Feature / Music
Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2011)

Where has the time gone? We're already halfway through 2011, and we've already experienced the Rapture (not the New York hipster band, but the apocalyptic religious end-of-days), the controversy of Beyoncé headlining Glastonbury festival, and the death of Osama bin Laden. It's been a climactic year. Luckily, the next impending disaster is still another half a year away, so you'll probably live to see our thoughts on 2011 as a whole too.

Read on for our thoughts on the year so far in terms of albums, EPs, movies, cassettes, splits, and more!

Ghostface Killah-Apollo Kids

Dropping in right at the end of the year (released on 12/21), Ghost returns with an album of bangers not heard since 2006's Fishscale—gritty, graphic, passionate, and, well, real. Guest spots from a bevy of storytellers, including Busta Rhymes, The Game, Redman, and fellow Wu members and affiliates, matched with soul and funk-sampling production from the likes of Jake One, Yakub, Pete Rock and others make for an undeniably true hip-hop album. Standout tracks are “In the Park”—a back-in-the-day jam that features the Roots’ Black Thought spitting rhymes harder than you’d think he’s capable of—and “How You Like Me Baby”—which has one of the best Ghost choruses since Fishscale’s “Be Easy.”

Kylesa-Spiral Shadow

Another late year release (10/25); Spiral Shadow shows Kylesa picking up where they left off on Static Tensions—continuing to shed the crust-tinged edges of their past; delving further into progressive and psychedelic areas. This is the third and cleanest-sounding Kylesa record that has been produced in-house by guitarist Phillip Cope. While an emphasis on flawless production often times produces disappointing results in the world of sludge and doom, it’s a totally natural progression for Kylesa. And if you have any doubts as to whether they can still bring the lumber, one listen to this record will prove otherwise. Aside from including Kylesa’s most palatable song to date— “Don’t Look Back”—Spiral Shadow is quite the thunderous project; thanks in large part to the dual drum attack of Carl McGinley and Tyler Newberry.
 

Men’s Interest-More War

Shaun Dean, of Cold Sweat and Repercussions fame, returns fronting a new band—the menacing Men’s Interest. More War is somewhat mysterious, as there are no song titles—just numbers, and very little information other than the name of the band and the title of the record. Dean’s vocals are more penetrating and maniacal than ever before—imagine GG Allin and H.R. tongue-kissing each other, with melted cheese stuck in their throats. If that description makes you feel queasy you might want to take an antacid before listening to the record because it doesn’t get any less forbidding. More War is seven songs of raw, noisy hardcore that will leave you feeling sketched out yet yearning for more—the vinyl equivalent of methamphetamine.

OFF!-First Four EPs

A hardcore punk rock supergroup of sorts, OFF! Features members of Red Kross, Burning Brides and Rocket From The Crypt, fronted by former Black Flag/Circle Jerks front man and current punk historian/know-it-all, Keith Morris. With no song clocking over the minute and a half mark, Morris has never sounded more urgent, and dare I say, youthful. The production of these songs strikes a perfect balance between old and new—the guitars are clean and loud, but Morris’ vocals are allowed to crack and pop the microphone in a way that recalls the raw energy of early Black Flag. First Four EPs is just that—a collection of four different EPs. They come nicely packaged, complete with artwork courtesy of Raymond Pettibone, who is responsible for creating much of the iconic imagery of the era of hardcore that the members of OFF! first cut their chops in.

Unperson-Demo

Out of Boston, MA comes yet another bad-ass hardcore band. Short, fast, loud, heavy, raw, noisy, ripping, raging, yada-yada, you know the drill—there are only so many ways to describe this stuff; all of them fitting for this six-song demo by Unperson. Their tunes are quick, fevering jaunts, done in less than a minute, with vocals that are more shouty than they are screamy. Think female-fronted Capitalist Casualties or Dropdead. If you look up “hardcore demo tape” in the encyclopedia, you’d find this. By the time you read this Unperson may have disbanded. But fret not; Krystina and another member are in a band called Curmudgeon, which is in the same vein, and have already released a demo.

(Words: Nathan)

Handmade Birds

This record label spearheaded by R. Loren (of the Hydra Head Pyramids, Sailors With Wax Wings, White Moth) has been consistently churning out great records at an unbelievable pace; kicking the whole operation off was the mind blowing vinyl appearance of Blut Aus Nord’s MORT and Evan Caminiti’s (from Barn Owl) When California Falls Into The Sea through Celestiial’s Desolate North (which has dominated my stereo for some time since I received the album) and the massive 3x10” collection of the Key demos to the vinyl issue of the elusive King Of Sweet from His Name Is Alive to the most recent batch of releases (Servile Sect’s TRVTH, the Der Blutharsch double LP collection, and the cassettes from Swamp Horse and Hostage Pageant). Every release looks great and sounds beautiful and the upcoming release schedule is sure to continue to empty my pockets on a regular basis. Not a single release has even been mediocre or average as every single artist involved seems to be excellent, speaking highly of R. Loren’s diverse and excellent taste in music.

Mamiffer & House Of Low Culture

Now, this might be two different obsessions to some, but the incestuous memberships and releases of these two projects justifies (in my mind anyway) doing this in such a manner. Starting off with the vinyl version of their split on Utech last year via their own Sige Records, Mamiffer and House Of Low Culture have assaulted their fanatics with small releases and great releases along the way. Lou Lou… In Tokyo (both on CD/DVD from Japan and a 2xLP), the magnificent Mare Descendrii, the two split tour cassettes and more releases on the way including the new House Of Low Culture album, Poisoned Soil and the new Mamiffer album, Lilac, and probably even more. Between the two of them, they are making me poor, but the music output is truly top notch.

Music Ruins Lives

Music Ruins Lives (or MRL for short) is another label that has easily been burning up my cash flow by consistently releasing excellent records this year (and late last year); to the point where the label, which hand numbers every release) has cooperated and taken pity on my obsession by ensuring that I receive all of the number 33 copy from every tape, record, CD, etc that they deem to release (with the exception of releases with less than 33 copies, in which case I get #3). The onslaught started late last year and has continued from the late December releases of the Airs Rainclouds Over The Remains Of Hope and Greys In Fades through Untitled from mighty Planning For Burial and Arrow and Orb from Bad Braids and Monthhunting from Tom Vourtsis to the great Sequences / Isolated Existence release ( Graminaea / Poaceae), the amazing Sunyata Rising / Limbs In Gloom from Life In The Dark to the most recent release, (-) from Vit. All releases are excellent and worth tracking down. Thank god that the two miscreants that run this are hopeless collector nerds like myself.

Locrian

Locrian is another group that has had me running trying to track down their myriad of previous releases while their new output can be almost as challenging. Go to Discogs.com to see just how many releases this former duo now trio have produced during their existence. So far this year, the new records have been excellent with the vinyl release of The Crystal World as well as a split 7” with Horseback and a collaborative one sided LP, New Dominions, that is also with Horseback. Though I do not know all of the details of their upcoming projects, I do know at least one surprise up their sleeve that I seriously cannot wait to hear and just maybe another LP will be on the way as well.

Sutekh Hexen

Now, Sutekh Hexen is probably my latest obsession, chronologically speaking of course. With three cassettes to their name (Alters, Constellation, and Ritualistic respectively) and a 7” EP, Ordo Adversarial, this duo is starting to light a fire in some circles. Their awesome blackened noise is force to be reckoned with already and with at least three 12”s (EPs and LPs maybe), two 7”s, and a 3x7” boxset coming soon, they certainly will have plenty to hear in the not so distant future. I love putting their music on full blast and just getting lost in it all.

(Words: Bob)

5) Priest

Ugh. Forget the not-so-subtle religious messages, the boring fight scenes and the extremely heavy-handed sequel hook, this movie was most disappointing because it insisted on making its monsters vampires. I don't care how you repackage them, we're done with vampires for at least the next decade. This movie would've been at least seventeen times more enjoyable if the audience didn't have to sit and mentally reconcile this with Twilight. In addition, the movie was short as hell. Eighty-seven minutes? I wasn't done with my popcorn before it was over.

4) Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Okay, I suppose we should've been ready for this one. Michael Bay at the helm is already a recipe for disaster, let alone the fact that it's a sequel. But did we really need the thinly veiled references to Chernobyl, or the Challenger explosion, or even 9/11? There's a difference between edgy and flat-out disrespectful. Come to think of it, did we need another Transformers movie at all?

3) Thor

This movie would have been so awesome if it weren't for the fact that it had so much going on. Trying to fit a dozen characters into a movie less than two hours long and trying to make the audience care about what happens to them will not work. In fact, this movie would have been much better if it had stuck with either the "new guy tries to acclimate to Earth" plot or the "Thor's got some brother issues" plot rather than trying to cram them both into the same space. With so much going on, the entire movie wound up flat.

2) Atlas Shrugged

Whether or not you like her philosophy, Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged was actually a pretty damn amazing book. While it's inevitable that the movie would have to be a multi-parter, it's disappointing that there was so little depth to the first installment. No one really wants to pay tickets to see a few hours of exposition for two future movies. I don't know if this was an avoidable problem or not, but it certainly made the movie pale in comparison to expectations.

1) Sucker Punch

How do you screw up a movie with huge fight scenes and half-naked women? I don't know, but somehow Zack Snyder managed to do it. This movie was about as interesting and/or appealing as a loaf of stale bread. The soundtrack and aesthetics were both good, but the movie itself was horribly written and directed. Seriously, if you're boring your audience while a chick in a school girl out fit is fighting dragons and steampunk Nazis, then you're doing something terribly, terribly wrong.

(Words: Matthew S)

Locrian & Horseback- New Dominions (Utech)

One of the more fitting pairings in recent memory, Locrian and Horseback join forces to create this single sided LP of two new pieces of music that bring together the best elements of two of the more challenging outfits in their spheres of influence. New Dominions is all bleak atmosphere and creepy moods as both tracks are full of tension with little release.

Sequences & Isolated Existence- Graminaea / Poaceae (Music Ruins Lives)

Graminaea / Poaceae is one of those releases that I love but have an extremely difficult time explaining just what draws me to the release over and over again other than that I find all three pieces rather soothing in a creepy sort of way. The concept of the “record” is great as well with a track each from Sequences and Isolated Existence and then an equally impressive collaborative effort that just takes the whole effort up several notches in my book.

Livimorket & Sequences- Voidness (Sunyata)

A massive and ambitious collaborative effort conjured by two young but increasingly prolific artists with almost an hour of ambience and stark atmospheres that emanates an ominous malaise that could quite possibly induce anxiety and panic attacks given the right circumstances. Voidness is a challenging black mass whose name is wholly appropriate in both sonic results and the possible visual images that form in your mind while this is playing, and while it may not physically pull you into oblivion, this collaboration may simulate it better than most other objects and cause some passing moments of catatonia.

Mamiffer / House Of Low Culture & Merzbow- Lou Lou… In Tokyo (Sige)

Now this may be a live record, but this live album puts to shame many studio records from other artists. Lou Lou… In Tokyo is both a split and a collaboration with Mamiffer offering 4 songs, including one new one, that really shows how the outfit can be a different animal altogether in the live setting while House Of Low Culture joins forces with Merzbow for their one track offering before all three outfits collaborate with Atsuo from Boris on the “Lou Lou”. Intense, gripping, and pretty, Lou Lou… In Tokyo is what live albums should be as well as a great of example of artists collaborating with each other to create something new.

Great Falls & Kenji Siratori (Dead Accents)

While I was expecting this collaboration between Great Falls and Kenji Siratori to be more along the lines of the Great Falls material on the split with Pastor Tonal from last year (the same mechanistic, churning, noisy guitar driven dirges that the band excels at producing just with Ryan from Trap Them on vocals), this release took me completely by surprise with the squealing noise oscillations and slower tempos that are heard on the 5 tracks on this cassette. It is nice to see a group branch out and try something new, but Great Falls outdo themselves with this collaboration. It really makes me curious to see where they take their sound next, and even if they do not pursue this sound again, this document exists for those that find it… good, good stuff.

(Words: Bob)

Jon E

Withdrawal - Faith Flesh & Blood

Withdrawal have become fairly well known for being a strong if not sometimes forgotten member of the hardcore metal underground. This may be due to member changes, length of time between releases or generally not giving a shit. Regardless the band has released what could be their finest effort yet. The record plays upon what they are known for. That being strong riffs, artistic lyrics and and strong sense of musicianship. All of these add up in this recording as the band spreads their wings and comes up with something far beyond their roots without forgetting them. The band play with themes and atmosphere in ways one could have only imagined a few short years ago.

Contrepoison - ..until next morning

This project as made by a member of long running Black Metal band Akitsa shares little in common with each other. Where Akitsa focuses on the same feelings it plays them out in a more harsh atmosphere Contrepoison play with a more depressed style. Utilizing synths and little else. Pierre-Marc Tremblay focuses on the feeling and draws out Akitsa's influences that laid under the surface. The listener gets to take a look inside Tramblay's personal despair and pain without having their ears bleeding afterward.

Caulfield - Self Titled

While i can't say for certain whether this is intended as an LP or EP Caulfield has released something pretty wonderful regardless. The band deal in dynamics and atmosphere similar to modern day Neurosis. The record plays something conceptual without ever being clear as to what that concept is. The trembling atmospheric tracks draw the listener in while each complete song alternately tears heads off and calms the listener. There is something to be said for a younger band that can create something so complete pretty much out of the box.

Ides Of Gemini - The Disruption Writ

This project is the vision of two people. Sera Timms of Black Math Horseman and J. Bennet who is best known as a writer for Decibel Magazine. The two create a thing of beauty on this EP. The band wield equal parts shoe gaze and post metal while adding in pieces of black metal into their songs. What one hears in all of this is something of a fever dream. The beauty shines through but shares time with the noise of their metal influences. Altogether this makes for a strong and well thought out piece of music with the power to incite true feelings in the listener.

Parasite - Metal Punk Massacre

This criminally relatively unknown japanese band has done more in the last 6 months than most bands tend to do in a calendar year. This being the first of a couple releases for them this year (including the great split with Vermapyre). This 10 inch record contains some of the best d-beat thrash metal one could hope for. By continuing what they have done right on prior records they manage to make a strong case for the rest of the world discovering them. Building a sound that contains the best of disfear, amebix, iron maiden and classic thrash this japanese powerhouse comes up with a true winner.

Bob

Planning For Burial- Untitled (Music Ruins Lives)

The two new tracks (and an extended version of “Leaving” from the album Leaving that is only available on the long sold out physical release of this EP) are exercises in wonderfully beautiful, noisy and slow pop that might get you weeping like a baby or simply mesmerized by the incredible sounds from Untitled. If you have yet to hear Planning For Burial, jump on here and be emotionally crushed in the best possible way.

Sutekh Hexen- Ordo Adversarial (Wands)

Two pieces of sound that are shards of harrowing and blackened noise assaulting your psyche and ear drums, this 7” is a perfect example of how something can be completely terrifying to listen to or strangely hypnotic and inviting at the same time. Listening to this makes you feel like you could be swallowed by some blackened maw intent on absorbing your fragile psyche into some blackened oblivion. This is the first offering on a slab of vinyl from Sutekh Hexen, and although it is short, Ordo Adversarial packs a wallop in the sheer despair of its sound.

Black God- Black God (No Idea)

Pure punk rock power that seethes and froths in the all of the ways that these grizzled old timers could be expected to do so. With only 6 tracks and not a single one being over 2 minutes long, this 7” is over in almost the blink of an eye. It took a bunch of listens to hear just how great this EP is and how good the songs are (don’t believe me? Check out “This Life” and tell me I am wrong).

Masakari- Sleep / Rot (self released)

Two songs of blistering (including a great Obituary cover that comes across sounding like mid 90’s hardcore at times), desperate and dirty sounding hardcore that remind you why their album, The Prophet Feeds was so good in the first place; short, to the point songs that use brute force to make you get off your fat lazy ass and do something (something destructive even like breaking your furniture while being careful not to let this 7” skip or be scratched by the needle). One more notch in the belt from a band that certainly is making some noise with their powerful songwriting and heavy diatribes.

Gods & Queens- Untitled III EP2 (Sons of Vesta)

Here are three new untitled tracks (and another cover) of the noisy riffing and pounding rhythms that Gods & Queens are becoming known for creating. Whether or not the aim of the band is to literally damage your ears is up for debate (though, being acquainted with Jamie, it might be the closest thing to the truth that you are likely to hear), this record actually betrays their ability to come up with a good melody and bury it amongst the thick, swirling feedback and white noise.

(Words: Bob

Life In The Dark- Hushed Bloom (Sunyata)

This is a cassette of two sides. One, dream inducing in a pleasant and almost beautiful manner; the other side is more nightmarish and disturbing without getting loud or over the top directly frightening (it is a subtle nightmare). A completely logical step for Life In The Dark falling the Sunyata Rising / Limbs In Gloom release that further solidifies the growing niche that this project is starting to build and fill with moody pieces of sonic manipulation. Hushed Bloom is further evidence of the approaching essential listening quality from Life In The Dark; get lost in the dreamy sounds.

Cremation Lily- Untitled (Strange Rules)

Bar none, I have never heard a more wondrous take on the violence of Power Electronics than the Untitled debut from Cremation Lily. Shards of noise, pounding industrial sounds, screeching, et al lay one of the most droning and hypnotically infectious just under ten minutes that you may ever hear. If I were you, I would kill to hear this.

Everlovely Lightningheart (Dead Accents)

There are not many outfits that leave off their legacy with a release that contains both their first performance and their last performance, but Everlovely Lightningheart does just that with this cassette. Hearing the whole where they started to where they ended (plus two other tracks) makes for an intriguing document; throw in the handmade packaging, and you will probably be hard pressed to find a more striking overall release than this one from Dead Accents.

Chapels- Call It Killing You Off (Imminent Frequencies)

Possibly, all of this noise is making me insane because Call It Killing You Off is one hell of a creeped out listening experience that I would not recommend listening to in the dark if you are faint of heart. Chapels makes some tense atmospheric pieces on both sides of this tape that make a wholly engrossing just about a half hour.

Ash Borer – Discography (Land of Decay)

When you see a double cassette from any group or project, it looks massive (almost like a brick that you would throw through some jerk’s window); Ash Borer’s Discography (so far) double cassette was intense looking right from the start, and listening to the whole thing took me quite a bit as just doing so seemed a rather daunting prospect. When I finally put this in my tape deck and pressed play, the soul crushing songs that tumbled through the speakers only further cemented the previous daunting first impression that I had upon seeing the release the first time. Well-constructed and long songs that bring to mind a weird melodic black metal influenced mélange of heaviness are what you can expect to hear on this release. Now, Ash Borer seems to get lumped into that whole “Cascadian atmospheric Black Metal”, and while that might not be completely inaccurate, these guys seem more raw and crushing and less overwrought to me than other outfits that get lumped in that group. If you can get this, it is well worth it.

(Words: Bob)

1. Circle Takes the Square – Decompositions Vol. 1

I--and I’m sure many others--have been waiting years for a new Circle Takes the Square album. Some thought it would never happen, but they’re almost finished in the studio, and I couldn’t be more pumped. As the Roots Undo continues to be one of my all time favorite albums and my expectations are high for their follow-up.

2. fun. – Sophomore Album

Fun.’s first album, Aim + Ignite, was my album of the year in 2009. I have no doubt that their upcoming album will manage to slide into my top 5 for the end of 2011 as well. I was pretty stoked with the two newest ones I saw them perform in April and can’t wait to hear more.

3. Hot Water Music – 2-song 7”

I never thought I would be this excited for just 2 songs. Fortunately, the wait won’t be much longer. Their last album, The New What Next may not have been my favorite release of theirs, but I’m very interested to see what they’ve come up with after these past 7 years. Hopefully those songs can hold me over until next year, when they release a new full length.

4. Wild Flag – Wild Flag

I may not be the biggest Sleater-Kinney fan, but when I heard Brownstein and Weiss had formed a new band, it was a no brainer that they’d be good. I’ve been pretty satisfied with the few songs they’ve released so far. It's only a matter of a few months before they floor me with their debut full length.

5. Blaqk Audio – Bright Black Heaven

Ok, so I’m not exactly anticipating this album the same way I’m anticipating the others. Not that I’m not interested. I loved the dancier tracks on Cex Cells, and I look forward to dancing around to some of the tracks on this album. Ultimately though, I’m a huge AFI fan that wants everyone in the band to be finished with their side-projects already so they can get back to writing another AFI record.

(Words: Aaron)

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.