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200 Words Or Less

Wraith

Wraith
Reflections (2008)

Wraith is the latest U.K. export to hit my doorstep. Following on solid releases from Rot in Hell, Deal With It, and Dirty Money, the scene over there is starting to look rather promising again. While only a band for a year, Wraith has already built a massive following. And when you listen to this 7" you'll know just why. … Read more

200 Words Or Less

All Through a Life

All Through a Life
Clue #2 (2008)

Unsolicited review materials are either one of two things: great surprises or extreme disappointments. Vancouver, British Columbia natives All Through a Life is of the first grouping. Prior to its arrival in the mail, I had never heard of All Though a Life. Over the course of this three-song 7" the Canadian four-piece experiments with a crossing of Dischord-esque punk … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Resonance

Transfuse
Collapse (2008)

Now defunct Virginia Beach outfit Resonance sees their two demos put to wax on this 12" affair. Transfuse boasts ten tracks of hardcore that is as potent as it is tenuous. On first listen, the ten songs that compile this recording may appear to be nothing more than standard fare melodic hardcore. However, after repeated spins, the diversity of the … Read more

200 Words Or Less

In First Person / Storm the Bastille

Split
Ape Must Not Kill Ape / Protag (2008)

In First Person from New Jersey starts off the a-side with their dissonant and pummeling metallic hardcore sound. The band's highly concentrated and volatile sound is reminiscent of Cursed, Tragedy, and Deadguy. The three-piece outfit, which boasts former members of You and I as well as The Assistant, destroys it on these four songs. If you missed their previous full-length, … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Ghostlimb

Bearing and Distance
Level Plane/Adagio (2008)

Ghostlimb is a project spearheaded by Justin Smith of Graf Orlock. Bearing and Distance is the band's second full-length release and first for Level Plane (vinyl was handled by Adagio). Whereas Graf Orlock takes a novelty approach to grindcore, Ghostlimb takes a more direct and serious approach to hardcore. In fact, the band's sound has a lot more in common … Read more

200 Words Or Less

O Pioneers!!! / The Anchor

Split
Triumph of Life (2008)

The great state of Texas offers up two songs a piece from O Pioneers!!! and The Anchor. In the works for over a year, this split 7" is finally available to all who boast a beard! O Pioneers!!! offers up two cuts of dirty punk that will appeal to anyone who loves Asian Man and No Idea Records. I've had … Read more

Coffins

Buried Death
20 Buck Spin (2008)

Hailing from Japan, Coffins play a vicious style of doom that relentlessly pummels listeners while at the same time is raw and unhinged. Buried Death is the three-piece group's third full-length (all released since 2005 after a long career without an album and an eventual reformation in 2003). In any case, there is a significant amount of hype flying around … Read more

Glissando

With Our Arms Wide Open We March Towards the Burning Sea
Gizeh (2008)

I have a confession to make. I love local music. I am seriously biased with regards to it and will shamelessly plug it to whoever is unfortunate enough to be around me when the topic crops up. Fortunately for all of you however, I am currently living in Leeds which is a hotbed of genuinely interesting and varied music. There … Read more

Fucked Up

The Chemistry of Common Life
Matador (2008)

In Fucked Up's early years, they only released songs on seven-inch records, two songs at time, sometimes three, very rarely four or more. Songs during the fifties and sixties were released in a similar fashion, the jukebox single on the a-side with one or two more on the back. Songs rarely exceeded the four-minute mark due to the space constraints … Read more

Mouth of the Architect

Quietly
Translation Loss (2008)

It has been a rather tumultuous year for Mouth of the Architect. Late last year the band announced their breakup as a result of the departure of their main songwriter and guitarist/vocalist. Not more than a few days later the band had a change of heart, revealing they would be continuing on, and with original vocalist/guitarist Alex Vernon returning to … Read more

Mogwai

The Hawk is Howling
Matador (2008)

The usual post-rock sites were ablaze with "new Mogwai is boring" posts a few weeks before it was released, which signaled not only the impending leak had finally happened, but also the expected, but all-too-easy, tendency to judge before really listening. I would have just ignored these dismissals anyway, but they got me wondering what to expect with album previews … Read more

Broadcast Sea

Wounded Soldier
Pluto (2008)

Wounded Soldier might be a concept album of sorts since its lyrical compositions are full of themes dealing with the experiences of the brother of Broadcast Sea's vocalist and guitarist, Sterling Wilson, while he serves time as a soldier in Iraq. So right off the bat, Broadcast Sea might present one heavy album. Even though the band is not generally … Read more

Multiple Authors

Okkervil River

The Stand Ins
Jagjaguwar (2008)

"But there's this idea that nobody can tell you if something is good or not, you have to decide whether you think it's good. And nobody is more of an authority than anyone else." The quote above is part of a response singer Will Sheff said when interviewed about his then forthcoming record The Stage Names. The interviewer had asked … Read more

Multiple Authors

Okkervil River

The Stand Ins
Jagjaguwar (2008)

I have this vaguely unpleasant sensation lately when listening to The Stand Ins that Okkervil River's Will Sheff (guitar and vocals) is peering in the windows at me. I'm probably not alone in this, though. Throughout The Stand Ins, universal themes are rendered in careful fragments, and anchored with lyrical details so seemingly specific that they're almost biographical. Sure, Okkervil … Read more

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