Carry the Torch
Dead Weather
Detonate (2008)
Carry the Torch are yet another over-emotional hardcore band that play fast, somewhat tuneful, a little bit metal, and quite moshable hardcore. The one-sheet says they would appease the fans of Strongarm, Cave In, and Taken when in actuality they only had to mention Shai Hulud since Carry the Torch tries to do their best of impression of A Profound … Read more
Catch Your Breath
Life & Sounds
Dismantle (2008)
Catch Your Breath is an upstart hardcore group from the greater Los Angeles area. I couldn't find much background info on the band, so I'm assuming this is their first venture as a group. Life & Sounds is eight songs in twelve minutes. Musically the band plays fast-paced hardcore with a dash of the rock and roll similar to The … Read more
Cavity
Laid Insignificant (Reissue)
Hydra Head (2008)
Cavity is another one of those criminally underrated bands that toiled for years in obscurity while a select few found that the group and their down tuned Sabbath-influenced mayhem was a great mix of punishing volumes, squealing feedback, and strong rhythms that was quite different from the norm at the time in punk and hardcore circles - which is where … Read more
Celeste
Nihiliste(s)
Denovali (2008)
Celeste is another player on the scene that offers music in similar fashion (although their take on it is much noisier and a bit more to the point with much shorter average song lengths and such) to bands that follow the path cut by Neurosis, Isis, Cult of Luna, etc. Nihiliste(s) is Celeste's first full-length, and this outfit from Lyon, … Read more
Century
Black Ocean
Prosthetic (2008)
Thanks to the ever increasing popularity of whack bands like Bullet for My Valentine, Trivium, etc. among the metallically-naïve listeners out there, it seems that metalcore has taken the place of nu-metal as the classification that bands most want to avoid - although deathcore is aggressively seeking the title, as well. Century is one band that can carry the metalcore … Read more
Ceremony
Still Nothing Moves You
Bridge Nine (2008)
I could easily give Ceremony's latest album a token crappy review because quite frankly I find this band a bit too overrated to garner an actual unbiased review from me. I really hate to be "that guy" but I haven't enjoyed anything from this North Bay based hardcore unit since their demo and subsequent 7". Everything afterwards just came at … Read more
Child Bite
Fantastic Gusts of Blood
Suburban Sprawl (2008)
There are different kinds of eccentric bands - the parody and weird bands like Ween or Beck or They Might Be Giants, and there are the faster, heart attack drumming sort schooled by the likes of Mr. Bungle and methamphetamine. Detroit's Child Bite are somewhere in the middle ground of this movement. They play eclectic music, often at a fast … Read more
City of Ships
Live Free or Don't
Forcefield (2008)
One of the more surprising events or rather instances that I have been able to witness is that of discovering the three piece outfit City of Ships. The group's frenetic energy and obvious emotional stake in the music which they play is simultaneously impressive and inspiring. Live Free or Don't is actually the band's first EP which precedes their self-released … Read more
City of Ships
Tour EP
Independent (2008)
Now, I had only heard of this band's existence and never actually had the opportunity to listen to their music until I was able to see them. Honestly, I was dumbstruck by how excellent they were (good musicians, good amount of passion, good amount of energy), and it was not only me who reacted this way as many people who … Read more
Clouds
We are Above You
Hydra Head (2008)
After debuting with last year's Legendary Demo, Boston-based rockers Clouds return with their sophomore full-length. Fronted by former Cave In guitar maestro Adam McGrath, the band has delivered another fine offering here, though they have refined their fuzzed-out punk sound with an even wider sampling of influences. We are Above You begins with "Empires in Basements." The song is a … Read more
Clutch
Full Fathom Five: Audio Field Recordings
Weathermaker Music (2008)
This review is pretty damn pointless. No one is going to buy a live album unless they're familiar with the band, and anyone familiar with Clutch will know whether they want to purchase it long before they read these fevered scribblings. For a long time now, Clutch have been leaders in the field of live rock for those in the … Read more
Coalesce
0:12.2 Revolution in Just Listening (Reissue)
Relapse (2008)
So the inevitable is occurring as Relapse is reissuing this behemoth of an album (although at right around thirty minutes that is a stretch to call it such by today's standards). Recently awarded a spot in the Decibel album hall of fame, 0:12.2: Revolution in Just Listening is a supremely curious album as it is a document of a band … Read more
Coffins
Buried Death
20 Buck Spin (2008)
Hailing from Japan, Coffins play a vicious style of doom that relentlessly pummels listeners while at the same time is raw and unhinged. Buried Death is the three-piece group's third full-length (all released since 2005 after a long career without an album and an eventual reformation in 2003). In any case, there is a significant amount of hype flying around … Read more
Coffins / XXX Maniak
The Cracks of Doom
Creeping Vine (2008)
To offend me takes special talent, talent that knows no boundaries to how far the one can push idea of indecency. People who believe there is nothing sacred, no subject matter too taboo that they cannot molest it. These people play in the XXX Maniak. The cover art alone on this made me ashamed to have the CD in my … Read more
Cold Snap
Didn't Your Mother Warn You About Creatures in the Night
Independent (2008)
A three-song demo of slow droning somewhat melodic hardcore named after a Suicide File song. Cold Snap tries to recall the heydays of Boston hardcore when American Nightmare and Panic ruled the roost, but come nowhere close to the emotional outpouring of either band. The vocals are highly annoying in their screeched running out of breath quality. The songs themselves … Read more
Cold World
Dedicated to Babies Who Came Feet First
Deathwish Inc. (2008)
Thankfully raps inclusion into the world of heavy music has been greatly ignored in hardcore minus a few forays into the ugliest parts of New York City, North Jersey, and a couple sightings in California in the early 90's. Then came Cold World from Wilkes-Barre, PA with their cute little samples and lyrics lifted from various hip hop artists. Next … Read more
Common Market
Tobacco Road
Hyena (2008)
Common Market is an alternative hip-hop duo from the Pacific Northwest. The group also has another LP and an EP prior to Tobacco Road. This eighteen-track effort is backed by smooth production of Sabiz (also of Blue Scholars). The beats hit perfectly and the production also makes use of a tasteful keys, guitars, and well-selected samples; it's not overproduced, but … Read more
Conor Oberst
Conor Oberst
Merge (2008)
It's rather interesting that I've found the work of Bright Eyes to be wholly underwhelming since the release of Fevers and Mirrors back in 2000. Sure, there are been standout tracks throughout the years, but as a whole, not one entire album has quite captured the sincerity, the emotion, and the songwriting skills that Conor Oberst displayed on that album. … Read more
