Recent reviews

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)

Isis

Live I 9.23.03
Independent (2011)

A year after their dissolution, post-metal powerhouse Isis is preparing to digitally re-release its entire live discography on a fortnightly basis throughout the summer of 2011. The set of five albums unfortunately does not contain any new material, but for those of you who skipped acquiring them while the band was still active, some of these albums may satiate your need for some fresh Isis material to listen to.Whichever of these albums you may chose to pick up, however, Live.01 has to be the worst possible choice. There are a dozen issues with this release right from the get-go, not the least of which is the audio quality of the recording. Like much of Isis' live material, this live release was actually taken from a fan bootleg, and frankly, it shows. While the performance itself is played quite well, you'd never know it just from listening to the recording. One of the things that makes Isis a great band is the thickness and texture of their music—there are a lot of things going on at once, and there is a lot of depth and subtlety to their writing. Much to the detriment of this album, a lot of that complexity … Read more

The Hussy

Cement Tomb Mind Control
Slow Fizz (2011)

The Hussy have been banging away in clubs, bars, and basements since 2008. In that time, they’ve pumped out 3 … Read more

Life In The Dark

The Sunya Is Rising / Limbs In Gloom
Music Ruins Lives (2011)

This sucker is loooooong gone in the physical format (but we all know 99% of you just go steal your … Read more

Various Artists

Airs + Lunaire Split
Independent (2011)

Airs are a band based on both sides of America. One member being in California and the other in Florida, … Read more

Fleet Foxes

Helplessness Blues
Bella Union (2011)

Three years in the making since their praised-to-the-heavens self-titled debut, Helplessness Blues is a masterpiece of a sophomore offering, consisting … Read more

Ben Harper

Give Till It's Gone
Virgin (2011)

This is Ben Harper’s 10th studio album; his last contractual obligation for Virgin and it comes after his split with … Read more

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One from the archives

A Perfect Circle

Eat the Elephant
BMG (2018)

Regardless of which band Maynard James Keenan is recording, promoting or touring with - he is usually the one unfairly maligned for holding up the proceedings, but make no mistake...A Perfect Circle is the brainchild of guitarist Billy Howerdel. And until he was ready to record again (in this case, 14 years after the band’s previous effort, Emotive) - it just wasn’t gonna happen. So here, in 2018 we finally have a new APC album, Eat the Elephant and what’s on everyone’s mind is whether or not it was worth the wait.Well the answer, in short, is yes. Sort of. Eat the Elephant isn’t what one would typically expect from a band after a 14 year absence. Usually after that much time has passed, the result is a mere facsimile. … Read more

More album reviews

All Teeth

Young Love EP
Panic (2011)

All Teeth came out in 2009 with a full length that got mass praise amongst the hardcore press. Unfortunately it did not yield the fanbase they may deserve. So in the meantime they have moved to Panic Records, a label with a reputation for putting out solid releases. This label change seems to have done some good for them, allowing … Read more

Troubled Coast

Letters
Creator-Destructor (2011)

Troubled Coast are a budding group of Californian hardcore musicians with a handful of promising releases under their belt. The group produced a pair of albums in 2010: the introductory EP Vagabonds and the short album 100 Miles from Home. While both of these releases display that the band has a solid grasp of their sound and firm knowledge where … Read more

Power

Death Haunts
Twelve Gauge (2011)

Having existed for roughly three years now, Bremerton, WA’s, Power have created somewhat of a rep for themselves in the Pacific Northwest. The aftermath of one particular incident resulted in half the band landing in jail—a demolished automobile left in their wake. And legend has it that Power set a dumpster on fire while Tacoma band, Sojourner, were filming a … Read more

Annihilation Time

II (Reissue)
Tankcrimes (2011)

Annihilation Time are a band that has been around for awhile. They play a style of hardcore punk that takes much from old school rock and punk. This is all juiced up and played in a very rock and roll style. With no fucks to be given how anyone feels about it. The band had released this album originally in … Read more

Ninja Gun

Roman Nose
Sabot Productions (2011)

Ninja Gun draws from a lot of sources, playing in the Suburban Home-style market of alt country derived from obtuse punk influences. They tend to eschew chord progressions in favor of soft music and easy articulation built from the steady, honest delivery of their frontman Johnathan Coody. Roman Nose is their latest EP, this one coming from Sabot Productions. Ninja … Read more

Explosions in the Sky

Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
Temporary Residence (2011)

Explosions In The Sky proudly create post-rock music that, though sounding simple, is far from being simplistic. Consistency remains a key element in their vast, instrumental sound, comprised of atmospheric rhythms, lofty dynamics and the band’s ability to produce colorful, emotional soundscapes. Sonics aside, even the illustrious art works of each of their six studio album covers indicate the sort … Read more

Jesu

Ascension
Calo Verde (2011)

Ah Justin Broadrick how you torture my twisted mind with your teasing Jesu EPs and side projects and reunions and remixes (dear lord does this man make a ton of music), but in this instance, Jesu finally release another proper album that people have been slavering for since Conqueror (look, Infinity really is an LP, but even Broadrick calls it … Read more

Big China & Little Trouble

Lo-Panning
Magic Bullet (2011)

Have you ever seen the schlock masterpiece that is Big Trouble In Little China with its crazy martial arts story about an immortal Chinese Ghost sorcerer searching for green eyed girls and a muscle bound Kurt Russell trying to save his green eyed girl from that crazy Lo Pan (portrayed by the estimable James Hong who also played the role … Read more

Swingin' Utters

Here, Under Protest
Fat Wreck Chords (2011)

You can’t accuse Swingin’ Utters of phoning it in. Here, Under Protest is the band’s first studio record in eight years and, unlike some of their contemporaries who release at a similar rate, the record shows notable growth and attention to songwriting nuance. While the San Fran band started out with a strong bent toward street punk anthems, they’ve gradually … Read more

Tyler, The Creator

Goblin
XL Recordings (2011)

By definition, a goblin is an ugly, evil creature of legend; a lowly monster of sin and filth, and represents the anti-culture of the teller. Even though these creatures are fabrications, not to be taken literally, their place in stories is telling of something. They are the scapegoats, the downtrodden, and the easy fix. Tyler, the Creator, the ringleader or … Read more

After Oblivion

Vultures
Independent (2011)

After Oblivion have an extremely modest discography under their belt—a debut EP and that same EP repackaged in a split album. I suppose that this should have tipped me off that After Oblivion weren't necessarily up to snuff yet, but I can't help but feel after listening to Vultures that I went into this particular EP with my expectations too … Read more

Mug

Self Titled
Independent (2011)

Müg are a pretty new band on the punk scene of London, yet they're already making waves and booking shows left, right and centre. Formed between friends and colleagues and featuring a drummer who had never before drummed, Müg are firmly stamping their mark on the punk rock world. This coming year sees them playing Amplitude Festival, supporting The Flatliners, … Read more

Pulling Teeth

Funerary
A389 (2011)

Pulling teeth have always taken the term metalcore to an almost literal degree. Much like Integrity has done in the sense that for every breakdown there is a strong guitar solo or heavy thrash riff. The band found more than a couple detractors with their last release Paranoid Delusions | Paradise Illusions . While im not certain if that was … Read more

Seraphim

The Light In The Distance
A389 (2011)

Seraphim created a good bit of buzz with an EP release last year on A389. What the Ep proved is that this 3 piece was capable of creating an immense amount of power with very little bells and whistles to speak of. While many bands are capable of making a memorable first release very few can take those strengths and … Read more

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