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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)

Cult Ritual

Cult Ritual
Youth Attack (2009)

Before I begin, let me get this off my chest: I wasn't a big fan of Cult Ritual's EPs. I don't mean to offend. It's very possible that the glowing reviews from punk blogs across the web had me convinced that I was about to experience some sort of musical enlightenment. Listening to Cult Ritual would somehow turn my life around, I would see the light, and whatever uncertainties I had about hardcore in general would suddenly vanish. Well, this wasn't exactly the case, however I still found those EPs to be pretty decent. Noisier, discordant, Black Flag influence punk? Yeah, I'm down with that. But after giving those records a spin, I just remember telling myself, "Alright. Well, that was pretty cool. What's next?" Don't get me wrong, that second EP was absolutely killer, but I couldn't help but feel just a tad bit misled. So when I learned their first full-length would drop earlier this summer, I can assure you that I wasn't ready to celebrate by running down the street, screaming at random passers-by that I had suddenly discovered the missing piece of my life. No, that would be silly. Looking back, however, I probably should have. … Read more

Iron Age

The Sleeping Eye
Tee Pee (2009)

Texas natives Iron Age return with their second long-player, The Sleeping Eye, after making quite a name for themselves with … Read more

Black Hell

How the Rest was Lost
Hater of God (2009)

Venture deep into the desert of the Southwest and you'll find Black Hell, a doom metal quartet featuring ex-members of … Read more

Unholy

New Life Behind Closed Eyes
Prosthetic (2009)

Unholy returns with a brand new full-length effort, and with it comes a number of new beginnings. First off, the … Read more

Weekend Nachos

Unforgivable
Deep Six (2009)

When I heard Punish and Destroy for the first time, Weekend Nachos easily became one of my favorite punk/metal bands. … Read more

Cough

Sigillum Luciferi
Forcefield (2008)

The liner notes for Sigillum Luciferi are emblazoned with the phase "tune down, smoke up," which really ought to be … Read more

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One from the archives

30,000 Monkies

Somewhere Over The Painbow
Consouling Sounds (2013)

Somewhere between rock, stoner, sludge and noise, 30,000 Monkies manage to find a point of equilibrium and they are now unleashing their latest EP, Somewhere Over The Painbow. The malice of the Melvins merges with the spirit of Sonic Youth to bring four songs that will leave you stunned. With their furious sound, heavy riffs and relentless groove, this release is an unexpected surprise for fans of heavy experimental music. The destructive start of “Imperial Staches” kicks things off in a very impressive manner, a bit reminiscent of earlier Mastodon works, laying waste before 30,000 Monkies let their groove unfold and forcing you to lose yourself within the dynamics of the track. “Amazones” continues on the same path, with the band building a towering groove, while sending your way small … Read more

More album reviews

200 Words Or Less

At Our Heels

At Our Heels
Heart In Hand (2009)

At Our Heels is yet another in the ever growing list of bands to emerge from the Bay Area's excellent hardcore scene. Alex Pulisci began piecing together what would come to be At Our Heels following the breakup of Love, Hope and Fear. Musically the group treads similar water, fast-paced hardcore with a rock swagger. Pulisci, who enlists the drumming … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Tigers Jaw

Spirit Desire
Tiny Engines (2009)

Scranton, PA's Tigers Jaw has really captivated listeners since releasing their second full-length album last year. Sure, they released their first full-length two years prior, a release that A LOT of people missed, but sometimes it just takes time for a band to have an impact. Spirit Desire is a three-song 7" that follows through on the direction the band … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Strangers

Night Minutes
Action Man (2009)

Night Minutes is the latest release from New Zealand's Strangers. The group made quite a splash with their 2007 debut, Holding., and the subsequent full-length, Weight. This six-song 7" release continues Strangers destructive and abrasive metallic assault, beginning with "Voyeur." It's fast and raw; the guitars are loud and the low end is extremely powerful. Fans of Jane Doe-era Converge … Read more

200 Words Or Less

In the Hollows

In the Hollows
Mightier Than Sword (2009)

The pedigree of Baltimore-based In the Hollows is impressive, featuring members of Champion, Pulling Teeth, and Ruiner. The group offers up their debut release, a three-song self-titled EP. "Move Away" starts things off, and is a rock meets punk concoction similar to what bands like The Bronx and Hour of the Wolf are offering up. "In the Static" is centered … Read more

200 Words Or Less

The Recluse

Summer Showers
Heart In Hand (2009)

Summer Showers is my first exposure to Alabama group The Recluse. I swore I heard their name before, in fact I think I saw them once... maybe not. I can't quite place where/why/how I know them. "Pre-Death Realizations" is the leading cut and it is an odd song as it walks the line between equal parts melodic hardcore and metallic … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Masakari

Eden Compromised
Halo of Flies (2009)

After one listen to Eden Compromised, it's not surprising to find that Masakari take their name from a battle-axe used in ancient Japan. The four songs that make up this debut 7" are as destructive as a blow to the skull with such a weapon. "The War Within" is a thundering, metallic slab of meaty riffs and pummeling, chaotic drums. … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Oak & Bone

Oak & Bone
Hex (2009)

Oak and Bone hail from upstate New York, but when you listen to their debut 7" you would definitely not assume that by any guess. While their history is rooted in hardcore punk, the three-piece from Syracuse take a different approach to the style. The 7" opens with "On Your Own or Not at All," which is a sludgy punk/grunge … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Higher Giant

The First Five
Runner Up (2009)

Kid Dynamite. Grey Area. Paint it Black. Lifetime. Warzone. Yeah, these guys were in more than just a few quality bands over the past years. But this is something new, and Higher Giant brings forth their debut 7", a five-song offering of melodic punk. On these five songs the band delves in a melodic punk sound akin to The Bouncing … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Mirrors and Wires

Colourized Audio Transmission
Headcount (2009)

Well. Colourized Audio Transmission from Mirrors and Wires is the most random album that I've received to review thus far this year. Released on Headcount Records - a mostly hardcore/punk label - we get anything but that sort. This 7" EP is a mixture of surf-punk and rock and roll. I really know little of the genre other than Dick … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Zhenia Golov / Botox Party

Split
Railroaded (2009)

Railroaded Records teams up two Eastcoast acts on this limited split 7" release: Zhenia Golov from New Brunswick, New Jersey and Botox Party from Richmond, Virgina. Zhenia Golov return with two new cuts of fast, raw hardcore punk. They've built of their previous 7" release with more fury and it suits them well. I'd like to see what they'd offer … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Adams Dagger

The Ripper
Durty Mick (2009)

Adams Dagger - California by way of Florida. This reminds of the 80's hardcore scene when bands moved from all over to California or New York to make it big. So in a way, this is nostalgic and so is the music. Adams Dagger play an 80's-inspired hardcore punk. The guitars definitely remind me a lot of the first Bad … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Child Bite / This Moment In Black History

Split
Forge Again (2009)

A couple of the rust-belt cities connect themselves through this new split 7" release. Detroit's Child Bite and Cleveland's This Moment in Black History each offer up one brand new song on this vinyl. Child Bite bring forth "Mammal Manners" in just under three minutes. The eccentric five-piece sounds like Secret Chiefs 3 fronted by Fred Schneider. It's bizarre, and … Read more

Drag the River

Bad at Breaking Up
Suburban Home (2009)

"I know I'm not the easiest lover," Drag the River admits in "Jeff Black Song." That honest and simple line over a minimal acoustic track tells you as much as you need to know about Drag the River. The alt-country band started as a side project, grew into a full-time band, and fell apart as band members went in different … Read more

Mike Hale

Lives Like Mine
Suburban Home (2009)

In the Red frontman Mike Hale recently made the decision to be a musician full-time and he's been very busy at work considering that his solo record, Lives Like Mine, was recorded only two weeks after In the Red's second album was released. One would think that the album may have been rushed and the quality of the songs may … Read more

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