Loren
High Tension Wires – Welcome New Machine
As a fan of Marked Men and Riverboat Gamblers already, how did I not know this band? Sharing members with both, they manage to combine the driving rock of Riverboat Gamblers while maintaining Marked Men’s melodies.
Dan Padilla – As the Ox Plows
It took a long time to come out on vinyl, but this quick playing record is definitely worth the wait. Early Lookout-influenced socio-punk with gruff singalongs. A perfect soundtrack to sweating out your Pabst.
Dwarves – Born Again
This doesn’t re-invent anything they’ve done before, but it’s consistent, fun, and crisp punk rock that manages to catch you off guard and mildly offend like it’s still the late 80s.
Sims – Bad Time Zoo
There’s a hiphop scene in Minneapolis, beyond RhymeSayers, led by the Doomtree crew. Sims patiently waited five years to release a follow-up to his debut while the rest of his collective put out records. Now it’s his turn to take aggressive, accessible beats and drop his working man, lefty narrative.
Underground Railroad to Candyland – Knows Your Sins
Goofy, surf-inspired stoner punk. Todd Congelliere’s off-kilter sense of humor and semi-abstract lyricism takes the San Pedro band’s sound even further down the absurd road than its predecessor.
Cheryl
Altar Of Plagues - Mammal
Black metal doesn't come much more atmospheric than this. Utilising field recordings and terrifying samples, Altar Of Plagues are certainly an intriguing band. Mammal is testament to the power of death as inspiration.
40 Watt Sun - The Inside Room
Down tempo riffs and the most heartfelt lyrics you'll hear this year push The Inside Room into it's rightful place as one of the most stunning albums to be released in 2011. It's doom, but not as you know it.
Lake Of Blood - As Time And Tide Erodes Stone
Absolutely crushing and only two tracks long, As Time And Tide Erodes Stone is a prime example of a band completely immersed in their sound. Intense and powerful, yet haunting and thought provoking; Lake Of Blood have produced a stellar full length debut.
Seidr - For Winter Fire
Ritual doom drawing on Norse mythology and an intense passion for nature. Formed between members of Panopticon and Wheels Within Wheels, Seidr take you on a sonic journey you'll never forget.
Woods Of Desolation - Torn Beyond Reason
Woods of Desolation combine incredibly beautiful vocals and drum work, with the harshest screams and riffs you can cope with. Borne from Australian black metal legends Austere, this band can take you from breathless wonder to downright sorrow.
Nathan
Beastie Boys-Hot Sauce Committee Part Two
Old-School hip-hop…scratch that, rap music resurfacing at a time when contemporary hip-hop is in dire need of actual rappers. Complete with all the obscure cultural references (Kenny Rogers Roasters, André Leon Telly, Jerome Crooks, Splenda, etc.) and witty humor you’ve come to expect from the Beasties. Sample Adrock lyric—“The proof is in the pudding/And the pudding is in my pants/You’ve heard me rap/Now watch me dance.”
Mauser-End Of The Line
Out of Gainsville, FL comes a band of punks whom seem hellbent on injecting a much needed shot of adrenaline into D-beat. This 7”—a superbly executed raw and noisy affair—affirms there is still plenty of originality left in the genre. That being said; those who fell in love with the self-titled EP by Japan’s Mörpheme would be equally as enamored with this record.
Sims-Bad Time Zoo
More than a half-decade since the release of his debut album, the veteran Minneapolis MC returns with venomous tongue-lashings directed at both the over-caffeinated, plugged-in, self-serving masses and the man in the mirror—all laid upon some of the most innovative and hard-hitting beats this side of the Mississippi, courtesy of fellow Doomtree member, Lazerbeak.
Cülo-Toxic Vision
Five songs of angry hardcore punk rock, brought by four white dudes from the suburbs, whose band name means “butthole” in Spanish. Seriously, what’s not to love?
Random Axe-Random Axe
A project several years in the making Random Axe finally surfaces to much deserved fanfare. Random Axe is an all-star trio consisting of Guilty Simpson, Sean Price and Black Milk—three men who have earned their stripes in the fiercely independent hip-hop underworld. On their self-titled debut Simpson and Price lay down verses of gritty street life on top of Milk’s electrified boom-bap—resulting in a product worthy of the anticipatory timline.
Jon E.
Altar Of Plagues - Mammal
This Irish band made their name a couple years ago with an adept rethinking of what atmospheric black metal should sound like. This year they built upon the tragedies and despair of the last year to make something bigger than ever. The emotional heft of the songs is carried through alternating the shimmering post rock that existed in their work prior and destructive black metal nods. Never resting on their laurels but not forgetting their past Altar Of Plagues has built something both forceful and beautiful with this record.
Rot In Hell - As Pearls Before Swine
The long gestating debut full length from this British holy terror crew comes through the gate strong. Without wasting a single second the band blazes through this record. For every brutish and heavy song resembling a beast let forth from hell itself there is a atmospheric counterpoint. The band never forgets the fact that this is a full length so each song fits side by side with the next carrying a strong thematic quality.
Fucked Up - David Comes To Life
To play the are they or aren't they discussion about this band anymore is a losing battle. They are their own band. Going above and beyond past albums and ideas they craft a rock opera of sorts. The thematic heft of this record is both notable and beautiful in it's execution. The band tell a story with forgetting to write bracing songs to go along with it. What the listener receives in return for their patience is a well written and intriguing record that capitalizes on the band's past endeavors and leaves them in the dust at the same time.
Pulling Teeth - Funerary
Pulling Teeth has long been known to have a leaning towards thrash metal and somewhat experimental leanings. On this album they deliver upon each promise noted on prior records. The album flows bracing the thrash heavy front half with an emotional and experimental back end. Each side helps the other pull with much more force. The album itself is a long playing meditation on death and life. The listener can feel the hopelessness, rage and despair throughout. It is rumored that this may be the band's last record, if that is the case they have truly made the most of their wave goodbye.
Cold Cave -Cherish The Light Years
This band has gone through alot in making this record going from underground darlings to pitchfork band of the moment. As a result, it seems, the band has strengthened it's resolve to stay the course. That is not to say that they don't spread their wings slightly but they remain firm in the knowledge of what they do musically. This is a record of beautifully dire synth based songs recalling the finer depressive moments of New Order.
Aaron
Bright Eyes - The People's Key
Call me a fanboy, but I absolutely love this album. It has taken the number one spot midway through the year and I wouldn't be surprised if it sticks around until the end. The catchy melodies are sure to be playing from my speakers all Summer while the intriguing concept swims around in my head.
Thursday – No Devolucion
Ahh, Thursday! This band has been building and getting better with each release. No Devolucion is such a remarkable album that marks a new level of maturity in their songwriting. I’m proud to be a fan of this band, and I can’t wait to see where they go from here.
The Pauses - A Cautionary Tale
This rollercoaster of an album still holds my attention. It’s stacked with perfect production, beautiful vocals, and a number of song styles. This band has so much potential, and they are by far my favorite find of the year so far.
Dave Hause – Resolutions
It’s no secret that The Loved Ones are one of the best punk rock acts around these days. Therefore, it was no surprise that Dave Hause would release a great album. His full length solo debut gave us something with a more intimate feel, while still retaining that rock element with a bit of an Americana twist.
Nick 13 – Nick 13
It was nice to hear Nick 13 do something a little different from what I was expecting with his solo debut. He took the country influence in his songwriting for Tiger Army and took it to the next level. The final result was a pure classic-country album that touches on many of the genre’s branches.
Bob
1. Mamiffer- Mare Descendrii (Sige Records)
Without a doubt, Mare Descendrii has been my favorite and most listened to new release of this year so far. Every bit as powerful and moving as the first time that I listened to the album, Mamiffer continues to deliver here and rewards repeated listens with a depth of breadth of sound that few other records have come near so far this year. If you have not heard this yet, you are most definitely missing out on a great record.
2. Life In The Dark- The Sunya Is Rising / Limbs In Gloom (Music Ruins Lives)
Another set of music that I continually find myself returning to over and over again from what has quickly become my favorite musical discovery of this year. Somehow, The Sunya Is Rising / Limbs In Gloom is not just laden with swirling atmosphere interweaved with an emotional depth that can (and will, unless you are a cold hearted bastard) illicit emotional responses, but this album is so infuriatingly catchy that you can lose hours at a time to it all on incessant repeat; Life In The Dark offer a body of music that is incredibly easy to get lost into no matter what you are doing.
3. Earth- Angels Of Darkness Demons Of Light I (Southern Lord)
This was one of my most anticipated records for this year, and, for my part, Dylan Carlson and company delivered on the promise of Angels Of Darkness Demons Of Light I with further expansion of the renaissance Earth sound into new sonic territory. If “Old Black” was all that I got to hear from this album, then I would be happy, but the rest of the record further cements this stage of Carlson’s muse as more than mere dabbling with a sound. A truly excellent and lasting piece of music for us to enjoy…
4. Integrity- Detonate VVorld’s Plague (Holy Terror)
Another vicious and uncompromising record from Integrity; their recent rebirth (within the last two or so years) has been rather prolific, leaving a trail of damaged ears, internet mudslinging, and blown minds in their wake. Detonate VVorld’s Plague shows a more raw take on the apocalyptic visions and musings that the band is known for in the hardcore and punk world. Holy Terror indeed…
5. Jesu- Ascension (Calo Verde)
Jesu’s latest album was another record on my most anticipated list for this year and Ascension certainly has its moments that envelope listeners in that warm and gloomy embrace. Has depression ever sounded so good? Maybe, but you would be hard pressed to prove it.
