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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)

Russian Circles

Station
Suicide Squeeze (2008)

Russian Circles' Enter was practically a life-changing album for me. Never had I heard a heavy instrumental band with such a fluid, narrative style before. There was also a dash of technical prowess (but not too much) and the whole thing was wrapped up with a certain flair only Russian Circles could provide. The Upper Ninety/Re-Enter 7" got me even more excited because it seemed to be hinting at a return to the more math-rock-oriented sounds of Dakota/Dakota (which contained two members of Russian Circles), but within the same dynamic framework as Enter. So once I heard there was a new full-length coming out this year, I could hardly wait. What I really expected was another magnum opus that straddled both the world of Enter and the world of Dakota/Dakota. But Station is not at all what I was expecting. I don't want to say I was let down because that would be a great disservice to a band that certainly puts a lot of effort into its music. However, in my mind, this album is missing a certain something that Enter had: subtle dynamics and free-flowing yet cohesive buildups. However, there is still a lot of brilliant musicianship on … Read more

The Ocean

Precambrian
Metal Blade (2008)

Robin Staps, The Ocean's high-striving frontman must be one hell of an easy person to work with. It's either that, … Read more

The Tim Version

Decline of the Southern Gentleman
No Idea (2008)

At The Fest last fall I saw a lot of bands, most of which I had a previous idea of … Read more

Up the Fury

Behind Every Mind
Detonate (2008)

Screw you with your Crime in Stereos, your Capitals, your Agents, and your Thieves and Assassins. Seriously, take a long … Read more

Pyramids

Pyramids
Hydra Head (2008)

So Pyramids is one of a slew of new bands making their debuts with Hydra Head recently. However, this outfit … Read more

The Gaslight Anthem

Señor and the Queen
Sabot Productions (2008)

New Jersey The Gaslight Anthem's Sink of Swim was one of the most over-looked album last year on Scene Point … Read more

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One from the archives

Protestant

Reclamation
Halo of Flies (2012)

Protestant have around since 2007, yet it feels like longer. Mind you this isn't a put down as much as it is a reflection upon their multitude of releases. In the last 6 years the band has managed to cobble together a discography that reaches into the double digits. Throughout said discography the band has managed to broaden their original crusty foundation. So with all that we get their most recent release Reclamation.Each song builds on the basics that the band has always worked from: crusty vocals laid over metallic guitar and forceful percussive elements. Where this album differs is in the details. The band stretches further including both dissonant leads as well as melodic elements allowing the songs to grow further away from their starting points. Within these 5 … Read more

More album reviews

H2O

Still the Same Fellas
Bridge Nine (2008)

There is no doubt in the sincerity of Toby Morse's declaration that H2O have nothing to prove. And while their canon of endlessly catchy and inspiring melodic hardcore songs speaks for itself, their return has generated intense speculation about whether we're getting an album of melodic New York hardcore or poppier leaning tunes a la Go. While I've never fully … Read more

Carrigan

Young Men Never Die
Radar/So Good Music (2008)

Hailing from Vermont, Carrigan plays ambient post-rock, but more structured and upbeat than you would think. Although the group is a duo now, they had a couple transient members formerly from Drowningman and The Cancer Conspiracy during 2003. The Drowningman connection intrigued me; an old heavy gem that I hadn't heard anyone mention in way too long. The duo did … Read more

Forfeit

Visions
Reaper (2008)

Heavy, stomp worthy, pissed off mid-tempo to fast in your face hardcore. If you like anything from Agnostic Front, Buried Alive, to the almighty Integrity then there's no reason why this five-song 7" shouldn't be in your collection. You also get some horrible sung parts that would make George from Blacklisted blush, but it all adds into the evil fun … Read more

The First Step

Connection
Rivalry (2008)

My favorite revival band of the revival youth-crew bands is back with another four-song platter so I can mosh around my apartment, pointer fingers extended and with couch dives in full effect. If you have any love for fast, fun, old-school hardcore then you probably own this and your sofa has already paid the price. Seriously, go cut off some … Read more

Carry the Torch

Dead Weather
Detonate (2008)

Carry the Torch are yet another over-emotional hardcore band that play fast, somewhat tuneful, a little bit metal, and quite moshable hardcore. The one-sheet says they would appease the fans of Strongarm, Cave In, and Taken when in actuality they only had to mention Shai Hulud since Carry the Torch tries to do their best of impression of A Profound … Read more

Down and Outs

Friday Nights, Monday Mornings
Dead & Gone (2008)

Down and Outs have been shaking things up for going on four years now. Unfortunately, I really didn't start paying attention to the band until last year when they offered up a split 7" with Death is No Glamorous. Despite my ignorance, Down and Outs have amassed a small discography through a variety of releases - both in CD and … Read more

Slingshot Dakota

Their Dreams are Dead, but Ours is the Golden Ghost
Independent (2008)

A few years ago I went to one of those parties that a lot of us have attended. There was plenty of PBR flowing and occupants had their fair share of scarves on. Yes, it was a hipster party and I was miserable. The girls there were all too young for me to bother hitting on and all the guys … Read more

Various Artists

Generic Insight Radio Volume One
Eternal Hope (2008)

Generic Insight Radio is a weekly Internet radio show that airs on Wednesday nights from 10:00 PM until midnight EST. I personally have never listened to the show because I'm usually in bed by 9:00 PM CST. Not to mention my computer has a hard time playing the pinball game that comes with Word. I can only imagine what streaming … Read more

Born/Dead

The Final Collapse
Prank (2008)

Ah, Born/Dead is one of the more notable crust/hardcore bands in the vein of groups like Tragedy (kind of but I would not say this is a good comparison as Born/Dead is a beast all to themselves. They also adhere to a heavy political message in their songs. Touring is also a huge part of this band as they play … Read more

Capillary Action

So Embarrassing
Pangaea (2008)

There is a small set of musicians that I would consider to be more than just your average artist. When it comes to composing music, the arrangement and execution of these pieces, as one is a feat that only the most talented of individuals can excel at. The most obvious choice to me is Mike Patton. Anyone that has witnessed … Read more

Haram

Drescher
Lovitt (2008)

It's pretty ridiculous to look back on the career of Pg.99 and sort through all the bands that came out of their existence and their ever-rotating members. While many were short lived or are defunct, there are handfuls that still are actively playing. One of these is Haram, with Mike Taylor and Kevin Longendyke moving on from Pg.99 to conqueror … Read more

Vietnam Werewolf

Ohio's City
Independent (2008)

Ever listen to a band and just know if you lived in the same city as them that you would be good friends with them? Vietnam Werewolf comes off to me as one of those types of bands. They are comprised of four nerdy, scruffy looking Nerf-Herder type guys that like their beer and probably wouldn't annoy the living shit … Read more

Fight Amp

Hungry for Nothing
Translation Loss (2008)

Fight Amp (recently shortened from Fight Amputation) is a punk/hardcore outfit that plays a distinctly noisy, bottom heavy brand of punk with vocal chord shredding yelling and screaming going on over top of the morass of sound that relentlessly pummels listeners, and that is just in the live situation. The band tours frequently and this is the latest in a … Read more

Set Foot

Aging
Copper Lung (2008)

Set Foot is a fairly straightforward hardcore band from Vancouver, British Columbia. They may hail from the Pacific Northwest but they're far different from their brethren in the likes of Champion, Sinking Ships, Blue Monday, etc. Rather than draw influence from the worlds of youth crew and posi-revival hardcore, Set Foot takes to the metallic edge. Aging is the band's … 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)