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Our latest album reviews, featuring the records we've most enjoyed (or not) over the past few weeks.

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Browse our album reviews according to score: Highest (9.5/10 or more) or Lowest (2/10 or less)

Feral King

Self Titled
Last Anthem (2012)

Feral Kings' self-titled EP comes from a couple of guys that know how to do what they're doing and do it pretty damn well, and it is not necessarily anything new. If you're familiar with the band members’ previous efforts what they do on this record should come as little shock. Containing members of Spitfire and The Takeover (among others), the band plays a style of Deadguy-influenced noisecore without any pretense. Within the first few seconds any fan worth their salt will known what they're in for: screeching riffs and vocals coupled with pounding drums. While most of the well known bands currently running this style try extra hard to be artsy and self-obsessed, Feral King would rather not bother. It is all unfiltered rage in which the noise drenches the listener each step of the way to make the anger palpable. This EP lasts about 8 minutes, which is all the band needs to make an impression. If you miss Botch but not the bullshit posturing of newer bands with twice the cuteness and half their skill, you would do well for yourself to seek this out. These are experienced guys putting together something that is comfortably familiar without … Read more

Off With Their Heads

Home
Epitaph (2013)

Maybe it’s because I caught Off With Their Heads live recently and maybe it’s because on Home, their third official … 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 … Read more

Vhol

Self Titled
Profound Lore (2013)

OK let the namedropping begin: Agalloch, Worm Ouroboros, Hammers of Misfortune, Amber Asylum, YOB, and more. That was probably enough … Read more

Paramore

Self Titled
Fueled By Ramen (2013)

It makes sense that this is Paramore’s self-titled album, even though it’s their fourth full-length. Everything you know or have … Read more

Power

Bremerton Zoo
Twelve Gauge (2013)

Old school hardcore punk has really found its feet in the last few years. Bands like Creem, Raw Nerve and … Read more

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One from the archives

Barcelona

Extremo Nihilismo En Barcelona
La Vida Es Un Mus Discos Punk (2015)

Similar to how Sorry State, Vinyl Rites, Lengua Armada, or Katorga Works do here in the US, Hackney, London-based record label La Vida Es Un Mus (subtitled Discos Punk) tend to work with bands that challenge the constraints of traditional hardcore and punk, which in turn sets them apart from the masses. The latest in a long line that includes Anasazi, Escroto De Rata, Hoax, my personal favorite, Glam (with whom Barcelona share members,) and most-recently LA’s Blazing Eye, comes this new 12” 45 rpm EP, Extremo Nihilismo En Barcelona. And yes, the quartet is indeed named after their residence in Barcelona, Spain.All the lyrics are in Spanish, and sung by the former vocalist of Firmeza 10. Her nasally throat oozes malice that is impossible to shake; a true voice … Read more

More album reviews

My Dying Bride

A Map Of All Our Failures
Peaceville (2012)

My Dying Bride is over 20 years old. While most bands that would exist for this amount of time would notably mature in sound and style, it may be hard to convince people of that in regards to MDB. I say this because, stylistically, the band have always trudged through murky, doomy waters. This, in turn, did more to make … Read more

Wolves At Bay

Only A Mirror
Animal Style (2012)

Although Wolves At Bay have recently released a sparkly-fresh record, this review will cover their 2011 full-length debut on Animal Style Records, Only a Mirror. The band seems to have changed names and lineups during the course of their evolution, but here presents as a four-piece post-hardcore outfit, proud to hail from a suburb of New Haven, CT. The paper … Read more

husband&wife

Acoustic Recordings
Crossroads Of America (2013)

The beauty in acoustic albums usually comes from hearing a song you know and love take on a different resonance when it’s stripped back and unpolished. This is definitely the case for the songs on husband&wife’s Acoustic Recordings. All of the songs were recorded in the band members’ homes, which makes the songs sound quite homely and personal, as though … Read more

Aosoth

IV: An Arrow In Heart
Agonia (2013)

Aosoth is another example of how great the current black metal scene in France actually is. With their latest full length, they definitely claim their place next to great bands like Deathspell Omega and Blut Aus Nord. Formed by members of black metal titans Antaeus you get an idea of the quality of the music here.The cold, eerie atmosphere kicks … Read more

Aeon Zen

Enigma
Nightmare (2013)

Aeon Zen is one of the more recent progressive bands to work its way up to massive critical acclaim. Grounded by sole permanent member Rich Hinks and a reputation for unorthodox compositions, the quintet released their third studio album in four years this January, 2013's Enigma.Right off the bat, there's no denying that their reputation is well earned--literally no two … Read more

Worthwhile Way

Love Is All
ADD Records (2013)

Worthwhile Way play positive punk. No bones about it, the title Love Is All isn’t some ironic statement, the band brings an upbeat, happy sound that’s typically devoid from almost any subgenre of music. Mayu’s lead vocals convey a pep that meets the bouncy rhythms of Chege with some powerful ’77-style guitars to bring it all home.For a basic sound, … Read more

Riverside

Shrine of New Generation Slaves
Inside Out (2013)

Riverside is one of those surprise acts, emerging out of Poland to somehow join the ranks of Dream Theater and Porcupine Tree as one of the biggest progressive bands of the 00s. And with critically acclaimed albums like Second Life Syndrome and Rapid Eye Movement under their belt, they've proven time and time again that they can deliver powerful, complex … Read more

Lair of the Minotaur

Godslayer EP
The Grind House (2013)

Lair of the Minotaur is a band that managed to get their sound right and have stick with it since they first formed. With their doom/sludge/thrash hybrid they have managed to release four great albums: Carnage, The Ultimate Destroyer, my personal favorite War Metal Battle Master and their latest full length Evil Power. And now they are back with their … Read more

Cult of Luna

Vertikal
Density (2013)

These heavy bands are increasingly showing off their cultural literacy while still bludgeoning their listeners with a heady mix of loud guitars and cavernous sounding drums, and Cult Of Luna is in some ways one of the main culprits for pushing such intellectually studious music; the band’s return with their sixth studio has been presaged with a building excitement on … Read more

Cult of Luna

Vertikal
Density (2013)

Isis were the undisputed kings of post-metal, reaching levels of perfection with their music literally unheard of before. But even though they've been retired from the scene for a while, it's unclear whether or not there will emerge another band up to their calibre. If I can throw in my oar, I'd nominate Swedish metalheads Cult of Luna for the … Read more

HIM

Tears On Tape
Razor & Tie (2013)

HIM have been kicking about on the rock ‘n’ roll scene for as long as most of their fans have been alive, a terrifying thought in itself, and anything we needed to say about their love metal outlook or their relevance to the world of music in the 21st Century was said when we took a look at XX: Two … Read more

They Might Be Giants

Nanobots
Idlewild Recordings (2013)

When I first heard these guys in the late ‘80s or early ‘90s, there wasn’t really a name for this. Now, I guess it would be called indie pop. The band, led by songwriters John Linnell and John Flansburgh, has long been on the quirky side with a touch of novelty, but it’s their strong sense of melody and that … Read more

D.O.A.

We Come In Peace
Sudden Death (2012)

in·sti·tu·tion noun \?in(t)-st?-?tü-sh?n, something or someone firmly associated with a place or thingThere are few bands around that can be considered any kind of institution for their respective region. D.O.A. However, is such a band. A band synonymous with growing up in Canada. More specifically, growing up in Vancouver.Year after passing year, frontman Joe Keithley could be counted on to … Read more

The Strokes

Comedown Machine
RCA (2013)

The Strokes have paved way since brushing the scene in 2001 with their instant garage pop classic, Is This It. What was an unlikely return a decade later, releasing Angles after a near five-year hiatus, the band evolved electronically. Undoubtedly influenced by frontman Julian Casablancas - following his solo synthpop debut, Phrazes for the Young, during the break - this … Read more

Reviews by score
Browse our album reviews according to score: Highest (9.5/10 or more) or Lowest (2/10 or less)