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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)

Misericordiam

Unanimity and the Cessation of Hostility
Twelve Gauge (2007)

Unanimity and the Cessation of Hostility is six tracks of blistering death metal that lasts a mere fourteen minutes. And while this EP is extremely short, any longer and the band would have be charged for assault and battery. Las Vegas quintet Misericordiam unleashes a full-on attack of technically amazing riffs and drumming teamed with some of the deepest growls I've ever heard. The artwork to this EP is just as disturbing as the music. Lyrically, the band is quite informative, tackling sociological issues; nothing about rape and murder here, unlike most death metal bands. You've got to admire that. Nevertheless, Misericordiam is the type of band that coalitions of parents form to ban from playing their neighborhoods, and that's cool. So if you're into death metal, grindcore, or just looking for some heavy metal to blow your mind, pick up this EP. Read more

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Crowd Deterrent / Creepout

Split
Hard Ass (2007)

Two of the world's most underrated hardcore bands team up for fourteen tracks of no-frills and no-fuss hardcore. First up … Read more

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The Homefront

Sacrifice
Detonate (2007)

Massachusetts-based hardcore outfit The Homefront has quite a pedigree of previous bands: Have Heart, Guns Up!, and Verse. And if … Read more

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Limbeck

Limbeck
Doghouse (2007)

The fact that Limbeck call Orange County, CA home is a bit of a head-scratcher. Based on their home, you'd … Read more

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Grave Robbers

Hell to Pay
GNP (2007)

Horror-influence hardcore-punk from Texas. That is something that I can get behind. Grave Robbers blast through eight songs in just … Read more

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Taken Under

Silence Your Enemies
High Fidelity (2007)

Tennessee hardcore. I know what you're thinking; you thought everyone from Tennessee that was into music plays country. Well you're … Read more

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One from the archives

The Bronx

IV
White Drugs / ATO (2013)

When we last left The Bronx, they were masquerading as their alter ego with the release of a second album under the Mariachi El Bronx moniker. This second helping of mariachi-style tunes confirmed that the venture was far from a gimmick. It also gave the band an opportunity to embrace their obvious love for the more melodious side of music. This harmonious detour has had a definite impact on their sound and serves as a driving influence on their first rock n’ roll offering in five years.The Bronx were initially more of a hardcore/punk band that thrived on intensity rather than melody. However, some hooks started to sneak in and eventually became a genuine part of their sound. With The Bronx (IV), the band have returned as a fully formed … Read more

More album reviews

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Sound the Alarm

Stay Inside
Geffen (2007)

Sound the Alarm is the latest in a crop of super-young musicians getting a major label deal. And on their debut full-length effort, Stay Inside, they serve up twelve tracks of pop-rock with an emo tinge that bring to mind acts like Jimmy Eat World and The All-American Rejects. And while the first couple of songs of this album had … Read more

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Spires

Spires
Independent (2007)

Spires hail from Oakland, CA and deliver a punishing blend of hardcore, metal, and grindcore, not unlike like The Number 12 Looks Like You and Pig Destroyer. But unlike most bands of this spectrum of music, Spires infuse their chaos with moments of melody, including post-rock inspired moments. The first track, "Burnt Offerings of a Poor Idea" is a perfect … Read more

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Step Forward

10 Song EP
Painkiller (2007)

I know it may be news to some people out there, but Mental broke edge. However, not all members did as Dance Floor Justin drums for yet another Boston straight edge hardcore band. Fast and (10 songs, no shit?) furious 80's styled hardcore that will bring as many circle pits as it will mosh pits. Every song seems to have … Read more

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Soul Control

Soul Control
Rivalry (2007)

Hardcore likes to recycle and reinvent itself about every decade, so yup, 90's hardcore is back. Soul Control sounds like every great 108 riff jammed into every wonderful Quicksand back beat. You know I just love this. Heavy melodic groove orientated hardcore done masterfully. The best thing is when hardcore bands like Soul Control decide to redo the past they … Read more

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Red Handed

Red Handed
Rivalry (2007)

Red Handed plays fast angry hardcore with pissed off lyrics about being pissed off about being pissed off. Red Handed isn't your regular emotional hardcore output you'd expect from Rivalry. This 7" is the perfect soundtrack for drained swimming pools and grinding curbs. Void cover included. I have no idea why hardcore kids aren't talking more about this band; this … Read more

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Meltdown

Demolition
Closed Casket Activities (2007)

Maybe the kids are just too young to remember, but back when hardcore bands were crossing over to metal and vice versa the hardcore kids hated it, really hated it. It was all poseur shit, bunch of fucking longhairs ruining the scene and what not. The worst thing a band could do was sign to Metal Blade or Megaforce. Having … Read more

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Get the Most

Common Goals
Crucial Response (2007)

From the German label that has been specializing in generic youth-crew since the early 90's comes yet another five song 7" of finger pointing stage diving positive hardcore that will have you singing along in no time. Ray Cappo yelps included. Get the Most has ex members and current members of Blue Monday and Go It Alone for those keeping … Read more

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Fired Up

When the Lights Go Out
Youngblood (2007)

Recently Youngblood Records expanded their roster by adding the metallic Iron Age and the Bad Brains influenced Lion of Judah but got back to what they are famous for by signing Fired Up. Connecticut's Fired Up is what I come to expect from Youngblood: fast, '88 influenced, positive hardcore with sweet breakdowns. Sure you know what you are going to … Read more

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The Draft

Stop Wastin' My Time/Up All Night
No Idea (2007)

As much as I have been disappointed with most of The Draft's output I really like this two song platter. "Stop Wastin' My Time" recalls mid-period Hot Water Music mixed with any number of rocking Springsteen hits. The B side "Up All Night" has a bouncy rhythm and almost as catchy as the A Side. This 7" is what all … Read more

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The Draft

The Draft
Epitaph (2007)

This self-titled EP from The Draft, a digital-only affair (No Idea also released two 7"s with the songs on them), is four songs that are leftovers from last year's In a Million Pieces, so if you didn't like the full-length, you won't like this, and if you did like it, you'll like this. Pretty simple. The first song, "Stop Wastin' … Read more

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The Wrongmen

Den Of Vipers
Action Man (2006)

Riffs that are spastic, heavy, hard and fast. Vocals that are poetic, poignant, and political despite being throaty and guttural. Fifty seconds songs comprised of blast beats and all kinds of guitar "wankery" alongside ambient twelve minutes epics that are perfect to get "lifted" to. Abstract cover art that's overtly cryptic, yet at the same time explicitly bad ass. Looking … Read more

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Tel Aviv

Underwaters
Max Recordings (2007)

Okay this will be hard, but just try and stay with me here. Imagine this: Franz Ferdinand crossed with Radiohead. I know; it's crazy, but a few listens to the latest EP from Tel Aviv and I think you'll find it hard to argue. Imagine a kind of new wave influenced rock that you'd probably be ashamed to tell your … Read more

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Gifts From Enola

Local Eyes Betrayed the Mind
Independent (2007)

It's been almost ten years since Mogwai released their now classic debut Young Team and still countless younger bands are trying to emulate that almost entirely instrumental, post-everything sound that relies just as heavy on ambient noises as it does on actual musicianship. I give praises to Gifts From Enola for actually creating a disc that shows some promise of … Read more

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Blutch

Materia
At A Loss (2007)

It's pretty easy to play in a doom/black/death metal band: depending on the style either play extremely fast or extremely slow, and, again depending on style, make your recordings sound like they were either recorded inside a garbage can or in a muddy swamp. Because of this, it also makes to be easy to mediocre playing in such a genre. … Read more

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