Grey Daturas
Return to Disruption
Neurot (2008)
Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Grey Daturas is an enigmatic trio whose music is an amalgamation of many musical styles from metal all the way to free jazz. Now, I know what people might think upon seeing such a lofty description as many groups who aspire to such allegiances of musical styles or name check them end up falling well short, … Read more
Guapo
Elixirs
Neurot (2008)
Neurot Recordings has lately been putting out releases from some great and surprisingly diverse bands such as U.S. Christmas, A Storm of Light, and Grey Daturas. Prepare to chalk up another name on that list: Guapo. Guapo occupies an interesting place on the Neurot roster as the band has a spacey yet focused sound based in progressive rock, avant-garde jazz, … Read more
Guns N' Roses
Chinese Democracy
Geffen (2008)
It's been fifteen years since the last release from the "band" known as Guns N' Roses seventeen years, that's not a typo seventeen years since the last batch of new material dropped as Use Your Illusions 1 and 2. With all the hype surrounding what has been in the works for an entire generation, Chinese Democracy should be the release … Read more
GZA
Pro Tools
Babygrande (2008)
Wu-Tang Clan member GZA - aka The Genius - is back with his first solo offering since 2002's Legend of the Liquid Sword. But it's not like GZA hasn't been busy. The six-year span has seen a collaborative effort with Muggs of Cypress Hill, a new Wu-Tang Clan album last year, and, in-between, collaborations too numerous to count. Pro Tools … Read more
H2O
Nothing to Prove
Bridge Nine (2008)
Time lapses between albums can be a tricky phenomenon and this tends to ring especially true for punk and hardcore bands. The conventional wisdom holds that return albums are lackluster and leave longtime supporters wishing the band simply played shows and left their recorded legacy in tact. But H2O never adheres to convention. Their widespread appeal is a result of … Read more
H2O
Still the Same Fellas
Bridge Nine (2008)
There is no doubt in the sincerity of Toby Morse's declaration that H2O have nothing to prove. And while their canon of endlessly catchy and inspiring melodic hardcore songs speaks for itself, their return has generated intense speculation about whether we're getting an album of melodic New York hardcore or poppier leaning tunes a la Go. While I've never fully … Read more
Hammer Bros.
The Kids are Dead
Welfare (2008)
I'm getting too many records that sound exactly like The Kids are Dead. It's another moshy metal crossover type hardcore album that is sweeping VFW dance floors all over the nation in '08. Sure, sometimes they play fast, sometimes Hammer Bros. goes for the menacing metal stomp. Either way, I've heard all too much of it this year. I'm sure … Read more
Hank Williams III
Damn Right, Rebel Proud
Curb (2008)
We have Taylor Swift and then we have Hank III. The former is the public face of country music today. Sweet, sassy, cute-as-a-button and considered the real deal because she "writes all or part" of all her songs. Hank Williams III is the real real deal. Brash, outspoken and doesn't give a fuck. He will never be the public face … Read more
Haram
Drescher
Lovitt (2008)
It's pretty ridiculous to look back on the career of Pg.99 and sort through all the bands that came out of their existence and their ever-rotating members. While many were short lived or are defunct, there are handfuls that still are actively playing. One of these is Haram, with Mike Taylor and Kevin Longendyke moving on from Pg.99 to conqueror … Read more
Have a Nice Life
Deathconsciousness
Enemies List (2008)
Have a Nice Life is a two-piece outfit from Connecticut that includes a member of the hardcore band, In Pieces; although, this double CD collection has nothing in the way of sound that can compare to that outfit in any sense of the word. Instead, Have a Nice Life actually has a sound that pulls from a variety of influences … Read more
Have Heart
Songs to Scream at the Sun
Bridge Nine (2008)
From the get-go Have Heart has had a rabid and devoted following. Beginning with their demo in 2003 and What Counts EP a year later, the band's dynamic mixture of youth-crew and metallic hardcore won over fans around the globe. With their debut full-length, The Things We Carry vocalist Pat Flynn and company launched themselves to the forefront of the … Read more
Hayaino Daisuki
Headbanger's Karaoke Club Dangerous Fire
Hydra Head (2008)
Ah, the long awaited return - at least among Discordance Axis fans - of Jon Chang the vocalist of the regrettably extinct grind outfit Discordance Axis. Hayaino Daisuki is one of two new groups (Gridlink being the other) for which Chang is providing vocals and words. And if these lyrics are anything like the sci-fi reference filled nerd out that … Read more
Heavy Hearted
Heavy Hearted
Farewell Party (2008)
Heavy Hearted is based out of Rochester, NY. It's been quite some time since I've heard anything new from that area of the state. But, then again, sometimes the good things come to those who wait. This 7" release is, from what I can gather, a companion release to the band's debut full-length, Overcast, which was released earlier this year. … Read more
Heavy Hearted
Overcast
Detonate (2008)
Disappointment once again rears it's ugly unexpected face at me. Heavy Hearted (who should not be confused with Wholehearted from Wisconsin, or Have Heart from Massachusetts, or even Heart from Washington) proudly announces that at one time or another someone played some sort of instrument in the Upstate New York hardcore stalwarts, Buried Alive. Once I read that bit of … Read more
Helms Alee
Helms Alee
Rome Plow / Broken Press (2008)
So, the news is trickling out that Helms Alee is the new band by Ben Verellen, (Harkonen, Roy, These Arms Are Snakes), which is great news as he makes some ugly (in an awesome way) music, and they are doing a full-length and EP with Hydra Head (where Harkonen released several records). But before those releases actually see the light … Read more
Helms Alee
Lionize/Truly
Hydra Head (2008)
Hot on the heels of their full-length, Night Terror, Helms Alee provide this two song slab of a record to those who might be infected with the weirdly catchy and infectious sounds of their music. This band plays music not completely dissimilar from that of guitarist and vocalist Ben Verellen's previous outfit, Harkonen; only, Helms Alee seems to wield quite … Read more
Helms Alee
Night Terror
Hydra Head (2008)
Following up a surprising teaser EP with a limited release earlier this year, Helms Alee drop their debut full-length on a mostly unsuspecting public; Night Terror is a great point to latch onto this three-piece and enjoy some noisy music that will leave heads spinning or throbbing or whatever head trip that it could impose. The ten tracks that Night … Read more
Hoor-paar-Kraat
In Eros Veritas
KNVBI (2008)
There is a fine line between noise and music. Notice that I didn't say art, because in all honesty, art is pretty much anything you want it to be. But music, well, music and noise and two totally different things. Case in point, Hoor-paar-Kraat. Hoor-paar-Kraat is the "brainchild" and "creation" of full-time painter recently turned musician Anthony Mangicapra. Prior to … Read more
