Birushanah
Akai Yami
Level Plane (2008)
Three songs, forty minutes. Akai Yami was my first introduction to Japan's Birushanah. The band uses two metal percussionists as well as a drummer, a fretless bassist and guitarist. "Jyodo" is a calm and intriguing opener that features traditional Japanese percussion. However, this doesn't last long, and the twenty-minute track, "Akai Yami," begins. Vocals vary greatly during this song. Long-held … Read more
Bitter End
Bitter End
Malfunction (2008)
Texas hardcore powerhouse Bitter End return with a brand new 7" EP. You get two brand new cuts of punishing New York-flavored hardcore on this limited vinyl release. Following a short intro track "Purgatory" slams you in face like an unexpected punch. You get clobbered with searing riffs and throaty yells. It's a slamming grove that doesn't stop, save for … Read more
Black Anvil
As Was
Relapse (2017)
Black Metal as a musical genre is not known for it's subtlety. The pendulum will usually swing between low-fi heavily distorted guitar and blast-beats or overwrought, overproduced operatic epics. But Black Anvil is a band of a different color. Hailing from NYC, they've managed to make a more accessible Black Metal sound without sacrificing any of the chief tenets that … Read more
Black Breath
Razor to Oblivion
Southern Lord (2009)
Holy Moses! Do you need a new recipe for a Molotov Cocktail of ROCK?! Mix one part Motörhead with two parts dirty, smelliest hardcore this side of Poison Idea. Shake vigorously. Then release it onto the headbanging masses. I am usually not into metal but when it is played with such vigor and with such a balls out attitude even … Read more
Black Cobra
Feather and Stone
At A Loss (2007)
Range is something music critics put a lot of emphasis on, and this isn't without warrant. A band's ability to cater to a broader spectrum of people is a needed skill in today's love it/hate it climate of preference. Though all music could be said to be progressing today, for some reason heavy metal produces the most consistent visible evolution. … Read more
Black Market Fetus / In Defence
Split
Give Praise (2009)
Split 7" releases are great when both bands are good. And luckily this time both Black Market Fetus and In Defence are good underground groups and this nasty little piece is as sweet as it is short- seven songs pass by hastily but it's certainly good enough to warrant repeated listens. Another positive is that both bands differ slightly in … Read more
Blazing Eye
Blazing Eye EP
La Vida Es Un Mus Discos Punk (2015)
This is some of that rhythmic punk that's making the rounds lately. Kind of like Dawn of Humans (with whom they are currently label mates) but more on the crusty and menacing side than the weird and experimental. Blazing Eye is a quartet out of Los Angeles that share membership with Raw Ponx-affiliated acts like Drapetomania, Tuberculosis, and Sadicos. They … Read more
Bloodbath
Unblessing the Purity
Peaceville (2008)
With this being a side project for everybody involved, it isn't strange that members have come and gone with great frequency since the band's inception. Bloodbath however, is a seriously good band consisting of established musicians from Opeth and Katatonia indulging in their love of old school death metal. Unblessing the Purity is a four-track EP offering up fierce old … Read more
Bloody Hammers
Lovely Sort of Death
Napalm (2016)
Bloody Hammers hail from North Carolina and specialize in doom. The band was founded by Anders Manga, who remains the main songwriter and performer - recruiting others only for tours. Manga's partner-in-dirge is keyboardist, Devalia and while she has been with Manga since the beginning, it would seem she is poised to assume a larger role with the band's music.Providing … Read more
Blutch
Materia
At A Loss (2007)
It's pretty easy to play in a doom/black/death metal band: depending on the style either play extremely fast or extremely slow, and, again depending on style, make your recordings sound like they were either recorded inside a garbage can or in a muddy swamp. Because of this, it also makes to be easy to mediocre playing in such a genre. … Read more
Bob Mould Band
Live At ATP 2008
Granary Music (2010)
A new live record finds the artist covering all phases of his storied career with whiplash intensity. Husker Du, Sugar and his solo career material are all represented. Mould brings his usual passion and emotion to the proceedings. But the band’s performance here is just as crucial. Richard Morel’s keyboards add depth but don’t overtake the mix. Jason Narducy adds … Read more
Boilerman
Boilerman
86'd records (2015)
It took me 8 minutes to listen, so it should 8 minutes to write it too. Or, something. Really that’s just a bad Futurama reference so I can “cleverly” say that this is a short EP with 5 songs total. The song names are on this EP are “I,” “II,” “Weak Week,” “III,” and “IV.” Speaking of clever.Boilerman are punk … Read more
Bon Iver
Blood Bank
Jagjaguar (2009)
Bon Iver's 2008 release For Emma, Forever Ago was made in troubled times. Supposedly, after suffering the loss of a band and girlfriend while dealing with poor personal health, singer Justin Vernon spent three months of the winter in his father's cottage, located in a remote area of Northern Wisconsin. His time spent in isolation birthed the album, a haunting … Read more
Bootlicker
1000 Yd. Stare
Neon Taste Records, Static Shock Records (2024)
This full-length record might fit on a 7”. It’s short and fast, but still definitely a full record with 10 fully-formed tracks of stomping punk rock just over 15 minutes overall. I’ve written about the band before and this record continues their trajectory. I remember a little more barking and aggression last time, but that isn’t to say this record … Read more
Boris
Pink
Southern Lord (2006)
Initially released late last year on Japanese label Diwphalanx, Pink now finds a worldwide release through Southern Lord. It also see's the band at their scuzzy rock best. Similar in sound in many ways to their 2005 Southern Lord release, Akuma No Uta, but upping the ante considerably with tighter more memorable songs. Tracks like "Regardless it is not Separable" … Read more
Bosch's With You
Dreams That Come a Thing Part II
KNVBI (2008)
I believe that Bosch's With You is the first Russian band I've sat down and actually listened to. I can't help but make the excuse that Russia is half a world away from where I reside, but on the other hand, the Internet has made it so easy for us these days. This LP is the second in a trilogy … Read more
Bracewar
Whatever it Takes
The White Glove Group (2009)
I believe these four songs were released as a sampler for Bracewar's upcoming full-length. I could be wrong though. These demo tracks were released as a 7" at United Blood and hear it is playing through my speakers. Bracewar plays stompy angry hardcore with snarled vocals. There really isn't much to Bracewar's attack but it still hits in all the … Read more
Brain Dead / Rot in Hell
Millennial Psychosis
Feast of Tentacles/Rumor Control (2008)
Millennial Psychosis features two of the best up-and-coming hardcore bands that the U.K. has to offer. If you haven't picked up on these two yet, you're missing out. Brain Dead offer up four songs of punishing hardcore/powerviolence that would do the likes of Infest proud. This U.K. four-piece unleashes a visceral assault onto the listener with blazing riffs and pummeling … Read more
