Unholy Majesty
Self Titled
A389 (2012)
Burgeoning from a small town called Margate in the United Kingdom, is Unholy Majesty, a metallic hardcore supergroup meant to convey the bleak atmosphere of their city through music. With members of bands such as Sacred Ritual, Cold Snap, Age Of Kali, The Break In and Santa Karla it’s clear that this band has paid it’s dues and are looking … Read more
Unsane
Wreck
Alternative Tentacles (2012)
Some days, I just can never get enough Unsane on my headphones, which is the method to which I listen to music while at work and might be a great explanation of why that a little Unsane is never enough as anyone with just a tinge of workplace angst might be able to empathize with me; and Wreck is one … Read more
Utarm
Apocryphal Stories
Handmade Birds (2012)
What do you do with a record that you just cannot place, and how do you express what you think about such an album when words escape you? This is the dilemma before me as I listen to Apocryphal Stories from Utarm for about the tenth time because I just am at a loss as to what is actually going … Read more
Van Halen
A Different Kind Of Truth
Interscope (2012)
Let’s get right to it. I think we can all agree that lead-off single “Tattoo” is a shitty song. And any album that has the opening lyrics of I've got Elvis on my elbow would have any sane, reasonable consumer checking online for iTunes refund policies.* But this is David Lee Roth we're talking about. The man can get away … Read more
Various Artists
Alaric / Atriarch - Split
20 Buck Spin (2012)
Splits, in general, are dicey: often two bands (or more) are vaguely similar, making for a decent record but one that usually acts as filler. These releases seem to contain cast-off songs from recent recordings that didn't fit the scope of the album.In this case we have two newer bands that are making waves by creating a sound somewhere between … Read more
Various Artists
Closure / Moloch - Split EP
King Of Monsters (2012)
closure and moloch sit on diametrically opposed sides of the same scene in the same country. They share in the metal/hardcore scene within the UK and they manage to bring their differing outlooks to this split. This makes for a different type of split. While most bands would be happy to just play something similar to the band on the … Read more
Various Artists
Dan Andriano/Brendan Kelly - European Vacation
Red Scare Industries (2012)
To coincide with their romp across Europe, the split 7” from Brendan Kelly And The Wandering Birds and Dan Andriano in the Emergency Room, European Vacation, doesn’t cover much ground, but packs a hell of a lot in a short span. Those familiar with the two musicians won’t be surprised by either of their respective songs, but both leave their … Read more
Various Artists
Drainland / Enabler - Split EP
Halo of Flies (2012)
Splits are, in general, a simultaneously good and bad thing. For each split that flows and feels strong through out (maybe even introduces you to a new band) there are probably 10 more that feel more like a way for bands to get rid of otherwise discarded songs. So with a bit of trepidation i grabbed this split and put … Read more
Various Artists
Integrity/Gehenna - Integh Split
Holy Terror (2012)
For two veteran bands the split may seem like an odd option as it is generally used to introduce new bands to another bands audience. Well, Integrity and Gehenna have never been bands to stick to the norm in any facet or their careers. So we have a shared stopgap of sorts while both bands seem to work towards full … Read more
Various Artists
Mamiffer / Pyramids- Split
Hydra Head / Sige / Daymare (2012)
Allow me to skip any wind bagging introduction here and just say that this split between Mamiffer and Pyramids is one of those pairings that two like minded musical acts lay down some of the coolest work that either has produced that somehow feels like a logical extension of each others work where none of the tracks would sound out … Read more
Various Artists
Northless / Light Bearer - Split LP
Halo of Flies (2012)
Lightbearer and Northless are two bands that tend to resemble parallel curved lines. They share bits and pieces stylistically but never quite touch. Where Lightbearer create atmosphere and spice in some brutality within their artistic and literate story-songs, Northless avoid pretense by creating brutally lurching pieces. So when you bring these two bands together it may be hard to see … Read more
Various Artists
Parasitic Skies/Losing Skin - Split
Headfirst records (2012)
Splits are a dilemma at times, as they inevitably will either inform you of a new band or have a couple of songs that are clearly overshadowed by their counterpart. I am happy to report that is not the case for this split. With two of the Northwest hardcore scenes' heaviest, this record is a rager from start to finish. … Read more
Various Artists
ROBOCOP / DETROIT - Dead Language, Foreign Bodies Split LP
Give Praise (2012)
sharing similarities that reside more than just their names Robocop and Detroit both play blinding fast powerviolence indebted grind. While neither band have anything besides a name in relation to Michigan they share a relationship with Grindcore Karaoke which may give somewhat of a clue as to what the listener could be in for. Maine's Robocop take up the first … Read more
Various Artists
So Cow/Squarehead - Out of Season
Inflated Records (2012)
Out of Season is a two-band split 12” from Inflated Records that presents two Irish Groups, So Cow on Side A and Squarehead on Side B. It pairs two up-and-comers, delivering successful and enjoyable mid-tempo power-pop for the most part.So Cow is a three-piece (previously one-man band) who plays 1960s influenced poppy stuff with a bit of modern quirk and … Read more
Various Artists
UNFUN/Despite Everything - Split EP
Hahaha Cool! Records (2012)
It's always cool when bands from opposite sides of the world do a split together. It worked great for Thursday and Envy. Here, we have UNFUN from Canada and Despite Everything from Greece. Both have a different brand of dirty punk-rock. In the case of this split though, the Canadians lost. UNFUN's songs have great material to dance and sing-a-long … Read more
Various Artists
Vestiges / Ghaust- Split
Replenish (2012)
So this is the immediate follow-up to the debut album The Dissent Of Man for Vestiges, sharing a split record with Ghaust (whom I had never heard of until this slab of vinyl came up to be ordered), and I distinctly recall being rather excited to hear this record based on how much I enjoyed the debut from Vestiges; but … Read more
Vinnie Paz
God of the Serengeti
Enemy Soil (2012)
Over a decade in the rap game, Vinnie Paz has been a pillar of the independent scene as the front man of Jedi Mind Tricks and Army of the Pharaohs, as well as one half of the duo, along with Ill Bill, known as Heavy Metal Kings. God of the Serengeti is his second solo outing and the highly anticipated … Read more
Vision Of Disorder
The Cursed Remain Cursed
Candlelight (2012)
It's not hard to figure that Vision Of Disorder were one of two Long Island Hardcore bands (along with Glassjaw) that have managed to influence a ridiculous number of current bands while remaining relatively dismissed outside of their scene during their original time as a band. The first 2 Vision of Disorder records had a sound all their own at … Read more
