Unholy
Blood of the Medusa
Lambgoat (2007)
Unholy first appeared on the hardcore radar in late 2004 when demo recordings from the band surfaced on the Internet. While many may have gotten caught up in the members' previous bands - Another Victim, Santa Sangre, Godbelow, The Promise, and just about every other Syracuse hardcore band from the past ten years - others let the music do the … Read more
Unsane
Visqueen
Ipecac (2007)
Damn, it is real hard to believe that Unsane is still going strong (minus a break from 2000-2003) almost twenty years after initially forming. Like many people, my knowledge of the band originates with seeing their video for "Skrape" on MTV many moons ago. The gnarly visuals (predating CKY, MTV's Jackass, or Scarred) of skateboarding accidents instantly made me a … Read more
Various Artists
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theatres
Williams Street (2007)
I'm going to be quite blunt right off the bat. Normally I would take the time to write some kind of intro that ties in with the album that I'm reviewing. But I'm not going to waste my time or yours because of two reasons. First off, you already know what Aqua Teen Hunger Force is about and secondly; this … Read more
Various Artists
Change!
Hopeless/Sub City (2007)
Change! is the latest compilation from the team of Hopeless/Sub City Records and Hot Topic. Included in this release are one CD and one DVD. The CD has twenty-one songs. The majority of the songs here are your run-of-the-mill screamo-core acts: Chiodos, Saosin, The Devil Wears Prada, etc. I despise this stuff. I would say there are only a handful … Read more
Various Artists
Keep Singing!
Exotic Fever (2007)
Keep Singing! is another benefit compilation brought to you from the great folks at Exotic Fever Records; in this case the proceeds are going to the amazing organization Compassion Over Killing. Every band that contributed songs did so to raise awareness for veganism, vegetarianism, and animal rights and Compassion Over Killing. And each band does give their own recipe to … Read more
Various Artists
New York vs. New Jersey: Punk Rock Battle Royal
Crafty (2007)
Throughout the 90's pop-punk was an essential part of most punk and hardcore kids' record collections. Even those whose tastes leaned toward the heavier side of the underground spectrum had a special place in their heart for certain Lookout Records gems. Throughout the early 2000's it seemed that the pop-punk of earlier years had been replaced by a soulless, overproduced … Read more
Various Artists
Our Impact Will Be Felt: A Tribute to Sick of it All
Abacus (2007)
Let's face it; if you're a hardcore kid and you DON'T like Sick of it All, there's something really and truly wrong with you. For over twenty years, Sick of it All have been consistently releasing albums and 7"s of unwavering quality, and touring the world relentlessly. With the band's somewhat recent signing to Abacus Recordings, the label decided to … Read more
Various Artists
United States of Hardcore
Hate Core (2007)
The title of this compilation speaks volumes about our nation. While there is an ongoing argument about who invented punk music - not that it really matters - the origins of hardcore are no secret. The U.S. birthed it and we still do it best (though there are some bands from other nations that do it well too). So what … Read more
Verdunkeln
Einblick in dem Qualenfall
Ván (2007)
Black metal is one of the last bastions of progression and experimentation in the metal community. Fifteen years ago that statement would have been laughable, but with the first couple generations of purists either incarcerated, dead, or at least moving on to other musical interests, a new generation has been left to carry the torch. This wave of bands is … Read more
Verona Grove
Verona Grove
Pats Record Company (2007)
So I got my wisdom teeth out today and have nothing to do but sit around at home on painkillers and eat Top Ramen. So I figured, what better time than now to give this promotional album a real listen? I have the free time and attention needed to really review a CD, and it's a band I know nothing … Read more
War of Ages
Fire from the Tomb
Facedown (2007)
Erie has a long-standing tradition of hardcore: xDisciplex A.D., Brothers Keeper, Shockwave, and Abnegation. Continuing that tradition is War of Ages, though they definitely mix their hardcore influences with a significant amount of metal riffage. Fire from the Tomb is actually a re-recording of the band's debut effort. Some might question the band's decision to go back and re-do their … Read more
Wasted Time
No Shore
Grave Mistake (2007)
Wasted Time basically sounds like Time to Escape but with more gruff vocals and more influences that stem from early New York hardcore than Dischord. Once again, if it's done well, I like it. Wasted Time I like. Actually I like Wasted Time a bit more than Time to Escape since they just go for throat and are a smidge … Read more
We Insist!
Oh! Things are so Corruptible
Corruptible (2007)
Hailing from Paris, France, the bizarrely titled sextet We Insist! recently unveiled the fourth LP of a chronicled and equally reclusive catalogue. With a small following at home-base and even fewer listeners worldwide, new ears could be quick to assume that a moniker of implied force alludes to some kind of emblematic punk rock romp that's heavy on the garage … Read more
Weedeater
God Luck and Good Speed
Southern Lord (2007)
When a band's name makes reference to sinful pleasures, especially of the herbal nature, it's a sign their sound will be akin to Black Sabbath; the emphasis on slow riffing that sounds even heavier due to down-tuned instruments. Weedeater is a perfect example, taking the suggestive themes of drug abuse and sacrilege made famous by Sabbath to new heights but … Read more
Ween
La Cucaracha
Rounder (2007)
If you don't know Ween at this point, it's difficult to sum them up in a few words. Eclectic, genre hopping, and parody come to mind, but they don't adequately explain the band and their dedicated cult following. The duo of Gene and Dean formed Ween in 1984. La Cucaracha is the band's tenth full-length studio release, in addition to … Read more
When We Fall
A Cry in Despair
Panic (2007)
Most of the materials I get in for review usually goes on at least one bus ride with me. It's the perfect time for me to take a more in depth listen without being interrupted by work, phone calls, roommates, Josh IMing me about Fastbreak lyrics, or any other hinderances that deviate from the task of giving a CD a … Read more
Where it Ends
Resonate
Surprise Attack (2007)
When I listen to Resonate from South Carolina's Where it Ends I immediately think of individuals my own age that were spinning Strife and Trial records in their bedrooms ten years ago. It's obvious from these seven songs that the members of Where it Ends grew up on the metallic hardcore of the 1990's. "Timeline" kicks things off and definitely … Read more
Wilco
Sky Blue Sky
Nonesuch (2007)
Although Sky Blue Sky is their sixth full-length studio record, it wasn't long ago that I hadn't actually heard of Wilco, and thus their stellar reputation was something I hadn't quite expected. The album's superbly striking artwork told me to expect some frosty post-rock atmospherics, but I was pleasantly underwhelmed by the clear-headed (but not quite sunny) alt-rock that didn't … Read more
