Integrity
Those Who Fear Tomorrow (Reissue)
Fractured Transmitter (2006)
Growing up on a steady diet of Sabbath, the darker aspects of music always held so much appeal to me. Yeah, I liked punk rock, still do, but I was looking for something heavier, darker, and as cheesy as it sounds, more evil. I am not talking about Slayer's fake evil. I am talking about visceral scare the shit out … Read more
Integrity
To Die For
Deathwish Inc. (2003)
"Welcome to 1996." I think that would be a more appropriate name for this record. Integrity is back with the original line-up, sans Melnick, after a stint doing the really terrible Integrity 2000 records. They are now on Deathwish and they haven't been this pissed in some time. The record starts off with "Taste My Sin" which I must say … Read more
Integrity
Walpurgisnacht
A389 (2008)
Ah, Dwid, where have you been hiding your mischievous and malevolent musical vehicle Integrity for the last five years? Ever since 2003's To Die For, Integrity's absence hangs over the hardcore scene like a looming spectre waiting to strike down pretenders and infidels alike. Sure the usual re-issues of Integrity's back catalog and singles as well as live records continue … Read more
Inter Arma
Sky Burial
Relapse (2013)
If there is any definitive point to life, certainly it must involve leaving something behind that has a positive impact that is discernible well after you are gone. While most of us will ultimately fail to have that kind of effect, we all have the great privilege of being the affected. Inter Arma are a band that have obviously been … Read more
Inter Arma
Sulphur English
Relapse (2019)
In the early ‘10s it felt like the progressive sludge scene had produced all of its great records, and that moving forwards the genre would settle in a plateau state. But in the underground, there was one band that was still not contempt with the confinements of the genre, and they displayed that with their debut record Sundown. Inter Arma’s … Read more
Inter Arma
The Cavern
Relapse (2014)
With their sophomore album, Sky Burial, Inter Arma released one of the best metal albums of the past year. Their style of playing brought to mind the earlier days of Mastodon and Baroness, but Inter Arma was not merely borrowing ideas from the two great acts. The vibe that Sky Burial had was much darker and bleaker than any of … Read more
Internal Affairs
Deadly Visions
Malfunction (2007)
Internal Affairs is a band that embodies what hardcore should truly be about. The music is fast, energetic, and pissed off. The lyrics are honest to the point of being blunt - hardcore used to be about speaking your mind, somewhere along the way most bands forgot this. And finally, the band puts on one heck of a performance, inviting … Read more
Internal Affairs
Internal Affairs
Malfunction (2005)
Corey Williams scares me. Now, this isn't anything bad because Williams is a great guy. But add a microphone and a stage - or maybe just a microphone - and this man turns into someone that you probably don't want to meet in a darken alleyway. If Mr. Williams is scary, Internal Affairs frightens me to death. After several prominent … Read more
International Superheroes of Hardcore
Takin' it Ova!
Bridge Nine (2008)
Hardcore is serious business well most of the time. Mixed amongst those pushing forth ideas concerning local and world issues are those out to have fun, usually in the form of some kind of joke. Jokes/gimmicks like these tend to last only a short time and the initial response is rather intense but quickly fades away. A few examples from … Read more
Interpol
Antics
Matador (2004)
Turn on the Bright Lights is a great debut album. The guitars are compelling when paired with Paul Banks's jarring vocals, letting bizarre lyrics like "subway is a porno" slide. The bass lines are far from boring and the drumming is precise and deliberate. All this talent was fused into a euphoric experience that was warmly received by the press. … Read more
Interpol
Antics
Matador (2004)
Well Scene Point Blank-ers, I've got some bad news: there will be nothing shocking in this review. The reason for this is that there is nothing surprising about the new Interpol album. I know that's what all the other reviews are saying as well, but I'm going to have to agree with them on this one. I could lie to … Read more
Into the Moat
Means By Which the Ends Are Justified
Lovelost (2003)
After hearing The Dillinger Escape Plan's Calculating Infinity, I had no idea that this style of weird timing technical metal influenced chaos could become a trend, mostly due to the fact that creating this music requires a lot of talent. It took a few years, but to my surprise, this sound has begun to rise from a few bands, such … Read more
Intronaut
Habitual Levitations (Instilling Words With Tones)
Century Media (2013)
The mighty Intronaut is back! The band returns with their fourth full length, still following the same path they first set with the release of their monumental debut Void. You know when a record is great when you cannot really start pinpointing it in one specific genre, and this is the case here with Inronaut’s last album Habitual Levitations (Instilling … Read more
Intronaut
Prehistoricisms
Century Media (2008)
Every so often you just want a metal album that is that, a metal album. Well here we have just that with the latest full-length from Intronaut. Prehistoricisms is a heavy metal album that is not a concept album, but an album based upon the theme of evolution. I can dig that, especially when the music is - at its … Read more
Intronaut
The Challenger
Translation Loss (2007)
After the release of their debut full-length last year, Intronaut return with an EP containing three new songs and some added bells and whistles. The Challenger kicks off with the title-track and the members of Intronaut pick up where they previously left off with a fairly straight-forward display of metal, oftentimes reminiscent of High on Fire. "Whittler of Fortune" sees … Read more
Intronaut
Void
Goodfellow (2006)
Intronaut is a four piece from California made up of members of Uphill Battle, Impaled, Exhumed, and Anubis Rising, although they sound nothing like I remember these other bands. Intronaut sounds more like a technical metal band with jazz-like flourishes. Void is their first full-length after the wittily monikered EP, Null. "A Monolithic Vulgarity" leads off Void like a jazz … Read more
Invade
Invade
Independent (2006)
My roommate likes to call early 90's hardcore "The Dark Ages of Hardcore" with its metal influences, all the way to the left neo-hippie politics, poetic non-sense, and mosh parts. In many way he's right, but the beginning part of the 90's wasn't all bad and we got some great bands like Undertow, Unbroken, Integrity, Indecision, and others that start … Read more
Invasion
The Master Alchemist
This Is Music (2009)
Now listen carefully, people I'm only going to say this once. You need to listen to this album. Further to that, most people need to own it. I hate to kick off with such a blatant endorsement that has now leached out all sense of suspense from reading this modest review, but frankly this is the most refreshing and urgent … Read more
