Review / 200 Words Or Less
Gospel Gossip
Dreamland

Guilt Ridden Pop (2009) — Sean K.

Gospel Gossip – Dreamland cover artwork
Gospel Gossip – Dreamland — Guilt Ridden Pop, 2009

Having never heard of this band before, I had no idea what to expect. Thankfully I was pleasantly surprised by the music on this EP length release. Taking the best guitar effects from 80's pop and welding it to a fierce backbeat, this one emerges from the morass and rises above. Lyrics you can make out and actual songwriting chops-absolutely amazing! "Nashville" rocks along gleefully to start out. But "Pre-Med (Just In Case)" is the true gem here. If Pylon and Wire Train had recorded a record together, it may have sounded something like this. So buy Dreamland and maybe we will get a chance to see how they bring it live. Top notch.

8.5 / 10 — Sean K. • September 13, 2010

Gospel Gossip – Dreamland cover artwork
Gospel Gossip – Dreamland — Guilt Ridden Pop, 2009

Recently-posted album reviews

Massive Nightmares

Ain't My World
Black Numbers (2026)

Massive Nighmares debuted in 2024 with a short EP. Now they return with a full-length. The band plays a somewhat even blend of punk, emo, and alt-rock. As an example, check out "Up In Arms," which is like Dear You era Jawbreaker with a boost of power-pop and maybe some Lemonheads mixed in as well. While it's easily the poppiest … Read more

Contention

Nuclear Summer
Daze (2026)

Contention, I would argue, has spent the last few years at or near the top of the heap of the return to 90's styled Straight Edge Metalcore. I am being specific because there is no mistaking Contention's influences nor their message. This is a STRAIGHT EDGE band that is far more indebted to Morning Again that anything that uses a … Read more

A Secret Revealed

The Ruin I Summoned Forth
Lifeforce (2026)

There are albums that use heaviness as an assault and others that use it to create an atmosphere. On The Ruin I Summoned Forth, A Secret Revealed manage to does both. The German quintet’s fourth full-length is an enormous, bleak piece of post-metal, but calling it post-metal only gets you part of the way there. Black metal cuts through its … Read more