Recent reviews

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)

Fall Out Boy

Infinity on High
Island (2007)

In the punk scene alone, the collected amount of shit that has been talked about Fall Out Boy could probably fill the Atlantic Ocean…twice. I am certainly, without question or hesitation, as guilty of it as anyone else, but I'm willing to admit it when I like music by a band I have previously criticized. And so it is with baited breath that I confess that I undoubtedly enjoy Infinity on High. Now that every single one of my scene points has been revoked, I'll explain why. Fall Out Boy's spotty-at-best songwriting that has plagued their previous records has practically vanished, as the fourteen songs on this disc all show a significant jump in quality. Gone are the horrific songs filled with infuriating hooks that are drilled into your brain upon the moment you hear them, as the songwriting doesn't rely upon putting the listener at the mercy of a painfully simple jingle that might cause them to seek a lobotomy. What it does do is create some fantastic pop songs that are easily a step above anything else Fall Out Boy has written. Songs like "The Take Over, The Break's Over," "Hum Hallelujah," and "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs" are … Read more

Seemless

What Have We Become
Equal Vision (2006)

Seemless is a hard rock band, straight up hard rock. Boasting ex-members of Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall, and Overcast, this … Read more

Om

Conference of the Birds
Holy Mountain (2006)

There is little disputing that Sleep was the quintessential stoner metal band. After breaking up due to the band's now … Read more

The Handshake Murders

Usurper
Goodfellow (2007)

I feel like right now is an interesting juncture in "hardcore." With its popularity and accessibility, there are a lot … Read more

The Miracle

Not Just Words
Still Life (2006)

It's quite amazing how widespread hardcore music has become these days. Despites its relatively young age compared to other genres, … Read more

Bloc Party

A Weekend in the City
Vice (2007)

Being a favorite of my friends and I during our Friday/Saturday night pre-pub dance parties, I had a certain set … Read more

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One from the archives

Skyscraper Frontier

Moonlit Behavior
Coming Home (2006)

200 Words Or Less

If I told you that Skyscraper Frontier was another band out of L.A. playing an 'eclectic' mixture of songs, you'd probably get that glazed look in your eyes and change the subject. You've heard it all before. But what if I told you that this six-track EP really was eclectic? Beginning with "I Just Need You," we get ambient 80's electronic dance pop with some elegant piano backing. Vocals are a seductive falsetto delivered by (Rus) Andrew Martin, formerly of Eyelid. Right after this we get some alt.country acoustic balladry with "Your Hazy Mind," and then straight into some shimmering indie pop with "Catatonic Citizens." Melodies are strong but subtle and vocals are easygoing. "I Know You Know" is a slice of post-rock inspired contemplation, followed up by "The Fake … Read more

More album reviews

Fucked Up

Year of the Dog
Blocks Recording Club (2006)

The Chinese Zodiac dictates that the dog will come through for me every time. The dog, I'm told, is reliable, empathetic, and intelligent. The dog is the kind of friend everybody can use. For a few years now, Fucked Up has played the dog for me. I resisted at first, after somebody led me to believe they traded in the … Read more

Stabbed by Words

Stabbed by Words
Hawthorne Street (2006)

Why has no one heard of Stabbed by Words? A better question might be why is no one really talking about them? Seriously, when a band features members and ex-members of Unbroken, The Hope Conspiracy and The Suicide File, how can a band like this slip under the collective radar of the hardcore herd? One reason for their relative obscurity … Read more

Holy Molar

Cavity Search
Three One G (2007)

I once heard an interview with Justin Pearson (Holy Molar, The Locust, Some Girls) in which he said that a fan of his said the music he made was "smart" and that was the most sincere compliment he ever received. He went on to say that he'd rather play smart music then play popular music. For the last three weeks … Read more

Wait in Vain

Demo
Independent (2005)

Wait in Vain was a band that featured ex-members of Trial and Champion who released a four-song demo back in 2005. A substantial buzz grew over this band and the band planned to release a full-length in 2006 with State of Mind Recordings. Sadly Wait in Vain ran into a problem that plagues many bands; they couldn't secure a drummer. … Read more

Skullflower

Tribulation
Crucial Blast (2006)

Most people can't handle the devastating beauty that Skullflower has been known for since its inception in 1987. This latest offering, Tribulation, shows Skullflower in mind blowing form, and I mean that in the most literal sense. This record is loud and thick with ambient noise, feedback, and fuzzed out droning that weighs heavy on the listener's mind and soul. … Read more

I Killed the Prom Queen

Music for the Recently Deceased
Metal Blade (2006)

I'm not going to lie to you, kids. I have an affinity for most things from Down Under. I had family who lived there for fifteen years that I had the pleasure of visiting many moons ago. I've been on the Sydney Harbour Cruise, record shopping in Melbourne, held a wombat in Ballarat, and found my way back to a … Read more

Murder Practice

Murder Practice
West Coast Worldwide (2006)

The wave of hardcore bands coming from the hotbed that is the Bay Area is endless; Murder Practice is the latest export from the constantly thriving scene to hit your stereo. Their self-titled debut is a ten-song soundtrack of aggressive hardcore mixed with the fury of punk and the ferociousness of metal. And while a lot of bands claim to … Read more

Piebald

Accidental Gentlemen
Side One Dummy (2007)

I appreciate humor in music. Being a literary nerd, there's nothing more satisfying than catching a good pun or play on words in the midst of a steady rock beat. Unfortunately, little in today's music scene really delivers. Metalcore (a slowly dying dinosaur), and whatever you call it that Three One G puts out (art school grind-punk?) goes for the … Read more

Only Crime

Virulence
Fat Wreck Chords (2007)

Supergroups are a curious entity, as they often appear to be incredible in the idea stage, but the expectations often exceed the execution. Fortunately, the classic phrase "too many chefs in the kitchen" does not apply to Only Crime - whose talents have been involved with acts such as Bane, Converge, Descendents, Good Riddance, and Gwar - because they are … Read more

The Assailant

Colera
Rome Plow (2006)

A couple of weeks ago, I received a promo package in the mail from the beloved head of staff at Scene Point Blank. The description for this recently released album on Rome Plow Records mentioned Seattle, Washington's late Botch. Needless to say, I jumped at the opportunity to listen to a free, Botch-influenced album, and review it. The Assailant is … Read more

Architect

All is not Lost
Black Market Activities (2007)

As I mentioned in the Gaza review I wrote, I was eagerly anticipating Architect's first release All is not Lost. While Black Market Activities had generally put out stuff outside of my niche, I knew who they were, and their recent releases have really catapulted them to the forefront of my attention. What grabs my attention about these releases is … Read more

Ladyfinger (ne)

Heavy Hands
Saddle Creek (2006)

First off, I have to say, "wow." This is really on Saddle Creek? That is totally unexpected. Being unfamiliar with what Ladyfinger (ne) is capable of musically, I am totally surprised. Heavy Hands is the debut album from these guys. It is a more than interesting offering by the description that I have been given for them. Most people have … Read more

the_Network

This is Your Pig's Portrait
Black Market Activities (2007)

The_Network poises itself to be one of the weirdest albums of 2007 despite the fact that it was released on the twenty-third day of the year. While they were lead to write the songs on This is Your Pig's Portrait after attending a Bloodlet show, I don't think all but the most trained and knowing ears would pick Bloodlet as … Read more

Sleeping Pilot

Panic Sex
Sonic Deadline (2006)

I've never had panic sex, and I don't really want to. It's not really a term that can have many happy endings. There are really only three things I can associate with panic sex: an unwanted pregnancy, an STD, or a dead hooker. Not what I want the outcome of any sexual encounter to be. But now a more positive … Read more

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