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)

The Jesus And Mary Chain

Damage and Joy
ADA Records (2017)

Ever since The Jesus and Mary Chain came on the scene in the Mid-80’s with their tapestry of sound Psychocandy, and onto their 90’s fame recording with Hope Sandoval, the band has always reminded me of a couple of stoned uncles. You know, the ones your mom doesn’t think to highly of, but they are the coolest thing around because they let you get away with just about anything… That’s The Jesus and Mary Chain. They just released a new record, their first in 19 years, dubbed Damage and Joy, it’s more of the same lush, electric, dance-groove that the band have come to be known for. And... that’s OK, but I think that I set my expectations high, too high. And that’s not to say Damage and Joy doesn’t have its moments. The slow roll of “War on Peace” gives way to their signature wall of sound and an upbeat singalong. “All Things Pass” is the head bopper upper-echelon Jesus and Mary Chain Scottish-Pop that we love, with lyrics of reflection, “Each drug I take is gonna be my last”. Sky Ferreira tackles vocals on “Always Sad”, and “Song As a Secret” as an homage to one of their … Read more

MakeWar

Developing A Theory of Integrity
Red Scare Industries (2016)

One of the reasons I gravitate toward the pop-end of the punk spectrum is because it lacks pretention. The structures … Read more

The Necks

Unfold
Ideologic Organ (2017)

There is always this feeling of being amid a quiet storm when one experiences an album by The Necks. The … Read more

TenHornedBeast

Death Has No Companion
Cold Spring (2017)

A master of dark ambient, Christopher Walton became first known through his time as one-half of Endvra. The duo released … Read more

The Dopamines

Tales of Interest
Rad Girlfriend Records (2017)

It’s been a while since Ohio’s The Dopamines released a new record –2012 by the looks of things, and I … Read more

The Sword

Greetings From...
Razor & Tie (2017)

The Sword produce a very special kind of metal. It’s the kind of metal that hits hard as fuck, but … Read more

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One from the archives

Oceans

Nothing Collapses
Copper Lung (2009)

Chicago natives Oceans offer up nine tracks with sixty minutes worth of music on their debut effort. The five-piece maintain a post-rock inspired craft throughout the bulk of the full-length but also find ways of incorporating mid-90's emo and post-hardcore sounds into their songs. Nothing Collapses begins with "Lit Up Under Streetlights" and you get eight minutes of light-footed post-rock that leans towards the more playful tones as opposed to down-tempo style the genre often sees. The group makes use of the guitar techniques you've come to expect from pros of the genre - Explosions in the Sky, etc. Where the band helps to distinguish themselves is with the faint influences of the mid-90's Midwestern emo scene in their sound. "We are Ruins" follows and it features a slightly more … Read more

More album reviews

Wear Your Wounds

WYW
Deathwish Inc. (2017)

Is the world filled with melancholy and sadness that gives way to brief moments of euphoric happiness or joy that carries people from peak to peak, or is that just those of us not blessed with “cheer-y” dispositions nor the ability to feign an air of contentedness or ease? Some people drown themselves in mood altering substances in the hopes … Read more

STNNNG

Veterans of Pleasure
Modern Radio (2017)

STNNNG have slowed down their output but it doesn’t seem that age is catching up to them. If anything, their anger seems more pronounced than ever. Pronounced “The Stunning,” the band plays aggressive and confrontational rock that punches, kicks and occasionally claws at the listener, with guitar barbs, drum-fronted jabs and bass-driven tumbling. It’s chaotically and meandering, yet artfully crafted … Read more

Teleplasmite

Frequency Is The New Ecstasy
House of Mythology (2017)

Another excellent release coming through the House of Mythology label, Teleplasmite is the brainchild of an unholy alliance between Mark O. Pillington, musician known from his work in Urthona and author publishing interesting countercultural and cryptic literature through Strange Attractor, and Michael J. York, expert in wind instruments and member/collaborator of the Guapo, Cyclobe, The Stargazer's Assistant and of course, … Read more

Frenzal Rhomb

Hi-Vis High-Tea
Fat Wreck Chords (2017)

It would be easy for the uninitiated to dismiss Frenzal Rhomb and throw them into the bucket of playful pop-punk epigones from Australia. While their sound does incorporate the key ingredients of what makes the likes of The Offspring, Bad Religion, NOFX and Blink 182 appealing and palatable, all of which they have toured with, it is the mélange of … Read more

Dimmu Borgir

Forces of The Northern Night
Nuclear Blast (2017)

There’s no denying that Dimmu Borgir come from a solid black metal background but what these Norwegian’s have done in the (nearly) twenty five years that they’ve been active is turn their version of black metal into a massive spectacle, one that involves orchestras and a full scale choir. Not many black metal acts could get away with such grand … Read more

Spelling Reform

No One’s Ever Changed
Black RD Records (2016)

This was a tough nut to crack. Wow! Why, you ask? Well, this is way out of my comfort zone. It’s as simple as that. Every now and then I enjoy that. It made me discover some great music. Writing about it is a bit more difficult as my frame of reference is a bit limited. So, let’s see what … Read more

Slowdive

Slowdive
Dead Oceans (2017)

Why do bands or musical partners decide to reconvene to see if the magic can still be conjured? There a slew of bands that have reunited for various reasons (cash grabs, nostalgia trips, etc) over the last five to ten years that range from exciting to shaking one’s head as to why reunions take place, and then, every once in … Read more

Great Cynics

Posi
Specialist Subject Records (2017)

Calling their fourth record Posi is an interesting statement about Great Cynic’s vibe across the 11-song, half-hour record. From lyrics about being the clouds and listening to the birds to others that proclaim “what makes you special,” this is posi-punk, music that’s uplifting in an overtly cynical music scene. Hell, see the band’s name for reference.It’s not to say it’s … Read more

Ian William Craig

Slow Vessels
Fat Cat (2017)

The classically trained Ian William Craig released in 2016 one of the best experimental works of the year in Centres. Applying ample processing to his vocals, in effect enhancing the performance, he created an adventurous record without tempering with the underlying emotion. Today he returns with Slow Vessels, a long EP, which extends the concepts of Centres in a very … Read more

Flobots

No Enemies
Independent (2017)

pro·testnounˈprōˌtest/A complaint, objection, or display of unwillingness usually to an idea or a course of action.It's been 5 long years since Flobots released their 2012 effort Circle in the Square. Normally that wouldn't be such a long stretch of time, but given all that's happened within that time frame, it seems like eons since Brer Rabbit, Jonny 5 and Kenny … Read more

Svart Crown

Abreaction
Century Media (2017)

Blackened death metal requires a complex formula. It is not a hybrid state between black and death metal, where 50% of each individual component will give you the appropriate result. Svart Crown belongs in the few bands that understand how to get his sound right, and they have been traveling this distance since their debut album, Ages of Decay, came … Read more

Video/DVD Review

Cult of Luna

Years In A Day
Indie Recordings (2017)

Years in a Day, a Live DVD/CD combo, is the latest release from Sweden’s Cult of Luna. A DVD featuring a 13-song live performance and two live CDs, each with 7-song performances, are included. Intense photographic artwork and thorough visual coverage of their live set make this release a special experience and a physical release that will highlight any collection. … Read more

Western Addiction

Tremulous
Fat Wreck Chords (2017)

Has it really been 12 years since Cognicide? Well, Western Addiction are back with another single word, make-you-think album title in Tremulous. They may have skipped releasing records for the entire Obama presidency (plus some), but the band didn’t mellow with age.Tremulous is 11 songs of melodic hardcore. Led by Chad Williams’ power drumming, Williams punctuates the sound while the … Read more

The Slackers

Redlight (20th Anniversary)
Pirates Press (2017)

Has it really been twenty years since this album made its way out into the world? Time does fly by when you are living life, but Redlight does not sound like a two decade old record in the least bit; the Slackers still sound down right in the moment with their second album and that in it of itself is … Read more

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