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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)

Fear Before the March of Flames

The Always Open Mouth
Equal Vision (2006)

According to guitarist Adam Fischer, "The Always Open Mouth is the person in the crowd who, when you say something, they yell out 'Fuck you, play another song'." With this in mind, it's not hard to imagine what to expect from Fear Before the March of Flame's third album. Raw and scathing, this is an all-out attack on the ignorant and the blinkered. The band would have us believe that they - like the damned prophet namesake of "Taking Cassandra to the End of the World Party" - are among the rare few who can see through the lies the world is fed upon to the corruption beneath. This is fairly dangerous territory. After all, the fire of many a teenage angst-ridden rant has been fuelled by similar thoughts. Thankfully, however, Fear Before the March of Flames manage to carry it off with style and none of the pimple-faced wailing that could have so easily ruined the record. Musically, The Always Open Mouth shows a lot of progression. Fisher, again, explains: "I honestly don't think that people, on this new record, are even gonna give it the chance it deserves." Toning down the screaming and reigning in their dissonant noise, … Read more

Multiple Authors

Fear Before the March of Flames

The Always Open Mouth
Equal Vision (2006)

Very few bands, after putting out two records that made me cringe, put out a record that moves me. Not … Read more

Multiple Authors

Final Fight / Life Long Tragedy

Split
Deathwish Inc. (2006)

A quick warning before you read this review: This will be the most biased review I've written for Scene Point … Read more

Multiple Authors

Final Fight / Life Long Tragedy

Split
Deathwish Inc. (2006)

The vast majority of hardcore that's described as "heartfelt" comes off sounding "cheesy," "uninspired," and "contrived." The "emotive" vocals as … Read more

Circles

When the Big River Floods
Well Below (2006)

When the Big River Floods sounds like Circles recorded it in a basement while drunk. Rough and ragged, the influences … Read more

Hammock

Raising Your Voice...Trying to Stop an Echo
Darla (2006)

I have been following Hammock's short career so far and have enjoyed everything that they have put out. Their 2004 … Read more

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One from the archives

M83

Saturdays=Youth
Mute (2008)

The French are good at many things. Food. Art. Aquatic nuclear shenanigans. But despite being one of the cultural centers of Europe, France never seems to have really mastered music. Perhaps it's my brutish Britannic ignorance, but I struggle to name many decent French bands. Air are good. I've heard some decent French hip-hop. And then there's M83. Manned and operated by Anthony Gonzalez, the previous albums have consisted of an intriguing blend of shoegaze and synthpop that brought the best of both worlds. While Saturdays=Youth doesn't stray a million miles away from that blueprint, there's something definitively unique about this recording. The shoegaze elements have been dialed back a bit and the vocals are more consistent throughout. It's somehow more sparkling, more ethereal than earlier work while being significantly … Read more

More album reviews

Kayo Dot

Dowsing Anemone With Copper Tongue
Robotic Empire (2006)

Premise: An album comprised of five tracks. -Five tracks, man? Pffft, how long could it be? -Like, you know... longer than that Locust joint. -No way? Which Locust joint? -Any of them, and yeah way. -Kayo Dot's on Robotic Empire. So, this album's a combination of spazzy drumbeats, everywhere guitar parts, and harsh vocals - that I love, of course … Read more

In First Person

Lost Between Hands Held Tight
Paramnesia (2006)

A few months ago in Scene Point Blank's Mid Year feature I mentioned that Paramnesia Records had been the record label of the year up to that point, and that I was looking forward to their next release by In First Person. That release is now here, and with it comes the solidification of my belief that Paramnesia is the … Read more

Rally the Fray

To Never Live in Denial
Volatile (2006)

I don't know about anyone else but when I get a new album I don't listen to it right away at first. I usually check out the song the titles, then I look at the thank-you list, and then read over some lyrics just I can get a feel for the band before I actually listen to the music. Sometimes … Read more

Born from Pain

War
Metal Blade (2006)

Born from Pain's fourth full-length, War, is the next logical step for the Dutch masters of hardcore. The music still draws heavily from the 90's New York hardcore scene as well as hints of late 80's thrash metal. But in addition to what you'd expect from Born from Pain, the band has thrown in a few surprises to spice up … Read more

The Automatic

Not Accepted Anywhere
B-Unique (2006)

Ok, first things first, let's get this straight: I hate The Killers. I wish The Bravery would go back to being a ska band because, hey, at least no one thought they were cool then. And as for the last A.F.I. album, well, the less said about that the better. The point that I'm trying to get at here is … Read more

Goatwhore

A Haunting Curse
Metal Blade (2006)

This album is a devastating wake up call if you put it on before your 7:00 AM morning commute. I almost swerved in surprise when it first came forth from the car speakers. A Haunting Curse is the third album from this New Orleans four-piece and marks their debut for Metal Blade. Erik Rutan of Hate Eternal and Morbid Angel … Read more

Gaza

I Don't Care Where I Go When I Die
Black Market Activities (2006)

Gaza's debut full length I Don't Care Where I Go When I Die is stark and uncompromising. When there are too many black metal bands gaining notoriety with gimmicky "evil," Gaza's work exposes the dark, cancerous, masochistic underbelly of America and by extension, human nature. But this isn't some subversive highbrow "art-core" with subtle references to Neitschzean melodrama - this … Read more

Wolves in the Throne Room

Diadem of 12 Stars
Vendlus (2006)

When I saw Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, I was in major awe. The scene in which The Ents - the walking trees - hurl rocks was the ruckus I had been searching for my entire life. Giant trees fucking shit up. As kick ass as the scene could've been, we were treated to what can be simplified … Read more

Looking Up

Looking Up
Panic (2006)

Your mom probably told you one or two billion times in your life that you should never judge a book by its cover. She also might have told you that the first impression you make is a lasting one. Sometimes, even moms can be wrong. Take Lawndale, CA's Looking Up for example. If one came across this CD in the … Read more

The Fix

At the Speed of Twisted Thought
Touch & Go (2006)

Let me begin by saying I have a soft spot for early '80s hardcore. There was something special that happened in those few short years that not only changed the face of punk rock forever, but also changed the face of all aggressive music to come. Everybody knows Minor Threat, Black Flag, Bad Brains, et al., but there were a … Read more

Fireworks

We are Everywhere
Run for Cover (2006)

Say hello to your new favorite band. Well, that is, of course, if you enjoy a band that blends upbeat punk, infectious pop hooks, and even a dash of melodic hardcore flavoring. Fireworks hail from the unlikely location of Detroit, Michigan and, while they are not everywhere yet, with their new EP, We are Everywhere, in hand, the band is … Read more

Red Sparowes

Every Red Heart Shines Toward the Red Sun
Neurot (2006)

When one listens to instrumental music, he or she has room to think. This is exactly why you should listen to Red Sparowes' sophomore release, Every Red Heart Shines Towards the Red Sun. In today's music scene, an addition of thought-provoking musicianship is extremely refreshing. Since 2003, this group of talented musicians has been creating far-from-succinct songs with far-from-succinct song … Read more

Send More Paramedics

The Awakening
In at the Deep End (2006)

The Awakening is the third offering from back-from-the-dead thrashers Send More Paramedics. Coming as a two CD set, the first disk is the same onslaught of thrash-punk that we've come to expect from our anthropophagic friends. The second disk, however, becomes the moody, brooding soundtrack to the coming zombie apocalypse of 2025. Send More Paramedics patented sound, zombiecore, is hard … Read more

Estradasphere

Palace of Mirrors
The End (2006)

For a newcomer to the weird and wonderful world of Estradasphere, Palace of Mirrors is as good a starting point as any. Though the album lacks the vocals featured on the bands previous releases, due to the departure of vocalist and contributing songwriter John Whooley, it is by no means weak as a consequence. The album works well as an … Read more

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