27
Let The Light In
Hydra Head (2004)
27 reach beyond simple classification. Combining bits and pieces from indie rock and trip-hop, as well as post-rock and traditional emo, 27 creates their own distinct sound within the teeming indie rock scene. With an EP, full-length, and a notable guest appearance (Isis - Oceanic) under their belts, the band has been together long enough to mold themselves from their … Read more
Big Business
Head for the Shallow
Hydra Head (2005)
In the late 80's and early 90's, Seattle was the place for any musician to be. A brief yet socially relevant counterculture was spawned, not too dissimilar to punk in the early 80's. The movement, being simply music or something more, had no name but was knighted "grunge" by the media. Much of the music was dirty, aggressive, brooding, and … Read more
Botch
Unifying Themes Redux / American Nervoso / We are the Romans (Reissues)
Hydra Head (2006)
How does one measure the influence and impact of a band on music? Sure, you could look at album sales, which in the case of The Beatles is a corollary that works, but then you could see how many albums a band like Godsmack or someone like Kenny Chesney has sold and just throw that idea out the window. Truly, … Read more
Cave In
Anomalies Vol. 1
Hydra Head (2010)
The only phrase that could describe my emotion right now is absolutely gushing, because “Inflatable Dream” is finally playing on my record player after years of obscurity as the “lost” Cave In song that blows away many other Cave In songs, and dear lord does its blasting goodness just make my 1999 barely twenty year old self scream like a … 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 debuted a handful of new songs, many of which made their way onto this release. When they played these new songs, they were sprinkled about a set-list of recent songs from Jupiter and Antenna as well as old jams from … Read more
Cave In
Planets of Old
Hydra Head (2009)
Cave In is back! Yes! The band makes its comeback known with the four-track twelve inch EP, Planets of Old, much to the excitement of long time fans and those that have yet to experience the four piece outfit (with drummer JR Connors rejoining the fold). Considering the chameleon like shifting of the band's sound over the years, the question … Read more
Cavity
Laid Insignificant (Reissue)
Hydra Head (2008)
Cavity is another one of those criminally underrated bands that toiled for years in obscurity while a select few found that the group and their down tuned Sabbath-influenced mayhem was a great mix of punishing volumes, squealing feedback, and strong rhythms that was quite different from the norm at the time in punk and hardcore circles - which is where … Read more
Clouds
Legendary Demo
Hydra Head (2007)
It's quite an interesting experience to hear the whole of Cave In broken down into its different parts, in a manner of speaking that is. Since the band has gone on hiatus, the members of Cave In have continued their musical outfit through a variety of sources. Vocalist Stephen Brodsky has been continuing to release material under his solo name … Read more
Clouds
Legendary Demo
Hydra Head (2007)
When Cave In went on hiatus, who would have thought that the principal players would all decide to throw down "solo" records? Steve Brodsky had been doing it for a while, but with Caleb Scofield's Zozobra and now Adam McGrath's Clouds, they are turning out a bunch of material apart from each other. Clouds is completely confounding. If you ever … Read more
Clouds
We are Above You
Hydra Head (2008)
After debuting with last year's Legendary Demo, Boston-based rockers Clouds return with their sophomore full-length. Fronted by former Cave In guitar maestro Adam McGrath, the band has delivered another fine offering here, though they have refined their fuzzed-out punk sound with an even wider sampling of influences. We are Above You begins with "Empires in Basements." The song is a … Read more
Coalesce
There is Nothing New Under the Sun (Reissue)
Hydra Head (2007)
Yes, Hydra Head has been pumping out the reissues of late (look to Botch having American Nervoso and We are the Romans re-released in super updated formats just recently and yeah I know this review is late), but this reissue not only includes the entirety of the original release for There is Nothing New Under the Sun but it also … Read more
Daughters
Hell Songs
Hydra Head (2006)
Man, The Jesus Lizard really left their mark. And as funny as it seems for such a quaint little band from Chicago, to this very day they're still firmly imprinted and can be spotted ever so clearly within modern music all across the board. Maybe its just that David Yow & Co.'s expansive sound was such a mishmash of punk, … Read more
Eugene Robinson
Fight
Hydra Head (2008)
Okay, so the more that I thought about this, the more ridiculous this concept feels to me, books on tape or CD or whatever. I am able to read so the existence of these types of paraphernalia are completely useless to me, and yes, I get that not everyone can read or not everyone has time to read (which is … Read more
Everlovely Lightningheart
Sein Weal Tallion Rue
Hydra Head (2009)
Everlovely Lightningheart was a band (even though championed by Hydra Head for some time) that exists in virtual obscurity. And considering what this collective offers people, aside from a bunch of limited releases (one of which includes an LP that is still only limited to 5 or so copies), the challenging soundscapes on their albums beg to be heard. Sein … Read more
GREYMACHINE
Disconnected
Hydra Head (2009)
Certainly, GREYMACHINE is a group whose mere existence is enough to generate interest and the inevitable hype considering its composition of some rather prominent members of the "extreme" music community. Seriously though, how could it not comprising members of Isis, Godflesh, Jesu, and tons more? The real question, at least if we concentrate on the actual content of Disconnected should … Read more
GREYMACHINE
Vultures Descend
Hydra Head (2009)
What do you get when you toss members of Jesu, Isis, Godflesh, House of Low Culture, The Lotus Eaters, Mamiffer nevermind ask the same question but change it to Aaron Turner and Justin Broadrick and his compatriots from Jesu (Dave Cochrane and Diarmud Dalton). In case you have yet to hear, GREYMACHINE (yes, all in caps) is the name of … Read more
Gridlink
Orphan
Hydra Head (2011)
My money is on the simple fact that it will take you longer to read this than it will to actually listen to Orphan, the latest album from the estimable grind group Gridlink (their pedigree alone is enough to warrant paying attention to the music this outfit is creating now) and that is not a knock on the album at … Read more
Harkonen & These Arms Are Snakes
Like a Virgin
Hydra Head (2004)
When I was in the sixth grade I had a birthday party and for some reason one of my classmates, his name was Seth, gave me a copy of Sir Mix-A-Lot's album Mack Daddy. I didn't ask for it, I guess he just assumed it was something I would enjoy. Anyways, contained on said album is a track entitled "Seattle … Read more
