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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)

Cipher

Children of God's Fire
Uprising (2005)

One of the best jokes ever created was "rap metal." A suburban fusion between nu-metal (i.e. Korn) with a frontman that yelled out words in a "rap" fashion. The result was a golden age of LOL. Remember Limp Bizkit? If you didn't prior to clicking this review, you sure do now. Backwards hats, shaved eyebrows....or maybe I'm just thinking of Vanilla Ice. The possibility of a band mixing rap and metal together might seem funnier than a dog eating diarrhea, but here in my hand lay proof. Cipher's Children of God's Fire combines metal, rap stylized vocals and strong social/political lyrics/messages without coming off like the next gimmick. Although Cipher's sound could be summed up in the word "metalcore," that would be a definite understatement as Children Of God's Fire covers many spectrums of what is considered "metalcore." The abundance of mosh breakdowns might seem cheesy like the abundance of mosh hats at metalcore shows, but is negated by the unconventional parts thrown in. For instance, in "Verse Vs. The Virus," MF Doom makes an unusual cameo. Mr. Doom raps over one guitar chugging while the other does metal sounding higher notes. After the overtly jocked Doom finishes his verse, … Read more

A Wilhelm Scream

Ruiner
Nitro (2005)

A few names come to mind when you hear the term technical punk: Strung Out, Bigwig, and Propagandhi. These bands … Read more

Various Artists

Generations: A Hardcore Compilation
Revelation (2005)

I turned 31 about a month ago and at my age a person tends to finally want to "grow up" … Read more

Minus the Bear

Menos el Oso
Suicide Squeeze (2005)

Let's play a game. It's called 'name a better band than Minus the Bear.' Ready, go! Wrong! Ok, you might … Read more

The Fall of Troy

Doppelganger
Equal Vision (2005)

'The Fall of Troy is everything you wish your band could be - younger, faster, louder, and well'better looking. These … Read more

In the Crosshairs

Partners in Crime
Blood Money (2005)

Partners in Crime opens up with a sound byte of god only knows what (I don't know, maybe something eastern-influenced? … Read more

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One from the archives

Wolves & Thieves

Demo
Independent (2008)

Wolves & Thieves play melodic rock n' roll-inspired hardcore seeping with East Bay flavor. In the same way The Suicide File and Hour of the Wolf play music definitively rooted in hardcore punk, albeit with a heavy rock n' roll influence, Wolves & Thieves unquestionably sound like a hardcore punk band. They simply refuse to be fettered with the frustrating prescripts of the genre. Instead, they forge forward with a sound inspired by diverse musical tastes that rejects hardcore convention. The result is a demo that has me anxiously awaiting more material. It's not often I feel the urge to air guitar along with a hardcore record, but this album is rife with guitar leads and swift solos that shred. But don't fret; there is no guitar wankery afoot. All … Read more

More album reviews

Dragonland

Starfall
Cleopatra (2005)

I'll be honest. I expected certain things when I attended Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force show at the Hammersmith Apollo this past spring. I was prepared for all the aging rock couples of London, with their teased hair and blue eyeliner, and for the teenaged spotty hoards in Children of Bodom shirts; the ancient and loyal, mixing with the curious and … Read more

Kanye West

Late Registration
Roc-A-Fella (2005)

'So good!' I've had those two words typed at me too many times in the past few weeks. Any time the subject of Late Registration comes up, there it is. 'So good!' When I actually bought the damn CD, I was surprised there wasn't a little sticker on it saying 'So good!' Apparently, the cashier at the store noticed this … Read more

Sigur Rós

Takk
Geffen (2005)

It must be a truly horrible feeling to have the heart and soul you pour endlessly into your music summed up by thousands in one singular, horrendously monotone phrase: 'bath music.' No matter how many hours you bleed emotion into your chosen art form; to many that art will simply be regarded as something to stick in their stereo system … Read more

Death Cab For Cutie

Plans
Atlantic (2005)

With their fifth full-length, indie music darlings Death Cab for Cutie make the jump from 'the little engine that could,' Barsuk Records, to the big-time of Atlantic Records. But don't pick up that rock just yet. Death Cab isn't deserving of the bludgeoning reserved for traitors. With their latest release, Plans Death Cab stick to what they do best as … Read more

Holy Roman Empire

Lost in Landscapes
Hewhocorrupts Inc. (2005)

Do you remember Ashes? Junction? Hell, even Samuel for that matter? Have your ears ever had the chance to listen to Beta Minus Mechanic? Copper? Idle Hands? Well maybe it's all little rusty for you hardcore kids in the 25 and older age range, so let me refresh your memory. Holy Roman Empire as well as all the bands listed … Read more

Day of Contempt

The Will to Live
Epitaph (2005)

Goddamn! You're more than likely speculating that this record is going to be one of two things because of the profane first impression. It's either going to be an over-the-top, album of the year deal, or just another record you stop halfway through setting aside to collect dust. However, Day of Contempt's The Will to Live is neither of the … Read more

Psyclon 9

I.N.R.I.
Metropolis (2005)

Look in the middle of the booklet of I.N.R.I.. Right there in the center of the middle page, staring up at you is a little caption. This little caption says, 'Why should I believe if God's not here to save me?' This is how the album begins, with multi-repetitions of this same line. The anti-Christian platitudes don't stop there, though, … Read more

Internal Affairs

Internal Affairs
Malfunction (2005)

Corey Williams scares me. Now, this isn't anything bad because Williams is a great guy. But add a microphone and a stage - or maybe just a microphone - and this man turns into someone that you probably don't want to meet in a darken alleyway. If Mr. Williams is scary, Internal Affairs frightens me to death. After several prominent … Read more

Xiu Xiu / Devendra Banhart

Split
5 Rue Christine (2005)

Take two of the indie music world's hottest acts, stick them together on a split release on one of the best record labels in America, make the vinyl any number of pretty colors and patterns and you have a recipe for success. Along with a ridiculously predictable, by numbers, 'I can't be bothered thinking too hard' way of opening a … Read more

Foetus

Love
Birdman (2005)

Fire extinguishing foam, cortisone and physostigmine. All highly relevant in today's society and all created by one man, a man you've never heard of. Clint Ruin, Baby Zizanie, Manorexia, Steroid Maximus, Scraping Foetus off the Wheel, Foetus Inc., The Foetus All-Nude Review and all derivations of Foetus' music are also the creations of another man you've probably never heard of,. … Read more

Akron/Family

Akron/Family
Young God (2005)

Michael Gira is a genius. Swans and Angels of Light will undoubtedly be remembered as great bands years from now. Playing music is not all Gira is good at though. Discovering talent is another of Gira's gifts and if he keeps up with his track record, it might even become more renowned than his songwriting abilities. You may know the … Read more

The Black Dahlia Murder

Miasma
Metal Blade (2005)

I spent a good year learning the guitar arrangements, melodies, and riffs of The Black Dahlia Murder's Metal Blade Records debut, Unhallowed. It was certainly a fun, morbid, and visceral expedition into the world of melodic death metal, a la Gothenburg, Sweden. After having seen the phenomenal live show that this band put on, including the mind-bending drumming of Zach … Read more

Lights Out

Overload
Youngblood (2005)

Overload, Lights Out first full-length, is nothing less than amazing. Honestly I was not expecting this from the band because after listening to Get Out so many times, it got rather old. But this new album still hasn't gotten old and I've listened to it every day since I got it. And the reason is that on Overload, Lights Out … Read more

This Moment

Finding a Voice in the Dark
Uprising (2005)

Playing music in a genre like metalcore is a difficult thing. You've got to do what you do very well to separate yourself from the rest of the pack. Even then, odds are you will be tagged as such and thrown in with the rest of the pack of 18 Visions', Atreyu's, and Unearth's. Finding a Voice in the Dark, … 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)