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)

Be’lakor

Coherence
Napalm (2021)

I’ve been trying for years to get into Be’lakor. A lot of friends and acquaintances liked to throw their name around as a solid recommendation for prog death. I just couldn’t buy into it for whatever reasons. I firmly believe that Coherence is the record which finally sold me on the band. Be’lakor amassed quite a following, with a steady fanbase growing alongside their increasing repertoire as such. Coherence is their first record, which to me at least, shows a mature band which has a clear aim and vision, executed coherently. I will not excuse myself for that pun. Anyway, the first thing that drew me in was the production value. Which, on previous records seemed to be lacking in a lot of aspects. It either felt too raw, or too sterile, or something just wasn’t right. While I wouldn’t go as far as to say that it’s stellar, it’s definitely going in all the right directions and it’s more than solid for what is going on – at least as far as Coherence is concerned. I’m also finally able to properly dip into the band’s musical ethos, which until now seemed very distant and unapproachable, due to the aforementioned … Read more

Naked Raygun

Over The Overlords
Wax Trax! Records (2021)

Rather than delve into the history books and deep cuts of Naked Raygun’s discography, I’m mostly going to focus on … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Militarie Gun

All Roads Lead to the Gun
Alternatives Label (2021)

Southern California’s Militarie Gun is a newcomer with extensive experience in the field of hardcore punk. Multi-instrumentalist Ian Shelton started … Read more

Sodom

Bombenhagel
SPV, Steamhammer (2021)

For Sodom, 2021 has been a pretty productive year, as well as bringing out a mega remastered bells and whistles … Read more

BaK

Crater
Independent (2021)

It’s not often that I get random recommendations (without asking) from friends which turn out to be something very cool. … Read more

Portico Quartet

Monument
Gondwana Records (2021)

For whatever the reasons at play, the UK has a bristling jazz scene that’s rife with all sorts of amazing … Read more

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One from the archives

Skepticism

Ordeal
Svart Records (2015)

Recording a live album isn’t a new concept, but for Skepticism, who don’t do anything by halves, recording their brand new album completely live, was certainly a new experience. The Finnish funeral doom band have been plying their gothic trade for longer than most of their fans have even been alive, but their timeless sound and gorgeous tone is enough to attract new listeners as well as keep their older audience interested in any new material. Ordeal has been a long time in the making, and Skepticism have kept us waiting since 2008s incredible Alloy for new music. Their sound hasn’t changed much in the interim, but the emotion and spectacle is plain to hear, and in the case or Ordeal, see, as it comes as a package with a … Read more

More album reviews

200 Words Or Less

Kanye West

Donda
Def Jam (2021)

In June 2020, Kanye began dropping breadcrumbs to hype an upcoming full-length. First, a single with Travis Scott accompanied a tweet announcing the song would be on his next album, God’s Country. Neither that track nor album title made it to the final release. A stream of tweets with false titles, artwork, and release dates followed. After Kanye’s third high-profile … Read more

Lars Frederiksen

To Victory
Pirates Press (2021)

When the pandemic first struck and musicians were stuck in their homes, this is exactly the kind of record I expected everyone to make: solo, acoustic, redoing old songs and favorite covers. Ironically, Lars’ solo project started prior to Covid and was meant as a live thing, which was subsequently kicked to the curb like everything else set in public … Read more

Book Review

Warren Ellis

Nina Simone’s Gum
Allen & Unwin (2021)

Chewing gum is not the most distinguished habit to have, which is probably why I loved doing it in the most unsuitable places as a prepubescent before it was taken over by the despicable indulgence that is smoking, which in my book looked way cooler, preferably in combination. The core protagonist of this book used to indulge in both as … Read more

Nala Sinephro

Space 1.8
Warp (2021)

I’m a real sucker for any records that are themed somewhere in the vicinity of space/cosmos area of things. So, naturally, I just straight up check anything that seems at least decent in that zone. I had virtually no expectations when diving into Nala Sinephro’s Space 1.8, with the exception of thinking that I will meet a familiar sound. By … Read more

Demonztrator

Sinister Forces Of Hatred
Ossuary Records (2021)

Sinister Forces Of Hatred is the second album from Helsinki-based thrash metal ensemble Demonztrator. Formed in 2016 as a covers band, their aim being to revive Finnish speed/thrash metal from the late '80s and '90s. Their first album Forgotten Acts Of Aggression, released in 2017, is a collection of covers and is their love letter to fellow Finns Brainwash, Dementia, … Read more

Frontierer

Oxidized
Independent (2021)

So, here’s the new Frontierer. I’ll cut it as is right out of the gate – it’s a disappointment. I’ve seen the backlash at people criticizing the record, but they’re few in between and most seem to praise it to high heaven, which…is honestly mystifying to me – but – to each his own. I’ll level with all of you, … Read more

Sungazer

Perihelion
676832 Records DK2 (2021)

There aren’t a lot of modern bands that genuinely feel like they’re pushing music forward. One such example comes in the form of Sungazer. Sungazer is the brainchild of Adam Neely and Shawn Crowder. Some of you may know both of them from their respective YouTube channels, but for those of you that don’t, I highly recommend checking them out. … Read more

Pat Metheny

Side-Eye NYC (V1.IV)
BMG (2021)

I’m inclined to believe that anyone even just vaguely familiar with the fusion area of jazz has heard of Pat Metheny. Practically one of the legends of the genre, there’s nothing I could really say here to aptly summarize Metheny’s nearly five-decade career, nor add. It’s pretty obvious that in such cases there’s no critique to pass, or rather, no … Read more

Postage

LP1
Dirt Cult (2021)

Most of the time when a review says something sounds familiar it’s meant as an insult. Well, Postage is a new band but it sounds familiar…in all the right ways. It strikes those comfortable, familiar tones of singalong punk. It’s influenced by the classics. And while it has these elements we know and love, it’s also just fresh enough that … Read more

Book Review

Paul Brannigan

Eruption: The Eddie Van Halen Story
Faber Publishing (2021)

I for one have always found it puzzling how anyone into rock music could not harbour at least a weak spot of appreciation for the charm of the unicum that was Van Halen as from late seventies until the mid-80ies they almost single-handedly restored hard rock to where it belonged, courtesy of David Lee Roth’s charisma and the virtuosic talent … Read more

Turnstile

Glow On
Roadrunner (2021)

It has only been a couple of months since I use a music app (other than Bandcamp). At first I was mad with it, as it was suggesting music I should like which was either total crap or so much unlike my taste that I thought someone else might be using my account. Anyway, one day this app suggested I … Read more

LLNN

Unmaker
PELAGIC RECORDS (2021)

How I missed this is beyond me. I am a fan of The Psyke Project and I knew that LLNN was formed by a few guys from The Psyke Project. I can not explain how Unmaker is the first LLNN album I heard. Not only is it LLNN’s third album, also it has been out for the world to hear … Read more

Neon Christ

1984
Southern Lord (2021)

Power Power of Power of Neon Power of Christ Power of Neon Christ Compels You! I cast you out! Your mother darns socks in Hell! Your mother is here. Would you like to leave a message? I’ll see that she gets it! I adorn my Crucifix on my horsehair and lath wall and point the saviors head north but inevitably … Read more

Benthos

II
Eclipse Records (2021)

I was absolutely stricken a couple months ago when I discovered Benthos. I can and also can’t understand how I managed to miss out on this band and how basically no one is talking about them. One of my best friends showed them to me and I knew I just had to listen to II until I’d grow to hate … Read more

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