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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)

The Farewell Reason

Demo
Independent (2005)

I'm going to start this one by saying that, with very few exceptions, I fuckin' hate metalcore. Has a genre ever spawned so many worthless, generic, formulaic, and uninspired bands? It's seriously riding pop-punk's ass right about now. Now, I don't always mind my hardcore with heavy metallic leanings; I can stand All Out War and Embrace Today, who at least have some unique/memorable/invigorating aspects to their sound, but god damn, is there ever a lot of horrible shit out there these days. However, what we have here is some quality melodic metalcore that's much more Opposite of December-era Poison the Well than As I Lay Dying and other forgettables of that ilk. The Farewell Reason shows a surprising level of musical maturity for their first demo, which, at 28 minutes, could honestly be a perfectly suitable full-length had it some fancy artwork and liner notes. The songs achieve a fantastic balance between brutality and melody without sacrificing too much on either front. The melodic interludes don't feel wimpy, forced, or obligatory (which is saying a lot already), but rather serve to make the next punishing breakdown even more effective. Even with an average song length of five minutes, the … Read more

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 … Read more

Mad Sin

Sweet and Innocent? Loud & Dirty!
Thorp (2005)

First released in 1998 und das Vaterland, Mad Sin's album Sweet and Innocent? Loud & Dirty! finally gets a "proper … Read more

Andrew Bird

The Mysterious Production of Eggs
Righteous Babe (2005)

Andrew Bird is an intelligent and elegant Chicago based musician. He molds his work carefully. To give you an idea … Read more

The Spill Canvas

One Fell Swoop
111 (2005)

The Spill Canvas's debut LP Sunsets and Car Crashes showed us that in high school the members of the band … Read more

Send More Paramedics / Zombie Apocalypse

Tales Told by Dead Men
Hellbent (2005)

So you know the story; you wait all your life for a band to sing about zombies and the living … Read more

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One from the archives

Total Control

Typical System
Iron Lung (2014)

Sometimes you get stuck on a review. Sure, I meant to delve outside my comfort zone a bit in grabbing this record, but I’ve been a little stuck on the details. The plus side, of course, is that means I’ve given it dozens of spins.Typical System is the second release from Melbourne’s Total Control. The band features some recognizable names who have played with Eddy Current Suppression Ring and UV Race, but they’re really their own project with a completely new focus on dark and synthesized music. While it’s beat-driven, calling it dance music is a stetch. It’s somewhere between mid-era Cure and very early Ministry in tone: haunting and atmospheric. The synths will shimmer through the clouds, but it’s always overcast while listening to Typical System. The vocals are … Read more

More album reviews

Cipher

Children of God's Fire
Uprising (2005)

One of the best jokes ever created was "rap metal." A suburban fusion between nu-metal (i.e. Korn) with a frontman that yelled out words in a "rap" fashion. The result was a golden age of LOL. Remember Limp Bizkit? If you didn't prior to clicking this review, you sure do now. Backwards hats, shaved eyebrows....or maybe I'm just thinking of … Read more

A Wilhelm Scream

Ruiner
Nitro (2005)

A few names come to mind when you hear the term technical punk: Strung Out, Bigwig, and Propagandhi. These bands started off as scrappy punk rockers whose talents progressed as their members became more and more skilled at their craft. A Wilhelm Scream fit perfectly in this category. Formerly known as the band Smackin' Isaiah, A Wilhelm Scream changed their … Read more

Various Artists

Generations: A Hardcore Compilation
Revelation (2005)

I turned 31 about a month ago and at my age a person tends to finally want to "grow up" and get out of hardcore. There's been plenty of lonely Friday and Saturday nights (like tonight) where I've wanted just pack up 90% of my CD collection (the fuck if I'm going to give up my Cro-Mags and Lifetime discs) … Read more

Minus the Bear

Menos el Oso
Suicide Squeeze (2005)

Let's play a game. It's called 'name a better band than Minus the Bear.' Ready, go! Wrong! Ok, you might be right. But let's see you start a review in a more exciting way. You asshole. This is only the second full-length from Minus the Bear. Or as Michael affectionately calls them, 'Amazing' the Bear, nyuk nyuk nyuk. Although, they … Read more

The Fall of Troy

Doppelganger
Equal Vision (2005)

'The Fall of Troy is everything you wish your band could be - younger, faster, louder, and well'better looking. These are the facts, but don't let it get you down. You're a snowflake, unique in your own way.' This is taken from the Equal Vision Records website. With a press release like the above, a band is sure to have … Read more

In the Crosshairs

Partners in Crime
Blood Money (2005)

Partners in Crime opens up with a sound byte of god only knows what (I don't know, maybe something eastern-influenced? Is that PC? Who cares) and melts into metal. I know, I know, since when do things melt into metal? The laws of physics dictate that this is not possible, but the laws of hardcore dictate that it is both … Read more

Dragonland

Starfall
Cleopatra (2005)

I'll be honest. I expected certain things when I attended Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force show at the Hammersmith Apollo this past spring. I was prepared for all the aging rock couples of London, with their teased hair and blue eyeliner, and for the teenaged spotty hoards in Children of Bodom shirts; the ancient and loyal, mixing with the curious and … Read more

Kanye West

Late Registration
Roc-A-Fella (2005)

'So good!' I've had those two words typed at me too many times in the past few weeks. Any time the subject of Late Registration comes up, there it is. 'So good!' When I actually bought the damn CD, I was surprised there wasn't a little sticker on it saying 'So good!' Apparently, the cashier at the store noticed this … Read more

Sigur Rós

Takk
Geffen (2005)

It must be a truly horrible feeling to have the heart and soul you pour endlessly into your music summed up by thousands in one singular, horrendously monotone phrase: 'bath music.' No matter how many hours you bleed emotion into your chosen art form; to many that art will simply be regarded as something to stick in their stereo system … Read more

Death Cab For Cutie

Plans
Atlantic (2005)

With their fifth full-length, indie music darlings Death Cab for Cutie make the jump from 'the little engine that could,' Barsuk Records, to the big-time of Atlantic Records. But don't pick up that rock just yet. Death Cab isn't deserving of the bludgeoning reserved for traitors. With their latest release, Plans Death Cab stick to what they do best as … Read more

Holy Roman Empire

Lost in Landscapes
Hewhocorrupts Inc. (2005)

Do you remember Ashes? Junction? Hell, even Samuel for that matter? Have your ears ever had the chance to listen to Beta Minus Mechanic? Copper? Idle Hands? Well maybe it's all little rusty for you hardcore kids in the 25 and older age range, so let me refresh your memory. Holy Roman Empire as well as all the bands listed … Read more

Day of Contempt

The Will to Live
Epitaph (2005)

Goddamn! You're more than likely speculating that this record is going to be one of two things because of the profane first impression. It's either going to be an over-the-top, album of the year deal, or just another record you stop halfway through setting aside to collect dust. However, Day of Contempt's The Will to Live is neither of the … Read more

Psyclon 9

I.N.R.I.
Metropolis (2005)

Look in the middle of the booklet of I.N.R.I.. Right there in the center of the middle page, staring up at you is a little caption. This little caption says, 'Why should I believe if God's not here to save me?' This is how the album begins, with multi-repetitions of this same line. The anti-Christian platitudes don't stop there, though, … Read more

Internal Affairs

Internal Affairs
Malfunction (2005)

Corey Williams scares me. Now, this isn't anything bad because Williams is a great guy. But add a microphone and a stage - or maybe just a microphone - and this man turns into someone that you probably don't want to meet in a darken alleyway. If Mr. Williams is scary, Internal Affairs frightens me to death. After several prominent … Read more

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