Forever Unclean
Best
Hidden Home Records (2022)
It’s a tough to summarize Forever Unclean in a neat little genre-name. It’s punk rock, but with elements of ‘90s alt rock, screamo and more. It’s short and concise, energetic and uplifting, yet unpredictable and far more complex than your average 3-chord beentheredonethat. The music is driving but varied: guitar-driven with sing-shouted vocals and lots of surprising-but-not-jarring shifts along the … Read more
Forfeit
Visions
Reaper (2008)
Heavy, stomp worthy, pissed off mid-tempo to fast in your face hardcore. If you like anything from Agnostic Front, Buried Alive, to the almighty Integrity then there's no reason why this five-song 7" shouldn't be in your collection. You also get some horrible sung parts that would make George from Blacklisted blush, but it all adds into the evil fun … Read more
Forge Of Clouds
Self Titled
Independent (2011)
I'd like to invite you to look at the cover art of Forge of Clouds for just a moment. This is one of the few times I've ever looked at a cover for an album and said to myself “Yes, this is exactly what this music sounds like.” Every detail of this Polish quartet's music is captured in this image—the … Read more
Forgotten Tomb
...and Don't Deliver Us from Evil
Agonia (2012)
The Italian boys of Forgotten Tomb are certainly not new kids to the black metal scene. The band, going strong since the turn of the century, has made a name by building its own little corner in the depressive black metal genre. With each record the band allows their emotions to show through a bit more and, in turn, it … Read more
Form of Rocket
Men
Sick Room (2006)
SLC, Utah's Form of Rocket is five dudes, just as humble as they are talented, blasting out some really creative and inspiring stuff. They could quite possibly be the best band around right now, as I honestly can't think of a more exciting band. They're seamlessly bridging a wide range of genres all the way from post-hardcore, post-rock, folk, metal, … Read more
Fórn
Rites of Despair
Gilead Media (2018)
Boston’s Fórn have been making slow, emotional music that rips your heart to pieces since 2012 and in that time the band have progressed into an entity that can make a simple guitar phrase induce introspection on a massive scale. “Manifestations of the Divine Root,” the first track after album intro “涂地,” places gorgeously fluid guitar lines alongside Chris P’s … Read more
Foundation
Chimborazo
Paper + Plastick (2009)
I like to refer to Foundation's self-titled record as campfire punk. It takes basic punk songs (often from the Ann Beretta catalog) and strips them down to the acoustic basics. In the process, Rob Huddleston doesn't run them through the genre-grinder and spit out new alt-country or folk versions of old songs so much as he creates Ann Beretta Unplugged … Read more
Foundation
Hang Your Head
Six Feet Under (2009)
I grew up on '90s hardcore, so when I hear new band's drawing influence from that era I get excited. Atlanta's Foundation does just that and this new EP is a welcome addition to my collection of present day bands paying homage to the '90s. "Fireproof" sets the tone with heavy metallic hardcore on the '90s tip - think Unbroken … Read more
Four Days to Burn
Lieutenant/Casino Bitch
Dada Drumming (2006)
Looking at the cover art to this 7" I was anticipating one of two things: stoner metal or art-metal akin to the Hydra Head roster. What I got was not too far off. Texas natives Four Days to Burn churn out two cuts of stoner metal with flairs of southern rock and metalcore. On side A we're treated to "Lieutenant." … Read more
Four Fists
6666
Doomtree (2018)
Four sixes, four fists, two rappers and some punchy production that’s equally space age and heavy hitting. It’s my own interpretation here, but the group name is more a reference to solidarity and kinship between rappers P.O.S and Astronautalis than it’s a statement of anger or frustration. The group is built on the fluid, and often laid-back raps of Astronautalis … Read more
Four Tet
Everything Ecstatic
Domino (2005)
There is nothing quite like having to follow up a great record. 2003's Rounds was such an album; engaging, beautiful and charismatic. And for an electronica album, or "IDM" if you must, that was really something. Ironically, it was even released in the same month and on the same very label as Ulrich Schnauss's latest attempt to create the perfect … Read more
Four Year Strong
Rise or Die Trying
I Surrender (2007)
Do you love bubblegum pop-punk? Do you love sign-alongs? Do you love ridiculous breakdowns? Well, then Four Year Strong and their debut full-length, Rise or Die Trying, are going to be exactly what you've been seeking. This Worcester, Massachusetts five-piece delivers pogo-errific pop-punk with more than a few opportunities to sing-along and break out your dance moves. Rise or Die … Read more
Fox Face
End Of Man
Dirtnap (2021)
It seems fitting that one of the first 2021 releases I’m reviewing is called End Of Man. A look at the news shows a world in crisis and, for deeper meaning, the common parlance is shifting away from gender specific language. So maybe Fox Face is saying men ruined the planet and we’re all gonna die. Maybe they are saying … Read more
Foxhall Stacks
The Coming Collapse
Snappy Little Numbers Quality Audio Recordings (2019)
The best part of a super group is hearing talented musicians working in a comfortable space. A diligent review of Foxhall Stacks is obliged to mention Jawbox, Government Issue, Velocity Girl and Minor Threat, with whom this band shares members. I hear similarities to many of these groups because of the unmistakable players participating. The powerpop formula on this record … Read more
Foxygen
...And Starpower
Jagjaguwar (2014)
Since the first time I heard the dewy-eyed lyric, “I caught you sipping milkshakes in the parlor of the hotel,” I’ve been somewhat smitten with the psychedelic princes behind Foxygen’s screwball absurdum: moody-broody Jonathan Rado and Kevin Barnes incarnate, Sam France. Following the release of their hugely successful breakout album, 21st Century Ambassadors, it seems Rado and France decidedly opened … Read more
Fragarak
Crypts of Dissimulation
Independent (2013)
Indian quintet Fragark have one of the bossest names for a death metal band ever. (Cheat sheet: it comes from the name of the sword wielded by Irish sea deity Manannán mac Lir, and literally means 'The Retaliator' or 'The Answerer'. Chills, I tell you.) But when it comes to music, their 2013 debut, Crypts of Dissimulation, falls squarely into … Read more
fragment.
Home
Independent (2011)
Upon first hearing fragment. on the split / collaboration with Iroha entitled Bittersweet, I began a search for more to hear from this seemingly enigmatic French solo artist because the contributions to said record piqued my interest; but finding recorded material to listen to proved somewhat problematic, and then Home showed up in my mailbox with no real explanation as … Read more
fragment.
Temporary Enlightenment
OPN (2013)
Immediately strikingly to the heart with the opening notes of “Cast Out” as if awakening people from sleep with this as an early morning clarion call, Fragment. effectively kicks off Temporary Enlightenment (the fourth proper full length album from this one man project) and launches what is arguably the best batch of music from this project; the overall sound on … Read more
