I’ve always liked Neighborhood Brats, but I don’t remember the band having so much variation in sound. Over 11 songs, this record maintains their melodic and forward-moving punk but with ominous foreboding organ, and even banging piano at times. While this growth stands out, it also doesn’t change who the band is. These details add depth, not a change of direction.At times Claw Marks is ominous and frustrated at the world, but most of the time it's calling for action, solidarity and reflection. It's short, fast, and loud like the genre rulebook demands, but it's way deeper than that too. “Dumpster Values” hits at their core sound. It’s short and to the point. The lyrics are direct and socio-political with a pointed refrain and choppy, driving guitars. The beat always pushes forward, giving a sense of anxiety to the poignant songs. Fortunately, that anxiety comes and goes or else it might be too much in too short a period of time. “Late Stage Capitalism” is a political anthem with a sing-along “All Is Not Well in the USA” that’s more of a fist-raiser with big hooks. “Night Shift” feels a bit more like a barnstorming dance number. The first-person plural … Read more
The Sidekicks are a band that I still pay attention to past my “punk only years”—you know, the years of … Read more
Part parody and part homage to guitar music, Dutch four-piece Mozes and the Firstborn have set a new tone with … Read more
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Philly duo Kississippi released their anticipated debut album Sunset Blush and unlike some records, it lived up to the hype. … Read more
I was going to review this when it came out, but I like my statements to be accurate, so I … Read more
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When it comes to what is referred to as “post-punk” and repetitive-driven guitar sounds accompanied by tense, circular bass lines and grimy, otherworldly vocals with the an enigma of a frontman meandering through tropes of British magic realism that seemed to be fuelled in equal parts by uppers and downers, you cannot go past The Fall. After the untimely demise of singer Mark E. Smith in 2017, it was about time for an ode to the legacy of a this idiosyncratic band and its impact at large, which Excavate! does justice to not merely by biographically chronicling The Fall’s history, but approaching the subject matter from a myriad of angles with essays from seemingly unrelated fields, which all contribute to a whole that is much more than the mere sum … Read more
Replacing God by ultra-prolific Kansas-based experimental musician Twin Towers at times seems to be an experimental metal album, but there's much more to the work and I think it has a nice sense of progression as it moves forward. By the end, you feel like you've experienced something. The opening track is rather ominous. Starting off with a somewhat ambiguous … Read more
Not many bands can make it eight albums into their career without a single dud. Murder by Death's mainstays, Adam Turla and Sarah Balliet, have spent nearly 2 decades honing their skills as songwriters, and they’ve let their growth lead us out into Space. The Other Shore has Turla returning to more of a long form narrative again. However, it … Read more
The last few years have seen a good amount of great German hip-hop albums, however, now there is Monument. Kollegah’s previous emissions are outstanding, but the way he bookended the rollercoaster ride that the year 2018 proved to be for him is the evolutionary apex of an artist who has honed and refined his craft over the last fourteen years, … Read more
Shook Ones are a nostalgic band for me, they were the most active during my teenage years and I associate them with that time period. I’m sure like most of their fans, I was surprised they released a new full length given that it’s been five years since they’ve released any new music. The band never officially announced they were … Read more
I was excited about this record 3 seconds in. To put it directly, I’m a big fan of everything Future Virgins has done so I was expecting it. Doomsday Raga fits their catalog well, but it also fits in with the gradual progression from coarse DIY to well-rounded, crisp melodies.There’s a lot to like about the band, but for me … Read more
Garage rock is a term that no longer gets a lot of usage - dissipating into the ether after the resurgence and seeming demise of the genre around the mid-00s. The thing is, it never died. We just forgot where to look. And when it comes to unabashed, unapologetic garage rock, you need look no further than Jon Spencer. He … Read more
The fourth in a string of 2018 releases from Denver-based synth duo Neon Cities, the Toulouse single presents a pair of tracks that showcase distinct sides of the group's sound. With warm synth and hazy, barely there vocals placed on top of a relaxed rhythm and buzzing bass groove,the more pop-oriented title track creates a nostalgic 1980s vibe replete with … Read more
Pop comes in many forms. Sometimes you find it on the radio as the nation’s favorite dance hit. Occasionally you’ll hear it pulsating from the walls of your favorite nightclubs. Then, sometimes, it pours out of the anxious head of an artist just looking to create something. Mitski’s fifth studio album, Be the Cowboy, explores different avenues of the genre. … Read more
2018 marks the 30th year of existence for Seattle stalwarts, Mudhoney. 30 years on for most bands usually means one or two tired original members clinging to the past - Rewarming leftover albums on tour while an even more tired and bleary-eyed audience leaves early because they have to work the next day. Not so with The Mudhoneys. Digital Garbage … Read more
Let me tell you something about reviewing and how it is decided what will get a review on here. Sometimes it is very straight forward: our dark overlord gives a direct order to review something. Luckily (for me at least) life is keeping him too busy to that stuff too often. That’s when I get to browse through the seemingly … Read more
When I first heard that Deafheaven had released a new record, I was skeptical. The thing is, I’m not entirely sure why because the band has more than proven themselves with their past records Sunbather and New Bermuda. Both records killed, but with a band that has already explored the ins and outs of metal, I questioned how they could … Read more
There’s been few bands in recent memory as polarizing as The Locust. Upon the first few listens, they sound like the aural equivalent of severed nerve endings after an industrial lathe accident. But if you stick with them - and particularly if you’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing them live, what once seemed all pandemonium and chaos becomes clear … Read more
During the 80s and the rise of darkwave, Dead Can Dance was one of the visionary acts that begun experimenting with the darker sound of gothic rock. Built around two magnificent vocalists, Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard, the project evolved from its darkwave roots into something much more potent and unique. In their first phase, Dead Can Dance took on … Read more
Does the world really need a ska-tinged surf song about waterboarding? How you answer that question will probably answer how you feel about this record as a whole. Not that such a concept is really a surprise for those who have followed Brendan Kelly’s musical output and sense of humor over the years. While I personally think “Boardin’ USA” feels … Read more
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