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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)

White Ward

Futility Report
Debemur Morti Productions (2017)

Hailing from Odessa, Ukraine, White Ward exist within the post-black metal scene, stirring experimental means to enhance the core of the genre, and push it forwards. Initially founded in 2012, the band has released a series of EPs and demos, taking five long years for their first complete work, Futility Report, to come into light. Being released through White Ward's Bandcamp page initially, the record intrigued the Debemur Morti label, home of historic acts like Blut Aus Nord and In The Woods…At a time where there is a certain over-saturation of the post-black metal aesthetic and the reach of blackgaze capabilities, one can be fairly skeptical towards another band in that context. Sure enough, White Ward encompass a lot of the aspects of post-black methodology, merging the blackened riffology with the darker quality of post-rock in “Homecoming” or an underlying epic element in “Black Silent Piers.” Their work dwells mostly in the melodic side of the genre, providing numerous memorable phrases and lead work, enhanced with the inclusion of solos. However, what really separates them and showcases a novel approach is their tendency towards jazz and electronica elements. The main force to this end is the magnificent saxophone, majestically appearing … Read more

Time Lurker

Time Lurker
Les Acteurs de l'Ombre Productions (2017)

Time Lurker, the one-man project from France, is releasing its debut, self-titled record. Coming out from Les Aucteurs de l'Ombre, … Read more

Whiskey & Co.

Ripped Together, Torn Apart
No Idea Records (2017)

Whiskey & Co. are something of an outlier on the No Idea Records roster, but it’s still a cultural fit. … Read more

The Rememberables

The Rememberables
Adagio830 (2017)

Is this bandname some sort of challenge the bandmembers set for themselves? A goal to achieve so to say: be … Read more

Boris

Dear
Sargent House (2017)

I like the idea of certain types of metal paralleling the thought patterns of jazz. Whether it is the twitchy … Read more

Ex Eye

Ex Eye
Relapse (2017)

Colin Stetson, a fantastic saxophone player, came into prominence due to his collaboration with various indie rock bands, in the … Read more

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One from the archives

Jinn

Jinn
SuperFi (2007)

Although this band shares their name with at least three other groups, this release is pretty solid. The United Kingdom's Jinn brings a little bit of punk and thrash to their metal sound, sounding somewhere between Mind Eraser and At the Gates. It's not too dissimilar from the rise of bands like Isis, in some of its slow, epic parts as well as the artwork. The vocals can be indecipherable, which is par for the course of this genre, it can, however, make it hard to listen to at times. But the album progresses well, bringing in different beats and guitar work throughout to keep you engaged. The recording really benefits the heaviness of their sound as well. Even if this is not innovative enough to make Jinn huge, their … Read more

More album reviews

Daniel Menche

Sleeper
Sige (2017)

With a career spanning for almost three decades, Daniel Menche is a distinguished experimental artist. Implementing abstract themes within a minimal setting, applying noise to build an asphyxiating environment, his music takes on a physical manifestation to the listener. Creating an illusion of claustrophobia and anxiety, taking away the warmth of any safe spaces and leaving all exposed to the … Read more

Tex Perkins

Tex
Macmillan Australia (2017)

Pizzazz. Omph. Attitude.Sensibility.A sardonic sense of humour.Charisma.Swagger. If your music depends entirely on that, the dependency is too great. So much for the basics.See, you could claim that Tex Perkins and his incarnations have had a more than profound impact on my ever since I planted a foot on terra australis. Tex Perkins has been in the game for close … Read more

Black Swift

See Me Human
Independent (2017)

It’s time for me to admit I enjoy reading promo blurbs. Every promo either talks about a revelation in an existing genre or about a band discovering a new genre altogether. Which makes sense; the label or band is trying to sell something and telling you you’re about to listen to something bland or utterly boring is not the world’s … Read more

Dead Cross

Dead Cross
Ipecac (2017)

When ex-Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo announced a new hardcore project, this reviewer was on board. When Lombardo later announced that the new vocalist for his hardcore project would be none other than Mike Patton? Well, it's safe to say that it quickly became one of the most anticipated releases of 2017.But here's the thing with album anticipation - it can … Read more

Sun Ra/Merzbow

Strange City
Cold Spring (2016)

Big kudos are due to Justin Mitchell of Cold Spring for making this release possible, and bringing to life one of the strangest meeting of the minds. Irwin Chusid of the Sun Ra estate released a few rare and unreleased tracks from the great artist, which would be remixed by noise maestro Masami Akita, also known as Merzbow. Strange City … Read more

Pilkington

Soft Flesh
Black RD Records (2017)

On to the next single. Again we start with it's title track, of course: "Soft Flesh." This is the song that lured me into reviewing these singles. On "Soft Flesh" (the song) Pilkington uses a casiotone and they use it well. From the first second I was hooked. To finish the song of the guitar work here is very surfy … Read more

Pilkington

All Around The Neighborhood
Black RD Records (2017)

Singles are something I usually avoid when reviewing. I find it difficult to say something that makes sense with so little to work with. For Pilkington I’ve made an exception. They offered me two singles. The four songs combined clock in at almost 14 minutes. I can deal with that! Pilkington is an indie band from Philadelphia. They released their … Read more

P.O.S.

Chill, Dummy
Doomtree (2017)

A new kidney hasn’t made P.O.S soft and introspective. On his return to action album Chill, Dummy, he’s as angry and pointed as ever. The album rages, with moments of reflection that turn outward instead of in.The Minneapolis rapper has had an interesting evolution. He sprung up as a DIY punk-turned rapper, helped found the Doomtree collective, and released records … Read more

Buck Gooter

100 Bells
Whar Cats Records (2017)

Bizarro punk/noise/rock duo Buck Gooter are releasing their 17th album in the span of 12 years. During all that time and through all the releases, Buck Gooter, now returning with 100 Bells, has not missed a beat. Their music radiates with the same energy as it did on the first day and the primitive sense is as raw as it … Read more

The Flatliners

Inviting Light
Rise (2017)

Since 2002 Canadian punk band The Flatliners have been making a name for themselves. It’s hard to imagine the same ska/punk band that put out Destroy to Create released an album like Inviting Light. If you couldn’t tell by the album names alone—it’s a departure. Inviting Light is by far the most mature sounding album the band has released, and … Read more

Matt Pond PA

Still Summer
131 Records (2017)

Matt Pond PA has delivered a flurry of music since their inception in 1998 around the enigmatic songwriter and namesake. His revolving cast of collaborators, creators, and guests have served him well throughout his career. Just as it goes, he is very underappreciated and underrated as a songwriter. They are that band, and he is that singer, that you just … Read more

Needles//Pins

Goodnight, Tomorrow
Mint/Dirt Cult (2017)

Needles//Pins are one of those hard bands to pin down. They just sound like what rock ‘n’ roll is supposed to be, you know? It’s catchy, gritty, relatable, and working class. It’s to the point without being mindless or jingoistic. Goodnight, Tomorrow is their second LP, the follow-up to Shamebirds (2014). The first record is an enjoyable romp, but it … Read more

John Frum

A Stirring in the Noos
Relapse (2017)

Technicality in death metal is a very common treat, and it has been present within the genre since its beginnings. Through time this idea has evolved, moving from the likes of Death and Suffocation to acts like Artificial Brain and Ulcerate. John Frum is a new entry in this tradition, formed by members of some elite bands of the extreme … Read more

Dale Cooper Quartet & The Dictaphones

Astrild Astrild
Denovali (2017)

At some point in the '90s a strange scene begun to form, spawning from the adventurous nature of Gore and their follow-up project Bohren & der Club of Gore and expanded by the likes of Asunta and Phantom City. Taking the cool jazz structures, artists begun performing alchemical experiments with ambient music, abstract rhythms, drone elements and aspects of dark … Read more

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