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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)

Austin Lucas

Putting the Hammer Down
Magic Bullet (2008)

To be completely honest, I know more about Austin Lucas than I do about his current residence in The Czech Republic, which doesn't attest too much besides my ignorance of The Czech Republic. I know Lucas was born in the United States and moved, has played in crust and grind bands, and has worked with Chuck Ragan. Not necessarily the likeliest resume, but things look promising. When label head Brent Eyestone isn't (understandably) promoting the hell out of This Will Destroy You, Magic Bullet Records seems to be giving most of their attention to Lucas. And given their current lineup of bands, it shows the confidence they have in him. I've always been in appreciation of crossover musicians that can made the tradeoff so well, and splitting time between grind and bluegrass folk music is a feat many musicians dare not attempt, although it would be interesting to hear Magrundergrind or Insect Warfare covering a Bright Eyes song. But before I get too off topic, Lucas was born in Indiana and it's plain to see him paying homage to the Midwest with Putting the Hammer Down. Traditional bluegrass instruments are used, such as the banjo and fiddle, as well as … Read more

Jet Lag Gemini

Fire the Cannons
Doghouse (2008)

Doghouse Records used to be one of my favorite labels. Their early roster included Endpoint, Falling Forward, Split Lip, etc. … Read more

Murder By Death

Red of Tooth and Claw
Vagrant (2008)

With their fourth full-length album, Murder by Death has finally brought all their varying influences together. Each of the band's … Read more

Earth

The Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull
Southern Lord (2008)

Luckily for fans of Earth, Dylan Carlson and company are very productive of late with Hex: Or Printing in the … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Basalt Fingers

Basalt Fingers
Three Lobed (2007)

This album definitely puts the "post" back in post-rock. The album consists of only two tracks, each clocking in over … Read more

The Carrier

One Year Later
Rock Vegas (2007)

Sometimes I wonder if there is any passion left in hardcore - and not passion to be popular, but a … Read more

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One from the archives

Pretty Boy Thorson & the Falling Angels

An Uneasy Peace
Kiss of Death (2013)

Have things finally turned around for Jesse Thorson, making the country-punk band sing a new song of joy and celebration? Of course not.Previously, the band didn’t play alt-country so far as they wrote punk songs to country lyrics—however, An Uneasy Peace definitely sees that paradigm shifting toward a fuzzier genre classification. Maybe it’s because Thorson now has an outlet for his punk leanings in The Slow Death and maybe it’s just because that’s the mood he was in when writing An Uneasy Piece. Regardless, the tempo has slowed a touch and the acoustic presence is more notable than ever, with a bit of twang and a whole lot of heavy-drinking heartbreak. Where that changes the tone is that it’s a bit less of a venting feeling and more of a … Read more

More album reviews

Demiricous

Two (Poverty)
Metal Blade (2007)

These four hellraisers are, if not his new favorite band than, at least highly revered and recommended by Slayer's Kerry King, a bruiser who knows a few things about quality heavy music. Demiricous were accused of sounding a bit too much like Slayer on their debut, but since I unfortunately haven't heard it yet I can't say whether that's a … Read more

Skullflower

IIIrd Gatekeeper (Reissue)
Crucial Blast (2008)

Skullflower is the long running project of Matthew Bower, but in its initial incarnation the band did have other members and was a bit more "rock oriented" than the cacophonous oppression of sound and noise that Skullflower is today with Bower as the (pretty much) sole member and driving force. IIIrd Gatekeeper is a re-release of the extremely difficult to … Read more

Lymbyc Systym

Love Your Abuser Remixed
Mush (2008)

Love Your Abuser was released in January 2007, just over a year ago. As an intermediary release (before their next full-length), Lymbyc Systym got some friends together to remix their previously released songs. I was very eager to lend my ears to this release as Love Your Abuser is a very eclectic album. The band's unique take on instrumental music … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Restrained

Restrained
Glory Kid (2008)

Last year this California five-piece released a heck of a demo tape; one that had me quite excited to hear more from them. Well here we are in 2008 and what I have before me is the brand new 7" from Restrained. Like their previous release, the songs on this EP are filled with short, raw, and pissed off hardcore … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Defiant Hearts

Arlington
6131 (2007)

Massachusetts has pretty much been a breeding ground for hardcore bands since well hardcore started. Defiant Hearts is yet another in the long line of bands to come from the state, and they're armed with a new record. From the get-go of Arlington with "Ghost" it is quite evident what kind of a record you are in for. "Ghost" is … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Where it Ends

Resonate
Surprise Attack (2007)

When I listen to Resonate from South Carolina's Where it Ends I immediately think of individuals my own age that were spinning Strife and Trial records in their bedrooms ten years ago. It's obvious from these seven songs that the members of Where it Ends grew up on the metallic hardcore of the 1990's. "Timeline" kicks things off and definitely … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Brothers

Black Friday
Assault (2007)

It is a shame when a band like Brothers goes unnoticed. This five-piece outfit hails from Michigan and Black Friday is their debut offering. The album is filled with eleven hardcore songs just begging for you to sing-along to. The opening combo of "Beginnings" and "The War at Home" kick things off with fast-paced hardcore akin to Comeback Kid and … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Just Went Black

Embracing Emptiness
Assault (2007)

Hamburg, Germany is a city that is known more for its architecture than it is for its musical output. In fact, if you were to ask anyone about the music of Hamburg, they'd probably start talking about some classical composer from the 1800's and not a hardcore band of today. And while I'm sure they are popular in their native … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Short Fuse

Blight
Assault (2007)

Short Fuse is a hardcore punk outfit from Münster, Germany. The four-piece outfit delivers six tracks of fast and raw hardcore punk. "Blight" packs a mean punch with its gritty guitars and Seb's yelled vocals, which reminded me a little bit of Fucked Up's Pink Eyes. The majority of the songs on this 7" occupy the territory of mid-tempo hardcore, … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Anti-Flag

A Benefit for Victims of Violent Crime
A-F (2007)

Anti-Flag has always been a band about raising awareness, but usually the subject is tied to our country's government in some manner. The band continues on with this EP, but instead of enlightening Americans about the evils of the U.S. government the band is raising awareness and monetary funds to help victims of violent crimes, something that hits close to … Read more

The Mountain Goats

Heretic Pride
4AD (2008)

After hearing The Sunset Tree, I was certain that John Darnielle was incapable of writing songs that even hint at happiness. Hope is abundant, but joy is absent. His songs are stories of lives endured. Each album is an anthology of damaged characters trying to survive unfortunate circumstances. Heretic Pride makes that leap from hope to joy, the overall mood … Read more

Asbestoscape

Asbestoscape
Independent (2007)

Now here is an album that deserves some attention. This review was actually a long time in coming because I originally discovered it via a blog as early as last October. It quickly became a staple soundtrack for long, mind-numbing walks I would have to make on chilly autumn nights. It has a somewhat gloomy atmosphere, but it is by … Read more

The Steal

The Steal
Get Outta Town (2007)

Fast, melodic, hardcore punk infused with melody. That is the short and sweet description of what you can expect from The Steal's debut full-length, The Steal, which is a fourteen-track effort that clocks in at just over twenty minutes. The Steal begins with "Breakout," a near two-minute slab of melodic hardcore that draws equally from the likes of Kid Dynamite … Read more

Desoto Jones

Aurora
Deep Elm (2007)

Before I even really get into this review, I just need to let everyone out there in Scene Point Blank-land know that this album actually contains the lyric "You are speed bump in everyone's life." Not only is this line in the chorus which makes it repeated a few times, it's also the opening track under the same name. Speed … Read more

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