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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)

Paris Hilton

Paris
Warner Bros. (2006)

Though I'm sure none of you indie elite need to be reminded, but allow me to assert that Paris Hilton is a piece of shit. It's an obvious statement, sure, but one that is central to wrapping your head around this omnipresent, miasmic phenomenon in our media and celebrity-centric culture. Too often, the question we thinking people - anyone with a high school diploma - ask ourselves is "why?" only to find ourselves helplessly lost, confused, and embittered in the face of ultimate irrationality. What part of human nature allows something like Paris Hilton to happen? Like timeless questions of good vs. evil, order vs. chaos, sanity vs. madness, perhaps the answer is not meant for us; we as mortal human beings wouldn't even be able to handle it, let alone approach comprehending it. That being said, her album is hella catchy. As a personality, she's much more suited to the setting of an ultra-lightweight pop album than a television show or, God forbid, the written word; a lot of aggravation disappears when you don't actually have to look at her. Even when her personality seeps through, shallow and vapid as it is, it's easy to ignore in the context … Read more

Harvey Milk

Special Wishes
Megablade/Troubleman Unlimited (2006)

In 1955, photographer Robert Frank received a grant from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to travel the country photographing … Read more

The Neon Hookers

Calling All Creeps!
Cabal (2006)

Calling All Creeps! is the debut EP from The Neon Hookers. Okay, so the band's choice in name isn't the … Read more

Multiple Authors

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, … 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

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One from the archives

Empty Yard Experiment

Kallisti
Independent (2014)

Music is wonderful and is one of the few things that echoes across the world and can bring people together in unity. Of course, that’s putting the most simplistic of slants on it but when bands are forged in countries that we may not expect to hear music from, it’s difficult to not appreciate the power of sound. Empty Yard Experiment are one such band and after forming in Dubai and including members from Serbia, Iran and India, they certainly are a group that are embracing the multicultural aspect of their makeup and in turn unleashing that mix on to their music. Kallisti is their second record and with the band releasing it independently, they have a lot riding on this new music. They cleverly mix progressive rhythms with uplifting … Read more

More album reviews

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 "whiny." You get the idea. Southern California and Northern California's respective Final Fight and Life Long Tragedy are two vital exceptions, pioneering their own brand of modern hardcore. With their debut full-lengths in 2005, Under Attack and Destined for Anything, … 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 that are melted together to form the seven song mini-album slur their way along through confused drum-rhythms, low mix horns and a hell of a lot of rock, country, folk, and jazz. But not in a way that's ever really … 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 effort Kenotic and the 2005 release of Stranded Under Endless Sky were enjoyable listens that found their way into my rotation once every couple months or so. With their signing to Darla, Raising Your Voice...Trying to Stop an Echo is … Read more

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

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