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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)

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 emo-influenced melodic punk. To sum it up in far too few words, think somewhere between The Get-Up Kids and The Gaslight Anthem, with some Jimmy Eat World thrown in for good measure. Influences on the record range, but the general sound comes down to winding emo guitars and prominent, clear, and melodic vocals from singer Phil Warner. Think if you stripped the Springsteen classic rock out of Gaslight Anthem and then inserted early 2000s emo movements in their place. The end result is a heavily melodic, up-tempo record that’s constantly tapping its foot to singalong-heavy songs, led by Warner’s pronounced and effective vocal inflections. “Heavy Money” and “The Second Star” are standouts of the style and “A Quiet Stretch of Weather” and “Sunset Sugar” carry a poppier base that keeps pushing that positivity across. Warner’s ability to channel emo tendencies … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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, … 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 … Read more

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One from the archives

Thou

Tyrant (Reissue)
Gilead Media (2008)

200 Words Or Less

Hailing from Louisiana, it's not a surprise that Thou offer up grimy metal/doom on Tyrant. With fellow bruisers like Eyehategod, Crowbar, and Down before them, Thou take the southern metal sound and make it their own, thanks to a varied field of influences. The title-track leads off and immediately the listener is consumed with slow bludgeoning riffs and down-tempo rhythms that bring to mind Black Sabbath. With the addition of scathing vocals Thou unleashes a dark, heavy, and demonic concoction unto the listeners' ears. "With a Cold, Life Extinguishing Elegance" continues this direction, further showcasing the talents on the guitar with flourishes of other noodling interspersed. On the other end of things, "Monstrance" is absolutely demolishing. Thou picks up the pace and just packs each riff with a - pardon … Read more

More album reviews

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

Fist City

It's 1983 Grow Up!
Black Tent Press (2012)

Alberta-based four-piece Fist City continue to make a name for themselves with the genre-blending It’s 1983 Grow Up!, their second full-length record. The album marks the band’s first release since being signed to Black Tent Press and is reflective of their signature sound while presenting more cohesively as a whole than their previous effort (2010’s Hunting You). Producer Paul Lawton … Read more

Fire & Ice

Not Of This Earth
Reaper (2012)

Fire & Ice is a groove infused hardcore band out of Richmond, Virginia. Their newest release, Not of This Earth has been put out on Reaper Records. Opening for legendary acts and touring consistently with some of the best in the game, these guys are quickly going to the top of everyone’s lists as far as newer hardcore bands go. … Read more

Converge

All We Love We Leave Behind
Epitaph\Deathwish Inc (2012)

This is not a review but more a lament, and I am not sure exactly who or what this lament is meant because there is a definite sense of utter confusion while listening to the latest album, All We Love We Leave Behind, from the almighty Converge on my part; let us get this out of the way since I … Read more

Cadette

Flesh Without Hunting
Independent (2012)

If first impressions are what make or break an artist, Cadette is a whole bunch of angry. The Minneapolis, MN trio’s debut release Flesh Without Hunting rips through eight songs, drawing a heavy 1990s influence but maintaining their own identity, rooted in the present, throughout. The easiest point of reference comes with vocalist and primary songwriter Laura Larson’s previous band, … Read more

Every Silver Lining Has A Cloud

Self Titled
Projekt (2011)

This French band may have one of the longer band names in recent memory. Let us gloss over this even though through the ever accurate Wikipedia it may refer to a Julian Schnabel record. This band focuses on a slight version of the general post rock template. While most bands tend to forgo vocals and play the line by making … Read more

Enabler

All Hail The Void
Southern Lord (2012)

Enabler managed to make some big noise for themselves very quickly. after 2 eps and numerous splits the band got snatched up by the newly crust leaning Southern Lord. The question is after making such a big splash with these eps could the band manage to make nearly as big of a splash in the full length medium? The band … 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)