Hell Within
Shadows of Vanity
Lifeforce (2007)
Taken verbatim from the initial notes of the reviewer: Starts out promisingly enough with Derek Jay beating the snare like he just caught it pooching his wife. Same energy as early Metallica (hey kids! remember them?). Vocalist reminiscent of the Avenged Sevenfold dude. Christ, I hope he looks cooler.) The song being referred to is the opening and title track … Read more
Hella
Bitches Ain't Shit But Good People
Suicide Squeeze (2003)
Hella is less a band that be thought of in terms of "good" and "bad" as they are a band that you either like, or you don't. Their sound is either captivating and enthralling to you, or you think it's just a load of disjointed, self-indulgant noise by two guys who're showcasing their chops. In reality, the truth is actually … Read more
Hella
The Devil Isn't Red
5 Rue Christine (2004)
Good Goddamn, it's about time. The beginning of 2004 shall be riddled with great albums from such artists as the Catheters and Lightning Bolt, but Hella will start us off with a bang. The Devil Isn't Red is Hella's return to the indie two-man group of Hold Your Horse Is that stole me and Zed's collective hearts a year and … Read more
Hella
There's No 666 in Outer Space
Ipecac (2007)
Okay, let's talk about Resident Evil for a minute. If you're at all familiar with the games, you felt a strange feeling of dread mixed with anticipation mixed with hope when you first heard about the plans to totally revamp the classic RE control scheme for the fourth installment of the series. Part of you thought; "If it ain't broke, … Read more
Hella
Total Bugs Bunny On Wild Bass
Narnack (2003)
There are two sides to Hella: the side that plays around with the imagination through the use of conventional instruments and the side that plays around with the imagination through the use of electronics. Although I prefer the former, the latter is pretty good and that's definitely what their new album, Total Bugs Bunny on Wild Bass, is. More specifically, … Read more
Hellhole
Hellhole
Off the Books (2007)
With the release of their first 7", New Jersey's Hellhole demonstrates just what it means to be pissed off and brooding in America today. Channeling the spirit of fellow Jersey natives, Tear It Up, the band shreds through a few tracks of speedy, cathartic hardcore only to knock you flat on your ass with a couple of slower numbers that … Read more
Hellmouth
Gravestone Skylines
Paper + Plastick (2010)
Much can be said on the history of Hellmouth. The band led by former Suicide Machines vocalist Jay Navarro and containing members of various other Michigan hardcore bands. The band have little in common with their past ventures. This is not to say the band are playing whiny emo or upbeat pop punk, if anything this would be the antithesis … Read more
Hellmouth
Oblivion
Fast Break Records (2017)
When I heard my first Hellmouth record—which I’ve since learned was their second release (Gravestone Skylines, 2010)—it was more of a curiosity than something that really grabbed me. Here was Jay Navarro of Suicide Machines in a metal band. His voice definitely fits the style, but the riff-dominant vitriol was such a transition that it threw me off. I enjoyed … Read more
Helmet
Size Matters
Interscope (2004)
Helmet falls into the category of bands that had the unfortunate luck of spawning a group of bands that were nothing more than third-rate rip-offs. This puts them in the company of fellow alternative metal act Faith No More. How unfortunate. I'm sure front man Page Hamilton is spinning in his grave. Or at least he would be, if he … Read more
Helms Alee
Helms Alee
Rome Plow / Broken Press (2008)
So, the news is trickling out that Helms Alee is the new band by Ben Verellen, (Harkonen, Roy, These Arms Are Snakes), which is great news as he makes some ugly (in an awesome way) music, and they are doing a full-length and EP with Hydra Head (where Harkonen released several records). But before those releases actually see the light … Read more
Helms Alee
Lionize/Truly
Hydra Head (2008)
Hot on the heels of their full-length, Night Terror, Helms Alee provide this two song slab of a record to those who might be infected with the weirdly catchy and infectious sounds of their music. This band plays music not completely dissimilar from that of guitarist and vocalist Ben Verellen's previous outfit, Harkonen; only, Helms Alee seems to wield quite … Read more
Helms Alee
Night Terror
Hydra Head (2008)
Following up a surprising teaser EP with a limited release earlier this year, Helms Alee drop their debut full-length on a mostly unsuspecting public; Night Terror is a great point to latch onto this three-piece and enjoy some noisy music that will leave heads spinning or throbbing or whatever head trip that it could impose. The ten tracks that Night … Read more
Helms Alee
Sleepwalking Sailors
Sargent House (2014)
Helms Alee’s Sleepwalking Sailors is a ferocious asteroid of post-hardcore, doom metal, and noise rock. The Seattle-based trio’s third album, released on Sargent House Records, hurls you through a deathly metal ocean, into the Earth’s burning core, and back out again; it’s Michael Bay making rock music.“Pleasure Center” puts the 11-song fireball into motion. Starting with synchronized guitars and drums, it spontaneously … Read more
Helms Alee
Sleepwalking Sailors
Sargent House (2014)
Sleepwalking Sailors is just too good, promptly inserting itself at the top of my list for album of the year (for now, and yes, I keep a running list all year long because I am a weirdo); and Helms Alee continues to impress me with every new release not just in the fact that with a few exceptions, there music is consistently good … Read more
Helms Alee
Weatherhead
Hydra Head (2011)
Apologies are in order, and before we even get into this, let me be perfectly frank; Helms Alee is a great and terribly underrated band that ensnared me the minute that I heard their 4 song EP, and when Weatherhead was announced, I could barely contain my excitement at hearing a second album from this three piece from the land of … Read more
Henryspenncer
Saturn
Bookmaker (2013)
After enjoying the light, acoustic stylings of Seabuckthorn, I started checking out Bookmaker records for some similarly oriented artists. That's how I found myself stumbling upon the French musician Valentin Féron (aka Henryspenncer, hopefully not as a reference to Eraserhead). And while Féron is of course true to Bookmaker's heavily folk-influenced sound, he brings in so much more, all of which is … Read more
Her Breath on Glass / Championship
Split
Reap What You Sew (2007)
As much as people don't want to admit it, independent music is based on trends just the same as mainstream music. Five or six years ago it was all the rage to listen to screamo, and now look where we are now. Despite being eight years removed from the band and now fronting Hot Cross, Billy Werner will probably never … Read more
Her Space Holiday
The Young Machines
Mush (2003)
Let's get this out of the way first, like always. Her Space Holiday is the name of Marc Bianchi's project. He recently left Tigerstyle in favor of Mush to release this, his third full-length. He played in a band that all you "screamo" kids adore, known as Indian Summer. The best way to describe him would be The Postal Service … Read more
