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Puscifer

Conditions of My Parole
Puscifer Entertainment (2011)

You can stop staring at your watch with misplaced optimism; there's still no news from Tool on their fifth album, and A Perfect Circle have reiterated their vow not to work on an album-length project again. So then what exactly, you might ask, is everyone's favourite rock-star-turned-vintner doing, if not fronting one of his established bands? As it turns out, … Read more

Giles Corey

Self Titled
Enemies List Home Recordings (2011)

People say that the best works of art are born of intense pain and immense suffering and history proves this out to some extent (without getting into some existential debate with myself over the validity of the statement, it serves the purposes of this little pseudo repartee); now, Giles Corey (both the project and the album) is the tortured work … Read more

Noise By Numbers

Over Leavitt
Jump Start (2011)

Noise By Numbers are a group of Chicago punk veterans, and Over Leavitt gives a nice first impression. The sepia-tinged sunset photo of an industrial district gives a relatable, down to earth feel. On the flipside there’s a photo of the band playing a house show. Sure, they’ve put their sweat equity into the scene, but there’s no sense of … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Hatewaves

The Tombs
A389 (2011)

Before i get done writing this review i may have listened to this record 5 times, possibly more. That is listening to this record once for each inch of vinyl it is pressed onto. Those familiar with Hatewaves from their 7 inch release last year should know the bands' pedigree within hardcore and metal and probably would have bought this … Read more

Powerwolves

You Won't Find Peace
Panic (2011)

Powerwolves had been running around the northeast for a little while now. While this is not important in itself, the band does take their sound from a lineage of past Boston area bands. The most recognizable would have to be The Hope Conspiracy, while this is readily noticeable it comes through only in the style of the vocals. The band … Read more

Scale The Summit

The Collective
Prosthetic (2011)

I don't know about you, but a band with a name like 'Scale the Summit' evokes some pretty specific musical imagery for me--huge guitar lines, tons of stylistic shifts, and a definite sense of grandeur all come to mind. What's cool is that's exactly what the Texan instrumental progressive metal quartet sounds like. If you're not following me here, try … Read more

Tom Waits

Bad As me
Anti (2011)

How many national music treasures come from the United States? You know those ones that are still alive that you can point to and say that our musical culture would be less without their contribution, and I mean, yeah, there is Bob Dylan, possibly the Boss, Iggy Pop; but I would be willing to place one Thomas Alan Waits up … Read more

Polar Bear Club

Clash Battle Guilt Pride
Bridge Nine (2011)

Clash Battle Guilt Pride is Polar Bear Club’s third release and second on Bridge Nine. The veteran band sets their tone early with “Pawner,” a sparse, sprawling song with big hitting moments where vocalist Jimmy Stadt runs the gamut of emotions. While the tempo lulls are a bit under spoken for the heavy-minded group, the emotive bursts of “I gotta … Read more

Leatherface

Viva La Arthouse: Live In Melbourne
No Idea (2011)

On the Stormy Petrel World Tour in 2010 bassist Graeme Philliskirk made an arrangement with The Arthouse in Melbourne, Australia to record Leatherface’s set, unbeknownst to the rest of the band. This recording led to Viva La Arthouse, a record that captures Leatherface live and without the self-awareness you’ll often hear on such releases. In addition, it serves to document … Read more

[The] Caseworker

Letters From The Coast
Hidden Shoal (2011)

Dream pop as a genre seems to have made a slight comeback in recent years. While this may be due to many factors more bands are embracing the harmonies of The Cocteau Twins and Chapterhouse. This seems to be a good thing as many of these bands bring other little things into their music as well (Atlas Sound, The Pains … Read more

The Blind Shake

Seriousness
Learning Curve (2011)

It’s Seriousness indeed for The Blind Shake. The Minneapolis three-piece plays concise, to the point garage rock. From their matching trek suits to drummer Dave Roper’s emphatic beats, the band has an air of professional dedication when they take the stage that’s distinct in a genre that seems to pride itself on sloppiness. The band has been alternating records between … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Triac

...Always Meant To Hurt You
A389 (2011)

Triac has had a rather long history much of which seems unnoticed by those who aren't on top of their game. Over the course of a handful of releases and a massive appearance on Volume 2 of the "This Comp Kills Fascists" series the band have made themselves known to the metal underground worldwide. Where does this leave the band? … Read more

Mastodon

The Hunter
Reprise (2011)

I was a bit of a latecomer to the Mastodon party. I hadn't discovered them until Crack the Skye, and from that, you can imagine my surprise going back through their discography afterwards. Mastodon's sound, though it has a distinctive flavour, is constantly changing, and their newest release, The Hunter, is no exception.The Hunter is a serious departure from Crack … Read more

Celestiial

Desolate North (Re-Issue)
Handmade Birds (2011)

Allow me to be quite frank with this one, please; if you do not own the vinyl release of Desolate North from Celestiial (no that is not a typo) that Handmade Birds put out, than my friend, you are doing it all wrong because this record is a singularly beautiful release (and I am not just talking about the artwork … Read more

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