Wisdom in Chains
Class War
Eulogy (2007)
A lot has been made lately of the throwback sounds that are ultra popular in hardcore these days. It seems that if you're not biting from the likes of Integrity, then you're probably ripping of Lifetime. Or, if neither of those are your cup of tea, you'll stealing a page from the early Revelation bands like Burn. Well, keeping with … Read more
Witch
Witch
Tee Pee (2006)
If you've seen An Inconvenient Truth, the summer's biggest blockbuster hit, you know shit is hitting the fan. Carbon dioxide is seeping out from every industrial pore and the long-term effects of this are outright frightening. In terms of the short term, Al Gore put a major emphasis on an increase of heavy music. Not that Black Sabbath was ever … Read more
Witch-Lord
Atomized In The Black Solarian
A389 (2011)
All hail the Cult of the Seven Crowns! Witch-Lord is one of a number of destructive musical forces that is just one head of the hydra meant to smash the world into oblivion, and the difference between those other groups (Gehenna, Gravehill, and others) is massive and due in no small part to the monolithic doom purveyed on display on … Read more
Witchcraft
The Alchemist
Rise Above (2007)
If you have heard of this band recently then chances are that it will be related to a certain "southern super group" and their recent resurgence. These Swedes embrace the seventies and are said to be the sole reason that Down, with former Pantera screamer Phil Anselmo at the helm, were revitalized and released arguably their finest recording in 2007. … Read more
Witches
Forever
Bakery Outlet (2011)
Witches are a tough band to break down. The vocals from Cara Beth Satalino are far and away the driving force on their debut, Forever. Yet, the band is anything but a singer-songwriter project. The guitars and a rhythm section are subtly driving, with an anxious energy ready to break loose, but somewhat confined. From the opening “Creature of Nature,” … Read more
With Honor
Heart Means Everything
Stillborn (2004)
You know those stickers that they put on the front of CD's that say "For Fans Of.." or "Featuring the Hit Single..."? Well, I have decided to make my own sticker for With Honor's debut full-length. However, instead of a misleading recommendation my sticker will read: "The feel good record of the year." Concise, but informative, the reasoning behind this … Read more
With Honor
This is Our Revenge
Victory (2005)
I have a boom box where you load the CD's on the top, so when I put in This is Our Revenge into my kickin' stereophonic listening system I thought I accidentally left in my copy of Ignite's Past Our Means. Todd Mackey's vocals sound so eerily close to Zoli Teglas that I actually thought I had just left in … Read more
With Honor / The Distance
Split
Martyr (2004)
Two of the best bands in Connecticut doing a split together? "Sign me up!" I think to myself, and how right am I after listening to this? Dead on. With Honor and The Distance both contribute three tracks each to this split, and both bands show growth from their previous efforts. With Honor starts with "Gun for Hire", a song … Read more
With Passion
In The Midst Of Bloodied Soil
Earache (2004)
An important point in anybody's musical listening/purchasing career is when they first realize that there are LPs and EPs. The difference between the two is that the EP, extended play, is just a handful of songs, while the LP, long play, is a full complete album usually lasting between 20-60 minutes depending on the genre. What I soon realized was … Read more
With Resistance / Twenty Inch Burial
Split
State of Mind (2004)
Though both bands play their own variations of metalcore, this split release is an unlikely partnering. While With Resistance hail from New Jersey, Twenty Inch Burial call Portugal home. Despite being separated by the entire Atlantic Ocean, these two compliment each other well. Each band contributes three songs to this split from State of Mind Recordings. With Resistance kicks things … Read more
Withdrawal
Unknown Misery
Wendigo (2009)
Sometimes a band digs its claws into your very essence. This band refuses to let go, and only deepens its grip as times passes. Since hearing demo recordings from Canadian-based Withdrawal, I have been unwilling to separate myself from the connection I have to their music. Unknown Misery marks the band's first official release, a five-song 7" of 90's inspired … Read more
without
Be Corny
Raft Records (2022)
To me, the Japanese orgcore scene has always been an interesting thing when you're talking Asian scene and I see many great Japanese 90s-'00s melodic hardcore/orgcore bands as my early influences. What's been so good about the bands is that Japanese bands have always made accomplishment through their music or sound compositions despite the band itself having difficulties with the … Read more
Woe
Hope Attrition
Vendetta (2017)
After a promising start to a career that began in earnest with the release of debut A Spell for the Death of Man in 2008 and continued through to 2013s Withdrawal, Woe’s fate took a turn soon after that many bands find themselves encountering – real life happened and the music took a backseat for founder Chris Grigg and his … Read more
Woe
Withdrawal
Candlelight (2013)
Having began life as a one-man project borne from the mind of Chris Grigg, Woe’s motive was one of total aggression and pure hate and signified a time when American black metal was only just starting to find its feet within the darker realms of the musical sphere. With A Spell for the Death of Man Grigg stepped forward and … Read more
Wold
Screech Owl
Profound Lore (2007)
Ever hear of Wold? No? I too am hearing them for the first time. I will say that this is a disturbing record. I understand that being cooped up on the frozen wastes of Saskatchewan probably affects the sound that they produce a great deal. Holy shit this is disturbing. Screech Owl opens with "An Habitation of Dragons and a … Read more
Wolf Eyes
Burned Mind
Sub Pop (2004)
Listening to Wolf Eyes is not what I'd call a traditionally pleasurable experience. Unless you consider having your face ravaged by a two-by-four while masturbating to an execution an enjoyable experience or, to a lesser extent, tonguing a blister you got from drinking hot soup, I'd advise you to skip over this review and check out what Zed has to … Read more
Wolf Eyes
Human Animal
Sub Pop (2006)
Torture is on everybody's lips these days. Our Vice President vaguely approves of hydrogen-based interrogation, and our anchormen volunteer to be waterboarded on the air as our cultural debate over instrumental dehumanization limps along. In our new and improved wars without borders against enemies without armies, we're running ourselves ragged trying to figure out how much pain it is okay … Read more
Wolf-Face
Still Golden
Say-10 Records / Gunner Records (2019)
Teen Wolf itself is goofy but with some surprisingly poignant metaphors. Wolf-Face is the same, straddling its own bizarro stance between cartoonish monsters, high school, adolescence, melodrama and real, honest emotion. I didn’t expect to like Still A Son of a Bitch in 2013, but I did – quite a bit, really. The band is built on a gimmick: that … Read more
