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Vacation

Self Titled
Lets Pretend (2011)

First off, forgive me if at some point I wander off and say something about Summer Vacation or Vacation Bible School, and I keep mixing these bands up in my head. Vacation is Cincinnati-based band that sometimes gets the pop-punk label, although I would argue garage-punk if I had to choose one. The band, while using pop-punk structures and a … Read more

Wolfbrigade

Damned
Southern Lord (2012)

Sweden’s Wolfbrigade have been around in one guise or another (formerly Wolfpack) since 1995 – the changing lineup finally unleashing a new full length with Damned, their first in four long years. Seen as pioneers of the Swedish crust/d-beat scene, Wolfbrigade play an unrelenting form of metal tinged hardcore-esque punk that never seems to stop, leaving you quite breathless. Somehow … Read more

Thisquietarmy

Resurgence
Denovali (2012)

Existing purely on the periphery of my personal aural hemisphere due to their touring with and collaborating with several artists and bands that I avidly follow but never getting around to actually listening to their records, Thisquietarmy has eluded my attentions for far too long and Resurgence seemed like the perfect opportunity to check out this prolific artist; but maybe … Read more

The Great Old Ones

Al Azif
Antithetic \ LADLO (2012)

The Great Old Ones hail from Bordeaux, France, and fuse a deep love and interest in the H.P. Lovecraft universe with the extremity of blackened metal. Forming in 2009 as a solo project, Benjamin Guerry soon added four other musicians to the fold and the band of today began to work towards their debut, Al Azif; an unyielding and assured … Read more

Torche

Harmonicraft
Volcom (2012)

Torche is back with their third official LP (Songs For Singles is officially an EP as far as the band is concerned) and Harmonicraft might be the most uplifting album to come from a metal background (at least I would consider a band with a pedigree featuring members of the almighty Floor, Cavity, etc. to be at least metal influenced) … Read more

Rammstein

Made in Germany 1995-2011
Universal (2011)

I usually don't have the time to listen to all of the albums sent to us by every Tom, Dick and Harry around, so I generally save reviews outside of my normal purview for bands of some stature or note. So when this band Ramm-something-or-other wanted to send us a copy of their new album, a compilation no less, I … Read more

The Korea

Колесницы Богов
Independent (2012)

What do you expect a Russian band called 'The Korea' to sound like? I would've bet something like kitschy indy alt rock; I certainly wasn't expecting groovy technical death metal, let alone it being actually good. So allow me to share with you the unexpected delight that is The Korea's Колесницы Богов. (For everyone who is not Russian, like me, … Read more

ANATOMI-71

Från Primat till Reptil
Power It Up (2011)

Swedish purveyors of crust Anatomi-71 return with their latest injection into the overly congested genre that is D-beat—Från Primat till Reptil. This is a heavy slab of melting Scandi-core, both literally and figuratively. The vinyl—housed in an impressive double gatefold jacket, courtesy of Power It Up Records—is thick, rigid and weighty. Those are a few commendable properties, no doubt. However, … Read more

Maruta

Forward Into Regression
Willowtip (2011)

The saying goes "the good ones always leave too soon". When it comes to the world of music usually the reverse is applicable. Most times bands hang on way too long after their supposed peak and tend to try doing everything they can to sound modern or artistic and thereby leavi9ng whatever made them special in the wake. For either … Read more

Various Artists

Alpinist / Masakari - Split
Halo of Flies (2011)

Both Alpinist and Masakari have made alot of progress in becoming well known within the hardcore scene in a rather short period of time. Alpinist hail from Germany and over the course of 5 years have managed 2 full lengths and this split. While Masakari come out of Cleavland and have managed to release 2 EPs as well as a … Read more

Mean Jeans

On Mars
Dirtnap (2012)

Whoa, is it 1994 again and someone didn't tell me? Much in the way Teenage Bottlerocket appropriated the early to mid-‘90s Lookout bands like Screeching Weasel and the Groovie Ghoulies, which were puréeing the Ramones, Beach Boys and macabre cinema, you can't really credit Portland, OR's Mean Jeans for bringing anything new to the pop punk landscape whatsoever. In fact, … Read more

Drop Tank

Domina
Independent (2012)

Playing rock and roll, and playing it well, isn’t easy these days. So much has been produced and rehashed of the genre, its best days having existed mostly in the 60’s and 70’s. Don’t get me wrong; rock and roll is still very much alive. It’s the distinction between the plethora of bands playing for an audience of head scratchers, … Read more

Municipal Waste

The Fatal Feast
Nuclear Blast (2012)

Municipal Waste is a crossover band from Richmond, Virginia who has captivated audiences from all different scenes. Whether you’re into punk, metal, hardcore or any of the diluted sub genres concocted in the past decade, you probably have a vein that’s been pinched by Municipal Waste. “The Fatal Feast” is the 5th Full length release for Municipal Waste but it … Read more

Brendan Kelly & The Wandering Birds

I'd Rather Die Than Live Forever
Red Scare Industries (2012)

I’ve never thought of Brendan Kelly as much of a singer. Sure, I’ve followed his career—hell, Slapstick played at the first real DIY show I ever saw—but he’s always been in that category of “punk vocalist,” who relies on attitude far more than vocal chops. As such, I had pretty mixed feelings coming into his solo project Brendan Kelly & … Read more

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