Tangorodrim
Justus Ex Fide Vivit
Southern Lord (2007)
So what are we to think of this "pure, unholy black metal from Israel"? Well for starters, taking into consideration their country of origin doesn't mean a whole lot. Whether you're from Israel, South Africa, New Zealand or Paraguay, if you're black metal, you'll probably still sound Norwegian. Originality, you see, isn't one of the tenets of the black. Everyone … Read more
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
Living with the Living
Touch & Go (2007)
Like a well-deserved punch to the face, a breath of fresh air in a smog-ridden city, or indeed, a good musician amongst a plethora of bad ones, Ted Leo and his illustrious Pharmacists have returned with their Touch & Go debut, Living with the Living. At just over an hour long, the record beats Leo's previous offering, 2004's Shake the … Read more
Tegan and Sara
The Con
Sire (2007)
What is it about Canada? You know, Due South, The Arcade Fire, Bret "The Hitman" Hart, Dan Aykroyd, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Terrance & Philip. Perhaps it's merely been a case of overwhelming ignorance, but lately it seems that all of the best things in the world originated in this faraway place. Last summer whilst sitting in a friend's bedroom … Read more
Tel Aviv
Underwaters
Max Recordings (2007)
Okay this will be hard, but just try and stay with me here. Imagine this: Franz Ferdinand crossed with Radiohead. I know; it's crazy, but a few listens to the latest EP from Tel Aviv and I think you'll find it hard to argue. Imagine a kind of new wave influenced rock that you'd probably be ashamed to tell your … Read more
Tempo No Tempo
Repetition
Double Negative (2007)
Tempo No Tempo fit into that niche of bands that take equal influence from the worlds of indie rock and new wave. Musically speaking the two styles aren't that distinct from each other, so they go together rather well. Repetition is the band's second EP since forming in 2004. On Repetition the band mixes together the angular guitar melodies of … Read more
Terror
Rhythm Amongst the Chaos
Reaper (2007)
I love Terror. I don't care about what anyone has to say about this band being simple-minded or playing hardcore for the "wrong kids." Terror just flat out rules. Always have, and so far, always will. Rhythm Amongst the Chaos basically takes off where Always the Hard Way left off with Scott Vogel and company infusing the metallic overdrive of … Read more
The Absence
Riders of the Plague
Metal Blade (2007)
The Absence hails from Tampa, Florida. Anyone with a sense of history knows that in the late eighties this meant something. Death, Obituary, Deicide, and Morbid Angel all hailed from Florida and significantly helped mold the clay into what we now know as death metal. The Absence are fully aware of their roots and have set forth to continue the … Read more
The Academy Is...
Santi
Atlantic (2007)
Something I've always had trouble imagining is five grown men sitting in a room, writing music that directly appeals to fourteen-year-old girls, and being totally happy with themselves. Maybe it's my own musical snobbery, but I can't believe that these bands go to sleep at night, creatively satisfied, and legitimately thinking that the music they write is worth anything. They … Read more
The Aggrolites
Reggae Hit L.A.
Hellcat (2007)
Since about the year 2000, Tim Armstrong, Lars Frederickson and pretty much that has anything to do with Rancid has pretty much been a horrible venture, looking your way The Viking, Transplants and the last Rancid album. Prior to listening to this album the only conation I had about The Aggrolites was that they were Tim Armstrong's backing band for … Read more
The Alphabetical Order
I am Magically Happening!
Independent (2007)
I get a lot of albums in the mail, a lot. Every one of them comes with one-sheet containing information and descriptions that suggest that they are the albums for me. And while most of them are filled with bombastic and over exaggerated wordage, every once in a while you come across one that lives up to the expectations developed … Read more
The Arcade Fire
Neon Bible
Merge (2007)
On Arcade Fire's likeable, but dark new album, Neon Bible, there are many things that differ from their critically acclaimed debut, Funeral. The Montreal based indie rockers have a lot more money behind them and you can immediately tell by the sound quality of their recordings. That said, the songs still have their haunting lyrics and feel. "Black Mirror" recalls … Read more
The Bakerton Group
The Bakerton Group
Emetic (2007)
What do you get when you take Clutch and tell Neil Fallon to take a hike? You get The Bakerton Group. While you might think you've lost a lot, and you have, you've also found something new, different, and unique. The Bakerton Group is the band' debut full-length and first for Emetic Records. I honestly hadn't heard this project's previous … Read more
The Black Atlantic
Send This Home
Five Point (2007)
Have you ever gone to a movie expecting to see an action movie, but as you watch it, you realize it's a drama? Not quite what you were expecting, but unless you're a meathead you take it for what it is and realize it's still pretty good. This is the case for The Black Atlantic's debut EP Send This Home. … Read more
The Black Dahlia Murder
Nocturnal
Metal Blade (2007)
I cannot think of another record label that could have released The Black Dahlia Murder's new full-length Nocturnal. Sure, any number of labels could have released it financially, but it just would have seemed out of place. This is a metal album from start to finish, so it only makes sense for it to be released by the label that … Read more
The Carrier
One Year Later
Rock Vegas (2007)
Sometimes I wonder if there is any passion left in hardcore - and not passion to be popular, but a passion that inspires a band to play out just to have people connect and sing-along, releasing all their worries. When I first got into the hardcore scene, it wasn't so much what the bands were saying, but the fact that … Read more
The Catalyst
Marianas Trench
The Perpetual Motion Machine (2007)
When The Catalyst made a stop in D.C. over the summer, Mass Movement of the Moth's drummer perfectly described the band: "Welcome to Headbanging 101 with your instructor's, The Catalyst." The Catalyst then proceeded to break necks, and more than likely got drunk doing it. Rewind a few hours before, a front porch full of D.C. straight edge vegan punks, … Read more
The Catalyst / Brainworms
Split
Rorschach (2007)
This split 7" features two up-and-comers from the hardcore punk scene of Richmond, VA: The Catalyst and Brainworms. Brianworms is up first with two cuts. "Winnie Cooper" takes to the less caustic sound we heard on the band's previous release. The song is a lot more indie rock than hardcore or punk; at times it reminds me of The (International) … Read more
The Chinese Stars
Listen to Your Left Brain
Three One G (2007)
This is the catchiest Three One G release I have ever heard. Coming from a label that normally specializes in the extreme outer reaches of noise punk, this is practically a pop album. Yet, this still has the classic bratty Three One G art-school vibe. Named for the 1980s epidemic of grade school kids carrying around throwing stars, The Chinese … Read more
