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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)

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 up for a split 12" LP. Masato Tanaka starts things off. Their side of the split contains nine tracks. Over the course of these songs the trio incorporate the worlds of metal, grind, and punk into one. But the most identifiable aspect of the band's music is their use of keys. The resulting sound of all this being thrown together is a mixture of early Mr. Bungle and a death metal version of The Blood Brothers if you can imagine that. Pocket Gallows occupies the flip side and delivers three songs. Each of these songs encompasses an entirely different style. One minute the band is blasting through a chaotic metalcore attack, the next they're delivering a low-end droning metal opus. I must say I prefer the latter. There is a lot offered up on this split LP, and it took a few listens to absorb it. Of the two I think I appreciate the Pocket Gallows side more so than Masato Tanaka. The former is more in tune with my current musical tastes while the latter is a bit too … 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

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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … Read more

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One from the archives

Myteri

Myteri
Alerta Antifascista (2017)

How do you keep up to date with new music? I have the luxury of being a reviewer. I’m informed on a constant basis (and get to cherry pick the releases I wish to review. Seriously, I love this job!), but next to that I keep an eye out for certain labels. There’s a couple of labels that are very interesting to follow, either because the label is right up your alley or because you know they only release high quality music or simply because you like the people behind a label perhaps. Alerta Antifascista is one such label. I dig a lot of artists on their roster.The label has a knack for attracting dark and heavy music with a strong message. And that ticks all the right boxes for … Read more

More album reviews

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

Ween

La Cucaracha
Rounder (2007)

If you don't know Ween at this point, it's difficult to sum them up in a few words. Eclectic, genre hopping, and parody come to mind, but they don't adequately explain the band and their dedicated cult following. The duo of Gene and Dean formed Ween in 1984. La Cucaracha is the band's tenth full-length studio release, in addition to … Read more

Mike Patton

A Perfect Place
Ipecac (2008)

It's been no secret that for quite some time now, Mike Patton has wanted to broaden his ever-widening horizons into the world of film scoring. Now, with Ipecac's 100th release, we now have the first film score composed by Mike Patton, and it's a doozy. A Perfect Place is a twenty-five minute black-and-white icy-cool neo-noir film directed by Derrick Scocchera … Read more

End of Level Boss

Inside the Difference Engine
Exile on Mainstream (2007)

It's all about the riffs for these English lads: big, thick, rumbling and sometimes peculiar riffs. I have to say that I have always had a deep affinity and a strong weakness for this kind of music. There has always been a warm and cozy feeling to music that takes a lot of influence from the stoner and doom genre, … Read more

Culprits

Demo
Independent (2007)

Culprits is a band that you've likely never heard. What the hell is wrong with you? This New Mexico four-piece serves up five tracks of fast-paced and in-your-face hardcore in less than six minutes. The music is intense and the words are penned with quite the chip on the shoulder. "January 15th" is a minute blast of high octane hardcore … Read more

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