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)

Time for Change

Wasting Away
Glory Kid (2006)

Two years ago when reviewing Time for Change's debut EP, Profound, I made it known that while the band delivered some quality music, they hadn't yet found their own voice. Well, it seems as though time was all they needed. Wasting Away is a brand new 7" with four new tracks from the Southern California hardcore outfit. Time for Change still harkens back to the mid-90's metallic hardcore scene on "Dried Tears," which opens this 7". But in addition to the standard use of chug-chug riffs inspired by the 90's sound, they also incorporate a fair amount of fast-paced parts. And rather than seem cut and pasted together, which is a problem with many of today's bands, they've structured them together to flow quite seamlessly. "Let This Go" opens with some 90's hip hop beats, very Dre-esque, before returning to the form set by the previous track. "The Steady Course" is a cut that mixes the slower metallic hardcore sound with the modern Boston sound that was popularized by American Nightmare. It's a good fusion of sounds, giving Time for Change a sound that is distinguished from their sometimes too apparent influences. "III" opens with a brief intro then works … Read more

In the Face of War

We Make Our Own Luck
Detournement (2007)

I remember this band; a few years ago I picked up Live Forever or Die Trying with false promises of … Read more

Get a Grip / Hammer Head

Split
Strike 3 (2006)

I guess I'm really spoiled living in New England and all. Being so close to Massachusetts, and not a far … Read more

Assemblage 23

Binary
Metropolis (2007)

As seems to be common in the electronic scene, Assemblage 23 (A23) is the product of one man - Tom … Read more

Multiple Authors

Clouds

Legendary Demo
Hydra Head (2007)

When Cave In went on hiatus, who would have thought that the principal players would all decide to throw down … Read more

Multiple Authors

Clouds

Legendary Demo
Hydra Head (2007)

It's quite an interesting experience to hear the whole of Cave In broken down into its different parts, in a … Read more

Browse our review archives

Reviews by year

Choose a year to view reviews of albums released in that year.

Reviews by artist name

Choose a letter to view reviews ordered by that letter (band name first).

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

Old Accusers

Of And Beyond
Independent (2011)

Technical prowess and hardcore usually do not go hand in hand. It seems that many bands in the genre succumb to the generic characteristics of heavy music, both musically and lyrically. However, on rare occasions there are bands that come along and throw out all modern convention and really think outside of the mosh pit. Sharon, Pennsylvania’s Old Accusers is one of these bands that turns the hardcore scene on its head. From the first few seconds of the band’s debut EP, Of And Beyond, you know that this band is not fooling around. “The Wait” starts off as heavy as you can imagine, throwing a doom metal riff and almost beatdown-worthy palm muting over slamming and relentless drum patterns. This isn’t ordinary for the band, and their main influences … Read more

More album reviews

Trap Them

Sleepwell Deconstructor
Trash Art (2007)

For those of you unfamiliar with Trap Them (or Trap Them and Kill Them or 77+K7, I'm not sure which moniker stuck) you have to be familiar with Backstabbers, Inc. right? Well, if for some reason you aren't, this is dirty, dirty crust-grind. The distortion is through the roof, and none of that polished metal sound that you get from … Read more

Burning Skies

Desolation
Life Force (2006)

Damn... Burning Skies has a ton of grind influence as well as some good old death metal influence to boot. I guess Misery Index and Dying Fetus would be good reference points. Regardless, this is a pleasant enough surprise. The production on Desolation is crisp, clean, and heavy; it definitely gives the band a brutal sound. Desolation is pretty crazy. … Read more

Youth Group

Casino Twilight Dogs
Anti (2007)

Australian-bred power-pop/indie-rock band Youth Group has returned with their second U.S. release, and third overall, with Casino Twilight Dogs and damn is it good. The dark and haunting lyrics matched with shimmering guitar chords and vocalist Toby Martin's smooth, pop-perfect delivery made 2004's Skeleton Jar a strange disc to behold as it didn't seem like it should have been so … Read more

Dälek

Abandoned Language
Ipecac (2007)

Dälek have the ability to produce an album that's so distinctively different from anything that have done before and yet still sounds characteristically like a Dälek album. As soon as you hear a song by this group, you know it's them. Not only have they consistently been able to do this album after album, but while doing so the quality … Read more

Multiple Authors

Years from Now

We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat
Get Outta Town (2007)

I have to admit, Years from Now do shed a tiny bit of warm sunlight into the dank black empty soul of this jaded hardcore scenester in more ways than one. It's nice to see a bunch of rapscallions play melodic hardcore in a quite a way that I can imagine the members of this Floridian band having a record … Read more

Multiple Authors

Years from Now

We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat
Get Outta Town (2007)

Those of you who read my "Top 5 Awesome Bands SPB Got Into in 2005" feature in the end of the year recap, might remember my mention of Years from Now. Out of Daytona Beach, Florida, Years from Now play infectious melodic hardcore with pop-punk flourishes. Think New Found Glory meets Fastbreak. A melodic hardcore fan can't want much more … Read more

Abel is Dying

Gazing from the Abyss
Still Life (2006)

Lasagna. Pizza. Mario Bava. This is what I think of when I think of Italy. Oh, and the mafia. No wait - that's when I think of New Jersey. We all have our little preconceived notions of regions or countries when it comes to music. Sure, there's hardcore to be found all over the world, but good hardcore? By now … Read more

Coke Bust

Demo
Independent (2007)

It's an odd thing to look back on the things that helped shape us such as the music we listen to and just how long ago they initially took place. Looking back on the DC punk and hardcore scene, the time has flown by. It has been almost twenty years since Fugazi decided to form, and has been twenty-two years … Read more

Eluvium

Copia
Temporary Residence (2007)

Music has a way of bringing out many emotions in the listener. Whether it is fun music in the summer while you are having a good time or the making of a mixtape for a girl that you are trying to impress, music plays a very important role in all of our lives. We all have that one album that … Read more

Explosions in the Sky

All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
Temporary Residence (2007)

To call Explosions in the Sky's new record, All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone, expansive would be a horrendous understatement. The guitars swirl around each other in a dizzying fashion that does nothing other than grip the listener in a strange catatonic envelope. On the outside, the individual looks completely serene and vacant while inside they are caught up … Read more

No Harm Done

Our Day of Days
Anchorless (2007)

It's hard to be original anymore when playing any form of rock music and even harder to stand out when you're trying to sound similar to already-existing acts. No Harm Done are a melodic hardcore band from Florida who play their style by the book and not much else, as the idol worship of Strike Anywhere is clearly heard in … Read more

The End of Six Thousand Years / Embrace the End

Split
Still Life (2006)

Still Life Records delivers another slab of aggressive metalcore as it teams up Italy's The End of Six Thousand Years and Sacramento, California's Embrace the End. Each band contributes three songs each of punishing metalcore that will no doubt please any fan of the genre, whether they feel the genre is played out or are just getting into the scene. … Read more

Jesu

Conqueror
Hydra Head (2007)

Okay, I am saying it. This just might be my number one album of 2007. Whatever I thought of Jesu prior to this record went completely out the window. Conqueror is absolutely breathtaking. The audible space that this record fills up is mind-boggling. It is lush. It is sweet and pretty. I am listening to it over and over again … Read more

Bloodlined Calligraphy

Ypsilanti
Facedown (2006)

You, the Scene Point Blank readers, are probably tired of reading about how awful metalcore is these days. But as stagnant and formulaic as the genre is, bands just keep putting out albums and apparently there is fanbase that keeps eating this shit up. But somebody has to review them, so here we are. When SPB writers, including myself, review … Read more

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