Fragarak
Crypts of Dissimulation
Independent (2013)
Indian quintet Fragark have one of the bossest names for a death metal band ever. (Cheat sheet: it comes from the name of the sword wielded by Irish sea deity Manannán mac Lir, and literally means 'The Retaliator' or 'The Answerer'. Chills, I tell you.) But when it comes to music, their 2013 debut, Crypts of Dissimulation, falls squarely into … Read more
fragment.
Temporary Enlightenment
OPN (2013)
Immediately strikingly to the heart with the opening notes of “Cast Out” as if awakening people from sleep with this as an early morning clarion call, Fragment. effectively kicks off Temporary Enlightenment (the fourth proper full length album from this one man project) and launches what is arguably the best batch of music from this project; the overall sound on … Read more
Francis Cheer
Mapmaker
Well Sure Records (2013)
John Gerrard is an artist hailing from Calgary, Alberta and he is no stranger to the local music scene; having played in some heavier bands such as Alivia and Nikola Testla. He may be more recognized as both the man behind the art and the former base player of Victoria’s Northcote. Having followed most of the bands he’s been a … Read more
Frank Turner
Tape Deck Heart
Interscope (2013)
Tape Deck Heart is a transition album for Frank Turner. Not only for his music career, but it seems like a transition album for himself too. When asked about the theme of this album, Turner said, “This album is about self-examination, running through your own faults, about change, and about ending. Something like that”.Turner starts with his most adverse yet … Read more
Frankie & The Heartstrings
The Days Run Away
Wichita Recordings (2013)
Some musicians view making music as a vocation, something that they will entirely devote their lives to, to the extent that it seeps into everything they do. Frankie & The Heartstrings don't do things by halves. In the wake of the release of The Days Run Away, their second album after 2011's Hunger, they've opened a pop-up record shop in … Read more
From Oceans to Autumn
Pareto Analysis II: The Vital Few
Independent (2013)
From Oceans to Autumn is a band that I was surprised was not on my post-metal radar. They have a surprisingly prolific (and notably high-quality) output for a band that was just formed in 2006, and with the release of the second volume in their Pareto Analysis series, The Vital Few, they are showing no signs of slowing down.What I … Read more
Frozen Teens
Oakland Footsteps
StarCleaner (2013)
Frozen Teens are tough sound to pin down exactly. It’s not because it’s 100% out there, it’s because it subtly pulls from different arenas, coming together in something of a power-pop/punk. The Minneapolis trio are releasing a 7”, Oakland Footsteps, here, and it’s a solid release through and through. It starts with the 3:10 “Oakland,” which covers way more ground … Read more
Fuck The Facts
Amer
Independent (2013)
Fuck The Facts have long been a bright spot in the canadian metal scene. The long running band have released a nearly ridiculous number of records in their ever changing musical formula. The formula itself retains grind as a backbone but adds layers and ideas up and above that to create something more dynamic more the bands' own. Amer is … Read more
Full Of Hell
Rudiments Of Mutilation
A389 (2013)
While hardcore and the like have always valued the use of noise rarely has it ever been used in a combination of hardcore as a genre as well as the idea of noise as a genre unto itself. Noise as a genre is a very tough to pin down aesthetic in and of itself, just as hard would be to … Read more
Future Virgins
Late Republic
Recess (2013)
After how hard Western Problems hit, it would be hard for Future Virgins to deliver another punch-out of similar quality. Or would it? With a new record, Late Republic on Recess Records, the Chattanooga band has blown my expectations away. The sound this time is a bit cleaner, which lends a pop sensibility to their powerful melodies, but it’s just … Read more
Galactic Cannibal
We're Fucked
Hewhocorrupts Inc. (2013)
Goddamn, these are some brutally hoarse vocals. Like the kind that makes my voice hurt just thinking about singing along, and I mean that in the best possible way.Galactic Cannibal are a Milwaukee punk band comprised of brothers Nick Woods (Direct Hit!) and Peter J Woods (noise artist). Throw those comparisons out the window, though, as this slams the pedal … Read more
Gateway District
Old Wild Hearts
It's Alive (2013)
“We’re going to break you down this Saturday night,” sings The Gateway District in “Break You Down,” off their new LP, Old Wild Hearts. It’s as fitting a place to start as any. The band has a working for the weekend vibe to them, celebrating the good times and letting your Saturday nights roll. On their third LP, the transition … Read more
Gaytheist
Hold Me...But Not So Tight
Good to Die Records (2013)
Gaytheist are nothing if not a eye-catching band. Their name - a portmanteau of 'gay' and 'atheist' - will undoubtedly set perceptions of the trio before the needle has even dropped. Hold Me… But Not So Tight's artwork portrays two stylised, embracing reptiles, the band's name superimposed in strong capitals. Song titles such as 'Poocano' or 'Wisdom of the Asshole' … Read more
Gazer
Phone Commercial EP
Independent (2013)
GAZER is a new band hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio. On their debut EP, Phone Commercial, they use a combination of noise and punk to rock the sound-waves. However, they could benefit from a reduction on the noise. The first track, "I Passed The BAR," has a good groove going on with screechy guitars that blend perfectly with distorted bass lines. … Read more
Ghost
Infestissumam
Loma Vista Recordings (2013)
Swedish heavy metal/doom band Ghost (who I adamantly refuse to call "Ghost B.C.", vague American "legal reasons" be damned) made quite a splash on the heavy metal scene with the well-received (and confusingly-titled) debut Opus Eponymous in 2010. Between the band's very obvious interest in subversive Christian themes, unexpectedly ostentatious stage presentation, and oddly dedicated insistence on their members' anonymity, … Read more
Gogol Bordello
Pura Vida Conspiracy
ATO (2013)
Gogol Bordello, on their earlier releases, were one of those rare bands that everybody agreed was a must-see live band that and was able to capture a reasonable facsimile of that imperative on record. Later releases, in particular the band's 2010 release Trans-Continental Hustler, were not as successful capturing that live energy in the studio.Pura Vida Conspiracy is a step … Read more
Grey Storia
Martonic
14 Tower Records (2013)
With their humble roots set in friendly jam sessions, American post-rock band theLakeSuperior recorded their first three demos back in the spring of 2011. Just a year later, bolstered by their warm reception, the band took a new name, Grey Storia, and was ready to cut their first release. Those recordings later became their 2013 EP and debut, Martonic.From the … Read more
Grouper
The Man Who Died in His Boat
Kranky (2013)
The Man Who Died in His Boat (released February 2013) is a collection of songs by Grouper, a.k.a. Liz Harris, one-woman ambient/noise/folk/dream-pop impresario of Portland, Oregon. Harris has been active since 2005, the year of her first full-length release, and projects since then have included numerous collaborations, EPs, splits, etc. on multiple labels. Her latest work (from Kranky Records) is, … Read more
