Review / 200 Words Or Less
Under Anchor
There is No End

Truth and Justice (2007) Michael

Under Anchor – There is No End cover artwork
Under Anchor – There is No End — Truth and Justice, 2007

Despite my close proximity to the state, it's been quite a while since I've heard something new from Michigan that's caught my interest. Under Anchor is the first band to do so in a while. They are a three-piece hardcore band that draws equally from the youth-crew sound and metallic hardcore of the 90's.

There is No End is the debut full-length from the band. Over the course of these ten songs the band unleashes a dramatic concoction of hardcore that could put the band on bills alongside Have Heart or Verse. For the most part the band sticks to two/three-minute songs with mid-paced riffing and breakdowns with shouted vocals. Occasionally the band does mix into some more chaotic moments, but for the most part they stick to what they do best. Lyrically things concern themselves with typical topics: loss, loneliness, betrayal, etc. A nice accompaniment to the lyrics is brief explanations, which gives the band a more down to earth quality. Overall, a good debut that shows promise.

6.5 / 10Michael • June 16, 2008

Under Anchor – There is No End cover artwork
Under Anchor – There is No End — Truth and Justice, 2007

Recently-posted album reviews

Økse

Økse
Backwoodz Recordz (2024)

Økse is a gathering of brilliant, creative minds. The project's roster is pristine, with avant-jazz phenoms Mette Rasmussen on saxophone, Savannah Harris on drums, and Petter Eldh on bass/synths/samplers joining electronic artist and multidisciplinery extraordinaire Val Jeanty (of the fantastic Turning Jewels Into Water project.) The result is a multi-faceted work that stands on top of multiple sonic pillars, as … Read more

Final

What We Don't See
Room40 (2024)

Justin K. Broadrick's prolific output keeps giving, and may it never stop! The latest release is one of Broadrick's earliest projects, Final, which started in the power electronics tradition but since its resurrection in the early '90s, it is solidly standing in the ambient realm. Final's new full-length What We Don't See continues on the same trajectory, relishing drone's minimalistic … Read more

Bambies

Snotty Angels
Spaghetty Town Records, Wanda Records (2024)

The digital files I’ve been listening to as I write this review are all tagged to begin with the band name, e.g. “Bambies Teenage Night,” “Bambies Love Bite,” etc. It seems like a fitting metaphor. The Bambies play the kind of Ramones-adjacent garage-punk that’s often self-referential and in on their own joke. The Bambies play leather jacket-clad, straight-forward punky songs … Read more