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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)

Dismantled

Standard Issue
Dependent/Metropolis (2006)

Gary Zon's blurb about the ethic behind Standard Issue reads something like, "a sarcastic take on the simplicity and emptiness of the current musical climate." What this means is, either it sounds exactly like what it says, or it means that Dismantled have disappeared into the chasm of banality that seems the staple of the current popular set of industrial bands. The answer, it seems, lies somewhere between. The blurb is more than just a quasi-magniloquent admission that popularity is the main focus, but that popularity thing does carry through the whole album. Standard Issue is unmistakably Dismantled, but Dismantled fused with Covenant, or VNV Nation, or Assemblage 23 or any of the other monoliths of the industrial scene. The influences of Front Line Assembly and Nine Inch Nails, as always, float near to the surface. But so does the basic EBM beats, melodies that could belong on any Apoptygma Berzerk album, clean vocals and, of course, the occasional digression into trance-pitch keyboard lines. Opener and single, "Anthem" is everything you'd expect. Dance floor beats, vocal echoes and simple, repetitive melodies. Unmistakably Dismantled, it moves into "Get it Through", the bastard child of Assemblage 23's "I Am the Rain" and … Read more

The Dick Cavett Show

Rock Icons DVD
Sony (2005)

My parents dug Dick Cavett, or at least I think they did. My dad certainly dressed enough like him - … Read more

Avail

Dixie / 4 AM Friday / Over the James (Reissues)
Jade Tree (2006)

It's about damn time. Avail is a much beloved punk band out of Richmond, Virginia known for their blue collar … Read more

The Sea, Like Lead / Belegost

Split
Electric Human Project (2006)

It's a Saturday afternoon and I'm at present stuck at work flipping through a copy of the latest Alternative Press … Read more

Eagles of Death Metal

Death by Sexy
Downtown (2006)

The Eagles of Death Metal are back in action and are kicking all notions of a sophomore slump to the … Read more

None More Black

This is Satire
Fat Wreck Chords (2006)

Have you ever heard a record for the first time and immediately received a feeling of comfort that you would … Read more

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One from the archives

The Lawrence Arms

Metropole
Epitaph (2014)

When The Lawrence Arms released Oh Calcutta! back in 2006, it was billed by the band as a collection of songs utilizing the back-and-forth, high octane punk they enjoy listening to—a conscious decision to switch-up their sound for a record. Then, life happened and the group took eight years for a new album. 2014 brings Metropole, and even with the unexpected delay, the record feels more like a follow-up to 2003’s The Greatest Story Ever Told, rather than its predecessor.The biggest item of note with Metropole is the maturity, lyric-wise. The songs reflect on the past—as the band has always done—but with a real self-awareness of their own identity as a band, rather than as individuals. “Beautiful Things” is the strongest example and, frankly, is without question the record’s standout. … Read more

More album reviews

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 … 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' top records lists last year (and was the #1 album of the year here at Scene Point Blank). So, Justin Broadrick (known for being the mastermind behind Godflesh and also for his part in early Napalm Death) and company have … 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 I decided to let the album play on repeat and just sit back and in my chair and look outside at the rain. I closed my eyes and proceeded to relax, allowing the soft sound of the rain falling to … 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 seemed like an interesting move at the time. Writing all the music and performing all the instruments offered him the chance to really show what he was made of. Unfortunately, what he's apparently made of is the same milquetoast mediocrity … 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 that is the way it seemed) with their time between releases. For those who are unfamiliar with the band, Rainer Maria is a three-piece based out of Brooklyn, New York by way of Wisconsin, and they play poppy indie rock. … 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 pukes in From First to Last was recently seen in a Tragedy shirt in a promo photo for their latest album entitled I Killed my Girlfriend with my Spiky $500 Dollar Haircut and then Pouted about it. D-Beat hardcore, for … Read more

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

Multiple Authors

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

Multiple Authors

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

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