After
Edges Of The World
Independent (2012)
When I heard California's After described to me with phrases like "Soundgarden meets Rush" and "progressive pop", I knew I had to give them a try. Any band willing to reach back and recapture some of the classic rock sound that you just can't hear today definitely gets my interest, and I gave this EP a listen as soon as … Read more
After Oblivion
Vultures
Independent (2011)
After Oblivion have an extremely modest discography under their belt—a debut EP and that same EP repackaged in a split album. I suppose that this should have tipped me off that After Oblivion weren't necessarily up to snuff yet, but I can't help but feel after listening to Vultures that I went into this particular EP with my expectations too … Read more
After the Fall
Fort Orange
Raise Your Fist (2009)
As far as melodic punk goes, After the Fall are very good at what they do. They play a fast, aggressive style of punk that's similar to bands like Propagandhi, Good Riddance, and A Wilhelm Scream. Influence from said bands is evident on first listen to this record. In fact, they pay homage to their influences in some of the … Read more
After The Last Sky
There's No Light at the End of This Tunnel
Power It Up (2011)
While this is not a particularly good album, as a band After The Last Sky does possess some promising attributes. It takes only one listen to realize they are undoubtedly talented musicians. A fact that is not surprising, considering the rate at which they genre-hop their way through There’s No Light at the End of This Tunnel. The two axe-slingers … Read more
Afterthought
Take It or Leave It
Southern Comfort (2005)
As Death Cab for Cutie becomes the mainstream poster boy for indie rock, groups like Dilated Peoples and Atmosphere have become the indie hip hop equivalent. Afterthought seems to ride the line between the mainstream and indie hip-hop sound, wearing the backpack with one strap on, one off, and a drink in his hand. Take It or Leave It is … Read more
Against Me!
As the Eternal Cowboy
Fat Wreck Chords (2003)
A nice hodge-podge of genres. I'm not going to get into the "genre" argument, though. This album is too good to waste a review on that moot point. Anyways, this is the first Against Me! album I've listened to (despite being told to listen to them from various sources), and I must say, it's pretty damn good. The sound is … Read more
Against Me!
New Wave
Sire (2007)
There have been a few instances that I've gotten pretty pissed off at bands. When Modern Life Is War told the audience that it was a privilege for our small college town to be able to see Converge, I was pretty pissed off, as in all actuality, it is always a privilege for a band to show up to a … Read more
Against Me!
Searching for a Former Clarity
Fat Wreck Chords (2005)
Music fans are fucking assholes. For those of us in the world who obsess about music, we fail to realize this one fact. We can be incredibly annoying. We can be demanding. We can influence the musical and aesthetic choices a band makes simply because they want to please us, the musical consumers, so they can continue "doing what they … Read more
Against Me!
The Original Cowboy
Fat Wreck Chords (2009)
I feel a bit silly for reviewing this since it's basically just the original versions of songs from my favorite Against Me! album, As the Eternal Cowboy, but I thought it would be interesting to hear rougher versions of songs on that album to see how different they are from the final product. The Original Cowboy was recorded before they … Read more
Against Me!
Transgender Dysphoria Blues
Total Treble (2014)
It's been a long time coming, but Against Me! have finally released their sixth album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues. It packs a hit harder than previous records. It's loud. It's powerful. It's full on rock 'n' roll! It took awhile for them to finally get the record to take off. Original recordings weren't cutting it which prompted the band to head … Read more
Agalloch
Ashes Against the Grain
The End (2006)
Agalloch formed in the mid to late 1990's as a studio project of sorts and have actually maintained that distinction for the most part, as they seem to play very infrequently and undertake little touring. Ashes Against the Grain is the third full-length from this outfit and represents a further evolution in their recorded output. "Limbs" opens with a reserved … Read more
Agalloch
The Serpent & The Sphere
Profound Lore (2014)
Portland, Oregon (and beyond) and Agalloch have long been held in high regard as being at the forefront of the much-loved Cascadian black metal movement. With bands like Wolves In The Throne Room, Skagos and the oft-cited as hugely influential, Weakling as peers and a curiously under-appreciated record in 2010s Marrow of the Spirit, Agalloch have much to prove with … Read more
Agent
Awake in Their World
Run for Cover (2009)
Run Cover for Cover's label head Jeff and I like to go back and forth over his bastardization of the phrase "pop-punk" but the kid has a lot of heart and does a good job with his label. However, even though we will go tit for tat over our endless Screeching Weasel vs. Fireworks to everyone else's eye rolling disgust … Read more
Agent
I Wouldn't Trade That for Anything
Iron Pier (2006)
I know many of you out there don't remember the grunge explosion of the early to middle 90's. After Nirvana's "sudden" success, major labels swooped down on the rain drenched city of Seattle and signed everyone from Soundgarden to Seaweed in hope that maybe their label would find another alternative rock goldmine to strip for all its worth. Well, for … Read more
Agoraphobic Nosebleed
Agorapocalypse
Relapse (2009)
The background of this band shouldn't need explaining - if you're at all tuned in to the world of grindcore and other extreme music styles, you've probably already heard Agoraphobic Nosebleed. If you haven't, just imagine the most obnoxious and abrasive mixture of lyrical obscenity and overdriven drum machine lunacy you can fathom, and that should suffice for now. The … Read more
Agoraphobic Nosebleed
Arc
Relapse (2016)
Led by Scott Hull, Agoraphobic Nosebleed is one of the quintessential grindcore acts out there, and probably the most prominent band in the genre to make use of a drum machine, leading to hundreds of followers. Their style is dictated by ferocity and speed, albums filled with bursts of violence and constant pushing of your mental state. From Honky Reduction … Read more
Agoraphobic Nosebleed
Arc
Relapse (2016)
It’s not often a band whose tenure spans as long as Agoraphobic Nosebleed’s makes such a successful effort in redefining their sound without conjuring notions of desired mass appeal. More importantly, it’s not often a band as influential to heavy music as Agoraphobic Nosebleed creates what is easily their most accessible effort without sacrificing their abrasive integrity. We see an … Read more
Agrimonia
Rites of Separation
Southern Lord (2013)
In this day and age, if you're going to write 11-15 minute songs about death, decay and other moribund topics you need to make damn sure that they're interesting. This is usually achieved with liberal doses of the left hand of doom sprinkled throughout the riffage. On this front, Agrimonia succeeds quite well, and without playing the doom card. At … Read more
