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)

The 69 Eyes

Death Of Darkness
Atomic Fire Records (2023)

Death Of Darkness is the thirteenth album from the Helsinki vampires The 69 Eyes. The Finnish five piece have been knocking out their smooth style of gothic, glam rock since the early 90s and have managed to deliver stunning unique and catchy albums every single time. This up coming eagerly awaited album Death Of Darkness is no exception. Featuring 10 tracks of the band at their sultry best. It includes the three tracks from their 2022 EP Drive as well as their previously unreleased cover of 80's Finnish rock band Boycott "Gotta Rock" and a track featuring guest vocals from Kat Von D! The feeling of Death Of Darkness is one of slick 80s goth rock meets new romantic glitz complete with sex appeal, leather jackets and topped off with a pair of snazzy sunglasses. I have always been captivated by The 69 Eyes especially Jyrki 69's incredibly addictive voice. The four minute long opening title track "Death Of Darkness" sets the album up in dramatic style with an awesome, haunting piano driven intro, an incredible electricity and a very catchy chorus. I love how The 69 Eyes boldly incorporate other styles yet still remain true to their own sound. … Read more

Various Artists

Mooorree Than Just Another Comp
Lavasocks Records, Sell The Heart Records (2023)

Mooorree Than Just Another Comp is a 33-track double LP compilation from Sell The Heart Records and Lavasocks Records, covering … Read more

The Bar Stool Preachers

Above the Static
Pure Noise (2023)

I first discovered The Bar Stool Preachers back in 2018 when they released their amazing record, Grazie Governo. The comfort … Read more

Gee Tee

Goodnight Neanderthal
Goner (2023)

I really don’t know much about Gee Tee, and sometimes when writing a review I like to keep it that … Read more

CIVIC

Taken By Force
ATO (2023)

You’re a professional musician. You fixate on creation. On guitar tones. On overarching themes. You’re writing your third studio album … Read more

Various Artists

Litovsk/Hinin - Split EP
Bad Health Records, Dans le Vide, Donnez Moi Du Feu, Going Postal Records, Hidden Bay, Medication Time, Senseless Acts Of Anger (2023)

Two French bands join forces on this EP. Both bands deliver us one new song and one cover. Both play … Read more

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One from the archives

Razor of Occam

Homage to Martyrs
Metal Blade (2009)

Blackened thrash metal has been getting a lot more popular recently with bands like Skeletonwitch and Toxic Holocaust getting more recognition as of late. Like most sub-genres, there are bands who are worthy contributors to the scene and then there are those who are simply followers and the United Kingdom's Razor of Occam, are without a doubt, more than worthy contributors to this rising genre. The band has been around for eleven years and is composed of former members of the band Destroyer 666. Just what does Razor of Occam bring to the table though? How about a completely authentic black metal sound with some amazing guitar work. The band recently signing to Metal Blade will help them get their name out even further as their debut album, Homage yo … Read more

More album reviews

Tukatukas

Royal Bourbon
D.I.Y. Koło Records (2022)

Hailing from Reunion Island surrounded by the Indian Ocean -Tukatukas take an exciting detour on punk/hardcore which brings you up around the bend and slightly left. Tukatukas have caused concern among local inhabitants on this beautiful Island merely for the decibel levels they have been obtaining and the fact there are known volcanos existing among them. The volcano in question … Read more

Truth Cult

Walk the Wheel
Pop Wig Records (2023)

Walk the Wheel is the second LP from Truth Cult, but my first introduction to them. My first impression was that the sound would be loud, aggressive, and chaotic. But with 11 songs total, only the opening song, “Squeeze,” really hits that hardcore-style aggression. The rest is certainly loud and chaotic, but after that song it’s alternately more melodic and … Read more

Eric Angelo Bessel

Visitation
Lore City Music (2023)

Visitation is the debut solo album from visual artist and musician, Eric Angelo Bessel. One half of experimental, gothic, post rock duo Lore City based in Portland, Oregon. In terms of pace and feeling Visitation is a stunning collaboration of serenity and calm laced with highly emotive inflections of darkness and foreboding. The eight instrumental tales take you on a … Read more

Skating Polly

Hickey King
El Camino Media (2023)

There’s always a fear, of course, that the anticipation is better. That the five year long wait was actually the best part. Dutifully analyzing Instagram posts and new set lists. Listening to every podcast appearance and solo project. There’s a fear, of course, that it won’t be worth it. They’ll stray too far from their roots. They won’t evolve at … Read more

Katatonia

Sky Void of Stars
Napalm (2023)

Forgive me, for a moment, while I take some time to explain that sitting down to write this piece was difficult. I stopped and started several times and that’s not counting the amount of days I spent just thinking about writing a review. You see, Katatonia are an institution and I felt that trying to describe their music was a … Read more

Various Artists

Brains For Friends
Bubblegum Attack Records (2022)

Bubblegum Attack Records from Moscow, Russia have brought together four awesome and uniquely different horrorpunk bands to bring us this twelve track split album entitled Brains For Friends. This is by far the best thing to come out of Russia since balaclavas and vodka, especially in the last year or so. Brains For Friends features three tracks from four different … Read more

Screaming Females

Desire Pathway
Don Giovanni (2023)

The lead song and first single on Desire Pathway” is “Brass Bell,” a fine song that’s indicative of Screaming Females’ general sound. That said, it’s really the second song, “Desert Train,” which gets this album rolling for me. It’s a fierce guitar song that’s hard and driving. Just like its name, it’s steeped in classic rock but with modern twists. … Read more

Won't Stay Dead

3 Hits From Purgatory
We Are Horror Records (2023)

Won't Stay Dead are back with a few more tracks following on from their album Purgatory released in Oct 2022 https://www.scenepointblank.com/reviews ... purgatory/. This EP entitled 3 Hits From Purgatory contains two previously unreleased tracks from the Purgatory sessions. "New Descent" and "Nine Guys (No Weapons)" might not have made it onto the album, instead they were destined for bigger … Read more

Buen Destino

Buen Destino
BCore (2023)

Buen Destino is a new hardcore band from Barcelona. It is formed by members and ex-members of a host of other bands, none of which rung a bell. On this self-titled album the band incorporates a big range of influences. Their Bandcamp tells me this album should appeal to fans of Killing Joke, Discharge, Converge, Jesus Lizard, Daughters, Dead Cross, … Read more

Heihaizi

Heihaizi
Turbo Discos (2023)

Google Heihaizi and you will find a wikipedia entry telling you: “The term denotes children born outside the One child policy, or generally children who are not registered in the national household registration system.” Not exactly what I expected. I am not really sure what this name means for the band. Perhaps it just sounds cool to them. Perhaps they … Read more

Bogos

Empty Bottles
Voodoo Rhythm (2022)

Sante, Salud, Prost ,Salute ,Saúde,Proost, Skål,Kippis,3а здоровье,乾杯, 건배,干杯 ,Şerefe ,في صحتك , לחיים , ΥΓΕΙΑ , Na zdrowie ,Na zdraví, Cheers! I sauntered into the dimly lit old man's bar closing the door behind the impeding swirling snowstorm brewing outside. Upon my unnoticed entry(this was no Cheers!-no cries of Norm were echoed by patrons) my eyes were immediately drawn to … Read more

The Creepy Crawlers

Attack!
We Are Horror Records (2023)

Ohio based trio The Creepy Crawlers formed in October 2022. The brainchild of vocalist/guitarist Rev. Chad Wells (The Jackalopes/Cricketbows) and features band mates Scarika Watson and P.J Wells, also from psychedelic rock band Cricketbows. The Creepy Crawlers blend shock-rock and horror-rock, incorporating songs inspired by true crime, the occult and 80s horror movies. This five track EP was lovingly created … Read more

Houseghost

Another Realm
Rad Girlfriend Records (2022)

Houseghost sprung up in late 2020, releasing their debut near Halloween. Two years later the ghost returns with more stories from Another Realm. The band features members of other bands and play poppy punk with a lot of harmonies. It’s peppy, catchy stuff that’s more about singalongs and pogoing than spitting vitriol. The band also has a theme or, arguably, … Read more

The Brokedowns

Maximum Khaki
Red Scare Industries (2023)

As musicians grow older, they have less time to play live, to tour, and to write. It’s been five years since Sick Of Space. The world may have changed, but The Brokedowns have not. Maximum Khaki may nod to their middle-age in the title, and songs like “I’m Sore,” reinforce that, but at heart The Brokedowns are still some goofy … Read more

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