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Planks

Funeral Mouth
Golden Antenna (2012)

The successor to Planks 2010 release, the warmly received The Darkest of Grays, is the destitute sounds of Funeral Mouth – a record which bridges the blackened gap between sludge and hardcore and maybe a little crust with frantic shouts and depth of purpose. The German trio have been treading the fine lines of genre cross-over for many a moon … Read more

Grouplove

Never Trust a Happy Song
Canvasback/Atlantic (2012)

Every person with a Smart phone has been in this situation. You’re in a traffic jam and you hear a song you don’t know on the radio. “Might as well shazaam it,” you think. If you’ve heard one of Los Angeles natives Grouplove’s songs and are surprised after finding out the song you didn’t know, “Colours,” was by the same … Read more

Black Moth Super Rainbow

Cobra Juicy
Rad Cult (2012)

Black Moth Super Rainbow are a great group of musicians led by one person mysteriously known as Tobacco that pump out some of the most psychedelically delicious sounding records that I have ever heard in my life, and they are the type of musicians that do whatever the hell they want while still making ass shakingly fun records. With the … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Dave Hause

Time Will Tell EP
Chunksaah (2012)

Dave Hause recently embarked on a little project that involves five indie labels. He took two artists from each label and covered a song from each. The first in the series comes from Chunksaah (though it wasn't the first to be released.) The first half of the 7-inch features alternate versions of Hause's, "Time Will Tell" and "Meet Me at … Read more

Eagle Twin

The Feather Tipped The Serpent's Scale
Southern Lord (2012)

Sophomore albums are always an intriguing milestone for musicians and bands because they kind of serve notice as to how they react to people’s reception of their work (and that reaction ranges from full on ignoring critics and listeners alike and following their own directions to modifying and mass alterations to style and sound depending on what grabbed people’s ears … Read more

The Secret

Agnus Dei
Southern Lord (2012)

Southern Lord have been on a roll this year – Martyrdöd, Wolfbrigade, Eagle Twin and Acephalix to name but a few - and the fourth full-length from Italian masters of all out noise, The Secret, is a worthy addition to a roster that is always expanding and never diluting. Agnus Dei is pure, unadulterated fury and the bile and venom … Read more

Ill Nino

Epidemia
Victory (2012)

Well most people reading this will either look at the and ask one of 2 questions. "who?" or "wait, they're still around?" The who is simple, Ill Nino joined the Nu-Metal races slightly later than most forming in 1998 and releasing their debut for Roadrunner in 2001. That already put them behind the curve what set them apart was their … Read more

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General Surgery

Like An Ever Flying Limb
Relapse (2012)

General Surgery has taken a ton of shit over the years. Most of it regarding the band being derivative. The band that gets thrown into every article about General Surgery? Carcass, yeah that Carcass, the British institution of brutality. One can't accuse General Surgery of not wearing their influences on their collective sleeve. So beyond that the band has managed … Read more

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Strong Intention

Razorblade Express
Patac (2012)

Strong Intention may be one of Maryland's best kept secrets. The band have played a mix of Grind and NYHC since the '90s and seem to be unwilling to quit anytime soon. After a long recording hiatus the band has returned. What may make this the record that gets them more fans is a certain guest star of sorts for … Read more

Muse

The 2nd Law
Warner\Helium 3 (2012)

The year is 2052. Society as we know it has completely changed. The laws of government and nation have crumbled into dust, trodden down firmly by the feet of innumerable footsoldiers of the new autocratic rulers of the world. Big Brother's voice rings from every speaker; CCTV cameras record every communication between state-fearing citizen and obedient lickspittle. Comrades huddle in … Read more

Future of the Left

The Plot Against Common Sense
Xtra Mile (2012)

The Future of the Left may have released their third full-length in The Plot Against Common Sense but little has changed in terms of band definition. The songs here are mostly built around frontman Andrew Falkous and his direct, biting commentary/lyricism. The music is sharp-toothed and forceful and, when the band drops a new release, the question isn’t so much … Read more

P.O.S.

We Don't Even Live Here
Rhymesayers (2012)

Minneapolis’ P.O.S (aka Stefon Alexander) might not necessarily befit the tastes of most within the punk community, but his music is as heavily indebted to it as it is to hip-hop’s long and storied past. Since his musical beginnings in punk bands from as far back as high school, his music has been predominantly D.I.Y. and its messages of hard … Read more

Franz Nicolay

Do The Struggle
Xtra Mile (2012)

It must be stated that the quirkily moustachioed Franz Nicolay is an intriguing and rather singular gentleman. For those who saw him live during his time in either The Hold Steady or World/ Inferno Friendship Society, it was evident that the multi-instrument wielding troubadour had the potential to become a great front man. However his earlier solo material never really … Read more

Smohalla

Résilience
Arx Productions (2011)

More and more it seems the once outer edges of Black Metal have become some of their most well known to the outside world. Where as at one point bands like Alcest and Agalloch would have very little standing outside of their little piece of the record buying public, they may be a couple of the most well known current … Read more

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