ANATOMI-71
Från Primat till Reptil
Power It Up (2011)
Swedish purveyors of crust Anatomi-71 return with their latest injection into the overly congested genre that is D-beat—Från Primat till Reptil. This is a heavy slab of melting Scandi-core, both literally and figuratively. The vinyl—housed in an impressive double gatefold jacket, courtesy of Power It Up Records—is thick, rigid and weighty. Those are a few commendable properties, no doubt. However, … Read more
Anatomy Of Habit
Ciphers + Axioms
Relapse (2014)
Put together great musicians from diverse backgrounds and you are bound to get something special. That is what happens with Anatomy of Habit and their debut album. With an impressing line up which includes guitarist Will Lindsay of Indian, drummer John McEntire of Tortoise, percussionist Theo Katsaounis of Joan of Arc, bassist Kenny Rasmussen (previously of Radar Eyes) and of … Read more
Ancestors
In Dreams And Time
Tee Pee (2012)
I'm not quite certain what the cover art for Ancestors's new release In Dreams and Time is supposed to represent, but one thing is for certain: it doesn't prime you for what the album actually sounds like. Depending on your artistic interpretation, that may actually be a good thing—but let me actually tell you about this odd album.In Dreams and … Read more
Anchor
Captivity Songs
Refoundation (2007)
One thing that I love about hardcore bands from the 80's and 90's is that they often included background info on the songs' lyrics. Perhaps this is because the music then seemed to be fueled more by the substance of its words as opposed to how the music sounded - this fact can be argued to death and I have … Read more
Anchor Arms
Cold Blooded
Fail Safe (2008)
These days everything reminds me of The Fest. Today's memory comes from release FSR001 by Anchor Arms, reminding me that I missed the Fail Safe warehouse show last year because I couldn't find a ride across town. While that intro had all too little to do with the band themselves, Anchor Arms do call Gainesville home and they utilize a … Read more
Anchor Down
Steel to Dust
Solidarity (2009)
It's always great to find all of these new breeds of punk bands coming about lately. There have been so many that I've found out about the last couple of years. And the funny thing is, nearly all of them have stuck with me. I still listen to all of these bands on a pretty frequent basis. Another band to … Read more
Anchorage / Lies in the Effort
Split
I Ate Her (2005)
I don't like split releases. They annoy me because I would rather hear an EP by the two separate bands to digest it completely before I am being forced to listen to another band's output on the same disc. Also, you never hear anyone say that a split is their favorite record of all time because quite frankly splits just … Read more
Anchoress
Stay Positive
Early Onset Records (2022)
With Anchoress the chaos has found somewhere to catch. Originally formed in 2010 their newest album sees the band reaching technical and creative heights. Melody and instrumental prowess reign supreme on their fourth studio album without losing the relatability and raw energy they’re known for. Released on Early Onset Records and produced by Jesse Gander (Japandroids, White Lung) Stay Positive … Read more
Anchors
Lost At The Bottom Of The World
Creator-Destructor (2012)
Anchors are a five piece from Melbourne, Australia who play melodic hardcore in the vein of Strike Anywhere. While a few more comparisons might pop into mind throughout the record, really just that one is necessary to convey the point. Sure, they aren’t as politically-bent as Strike Anywhere, but the strain of melodic vocals layered over dual guitar, forward-pressing burners … Read more
Ancient Shores
Step To The Edge
A389 (2011)
This may not come as a shock to anyone, but West Virginia isn’t exactly the breeding ground for heavy music. Anyone that has crossed into the state’s border would know that it’s the estranged son of the south. However, sometimes a shock will come in the form of a band emerging from the most unexpected of places and ripping your … Read more
Ancient Wisdom
A Godlike Inferno
Shine Box (2011)
Evil can come in many forms. Everyone can explain the evil in any number of things man can perceive. More rare than that is a true embodiment of evil within a musical context. Many times this gets narrowed to various types of metal. While bands like Slayer seem evil on the outside a look below the surface makes it clear … Read more
Ancient Wisdom
Deathlike
Prosthetic (2013)
A lot has been said about Ancient VVisdom, not all of it positive, and for many just letting the music do the talking isn’t enough. Heck, it should be more than enough, because Ancient VVisdom’s second shot at the full length is a deadly and distressing thing of beauty. Deathlike does exactly what it says on the tin, and this … Read more
Anciients
Heart Of Oak
Season of Mist (2013)
The debut album, Heart of Oak, for the Canadian extreme/progressive metal band, Anciients, is a fascinating one. And do not think that this is going to be your standard “progressive” band, where technicality is more important than feeling or substance. This band is an extremely difficult one to categorize so the term “progressive” is used here in a very vague … Read more
Andrew Bird
Armchair Apocrypha
Fat Possum (2007)
With the over saturation of the industry, technology making the ability to record a feasible option for anyone who has ever picked up an instrument, and the Internet spreading music like the plague, what's often lost is authenticity. Currently, there are waves upon waves of like sounding bands making it easy to get flustered and discouraged in a search for … Read more
Andrew Bird
The Mysterious Production of Eggs
Righteous Babe (2005)
Andrew Bird is an intelligent and elegant Chicago based musician. He molds his work carefully. To give you an idea of how careful he is, he scrapped his latest album, The Mysterious Production of Eggs, three times to go as far as traveling in-between studios from Chicago, Los Angeles and his hometown in Northern Illinois until he got it right. … Read more
Andrew Hock
Crystalline Privative Opulence
Union Finale (2015)
Andrew Hock, of Psalm Zero and, until recently, incredible black metal outfit Castevet, has always seemed a very interesting case, as the two before mentioned bands would let on. And the same interest would be transferred over to the debut album that Hock is putting out under his own name, Crystalline Privative Opulence. With an extended pallet of instruments, including … Read more
Andrew Jackson Jihad
Christmas Island
Side One Dummy (2014)
Andrew Jackson Jihad make a return on their new label home, Side One Dummy, after a long tenure on Asian Man Records. Usually when a band makes a jump after a long run, many find a cause for concern. I assure you, there's nothing to worry about. The lyrics are as offbeat as ever and the compositions are still whimsical … Read more
Andrew Jackson Jihad
Knife Man
Asian Man (2011)
Andrew Jackson Jihad runs the folk-punk gamut—they’ve put out a split with Ghost Mice, play The Fest more or less annually, and they’re a two-piece mostly acoustic band comprised of Sean Bonnette (guitar) and Ben Gallaty (bass). Now that I’ve lumped them in with a number of other acts, it’s time for the separation.The Phoenix band is distinct in their … Read more
