Municipal Waste
The Fatal Feast
Nuclear Blast (2012)
Municipal Waste is a crossover band from Richmond, Virginia who has captivated audiences from all different scenes. Whether you’re into punk, metal, hardcore or any of the diluted sub genres concocted in the past decade, you probably have a vein that’s been pinched by Municipal Waste. “The Fatal Feast” is the 5th Full length release for Municipal Waste but it … Read more
Murder By Death
Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon
Bloodshot (2012)
Murder by Death are back with their sixth studio album, and it's their moodiest album yet. It's a stark contrast to their last record, Good Morning, Magpie--returning to, while exploring, more layers of atmospheric tones. With each album(excluding Red of Tooth...), I always found myself needing to give them multiple rounds to fully appreciate what I was listening to--Bitter Drink, … Read more
Muse
The 2nd Law
Warner\Helium 3 (2012)
The year is 2052. Society as we know it has completely changed. The laws of government and nation have crumbled into dust, trodden down firmly by the feet of innumerable footsoldiers of the new autocratic rulers of the world. Big Brother's voice rings from every speaker; CCTV cameras record every communication between state-fearing citizen and obedient lickspittle. Comrades huddle in … Read more
My Dying Bride
A Map Of All Our Failures
Peaceville (2012)
My Dying Bride is over 20 years old. While most bands that would exist for this amount of time would notably mature in sound and style, it may be hard to convince people of that in regards to MDB. I say this because, stylistically, the band have always trudged through murky, doomy waters. This, in turn, did more to make … Read more
My Ticket Home
To Create A Cure
Rise (2012)
Let me start by saying this is in no way an original album. It’s the same rehashed post-hardcore/screamo clichés you’ve heard a hundred times before. But if you can overlook this glaring issue, To Create a Cure has a lot to offer. Though My Ticket Home aren’t exactly reinventing the wheel here, they have crafted a very impressive LP debut.It’s … Read more
Nadja
Corrasion (Reissue)
The Miskatonic Sound Lab (2012)
Being an acquired taste is a blessing for some bands as they get to be as adventurous as they could ever want to be and their “fan” base usually will go along with them, and Nadja is most definitely one such band that truly benefits from such an underground status or descriptor (what have you). In any case, listening to … Read more
Nathan Ellis
Self Titled
No Sleep (2012)
Mr. Ellis has already accomplished a great deal in his musical “career” (I say it this way because somehow I doubt Nathan Ellis is rolling deep in the dough from his various musical endeavors) that has carved a unique and impressive path amongst his myriad of projects which have included being one of the bassists in the ground breaking hardcore … Read more
Neurosis
Honor Found In Decay
Neurot Recordings (2012)
Honor Found in Decay has been a long, long time coming. Having not released a full length since 2007 and with many of the band’s members taking on solo projects or working together on projects, it’s a wonder that Neurosis found the time to piece together this majestic album. Honor Found in Decay is a slow-burning and decadent work, which … Read more
Neurosis
Honor Found In Decay
Neurot Recordings (2012)
The rain is beating on my windows while the wind is whipping the trees into a whirling frenzy as people are declaring a weather apocalypse on the television, but “My Heart For Deliverance” slowly begins its ascent on my speakers before Neurosis just steps down on the song full on, blaring guitars and pounding drums throwing down the gauntlet to … Read more
New Bruises
Chock Full of Misery
Kiss of Death (2012)
Chock Full of Misery as a title sets a bleak tone for a group best labeled as pop-punk. Yet, New Bruises don’t let the downer subject matter override their energetic and singalong anthems. In song titles past and present, the group has namedropped both Kurt Vonnegut and Johnny Cash—and both are apt examples for New Bruises common tone of frustration, … Read more
NOFX
Self Entitled
Fat Wreck Chords (2012)
NOFX haven’t mixed it up a whole lot over the years. In twelve albums they’ve remained consistently inconsistent, with a few records that have risen above the rest. Generally, they have a few real standouts on each release, paired with a few stinkers. After skipping Coaster completely, Self Entitled seemed like it was time to check back in to see … Read more
North
The Great Silence
Cavity (2012)
I have to say, this one particular album took a while to grow on me. But it soon struck me that the new release from Tuscon, Arizona-based and strangely antithetically named post-metallers North was more than just another Isis or Cult of Luna styled sludge metal album. The Great Silence, I had to admit, was strikingly beautiful and deeply satisfying … Read more
Nü Sensae
Sundowning
Suicide Squeeze (2012)
Whether it is rap music, hardcore or pop punk, it seems the ‘90s are forcing their way back into our unsuspecting eardrums thanks to a handful of well-versed history-appreciating up ‘n’ comers. And with that sentiment arrives Sundowning, the second album by Vancouver, BC’s Nü Sensae, a band leading the small charge of current alt-core revivalists. Now a three piece—with … Read more
Oathbreaker
Maelstrom
Deathwish Inc. (2012)
Oathbreaker are a Belgian hardcore (for lack of a better expletive) band with a tendency towards fast-paced metal riffs and an evil, crusty tone. This is their first release for Deathwish Inc. and a fairly solid debut that I’m sure will turn at least a few heads and gain them a few fans. The vocals are the standout performance of … Read more
Oede
One Man's Trash
Holy Terror (2012)
It may be safe to say that since the Holy Terror Record label has been revived they have managed to get on quite a roll. The records they have released have all managed to be a bit different while still carrying a certain aesthetic darkness. With label mates such as Sutekh Hexen and Cape of Bats gaining more and more … Read more
Off!
Self Titled
Vice (2012)
This record is way too long. Nah, with 16 songs in 17 minutes, it’s shorter than a heart attack. And, hopefully, that will be my only elderstateman reference in here. For those living under a rock since 2010, Off! is a new Keith Morris (Circle Jerks, Black Flag) fronted hardcore band where he is joined by Dimitri Coats (Burning Brides), … Read more
Oh No
Ohnomite
Brick (2012)
Following two collaborative efforts already this year alongside his fellow beatsmith and emcee The Alchemist as the duo Gangrene—the Vodka & Ayahuasca LP and the Odditorium EP—the West Coast producer and rapper Oh No returns once more for a solo mission with Ohnomite. Oh No—the younger brother of Madlib and son of singer Otis Jackson—was granted unmatched right of entry … Read more
Oiltanker
Shadow of Greed/Crusades
Southern Lord (2012)
A while back I caught Oiltanker in the midst of the second day of Midwest Hell Fest—a one-off weekend crust punk festival that was happening in, of all places, a sports bar in Kimberly, Wisconsin. I was thoroughly enthralled by the outpouring of anger emanating from the stage while they were up there, yet I was simultaneously battling the inevitable … Read more
