Search results

Reviews by Michael

588 total search results — Page 7 of 30

Set to Explode – Set to Explode

Review — February 12, 2006

Sometimes the Internet can be a glorious thing, and we can all thank Al Gore for that... It is because of the glorious invention that I first became aware of this DC group that featured former Striking Distance frontman Dave Byrd, among other past and present players I the D.C. …

Queens of the Stone Age – Over the Years and Through the Woods

Review — February 16, 2006

Live albums aren't worth purchasing 99% of the time due to two reasons: 1) the band doesn't deserve it; 2) the recording quality is atrocious. Over the Years and Through the Woods defies both of those with ease. Josh Homme and his current cast of Queens of the Stone Age, …

Shook Ones – Slaughter of the Insole

Review — February 18, 2006

In 2005, Shook Ones quietly released their debut LP Sixteen on Endwell Records. Okay, so maybe quite a few people noticed, but I'm just trying to cover my ass for not reviewing it when I damn well should have. As a result of that stellar release this Washington state group …

All Hell Breaks Loose – All Hell Breaks Loose

Review — February 25, 2006

South Florida must be a breeding ground for hardcore bands. It seems every three months I'm hearing about another band featuring members of past bands I enjoyed. This usually means that I'll be stoked as hell or extremely disappointed with what I hear. All Hell Breaks Loose, the latest culprit, …

Armor for Sleep – What to do When You are Dead

Review — February 25, 2006

Armor for Sleep is a band that for me failed to live up to the potential they were capable of on their debut album, Dreams to Make Believe. They had recorded a great demo, but when the record came out those re-recorded songs were the only shining moments. A few …

Dälek – Absence

Review — February 25, 2006

There's rap and there's hip hop, or at least that's how things used to be. Now there's Dälek and there's everything else. Dre, Outkast, and Lil' Jon aren't worthy enough to share a mixed tape with this trio. Collectively known as Dälek, Dälek, Oktopus, and Still work together to create …

Gratitude – Gratitude

Review — February 25, 2006

Those among the cult fanbase of former Far frontman Jonah Sonz Matranga were likely shocked when they heard that his latest project, Gratitude, would be signing with a major label. Matranga is well known for the personal relationships he has developed with his fans through intimate recordings and performances. Signing …

Kasabian – Kasabian

Review — February 25, 2006

There was a slight revival in retro rock-n-roll a few years ago with the breakout albums from The Strokes and The White Stripes. But in the last year, we have seen a different take on this revival trend come to light. But rather than being limited to simply rock-n-roll, this …

Mouth of the Architect – Time and Withering

Review — February 25, 2006

It is quite likely that Mouth of the Architect has been flying under your radar for quite some time. This is unfortunate, for both them and you. The Dayton, OH outfit's debut offering is four songs tracking in at an impressive forty-three minutes, with three of them clocking in past …

Neglect – The Complete Don Fury Sessions

Review — February 25, 2006

Neglect are one of those bands that I always heard about, but never really took the time to listen to. Musically, they are on par with the mid-ninties hardcore bands that leaned towards the metal approach as opposed to those that were punk oriented. The lyrics of are very disturbed, …

Norma Jean – O' God, the Aftermath

Review — February 25, 2006

Norma Jean went through a googolplex of vocalists between their last album and O' God, the Aftermath. After choosing one, the band took to the studio with Matt Bayles. Apparently they picked him because they love Botch. Funny, I remember this band being nu-metal with a DJ. The album opens …

Rubikon – The Hollow Men

Review — February 25, 2006

Mainstream music is constantly changing. Congruently evolving with it are the numerous bands attempting to make it big by cashing in on whatever sound is currently popular. Assuming it is Rubikon's intention to make it big, they might need a little help from a time-machine to accomplish that task. Rather …

Stop This Fall – Scream Till You're Free

Review — February 25, 2006

Stop this Fall performs a unique mix of melodic hardcore and punk. The closest contemporaries that come to mind are The Suicide File and With Honor, but even those are somewhat of a stretch. The songs are structured like the rock/hardcore hybrids that have become increasingly popular recently, but Stop …

Ceremony – Ruined

Review — February 27, 2006

Ceremony is hateful and unrelenting hardcore/punk from California. Why people from California are so angry is beyond me, but since it results in hardcore as stellar as this, I'll let it slide. Ceremony formed from several mid-level (in notoriety) hardcore bands in the Bay Area a couple years back, and …

Rise and Fall – Into Oblivion

Review — March 2, 2006

On last year's Hellmouth Rise and Fall showed obvious signs of influence from metallic hardcore acts Integrity, Leeway, and Ringworm. With their new full-length, the Belgian punkmetal outfit have taken that sound and built on it by incorporating more rock and metal aspects to their sound, resulting in a sound …

Ultra Dolphins – Why Are You Laugh

Review — March 5, 2006

Prior to receiving this album, I was only aware of Ultra Dolphins by name. I'd seen their name plastered on various websites and heard a few mentions from friends of mine. But outside of that, I was clueless to what they were about. Perhaps you are in the same situation …

Various Artists – We Reach: The Music of The Melvins

Review — March 12, 2006

A tribute to The Melvins, in theory, is a great idea. Hell, all tribute records in theory are great ideas. They pay homage to talented bands that have been around for years and influenced countless artists. It's only fitting that they be showered with the respect that they deserve, right? …

Iron Age – Constant Struggle

Review — March 14, 2006

Despite what everyone else is saying, I can't call Iron Age a hardcore band. I know they're on a hardcore label and have members that were in fairly big hardcore bands. But they're just not hardcore music. Their music is way to metal to be lumped in with hardcore. From …

If Hope Dies – Life in Ruin

Review — March 20, 2006

Auburn is a tranquil town in upstate New York sitting about fifteen minutes outside of the city of Syracuse. You may not be a geography major, but this is relevant. Why, you ask? Because Auburn is the same town that spawned metal masters Manowar and Syracuse is the city that …

Ambitions – No Limits

Review — March 24, 2006

Demos can be funny sometimes. They are called a demo for a reason; it's by no means a finished product. And yet many times these demos end up becoming just that. Ambitions will see No Limits mass-produced in both 7" and CD format in the near future, but with good …