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)

Collapsar

Integers
Escape Artist (2007)

Let's be honest here, if a band is going to be an instrumental group that is completely devoid of vocals than they need to be pretty damn impressive to make up for that obviously lacking human element from the group's oeuvre. Collapsar are an entirely instrumental group that I have been drawn to checking out because of their usually eye catching artwork and record covers, but until now, have not delved into because of the dubious lack of vocals, not that this lack is a bad thing but made me a bit wary of comparing the band to other all instrumental outfits. Integers is the band's second release and contains six tracks of borderline prog-influenced metal. Integers begins much differently than I expected and rather than the usual state or sounds that I tend to associate with instrumental music; what blasts my aural sense instead is more akin to what The Dillinger Escape Plan might have tossed at listeners before they went completely soft. That is to say that "Axiomatic Fragment" is chock full of the metal tinged, odd timing, and fret board gymnastics that characterized earlier Dillinger records like Under the Running Board and Calculating Infinity but in a … Read more

Pyongyang Metro

Tower of White Tigers
Arsenic (2007)

Pyongyang Metro is a tough band to separate from their other projects. The band shares members with Off With Their … Read more

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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … Read more

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One from the archives

American Steel

Destroy Their Future
Fat Wreck Chords (2007)

It's crazy how many bands have reunited lately. If you'd asked me a few years ago what I'd be listening to in 2007, I never would've guessed "the new Lifetime and American Steel records." But I'm not complaining, because in my eyes American Steel did no wrong. (And the Lifetime reunion album is so good.) The last American Steel LP, Jagged Thoughts, was the best record the band ever made, a literal rainy day gem full of dynamite, instantly memorable songs. It should've been huge. But there's also no doubt that it was different, straying pretty far from the band's Gilman Street dumpster-pop roots: Jagged Thoughts sounded more like The Pogues or late period Clash (except way, way better) than Crimpshrine. Destroy Their Future, American Steel's comeback record, purports to … Read more

More album reviews

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

200 Words Or Less

Son Lux

At War with Walls and Mazes
Anticon (2008)

Son Lux is the working project of one man, Ryan Lott, a multi-talented musician and artist. At War with Walls and Mazes is his debut full-length and over the course of it he dabbles in various worlds of experimental music. At War with Walls and Mazes can be described in simplest forms as experimental as throughout the album, Lott pursues … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Arson Anthem

Arson Anthem
Housecore (2008)

Arson Anthem has quite the pedigree with members of Pantera, Eyehategod, and Superjoint Ritual in tow. Phil Anselmo, who is joined by Mike Williams of Eyehategod, Hank Williams III of Superjoint Ritual, and Collin Yeo, spearheads the four-piece group. The project came to be after Anselmo and Williams sat around listening to lots of Negative Approach, Poison Idea, Discharge, and … Read more

200 Words Or Less

ANS / Seasick

Billy in a Bearsuit
Brain Drain / Headcount (2008)

Hailing from outside Dallas, ANS deliver a concoction of fast-paced hardcore punk that draws comparisons to the early days of hardcore: Black Flag, Bad Brains, and DRI. The foursome is a bit more aggressive than their forefathers though, as showcased in the minute-and-a-half blast that is "Paging Dr. Shiba." "Circle the Drain" is a nice blend of the early hardcore … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Lighten Up

I'd Rather be Snoring
Brain Drain (2007)

Philadelphia is always shooting out new hardcore bands. Lighten Up is one of the more recent products of the city of endless hardcore. The members of this four-piece likely have extensive collections of Revelation and Dischord records, or at least that's what one would guess while listening to their music. I'd Rather be Snoring is five tracks of super fast-paced … Read more

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