Throwdown
Vendetta
Trustkill (2005)
Haymaker is one of the worst albums, hardcore or otherwise, I've ever heard. We're talking 'makes-Hatebreed-look-like-Converge' bad here. I honestly cannot fathom a duller, more cliched, and more mentally aggravating record ever coming out of any music scene (with the possible exception of post-rock). It was a harrowing, monstrous disappointment from a band who has managed to put out a … Read more
Twitch The Ripper
Bodiless
Independent (2011)
Connecticut’s Twitch the Ripper is comprised of duo Jon Dobyns and Lonn Bologna. Bodiless is their debut album, which is deeply invested in the Dark Wave genre; emphasising the synth-heavy pop and Industrial elements.The album’s opening track quickly sets the tone for the next 45 minutes that this record lasts; within the first 4 bars strong echoes of Pretty Hate … Read more
Various Artists
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theatres
Williams Street (2007)
I'm going to be quite blunt right off the bat. Normally I would take the time to write some kind of intro that ties in with the album that I'm reviewing. But I'm not going to waste my time or yours because of two reasons. First off, you already know what Aqua Teen Hunger Force is about and secondly; this … Read more
Various Artists
Dead Band's Party: A Tribute to Oingo Boingo
Indianola (2005)
The 80's weren't really as bad as those VH1 specials make it out to be. Sure the fashion of those years was pretty atrocious, but try going to a concert today without laughing. It's hard, trust me. Throughout the decade there was quality music being made on all fronts - pop, hardcore, new-wave, hip hop, and punk. There were some … Read more
Various Artists
Punk Goes Crunk
Fearless (2008)
The Punk Goes series has been running since the start of this century, beginning with metal and running through pop, acoustic, the 80's, the 90's, and now culminating with crunk. There have been some good renditions over the years: A.F.I.'s "My Michelle," Reach the Sky's "Sometimes," Coalesce's "Blue Collar Lullaby," and High the Lights' "Hey Jealousy" come to mind. On … Read more
Various Artists
Through Trials & Plead the Fifth - Split
Crossface (2009)
Oh for the love Mike, I need to stop swooping down on these split CDs on the promo list. I am always disappointed. I mean I try to be all for new bands and their new music but Through Trials and the Plead the Fifth are trying to battle out for being the most generic hardcore band of all time. … Read more
Verona Grove
Verona Grove
Pats Record Company (2007)
So I got my wisdom teeth out today and have nothing to do but sit around at home on painkillers and eat Top Ramen. So I figured, what better time than now to give this promotional album a real listen? I have the free time and attention needed to really review a CD, and it's a band I know nothing … Read more
Your Eyes My Dreams
Weapons are Useless
Indianola (2006)
Of all of the promos in the pile in the corner of my room, Weapons are Useless has been languishing there the longest, festering silently, crying out to be reviewed. From time to time I would pop the disk into my laptop, in a vain attempt to make something of what Your Eyes My Dreams had dumped upon me. It … Read more
Zweizz
The Yawn of a New Age
Vendlus (2007)
I figured I'd be in for some weird and different sounding metal with Zweizz when I first looked at the cover of The Yawn Of A New Age, which is just a black metal-looking logo .in pink. Zweizz, real name Svein Egil Hatlevik, was also a member of Dodheimsgard, a rather off-beat, avant-garde black metal band from Norway, so that … Read more
