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Trial

Reunion / Retrospective
Panic (2008)

If there were one band that I felt characterized both the sound and ideals of hardcore in the 1990's, it would be Trial. The Northwest hardcore outfit delivered a focused and aggressive mixture of hardcore, punk, and metal influences to crowds of all sizes during their original tenure. They partnered this brute, metallic music written by co-founder and guitarist Timm … Read more

Mother Night

Lifestyle / Deathstyle
Off the Books (2007)

Hailing from New Jersey (which as The Nerve Agents put it is the "Heart of Hardcore"), Mother Night drops a wicked set of jams on Lifestyle / Deathstyle for us to listen to their abundance of energy and enthusiasm. An honest band that exudes New Jersey in all its harshness, these guys come from a very typical Jersey background of … Read more

Genghis Tron

Board Up the House
Relapse (2008)

Genghis Tron occupies a very precarious place in the world of music. Unlike most "polarizing" bands like The Locust or Blut Aus Nord, Genghis Tron does not have a "demographic" to appeal to. And let me explain. Genghis Tron is a three-piece synth-riding experimental metal band. Or, on the other hand, you could just as easily call them a blast-beat … Read more

Burning Witch

Crippled Lucifer
Southern Lord (2008)

Hot damn, where have you been all my life Burning Witch! Apparently, as Aaron Turner documents in his liner notes contribution for this two disc CD set (the special edition includes a download card to grab the band's demo and live songs while the Japanese version is a mammoth three CD set) entitled Crippled Lucifer, Burning Witch has "traveled the … Read more

Paint It Black

New Lexicon
Jade Tree (2008)

In the world of hardcore punk there is nary a person so forward thinking as Dan Yemin. This thought applies to all aspects of his band Paint it Black: presentation, politics, and, as highlighted on New Lexicon, production. During an interview I held with Yemin, he pointed to hip-hop as an inspiration to keep things fresh and inventive, stating "The … Read more

Blunderbuss

Blunderbuss
Escape Artist (2007)

Blunderbuss may at first be notable to some because it contains a member of Don Caballero, Jeff Ellsworth. But trust me, this album ought to stand out in its own right. This is one of the most innovative and refreshing albums I've heard in a while. It draws on a number of genres for inspiration, but truly belongs to none … Read more

The Cancer Conspiracy

Omega
Radar/Gilead Media (2008)

Omega is the final testament to the instrumental indie/math/prog-rockers The Cancer Conspiracy. Recorded over four years ago, the album was left in limbo due to some unfortunately label circumstances. But even though the band has been disbanded for several years now, the music that comprises this album is not dated in the least. Omega is made up of eight different … Read more

Genocide

Apocalyptic Visions
Ván (2007)

Wow. These guys really hate Jesus. Well, I mean, they seem to hate a lot of things but they really hate Jesus. This is Genocide. Don't confuse them with the twenty-four, yes, twenty-four other bands called Genocide; this is the three guys from Germany with corpse paint. Not to be confused with the Genocide from Finland which was only two … Read more

Khann

Tofutopia
Black Market Activities (2007)

Seriously, Tofutopia? An album called Tofutopia? This is the album title of this record? Surely, this band has to be joking, does it not? As this record sits in my review pile, I find it increasingly difficult to take it seriously, even though that may be the point. Chris Owens - guitarist/vocalist of Lords and engineer of records by Achilles, … Read more

Another Kind of Death

Sleepless Every Night
Underhill (2007)

Anyone that knows anything about gun safety knows that no one ever stuffs a loaded gun down the front of their pants. That's just a good way to blow your wiener off. Sure you may see movie or any random gangster rap video where some dillrod shoves a .357 down their drawers. What they don't show you is that in … Read more

The Mars Volta

The Bedlam in Goliath
Universal (2008)

For a band that immerses themselves in creating such an uncompromising and complicated sound, The Mars Volta is a very prolific bunch of musicians. One album released each year shows a very strong work ethic and a determination to never stagnate in their evolution. Not to mention a strong passion for all kinds of music. The Mars Volta sound like … Read more

Reign Supreme

American Violence
Malfunction (2008)

Philadelphia's Reign Supreme burst onto the hardcore scene in 2006 with great intensity. Fronted by former Blacklisted member Jay Pepito and also featuring former members of Palehorse and others, Reign Supreme deliver a highly visceral and punishing blend of metallic hardcore. American Violence is their latest EP, the follow-up to a demo and a 12" single. Reign Supreme knock on … Read more

Oren Ambarchi

In the Pendulums Embrace
Southern Lord (2007)

When I hear this album I smell dust. It might not make sense to you, or to me for that matter, but it is what it is. Some albums, particularly in the ambient vein, take me to strange places that can be either outside or inside. Oren Ambarchi takes me to the attic that I haven't been up to in … Read more

Ghost in the House

Ghost in the House
Edgetone (2007)

Sometimes one needs a good reminder not to let expectations run amok in order to avoid disappointment. In general I always try to get positively surprised rather than the other way around, but you can't always be at the top of your game. Sometime you let yourself hope of something good only to be let down. This may sound more … Read more

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