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)

Kylesa

Time Will Fuse its Worth
Prosthetic (2006)

Kylesa is a conundrum. They straddle so many genres and styles of music that it is almost fruitless to attempt to classify them. However, I believe that this fact is part of their appeal where in other bands' cases, it would be a detriment. Regardless, their new album, Time Will Fuse its Worth, marks the addition of two new drummers to replace the one that exited. Time Will Fuse its Worth begins with an eerie tribal like introduction that gives way to the fury of "What Becomes an End." Laura - one of the vocalists - really kicks this song off well. It's a blistering song that has a nice tempo change during the "chorus" that really gives the song a nice dynamic. The bridge is killer as the other of the male vocalists bellows out some ridiculous sounds before breaking into a kind of trippy sounding instrumental part. The end of the song is fitting for how "Hollow Severer" has subtle melodic undertone while still maintaining its thick, distorted sound. This track has a real quiet jammed out section that was totally unexpected. Kylesa seems to be playing with dynamics even more than usual in this song. There are … Read more

Red Orchestra Radio

The Electric Sleep
Feeling Faint (2006)

I know you shouldn't judge people by the company they keep, but I propose that there should be certain exemptions … Read more

The Milkman's Union

Oh Boy
Young Scientist (2006)

Young talent can be dangerous thing to praise. On one hand, you have a young musician whose musical prowess is … Read more

Amon Amarth

With Oden on Our Side
Metal Blade (2006)

According to the Vikings, the world will end in an apocalyptic battle known as Ragnarök, in which the dead will … Read more

Defiant Voice

I'd Rather Sleep in the Dirt
Lorelei (2006)

Both fellow Scene Point Blank scribes Michael and Zed said that I would be fully into this five piece hardcore … Read more

An Albatross

Blessphemy (Of the Peace Beast Feastgiver and the Bear Warp Kumite)
Ace Fu (2006)

Before I start this review, please identify yourself with one of the following definitions and complete the following sentence: I … Read more

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One from the archives

This is Hell

Warbirds
Think Fast! (2009)

Long Island natives This is Hell have been going full-force since their formation in 2004. There has been an endless stream of releases - a demo, a couple of EP's, a split, and two full-lengths - through those years. The Warbirds 7" features three brand new songs and two cover songs, something the band seems to rather enjoy (previous covers of The Beastie Boys, 108, The Movielife, Kid Dynamite, and CIV have been recorded). Warbirds opens with a bang. "The Search" picks up where the band left off with Misfortunes. It's fast-paced hardcore with a rock flavoring showcased perfectly on this two and a half minute blast. And while you're enjoying what you've come to expect from This is Hell, the band throws a bitching solo in midway through the … Read more

More album reviews

Playing Enemy

Accessory
Hawthorne Street (2006)

Playing Enemy is a three-piece band made up of ex-members of Kiss it Goodbye and Rorschach. I do not bring that up as a selling point, but rather to give an inkling as to the school of thought from which the music is derived. Accessory is a two-song EP that may serve as the band's swan song seeing as they … Read more

Guillemots

Through the Windowpane
Polydor (2006)

Guillemots (sometimes written gUiLLeMoTs) are an English avant-garde pop and indie rock band formed in November 2004 by Fyfe Dangerfield. I lifted that from Wikipedia, by the way. Got to give credit where credit is due. But that's what you've got here on the Guillemtos' debut and Mercury-nominated album Through the Windowpane. Clue number one: "avant-garde pop." Clue number two: … Read more

Asunder

Works Will Come Undone
Profound Lore (2006)

To many, 2006 will be remembered as the year Britney Spears' vagina was opened to the world. To others, it will be remembered for the synthesis of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie into one super compassionate human being. And to those into doom metal, 2006 will be remembered for Profound Lore's release of Asunder's Works Will Come Undone. What Spears' … Read more

Windmills by the Ocean

Windmills by the Ocean
Robotic Empire (2006)

Windmills by the Ocean is a collection of songs that have been dusted off after they sat on the shelf for... well, for far too long. Five friends came together in August of 2003 and laid down five tracks of ethereal, drone, post-rock/metal goodness. While the members went on with their main projects, and new ones too, these songs sat … Read more

Celebrity Murders

Time to Kill Space
Chainsaw Safety (2006)

There are a few music "fans" that may be in denial, but I think most schooled individuals can attest that there is a tremendous dearth of great hardcore bands out there. There are a few more bands that could be classified as "good" and then a seemingly infinite number of shitty ones. Celebrity Murders is a great band and Time … Read more

Electric Horsemen

Electric Horsemen
Churchtown Deathbed (2006)

Somewhere - where I have no idea - the idea that traditional stoner-rock could get a huge kick in the ass by adding some of the successful elements of "hardcore" popped into some tattooed (probably grizzly) peoples' heads. I imagine the plethora of people who own the Hydra Head catalog also have a few Eyehategod and Sleep records, and vice … Read more

Heresi

Psalm II: Infusco Ignis
Hydra Head (2006)

In my experience, there is no such thing as a bad one-man black metal project. Every single one I have heard has impressed me in some way or another, and Heresi is no exception to this rule. Although Heresi shares the misanthropic attitudes of other black metal soloists like Xasthur and Leviathan, the sound is significantly more technical and thrashy. … Read more

Urgehal

Goatcraft Torment
Southern Lord (2006)

God bless Southern Lord Records. For many years the label has been the last bastion for all things sludgey and doomish. But as some of the latest releases to come out of their gate prove, they're going back to the Black with a monster roster that sets a beautifully dark tone for the future of the label. Urgehal is one … Read more

Form of Rocket

Men
Sick Room (2006)

SLC, Utah's Form of Rocket is five dudes, just as humble as they are talented, blasting out some really creative and inspiring stuff. They could quite possibly be the best band around right now, as I honestly can't think of a more exciting band. They're seamlessly bridging a wide range of genres all the way from post-hardcore, post-rock, folk, metal, … Read more

Deicide

The Stench of Redemption
Earache (2006)

My only beef is with God. I wake up every day, I curse Him every day, because there is only on person who's responsible for the life I fucking have and that's the bastard who created us. I fucking hate Him. - Glen Benton Oh Glen, you rapscallion, you. You're not fooling anyone with that inverted-cross branded on your forehead. … Read more

The Prize Fighter Inferno

My Brother's Blood Machine
Equal Vision (2006)

There are some things in life that you either love or hate, and one of these are the vocals of Coheed and Cambria frontman and creative mastermind Claudio Sanchez. Much like the notoriously high-pitched Geddy Lee (of Rush), Sanchez has a unique style of singing that is palatable to some, and to others comparable to the wailings of a pre-pubescent … Read more

Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton

Knives Don't Have Your Back
Last Gang (2006)

Emily Haines is a diva. Okay, maybe not in the traditional sense of the word, but if the modern definition - "an extremely independent and talented female singer" - allows individuals like Christina Aguilera and Beyoncé to be considered divas, then Haines is more than deserving. Haines may be most well known for her work fronting Metric, but she has … Read more

Darling New Neighbors

Every Day is Saturday Night
Independent (2006)

Hailing from Austin, Texas, Darling New Neighbors play indie rock with tinges of country that strays into universal pop and traces of folk. Darlings of the southern underground, Every Day is Saturday Night is their debut full-length. Filled with indie rockers, folk-ballads, and eclectic pop tones, it is tied together through stylistic shifts and lyrics of love gone wrong, which … Read more

Eyes of Ligeia

A Fever Which Would Cling to Thee Forever
Paragon (2006)

Ask the founding member of Eyes of Ligeia about his band history and you're likely to get this response… In the cursed year 1998 of the Common Era (not coincidentally corresponding to the Number of the Beast three times over), a new medium was required for the communication of haunting despair and abject misery through music. It was to this … Read more

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