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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)

Long Distance Calling

Self Titled
Century Media (2011)

Long Distance Calling are everything that Mogwai wants to be and can't exactly accomplish. They artfully blend elements of progressive rock, post-metal and even alternarock into a result that works so perfectly that it's nothing short of sublime. They've had two prior releases to this album: their debut album Satellite Bay in 2007 and their follow-up Avoid the Light in 2009. While both releases are excellent, Satellite Bay is a bit too raw and unrefined. Avoid the Light, however, was in almost every respect a perfect release, and certainly amongst the best offerings post-rock has to offer. This naturally left expectations for a follow-up very high.That follow-up, Long Distance Calling, is actually a pretty enjoyable record. The opening track “Into the Black Wide Open” in particular showcases the songwriting that makes these guys such an excellent band, even if the intro sound clips are a little awkward. “Timebends” also features some intensely groovy riffwork that is guaranteed to get your head bobbing. The track “Middleville” features guest John Bush (Anthrax, Armored Saint) on the vocals, and it sounds absolutely wonderful. It has almost a nineties grunge feel to it, and it's certainly one of the highlights of Long Distance Calling's … Read more

Have Nots

Proud
Paper + Plastick (2011)

Ska-Punk is a loaded genre. That is to say there are only a handful of bands who could balance on … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Protagonist

States
Paper + Plastick (2011)

Protagonist made their name a couple years ago by releasing a strong skate punk record. This is to say they … Read more

Tenement

Napalm Dream
Hanged Up (2011)

Wow, this isn’t at all what I was expecting. With a one word name and the title Napalm Dream, I … Read more

Pirate

Left Of Mind
Bird's Robes (2011)

How on Earth do you achieve a goal as lofty and vaguely-defined as “to break out of the norm and … Read more

The Cool Kids

When Fish Ride Bicycles
Green Label Sound (2011)

The Cool Kids return with, oddly enough, their debut album. Seems weird, considering these Midwestern boys have been in the … Read more

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One from the archives

New Bruises

Transmit! Transmit!
Kiss of Death (2005)

I don't think there's anyone on Scene Point Blank's staff that remembers Mid Carson July besides me and maybe Bob, but I'm grasping at straws there. Mid Carson July was mid-tempo emo band from Pennsylvania that went on to be a mid-tempo melodic punk band from Florida. I owned a couple of CD's from Mid Carson July but never thought much of them and sold the CDs in a fit of "hey I gotta eat" and that was the end of Mid Carson July for me. Then maybe by fate or just coincidence, Transmit! Transmit hits my mailbox for review and who do I read are the main song writers of New Bruises? The two brothers who wrote the songs for Mid Carson July. Wow. Who da thunk? Anyhow, New … Read more

More album reviews

Adrenaline Mob

Self Titled
Adrenaline Mob (2011)

Adrenaline Mob is a new supergroup featuring some big names in rock music today. The brain-child of drummer Mike Portnoy, the album also features names like Russell Allen, Mike Orlando, Rich Ward, and Paul DiLeo. Though they come from different genres, their combined talents are...Okay, you know what? I can't fucking do this. I just can't.Mike Portnoy is an amazingly … Read more

Sleeping in the Aviary

You And Me, Ghost
Science Of Sound (2011)

It was just six months ago that I reviewed Great Vacation. Sure, I was a few months behind the trolley on that one, but the fact that Sleeping in the Aviary has already kicked out another record, You and Me, Ghost, speaks to their dedication and work ethic. Or maybe Elliott Kozel and company just can’t put down their writing … Read more

Living With Lions

Holy Shit
Adeline (2011)

After their introduction to the more mainstream world Make Your Mark a few years ago Living With Lions went through a few things. This includes losing a bass player and vocalist and signing a deal with Adeline. In the meantime the band regrouped and recorded a new album. The big question is after losing members, especially a vocalist, how does … Read more

Farewell Continental

¡Hey, Hey Pioneers!
Paper + Plastick (2011)

Farewell Continental went great lengths to keep their members secret for some time. While not anywhere close to a secret anymore the band divorce themselves in a big way from their day jobs. While their main gig may act as signs of what you would get it doesn't quite prepare the listener for what is to come upon popping the … Read more

The Biters

All Chewed Up
Underrated (2011)

I’m a sucker for punk/pop bands, but not just any crap. They have to have it all: great tunes, catchy hooks, and plenty of attitude. The Biters are just that kind of band, with a mix of power pop and punk with a dose of glam thrown in for good measure (think T-Rex). This is the third EP from the … Read more

Anthrax

Worship Music
Megaforce (2011)

The story of how Worship Music came to be is longish and a bit complicated—dating back to 2009 in what was essentially a three-way dance for the vocalist spot. Some of the original material was adjusted accordingly or, in most cases, scrapped all together and rewritten, resulting in what is ultimately the best case scenario for long-time Anthrax fans: the … Read more

Sleepmakeswaves

...And So We Destroyed Everything
Bird's Robes (2011)

All right, it's time for me to flash my hipster / indie cred. I was totally into sleepmakeswaves while they were still a small band on the Lost Children net label! BEAT THAT.*ahem* In all seriousness, these guys have been on my radar for a long while now. They've already released two EPs (one of which is album length), one … Read more

Amebix

Sonic Mass
EasyAction (2011)

Amebix have been away for twenty years plus, and if you're expecting Arise or Monolith v2.0 then look away now. Because Sonic Mass is so much more than those classic records, and all the better for the band's time spent away from the music scene. In a recent interview we did with vocalist Rob "The Baron" Miller, he explained how … Read more

Low Places

Spiritual Treatment
A389 (2011)

Low Places have done much in a short time. Coming out of California with a style that is unlikeable to most and building on said style till it makes sense while still remaining well outside of the norm. The band go from lurching Eyehategod inspired pieces to what can be either powerviolence inspired hardcore or what sounds like EHG on … Read more

Bad Sports

Kings Of The Weekend
Dirtnap (2011)

Bad Sports made a smart sequencing decision by opening Kings of the Weekend with “Off Switch.” The punk burner has a lot of garage noise and it rips past in just 1:47. Why is it a smart opener, you ask? Well, from the brick wall band photo to the band’s posture to numerous tracks on the record, this Denton, TX … Read more

Boris

Heavy Rocks
Sargent House (2011)

Boris' sound is defined by their insistence on rocking the fuck out. Their earliest works, like the classic albums Heavy Rocks and Pink, revolve around taking heavy metal and, to borrow from Sp?n?al Tap, taking it up to eleven. These albums have an absolutely huge, dirty quality to them that leaves Boris' peers in the dust. So Boris released their … Read more

Boris

Attention Please
Sargent House (2011)

I absolutely love Boris' work ethic. Four new albums of fresh material in one year is more than anyone should be able to ask of any artist whose name is not either Buckethead or Senmuth, and their dedication to stylistic diversity is a commendable trait that's generally unheard of in modern music. What's more, Boris have a history of significantly … Read more

Witch-Lord

Atomized In The Black Solarian
A389 (2011)

All hail the Cult of the Seven Crowns! Witch-Lord is one of a number of destructive musical forces that is just one head of the hydra meant to smash the world into oblivion, and the difference between those other groups (Gehenna, Gravehill, and others) is massive and due in no small part to the monolithic doom purveyed on display on … Read more

Dead To A Dying World

Self Titled
Tofu Carnage (2011)

I went into this review fully intending to give this band the middle finger. I can't exactly explain my thoughts behind this, but I can say that it started with how the album was introduced to me:“This self-titled, debut double-LP from Dead To A Dying World is for those who truly appreciate the aesthetic value of deluxe packaging and heavyweight … Read more

Reviews by score
Browse our album reviews according to score: Highest (9.5/10 or more) or Lowest (2/10 or less)