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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)

Menomena

Friend and Foe
Barsuk (2007)

Wow, this is really rare. Admittedly, this is my first exposure to Menomena - in a nostalgic sort of way; I love their band name. I was drawn to Friend and Foe, the second full-length from the band, because of the superior artwork that they employ for the packaging of the record. What is inside that packaging was a total surprise, a good old indie pop album. Menomena drop a record chock full of soothing passages, vocal hooks, diverse instrumentation, and a wide variety of arrangements. Friend and Foe contains enough sound experimentation to make it worthy of the notice of any jaded music listener. Quite simply, the whole aesthetic of Menomena seems to be excellently represented with Friend and Foe. The question is then, how is the music? The throbbing bassline of "Muscle'n Flo" is awesome and creates a really strange backdrop for the monstrous sound of the drums. The vocal hook is killer. Surely, even the stiffest of the sweater and backpack-wearing crowd will shake their bottoms to it. Seriously, the bassline and vocals make this song. The cut and paste sound collage style evident in songs like "The Pelican," "Wet and Rusting," and "Weird" almost make me … Read more

Striborg

Nefaria
Southern Lord (2007)

When all else is said and done, I like my metal like I like my coffee: black, bottomless, and smelling … Read more

Combichrist

What the Fuck is Wrong With You People?
Metropolis (2007)

Andy LaPlegua is a man of many talents. He's tried his hand at everything from hip-hop to metal, from industrial … Read more

Secondhand Serenade

Awake
Glassnote (2007)

It wasn't long ago that a bushy eyebrowed, full-sleeved tattoo sportin' Christian by the name of Chris Carrabba left his … Read more

Die Young

Graven Images
Eulogy (2007)

Each year, like so many other music-obsessed individuals, I make a list of my most anticipated albums. In doing so, … Read more

Orthodox

Gran Poder
Southern Lord (2006)

Spanish doom? Southern Lord's Orthodox might want to rethink their name - honestly. Sure, the black robes are spooky and … Read more

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One from the archives

Pechblende

Collapse
Indianola (2007)

I very nearly saw this band, in a barn, no less. From the time I saw the flier I was stoked on the show; black and white crass styled font, touring international hardcore bands, and almost certainly couscous or lentils. The show was unfortunately cancelled. I think I had to work anyway. I'm glad I picked up this CD, though. I could, at the very least, see what I missed. The OK Computer-esque artwork wasn't giving me any clues. Though I was happy to see a variant from the traditional "gruesome war scene, band name" formula. Pechblende hail from Quebec, a scene that produced the now defunct, but wonderful Cobra Noir. Pechblende's sound isn't far from that of Cobra Noir's; dark, brooding hardcore with just enough metal to not be … Read more

More album reviews

Cursed

Blackout at Sunrise
Goodfellow (2007)

Cursed are one of those hardcore/punk bands that are genuinely worth people's time and attention. Their music is vicious, honest, and gloriously consistent. The lyrics are both personal and politically driven. One could almost say that topically there is something for everyone, particularly for those into heavy punk rock and hardcore. Every record that they release is almost guaranteed to … Read more

Khlyst

Chaos is My Name
Hydra Head (2006)

Khlyst, being comprised of James Plotkin (formerly of Khanate and involved in a multitude of other projects) and Runhild Gammelsaeter (formerly of Thorr's Hammer), could easily be expected to produce some of the most unsettling music out there. But Chaos is My Name is almost too avant-garde for its own good. Chaos is My Name has an ebb and flow … Read more

Protagonist

Reasoning with Time
Stakeout (2007)

Reasoning with Time is the follow-up offering to Protagonist's debut effort, Hope and Rage, which was put out by Blackout! Records back in 2003. It's been sometime since we last heard from these boys, but I'm glad to hear new material. Oftentimes promising acts wait too long to write, record, and release new material and end up being forgotten. So … Read more

Middian

Age Eternal
Metal Blade (2007)

I can think of very few albums I have ever purchased, listened to once, and sold back to the store. Generally, I am a pretty forgiving guy and I can find something worth listening to on a disc. However, YOB just was not my cup of tea. I don't know what it was, but after I listened to the latest … Read more

iamthethorn

You are the Lamb
Goodfellow (2007)

Nevermind the seeming monopoly that John Pettibone has on vocals for metal and hardcore bands in the Seattle area. The band, dubbed iamthethorn, that began as a project between he and friend Aaron "Edge" Connell (former member of Himsa, Genuine, Harkonen, The Horde, Grievous, Hellephant, Christ, Autumn, Grip Inc, and probably countless others) lays down its debut EP You are … Read more

Psyopus

Our Puzzling Encounters Considered
Metal Blade (2007)

Tech-metal reached perfection with The Dillinger Escape Plan's Calculating Infinity. That is my opinion, and you may argue that it is wrong or that my definition of tech metal is incorrect. But I don't care; I will argue right back that you're the one that is, in fact, wrong. I do not see any album in the realm of technical … Read more

When We Fall

A Cry in Despair
Panic (2007)

Most of the materials I get in for review usually goes on at least one bus ride with me. It's the perfect time for me to take a more in depth listen without being interrupted by work, phone calls, roommates, Josh IMing me about Fastbreak lyrics, or any other hinderances that deviate from the task of giving a CD a … Read more

Cassius

I Am Jim Jones
Lifeforce (2007)

My first impression of Cassius is "Oh no, not another metalcore band." As time wears on, I hope that a lot of the kids in these bands wake up and stop perpetuating a mostly tired genre. Cassius at least does a solid job of playing in the genre. They also bring refreshing brevity to their songwriting and arrangements. I must … Read more

Tar...Feathers

Make Way for the Ocean Floor to Fall to the Surface
Release the Bats (2006)

How many Swedish bands do you listen to? Wouldn't your friends think you're way indie if you told them you're diggin' on this sick Swedish band that produced their album on a laptop? You guessed it, my obscure band-loving friends, Tar...Feathers is straight out of Göteborg, Sweden and yes, they recorded Make Way for the Ocean Floor to Fall to … Read more

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 … 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 sweet melodic hardcore. We all know how much I love sweet melodic hardcore. Unfortunately, I was rewarded with another bland disc of substandard metallic somewhat fast hardcore. The only redeeming factor on Live Forever or Die Trying was a good … 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 cry from New York City, it's almost impossible not to catch any up and coming hardcore act. Hell I don't even have to leave my home state of Connecticut to see a fair number of the heavy weights that reside … 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 Shear. According to the bands official biography, the embryo of A23 was conceived on one fateful night in 1988, when Shear heard an industrial-dance DJ open for Depeche Mode. Staying true to this conception, Shear has made his name by … 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 "solo" records? Steve Brodsky had been doing it for a while, but with Caleb Scofield's Zozobra and now Adam McGrath's Clouds, they are turning out a bunch of material apart from each other. Clouds is completely confounding. If you ever … Read more

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