Skyharbor
Blinding White Noise: Illusion & Chaos
Basick (2012)
There aren't many ways that I can describe the emotions I get from Indian djentlemen Skyharbor's debut album, and part of the reason is that the cumbersomely titled Blinding White Noise: Illusion & Chaos brings with it some incredibly polarizing feelings. On the one hand, it's one of the most pleasurable aural experiences I've had the pleasure to receive. On … Read more
Skyzoo
A Dream Deferred
Duck Down (2012)
After a few years of releasing mixtapes and collaborative projects, Brooklyn emcee Skyzoo returns with his second official solo effort, A Dream Deferred. The album pairs the rapper’s ever-improving lyricism and flow alongside bubbly and lavish jazz and R&B-tinged soundscapes. Production heavyweights like Jahlil Beats, Black Milk,9th Wonder, and DJ Khalil all contributed beats but it’s the live instrumentation—including violinists, … Read more
Sleep
Dopesmoker (Reissue)
Southern Lord (2012)
Imagine, if you will, that doom rock band Om and a still-young drone metal band Boris got together in a hallucinogen-induced haze one night. Their inevitable pothead lovechild would undoubtedly be doom/stoner outfit Sleep, as evidenced by their final album, Dopesmoker.Having been released at least four different times (with four different running times, not to mention two different names), this … Read more
Sleigh Bells
Reign Of Terror
Mom + Pop (2012)
Derek Edward Miller and Alexis Krauss start this record like it's a Van Halen concert. They're tricking you into thinking that maybe after the Skins commercials that had everyone humming "Kids," after the Williamsburg and Pitchfork royalty fame, and after all the music festivals they attended last year, they were going to take things in a different direction - maybe … Read more
Snailking
Samsara
Consouling Sounds (2012)
If you're going to name your band after a record by one of your genres chosen greats, then you better have the musical balls to back it up. And damn, do Snailking back it up. Taking their name from Ufomammut's second album, Snailking tread in their path whilst building their own identity as a massive and heavy prospect in the … Read more
Sonance
Like Ghosts
Independent (2012)
Like Ghosts is the debut from Bristol based Sonance, a band so disgustingly heavy that they are currently drowning the car alarm that's been going off in my street for the past half hour. Writhing with sickness and masses of doomed out symphony, Sonance curl around the psyche with a terrifying grip and their tightly woven structures spin out into … Read more
Souvenirs
Tired Of Defending You
6131 (2012)
When I first heard that Souvenirs was signed to 6131 I was expecting another straight-up generic hardcore band. However, upon listening to their first release from last year, Sadder Days, I was pleasantly surprised to find a pop-punk/emo crossover band: one taking the lyrical writing style of ‘90s emo bands and the upbeat feel of pop-punk. This was right up … Read more
Special Providence
Soul Alert
Hunnia (2012)
A lot of cool music can come from unexpected places. I’ve never been to Hungary myself, but they must be doing something right over there if they’re producing bands as good as the instrumental, prog-rock powerhouse Special Providence, especially considering their latest album, 2012’s Soul Alert.The most noticeable thing about the music is that nearly everything, especially the main melodies, … Read more
Split Cranium
Self Titled
Hydra Head (2012)
So, here we have Split Cranium an interesting project band formed by some of the people behind the acclaimed Circle with the addition of Aaron Turner (of Old Man Gloom, House Of Low Culture, Mamiffer, Jodis and formerly of Isis amongst others); and this band is nothing like anything else that these gentlemen are all known for churning out in … Read more
State Lines
Self Titled
Tiny Engines (2012)
Hailing from Long Island, NY, State Lines come from a long list of notable punk bands who call the area home. They have been quick in establishing themselves as a talented, young band with strong potential. Last year’s Hoffman Manor was a clinic in catchiness with a raw, familiar sound that garnered comparisons to Tigers Jaw and Brand New, but … Read more
Steve Hackett
Genesis Revisited II
Inside Out (2012)
This (entirely too long) review is part of my coverage of the 2013 Progressive Music Awards, on 3 September. I fully admit, before I even listened to this album, I actively disliked it. For one, musical sequels are rarely as good as the original (as I've mentioned before). For another, it's a covers album--and we at Scene Point Blank are … Read more
Storm Corrosion
Self Titled
Roadrunner (2012)
Steven Wilson and Mikael Åkerfeldt are both two musicians I hold in incredibly high esteem. Wilson’s flabbergasting diversity of styles covered with Porcupine Tree or his various solo projects and Åkerfeldt’s amazingly thoughtful and moving compositions with Opeth both continue to astound me no matter how often I listen to them. It should go without saying they are both gifted … Read more
Street Eaters
Self Titled
Cut the Cord That
Records (2012)
There are a few formats I almost go out of my way to avoid, namely cassettes and digital EPs. However, I’ll make an exception for certain bands and Street Eaters are one of those. Street Eaters released their debut full-length Rusty Eyes and Hydrocarbons in 2011 and it still grips me today. This self-titled digi-EP did see a 12” pressing … Read more
Strong Intention
Razorblade Express
Patac (2012)
Strong Intention may be one of Maryland's best kept secrets. The band have played a mix of Grind and NYHC since the '90s and seem to be unwilling to quit anytime soon. After a long recording hiatus the band has returned. What may make this the record that gets them more fans is a certain guest star of sorts for … Read more
Struck by Lightning
True Predation
Translation Loss (2012)
Struck By Lightning came out the gate hard and fast about 3 years ago with their first LP "Serpents". That record truly set them apart from the ex-members of... tag that they could've carried. Instead of playing the post metal of past projects they built a sound that was more indebted to Discharge than Isis. This worked well for them … Read more
Sutcliffe Jugend
Blue Rabbit
Crucial Blast (2012)
Sutcliffe Jugend started as an offshoot of British power electronics specialists Whitehouse, using this project to reveal the outer reaches of the human psyche—both sexually and otherwise—more so than their counterparts. Most times, in the past, the music had managed to match the questionable content. The question is: how does one react when a band that is so reactionary responds … Read more
Sutekh Hexen
Larvae
Handmade Birds (2012)
If you have ever heard any Sutekh Hexen release prior to Larvae (and there is a multitude), than there is definitely a surprise in store for you because Larvae is a complete re-imagining of what this outfit has done from their first tape that they unleashed on the world; the mind bending riffing (of the black metal style) and the … Read more
Swallow The Sun
Emerald Forest & The Blackbird
Spinefarm Records (2012)
Swallow the Sun may have gotten into the death-doom metal craze a good decade after its peak, but even thirteen years on, they are still going strong, evidenced by their latest release, 2012's Emerald Forest and the Blackbird.At the core of the album are its meandering trips through doom metal, with hints of gothic metal and melodeath supplied liberally. The … Read more
