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Strung Out

Blackhawks Over Los Angeles
Fat Wreck Chords (2007)

If you're like me, you grew up buying compilations from punk rock labels. It was like opening up a treasure box and finding jewels of new music to marvel at. As Fat Wreck Chords was putting out comps such as Survival of the Fattest and Physical Fatness, Strung Out always stood out to me as doing something unique, having a … Read more

Blackfield

Blackfield II
Atlantic (2007)

Blackfield is the collaboration between Steve Wilson of Porcupine Tree fame and Israeli rocker Aviv Geffen. Blackfield I was released in 2004 to much critical acclaim and now the men are back with the rather originally named Blackfield II. You can say much about these guys, but the titles of their albums are at least straight to the point. Like … Read more

Oxbow

The Narcotic Story
Hydra Head (2007)

It's impossible for me to give The Narcotic Story a fair review. As the liner notes state: "This does not mark the actual conclusion of THE NARCOTIC STORY but merely the first in a triptych that will later include a full-length film of the same name, as well as a soundtrack release for said film. We hope your level of … Read more

The Narrator

All that to the Wall
Flameshovel (2007)

It's safe to say that indie music is the new "pop" and bands like Bloc Party and Arcade Fire have gained a considerable amount of success taking advantage of the genre's newfound appeal. The irony of course is that the very definition of "indie" clashes with what the style means today, and its popularity created over saturation. Thus, less than … Read more

200 Words Or Less

The Pax Cecilia

Blessed are the Bonds
Independent (2007)

If I had to loosely describe The Pax Cecilia I would have to use the term "rock," but doing so would be a great disservice to the individuals that created Blessed are the Bonds. The eight songs that comprise the one hour of music that is this release do contain many different element; the band infuses their sound with elements … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Last Minute Fix / Lie and Wait

Split
Wormhole (2006)

Two of Texas' most promising hardcore upstarts team up on this split 7" release. On the A-Side we have Last Minute Fix, who released Revenge on the Syringe in early 2006. Like their debut EP, the band still leans towards the earlier years of hardcore punk. The bands two songs - "This Just In" and "Commotion" - are short and … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Stag

Stag
Independent (2007)

Stag is a two-piece sludge-metal outfit from Missouri. This self-released four-song EP is a definite homage to the likes of early Neurosis with doom metal experimentation here and there. The drumwork of Ash over the four songs is quite impressive as he unveils a wide variety of techniques. The guitars handled by Michael are thick as molasses, though he occasionally … Read more

200 Words Or Less

¡Apeshit!

¡Apeshit!
Independent (2007)

¡Apeshit! is a four-piece outfit hailing from New York City. They blast through thirteen songs on this, their debut effort, in less than eleven minutes. You don't have to be good at math to realize that means one thing: super short songs. With only three songs clocking in over a minute, the remainder of ¡Apeshit! is sub-one-minute cuts of traditional … Read more

The Unlovables

Heartsickle
Whoa Oh/Crafty (2007)

I first heard The Unlovables on Crafty Record's New York vs. New Jersey Punk Rock Battle Royal compilation. They were one of the bands that didn't blow me away on first listen, but after repeated spins their songs were among my favorite and I quickly picked up Heartsickle, their second full-length. The Unlovables play mid-90's style pop-punk, featuring powerful female … Read more

Caught in a Trap

Rats Get Fat
No Joke (2007)

Caught in a Trap are four, to a certain extent, hefty dudes with beards playing distinctive NYHC styled hardcore which really come as no surprise since they reside in both Brooklyn and Queens. If by some reason you don't know what NYHC sounds like, imagine tough metallic riffs placed over frenetic drumming where everyone in attendance tries to kill each … Read more

Allegiance

Desperation
Rivalry (2007)

Do you ever buy the new album from a band you like and after a couple listens you just think, "This is about what I expected"? Most of the time this means the album is good; just more songs of the sound you've become accustomed to. This happened to me when I got Champion's full-length. I liked it, but it … Read more

Declan de Barra

Song of a Thousand Birds
Translation Loss (2007)

Now, this is a pleasant surprise. I have not been previously introduced to Declan de Barra or previous outfits (Clann Zu and Non Intentional Lifeform). So, there are no expectations for Song of a Thousand Birds, his first solo effort. The promotional CD (which gives no real liner notes or in depth information or artwork that may or may not … Read more

Gallows

Orchestra of Wolves (Reissue)
Epitaph (2007)

The word "fucking" appears on Orchestra of Wolves forty-nine times. Let me break it down for you: there's thirty-nine "fucking"s on the full-length and ten on the two bonus tracks for a grand total of forty-nine. That's not including variants such as "fuck", "fucked", etc. I counted every time it appears in the lyrics (there's an extra in one song … Read more

Pig Destroyer

Phantom Limb
Relapse (2007)

I unabashedly love Pig Destroyer. And while they are out of vogue with the kvlt grindsters, I think they are infinitely more interesting than the million other death/grind bands with illegible logos. 2004's Terrifyer is one of the few albums I would consider a modern classic, naysayers be damned. So when I heard they added a fourth (non-bass playing) member, … Read more

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