Pride Kills
Deep in the Heart
Thorp (2005)
I was having a conversation the other day with a close friend. We were discussing music, as we normally do, and I started quoting some lyrical excepts from Deep in the Heart. He chuckled and told me that he thought it was kind funny that I listen to "all those tough guy bands," and yet I am such a nice … Read more
Project X
Straight Edge Revenge (Reissue)
Bridge Nine (2005)
"I'm as straight as the line that you sniff up your nose / I'm as hard as the booze that you swill down your throat / I'm as bad as the shit you breathe into your lungs / And I'll fuck you up as fast as the pill on your tongue / STRAIGHT EDGE REVENGE!" Oh. Fuck. Yes. There's no … Read more
Propagandhi
Potemkin City Limits
Fat Wreck Chords (2005)
Propaghandi has always held a place in many people's hearts for their impassioned and political stances that they take on their record, and I always respected that political basis of much of their lyrical content and overall message of the band. Musically though, they had always been missing something for me. Every genre of punk and or hardcore has had … Read more
Propagandhi
Potemkin City Limits
Fat Wreck Chords (2005)
The time is 7 a.m. as I pace frantically across empty parking spaces towards a vacant Tower Records. I know I'm three hours early, but after waiting patiently for four long years my heart is about to catharsis all over the asphalt if my ears aren't satisfied ASAP. All week I had been ranting on about the new Propagandhi album … Read more
Protest the Hero
Kezia
Underground Operations (2005)
I have this friend. We'll call him "Max," because that's his name. Max has said some questionable things in the past ("With Honor are the best straight-edge band ever," "I didn't know Henry Rollins was in Black Flag," "I hate Fugazi,") but I've always let it go. So when Max told me, a while ago, that the new Protest the … Read more
Psyclon 9
I.N.R.I.
Metropolis (2005)
Look in the middle of the booklet of I.N.R.I.. Right there in the center of the middle page, staring up at you is a little caption. This little caption says, 'Why should I believe if God's not here to save me?' This is how the album begins, with multi-repetitions of this same line. The anti-Christian platitudes don't stop there, though, … Read more
Queens of the Stone Age
Lullabies to Paralyze
Interscope (2005)
Tornadoes, while not traditionally known as positive forces in the world, certainly provide for some excitement, amazement, and entertainment. Much like a car accident, we all want to see what happened, the ensuing destruction, and if we're lucky, a body or two. Exhibit A: Twister. No matter how many times I watch this flick, I still come back just to … Read more
Queens of the Stone Age
Lullabies to Paralyze
Interscope (2005)
Before Lullabies to Paralyze could even be committed to tape, frontman Josh Homme was faced with several important choices. And none was going to be more crucial than his decision to fire close friend and bassist Nick Oliveri. Was it the appropriate decision to make? I don't think we'll ever know. All we can really do is take the music … Read more
Queens of the Stone Age
Over the Years and Through the Woods
Interscope (2005)
Live albums aren't worth purchasing 99% of the time due to two reasons: 1) the band doesn't deserve it; 2) the recording quality is atrocious. Over the Years and Through the Woods defies both of those with ease. Josh Homme and his current cast of Queens of the Stone Age, in my opinion, are the best rock band playing out, … Read more
Red Sparowes
At The Soundless Dawn
Neurot Recordings (2005)
Even though Red Sparowes is a new project, they didn't have much difficulty making a name for themselves. Neurosis visual-effects man Josh Graham and Isis members Bryant Clifford Meyer and Jeff Caxide were members of the band at the time of recording. But if you weren't sold on the band based solely on its members previous projects, perhaps this description … Read more
Regulations
Regulations
Havoc (2005)
The west coast was a wild place to be from 1978 to 1981. Bands like The Germs, Black Flag, and Adolescents were breaking through California with throat strained-vocals & blazing, twangy guitars. Kids in sleeveless t-shirts, black jeans and biker boots wrapped in bandannas and chains were the norm at punk shows. The pigs would break up the shows. Junkies … Read more
Renee Heartfelt
Death of the Ghost
Textbook Music (2005)
I often wonder how musicians reach the point in their lives where they want to make a change in their musical endeavors. Perhaps they no longer find the frantic and chaotic world of hardcore/punk interesting. Maybe they have been screaming and breaking shit on stage for so long that they no longer know what they're angry about. For whatever reasons … Read more
Reptoids
Park a Tiger
RRRecords (2005)
Chicago's Reptoids, signed to RRRecords, play a female brand of grunge/punk rock. This six-track EP, clocking in at sixteen minutes, shows a fairly wide-ranging sound, taking in early Nirvana, through to a more rock and roll/punk sound reminiscent of 70s acts mixed with grunge vocals. Singer Kay Oh often reminds me of Courtney Love, but musically the band provides a … Read more
Resplendent
Am I Free? I Am Free
Mixx Tape (2005)
You might not have heard of Michael Lenzi, aka Resplendent, but if you have, you're probably wondering how a guy like this can go so unnoticed. He's that favorite actor or actress you fall in love with at first sight, but in this case, first listen. If you've missed out on the last three records, be here for what might … Read more
Ringworm
Justice Replaced by Revenge
Victory (2005)
It's rather sad that a band as influential as Ringworm has been reduced to being promoted as 'featuring members of Terror.' By no means is this a knock at Terror, they're a solid band and extremely entertaining in a live setting. But Ringworm is a band that has been around for over a decade. During that time the band released … Read more
Rise and Fall
Hellmouth
Surprise Attack (2005)
This quartet hails from Belgium and obviously has better taste in music than a good portion of the people I cross paths with each day. Whether it is through random conversation, looking at what others are purchasing at records stores, or just flipping through channels on the radio, I keep an ear open to what music people are into. And … Read more
Rubikon
The Hollow Men
Category 5 (2005)
Mainstream music is constantly changing. Congruently evolving with it are the numerous bands attempting to make it big by cashing in on whatever sound is currently popular. Assuming it is Rubikon's intention to make it big, they might need a little help from a time-machine to accomplish that task. Rather than trying to fit in with the countless bands that … Read more
Ruiner
What Could Possibly Go Right...
1917 (2005)
When I hear the term "melodic hardcore" I think of something in between 7 Seconds, Gorilla Biscuits and Lifetime. But there's a new brand of melodic hardcore that strays from those influences while still being melodic and hardcore. Bands like Final Fight and Life Long Tragedy seem to be pushing this style with great guitar harmonies, driving punk beats and … Read more
