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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)

Forever Unclean

Best
Hidden Home Records (2022)

It’s a tough to summarize Forever Unclean in a neat little genre-name. It’s punk rock, but with elements of ‘90s alt rock, screamo and more. It’s short and concise, energetic and uplifting, yet unpredictable and far more complex than your average 3-chord beentheredonethat. The music is driving but varied: guitar-driven with sing-shouted vocals and lots of surprising-but-not-jarring shifts along the way. I feel like the refrain in “Broken” is as good a place to start as anywhere: “We were running down the hill/ and our legs are broken now.” The song is memorable and easy to decipher during the big singalong moment. But it’s also complex. Not many choruses take the form of a full sentence, not to mention one that oozes dramatic and graphic symbolism. Take this idea as a small sample of the entire 11-song record. It’s accessible but with more than a catchy chorus. It’s punk for guitar fans. Fortunately, while there is a lot going on, Forever Unclean manages consistency. It takes the intriguing musical range of screamo without the abrupt shifts which made that style the equivalent of a musical headache. I feel like screamo (intentionally) leaves the listener bloody and bruised at the end. … Read more

Burial

Antidawn EP
Hyperdub (2022)

There is no question that Burial is one of the pivotal artists of the current era. The electronic musician from … Read more

Mace

Beef
Richter Scale (2021)

I doubted about reviewing this, but decided to do so anyway. I doubted about it as this is a re-release … Read more

Kataan

Self-Titled
Prosthetic (2021)

I only paid any attention to the news that there’s a new band called Kataan, coming with a self-titled debut … Read more

Theo Young

Tales From The Inland Sea
Independent (2022)

I don’t get to say this every day, but one of my favorite indie artists dropped new material after basically … Read more

BÖRN

Drottningar Dauðans
Iron Lung (2022)

It seems like genre definitions change based on the era. I swear people were calling Sonic Youth post-punk for a … Read more

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One from the archives

Jesu

Lifeline
Hydra Head/Daymare (2007)

As unbelievable as it may sound Lifeline is Jesu's fifth (and possibly the sixth if Robotic Empire gets the split with Battle of Mice out before the end of 2007) release of the year and comes right on the heals of the Pale Sketches record. With all of this activity and music released in one year, I have two thoughts: 1) I marvel at the sheer volume of music that Jesu has released this year (especially if remixes are taken into account); and 2) I question how Broadrick writes so much music that seems to be of high quality. Lifeline continues the perceivable trajectory of Jesu's sound; the title track is more of the mellow music that includes heavily electronic treatments and keyboards with Broadrick's conversational vocal tone. It also … Read more

More album reviews

The Carvels NYC

In Real Life b/w Feelin’ Stabby
Independent (2021)

The Carvels NYC still exist! And from what I heard it is only thanks to perseverance from their side. Like so many others the band saw plans fall apart due to Covid. They gave that a positive twist with Live At The Cutting Room. Unfortunately more disappointments followed. I can only admire a band that isn’t willing to throw in … Read more

Book Review

Patrick Mackie

Mozart in Motion - His Work and His World in Pieces
Allen & Unwin (2021)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is widely portrayed as a self-contained musical genius, a prodigy that effortlessly managed to pump out an endless array of masterworks. What makes Patrick Mackie’s book on Mozart an intriguing piece of the literary canon of Mozart is that it offers insight on his worldly dealings, his writing process, the rehearsals, negotiations, travels, et cetera. Mozart in … Read more

Sonata Arctica

Acoustic Adventures: Volume One
Atomic Fire Records (2022)

Finnish melodic metal quintet Sonata Arctica started out in the mid 90s as hard rock band Tricky Beans releasing 3 demos under that guise before changing their name to Tricky Means a year later and going down a more power metal route than before taking influence from bands such as Stratovarius. Their first demo as Tricky Means, Full Moon, was … Read more

The Copyrights

Alone In A Dome
Fat Wreck Chords (2021)

It’s been so long since The Copyrights put out an album that I kind of forgot they’re still active: seven years, according to the press release. But they’ve had a lot going on in that time (haven’t we all), dealing with personal and family issues and such. They returned last year with a big new record though, titled Alone In … Read more

Soup

Visions
Crispin Glover Records, Glassville Music (2021)

My first contact with Soup was somewhere in late 2020 towards early 2021, so it hasn’t been long since I’ve been following the band. I was really taken with Remedies, falling in love with the epic post rock passages and the sweet and easy-going delivery of the rest of the elements. Not long ago we got a follow up to … Read more

The Carvels NYC

I Want You Around b/w My Little Troll
Independent (2021)

The Carvels NYC released a little single for the holiday season. I know that the season is already over, but this single still deserves to get a little attention from you. So pay attention! On the A-side of this single we find “I Want You Around”. The name might sound familiar. This is a cover of one of their influences: … Read more

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 … 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 the present in this take on Over The Overlords, Naked Raygun’s latest -- and their first full-length since 1990 (their sixth overall). The heavily influential Chicago band was born in 1980, disbanded in 1991, and been in semi-active reunion mode … 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 this project alone early in the pandemic, later recruiting four others to accompany his sing-scream vocals: guitarist Nick Cogan (Drug Church), guitarist William Acuña, drummer Vince Nguyen (Modern Color), and bassist Max Epstein. They released two EPs this year: All … 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 boxset of M-16 on its 20th anniversary they have also brought us this new EP. In their current line up as a 4 piece (since 2018); original member Tom Angelripper (bass/vocals), Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik (guitar), Yorck Segatz (guitar) and Toni … 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. So, whenever that happens, I really cherish said moment and discovery. You probably already guessed the rest of this preamble. One of my best friends recommended this band to me. I was practically sold once I saw it was an … 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 bands. The nu-jazz corner seems to be specifically prolific and forward thinking, embracing the limitless medium of electronic sounds. Portico Quartet are no strangers to experimentation, basically looking in a new direction over the course of each album. I had … Read more

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

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