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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)

Aidan Baker

Gathering Blue
Equation (2009)

The amount of work that Aidan Baker produces is absolutely staggering. Besides solo releases like Gathering Blue he releases records as part of Nadja and Whispering Room as well as collaborations with Tim Hecker, ThisQuietArmy, and others. A double LP, Gathering Blue is one coming via Equation Records and in limited quantities (so much so that these might all be missing considering the fanaticism of some Baker-philes). Interestingly enough, Gathering Blue is my first experience of Aidan Baker's solo material; and I am pleasantly surprised with how different the material can be from his other musical projects. The swirls of white noise manipulation and feedback are largely missing from this batch of mellow ambience and moody compositions that more entice listening rather than the demanding listening experience of which I am more familiar from Baker. The gentle sounds of songs like "Bond of Blood", the title track, and even the remix of "The Cicadas Sing Our Love Song" provide one of the more soothing listening experiences that have graced my ears in while. The vocals seem to lull one into a strange stupor as the undulating sounds and just aurally perceptible flourishes work as either background or finely layered arrangements … Read more

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Fired Up

Doomed to Repeat
Youngblood (2009)

Doomed to Repeat is a posthumous release from Fired Up. Fired Up plays extremely fast youth crew inspired hardcore and … Read more

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Face Reality

Positive Change
Dead End (2009)

It's nice to see in 2009 that's there is still youth crew hardcore bands out there. Face Reality is from … Read more

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Jeff Caudill

Try to be Here
Fortunate Son (2009)

Rising from the remains of the pop-punkers Gameface, Jeff Caudill heads out on the road by himself on this trip. … Read more

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Medusa

En Raga Sul
Hawthorne Street (2009)

If the band name and scary artwork didn't tip me off that this was going to be a brutal audio … Read more

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Young Fresh Fellows

I Think This is
Yep Roc (2009)

I love the PR insert that is included with this one. "First new album in 66 years! Produced by Robyn … Read more

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One from the archives

Bold

The Search
Revelation (2005)

Classic Album

Some honesty is required with regards to Bold because while I think some of their music is completely ripping, I have always kind of considered the band a bit of a farce or unintentional parody of the “Youth Crew” era of punk and hardcore in the way that in a live setting a bunch of kids (and I do not mean kids like teenagers and young adults who go to shows with friends but rather honest to god kids whose parents have to drive them and their equipment to play the show because they are barely in middle school kids) going off playing music is a pretty awesome sight to see but while on record that curiosity does not translate to the studio; this has always been Bold to me … Read more

More album reviews

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Foreign Cinema

Non-Synchronous Sound
Parallax Sounds (2009)

Moody, dark, atmospheric rock from this two-piece based out of San Francisco will send a shiver down your spine with this release. Think Peter Murphy backed up by members of The Cure and Mission UK on holiday. There's a definite Faith influence here which I am being drawn into after repeated listens. The last song on this release is a … Read more

Blacklisted

No One Deserves to be Here More Than Me
Deathwish Inc. (2009)

There probably hasn't been a record in recent months that has garnered any more whoopla than Blacklisted's No One Deserves to be Here More Than Me. My word, once people started getting in their pre-orders there was numerous threads and Facebook statuses either for or against this album. If anything, Blacklisted created probably the most talked about album of 2009. … Read more

Annabel

Each and Everyone
Count Your Lucky Stars (2009)

It's been a while since my last review and I'm still shaking off the writing cobwebs. After multiple tests and papers discussing the typical critiques of Western academia over the past few weeks, that module of my brain is somewhat worn out. So I am approaching the end of the decade with a somewhat lazy, but never inattentive, mindset on … Read more

Doomriders

Darkness Come Alive
Deathwish Inc. (2009)

Doomriders debut effort Black Thunder launched the Boston-based outfit into action with their dark-themed hybrid of punk, metal, and hardcore. Since its release the band has kept busy with a slew of recordings surfacing. There was a live 7" EP released shortly after their debut, two split recordings - with Coliseum and Disfear respectively - spread out over the past … Read more

The Human Quena Orchestra

The Politics of the Irredeemable
Crucial Blast (2009)

Surprising as it was to me that The Human Quena Orchestra is a project featuring members of Creation is Crucifixion that flew completely under my radar, I am jumping at the chance to check out what some of those guys are up to with their music. Anyone that ever gave Creation is Crucifixion a listen may recognize the electronic nature … Read more

After the Fall

Fort Orange
Raise Your Fist (2009)

As far as melodic punk goes, After the Fall are very good at what they do. They play a fast, aggressive style of punk that's similar to bands like Propagandhi, Good Riddance, and A Wilhelm Scream. Influence from said bands is evident on first listen to this record. In fact, they pay homage to their influences in some of the … Read more

Battlefields

Thresholds of Imbalance
Translation Loss (2009)

There are bands and musicians that, when heard, give off the sense that their physical environment informs, influences, and shapes their music. Battlefields is surely one of those bands whose base of operations plays a part in just what their music sounds like. And coming from Minnesota and Fargo, North Dakota, an image of stark and harsh winters and a … Read more

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Foundation

Hang Your Head
Six Feet Under (2009)

I grew up on '90s hardcore, so when I hear new band's drawing influence from that era I get excited. Atlanta's Foundation does just that and this new EP is a welcome addition to my collection of present day bands paying homage to the '90s. "Fireproof" sets the tone with heavy metallic hardcore on the '90s tip - think Unbroken … Read more

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TV Crimes

Demo
Independent (2009)

I take pride in my local hardcore scene. I try to make it out to as many shows as I can, support friends in bands in any way possible, and occasionally book a show or two. So I'm continuing to do my part by telling you about TV Crimes, my favorite local band right now. TV Crimes fuse together early … Read more

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Like Wolves

Paths
Independent (2009)

Paths is the second 7" release from Rochester's Like Wolves. I really enjoyed their demo 7", but this is even better, showing immense promise for future recordings. Just as with the songs on their demo, "Live Wires" boasts some stellar guitar work, bringing to mind the hardcore meets rock approach of The Suicide File. Meanwhile "Saturate" and "Dying to Survive" … Read more

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Troublemaker

Sons of No One
Neutral Territory (2009)

New Jersey's Troublemaker (not to be confused with the Westcoast one) bring forth seven new songs on their Sons of No One 7". The band offer up a raw hardcore punk approach that brings to mind Trash Talk and early Outbreak. Tracks like "Worse for Wear" and "Drone" are short and frenzied while "Enabler" and "Beating a Dead Workhorse" are … Read more

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Damages

Scars
Clue #2 (2009)

About this time last year I received a 7" from a band named All Through a Life. That 7" contained a welcome surprise of D.C. inspired hardcore. Well apparently they are no longer a band, but a couple of the members have reconvened in Damages. Scars essentially picks up where the members left off with their previous band. Damages still … Read more

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Stressed Out / Rip it Up

Split
Independent (2009)

Self-released split 7"s are a rarity these days. This one features two bands from the state of New Jersey with both bands offering their take on straight edge hardcore. Stressed Out play fairly straightforward aggressive hardcore punk. It's got a definite vintage approach; though they do work in some thrash metal flair with solos. I think the band's strongest aspect … Read more

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Fake Problems / Ninja Gun

Split
Sabot Productions (2009)

This split 7" from Sabot teams up two punk sensations for one exclusive track each. Fake Problems offer up "The Manliest Man of All Men," which is very much in tune with their preceding full-length, It's Great to be Alive. The band builds on their quirky punk sound with a hint of bluesy rock and roll and indie rock flavoring; … Read more

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