Recent reviews

Our latest album reviews, featuring the records we've most enjoyed (or not) over the past few weeks.

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

Seasick

Awakenings
Brain Drain (2007)

Seasick play fast pissed off political hardcore with plenty of twists and turns to keep me interested. There are some nice little breakdowns and some Integrity-like guitar solos. It reminds me a little bit of the stuff that Ebullition was hawking in the mid 90's but a lot more fun and catchy. I could see kids that use their dogs as pack mules getting into this band. Punk fucking rock. Read more

Barbara

Peger
Heart & Crossbone (2007)

"Peger" is transliterated Hebrew for "corpse" or "carcass," so you know what you're getting into here. But Barbara, a bass/drum … Read more

Tyvek

Fast Metabolism
Whats Your Rupture? (2007)

I got interested in Fast Metabolism after seeing it billed as "fast, loud and weird" punk rock from Detroit - … Read more

Reptoids

Park a Tiger
RRRecords (2005)

Chicago's Reptoids, signed to RRRecords, play a female brand of grunge/punk rock. This six-track EP, clocking in at sixteen minutes, … Read more

Skyscraper Frontier

Moonlit Behavior
Coming Home (2006)

If I told you that Skyscraper Frontier was another band out of L.A. playing an 'eclectic' mixture of songs, you'd … Read more

The Last Car in Alaska

Comfort
Independent (2006)

South Carolina trio The Last Car in Alaska play a sort of melodic emo-core that must be pretty popular with … Read more

Browse our review archives

Review categories

200 Words Or Less

749 reviews

Book Review

42 reviews

Classic Album

25 reviews

Multiple Authors

300 reviews

Review

4903 reviews

Video/DVD Review

19 reviews

One from the archives

Inter Arma

Sulphur English
Relapse (2019)

In the early ‘10s it felt like the progressive sludge scene had produced all of its great records, and that moving forwards the genre would settle in a plateau state. But in the underground, there was one band that was still not contempt with the confinements of the genre, and they displayed that with their debut record Sundown. Inter Arma’s first full-length might have unfortunately passed unnoticed, but the true wake-up call came with the band’s sophomore release Sky Burial. The record not only displayed some of the best heavy sludge music had to offer, but it also presented a roadmap for combining its weight with black metal eeriness, death metal brutality and a bluesy, southern core. The years passed and Inter Arma kept getting better and better. They released … Read more

More album reviews

Down to Nothing

The Most
Revelation (2007)

Ryan Groat should be presented with some sort of award for the riffs he came up with on The Most, Down to Nothing's third full-length and first for Revelation Records. Seriously, not only are the riffs thundering and inventive, they get stuck in your head for weeks, even months on end. Mr. Groat I award with this Riffy for Most … Read more

Ruiner

Prepare to be Let Down
Bridge Nine (2007)

There was a time when I thought that Prepare to be Let Down was never going to be released. The album was slated to come out via 1917 Records before the band and label amicably agreed to go their separate ways. Well, after a brief stint without a label, Ruiner have finally brought Prepare to be Let Down to the … Read more

Aesop Rock

None Shall Pass
Definitive Jux (2007)

Aesop Rock could be considered the resident Dadaist of the hip-hop community. Many consider him a hyper literate linguist (despite the fact he admits that he doesn't read much), blending modern pop culture phrasings with slang of the last ten years to create complex rhymes that actively reflective on the modern world. Others argue just the opposite; despite his ability … Read more

Dear Tonight

We're Not Men
Red Leader (2007)

It's been three years since Brooklyn's Dear Tonight released their debut EP These are Wires. Since then the band has toured regularly, went to Europe with Boy Sets Fire, and honed their sound in order to release We're Not Men, the bands first full-length and only their second release as a band. While These are Wires was much grittier and … Read more

Massacre of the Umbilical Cord / Control

Split
Magic Bullet (2007)

Having never been exposed to Massacre of the Umbilical Cord, I find myself wondering exactly what to expect from half of this split album. Control, on the other hand, I am familiar with what they do and am excited by their contribution to this record. Control is one of a slew of newer bands that are utilizing sounds brought to … Read more

Ultra Dolphins

Mar
Robotic Empire (2006)

Opening up with an old-time accordion intro, you could be forgiven for expecting Ultra Dolphins to play Iron & Wine-esque 'American gothic' folk rock. However, forgiving is probably the last word you could use to describe Richmond's Ultra Dolphins, who play a kind of post-hardcore noise over the thirty minutes Mar lasts. Kicking off properly with "Town Goat," we get … Read more

Balboa / Rosetta

Project Mercury
Level Plane (2007)

Project Mercury is the latest output of material from two of Philadelphia's underground sensations: Balboa and Rosetta. The split features original material from each band as well as a collaborative piece - much like the Harkonen and These Arms are Snakes split put out a couple of years back. Project Mercury is a dynamic adventure in music, much like that … Read more

Calico System

Outside are the Vultures
Eulogy (2007)

Sadly it seems that this review took a little too long to finish and the band that was to be reviewed has called it quits. But Calico System have arguably left an impression and their LP Outside are the Vultures is a must listen for those who like run-of-the-mill music. This review will start with the bands mission statement explaining … Read more

Blaqk Audio

CexCells
Interscope (2007)

I wanted to hate this. I really did. Don't mistake me for an elitist music journalist; A.F.I. is the band responsible for this webzine's founding. But A.F.I. or no A.F.I., I was determined not to like this record. Not being a listener of electronic or synth-based music, and being too embarrassed to ask what "EBM" stood for, I was a … Read more

Blaqk Audio

CexCells
Interscope (2007)

As a rock band who have become progressively more electronic throughout their career, A.F.I. might have gone some way to introducing their fan base to the influential artists that have inspired CexCells and may have even converted some of them over to the dark(wave) side. If I was feeling optimistic, I'd say that Blaqk Audio the much anticipated side-project of … Read more

Modern Life Is War

Midnight in America
Equal Vision (2007)

Modern Life is War are flirting with a backlash. Plenty of people hated Witness despite the fact that it upped the ante on My Love. My Way. like a gambler splashing the pot, with songs that stood taller, lingered in your head longer, and cut like a Bowie knife (i.e. through human flesh). But still we hear the same old … Read more

Dearly Departed

What Awaits Us
Black Tide (2007)

For a group that went on hiatus almost directly after the release of their debut full-length, Believing in Ghosts, it's unexpected that Dearly Departed would be back so soon with thirteen (twelve not counting "The Masquerade") new songs to gift onto the music landscape. After all, it has barely been three years. Keep in mind that What Awaits Us comes … Read more

Verona Grove

Verona Grove
Pat’s Record Company (2007)

So I got my wisdom teeth out today and have nothing to do but sit around at home on painkillers and eat Top Ramen. So I figured, what better time than now to give this promotional album a real listen? I have the free time and attention needed to really review a CD, and it's a band I know nothing … Read more

Minus the Bear

Planet of Ice
Suicide Squeeze (2007)

Despite much argument, Planet of Ice is a good album. It's debated flaw however, is that it doesn't sound like any of the other Minus the Bear releases. As a music lover and reviewer, however, it's something I can respect. Unlike most of the previous albums, the band has spent a lot of time on the vocal sessions, blending them … Read more

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