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Parasitic Skies

The Descent
Seventh Dagger (2010)

Metalcore may be the most loaded term in modern underground music. For most it means you sound like Hatebreed or for the slightly more adventurous Heaven Shall Burn. Either way, you're running the risk of monotony and probably jokes at your expense from those too cool. While I say this, there was a time in the 90's that metalcore was … Read more

Harvestman

In a Dark Tongue
Neurot (2009)

Being a side project of a member of Neurosis always lends an air of cache to such musical project, and Harvestman is one that is certainly intriguing as it could be considered an almost psychedelic (an insane description of music if ever I heard one, although there are worse) outfit, which gives me the impression of Neurosis minus the heaviness. … Read more

The Love Below

Reproductive Rights
A389 (2010)

Do you like your hardcore punk raw sounding so that it comes across in absolutely vicious manner? If so, then The Love Below should surely be moved to the front of the line of bands to check out and their latest EP, Reproductive Rights, is a great place to start. This whole release is pretty classic from the packaging, to … Read more

Nathan Xander

The Fear
Deep Elm (2009)

Every once in awhile you try out an album and it becomes a happy accident. These albums become special to you because you just took a chance and found something special. I was hoping for this when I picked this from the promo pile. I had high hopes as this was compared to Ryan Adams primarily. While this comparison fits … Read more

The Tallest Man on Earth

The Wild Hunt
Dead Oceans (2010)

Kristian Matsson, aka The Tallest Man on Earth, wants to sound like Bob Dylan. Who doesn't? Well, I can name a few bands, but I won't go there. Besides, any comparisons to the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer are a waste of time. The Tallest Man on Earth is his own musician with his own goals, even if it … Read more

Prayers for Atheists

Prayers for Atheists
Strange Famous (2009)

I wasn't sure what to make of this upon getting it. I had seen it compared to hip-hop, Rage Against The Machine, Whole Wheat Bread, and spoken word. The thing is all of these comparisons fit, sometimes all at once really. This EP acts as a historical documentation of sorts. According to the liner notes this was written, lyrically, by … Read more

One Starving Day

Atlas Coelestis
Beta Lactam Ring/Nar Shardaa (2010)

After catching their last LP, Broken Wings Lead Arms to the Sun, One Starving Day remains on my radar; so, when their latest album, Atlas Coelestis was announced, an anxious period of waiting immediately followed. Even though the band was heavily indebted to bands like Neurosis, One Starving Day still brought a great deal of panache and style to the … Read more

Nails

Unsilent Death
Six Feet Under (2010)

Sheer brute force is the best way to describe this album from Nails (featuring ex-members of Carry On); Unsilent Death (the second release from this outfit) is a short sharp shock of hardcore crunch that smacks you in the face and then asks if you would like another during the course of its ten blasts. Seriously, it has been a … Read more

Actors & Actresses

Arrows
The Mylene Sheath (2009)

There are certain labels as a music fan that I follow wholeheartedly. I could say The Mylene Sheath is one of these labels for me. They have a strong reputation for putting out spacey post-rock with a flair for nice packaging. So I was kind of excited to be able to check out one of the labels most recent signings. … Read more

The Morning After Girls

Alone
Independent (2009)

The Morning After Girls are a band from New York by way of Melbourne. I have to assume their name is more a reference to the haziness that follows a night out, as opposed to the pill bearing a similar name. Musically, they are descendants of the fuzzy psych-rock of bands like Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine, … Read more

Invasion

The Master Alchemist
This Is Music (2009)

Now listen carefully, people I'm only going to say this once. You need to listen to this album. Further to that, most people need to own it. I hate to kick off with such a blatant endorsement that has now leached out all sense of suspense from reading this modest review, but frankly this is the most refreshing and urgent … Read more

Kickback

No Surrender
GSR (2009)

Apparently Kickback is from France and is controversial as well as infamous. I'm not trying to doubt these claims but I haven't been able to find any reason why they'd be either of the last two things save for some of their artwork and the music video now streaming on their Myspace page. For a band that is nearing twenty … Read more

She & Him

Volume Two
Merge (2010)

Following up the aptly titled Volume One with an album that has equally fitting title of Volume Two, Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward show that She & Him is not a short lived vanity project for Ms. Deschanel, nor a mere dalliance for Mr. Ward. This time around, She & Him have the benefit (and curse) of knowing that people … Read more

The Takers

Taker Easy
Suburban Home (2009)

The Takers are the latest entry in the country revival coming out of the punk scene over the last few years. What sets The Takers apart from most of these bands is their absolute ability to sound like a normal old school country band. That is to say, there isn't some folk punk nonsense or a punk chorus or even … Read more

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