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Deafheaven

Infinite Granite
Sargent House (2021)

I never really thought in any measure that I’d be writing at any point in time a review of a Deafheaven record, yet here we are. Even now I remember the absolute furor that bundled virally around their 2013 release, Sunbather. I didn’t really understand then, nor do I understand now why was it so huge. Personally, I couldn’t then … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Neon Belly

Self-Titled
Fort Lowell Records (2021)

Let’s call it like is it is. Punk rock has been too much of a boys’ club for far too long. And, since the style is rooted in blunt communication, what better way to call attention than putting the scene on alert on the first song of a band’s first EP? Neon Belly starts with a mission statement in “The … Read more

Rivers Of Nihil

The Work
Metal Blade (2021)

The Work was one of the most anticipated metal records of the year. Let me start this review by curbing your enthusiasm and letting you know that this album is a bitter disappointment. It took me about sixteen listens (it was a fucking chore) to also find out that it’s ultimately not a legitimately bad album, but it isn’t legitimately … Read more

Rïcïnn

Nereïd
Blood Music (2020)

Where do you even start with an album like this? It’s been a while since it’s been released, so I definitely had time to immerse myself into it properly as well as getting the leverage of seeing how it aged, even if over a short period of time in terms of timespan when talking about albums. Rïcïnn’s latest record, Nereïd … Read more

Not On Tour

Outtakes EP
SBÄM Records (2021)

I can’t believe this is the first time Not On Tour is reviewed on this site. Not On Tour is a skate punk band from Tel Aviv, Israel. This band is insanely melodic and catchy. Not On Tour is one of those bands that master a certain art: they seem to effortlessly combine speed with catchy melodies. The band nailed … Read more

Band of Bastards

DELETE. REPEAT.
Redacted Records, SilverDoor Music (2021)

It’s nice when artists get back to their roots. There’s a time and place for growth and exploration. But there’s also a time and place to let the rage loose, and that’s what’s happening with Band of Bastards on their debut twelve-song slab of blistering hardcore. That’s probably not what you think about when you heard band names like ...And … Read more

Descendents

9th & Walnut
Epitaph (2021)

While I like new Descendents, their older stuff always had an intangible bite to it. The new stuff feels more sarcastic while their earlier material was pissed off underneath that playful disposition. And that’s what you get on 9th & Walnut which is billed as the band’s eighth studio album, though the timeline is more complicated than that. All 18 … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Sunshine Satellite

Sunshine Satellite
Snappy Little Numbers (2020)

Ah, an actual tape cassette…in a day and age where portable digital devices are ubiquitous, I find delight whenever an analogue tape pops up – even more so when the sound of the bands fits the medium. Case in point: Sunshine Satellite, a duo that channels its alchemy in sleek and powerfully compact garagey-pop-punk tunes, serenaded by female vocals in … Read more

Southpaw

Just A Spell of Feeling Nothing
Independent (2021)

There is a lot of productive ways to spend a pandemic lockdown: 1. Grow your own windowsill herb garden 2. Watch all the seasons of Law & Order and make note of how many episodes pass the Bechdel test (spoiler alert: it’s two). 3. Make an album with your mates. Ok, calling 1 and 2 “productive” is a bit of … Read more

NOFX

Single Album
Fat Wreck Chords (2021)

This record is honestly kind of painful. It’s meant to be, too. It’s about depression, drug abuse, death and all kinds of dark material. And it works on that level, but it’s also painful because the NOFX sound puts Fat Mike’s vocals so front-and-center in everything: It’s like watching somebody standing under a spotlight while hitting rock bottom. The lyrics … Read more

Weezer

Van Weezer
Atlantic (2021)

I expected every webzine, music mogul, and rock print publication to give the newest Weezer album a bad review. I figured that Van Weezer - titled in tribute to, well, you know - was next in a line of punching bags that were guilty of not being Pinkerton. Well, fuck me - most of the big-name publication reviews have been … Read more

Lingua Ignota

Sinner Get Ready
Sargent House (2021)

It is an act of courage to redefine oneself. Especially when the initial recipe and direction has been exciting and challenging. Yet, when a project is as intricate as Kristen Hayter’s Lingua Ignota there should not be any surprise when evolution is afoot. Hayter started in the underground, releasing the first two records of her project independently. Through the raw … Read more

The Obits

Die at the Zoo
Outer Battery Records (2021)

Die at the Zoo is a live recording from Obits, live in Brisbane, Australia, in 2012. There are 16 songs from the band’s catalog and it was recently released on limited vinyl by Outer Battery. There are probably two main angles for looking at a live record: is it capturing a time and place, or is it capturing an essence … Read more

Wills Dissolve

Echoes
Hypnotic Dirge Records (2020)

I think it’s a good rule of thumb to assume if some band has their album art done by Adam “Nightjar” Burke, it’s going to be at least a good album. While that could be an exaggeration, I’ve yet to see a bad record with album art made by that man, so that’s a good track record, right? Anyway, Wills … Read more

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