Acephalix
Decreation
20 Buck Spin (2017)
Setting out with a retro vision of death metal glory alongside a punk sensitivity, Acephalix erupted into the scene with their debut album Aporia. Primitive and relentless, the band appeared to have instantly captured the essence of the genre with their debut record, something that was apparent even more on their sophomore album, Deathless Master. Punk influences begun to subside … Read more
Achenar
All Will Change
Earthen (2008)
One of the more difficult aspects of reviewing records is when an individual reviewer goes into a record completely blind with virtually no knowledge beforehand regarding a particular release or artist or group. Although there can be no preconceived notions concerning such projects, a certain amount of frustration or unpreparedness might be noticeable in said review. This is Achenar's debut … Read more
Achilles
Hospice
Hex (2007)
People around here at Scene Point Blank like to joke and rib me about being the token melodic hardcore guy. It's all in jest and like with most stabs of humor they never stray to far away from the truth. However, there is a dark secret I would like share with everyone. Towards the end of the 90's and into … Read more
Achilles
The Dark Horse
Hex (2005)
Rising from the ashes of another Hex Records band, Building on Fire, Achilles has made a loud statement with their first full-length, The Dark Horse. Achilles might be recognizable to those who heard their split CD with labelmates Engineer last year. The Dark Horse was produced by Evan Patterson of Black Cross and Breather Resist notoriety and engineered at Chris … Read more
Acid Fast
Rabid Moon
Protagonist (2014)
Acid Fast play really angst-y yet bouncy punk rock that is rooted as deeply in the Midwest sound as it is the Pacific Northwest. But here’s the thing: they’re not from Olympia or Minneapolis or Portland or Chicago; they’re from Oakland. But goddamn, if they don’t sound like a band that came up playing damp basements alongside The Soviettes, RVIVR, … Read more
Across Five Aprils
Collapse
Indianola (2006)
December 14, 1999: Poison the Well's Opposite of December was re-released and marked the end of metallic hardcore as everyone before it. Before "Nerdy" made all the mixtapes there was a quite of few metallic edged hardcore bands like Cleveland's apocalyptic Integrity, San Diego's depressive Unbroken, and Vegan Militants Earth Crisis whom all played palmed muted e-chord chugga chugga until … Read more
Action Bronson & Statik Selektah
Well Done
Dcide (2011)
Individually it has already been a busy year for both of these East Coast cats. Well Done marks the third release of 2011 for the culinary chemist-turned-rapper Action Bronson—following the the Bon Appetite…Bitch! mixtape and the impressive Dr. Lecter album—and the fifth for producer/DJ extraordinaire Statik Selektah, who dropped collabo joints with Freeway, Freddie Gibbs, and Freddie Foxxx, as well … Read more
Actors & Actresses
Arrows
The Mylene Sheath (2009)
There are certain labels as a music fan that I follow wholeheartedly. I could say The Mylene Sheath is one of these labels for me. They have a strong reputation for putting out spacey post-rock with a flair for nice packaging. So I was kind of excited to be able to check out one of the labels most recent signings. … Read more
Actors & Actresses
We Love Our Enemy EP
The Mylene Sheath (2011)
Reissues tend to be a funny thing. Sometimes they are done in good taste. To help fans get a hold of an album that went out of print or give them a chance to hear the progression that the band went through. This reissue is done simply for an early EP by this band giving us a look at the … Read more
Adam Green
Jacket Full of Danger
Rough Trade (2006)
Adam Green was half of the ardour and madness that was Moldy Peaches, half of what was behind the animal suits and make up. And you know, whoever would have thought that behind all of that craziness was a songwriter of such quality and grace? Jacket Full of Danger is Adam's fourth solo album in five years. It sees a … Read more
Adam Widener
Cola Kids Hanging Out in the Bubble Dome
Big Action (2012)
There are a few red flags that make me avoid records or, if you will, to judge a book by its cover. First, solo records in a punk or garage world. While the last few years have wiped this misconception away in many respects, I’m still hesitant when I don’t know the name coming in. Second, a record with a … Read more
Adams Dagger
The Ripper
Durty Mick (2009)
Adams Dagger - California by way of Florida. This reminds of the 80's hardcore scene when bands moved from all over to California or New York to make it big. So in a way, this is nostalgic and so is the music. Adams Dagger play an 80's-inspired hardcore punk. The guitars definitely remind me a lot of the first Bad … Read more
Adrenaline Mob
Self Titled
Adrenaline Mob (2011)
Adrenaline Mob is a new supergroup featuring some big names in rock music today. The brain-child of drummer Mike Portnoy, the album also features names like Russell Allen, Mike Orlando, Rich Ward, and Paul DiLeo. Though they come from different genres, their combined talents are...Okay, you know what? I can't fucking do this. I just can't.Mike Portnoy is an amazingly … Read more
Advent
Naked and Cold
Solid State (2009)
Beloved was a band that I never really got into. I gave them a chance, but to me, they were just another band in the faux-hardcore/screamo scene. They were mediocre for what they were doing and living in the shadows of other bands playing similar styles of music in a much more dynamic way. They were like a less volatile … Read more
Aelter
Dusk-Dawn/Follow You Beloved
Crucial Blast (2011)
Aelter, like most bands, have a backstory. Unlike most they can be explained through their other projects without fully describing what they are about. The band acts as an offshoot of the doom band WolvSerpent (formerly known as Pussygutt). Wolvserpent deal in massive undulating walls of sludge with use of uncommon (for their style) instruments, namely violin. This tends to … Read more
Aeon Zen
Enigma
Nightmare (2013)
Aeon Zen is one of the more recent progressive bands to work its way up to massive critical acclaim. Grounded by sole permanent member Rich Hinks and a reputation for unorthodox compositions, the quintet released their third studio album in four years this January, 2013's Enigma.Right off the bat, there's no denying that their reputation is well earned--literally no two … Read more
Aereogramme
Seclusion
Undergroove (2004)
Aereogramme have released two albums on Matador, been media darlings over in the U.K, and has even gotten Aaron Turner (Isis, Old Man Gloom) to do the artwork for their new record, Seclusion, yet, this is my first run-in with them. I figured with Aaron Turner doing the artwork, I'd find crushing riffs, vocals that could crumble buildings, and drums … Read more
Aeronaut
Coronal Mass
Fabrica (2013)
Aeronaut’s Coronal Mass is one hell of recording, but just saying that does not a hint of justice to the overall quality of this release because I would be damned if I did not say that the packaging for this cassette tape is disgustingly awesome, and in truth, what ultimately makes the release is the music that takes up the … Read more
