Art in Manila
Set the Woods on Fire
Saddle Creek (2007)
With the indefinite hiatus of Azure Ray, the duo of Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink ventured into the lives of solo recording artists with different intentions. Maria offered up her 11:11 album, which was more or less a continuation of the established Azure Ray sound, focusing on the vaguely folk indie pop which had won her over her with the … Read more
As Hope Dies
As Hope Dies
Still Life (2006)
This self-titled affair is the final recorded material from the melodic death metal/hardcore outfit As Hope Dies. Prior to this five-song EP, the band had released two other albums: a full-length and an EP. Their first effort showed immense promise as it blended together their influences of European thrash and death metal with a healthy dose of American hardcore. Their … Read more
As I Lay Dying
Frail Words Collapse
Metal Blade (2003)
Combining the hardness of nu metal and the catchiness of pop punk, metalcore has been created. Similar to the way ska died, and everybody moved to the pop punk, perhaps this is the new installment in music that will make kids feel "underground" without having to go any further than the local Hot Topic. Walk no further than a Tower … Read more
As Tall as Lions
As Tall as Lions
Triple Crown (2006)
It is an awful shame that so many great indie bands often go unnoticed. As Tall as Lions is the perfect example of one of these bands. Here is a group who's already coming out on a small label, but also a label whose target audience is the complete opposite crowd that As Tall as Lions would normally appeal to. … Read more
As They Sleep
Dynasty
Solid State (2011)
This album starts with a quick drum blast jumping right into the sort of melodic death metal that was popular a couple years ago. Apparently As They Sleep is pretty consistent in their style. The band is part of the recent signings to Solid State Records and seems like a perfect fit. This is heavy spirit filled metal to put … Read more
As We Let Go
Above the Clouds
Six Feet Under (2009)
This EP makes sense to be released by Six Feet Under and hence a member of Blacklisted. This is essentially a Japanese version of that band. Mind you there's nothing wrong with that, it just seems there is nothing to set them apart from that assessment either. I could see this band killing stages the world over with a plethora … Read more
Asbestoscape
Asbestoscape
Independent (2007)
Now here is an album that deserves some attention. This review was actually a long time in coming because I originally discovered it via a blog as early as last October. It quickly became a staple soundtrack for long, mind-numbing walks I would have to make on chilly autumn nights. It has a somewhat gloomy atmosphere, but it is by … Read more
Asbestosdeath
Dejection, Unclean
Southern Lord (2007)
If you are at all familiar with doom metal you should no doubt be aware of who Bay Area legends Sleep are, and how big an impact they had/still have on the genre. And you're most likely aware of the post-Sleep projects High On Fire and Om. But you might not necessarily know that Sleep had its humble beginnings in … Read more
Aseethe
Throes
Thrill Jockey (2019)
Aseethe’s sludgy doom as kept them a part of the underground for over a decade and for the Iowa-based trio, that scene is one that allows them to burn brightly and produce music that is as thoughtful as it is crushingly heavy. The political climate of the last few years in America is one that has given many musicians the … Read more
Aseitas
False Peace
Translation Loss (2020)
Aseitas hail from the wilds of Portland, Oregon and while many bands from that region tend to dabble in the blackened side of the extreme metal spectrum, this group aim to create sonic dissonance via the technical aspects of death metal. Their second full-length, False Peace, is a demanding listen, not least because of three long-form tracks (all over ten … Read more
ASG
Win Us Over
Volcom (2008)
ASG stands for Amplification for Self Gratification. The name is rather fitting for this North Carolina rock group. On Win Us Over, their third full-length, the band delivers equal parts stoner metal dirge, guitar-rock speed, and punk attitude. As with most bands of this genre, it is the guitars that take center stage. Bands like ASG are about rocking out, … Read more
Ash Borer
Ash Borer
Pesanta Urfolk (2011)
YES! So this is without a doubt one of the five black metal releases that I can point to as my answer to the question regarding what black metal records (modern era only as I refuse to get into the nascent progenitors here) I like most because in my black metal dabbling journey, this is one of the better examples … Read more
Ash Borer
Bloodlands
Gilead Media / Psychic Violence (2013)
Do you love tossing on a record that is just crushing from start to finish? I mean regardless of dynamics where even the quiet parts make you feel that the heaviness could simply collapse in around your ear drums while the record spins because Bloodlands is definitely one of those records, and with it, Ash Borer is certainly staking their … Read more
Ash Borer
The Irrepassable Gate
Profound Lore (2016)
Haunting, mournful, and soulful, Ash Borer dials in with a killer new slab of music with The Irrepassable Gate; and the band tosses down the gauntlet with a densely layered album that breathes and stretches and smolders and seethes in a gorgeous cacophony that hints at mystic imagery and hidden arcane knowledge. The four members of the band seemingly take … Read more
Ashers
Kill Your Master
Thorp (2010)
Hardcore punk is a loaded genre. Very rarely can bands play this style a differentiate themselves from each other. It's not generally for lack of talent but the constraints of the genre are usually to blame. Ashers are a fairly new band this being their first full length. They quickly use their little bit of time to make a strong … Read more
ASHRR
Oscillator
First Second (2019)
Encompassing all of the most salient aspects of 80s synth pop, with clear nods to Talking Heads and New Order, LA trio ASHRR's debut album is a nostalgic but not particularly convincing first step for the band. The synth rock collective is made up of experienced musicians, with singer Steven Davis, producer Ethan Allen (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Sheryl Crow) … Read more
Asid Bateri
Demo
Dead Tank (2014)
Here's some of that good ol’ raw punk that was en vogue a few years ago. You know, those salad days before everyone started going gaga for the gothic, post-punk, all-weird-all-the-time trend that’s hot right now. (Personally, I like both styles quite a bit so I’ve got no complaints. I’m just having some fun here.) While the intro shows a … Read more
Assemblage 23
Binary
Metropolis (2007)
As seems to be common in the electronic scene, Assemblage 23 (A23) is the product of one man - Tom Shear. According to the bands official biography, the embryo of A23 was conceived on one fateful night in 1988, when Shear heard an industrial-dance DJ open for Depeche Mode. Staying true to this conception, Shear has made his name by … Read more
