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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)

A Caesar Holiday

A Caesar Holiday
Independent (2008)

The five-piece A Caesar Holiday offer up six tracks totaling forty-five minutes on their self-titled debut release. Featuring the combined instrumentation of violin, dual guitars, bass, drums, and accordion the Indianapolis group offer moody and mostly instrumental music falling somewhere between prog and post-rock. The album is at its strongest in the tracks featuring the violin work of Eison, most notably "Let Bygones" and "The Narcissist." The violin separates it from many similar sounding contemporaries and adds a fluid soundscape to fill out the hypnotic rhythm section. The album starts out with "A Little Bird Told Me," an unspectacular track that sets the tone for the rest of the record. It utilizes a slow crescendo post-rock structure until building into a more repetitive rock 'n roll arrangement. The band mixes in some Battles-style cartoony tone jumps and a countrified violin. The record quickly shifts gears on the next track, "Let Bygones," which begins with a weeping violin that transmits a rainy day soundtrack vibe. The peaceful harmony develops over calm vocals and espouses a warm but disconnected feeling. "Snoopy Takes the Cake" is a fair representation of the band: it has a strong Red Sparrowes sound, utilizing textured guitars that … Read more

The T4 Project

Story-Based Concept Album
Mental (2008)

Before this monstrosity hit my mailbox the only concept album that I own was Hüsker Dü's Zen Arcade. Even that … Read more

Aussitôt Mort

6 Songs
Level Plane (2007)

Aussitôt Mort means "immediately dead" in the French language. Their name, as well as their sound, is marked by powerful … Read more

Atmosphere

When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold
Rhymesayers (2008)

While When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold brings Ant and Slug closer to full-blown mainstream success, … Read more

Helms Alee

Helms Alee
Rome Plow / Broken Press (2008)

So, the news is trickling out that Helms Alee is the new band by Ben Verellen, (Harkonen, Roy, These Arms … Read more

Unseen Force

In Search of the Truth (Reissue)
Grave Mistake (2008)

Most people that really delve deep into and are passionate about hardcore and punk know Richmond, Virginia for its fruitful … Read more

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One from the archives

Tragedy

Nerve Damage
Tragedy (2006)

Honestly, Tragedy has to be considered one of the best punk bands going right now. Their music is super tight and just awesome. Their lyrics are poignant. The vocals are down right devastating to hear (coming from both of the vocalists). A few weeks ago, I was commenting how it had been too long of a gap between their last album, Vengeance and anything new. I know they had their Euro tour 7" and the split with Totalitar, but I wanted a new full-length goddamnit. When my brother sent me a package that upon opening contained Nerve Damage, I was psyched. It completely took me by surprise that this album was out/ coming out. I simply could not wait to pop this on. As the sirens wail to signal the … Read more

More album reviews

Annuals / Sunfold

Wet Zoo
Canvas Back (2008)

Annuals 2006 release Be He Me was an interesting album. It balanced on the tip of a melting iceberg between a respectable indie release and an unfortunate pop rock attempt. The Wet Zoo EP has solidified the unfortunate and brought to light Annuals' turn for the worse. Once, Annuals' sound was embodied with multiple layers and experimentation with song space. … Read more

Lil Wayne

Tha Carter III
Cash Money (2008)

Over the course of the past two years, virtually no rapper has been more prolific than Lil Wayne. The New Orleans born and bred, former Hot Boy, and face of the Cash Money Millionaires compiled over one thousand verses during this time period through a combination of his own mixtapes as well as guest appearances on other mainstream tracks and … Read more

Stebmo

Stebmo
Southern Lord (2008)

This is the first solo record from Steve Moore; no this is not the same Steve Moore that is half of the soundscape group Zombi, but rather this is the multi instrumentalist that one can hear and see with Earth since their "comeback" album Hex: Or Printing in the Infernal Method. Stebmo is Steve Moore's first solo album after working … Read more

Killing the Dream

Fractures
Deathwish Inc. (2008)

I'm going to be straight up; Fractures is the most anticipated album of 2008 for me. Sure, there were other albums that I have really been looking forward to hearing, but the latest from Killing the Dream is at the top of my list. And the Northern California hardcore outfit does not disappoint with this their second full-length recording. After … Read more

Feverdreams

Words and Music
Fitual (2007)

From what I understand, Feverdreams is a solo project. The press sheet lauds the album, Words and Music, for its mysterious soundscapes and noisy drone. However, I found something quite different. The "soundscapes" - I'm still not sure they are mysterious. I hardly heard the "drone." A little confused by this, I decided to empty my head of the press … Read more

The Slackers

Self Medication
Indication (2008)

You might not like ska music, but The Slackers are the exception to that rule (at least for me and probably should be for anyone else) with their smoother sound and laid back vibes which incorporate a variety of sounds across many different genres from jazz to salsa to soul, which all create the amalgamation that is their distinct style. … Read more

The VSS

Nervous Circuits (Reissue)
Hydra Head (2008)

Seriously, The VSS are getting the reissue treatment from Hydra Head. Not only is this a completely unexpected revelation, but it is one that will probably go mostly unnoticed by most people, which is rather unfortunate considering how excellent the original version of this record was. Then again, The VSS (featuring ex-members of the equally and criminally unappreciated Angel Hair … Read more

The Estranged

Static Thoughts
Dirtnap (2008)

With Static Thoughts, The Estranged attempt to combine the volatile combination of post-punk and punk with positive results on the whole. The album could have been a disaster on the scale of the Hindenburg, but instead is a balanced combination of contemporary post-punk songs that rely on traditional punk rock's finer cornerstones - two to three minute numbers that are … Read more

200 Words Or Less

The End of Six Thousand Years

Isolation
Still Life (2008)

Italy's The End of Six Thousand Years return with their debut full-length following a split release with Embrace the End in 2006. Isolation picks up where the band previously left off, mixing chaotic hardcore and thrash metal, but also treating us to something new as well. Opener and title-track "Isolation" begins with a mixture of post-rock and metal that wouldn't … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Bad Reaction

Had it Coming
Reflections (2008)

Had it Coming is my first exposure to Los Angeles' Bad Reaction, but apparently this recording is a CD version of their previously released 7"s Dare to be Dull and Plastic World, plus a choice cover. Bad Reaction play fast punk influenced hardcore. All but one of the songs here end up under two minutes. As expected, that means the … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Bullet Treatment / It's Casual

Split
Basement (2008)

This split 7" from Basement Records teams up two Los Angeles hardcore veterans for two tracks each: Bullet Treatment and It's Casual. Everything about this record, from the music and the lyrics down to the artwork, screams of the early years of hardcore. Bullet Treatment is back in action again, this time with a new vocalist, Jordan of Vultures United, … Read more

200 Words Or Less

The Devil in the Sea

Heart vs. Spine
Acerbic Noise (2008)

Within moments of pressing play on Heart vs. Spine it comes as no surprise that The Devil and the Sea call Louisiana home. These southern bangers have delivered a sixty-minute soundtrack perfect for touring the bayou. The Devil and the Sea follow like so many others in the line of Sabbath worshipers, but with a modern take, and a little … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Under Anchor

There is No End
Truth and Justice (2007)

Despite my close proximity to the state, it's been quite a while since I've heard something new from Michigan that's caught my interest. Under Anchor is the first band to do so in a while. They are a three-piece hardcore band that draws equally from the youth-crew sound and metallic hardcore of the 90's. There is No End is the … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Argos Checkmate

Argos Checkmate
Independent (2007)

Argos Checkmate hails from Syracuse and mix together the worlds of chaotic metalcore and ambient post-rock. You may think the two don't go together well, but the end result is rather enjoyable. "Dresden" and "Hellen Keller" take technical jibber-jabber to the next level, reminiscent of The Dillinger Escape Plan and Engineer, but with more chug. Meantime, "In the Warm" falls … Read more

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