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Light Bearer

Lapsus
Halo OF Flies/Alerta Antifascista (2011)

You know there are those moments in songs where everything is just so perfect that you don’t want it to end? You do? Fantastic. Light Bearer have this in spades and none more so than on "Prelapsus," a track so soaring in tone that the sense of elation is enough to make even me crack a smile. But let’s not … Read more

Nekrasov

The Ever-Present
Crucial Blast (2011)

Nekrasov as an artist has made a name for himself over the past few years. Working in a rather limited, hard to define genre (Black Noise) and managing to inadvertently become one of the flagship artists in the current crop of artists in this genre. Black Noise itself is best defined by the over arching characteristics of it. That being … Read more

Seed From The Geisha

Talk Peace to the Wolf
M&O Music (2011)

Don't be turned away by the album cover! I assure you, this review has absolutely minimal content involving werwolves. Probably. I'm actually writing this introduction prior to finishing the last fifth or so of the review, so it's entirely conceivable I could change my mind. Let's assume I don't so that I can talk about the excellent debut from the … Read more

Alberta Cross

The Rolling Thunder
ATO (2011)

Approaching the closure to their set last weekend at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia, the London born Alberta Cross kept spirits alive, playing “…one from the new album.” The rejuvenating “Money For the Weekend” boosted energy throughout the venue, and does just that as the opener to the band’s recent EP, The Rolling Thunder.Opening for Portugal. The Man in support … Read more

You, Me, & Everyone We Know

Things Are Really Weird Right Now
Topshelf (2011)

You, Me, & Everyone We Know came to my attention with the announcement of their break-up earlier this year. I didn't give them a listen until their post-humous EP, Things Are Really Weird Right Now. I was taken aback, as I wasn't expecting something as poppy as this from Topshelf Records. That isn't necessarily a bad thing though.The first song … Read more

A Death Cinematic

Your Fate Twisting, Epic In Its Crushing Moments
Simple Box Construction (2011)

Ah, another offering from A Death Cinematic in the form of an “EP” (I put this in quotes because it plays longer than some LPs by some bands) entitled Your Fate Twisting In Its Crushing Moments; and just as with previous releases, this comes with some of the most intriguing packaging, again, hand made cover consists of a hand printed … Read more

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

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