Recent reviews

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)

Neurosis

Honor Found In Decay
Neurot Recordings (2012)

The rain is beating on my windows while the wind is whipping the trees into a whirling frenzy as people are declaring a weather apocalypse on the television, but “My Heart For Deliverance” slowly begins its ascent on my speakers before Neurosis just steps down on the song full on, blaring guitars and pounding drums throwing down the gauntlet to other upstarts and pretenders; Honor Found In Decay is proving to be an appropriate soundtrack to my latest hurricane experience as this virtual institution of heavy music puts forth another example of why they are held in such high esteem amongst the heavy music community. In my estimation “My Heart For Deliverance” is the “centerpiece” of this tenth album from Neurosis as it seethes and broods in the best ways possible (as well as an impressive command of dynamics and emotion) and serves as not just a highlight from Honor Found In Decay but from their long and notable existence, but that is not to say that the album does not have other songs of note because “We All Rage In Gold” (more great dynamic command as well as some awesome use of subtle noise that the band is so … Read more

Multiple Authors

Neurosis

Honor Found In Decay
Neurot Recordings (2012)

Honor Found in Decay has been a long, long time coming. Having not released a full length since 2007 and … Read more

Skyzoo

A Dream Deferred
Duck Down (2012)

After a few years of releasing mixtapes and collaborative projects, Brooklyn emcee Skyzoo returns with his second official solo effort, … Read more

NOFX

Self Entitled
Fat Wreck Chords (2012)

NOFX haven’t mixed it up a whole lot over the years. In twelve albums they’ve remained consistently inconsistent, with a … Read more

God Equals Genocide

Rattled Minds
Razorcake\Dirt Cult (2012)

I’ve listened to a pretty solid variety of new records this year, but it’s always nice to come back to … Read more

WAR//PLAGUE

On A Darker Dawn
Profane Existence (2012)

Minneapolis’ scene veterans WAR//PLAGUE have finally released their debut full-length LP On A Darker Dawn on Profane Existence Records. The … Read more

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One from the archives

Metallica

Death Magnetic
Elektra (2008)

The Metallica debate has been one of the most hotly contested that music has ever seen. Pro or Anti. Sellouts or one of the few bands of the people and for the people. There's an argument for both sides, to be sure, but in the end, if you're not for them, you're probably against them. If we're going to throw down about it and have an intelligent, healthy discourse, it's always good to know where the other person is coming from. THE PREAMBLE I am what would be categorized as an "OG" fan. I have very clear memories of going to the small local record shop in my hometown back in Canada, the serial killer capital of Canada, no less though nothing to do with me, mind you. The year … Read more

More album reviews

Luther

Let's Get You Somewhere Else
Chunksaah (2012)

Philadelphia’s Luther have been quick to grab attention. The band, formed just two years ago, has played on some high profile tours and just signed with Chunksaah Records to release their debut full-length after last year’s Siblings and Sevens EP. The new full-length, Let’s Get You Somewhere Else was recorded by the Bouncing Souls’ Pete Steinkopf.A four-piece, Luther play an … Read more

Pig Destroyer

Book Burner
Relapse (2012)

The news that Pig Destroyer were to release a new record this year was met with much celebration, a lot of shouting and a resounding “fuck, yes, it’s about bloody time!” chorus from their devoted fans. Pig Destroyer have been extremely quiet since the release of their last full length, Phantom Limb, in 2007 and along with the EP Natasha … Read more

Pinback

Information Retrieved
Temporary Residence (2012)

Authenticity goes a long way these days in the music industry. It’s most desired in any aspiring musician and sets artists apart from a sea of others chomping at the bit. Using primarily programmed percussion only toughens the playing field; yet, when your band consists of two members playing the role of a full gang, approbation is appropriate. Since the … Read more

Between the Buried and Me

The Parallax II: Future Sequence
Metal Blade (2012)

Following 2011s “precursor” style EP, The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues, Between the Buried and Me (hereafter known as BTBAM because it’s way easier to type) continue their foray into ever increasing curiosity. Whilst personally I’ve never been a hugely into this band - they always seemed to err just on the wrong side of pretentious wanker territory - The Parallax II: … Read more

Ancestors

In Dreams And Time
Tee Pee (2012)

I'm not quite certain what the cover art for Ancestors's new release In Dreams and Time is supposed to represent, but one thing is for certain: it doesn't prime you for what the album actually sounds like. Depending on your artistic interpretation, that may actually be a good thing—but let me actually tell you about this odd album.In Dreams and … Read more

Turbonegro

Sexual Harassment
Volcom (2012)

Much could be said about Turbonegro from the Turbojugend (Their self appointed fan club), Their lyrics that tend to make not so vague references to partying fucking up and homosexuality, and their overall sleaziness. Well coming back from what had seemed like their final break up with their last vocalist Hank Von Helvete leaving to be in an industrial rock … Read more

Various Artists

Vestiges / Ghaust- Split
Replenish (2012)

So this is the immediate follow-up to the debut album The Dissent Of Man for Vestiges, sharing a split record with Ghaust (whom I had never heard of until this slab of vinyl came up to be ordered), and I distinctly recall being rather excited to hear this record based on how much I enjoyed the debut from Vestiges; but … Read more

Jodis

Black Curtain
Hydra Head (2012)

It is roughly 5:30 AM at the time of my finally getting down to writing this and the sun is just breaking over the horizon outside my window, and the Jodis song “Red Bough” from their album Black Curtain is just starting to hit its stride providing an apt soundtrack to my bleary eyed state (I have been up all … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Hidden Hospitals

EP 02
Independent (2012)

Hidden Hospitals, based in Chicago, IL, have released their new EP titled simply EP02 and it is an amazing release full of emotion, hooks, and harmonies. Nashville’s J. Hall handled the producing duties on this one as well as their earlier first release EP01. Being familiar with the group, he knows how to bring the best out of their sound. … Read more

The Casket Lottery

The Door
No Sleep (2012)

There was definitely a time a few years back (or ten if you are keeping score) where I followed (along with my wife) The Casket Lottery around the middle Atlantic states like some people followed (or even still do I guess) The Grateful Dead; during that time, we devoured every note that the three piece outfit saw fit to release … Read more

Murder By Death

Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon
Bloodshot (2012)

Murder by Death are back with their sixth studio album, and it's their moodiest album yet. It's a stark contrast to their last record, Good Morning, Magpie--returning to, while exploring, more layers of atmospheric tones. With each album(excluding Red of Tooth...), I always found myself needing to give them multiple rounds to fully appreciate what I was listening to--Bitter Drink, … Read more

Sutcliffe Jugend

Blue Rabbit
Crucial Blast (2012)

Sutcliffe Jugend started as an offshoot of British power electronics specialists Whitehouse, using this project to reveal the outer reaches of the human psyche—both sexually and otherwise—more so than their counterparts. Most times, in the past, the music had managed to match the questionable content. The question is: how does one react when a band that is so reactionary responds … Read more

Oiltanker

Shadow of Greed/Crusades
Southern Lord (2012)

A while back I caught Oiltanker in the midst of the second day of Midwest Hell Fest—a one-off weekend crust punk festival that was happening in, of all places, a sports bar in Kimberly, Wisconsin. I was thoroughly enthralled by the outpouring of anger emanating from the stage while they were up there, yet I was simultaneously battling the inevitable … Read more

Lymbyc Systym

Symbolyst
Western Vinyl (2012)

Lymbyc Systym's third studio-album was released September 18th via Western Vinyl. This effort comes three years after the band's Shutter Release (Mush Records) and their split Field Studies with This Will Destroy You on Magic Bullet Records. So what were the Bell brothers up to during this three-year span? Traveling, living on separate continents, studying, and adding personnel to their … Read more

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