006)

Read more

Multiple Authors

Anti-Flag

For Blood and Empire
RCA (2006)

Punk rock has always been centered on the voicing of ones opinion, with the vast majority of those opinions taking direct aim at politics. In the 70's and 80's, leaders like Jello Biafra and Joey Shithead got so involved in political happenings that they found their way into jails and courthouses on frequent occasions. These encounters only added further fuel … Read more

Rocky Votolato

Makers
Barsuk (2006)

Seattle artist Rocky Votolato has been a busy man of late. His debut record for Barsuk, Makers, has already seen an episode of cult teen series The O.C. use the opening track, "White Daisy Passing", on its soundtrack. Such lofty heights for the Texan-born singer were hard to imagine back in his Second Nature Records days. Makers is a record … Read more

A Wilhelm Scream

Diver
Jumpstart (2006)

Ok, so it's no secret that I really like A Wilhelm Scream. Like, a lot. I gave their most recent full-length, Ruiner, an 8.5 out of a possible 10. The full-length has yet to leave regular rotation in my listening habits, and the thing's been out since August! There had been talks from Jumpstart Records for a long time that … Read more

Lahar

Provide & Conquer
Spook City (2005)

The Northwest is breathing new life into its hardcore scene. They've got a lot of great bands right now - Go it Alone, Shook Ones, The Answer, Sinking Ships, Betrayed, Daggermouth, and so on. And while those bands lean towards the traditional side of hardcore, there are others that aim for something a bit more metal. Seattle's Lahar deliver just … Read more

Souvenir's Young America / Spylacopa

Split
UndeRadar (2006)

Whether a record is really good or really bad, it can be very inspiring to write about. You can either go on about how "amazing" it is or stoop on how much it "sucks." But in between, there isn't much inspiration and writing about one of these types of records can be boring in itself. Such is the case with … Read more

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