International Superheroes of Hardcore
Takin' it Ova!
Bridge Nine (2008)
Hardcore is serious business well most of the time. Mixed amongst those pushing forth ideas concerning local and world issues are those out to have fun, usually in the form of some kind of joke. Jokes/gimmicks like these tend to last only a short time and the initial response is rather intense but quickly fades away. A few examples from … Read more
Intronaut
Prehistoricisms
Century Media (2008)
Every so often you just want a metal album that is that, a metal album. Well here we have just that with the latest full-length from Intronaut. Prehistoricisms is a heavy metal album that is not a concept album, but an album based upon the theme of evolution. I can dig that, especially when the music is - at its … Read more
J. Bannon
The Blood of Thine Enemies
Deathwish Inc. (2008)
A few years back Jacob Bannon took some time from his busy schedule of providing vocals for Converge and design work for a whole lot of bands to create the as yet and more than likely only Supermachiner album (with Kurt Ballou also of Converge, Ryan Parker, and Seth Bannon of Daltonic). The effort was a foray into ambient music … Read more
Jack's Mannequin
The Glass Passenger
Sire (2008)
A lot of artists resist fame. I've done interviews with bands for nearly five years now and have heard countless times from both nameless and recognizable acts that there were never any aspirations for a hit radio single or a gold album. For these people it seemed when something reached a point of popularity it lost authenticity. By acknowledging the … Read more
Japanther
Tut Tut Now Shake Ya Butt
Menlo Park (2008)
In the city of Brooklyn, New York's hippest borough, the pretensions of musicians trying to create songs that are both avant garde and widely accessible (a clear paradox) makes for a stifling scene. Lofts and warehouse spaces across the neighborhoods of Williamsburg and Bushwick are filling with passive young professionals being bludgeoned with art. While every incarnation of noise, folk, … Read more
Jarboe & Justin K. Broadrick
J2
The End (2008)
After a year like 2007 that Justin Broadrick and his Jesu project had, one has to wonder what J2 (his collaboration with Jarboe who has previously been in Swans and collaborated with Neurosis among others) is all about in reference to his numerous other projects (Final, Grey Machine, and the aforementioned Jesu as well as remixing duties for other artists … Read more
Jet Lag Gemini
Fire the Cannons
Doghouse (2008)
Doghouse Records used to be one of my favorite labels. Their early roster included Endpoint, Falling Forward, Split Lip, etc. who in the 90's defined the vastly underrated Louisville/Midwest hardcore sound. It was emotive but heavy, melodic but hard; the sound was just everything great about the middle part of the country that happened in the last decade. Owner Dirk … Read more
Joey Cape
Bridge
Suburban Home (2008)
Where does the aging punk-rocker go when his band's presence in the scene has all but evaporated, releasing new material only when the mortgage has to be paid or a new mouth to feed has entered the family unit, touring mostly when the opportunity is to travel overseas? He goes to the studio, unplugs the guitar, slows down the tempo, … Read more
Jon Crocker
The Dust Will Settle
Bluetint (2008)
After his thorough touring of each continental U.S. state (and several abroad) in an apparent effort to sate a sort of Sal Paradisian wanderlust, it is not difficult to begin to mythologize Jon Crocker's career and sonic development. It's interesting then, how nearly every red-meat note and yellow-cheeked syllable Crocker delivers manages to feel so innocuous, while still maintaining its … Read more
Jon McKiel
The Nature of Things
Wednesday (2008)
So it's finally summer, and that usually means an overload of new music. I can't name the number of songs or albums that remind me of a specific summer in my life. Something about the change of pace and warm weather that just makes music attach itself to memories. What does this have to do with this album? I'm just … Read more
Jukebox the Ghost
Let Live and Let Ghosts
The Rebel Group (2008)
Sometimes I think I take music too personally. I find myself judging others all too quickly when I hear their music tastes; it can make or break my impression of them. I'll give people a little bit of slack if their choices aren't really my thing, but other times the groups they list are so god-awful that I'm actually offended … Read more
Jump the Shark
Staring Death
Dead Truth (2008)
So the other day for lunch, I decided to try a new sandwich shop in the Skyway. I'd heard decent things about it, and when I walked past it on my way to other establishments for lunch, they definitely were busy, and people apparently liked it. So I ordered their house specialty sandwich. What I got was a perfectly passable … Read more
Jumpercable
Jumpercable
Monkey Wrench (2008)
Awful intro that thankfully goes into speedy hardcore reminiscent of bands from the early part of this decade. It's fun and moshy. They even have a song that begins with a sweet simple bass line and some guitar feedback whine. There was a time when every band sounded like this and had names like Ten Yard Fight, In My Eyes, … Read more
Justice of the Unicorns
Angels with Uzis
Little Lamb (2008)
Yesterday, I received my bi-monthly batch of promos. While sorting through the records an album named Angels with Uzis by the band Justice of the Unicorns caught my eye. If the image on your right is a bit too small let me take the liberty of describing what's going on with the album's cover. Above a burning skyline is what … Read more
Kayo Dot
Blue Lambency Downward
Hydra Head (2008)
Kayo Dot is still creating music that's "eerie as fuck," but that comes as no surprise. The band seems to follow no set of guidelines when it comes to writing music. Toby Driver's voice is the only certain thing that can be heard over the sounds Kayo Dot makes. Not to say that the music is uncertain, but it is … Read more
Kids Like Us
The 80s are Dead (Reissue)
Eulogy (2008)
I might as well start this review off by saying I have never liked Kids Like Us. There is nothing about their music that enthralls me. Actually their moshy "skater jams" annoy the living piss out of me with their juvenile lyrics and token mosh parts. There has been countless stories of lame debauchery that this band has caused on … Read more
Killing Kings
...The One You Feed the Most
Independent (2008)
Killing Kings 2007 release Delusions of Grandeur was an under appreciated gem of 90's inspired hardcore. It was equally as destructive as it was thought provoking. The album was a combination of bruising metallic hardcore and searing metal that often had me dreaming of dance-floor incited frenzy sing-alongs. The album's social and political lyrical themes only added further fuel to … Read more
Killing the Dream
Fractures
Deathwish Inc. (2008)
I'm going to be straight up; Fractures is the most anticipated album of 2008 for me. Sure, there were other albums that I have really been looking forward to hearing, but the latest from Killing the Dream is at the top of my list. And the Northern California hardcore outfit does not disappoint with this their second full-length recording. After … Read more
