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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)

Black Anvil

As Was
Relapse (2017)

Black Metal as a musical genre is not known for it's subtlety. The pendulum will usually swing between low-fi heavily distorted guitar and blast-beats or overwrought, overproduced operatic epics. But Black Anvil is a band of a different color. Hailing from NYC, they've managed to make a more accessible Black Metal sound without sacrificing any of the chief tenets that define the genre, much in the same way pioneering way Celtic Frost did to create the genre in the first place. Vocalist/Bassist Paul Delaney leads the charge on tracks like "As An Elder Learned Anew" and "Nothing" proving that Black Anvil refuse to paint themselves into a corner with their sound. Take instrumental "The Way of All Flesh" a soft, beautiful instrumental that on paper should stand out like a sore thumb, but in the deft hands of Delaney, Raeph Glicken on drums, and guitarists Jeremy Sosville and Travis Bacon, the goods are delivered in spades. Rounding out the album is "Ultra", an epic tune that is probably the most easily digested and rides the line of being progressive but never crosses into the zone of pretension - again demonstrating the skill of the musicians at hand. Read more

Liam Gallagher

As You Were
Warner Bros. (2017)

Beady Eye was not a bad band. Au contraire. If you harbour a weak spot for Oasis, aim at an … Read more

Monolord

Rust
Riding Easy (2017)

Sweden’s Monolord worship at the altar of the riff and on third effort Rust that riff comes downtuned, weighty and … Read more

Botanist

Collective: The Shape of He To Come
Avantgarde Music (2017)

Botanist belongs in this new generation of black metal bands, of acts attempting to reinvigorate the genre by expanding its … Read more

The Mons

Trust No One
Triple Eye Industries (2017)

Trust No One, The Mons’ second album isn’t subtle. But what do you expect of a band using that name? … Read more

Foo Fighters

Concrete and Gold
RCA (2017)

One thing becomes abundantly clear about 28 seconds into "T-Shirt", the first track off Foo Fighters' ninth studio album Concrete … Read more

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One from the archives

Coathangers

Nosebleed Weekend
Suicide Squeeze (2016)

A lot of the bands I listen to have gotten older and slowed their productivity so it’s nice to realize that The Coathangers are already releasing their fifth album even it’s already been a decade for the Atlanta-formed trio. On Nosebleed Weekend the band takes a bit of a curve toward a cleaner, less challenging sound, even if it’s just an one.What stands out on the 13-song album is that there’s a crispness to it. The guitars riff with more precision and there’s a confidence that rings throughout the record. While I call it a bit cleaner it’s still Coathangers all the way: a mishmash of no wave, garage, and punk. Throw in some kitchen sink influence from track to track and it forms a bunch of 3-minute songs that … Read more

More album reviews

Celeste

Infidele(s)
Denovali (2017)

French extreme/post metal outfit Celeste have been on a path of destruction since their inception back in 2005. Their introduction to the scene was made by the release of their debut EP, Pessimiste(s), a work that showcased their unique blend of sounds. Ranging from black metal and sludge, to post-hardcore, the music of Celeste kept coming with conviction and purpose … Read more

Grave Pleasures

Motherblood
Century Media (2017)

Grave Pleasures is the evolution and continuation of Beastmilk. Back in 2013, the project led by Mat “Kvohst” McNerney, released Climax, a record combining the post-punk nostalgia, the darkwave influence along with a pop-induced sensitivity. The record was filled with hits, stunning hooks and explosive tracks. Unfortunately Beastmilk could not continue in the same form, so lo and behold Grave … Read more

Grave Pleasures

Motherblood
Century Media (2017)

The Grave Pleasures story is one that began many moons ago in 2010; beginning life as Beastmilk and led by black metal legend Mat McNerney the band were soon on the radar of the black metal scene despite their sound sitting firmly in the post punk aspect of the musical world. Annihilation has no bounds and the outsider genre welcomed … Read more

BIG|BRAVE

Ardor
Southern Lord (2017)

I love music that expands as it moves as if it is pushing glaciers, building worlds, or splitting atoms. Music that is not meant for Sunday drives, lullabies, or backyard barbeques. Music that is meant to be listened too fully, as a whole, not in 2 minute pop biscuits, albeit I love that type of music as well. However, that … Read more

The Slow Death

Punishers
Rad Girlfriend Records (2017)

Punishers is the third LP from The Slow Death, fronted by ex-Pretty Boy Thorson & the Falling Angels mouthpiece Jesse Swan Thorson and backed by a rotating cast that includes Falling Angel Dave Strait, Dillinger Four’s Paddy Costello, The Ergs! Mike Yannich, and a slew of others depending on availability any given night. It’s also a natural extension of Pretty … Read more

Death From Above

Outrage! Is Now
Last Gang (2017)

So long, 1979. D.F.A. are back without the tag and without the chronological baggage that came along with their previous album, 2014's The Physical World. A ten year gap between that and their debut album was a hard thing to overcome, expectations wise. And Physical, while a very welcome return just felt slightly underwhelming, despite burners like "Right On, Frankenstein!" … Read more

Jarboe & Father Murphy

Jarboe & Father Murphy
Consouling Sounds (2017)

Jarboe has been known for her numerous and diverse collaborations. The former Swans member has gone to perform with an impressive array of musicians, ranging from post-metal legends Neurosis, industrial mastermind Justin Broadrick, to experimental cellist Helen Money, and has also appeared as a guest in the works of Puscifer, Lustmord, A Perfect Circle and Oxbow among many more. For … Read more

Myrkur

Mareridt
Relapse (2017)

Before dwelling into the extreme metal scene, Amalie Bruun was known from a few indie releases, which merged an alternative pop style with elements of traditional folk music. A self-defined black metal girl at heart, Bruun started moving away from her mellow side, and begun transforming into Myrkur, her black metal alter ego. Her project caused a turmoil in the … Read more

Crutches

Såld
Distro-y Records (2017)

Crutches strike again by doing what they do best. Playing d-takt, mangel or crust or whatever you want to call it. 2015 saw the release of FörlOrAD getting praised for its rawness whilst not forgetting to write actual songs. After that Eddie joined the band on guitar, but this didn’t really change the sound. Never change a winning team they … Read more

Rixe

Baptême Du Feu
La Vida Es Un Mus Discos Punk (2017)

More killer punk from everybody’s favorite French Oi! perfectionists. Baptême Du Feu (which translates to Baptism by Fire) is the third Rixe 7” now and they show no signs of fatigue. They’re as urgent and powerful as ever – a gruff and spirited sound that pushes adrenaline into overdrive. “Paris-Est” is a standout track. It starts off with a killer … Read more

Neil Young

Hitchhiker
Warner Bros. (2017)

Neil Young is cool as shit... there I got that out of the way. He has been an inspiration to numerous bands over his 50+ year career working with Buffalo Springfield, CSNY, and his solo work. Young has played with musicians as diverse as Rick James in their first band together in the 60s dubbed The Mynah Birds, to Pearl … Read more

Zola Jesus

Okovi
Sacred Bones (2017)

Nicole Hummel aka Zola Jesus, is one of the most enticing singer/songwriters of the current scene. By incorporating elements of electronica and industrial alongside a darkwave tone and with classical leanings, she has released a series of great records highlighting her intricate sound. From the extreme days of her debut, The Spoils, in 2009, Zola Jesus has been projecting an … Read more

Lost Balloons

Hey Summer
Dirtnap (2017)

By now it feels like hitting repeat, but for the uninitiated, Lost Balloons has to be introduced through the Marked Men timeline. The beloved Texas garage-punk band went on hiatus sometime back, when member Jeff Burke relocated to Japan. He’s since returned to the US and plays sporadically with Marked Men, as well as Radioactivity and other projects. But, while … Read more

Nordra

Nordra
Sige (2017)

Hailing from Seattle Washington, Monika Khot produces music under the Nordra moniker and is now releasing her self-titled debut album. Coming out from SIGE records, her record encompass a diverse set of elements, which while at first glance might appear inhumane and mechanical, under the surface contain moving moments and a lot of emotion. The album was initially released last … 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)