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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)

Tool

10,000 Days
Volcano (2006)

Surrealistic imagery, lyrical lunacy, and musical fanaticism will always be the staples of Tool. Floating vocals amongst flares of guitars and some of the best drumming this side of Keith Moon's infamous demise. Tool albums all have the inescapable fact that they are Tool albums; they don't sound the same, but that they all sound like Tool. That Tool's brand of intelligent metal and the compulsion of perfection that has been the backbone of everything they've ever created has always carried through and above the vicissitudes and progressions in the many years that pass between each release. And, true to form, 10,000 Days is a Tool album that is, unmistakably, a Tool album, but just doesn't sound like any other Tool album. The song constructs, even the vocal tones and instrumental effects are unambiguously Tool. The lyrics are obviously Tool, yet there is something impalpable about 10,000 Days that makes it interesting. Both as a Tool album and as a magnum opus against the backdrop of the trite and uninspired bands that have tried, and failed to bask in Tool's reflected glory. Opening with "Vicarious", a song dominated by radio friendly overtones, comparable to "Schism", 10,000 Days moves through every … Read more

Jesu

Silver
Hydra Head (2006)

The truth needs to be said. The self-titled Jesu record was an almost masterpiece that topped many critics' and fans' … Read more

Mouth of the Architect / Kenoma

Split
Translation Loss (2006)

When I started to write this review I wasn't really sure what direction this introduction was going to take. So … Read more

Angel Blake

Angel Blake
Metal Blade (2006)

The Crown was a good band; Angel Blake, not so much. Guitarist Marko Tervonen's decision to record a solo album … Read more

Rainer Maria

Catastrophe Keeps Us Together
Grunion (2006)

Finally. This record has taken forever to actually see the light of day. Rainer Maria is normally consistent (at least … Read more

The Sainte Catherines

Dancing for Decadence
Fat Wreck Chords (2006)

D-Beat hardcore is becoming a quite liked genre even outside of the shower-once-a-month hardcore cretins. Hell even one those little … Read more

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One from the archives

Food

Food
Molsook (2009)

Do you know the old bit of folk wisdom that goes something like "Never judge a book by its cover"? Well, substitute record for book, and the old axiom becomes apt the same way. Food's self-titled record is an example of this axiom working in this situation. At first, I completely mistake the cover image for something else because at first glance the cover looked rather muddled to these jaded eyes. But, after sitting in my desk for several weeks, I look at the cover in completely different light and noticed some unspeakable quality to it that piqued my interest in the album. Food has some seriously fuzzed out guitar tone that just immediately slaps listeners in the face, and the slower tempos, like what one can hear in "The … Read more

More album reviews

Human Demise

Whitechapel Demise
xEnvy Recordsx (2006)

This review is an open letter to all the hardcore bands from the United States, consider yourselves called out. The next big thing in hardcore does not come to from the land of the free. Instead, Human Demise calls The Netherlands home. But these are not the quaint Dutch folk you see portrayed in cartoons. These guys are pissed off, … Read more

Loma Prieta

Our LP is Your EP
Inkblot (2006)

When it comes to jocking, there's no place better to be jocked than Northern California. This magical place is blowing up like an infirmary the day Ebola hits the streets. Their roster includes bands like Hella and Xiu Xiu, bands like Ceremony and Look Back and Laugh, bands like Funeral Diner and Bullets In, bands like Sabertooth Zombie and Burial … Read more

Mean Season

The Memory and I Still Suffer in Love
Indecision (2005)

It must have been over a decade on since I picked up Grace, the debut and what would be the last full-length from California's Mean Season. Out here on the east coast, they have been discussed in low voices and hushed whispers almost as if the band was some well kept secret. You see, Mean Season were around when Unbroken … Read more

NOFX

Wolves in Wolves' Clothing
Fat Wreck Chords (2006)

So here we are, NOFX's 10th studio album, 3 years on from 2003's War On Errorism. Bush got re-elected, so anyone not expecting more political-themed punk rock is probably in need of urgent brain surgery. At 44 minutes, with 18 official tracks, it's one of the band's longest releases to date and could probably benefit from being trimmed of its … Read more

NOFX

Wolves in Wolves' Clothing
Fat Wreck Chords (2006)

At this point, NOFX know where they stand in their musical career. That much is obvious not only when you see them play a show, but also when you listen to the final track of Wolves In Wolves' Clothing, "60% (Reprise)". There's no dancing around the subject with ambiguous or pretentious lyrics that make you think "Yeah, I'm pretty sure … Read more

Cannibal Corpse

Kill
Metal Blade (2006)

I initially prefixed the heading of this review as "Neil vs. Cannibal Corpse"; such was my preemptive assumption that I would hate Kill. I set myself ready for war. God knows from the off I was handed a plethora of ready material to systematically destroy the band. I mean, just look at any of their promo photos. Fucking fruits. A … Read more

Pink Razors

Waiting to Wash Up
Robotic Empire (2006)

Do you remember when pop-punk wasn't sung by guys with swooping black'n bleached haircuts wearing button-up shirts and girl pants? Do you remember when pop-punk didn't have over-produced, mirror-polished, fake-as-hell vocals? Remember when pop-punk had some attitude? Yes, I also remember Screeching Weasel, and more recently, Dillinger Four. Now here's another band that gets it right. Pink Razors are a … Read more

Changing Face

Our Last Chance
Escapist (2006)

Changing Face's debut EP, Our Last Chance demonstrates a side of hardcore that is most commonly looked down upon. The side of hardcore that has been left in the frying pan for far too long, and flipped one too many times by tough guys in camo-gear. However, Changing Face keeps these seven songs nice and short, and put in more … Read more

Streetlight Manifesto

Keasbey Nights
Victory (2006)

In 1998, Catch 22's first, and defining album, Keasbey Nights was released by Victory Records. The release was a departure for the label, as they were known at the time for releasing mainly hardcore records. Earth Crisis, Integrity, Snapcase; these were bands Victory was known for releasing landmark records from. Catch 22 shifted the momentum of the label, as a … Read more

Set Your Goals

Reset
Eulogy (2006)

Deje vu. Nearly two years ago I was writing a review of the original release of this EP. I closed that review stating that the band could "either stay close to home and continue on as local sensations or keep pursuing their dreams and make the jump to the inevitable stardom that is within their grasp." They opted for the … Read more

Integrity

Those Who Fear Tomorrow (Reissue)
Fractured Transmitter (2006)

Growing up on a steady diet of Sabbath, the darker aspects of music always held so much appeal to me. Yeah, I liked punk rock, still do, but I was looking for something heavier, darker, and as cheesy as it sounds, more evil. I am not talking about Slayer's fake evil. I am talking about visceral scare the shit out … Read more

Ennio Morricone

Crime and Dissonance
Ipecac (2005)

This is a biased review. Fuck you, you don't know me. I refuse to review this on the same bell curve as your lame little emo band. Genius is genius, period. And now, the review...... There are few living composers spoken of with more reverence than Ennio Morricone. Arguably (don't argue) the most famous film composer since the birth of … Read more

Go it Alone / Blue Monday

Split
Rivalry (2006)

I know very little of Vancouver, British Columbia other than the fact that the bulk of X-Files was filmed there and that it has the nickname of "Rain City." I may not be well versed in Canadian culture (everything I know was learned from repeated screenings of Strange Brew), but I do know that Vancouver is home to some stellar … Read more

La Quiete

Tenpeun '01-'05
The Perpetual Motion Machine (2006)

For whatever reason, the Italian La Quiete is supremely underrated. They've been putting out releases since 2001 and for whatever reason dudes and dudettes alike are sleeping on them. Well, now's your time to wake up, because their newest release, Tenpeun '01-'05 is a discography of sorts that includes their OOP (out of print) material. Included are their song(s) from … Read more

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