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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)

Zhenia Golov

Zhenia Golov
Railroaded (2008)

Zhenia Golov hail from the hardcore factory that is New Brunswick, NJ. I won't bore you with a list of notables that have already made it big, just know that there are a lot of them. Zhenia Golov plays aggressive and raw hardcore punk with a bit of influence from the d-beat world as well. They've got the speed and chaos of the hardcore world but also incorporate a heaviness that transcends boundaries. The closest comparisons that come to mind are Paint it Black and From Ashes Rise - raw, fast, and in your face. Zhenia Golov rip through six songs on this self-titled 7". Each one provides for a bit of a commentary on society, but at the same time interjects it with sarcasm. A good debut offering. Read more

Dynamite Arrows

Blowin' It
Mauled by Tigers (2008)

Dynamite Arrows offers up four tracks on Blowin' It. The four-piece have concocted a fine mixture of melodic punk, hardcore, … Read more

Yo Man Go

Life Lessons
Square of Opposition (2007)

Yo Man Go hail from the eastern part of Pennsylvania and they play melodic punk that'll please fans whose record … Read more

Antillectual

Waves
Square of Opposition (2007)

Straightforward hardcore/punk. That is what The Netherlands' Antillectual offers up on Waves. This 7" features three new songs and three … Read more

Masato Tanaka / Pocket Gallows

Split
Robotic Empire (2008)

Square of Opposition Records has teamed up two new bands, or at least two that are new to me team … Read more

Vanessa Van Basten

Vanessa Van Basten (Reissue)
KNVBI (2008)

Fortunately for all, Vanessa Van Basten is not the name of the latest female pop diva. Instead, they are a … Read more

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One from the archives

Collapsar

Integers
Escape Artist (2007)

Let's be honest here, if a band is going to be an instrumental group that is completely devoid of vocals than they need to be pretty damn impressive to make up for that obviously lacking human element from the group's oeuvre. Collapsar are an entirely instrumental group that I have been drawn to checking out because of their usually eye catching artwork and record covers, but until now, have not delved into because of the dubious lack of vocals, not that this lack is a bad thing but made me a bit wary of comparing the band to other all instrumental outfits. Integers is the band's second release and contains six tracks of borderline prog-influenced metal. Integers begins much differently than I expected and rather than the usual state or … Read more

More album reviews

Bosch's With You

Dreams That Come a Thing Part II
KNVBI (2008)

I believe that Bosch's With You is the first Russian band I've sat down and actually listened to. I can't help but make the excuse that Russia is half a world away from where I reside, but on the other hand, the Internet has made it so easy for us these days. This LP is the second in a trilogy … Read more

Three Steps to the Ocean

Three Steps to the Ocean (Reissue)
KNVBI (2008)

Three Steps to the Ocean is an Italian instrumental outfit. Like their counterparts in Vanessa Van Basten, Three Steps to the Ocean dabbles in the world of post-rock. The recording here is the band's debut EP reissued on vinyl format. Three Steps to the Ocean is a four-piece and together they've assembled a mixture of post-rock and instrumental metal. I'd … Read more

Hoor-paar-Kraat

In Eros Veritas
KNVBI (2008)

There is a fine line between noise and music. Notice that I didn't say art, because in all honesty, art is pretty much anything you want it to be. But music, well, music and noise and two totally different things. Case in point, Hoor-paar-Kraat. Hoor-paar-Kraat is the "brainchild" and "creation" of full-time painter recently turned musician Anthony Mangicapra. Prior to … Read more

Skin Like Iron

Amalgamation II
Free Cake (2008)

Amalgamation II compiles together the three self-released cassette recordings from Skin Like Iron. These recordings were originally released separate from each other beginning last year; they were ultimately brought together in a limited edition cassette box set before the good people at Free Cake Records saw fit to offer them up in CD format. The first nine tracks are culled … Read more

Good Riddance

Remain in Memory: The Last Show
Fat Wreck Chords (2008)

Good Riddance has always been just another one of those "Fat" bands that started in the early 90's and put out album after album well into the next decade. I never was into Good Riddance past their first album God and Country and really haven't paid them any attention since Dave Wagenschutz stopped drumming for them. Anyway, Good Riddance decides … Read more

The Night Marchers

See You in Magic
Vagrant/Swami (2008)

So, John Reis is making his "return" to the indie music with his new outfit, The Night Marchers, following the recent demises of both Hot Snakes and Rocket from the Crypt. Described as an amalgamation of sorts of the sound and themes of these previous outfits, Reis (on guitar and vocals) is not the sole member of the group as … Read more

Cavity

Laid Insignificant (Reissue)
Hydra Head (2008)

Cavity is another one of those criminally underrated bands that toiled for years in obscurity while a select few found that the group and their down tuned Sabbath-influenced mayhem was a great mix of punishing volumes, squealing feedback, and strong rhythms that was quite different from the norm at the time in punk and hardcore circles - which is where … Read more

Kurt Cobain: About a Son

DVD
Shout Factory (2008)

Documentaries in this day and age have become a dime a dozen. Gone are the days of documentaries as an event i.e. waiting for the next Errol Morris or Michael Moore film. Gone are the days of limiting your subject matter to crime or war to catch an audience's interest. Given the proper direction, shown in the right context, a … Read more

Turbonegro

Ass Cobra (Reissue)
Cooking Vinyl (2007)

As you examine the naked body of Hank von Helvete in the Ass Cobra liner notes, notice the sleek but powerful tone of the thighs, the unwavering comeliness of the face and neck, the body hair - the intoxicating and formidable figure as a whole. Indeed, as Hank lay there with a snake draped over his fair body, it does … Read more

Today is the Day

Supernova (Reissue)
SuperNova (2008)

Supernova is the first album from Today is the Day, which was originally released in 1993 on Amphetamine Reptile Records. Being out of print for quite sometime, Steve Austin (vocalist, guitarist, main songwriter of Today is the Day and producer of Converge, Lamb of God, and others) is re-releasing this on his own label, which interestingly enough is named from … Read more

Today is the Day

Today is the Day (Reissue)
SuperNova (2008)

Today is the Day provide us with another reissue of an out of print album, their third full-length, Today is the Day. This album is also significant because it is the first one that the group produced on their own at Austin Enterprises (the recording studio of the group's mastermind, Steve Austin). This self-titled effort also marks a significant lineup … Read more

The Armed Forces

Modern Gospel for Modern Men and Women
Goldtooth (2008)

wan•na•be [won-uh-bee, waw-nuh ] noun. Informal. One who aspires, often vainly, to emulate another's success or attain eminence in some area. The Armed Forces are a Nashville, Tennessee quartet that purports to be cool. They have shaggy dark hair ala The Strokes (or the Ramones if you're keeping it old-school) and consider themselves 'power pop." Believe me when I say, … Read more

Amebix

Monolith (Reissue)
Moshpit Tragedy (2008)

Seriously, Monolith being reissued in a digital format on a donation basis is an incredibly important occasion for several reasons that are worth being mentioned. But instead, let us focus on two particular ones here for the time being rather than run through some silly list. First, allow me to digress a bit. My first exposure to the strange and … Read more

Torche

Meanderthal
Hydra Head (2008)

By now, most people that care enough to know that Torche's point of origination begins with the fall of Steve Brooks' former band, Floor. Torche has certainly done enough differently to explicitly set itself apart from the former group, but it seems as though now they are coming full circle with the second Torche LP, Meanderthal. Following the excellent In … Read more

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