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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)

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 compared them in some way or another to The Jesus Lizard. Right from the start, "Smuggler" lays down an infectious rhythm. The musical arrangement pulses and hums to an unconventional but still kind of familiar beat. The vocals take a bit of getting used to, as they are different, very different. Still, the music almost forces the listener to tap their toes. There is an interlocking relationship between the vocals and the instrumentation. "Sea Legs" has a vocal section that is almost spoken word. It works with the track well. The music is extremely consistent with that in other songs on the album. "Cause of Shame" continues to utilize this "spoken word" style of vocals. I kind of wish that there was more noise on Heavy Hands, but from start to finish the record seems to reign in "imperfect" sound. … 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 … 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 … Read more

The Esoteric

Subverter
Prosthetic (2006)

Call it a sickness. Call it sheer stupidity. I have to admit that I have a soft spot I my … Read more

No Turning Back

Holding On
Bridge Nine (2006)

I don't know exactly when it happened - it was probably in the 90's- but you don't need to be … Read more

Pulling Teeth

Vicious Skin
Chainsaw Safety (2006)

Baltimore based Pulling Teeth released an extremely impressive demo and all expectations of what a proper release would be are … Read more

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One from the archives

Kaada

Music for Moviebikers
Ipecac (2006)

There are few artists from the last few years that I have enjoyed more than John Erik Kaada. Woefully under-informed was I of his band Cloroform that had apparently been rocking the shit out of Norway and other more fortunate countries than ours for years. It was not until the release of his first solo album, Thank You for Giving Me Your Valuable Time, that I first heard the brilliance - not a word I throw around lightly - of the man and his music. I think it was just the otherworldly quality of his music that appealed to me so much. You listen to songs like "Care" and "No You Don't" and it's like being in a David Lynch film or Frank Miller graphic novel. The follow-up album, MECD, … Read more

More album reviews

Dustin Kensrue

Please Come Home
Equal Vision (2007)

All right doggies, saddle up. It's time to slip off those slip-on vans and lace up a pair of shit kickers; the terrain gets a lil' rough up ahead. That's right, y'all better trade in those half inch gauged earrings for a ten gallon hat because we're about to take a bucking ride through the romantic Midwest with Dustin "Dusty" … Read more

Geisha

Mondo Dell'Orrore
Crucial Blast (2006)

Noise is a funny term. Not "ha ha" funny, but highly prone to linguistic slippage: its connotations cover everything from the stylized squawk of Lightning Bolt to the Pacific Rim blasts of Incapacitants or Masonna. The mutant term "noisecore" has been beaten virtually beyond recognition, referring to everything from the nitroglycerin airbursts of World and Final Exit to the unrelated … Read more

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 … 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 from this rule. For example, the people who hang around with the school bully. They might not be the ones locking you in the bathroom come break time, stealing your lunch, or flying your ridiculously large underpants from the school … 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 undeniable and you want to expose that talent in the hopes that others can experience it. On the other hand, you have to be careful at how much praise you give. After all, the musician is obliviously young and at … 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 rise to attack the living and even the gods themselves will be torn asunder. If - or when - Loki and the forces of chaos descend on the world in a maelstrom of blood and thunder, I'd like to think … 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 ensemble from Sacramento, California. I even recall Michael saying something about Defiant Voice being full-on 90's styled hardcore. How could I possibly not want to review a band that produces some tunes from my favorite decade of hardcore? Moreover, how … 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 am a/an __ reader. A. You've listened to We are the Lazer Viking and you're interested in An Albatross's most recent album. B. You've heard of An Albatross (maybe even heard a track or two online/your friend's car). C. You … Read more

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

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