Sutekh Hexen
Luciform
Wands (2011)
After a number of demos and EPs the members of Sutekh Hexen have unleashed their debut LP upon the world. Unleashed seems to be the only fair way to describe the release of this record as any other terminology feels as though it is undermining the nastiness of this recording. While the band play a form of black metal it … Read more
Sutekh Hexen
Ordo Adversarial
Wands (2011)
Sutekh Hexen, the name alone has an undeniable air of mystery and darkness that while you may not know exactly what they sound like at this minute but whatever that sound is, you feel in the darkest recesses of your subconscious something telling you to stay away from it; and that little voice in your head might be a smart … Read more
Swingin' Utters
Here, Under Protest
Fat Wreck Chords (2011)
You can’t accuse Swingin’ Utters of phoning it in. Here, Under Protest is the band’s first studio record in eight years and, unlike some of their contemporaries who release at a similar rate, the record shows notable growth and attention to songwriting nuance. While the San Fran band started out with a strong bent toward street punk anthems, they’ve gradually … Read more
Symphony X
Iconoclast
Nuclear Blast (2011)
Dream Theater is beginning to stagnate. Queensrÿche has jumped the shark. Nobody even knows what Devin Townsend is on anymore. In fact, it would certainly seem that Symphony X is one of the gracious few progressive metal acts that's actually been getting better as of late. While The Divine Wings of Tragedy or V: The New Mythology Suite will always … Read more
Taking Back Sunday
Self Titled
Warner Bros. (2011)
Taking Back Sunday were once the face of the new alternative underground movement often labeled as “emo” but over the last few years they seemed to have lost their footing. After losing pivotal member in Fred Mascherino and releasing the uninspired New Again, an album that met a negative critical reception, many fans including myself gave up on the band … Read more
Tenement
Blind Wink
Cowabunga (2011)
Appleton, WI’s Tenement are a busy beast. The two-plus-piece band (featuring numerous guest musicians) released Napalm Dream in 2011, which I gave a heavy Replacements recommendation on. December 2011 saw the band already unleashing another record, this time the collection Blind Wink, available on varied formats from the likes of Cowabunga (LP), Hang Up (CD), and Dead Broke (cassette). With … Read more
Tenement
Napalm Dream
Hanged Up (2011)
Wow, this isn’t at all what I was expecting. With a one word name and the title Napalm Dream, I had images of guttural-voice hardcore and power stomps instead of Replacements’-schooled Midwest punk. Sure, I’d seen the name a lot in various Wisconsin-related shows over the past couple of years, but for some reason I associated the band with a … Read more
TenHornedBeast
Ten Horned Moses Descended The Mountain
Handmade Birds (2011)
Wow, just wow is about the best that I can come up with to describe Ten Horned Moses Descended The Mountain from Tenhornedbeast (yes all one word and possibly erroneously capitalized), the solo project of one, Christopher Walton; and, to be completely truthful, that wow might not actually describe this massive album in an accurate enough manner because every time … Read more
Tesseract
One
Century Media (2011)
Bring out the djent parade!Every single Meshuggah-loving act and their goddamn mother is releasing an album this year. Xerath released their sophomore album, Uneven Structure and Vildhjarta have their debuts planned, Cloudkicker released a single, Periphery and Gojira both have EPs on the schedule... In fact, it seems like the only band who isn't getting in on this action themselves … Read more
The 4onthefloor
4x4
Independent (2011)
There is a type of rock & roll that is very, well, American—thunderous, hard-driving, electrified rhythm and blues with greasy guitars. Music that evokes a variety of American imagery—an oversized, gas-guzzling pickup truck covered in mud barrels down a gravel road; the driver—sporting a camouflaged hat and a farmer’s tan—rides shotgun with a six pack of beer and an actual … Read more
The Biters
All Chewed Up
Underrated (2011)
I’m a sucker for punk/pop bands, but not just any crap. They have to have it all: great tunes, catchy hooks, and plenty of attitude. The Biters are just that kind of band, with a mix of power pop and punk with a dose of glam thrown in for good measure (think T-Rex). This is the third EP from the … Read more
The Black Keys
El Camino
Nonesuch (2011)
By now, the Black Keys have released enough material to seemingly exist since the early nineties. This is not the case, however, only having released their gritty debut, The Big Come Up, in May 2002. Since then, amidst a steady growth in production efforts and more polished recordings, The Black Keys manage to stay true to their simplistic form.Where the … Read more
The Blind Shake
Seriousness
Learning Curve (2011)
It’s Seriousness indeed for The Blind Shake. The Minneapolis three-piece plays concise, to the point garage rock. From their matching trek suits to drummer Dave Roper’s emphatic beats, the band has an air of professional dedication when they take the stage that’s distinct in a genre that seems to pride itself on sloppiness. The band has been alternating records between … Read more
The Book Of Knots
Garden Of Fainting Stars
Ipecac (2011)
The Book Of Knots are an anomaly in music. They are a super group of sorts entailing members of many different groups (Including Skeleton Key, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Shiner, Battle of Mice, Sparklehorse, Elvis Costello, Unsane, Pere Ubu, Frank Black, They Might Be Giants) and using members of a number of guests including one Blixa Bargled (of Nick Cave And … Read more
The Cars
Move Like This
Hear Music (2011)
I'd like to take a moment to quote Ric Ocasek, circa 1997, on the subject of The Cars reuniting at some point in the future:"I'm saying never, and you can count on that."I guess that makes him the Brett Favre of rock music, because one spinoff project and 23 years after their breakup, here I sit, holding a copy of … Read more
The Cool Kids
When Fish Ride Bicycles
Green Label Sound (2011)
The Cool Kids return with, oddly enough, their debut album. Seems weird, considering these Midwestern boys have been in the game roughly 5 years now, but When Fish Ride Bicycles is technically their first full-length record. With a series of singles, mixtapes, and EPs under their belts, dating back to 2007’s excellent “Black Mags” single, Mikey Rocks and Chuck Inglish … Read more
The Dead Milkmen
The King In Yellow
Independent (2011)
Who would have thought that after 16 years The Dead Milkmen would release a new album? The band went their separate ways in 1995 and lost a member of The Dead Milkmen family in 2004 when ex-bassist, Dave Schulthise, took his own life. The remaining members went on to play tribute and benefit shows soon after. In 2008, the group … Read more
The Dwarves
Born Again
Greedy (2011)
Back in the pre-internet era I came across a blurb in some metal magazine I read in my adolescent years—I’m guessing it was Rip. In that blurb it mentioned a “real punk” band called the Dwarves, who had just been kicked off the trendy Sub Pop for feigning the death of one of their members. I was intrigued, and I … Read more
