Graf Orlock
Destination Time Tomorrow
Level Plane (2007)
First and foremost, I would just like to state that Graf Orlock, or as tourmates Comadre jokingly refer to them, Crap Orlock, kill it live. Their drummer is fucking on point, and vocalist Kalvin Kristoff is as humorous as he is intense. Plus, it doesn't hurt when you have a basement full of sweaty punks yelling out movie lines like, … Read more
Grave in the Sky
Cutlery Hits China: English for the Hearing Impaired
Heart & Crossbone (2007)
Grave in the Sky is a three-piece from Israel that plays thick, but still raw doom-y music. The tempos are slow and the sound is a crawling, bleak wall of sound. Cutlery Hits China: English for the Hearing Impaired is a super raw sounding album. Even though it does not completely sound like them, Grave in the Sky play a … Read more
Grave Robbers
Hell to Pay
GNP (2007)
Horror-influence hardcore-punk from Texas. That is something that I can get behind. Grave Robbers blast through eight songs in just under thirty minutes. While the majority of today's horror-influenced bands come off as nothing more than a second rate knockoff of The Misfits, this is not the case here. Grave Robbers do claim the mighty Danzig and company as a … Read more
Grizzly Bear
Friend
Warp (2007)
Having heard Grizzly Bear's Horn of Plenty when it was first released and liking it quite a lot, I was taken back a bit when I heard Yellow House for the first time and to tell you the truth, I didn't really like it. That was until I saw the entity that is Grizzly Bear live during their tour with … Read more
Ground Unicorn Horn
Ground Unicorn Horn
Three One G (2007)
Ground Unicorn Horn's self-titled release, which is packaged on a 3" mini-CD, is four minutes long, so I'm going to spend four minutes reviewing it. Three One G Records is a silly lot of folks with some pretty forward thinking ideas. I have plenty of seven inches that are only four minutes long, and I'm fine with that. But when … Read more
Gunsmoke
Little Shields / The Righteous Path to Hell
Independent (2007)
Sometimes, a band comes along and knocks you off your feet. As you begin to listen to them, you think to yourself, "Damn, this is pretty good." But after the third or fourth listen you can't help but want to hear the songs over and over again, and you'll rewind in the middle of a song just to hear one … Read more
Happy Mondays
Uncle Dysfunktional
Sanctuary (2007)
This review is dedicated to Anthony H. Wilson. Fuck Keith and Mick, Fuck the Toxic Twins of Aerosmith, and fuck Britney Spears. The greatest rock and roll survivor of all time is one Shaun William Ryder. Here is a man that hasn't made a penny since he was sued by his former managers, a man that helped introduce ecstasy into … Read more
Hell Within
Shadows of Vanity
Lifeforce (2007)
Taken verbatim from the initial notes of the reviewer: Starts out promisingly enough with Derek Jay beating the snare like he just caught it pooching his wife. Same energy as early Metallica (hey kids! remember them?). Vocalist reminiscent of the Avenged Sevenfold dude. Christ, I hope he looks cooler.) The song being referred to is the opening and title track … Read more
Hella
There's No 666 in Outer Space
Ipecac (2007)
Okay, let's talk about Resident Evil for a minute. If you're at all familiar with the games, you felt a strange feeling of dread mixed with anticipation mixed with hope when you first heard about the plans to totally revamp the classic RE control scheme for the fourth installment of the series. Part of you thought; "If it ain't broke, … Read more
Hellhole
Hellhole
Off the Books (2007)
With the release of their first 7", New Jersey's Hellhole demonstrates just what it means to be pissed off and brooding in America today. Channeling the spirit of fellow Jersey natives, Tear It Up, the band shreds through a few tracks of speedy, cathartic hardcore only to knock you flat on your ass with a couple of slower numbers that … Read more
Her Breath on Glass / Championship
Split
Reap What You Sew (2007)
As much as people don't want to admit it, independent music is based on trends just the same as mainstream music. Five or six years ago it was all the rage to listen to screamo, and now look where we are now. Despite being eight years removed from the band and now fronting Hot Cross, Billy Werner will probably never … Read more
Hex Machine
Run to Earth
Molsook (2007)
Hex Machine was formed in 2004 by drummer Dave Witte of Municipal Waste, Melt Banana, Burnt by the Sun and Discordance Axis. The four-song EP, Run to Earth, was recorded by three of the original members, as Witte needed to devote his time to his other bands. Chris Gallo (Clockhammer, Chainsaw Jazz) took Witte's place alongside guitarist Scott Hudgins (Sliang … Read more
Hi Ho Six Shooter!
Empire
Good Night (2007)
I'm not going to classify Hi Ho Six Shooter! as a gimmick band. Granted they play shows with bandannas wrapped around their neck and sing songs about country twangs and bar room brawls, but knowing some of the members I think it's pretty safe to say that they aren't gun toting Confederates. Rather, I would say that Hi Ho Six … Read more
High on Fire
Death is this Communion
Relapse (2007)
What else can you expect from High on Fire other than an album with a thick, punishing sound that just sort of rumbles on across the hour or so that it takes to listen? For a band as consistent at their craft as High on Fire, it may come as a shock that this release includes the debut of the … Read more
History
Ghosts in the City
24-Hour Service Station (2007)
I hate being lied too. I remember wanting this CD for review because the one-sheet was all about this Orlando, Florida band being a "Dischord-Style" punk band. Well I can tell you right now that they don't sound anything like Minor Threat. They do however try and co-opt a very vague 90's Dischords sound. If I really stretch my listening … Read more
Holy Molar
Cavity Search
Three One G (2007)
I once heard an interview with Justin Pearson (Holy Molar, The Locust, Some Girls) in which he said that a fan of his said the music he made was "smart" and that was the most sincere compliment he ever received. He went on to say that he'd rather play smart music then play popular music. For the last three weeks … Read more
Holy Roman Empire
The Longue Durée
Hewhocorrupts Inc. (2007)
The first time I heard The Longue Durée was driving back from the Holy Roman Empire's record release party. I was lucky enough to accompany a friend's band that was also playing and they invited me along. That was a nice gesture on their behalf since they knew I was a fan. Anyway, on some stretch of highway between Wisconsin … Read more
Hoods
Ghetto Blaster
Eulogy (2007)
In the event of a worldwide nuclear war, I have come to the conclusion that only one thing will survive. And no, it is not the cockroach; it's Hoods. The Sacramento-based hardcore band has survived it all, including constant line-up battles, DIY tours across the globe, and a brief tenure with Victory Records that didn't go so well - see … Read more
