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)

Mixtapes

Even On The Worst Nights
No Sleep (2012)

Even on the Worst Nights beams with positivity. Sure, a closer listen will reveal a lot of sarcasm in the sugar-pop sound, but the first impression is one of balloons and puppy dogs, not shaking one’s fists in anger or letting loose a crippling, agonizing scream. The Cincinnati, OH band is clean and crisp, with singalongs, brevity, and self-awareness as their driving forces. In many ways, the band is almost too clean, but it’s funny what a difference a group chorus can make in pop-punk—giving off more of a “we’re all in this together” vibe than the awkward veneer that comes with crisp pop.It’s really those group choruses and the fun, personal feel of the record that earns Mixtapes’ their points here. There are definitely things to this record that normally don’t appeal but the general feel is honest, fun, and easy to relate with—all of which are import elements. The band, in their male-female vocal tradeoffs keep a high energy, short-song effect going for sixteen songs that range from just 53 seconds to a touch over four minutes. They even mix in a little acoustic instrumentation and a guest vocal without interrupting that peppy feel. It’s driven largely by … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Deathstench

Rites Of The Dead Moon
Independent (2012)

Deathstench has done much to make their name in the underground world of blackened noise. This EP contains a solitary … Read more

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead

Lost Songs
Superball (2012)

The past decade has been an artistic whirlwind for the Austin, TX …And You Will Know Us by the Trail … Read more

Book Review

Greg Prato

Too High To Die: Meet The Meat Puppets
lulu (2012)

Do you know who the Meat Puppets are, or have you ever wondered who the two long-haired guys that appeared … Read more

Young Statues

Self Titled
Run for Cover (2012)

Young Statues are a newly formed, Philadelphia indie rock band that arose from the coming together of long time friends. … Read more

Norwegian Arms

Wolf Like A Stray Dog
Independent (2013)

I discovered Norwegian Arms the same way I discover most of the best music I listen to – with the … Read more

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One from the archives

Chasma

Declarations Of The Grand Artificer
Moribund Cult\The Mylene Sheath (2011)

As much as I love death metal, I always seem to have issues enjoying black metal. It's not that I have anything against the genre at all--the aesthetic is actually something I really enjoy. But it does seem as if every band that's been put forward from the genre to me has been lacklustre. Sadly, Oregonians Chasma fall into the same category with their 2011 release Declarations of the Grand Artificer.The unfortunate thing is that almost any merit the music would have is shrouded from the get-go by the absolutely terrible production. The vocals in particular sound distant and nigh incomprehensible, and you'd have a hard time convincing me that was chosen as an artistic choice. The guitars are also not enunciated clearly enough, and it is almost impossible to … Read more

More album reviews

Downtown Struts

Victoria!
Pirates Press (2012)

Pop-punk, Americana infused rock 'n' roll isn't really something I'd usually find myself listening to, but occasionally it's quite nice to break free of the norm and invest your time in something a little different. Downtown Struts are one such investment, and it was very much time well spent. Riding the coattails of bands such as Against Me!, The Gaslight … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Various Artists

Touche Amore/Pianos Become The Teeth - Split
Topshelf (2013)

I’m going to say it outright; I love both of these bands and when I saw hints at this split popping up on message boards I couldn’t have been more excited. Of course with this attachment there is a huge build up of expectations and I can promise you that neither band disappoints, each putting up a song that is … Read more

The Tallest Man on Earth

There's No Leaving Now
Dead Oceans (2012)

Sweden’s Kristian Matsson (more popularly known as the Tallest Man On Earth) first found himself atop a mountain of praise in 2010 following the release of The Wild Hunt, wheedling his way into the hearts of many with soothing melodies and uplifting energy. Relying almost entirely on just his guitar and commanding voice, Matsson’s brand of folk garnered more than … Read more

The Black Widow's Project

Heavy Heart
Shitstem (2012)

Initially, I thought I had this band all figured out. From the obvious stoner metal influence and playful title of the lead track, “Ha ha ha uh”, I felt like I knew exactly what to expect. These guys were not interested in odd time signatures or complicated song arrangements. They were merely interested in having some fun with rock n’ … Read more

Year Of The Goat

Angels' Necropolis
Ván (2012)

Year of the Goat haven’t had the best of starts in life – injury, great upheaval, internal friction and possibly more has meant that the Swedish quintet have had to push back the release of their debut Angels’ Necropolis further than they imagined. Praise Satan then, that the record finally sees the darkness of their retro sound birthed into the … Read more

The Magnificent

Bad Lucky
Dirt Cult (2012)

As I’ve gotten older, there are punk scenes I shy away from. Among those topping the list is street punk—not to totally write off the subgenre, but a lot of it gets bogged down in sloppy slogans, ridiculous themes, and a rather rigid dress code. It’s not that I’ve grown averse to a well-written street punk song as much as … Read more

Amenra

Mass V
Neurot Recordings (2012)

Rituals are deeply ingrained into our shared human experience and the modern ones seemingly thrust us back through the ages to some vaguely remembered race memory locked in the genetic code in safe guarded in our cells, and Amenra not only appreciates this phenomenon but exploit our collective unconscious to produce some rather breathtaking performances that at this point has … Read more

Brother Ali

Mourning In America And Dreaming In Color
Rhymesayers (2012)

Brother Ali is one of RhymeSayers’ and Minneapolis’ premiere rappers, and his career trajectory has been on the up-and-up with each release. Still, for whatever reason, my interest in Ali has waned with each new LP. His tendency for bluntness and tough guy delivery of not-so-tough material had gotten to be a bit much, and I figured it was time … Read more

Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Tarkus (Re-Issue)
Razor & Tie (2012)

Emerson, Lake & Palmer, in addition to being amongst the first and most recognizable supergroups ever, have somewhat of a divided reputation. Either they're the ultimate expression of talented rock musicianship, each member being an established virtuoso musician in his own right, or they're the posterchildren for everything that there is to hate about progressive rock, creating music that can … Read more

Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Self Titled (Re-Issue)
Razor & Tie (2012)

Emerson, Lake & Palmer, in addition to being amongst the first and most recognizable supergroups ever, have somewhat of a divided reputation. Either they're the ultimate expression of talented rock musicianship, each member being an established virtuoso musician in his own right, or they're the posterchildren for everything that there is to hate about progressive rock, creating music that can … Read more

Wintersun

Time I
Nuclear Blast (2012)

Wintersun make even Godot look punctual.The Finnish black/folk/power metal band was originally conceived as a solo project for Ensiferum guitarist/vocalist Jari Mäenpää, who released its eponymous debut in 2004. The album was incredibly well-received critically, so it was no surprise that a follow-up album, Time, was quickly announced and scheduled for release in November 2006.No, that is not a typo. … Read more

Rome

Hell Money
Trisol (2012)

Jerome Reuter is becoming ever more prolific in recent times and you may remember last year’s Die Æsthetik Der Herrschaftsfreiheit was a surprising addition to his catalogue in that it was a triple disc album that flowed with majestic coherence and innate boldness. Hell Money was quietly announced yet the shock that was felt by fans in the release of … Read more

Battlestations

In A Cold Embrace
Independent (2012)

Battlestations is one of those bands that is doing amazing things despite the fact that no one seems to have heard of them. I stumbled upon them completely by accident while looking for an entirely different band—and I still feel very fortunate for that mistake. Their eponymous debut was solid, but Battlestations have really begun to stretch themselves to the … Read more

Sigh

In Somniphobia
Spinefarm Records (2012)

I don't know what it is about Japanese metal bands, but they seem to be some of the craziest of the crazy—and the most talented. Avant-thrashers Sigh are no exception, and their latest release, 2012's delightfully titled In Somniphobia, has some of their best work yet.From the first few seconds, you know that this is classic Sigh at their best: … 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)