Recent reviews

Our latest album reviews, featuring the records we've most enjoyed (or not) over the past few weeks.

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

Blacklist Royals

Semper Liberi
Paper + Plastick (2010)

Paper + Plastick seem to release new albums by fairly new bands at a pretty regular clip. Blacklist Royals are just the newest in that line. The band plays what has become a very popular style of punk rock at this point. Punk bands playing rock and roll is definitely not a new thing. Gaslight Anthem has shown that it can even be quite popular. The problem in general is unlike TGA a lot of bands fail to master their own identity and merely play passable songs with a “punk rock“attitude. The question is where do The Blacklist Royals fit into this equation? Well they make a very admirable run at it. The band includes some different markers to make the most of their songwriting. This includes piano and organ to bolster the sound and give it a more retro feel overall. The band includes acoustic guitars at point making for a more complete and overall rock sound. They also manage to work in a harmonica a few times for a true skuzzy bar rock feel (this is a compliment). The singer’s voice is strong yet not entirely distinct. It has a strong grit to it that certainly differentiates it … Read more

Imelda May

Mayhem
Decca (2010)

It’s been said that the second album is always a tough one. Following on from an album that you have … Read more

Iron Chic

Not Like This
Dead Broke Rekerds (2010)

There are albums that you listen to with headphones to catch every subtle detail in its production. Then there are … Read more

Coliseum

House With A Curse
Temporary Residence (2010)

One of the beautiful things about making music and sonic art, is that the artists and bands can take their … Read more

Make Do and Mend

End Measured Mile
Paper + Plastick (2010)

This has been one the more highly anticipated records within the punk and hardcore scene in this year. How does … Read more

Various Artists

A Death Cinematic / Sons Of Alpha Centaurii - Split
Simple Box Construction (2010)

A good split record now and then is a great concept by two collaborating outfits, and even though people might … Read more

Browse our review archives

Review categories

200 Words Or Less

750 reviews

Book Review

42 reviews

Classic Album

25 reviews

Multiple Authors

300 reviews

Review

4926 reviews

Video/DVD Review

19 reviews

One from the archives

Low Forms

Low Forms EP
Big Action Records/Tectonic Plates (2014)

Low Forms self-titled 7” is a six minute blast of power-pop defined by clean guitars, rhythmic chops, and traditional format rock ’n’ roll. While it’s not reinventing anything, it’s a solid homage to a timeless style with a nice build-up from opening verse to close, milking the verse-chorus-verse structure to increase urgency as the song progresses without succumbing to dumbed down, boring repetition. It’s a hard task to pull off and the band does it well. The riffs stick in mind more than the lyrics of “Cherry Tigers,” but the overall substance definitely has some sticking power.On side B the band introduces a changeup with group vocals that pile on a higher sense of harmony before shifting into the smooth sensations of “Pendulum Swing,” an apt title for the song … Read more

More album reviews

Various Artists

Fight Amp/Ladder Devils/Kowloon Walled City (Three-way split) – Lose Lose Lose
Brutal Panda (2010)

This three-way split features the New Jersey trio Fight Amp, Philadelphia’s Ladder Devils (former members of The Minor Times), and San Francisco’s sludgy Kowloon Walled City. While the three bands play three different styles of aggressive music, the sound of the split as a whole is entirely cohesive. Lose Lose Lose collectively is a great album from the three bands. … Read more

Cephalic Carnage

Misled By Certainty
Relapse (2010)

Cephalic Carnage have been around the block. For nearly twenty years they’ve been playing their unique blend of grindcore and technical death metal. When it comes to metal, these guys know what the fuck is up. Their previous album Xenosapien is one of my favorites from any genre to have been released in the past few years. That record was … Read more

Year of No Light

Ausserwelt
E-Music (2010)

Ausserwelt is the sophomore album from Year Of No Light following up their excellent debut, Nord; and while this outfit took a bit of time in between the two records, evidently some turmoil aided in the birthing of the four pieces to be heard on Ausserwelt; the band cleared these issues and underwent some lineup shuffling before finally laying this … Read more

The Brokedowns

Species Bender
Red Scare (2010)

Three long years after New Brains for Everyone rallied cynical drunks everywhere, the Brokedowns have returned with another full-length, this time for Chicago’s Red Scare Industries. From a stomping wooly mammoth adorning the cover to the shout-a-long climactic ending, Species Bender is a record that both celebrates and lampoons a civilization that bears more in common with its caveman founders … Read more

The Secret

Solve Et Coagula
Southern Lord (2010)

This four-piece crust/grind band hails from Trieste, Italy and formed in 2003. The Secret released their first record Luce on Goodfellow Records. After various line-up changes the band finally released their second record Disintoxication in 2008. Since then Goodfellow Records is no longer a functioning label. The Secret found a home in Southern Lord Recordings after an impressive demo was … Read more

Let Me Run

Broken Strings EP
Paper + Plastick (2010)

Let Me Run managed to get alot of recognition in 2009 very quickly. This maybe be because of their jersey roots and owing much in sound to one Gaslight Anthem. These things helped them gain alot of attention along with some touring and some very good songs. The songs were good but could notably use some work, as they never … Read more

A Wilhelm Scream

Self Titled
Paper + Plastick (2010)

A Wilhelm Scream are back. After a period of absence the mighty punks from the northeast are back. The band seemed to dissapear for a period after their last full length. While that record was good it felt like it wasn't up to their standard. Some songs didn't roll by as smoothly as others. Come 2010 and they are back … Read more

Swans

My Father Will Guide Us Up A Rope To The Sky
Young God (2010)

Sitting here listening to the new Swans album, My Father Will Guide Us Up A Rope To The Sky, difficult thoughts ripple through my mind because of how I personally feel about this record and because of how this album is being viewed by the multitudes of people who have been waiting with baited breath to hear what many people … Read more

Nadja

Autopergamene
Essence Music (2010)

Nadja has certainly outdone themselves on this one; Autopergamene is an absolute artistic triumph in every way imaginable (the deluxe CD version of the release is in any case, and at the time of this little expose there is no vinyl version available) from the breathtaking packaging to the sheer volume of visual artwork to the beatific sounds laid to … Read more

Autopsy

The Tomb Within EP
Peaceville (2010)

Autopsy are a band of legacy as one of the original death metal bands. Sure they had left for awhile to do other bands and whatever else. Now they return with a barnburner of an EP. Truly nothing has really changed for this band. They are still incredibly heavy have their noted gurgling death vocal style and strong leads. Certain … Read more

A Loss For Words

Motown Classics
Paper + Plastick (2010)

A Loss For Words are an above average pop punk band. That is a rather general statement but, noting that i have listened to their previous work i can say alot of things. Going into this cover album i was somewhat excited yet skeptical. Very rarely does a cover album come out to be more than a fun yet passable … Read more

Zu

Carboniferous
Ipecac (2009)

Zu are a strange band. They are the type of band that could almost only fit on Ipecac because they love the abnormal. They are discordant and noisy and beautiful and also Italian. Noted, that last one doesn't have much bearing on the music just a nice note. The band has a long history of upsetting audiences throughout Europe and … Read more

Afgrund

Vid Helvetets Grindar
Willowtip (2009)

Grindcore is tough genre to single most bands out of. There are standouts like Napalm Death and heirs to the throne like Misery Index (I know not just a grind band). Still beyond the few acts that truly stick themselves out above the scum there is little definition within the ranks. So in a way this makes any band doing … Read more

Cococoma

Things Are Not Alright
Goner (2009)

Goner records has a certain sound to everything on their label. Part Ramones, part garage band record it lo-fi and or subtract piano and organs as you see fit. There is something absolutely great about the simplicity and childlike love of classic 60's garage rock that is contained in each release. So I can't be faulted for having some vague … Read more

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