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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)

The Carolyn

Pyramid Scheme of Grief
59X, Disconnect/Disconnect (2025)

This is one of my "find" records of the year so far. I caught a few songs by The Carolyn at FEST 22 and that essentially put them on my radar, but a new record gets a band even more on my radar. But I've been struggling on how to describe The Carolyn. I'll start with "like The Lawrence Arms, but specifically the faster Brendan songs. I mean that musically, though. It's upbeat and driving punk but unlike Lawrence Arms, it's also packed with soaring group vocal choruses that lean into the first-person experience. These are songs about "I," the singer, but with an "us" vibe where you sing along to shared emotions and experiences. The Carolyn really leans into the melodic element in their verse-chorus-verse songs. While it's catchy as heck, fortunately the band doesn't lean into pop production. The vocals are clean and crisp enough, but they also aren't "pro." It's everyperson singalong punk that sometimes tiptoes the line with blue collar rock 'n' roll. So take the earlier comparison, dump it into your cocktail shaker, and add in a good-sized pour of Nato Coles and the Blue Diamond Band too. Then put your arms on your buddies' … Read more

Angel Face

Out In The Street
Slovenly (2025)

Slovenly calls this JAPANPUNK. My preliminary google search of this portmanteau didn’t come up with much but I already know … Read more

Neutral Snap

I Hardly Know Her
Independent (2025)

Let’s get formally introduced to the underground and independent band Neutral Snap. They are an upcoming pop punk/emo band from … Read more

To The Grave

Still
Unique Leader (2025)

Coming from Australia, To The Grave bring their brutal vegan deathcore offering Still to fans worldwide. This EP punches you … Read more

La Dispute

No One Was Driving The Car
Epitaph (2025)

Occasionally bands will surpass being musicians and become artists. La Dispute aren’t making music. They’re making art. The band returns … Read more

Dying Wish

Flesh Stays Together
Sharptone (2025)

From their hardcore days to their newer, progressing sound on Flesh Stays Together, Dying Wish has been inching toward something … Read more

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One from the archives

Rehashed

Code Black
Power It Up (2011)

Rehashed out of Saskatoon are working at carrying the crossover torch into the next decade. While there are a few bands doing this a smaller few truly make it work in the recorded format. Rehashed have everything it takes to be up on top it's only up to the Power It Up Records debut to prove to the world that they can. Starting fast and furious out of the gate opener "If It Ain't Broke....Break It" starts things out in style. Thrashing and trashing it's way along in about a minute and a half. The band seems incapable of looking back after this point going for speed almost the whole way through the record. In fact, it isn't until the last two songs that the band even bothers to cross … Read more

More album reviews

Sam Russo

Hold You Hard
Red Scare Industries (2025)

Art is subjective -- and sometimes it's curious what appeals to you. Hold You Hard is the latest from solo songwriter Sam Russo about travel, memory, and experience. There are stories of celebration throughout this record. Yet, for whatever reason, it's the somber, sadder songs that strike a chord with me as I listen to the album. "Gator Lodge" and … Read more

Spite House

Desertion
Pure Noise (2025)

Spite House is a post-hardcore band based out of Montreal dropping their second record titled ”Desertion on Pure Noise Records. This is a follow up to their self-titled 2022 album released on New Morality Zine. The band drops these 29 minutes of traumatic punk inspired sounds with the urgency of modern hardcore. The tracks recall some greats from the ‘90s … Read more

Bad Cop Bad Cop

Lighten Up
Fat Wreck Chords, Hopeless (2025)

If you haven’t heard of the Southern Californian band Bad Cop Bad Cop, then you are truly missing out on a top tier, female punk powerhouse. They sit at the crossroads of ‘90s skate punk and modern melodic punk. The band returns louder than ever with their fourth full-length and newest album titled Lighten Up. The album offers up 10 … Read more

xNullifyx

xNullifyx
New Morality Zine (2025)

I love almost all genres of music, but hardcore has always been towards the top for me. I love the intensity, the passion, and typically the message that is conveyed. I grew up listening to bands on such record labels as Revelation, Victory, Indecision, New Age and many more that were groundbreaking. Due to that influence in my younger years, … Read more

Dave Hause

...And The Mermaid
Blood Harmony Records (2025)

...And The Mermaid is Dave Hause's eighth full-length solo album if I’m counting right. The big news with this new effort is that it features a full band. No, it isn't The Loved Ones Pt. 2. But we do get Hause mocking nu-metal and rap-rock, which was probably the second thing on everybody's bucket list. I'll build off that idea, … Read more

Face Yourself

Fury
Sumerian (2025)

Face Yourself is a transcontinental deathcore force that has been around since 2023. It’s amazing to me that their members are spread out from Colorado, New York, New Jersey, and France. I can barely get friends in the same town as me to hang out. The band isn’t afraid to drop EP after EP with singles constantly thus offering deathcore … Read more

Silverstein

Pink Moon
UNFD (2025)

It’s wild to think that Silverstein has been a band for 25 years. That is quite the accomplishment to achieve. The Ontario, Canadian post-hardcore/emo band has released 12 studio albums in that time and are getting ready to drop lucky number 13 with Pink Moon. This 8-track album is set to be released on September 12 through UNFD. It is … Read more

American Television

You’re Not Alone
Smartpunk Records (2025)

Hailing from our nation’s capital of Washington, D.C., come the melodic punk band American Television. The band formed around 2013 and has been hitting it hard ever since their inception with multiple releases under their belts. The band’s latest release, You’re Not Alone, is a six-song EP that is slated to drop on September 19th via Smartpunk. This is a … Read more

Between the Buried and Me

The Blue Nowhere
Inside Out (2025)

Between The Buried And Me are seasoned vets to the progressive metalcore, electronic, prog (whatever other genre they bend) scene and continue to drop album after album. Their career started back in 2000 from the ashes of one of the greatest metalcore bands of all time (in my humble opinion), Prayer For Cleansing. As the band has progressed over the … Read more

The Beths

Straight Line Was A Lie
Anti (2025)

Dear Beths, Congratulations on the new release. I’ve been reflecting on our relationship and, as I’ve recently started to write about music again, have been asked to share my thoughts with you. First and foremost, I want to say that this isn’t easy for me. I cherish your album Future Me Hates Me from 2018. The title track alone is … Read more

East End Redemption

Crashing Down
Independent (2025)

Who would’ve thought that from the land of lobsters and blueberries, you’d find a punk band? East End Redemption is a four-piece band that brings their flavor of punk from Portland, Maine to the masses with their eleven song, debut full-length album, Crashing Down. They mix elements of skate punk, power pop, and even hints of hardcore punk. The band … Read more

Pretty Bitter

Pleaser
Tiny Engines (2025)

Pretty Bitter is a 5-piece band originating in 2017 and hailing from Washington, D.C. It was formed by Mel Bleker (lead vocals) and Miri Tyler (bass/vocals). Their second full-length titled Pleaser was released on July 25th of this year on Tiny Engines. And what a throwback feel this album gives! If this band and album came out in the early … Read more

Jason Paul + The Know It Alls

I'm Absolutely Terrified
Independent (2025)

I'd call Jason Paul + The Know It Alls happy punk except, well, it ain't. The lyrics are somber and thoughtful, yet the tone and melodies are uplifting and that's what I go by. I'd also call it San Pedro chill punk, as it has some similar elements to other bands from the area while maintaining a go-with-the-flow kind of … Read more

Various Artists

Pulley/Fire Sale – ‘Split Personality'
Negative Progression Records (2025)

When I saw this split 7” announced, I genuinely got excited. I love both bands. I knew that when you have two powerhouse punk bands coming together to drop a split, nothing could go wrong. While one of the bands, Pulley, is a household name in the punk community, the other is on the rise. I guarantee you know the … 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)