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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)

Night Jobs

Never Happener EP
Independent (2022)

I was introduced to Night Jobs with The Shape of Bummers To Come tape. I liked it overall, but I did feel there was room from growth. I mean, there always is…but I digress. The band is back in 2022 with the new 7”, Never Happener, featuring four new songs. And I do hear that “growth.” Sure, Night Jobs play somewhat predictable punk that’s built on power chords and singalongs. But to do it right, you need just enough surprises to keep it interesting. And the band is pulling that off to nice effect on Never Happener. There’s a lot of orgcore-style gruff poppish-punk, but Night Jobs sneak some Replacements and even some alt-country elements in as well. Take “Stumbled Along” as an example, where the progressions build from tension to release, using those different guitar tones to practically sigh in relief once the pressure lets loose. Elsewhere, the band’s singalong game is in high gear once again. Leadoff hitter “Landlord” begs for shouting along from the get-go, while closer “Thank You, Bob Nanna,” shakes up the call and response format, using it as a pass-the-mic style repetition of the point rather than two singers alternating their lines. A repetitive … Read more

Laraigne

The Brightside Of It All
Snappy Little Numbers (2022)

Oh, Canada! Hailing from Geneva and now back and forth between Toronto and the beautiful city of Montreal, Greg Laraigne … Read more

BRASS

Look On The Bright Side
Early Onset Records (2022)

I can’t help but internally groan when a group is described as a ‘live band’. The phrase is pinned onto … Read more

Raging Nathans

Still Spitting Blood
Rad Girlfriend Records (2022)

The Raging Nathans owe a lot of their sound to the ‘90s punk scene. One thing they don’t take after, … Read more

The Mars Volta

The Mars Volta
Clouds Hill (2022)

After 10 years of silence, the hiatus interruptus is no more and The Mars Volta have unleashed a new self-titled … Read more

Various Artists

Horrorpunk's Not Dead: Vol. 1
We Are Horror Records (2022)

Horrorpunk's Not Dead: Vol.1 is the first of (hopefully) many compilations created by the team behind Horrorpunk's Not Dead radio … Read more

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One from the archives

Full Contact / Heartbreak Kid

GNP Split Series Vol. 1
GNP (2006)

Split CDs are never a good idea because you usually don't have any clue what's going on, especially when you have two bands that sound alike. At least with vinyl, you have to make a conscious effort and turn the piece of wax over. Maybe the first GNP Split Series will be the split CD that changes everything for me. Yeah, who are we kidding? First up is Texas's Full Contact and the band lives in 1994, which for me is a decent year to live in. Their music is metallic, in your face, and somewhat burly. The recording even sounds like it came from 1994 with the snare pushed way to far up in the mix. The guitars are muddy and at time you can't hear the bass. Full … Read more

More album reviews

Various Artists

The Things That Shaped Us Together
Haum Entertainment (2022)

By the time I'm writing this review, I would like to express my condolence for all the families and the victims of the police brutality in Kanjuruhan (Malang) soccer match. And this time we have a submission music coming from Haum Entertainment. Haum Entertainment is a Malang (Indonesia) based label that is known for releasing local notable emo/melodic hardcore musicians. … Read more

Fallujah

Empyrean
Nuclear Blast (2022)

The last time I listened to Fallujah was five or so years ago, around the time when they released Dreamless. I can’t say that I was impressed or anything of the sort, but I did spin that album for a short while, until I basically all but forgot about the existence of the band. I wasn’t even aware they made … Read more

Death Cab For Cutie

Asphalt Meadows
Atlantic (2022)

Ten albums into their tenure and Death Cab for Cutie are still finding ways to reinvent themselves while maintaining their identity and sound. Their 2018 release, Thank You For Today, was the first to feature members Zac Rae and Dave Depper after long-time member and co-writer, Chris Walla, left the group. This led to the songs on that album being … Read more

Screeching Weasel

The Awful Disclosure of Screeching Weasel
Monona Music, Rum Bar Records, Striped Records (2022)

Before starting, I would like take a quote from the band's spotify profile” "Went to a Ramones show. Started a band. Pissed a lot people off". The quote tells a lot about the band's history and controversies. Begin with having a beef with many label owners, Fat Wreck one of them, up to the constant changing of its regular and … Read more

Meat Wave

Malign Hex
Swami (2022)

I heard people raving about Meat Wave for a while before I finally saw the band a few years ago. But I still hadn’t really checked out their recorded material and I wasn’t sure how the band’s powerful set would translate to the at-home experience. Many bands with a raw concert experience struggle to set that same tone to tape. … Read more

Crack Cloud

Tough Baby
Meat Machine (2022)

Vancouver collective Crack Cloud burst onto the scene in 2018 with two independently released EPs- followed up by their first full length album, Pain Olympics, in 2020. The multimedia collective features an ever changing line up of musicians, filmmakers, designers and artists. Originally formed by Zach Choy (lead vocals, drums) and Mohammed Ali Sharar (keyboards) as an outlet for their … Read more

Various Artists

Tunes From The Underground Postcard Vinyl Series
GC Records (2022)

Sitting down at my well-worn Arts and Crafts Mission Style desk I ponder with a quill pen firmly grasped between my index finger and thumb properly. Occasionally I dip the tip of the pen into the black ink well and glance at the ceiling lost in transition until thoughts of bitter torrid times are washed away by welcoming waves of … Read more

The Bootstrap Boys

New Beginnings
Independent (2021)

The Bootstrap Boys are a four piece outlaw country band from Grand Rapids, MI. I fucking hate country music with a passion that can't be put into words. I hate that somewhere around 2007, damn near every punk friend I had were listening to Johnny goddamn Cash and Waylon fuckhead Jennings. Jocks, preps, and rednecks were our sworn enemies and … Read more

200 Words Or Less

The Bobby Lees

Bellevue
Ipecac (2022)

Every once in a long while a band comes along that’s a true pleasure to discover. A sonic kick in the ass for these weary old bones. The Bobby Lees are just such a band. The release of the Hollywood Junkyard e.p. earlier this year pricked up a lot of ears and served up a mean prelude to the new … Read more

The Eradicator

Forever The Eradicator
Stonewalled (2022)

The life cycle is strange sometimes. Kids in the Hall is back, but The Eradicator is going away. One is an indirect result of the other, yet it seems they cannot coexist at the same time. And if that already confused the hell out of you, just wait until you dive into this band. The Eradicator is a project themed … Read more

Boogeyman

Boogeyman
Deadly Distribution, ELB-Power Records (2022)

"Presenting new sounds from the darkness"...welcome to the mind of Boogeyman! This Arizona three piece have a wonderful world of spooks, darkness, death and demons to show you with this eleven track self titled full length debut album. Predominantly horrorpunk in nature but incorporating many elements from other genres too. You will find that this is not your average bog … Read more

Saturday Night Karaoke

Dejection EP
Brassneck Records, Disaster Records, I Hate Smoke Records (2022)

Saturday Night Karaoke is a local band that has produced many joyful stuffs along their career. There has always been a great vibe to their gigs. The band just put out their newest EP called Dejection and this time the band does something different. Pandemic time hasn’t been a good thing for everyone and Saturday Night Karaoke captures how they … Read more

Beach Rats

Rat Beat
Epitaph (2022)

Should I review Beach Rats on its own merit, or should I pause to describe the concept? That’s always the question with these, but in this case a little background may go a long way. The band features several older punks, seeking to rekindle the old spark and play fast, loud ‘n’ snotty music like the days of yore. They … Read more

Anchoress

Stay Positive
Early Onset Records (2022)

With Anchoress the chaos has found somewhere to catch. Originally formed in 2010 their newest album sees the band reaching technical and creative heights. Melody and instrumental prowess reign supreme on their fourth studio album without losing the relatability and raw energy they’re known for. Released on Early Onset Records and produced by Jesse Gander (Japandroids, White Lung) Stay Positive … 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)