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)

Lair of the Minotaur

War Metal Battle Master
Southern Lord (2008)

It is now five years into Lair of the Minotaur's existence and I think its safe to say that this band is not a gimmick or a novelty act in the least. Sure, their lyrics are based on Greek mythology and their sound harkens back to the 1980's, but Lair of the Minotaur is the real deal. This three-piece is a menacing onslaught of metal ready to pulverize anyone that dares listen. After two previous full-length efforts, Lair of the Minotaur return for their third such endeavor, War Metal Battle Master. While musically the album doesn't mark such a departure from their previous sound, the album is their first with new drummer Chris Wozniak, replacing Larry Herweg, who left to focus on his touring duties with Pelican. Lyrically, the album still leans in the mythological direction, but there is another theme as this is, and I quote, "a concept album about solving conflicts with a big fucking axe!" Mixing the two results in some rather interesting and violent imagery. Lair of the Minotaur immediately kicks things off with the mayhem of "Horde of Undead Vengeance." The band meshes together classic thrash and death metal with the scathing screams of early … Read more

She & Him

Volume One
Merge (2008)

She is Zooey Deschanel, the actress and apparently all around talented individual. I remember the moment that is etched into … Read more

Baby Guts

Gasoline
Guilt Ridden Pop (2007)

The profound influence of punk on the grunge movement should not be understated. By the time it had reached national … Read more

The Alphabetical Order

I am Magically Happening!
Independent (2007)

I get a lot of albums in the mail, a lot. Every one of them comes with one-sheet containing information … Read more

The Seven Mile Journey

The Metamorphosis Project
Fonogram/Pumpkin Seeds in the Sand (2008)

Operating under the post-rock banner, The Seven Mile Journey's The Metamorphosis Project offers an hour of sparse and atmospheric soundscapes. … Read more

City of Ships

Tour EP
Independent (2008)

Now, I had only heard of this band's existence and never actually had the opportunity to listen to their music … Read more

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One from the archives

Run The Jewels

RTJ4
Jewel Runners / BMG (2020)

It was a surprise to see Run The Jewels’ RTJ4 as Scene Point Blank’s top-billed record for all of 2020, but it demonstrates the widespread scope of its impact on many of our writers, myself included. The hip-hop duo of Killer Mike and El-P operates in their own stratum within mainstream rap, excelling far beyond their original underground roots. It’s easy to forget that their first self-titled album was released as a free download in 2013, as the years since have seen them evolve into a powerhouse supergroup, having songs featured in major blockbuster films and even inspiring some phenomenal remix projects (shout out to Meow The Jewels). They’ve also ridden the wave of (and at times mocked) the popularization of collectible vinyl records, with their limited edition colorways kicking … Read more

More album reviews

Blacklisted

Heavier than Heaven, Lonelier than God
Deathwish Inc. (2008)

Let's be honest, the vast majority of hardcore music is similar sounding. There is only so many ways in which you can arrange music that falls under the umbrella of hardcore. Sure, there are small variations in style and sound, but the moment a band redefines what hardcore is and becomes the next big thing there is a fleet of … Read more

Why?

Alopecia
Anticon (2008)

I'm still trying to fully wrap my head around this album. Why? hails from Oakland, California and puts an interesting hip-hop touch to their predominantly indie rock sound. Frontman Yoni Wolf is one of the founders of Anticon Records, and was also one-third of the late electronica/hip-hop group cLOUDDEAD, where he shared duties with rapper Doseone and DJ Odd Nosdam. … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Smartbomb

Chaos and Lawlessness
Think Fast! (2008)

Members of No Trigger and Shock Nagasaki playing melodic hardcore in the vein of Kid Dynamite, Descendents, and 7 Seconds? Sign me the hell up! Heck, it really doesn't matter what bands these guys also play in when you write songs like these. Chaos and Lawlessness is Smartbomb's debut EP, an eight-song effort that tracks in at just over twelve … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Attention

Stand Strong
Independent (2007)

Pop-rock is a huge right now and Attention has a shot at being the next big thing. This four-piece group from Minneapolis contains members that did time in Gratitude and The Gloria Record, among others. Stand Strong is the band's latest offering, a six-song self-released EP filled with upbeat pop-rock. The songs that make up Stand Strong are quite catchy … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Sakes Alive!!

Presents
Independent (2007)

Sakes Alive!! hails from Rochester, NY and this is the band's debut offering. Interesting enough, this recording actually started as the project of one individual, Chris Vandeviver. I'm not sure who told him to enlist other members and make this a full-time venture, but bravo to whoever did. The EP delivers what is an even mixture of the No Idea … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Empire! Empire! (I was a Lonely Estate)

Year of the Rabbit
Count Your Lucky Stars / Strictly No Capital Letters (2008)

Emo is a genre that often gets its name dragged through the mud. While there are artists now classified as emo that are pretty horrendous, it is those artists playing traditional emo that unfortunately are hurt the most. Empire! Empire! (I was a Lonely Estate) is one of those acts lumped in with emo that shouldn't be looked down upon. … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Salt the Wound

Carnal Repercussions
Rotten (2008)

Cleveland-based Salt the Wound has been festering in the depths of the metal world since their formation in 2001. With the release of their debut full-length, Carnal Repercussions, the band will finally come to the attention of headbangers around the world. Carnal Repercussions is a twelve-track foray into the world of melodic death metal, thrash, grindcore, and modern metalcore. The … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Gutter Twins

Saturnalia
Sub Pop (2008)

So here we have the much-anticipated collaboration between Greg Dulli of Afghan Whigs/The Twilight Singers fame and Mark Lanegan of Queens of the Stone Age/Screaming Trees fame (as well as an excellent solo career along with collaborations with Isobel Campbell). The Gutter Twins, as this duo refer to themselves, have been a rumored project for several years now that finally … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Gutter Twins

Saturnalia
Sub Pop (2008)

There's cool and then there's cool. Mark Lanegan is cool. He was cool fronting the Screaming Trees back in the day. He was cool on each one of his six-or-so solo albums. He was cool as a member of Queens of the Stone Age. For those of you who had the pleasure of seeing QOTSA on the pre-tour for Songs … Read more

Pain Principle

Waiting for the Flies
Blind Prophecy (2007)

This Florida four-piece was an entirely unknown proposition to me until Waiting for the Flies was delivered to my house. They may hail from the state that brought us some classic old school death metal, but Pain Principle have plenty more in common with the modern melodic death of the recent times. In fact, I'd go so far as to … Read more

This is Hell

Misfortunes
Trustkill (2008)

Long Island's road warriors return with their second full-length, Misfortunes, laying waste to a host of notions about who they are and what they stand for. The ante has been upped, so bid in or bow out. Dogged by claims of being both a hype band, existing on word of mouth rather than talent, and a Trustkill marketing move, This … Read more

MGR

Wavering on the Cresting Heft
Conspiracy (2007)

Wavering on the Cresting Heft is the second solo recording from Isis guitarist Michael Gallagher under the moniker MGR. MGR is an acronym for Mustard Gas and Roses, which is taken from Vonnegut's classic novel Slaughterhouse-Five. This new full-length follows Gallagher's debut MGR offering, 2006's Nova Lux. If one were to loosely describe the music of MGR, an appropriate description … Read more

Cursed

III
Goodfellow (2008)

Finally, I seriously have been waiting for this album since Cursed released last year's furious EP, Blackout at Sunrise. No, scratch that because the wait has been going since I listened to II (their obviously titled second album), and while Blackout at Sunrise was a bit of a tease and served to get listeners through until III. Cursed lay down … Read more

One Win Choice

Never Suspend Belief
Jump Start (2007)

I've had a really shitty day today. I got into a useless argument with my boss. I feel like shit. I'm piss-broke until Wednesday and I'm living off popcorn and Pop-Tarts until then. The last thing I wanted to hear today was a bunch of twenty-something kids telling me how horrible the world is while rehashing every single 90's Fat … Read more

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