Reviews of albums release in 2021

142 total reviews — Page 2 of 8

Come Closer

Pretty Garbage
Pirates Press (2021)

J. Wang has played in a lot of bands: Dan Padilla, Tiltwheel, Altaira, and Shallow Cuts, to name a few. In other words, he’s an active musician and when his other bands broke up, or went on hiatus, or live too far away – throw in a year-plus pandemic -- well, a creator’s gotta create. Come Closer actually kicked off … Read more

Dead Best

Dead Best
Don Giovanni (2021)

Dead Best is a pandemic project featuring two friends and neighbors who play in bands…but never together until now. Brian Sorkey (AM/FM) and Adam Goren (Atom & His Package) have some crossover their scenes but play individually pretty different styles. Which makes it interesting to see where they come together on the 13-song debut album. The album kicks off with … Read more

Deafheaven

Infinite Granite
Sargent House (2021)

I never really thought in any measure that I’d be writing at any point in time a review of a Deafheaven record, yet here we are. Even now I remember the absolute furor that bundled virally around their 2013 release, Sunbather. I didn’t really understand then, nor do I understand now why was it so huge. Personally, I couldn’t then … Read more

Death Has Spoken

Call Of The Abyss
Ossuary Records (2021)

This is the second album from Polish death/doom metallers Death Has Spoken who formed in 2017. Taking inspiration musically from bands such as Paradise Lost, Swallow The Sun, Hallatar and My Dying Bride to name but a few this 7 track album gives us just over 40 minutes of dark, melodic doom metal. I've got to hand it to these … Read more

DeeCracks

Serious Issues
Pirates Press (2021)

DeeCracks is not exactly new to the punkrock scene. Starting out as The Cretins in 2003, rebranding themselves to DeeCRACKS in 2007 this Austrian trio has some experience under their belts. Serious Issues is their fourth full length album. Next to that they have released a string of splits and EP’s. So I am surprised that Serious Issues is the … Read more

Demonztrator

Sinister Forces Of Hatred
Ossuary Records (2021)

Sinister Forces Of Hatred is the second album from Helsinki-based thrash metal ensemble Demonztrator. Formed in 2016 as a covers band, their aim being to revive Finnish speed/thrash metal from the late '80s and '90s. Their first album Forgotten Acts Of Aggression, released in 2017, is a collection of covers and is their love letter to fellow Finns Brainwash, Dementia, … Read more

Descendents

9th & Walnut
Epitaph (2021)

While I like new Descendents, their older stuff always had an intangible bite to it. The new stuff feels more sarcastic while their earlier material was pissed off underneath that playful disposition. And that’s what you get on 9th & Walnut which is billed as the band’s eighth studio album, though the timeline is more complicated than that. All 18 … Read more

Early Riser

Vocations
A-F (2021)

I was really into a few folk-bands for a while. But while I enjoy the lo-fi and personable tones, I find a lot of the vocals to be hit/miss. Which, to be honest, is in tune with my feelings on folk too. It’s a genre where voice matters a lot. Some work for me; some don’t. I like Defiance, Ohio … Read more

Eastern High

Halo
Independent (2021)

It feels like people have sort of given up on doing prog metal with clean vocals, no? Or maybe that’s just me? Or maybe I just started giving up on that area due to its general lack of ingenuity in musical terms and veered more heavily into extreme prog. Regardless, Eastern High have just recently released their second album, titled … Read more

Electric Chair

Social Capital
Iron Lung (2021)

This is short, fast, loud; brutal, punishing stuff. Ripping straight into it with “Bastard,” the first verse is spit-shouted in a way that, to normal people who don’t listen to this kind of thing all the time, will literally sound like he’s saying “blah blah blah, fuck shit.” It’s damn fast, and damn angry.But speed and intense drumming isn’t enough … Read more

Fawn Limbs

Darwin Falls
Roman Numeral Records, Wolves & Vibrancy Records (2021)

Transatlantic noise laden mathgrind power trio Fawn Limbs are back with fresh material. What could they possibly have in store this time around? Their prolific catalogue reaches a true high point with their ninth release, Darwin Falls. Physically following in the footsteps of Sleeper Vessels, while aesthetically and spiritually in those of Thrum, Darwin Falls sees the band stepping into … Read more

Fox Face

End Of Man
Dirtnap (2021)

It seems fitting that one of the first 2021 releases I’m reviewing is called End Of Man. A look at the news shows a world in crisis and, for deeper meaning, the common parlance is shifting away from gender specific language. So maybe Fox Face is saying men ruined the planet and we’re all gonna die. Maybe they are saying … Read more

Frontierer

Oxidized
Independent (2021)

So, here’s the new Frontierer. I’ll cut it as is right out of the gate – it’s a disappointment. I’ve seen the backlash at people criticizing the record, but they’re few in between and most seem to praise it to high heaven, which…is honestly mystifying to me – but – to each his own. I’ll level with all of you, … Read more

Gentlemen Rogues

Do the Resurrection
Snappy Little Numbers (2021)

Austin, Texas never disappoints when it comes to being a hotbed for great independent bands and Gentlemen Rogues is no exception. With their Do the Resurrection 7” they showcase not only their weak spot for fuzzed-out guitar driven pop punk, but also their song writing expertise reminiscent of the better moments of acts like XTC, Gaslight Anthem, Teenage Fanclub and … Read more

Groupie

Ephemeral
HANDSTAND RECORDS (2021)

This is music for a cloudy day. Titled Ephemeral, Groupie’s debut full-length is moody and fleeting and, to me, delivers a dream-like quality at its best moments.The songs are driven by a rhythmic staccato approach that has a hushed, sing-song quality and occasionally mixes it up with a call-and-response tandem approach. The guitars establish the tone with clean, pristine vibes … Read more

Hanalei

Black Snow
A-F (2021)

It’s been ten years since Hanalei released One Big Night, which is a long time between records for anyone. Hanalei is primarily frontman Brian Moss, who has also played with The Ghost, Wunder Years and other bands with names similar to more popular groups. But Hanalei is by far its own thing. It’s from the punk world, but not of … Read more

Heart & Lung

Twistin' The Knife Away
Red Scare Industries (2021)

Heart & Lung released their debut in 2017, then Red Scare reissued it last year, putting it on my radar. The band is from Cleveland, OH, playing melodic pop-punk with gruff moments. While the debut was fairly call-and-response in song structure, Twistin’ The Knife Away mixes up the songwriting quite a bit throughout its 11 songs. And, as that title … Read more

Honshu Wolves

Cosmic Creature Capture
Voodoo Rhythm (2021)

Over the grassy knoll, down the weed tangled pathway, and to the right of the small babbling brook lays a large one-hundred-year-old oak tree. It has widely been known that the exposed massive root system has been used by generations of wolves for years thus giving many wolf pups their first home prior to venturing out in the unknown darkness.However, … Read more