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)

Rïcïnn

Nereïd
Blood Music (2020)

Where do you even start with an album like this? It’s been a while since it’s been released, so I definitely had time to immerse myself into it properly as well as getting the leverage of seeing how it aged, even if over a short period of time in terms of timespan when talking about albums. Rïcïnn’s latest record, Nereïd was one of my absolute favorites of last year, without any kind of contest in its respective niche. Laure LePrunenec’s compositions are simply at a new level when taking into account how her debut, Lïan looks like in contrast. After many spins of the record, I realized that I think that this is how I wish classical music would actually be like in the 21st century. Something that sheds its rigidities and embraces many disparate musical corners, approaching composition with an open mind, willing to bend in eccentric ways in order to convey whatever is on the tip of its heart’s tongue. Even though that reality is decades, if not centuries away as I envision it, it is basically the present in the musical world of Rïcïnn. Laure LePrunenec channels a surreal, heart wrenching, thespian, and visceral smorgasbord of emotional … Read more

Not On Tour

Outtakes EP
SBÄM Records (2021)

I can’t believe this is the first time Not On Tour is reviewed on this site. Not On Tour is … Read more

Band of Bastards

DELETE. REPEAT.
Redacted Records, SilverDoor Music (2021)

It’s nice when artists get back to their roots. There’s a time and place for growth and exploration. But there’s … Read more

Descendents

9th & Walnut
Epitaph (2021)

While I like new Descendents, their older stuff always had an intangible bite to it. The new stuff feels more … Read more

Sunshine Satellite

Sunshine Satellite
Snappy Little Numbers (2020)

Ah, an actual tape cassette…in a day and age where portable digital devices are ubiquitous, I find delight whenever an … Read more

Southpaw

Just A Spell of Feeling Nothing
Independent (2021)

There is a lot of productive ways to spend a pandemic lockdown: 1. Grow your own windowsill herb garden 2. … Read more

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One from the archives

Power

Bremerton Zoo
Twelve Gauge (2013)

Old school hardcore punk has really found its feet in the last few years. Bands like Creem, Raw Nerve and Violent Reaction have brought innovation to the scene by utilising lesser heard influences ranging from street punk to crust, whilst reducing the songs to their bare bones; short, pissed-off and raw. With its vibrant artwork and blistering intensity (11 tracks in just over 20 minutes), Power's Bremerton Zoo is a good but superficial addition to this underground revival. Kicking off on the title track, the general sound soon becomes apparent after a short introductory sample- heavily NYHC with a strong groove, yet mosh-stirring from the get-go. Referentially, there are noticeable overtones of bands such as Youth Of Today and Raw Deal, with a definite early Boston edge. The vocals are … Read more

More album reviews

NOFX

Single Album
Fat Wreck Chords (2021)

This record is honestly kind of painful. It’s meant to be, too. It’s about depression, drug abuse, death and all kinds of dark material. And it works on that level, but it’s also painful because the NOFX sound puts Fat Mike’s vocals so front-and-center in everything: It’s like watching somebody standing under a spotlight while hitting rock bottom. The lyrics … Read more

Weezer

Van Weezer
Atlantic (2021)

I expected every webzine, music mogul, and rock print publication to give the newest Weezer album a bad review. I figured that Van Weezer - titled in tribute to, well, you know - was next in a line of punching bags that were guilty of not being Pinkerton. Well, fuck me - most of the big-name publication reviews have been … Read more

Lingua Ignota

Sinner Get Ready
Sargent House (2021)

It is an act of courage to redefine oneself. Especially when the initial recipe and direction has been exciting and challenging. Yet, when a project is as intricate as Kristen Hayter’s Lingua Ignota there should not be any surprise when evolution is afoot. Hayter started in the underground, releasing the first two records of her project independently. Through the raw … Read more

The Obits

Die at the Zoo
Outer Battery Records (2021)

Die at the Zoo is a live recording from Obits, live in Brisbane, Australia, in 2012. There are 16 songs from the band’s catalog and it was recently released on limited vinyl by Outer Battery. There are probably two main angles for looking at a live record: is it capturing a time and place, or is it capturing an essence … Read more

Wills Dissolve

Echoes
Hypnotic Dirge Records (2020)

I think it’s a good rule of thumb to assume if some band has their album art done by Adam “Nightjar” Burke, it’s going to be at least a good album. While that could be an exaggeration, I’ve yet to see a bad record with album art made by that man, so that’s a good track record, right? Anyway, Wills … Read more

Silent Island

The Curse of Coleodeia
Independent (2020)

Hungarian musician Csarnogurszky István is quite prolific, helming Black Hill, musicformessier, Realm of Wolves, Stvannyr, and of course Silent Island. His most recent release is The Curse of Coleodeia under Silent Island. As it can be often witnessed with prolific bands and/or musicians, the output may tend to suffer in quality due to the quantity in which it comes about. … Read more

Impure Wilhelmina

Antidote
Season of Mist (2021)

My girlfriend asked me, earlier this year: “why does all music you like sound so bloody serious?”. At first I denied this and listed a couple of bands and albums that sound more party-like, but after giving it some thought I had to agree. I really lean towards the stuff that sounds bloody serious. In comes Impure Wilhelmina, who can … Read more

Bambies

Summer Soon
Spaghetty Town Records (2021)

The first song on Sumer Soon is titled “Dirty Taint.” And if that doesn’t put a taste in your mouth for what’s to come, well, keep reading then. There’s some trash rock influence, for sure, but it’s not that cut-and-dried. The Bambies also have some heavy Ramones influence that gives a more wholesome counter tone. It walks the trash punk … Read more

Voices

An Audience Of Mannequins
Church Road Records (2021)

The British prog-death metallers from Voices are back with some fresh material. It’s not much, but it’s something to hang on to until their next album. Formed alongside Akercocke, by some of their members, Voices deliver an interesting take on the genre and are definitely one of the better representatives of the niche. They’re also one of those criminally underrated … Read more

Clown Core

Van
Independent (2020)

Who are Clown Core? Long story short – no idea and no one really knows. There’s a lot of speculation online regarding the fact that the duo may actually be drummer Louis Cole and saxophonist Sam Gendel. Although, both have denied being part of the band. As Clown Core continue to skillfully keep their identities a mystery, we can only … Read more

The Arson Choir

Invisible Monsters
War Against Records (2020)

The Arson Choir are another fine representative of the new wave of American mathcore. They’re a pretty young band, but they have a lot of power in them and they sure know how to lay it down. Their balls to the wall delivery paired with chunky and groovy riffs, as well as the classic dissonant screeches is very appropriate and … Read more

Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

Axiom
Ropeadope Records (2020)

I believe Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah requires practically no other introduction than his name – especially for people savvy within the realm of jazz. The award-winning musician along with his band has managed to throw together a marvelous collection of songs as his third live album, titled succinctly, Axiom. This all went down across four days during March last year … Read more

Fawn Limbs

Darwin Falls
Roman Numeral Records, Wolves & Vibrancy Records (2021)

Transatlantic noise laden mathgrind power trio Fawn Limbs are back with fresh material. What could they possibly have in store this time around? Their prolific catalogue reaches a true high point with their ninth release, Darwin Falls. Physically following in the footsteps of Sleeper Vessels, while aesthetically and spiritually in those of Thrum, Darwin Falls sees the band stepping into … Read more

Luz de Gas

Luz de Gas
Iron Lung (2021)

So many punk albums start strong and lose their energy by the end. This self-titled debut does the opposite, intentionally starting slow and building up tension with an instrumental and then gaining momentum all the way through. It seems the Santiago, Chile-based band released this demo last year and it’s made the rounds, now getting a USA cassette release via … Read more

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