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Adam Widener

Cola Kids Hanging Out in the Bubble Dome
Big Action (2012)

There are a few red flags that make me avoid records or, if you will, to judge a book by its cover. First, solo records in a punk or garage world. While the last few years have wiped this misconception away in many respects, I’m still hesitant when I don’t know the name coming in. Second, a record with a … Read more

krokmitën

BWV565 Redux
Independent (2012)

After releasing their debut alpha-beta last year, a single 45-minute track and accompanying video of unadulterated technical death metal ferocity, Montréalers krokmitën decided that the only way they could one-up themselves would be to do something completely different. The result is the only slightly more modest 10-minute EP, BWV565 Redux.The EP consists (again) of exactly one track, the band's take … Read more

Arjen Anthony Lucassen

Lost in the New Real
Inside Out (2012)

Few musicians are quite as busy as the Dutch composer and multi-instrumentalist Arjen Anthony Lucassen. Though he's known principally for being the brain behind the immense collaborative project Ayreon, Lucassen has headed no less than four other bands, including progressive metal band Guilt Machine, ambient metal band Ambeon, space rock band Star One and the gothic/symphonic metal band Stream of … Read more

Mårran

Mårran
S-Rock (2012)

Mårran are a traditional rock band out of Sweden, playing only the most barebones, no-frills hard rock possible. They take their name from the Groke, a Swedish character from the Moomins, who is a ghostly figure constantly in search of warmth and light, and yet able to achieve neither due to her innate coldness, freezing all that comes into contact … Read more

Flobots

The Circle In The Square
Shanachie Entertainment (2012)

“A community is democratic only when the humblest and weakest person can enjoy the highest civil, economic, and social rights that the biggest and most powerful possess.” – A. Philip Randolph“No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.” - Gil Scott-HeronA strong foundation was laid with Flobots’ debut album Fight With Tools, and continued on with sophomore effort … Read more

Luther

Siblings & Sevens
Black Numbers (2011)

I remember seeing Luther a few months back at a small venue in Pittsburgh where The Menzingers were headlining. I was really stoked to finally see them live and not all that surprised that half the crowd was outside smoking when they played first. Seeing them live left me with almost the exact impression their EP Siblings and Sevens left … Read more

Oathbreaker

Maelstrom
Deathwish Inc. (2012)

Oathbreaker are a Belgian hardcore (for lack of a better expletive) band with a tendency towards fast-paced metal riffs and an evil, crusty tone. This is their first release for Deathwish Inc. and a fairly solid debut that I’m sure will turn at least a few heads and gain them a few fans. The vocals are the standout performance of … Read more

Burning Love

Rotten Thing To Say
Southern Lord (2012)

Leave it to Burning Love to provide an infectiously raucous soundtrack to 2012 (unlike so many of their peers and compatriots) full of the kind of riffs that in a perfect world would incite both vigorous head banging and the kind of massive circle pits that make people gape in awe at the sheer size of said circle pitting, and … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Souvenirs

Tired Of Defending You
6131 (2012)

When I first heard that Souvenirs was signed to 6131 I was expecting another straight-up generic hardcore band. However, upon listening to their first release from last year, Sadder Days, I was pleasantly surprised to find a pop-punk/emo crossover band: one taking the lyrical writing style of ‘90s emo bands and the upbeat feel of pop-punk. This was right up … Read more

Cloudkicker

Fade
Independent (2012)

If there's any one artist who should make you happy to listen to music, it's Ben Sharp, aka Cloudkicker. Though releasing free music on the Internet isn't anything new, it's safe to say that, in terms of quality, Sharp's in a class all his own. He also voluntarily remains unsigned from a label, ensuring that his music will continue to … Read more

Japandroids

Celebration Rock
Polyvinyl (2012)

Japandroids, a Canadian two-piece rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia, has released their second full length album entitled Celebration Rock. The album begins with drumbeats and the first track, "The Nights of Wine and Roses," which showcases their garage-band sound with the voices of both Brian King and David Prowse. Following up their first album, the duo has maintained the … Read more

Periphery

Periphery 2: This Time It's Personal
Sumerian (2012)

I don't have a good history with Periphery. Their debut album, though it had a few good moments, left a very sour taste in my mouth. Given that a lot of the issues I had with it could be chalked up to growing pains of a new band, however, I decided it was only fair to give their second album, … Read more

Evoken

Atra Mors
Profound Lore (2012)

New Jersey quartet Evoken have consistently produced genre defining funeral doom throughout their twenty year career and Atra Mors is a grand and huge addition to such a flawless output. How they manage to outdo themselves every time is a mystery that only the band hold the key to and it allows Atra Mors to flow with a stately passion … Read more

Barren Earth

The Devil's Resolve
Peaceville (2012)

If there’s anything I love, it’s some fucking metal. And if there’s any band out there that can deliver some fucking metal with astonishing consistency, it’s Finnish power/folk sextet Barren Earth. In that respect, their latest album, 2012’s The Devil’s Resolve, does not disappoint.Like their previous release, there is a clear folk influence at work on their music, but its … Read more

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