No Age
Weirdo Rippers
Fat Cat (2007)
This year we have seen many artists take material from several previously released albums to make full-lengths that have been much better than what the outcome usually is in this situation. Panda Bear's Person Pitch might be one of the more popular cases of this. No Age's Weirdo Rippers is certainly looking to try and dethrone Panda Bear of that … Read more
No Apologies
Survival
6131 (2007)
Survival is the debut full-length from No Apologies. This five-piece outfit comes from the land of koalas and aborigines. This album is filled with plenty of moshy New York-inspired hardcore, but there is also a hint of Westcoast flavor - not a surprise when one discovers Todd Jones (Terror, Carry On) wrote two songs for the album. Tracks like "Survival," … Read more
No Harm Done
Our Day of Days
Anchorless (2007)
It's hard to be original anymore when playing any form of rock music and even harder to stand out when you're trying to sound similar to already-existing acts. No Harm Done are a melodic hardcore band from Florida who play their style by the book and not much else, as the idol worship of Strike Anywhere is clearly heard in … Read more
NOFX
They've Actually Gotten Worse Live!
Fat Wreck Chords (2007)
"Ever done something you regret while drunk like...recorded a live album?" the press sheet states. As NOFX open the CD and Fat Mike announces, "Oh, shit, we have to go to work," the tone is set. Within five minutes, the president has been insulted and you're told that, if you believe in God, you're wrong. There are also a number … Read more
Northern State
Can I Keep This Pen?
Ipecac (2007)
Can I Keep This Pen? is Northern State's third full-length album and it proves that any and all naysayers dismissing the group as a novelty act can just get in that boat and float right to Camden. I admit, I was once one of those aforementioned naysayers. I mean . what can you say about three chicks from suburban Long … Read more
Novembers Doom
The Novella Reservoir
The End (2007)
Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, Novembers Doom were first brought to my attention by a disgruntled Opeth fan, who, unimpressed with the band's last offering, was recommending Novembers Doom's The Pale Haunt Departure instead. He informed me that the vocals - clean and harsh - were just as good as Mikael Ã"¦kerfeldt's and the songs were simply "much better", his words, … Read more
Now or Never
Now or Never
Cock Suck (2007)
Now or Never features members of Gordon Ivy & The Jaybirds and play fast melodic hardcore that came from Scandinavia in the mid to late 90's. I see your Pridebowl and raise you a Wizo and a Satanic Surfers. Now or Never are completely nuts with the breakneck songs and completely inane lyrics. "Fuck this Asshole" includes this lyrical masterpiece; … Read more
Obscurus Advocam
Verbia Daemonicus
Battle Kommand (2007)
I've been told that France has been home to a few good bands over the years, but like you, aside from Air I'd be hard pressed to name them. Sure we've read about those wacky French kids jumping on the church-burning, murderous bandwagon, but can they play music? Well, let's just say they try, but don't quite get there. Obscurus … Read more
Oceansize
Frames
Superball (2007)
Staying certain to an unspoken pattern of two years between releases, Oceansize has returned to us with their third full-length album. Including the bonus track, "Voorhees," Frames clocks in at over a monstrous hour and fifteen minutes, a feat that similar, non-established progressive artists have little courage for testing on the streams of today's steadily decreasing attention spans. Brave you … Read more
Odious Mortem
Cryptic Implosion
Willowtip (2007)
Odious Mortem's website describes their sound as employing "technical, dark, and experimental aspects of the death metal genre." When I think death metal I think Nile, Suffocation, maybe even Slayer. Odious Mortem are what Slayer might sound like if you replaced Kerry King with a jet engine. Vaguely reminiscent of early Fear Factory and Dillinger Escape Plan, for the most … Read more
Okkervil River
The Stage Names
Jagjaguwar (2007)
It's a rare commodity to find a record that just seems to get it right. I mean really get it. The kind of disc that echoes your little world, your thoughts and your feelings, back to you in lines that you just wish you had the talent to write yourself. The kind of album that has you walking the long … Read more
Olympia
Emergencies
Equal Vision/Hope Division (2007)
Right now there are too many bands running around using descriptors like "post-hardcore" or "post-rock" that when you get around to hearing the band you are treated to yet another run of the mill rock band like Vanna, Aiden, From First to Last or any other ripe for Warped Tour fodder. I was hearing rumblings of this band called Olympia … Read more
Om
Pilgrimage
Southern Lord (2007)
Sleep was great. High on Fire is pretty good. But Om consistently impresses me, and seems to gain momentum with every album. Om seems to be getting closer than ever to carving out its own unique corner in the psychedelic genre that I could simply call "zen doom." These days "hypnotic" is a much-overused word in review writing, especially since … Read more
On Three
No More Excuses
Strikin' Out (2007)
I hate to pigeonhole myself as the token fast hardcore reviewer at Scene Point Blank but I just can't help myself when Michael lists off those promos we can snag up for review and I see words like "fast" "posi" and "melodic." I just have to swoop down and collect them all like a Pokemon Master of mediocre mid-level hardcore … Read more
One Starving Day
Broken Wings Lead Arms to the Sun
Planaria (2007)
Hailing from Italy, One Starving Day are a four-piece band that, at times, sounds more like ten or fifteen people playing music. Their sound is full and emotive conveying enough raw moods and feeling in each musical piece that begs for one to pay attention. The only time prior to Broken Wings Lead Arms to the Sun that I have … Read more
One Win Choice
Never Suspend Belief
Jump Start (2007)
I've had a really shitty day today. I got into a useless argument with my boss. I feel like shit. I'm piss-broke until Wednesday and I'm living off popcorn and Pop-Tarts until then. The last thing I wanted to hear today was a bunch of twenty-something kids telling me how horrible the world is while rehashing every single 90's Fat … Read more
Only Crime
Virulence
Fat Wreck Chords (2007)
Supergroups are a curious entity, as they often appear to be incredible in the idea stage, but the expectations often exceed the execution. Fortunately, the classic phrase "too many chefs in the kitchen" does not apply to Only Crime - whose talents have been involved with acts such as Bane, Converge, Descendents, Good Riddance, and Gwar - because they are … Read more
Oren Ambarchi
In the Pendulums Embrace
Southern Lord (2007)
When I hear this album I smell dust. It might not make sense to you, or to me for that matter, but it is what it is. Some albums, particularly in the ambient vein, take me to strange places that can be either outside or inside. Oren Ambarchi takes me to the attic that I haven't been up to in … Read more
