Recent reviews

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)

Lightning Bolt

Wonderful Rainbow
Load (2003)

Wonderful Rainbow, Lightning Bolt's latest full length, is the much anticipated follow-up album to Ride the Skies that doesn't disappoint. When I listen to Lightning Bolt, whether it be live or on CD, I know that they're giving me their all and not having some message they're trying to get to the idiot public, as some bands seem to do (see: Anti-Flag) nor do they try to be "post-modern" in their music style (see: The Locust); they play music because that's what they do best. Although their CDs are nothing in comparison to their live performances, I sincerely love their albums; especially Wonderful Rainbow. This album has similar traits to Ride the Skies: fast and creative drum beats by Brian C, a bass that sounds like a guitar vomiting feedback by Brian G and brilliant interaction between the two. The thing that I love about Lightning Bolt is how they work together; they're both on the same page with every song and neither Brian shines more than the other. Lightning Bolt, however, is not consistent over every album. Their first album, Lightning Bolt, was overly extended - every song lasted too long and everything became repetitive. With Ride the Skies, … Read more

Sinai Beach

When Breath Escapes
Facedown (2003)

Decent record. Just sounds like everything else. Not that that is a bad thing I just didn't see myself saying … Read more

Sinai Beach

When Breath Escapes
Facedown (2003)

Originality and innovation are two things this record lacks, but if those two things are extremely important to you, you … Read more

Sinai Beach

When Breath Escapes
Facedown (2003)

I first heard about this band from an associate that doesn't like metalcore, but for the most part, strictly hardcore. … Read more

Since By Man

We Sing the Body Electric
Revelation (2003)

For a genre such as hardcore, it's hard for a band to sound different... or good, for that matter. I … Read more

Since By Man

We Sing the Body Electric
Revelation (2003)

I think I have whiplash. An incredibly addictive hardcore album with infectious riffs and powerful, gut-wrenching vocals are the best … Read more

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One from the archives

Perth Express

Discography
Teenage Disco Bloodbath (2007)

Perth Express is likely a band that you're unfamiliar with, but that's okay. Prior to being contacted by the label in regards to this discography release, I was totally oblivious to the band's existence. The world is a big place and you just can't be expected to know about every single band. Hailing from Germany, this discography encompasses the band's entire career up to this point. The collection begins with the band's more recent recording, a ten-song 12" LP, titled Perth Express - though all their albums seem to be self-titled affairs. The band launches into things full force with an instantaneous assault of metal-tinged hardcore and d-beat in the vein of His Hero is Gone, Cursed, and Trap Them. The guitar riffs are nasty and the drumming is phenomenal. … Read more

More album reviews

Since By Man

We Sing the Body Electric
Revelation (2003)

Lately, it has been difficult to read a music magazine with out encountering the statement "(Band X) breaks/pushes the boundaries of typical (Genre Y)" I'm sure somebody has already filled in the variables for this one: X = Since by Man and Y = Hardcore. We Sing the Body Electric is Since by Man's first full-length release after a series … Read more

Xiu Xiu

A Promise
5 Rue Christine (2003)

Quite the record. Nothing you are going to sit down and just listen to as background music because it needs your attention. Quivering vocals, electronic drums with random ADD outbursts, acoustic guitars, yet this whole record comes together as being very cohesive. There are some down points to the record though. Walnut House is so incredibly boring. Nothing happens until … Read more

Xiu Xiu

A Promise
5 Rue Christine (2003)

Quite the record. Nothing you are going to sit down and just listen to as background music because it needs your attention. Quivering vocals, electronic drums with random ADD outbursts, acoustic guitars, yet this whole record comes together as being very cohesive. There are some down points to the record though. Walnut House is so incredibly boring. Nothing happens until … Read more

Xiu Xiu

A Promise
5 Rue Christine (2003)

Somewhere between unforgiving and yielding, you'll find Xiu Xiu. This music is something I can't quite put my finger on, but it's similar to Godspeed You! Black Emperor. The difference between the two being Xiu Xiu loves electronics and likes to add spastic noises at random. Furthermore, Xiu Xiu is more unpredictable. They seem to like to screw around with … Read more

Xiu Xiu

A Promise
5 Rue Christine (2003)

Xiu Xiu are a frustrating band in the sense that their originality is quite apparent, but for many people they are difficult to "get into." After coming away from their 2002 release Knife Play without having really "clicked" at all, I decided to give them another chance with A Promise. Almost wiping clean any trace of a riff or melody … Read more

Xiu Xiu

A Promise
5 Rue Christine (2003)

Xiu Xiu are a frustrating band in the sense that their originality is quite apparent, but for many people they are difficult to "get into." After coming away from their 2002 release Knife Play without having really "clicked" at all, I decided to give them another chance with A Promise. Almost wiping clean any trace of a riff or melody … Read more

Where Fear and Weapons Meet

Control
Eulogy (2003)

This 6 song EP is nothing to start a big hoopla over. Sounds like basic, run of the mill hardcore to me. There is probably a little local band in your scene that does hardcore just as well. If you're a hardcore kid, you'll probably like this, if you're not, you probably won't. Read more

Where Fear and Weapons Meet

Control
Eulogy (2003)

I enjoy this record. Coming in fully expecting some new metal-core band, I was surprised with some old school style hardcore. This reminds me of being in high school and fucking ripping up the ole' skate spots years ago. This shit is just fun hardcore. Boasting some ex bands you wouldn't picture to play this music (Against All Authority and … Read more

Where Fear and Weapons Meet

Control
Eulogy (2003)

When people first get into hardcore, they say it all sounds the same. This is understandable, because a lot of it sounds the same. In this case, we are subjected to music that doesn't really have it's own sound. The music reminds me of Sick Of It All and punk rock hardcore straight up with a lack of mosh breakdowns. … Read more

Songs: Ohia

Magnolia Electric Co.
Secretly Canadian (2003)

From the first notes of the opener "Farewell Transmission" on the Magnolia Electric Co. experienced Songs: Ohia listeners will immediately pick up on Molina's new direction. On this album, Jason Molina has put aside minimalism in the music of his previous albums and has picked up a steel pedal guitar and has developed a backing band. Molina's melancholy, love-lost crooning … Read more

Songs: Ohia

Magnolia Electric Co.
Secretly Canadian (2003)

This is my first Songs: Ohia experience. Outcome? Excellent. Slide guitar, slow to mid-tempo songs, and a sound that can almost be reminiscent to Counting Crows at times (go ahead and flame me), I have found myself going back to this CD more than I expected. The vocals are incredibly laid back and have a vibe that is just incredibly … Read more

Songs: Ohia

Magnolia Electric Co.
Secretly Canadian (2003)

After falling in love with songwriter Jason Molina's ensemble last year through the somber and deeply confessional Didn't it Rain, my expectations were set extremely high for both of his 2003 releases, Magnolia Electric Co. and Pyramid Electric Co., which will be released later this year. The first thing that struck me about Magnolia Electric Co. was that it had … Read more

Kissing Chaos

Enter With a Bullet
Fueled By Ramen (2003)

I fall somewhere in between Zed and Shane on this CD. I found some minor enjoyment in it, but there are a lot of musical flaws. It simply doesn't fit together very well. A lot of bands are trying to mix a lot of different sounds, but they shouldn't have to struggle to do it, this band clearly has problems … Read more

Kissing Chaos

Enter With a Bullet
Fueled By Ramen (2003)

The latest addition to FBR's roster. I gave this 5 song EP a listen not knowing what to expect. I think I might have been better off not knowing what it was. This band seems very unsure of what they want to be. Not terribly bad music (besides the terrible drum screw up 1:14 into the third song) but they … Read more

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