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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)

Various Artists

UNFUN/Despite Everything - Split EP
Hahaha Cool! Records (2012)

It's always cool when bands from opposite sides of the world do a split together. It worked great for Thursday and Envy. Here, we have UNFUN from Canada and Despite Everything from Greece. Both have a different brand of dirty punk-rock. In the case of this split though, the Canadians lost. UNFUN's songs have great material to dance and sing-a-long to. The only problem is the quality of the recordings are so muffled and hard to understand that it ruins the listening experience. You can just barely hear the vocals and at times you can barely even make out what they're playing over the distortion. I know it's kind of their thing, but if they cleaned it up just a bit it'd be so much more enjoyable. Despite Everthing's half of the split is much more sharp. The first track, "If You're Going Through Hell," It's got a bit of a Hot Water Music influence going on but a tad heavier. Their second track, "Roads Unfold," takes a different approach. It's catchier, picks up the pace, and more anthemic. Both bands had good material, but Despite Everything had the better recordings and saved the split. It's a shame since UNFUN … Read more

Aaron & The Sea

Cloak & Dagger EP
Independent (2013)

Aaron & the Sea have come a long way from writing dinosaur-themed ballads. The Minneapolis band formed in 2008 when … Read more

The Julie Ruin

Run Fast
Independent (2013)

The onesheet drops the term “subversive pop.” While the term may apply lyrically, musically The Julie Ruin is more ‘80s … Read more

Pelican

Forever Becoming
Southern Lord (2013)

It has been about four years since the release of What We All Come to Need, what was in my … Read more

Watain

The Wild Hunt
Century Media (2013)

Watain have been around for a long, long time but it’s only really recently that the band have broken out … Read more

Watain

The Wild Hunt
Century Media (2013)

Watain has been on the cusp of something huge for the last couple years. With a handful of great records … Read more

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One from the archives

Gorillaz

Demon Days
Virgin (2005)

It's been four years since Gorillaz, the world's first animated group, debuted with Gorillaz, a wacky blend of pop, rock, and hip-hop. A fun, terrific debut guided by one of the best single's to hit MTV in the past half-decade, "Clint Eastwood." I myself am not too overzealous when hearing a great single, but damn, that track sucker-punched me pretty hard. With a world, albeit animated, tour under their belt, Gorillaz has returned with Demon Days. In the past four years, Gorillaz brain-child and bassist Murdoc Nicalls spent 18 months in Mexican jail for writing dud checks on tequila and senoritas. The notorious Satanist busted out of prison before his term was up. Vocalist 2D returned to England where he was treated like the King. The celebrity lifestyle got to … Read more

More album reviews

Sutekh Hexen

Become
King Of Monsters (2013)

Throughout their relatively short tenure, Sutekh Hexen has produced several thought provoking releases that intrigue from both a sonic and an aesthetic perspective; and Become is no different than that description as well as it seemingly marks a turning point for the (at times) shadowy outfit as it is purportedly the first recording to not feature one of the founding … Read more

Ihsahn

Das Seelenbrechen
Candlelight (2013)

Ihsahn is one of the most immediately recognisable artists that Norway has produced and his work in legends Emperor and now as a solo act has seen him move from the early stages of black metal to a much more progressive sound. Ihsahn’s solo efforts have always been extremely interesting and with Das Seelenbrechen he has created a textured landscape … Read more

Aeronaut

Coronal Mass
Fabrica (2013)

Aeronaut’s Coronal Mass is one hell of recording, but just saying that does not a hint of justice to the overall quality of this release because I would be damned if I did not say that the packaging for this cassette tape is disgustingly awesome, and in truth, what ultimately makes the release is the music that takes up the … Read more

The Haxan Cloak

Excavation
Tri Angle (2013)

What dream like states can you imagine, and how exactly might you reach such a trance? Do you use illicit and not so illicit substances, or are you maybe touched a bit having brushed wings with delirium one too many times? Regardless of how you might enter a waking dream world, what do you enjoy to use as the soundtrack?Ever … Read more

Kitten Forever

Pressure
Guilt Ridden Pop (2013)

Pressure is a party. The three-piece band Kitten Forever trade off vocals constantly throughout, and even swap instruments while they’re at it. It starts off with a 43 second intro track of vocal switcheroos and handclaps before shifting into the muddy “Cry Baby” that sets the stage well for their alternating tones of distorted punk and happy-clap sing-song. While the … Read more

Iron Chic

Spooky Action
Bridge Nine (2013)

Iron Chic are back with their first new music since their split with Pacer. For some, a couple years isn't long, but waiting for new Iron Chic is like waiting for a ride at Disneyland. As soon as you finish the thrill of one, you're automatically anxious to get in line for another, and the wait is unbearable. No matter … Read more

Gypsy Eyes

The Escapist
Noise Met Sound (2013)

It’s hard to go to an EDM festival without seizuring from strobe lights, going deaf from pulsing beats, or popping too many Mollies. Electronica combusts acres of energy, leaving no breathing room. This genre of trebley arpeggios, never-ending grooves, and overwhelming bass deserves a relaxing vacation.Artists like Actress, Flying Lotus, and Jon Hopkins are soothing alternatives for EDM, infusing jazzy … Read more

A Wilhelm Scream

Partycrasher
No Idea Records (2013)

It’s been hard to believe that A Wilhelm Scream’s last full length, Career Suicide, was released in 2007. I’ve seen these guys live a handful of times since then, and they are anything but old news. No Idea definitely knew what they were doing by adding this headlining band to their roster. The amount of energy and spirit A Wilhelm … Read more

Nadja

Flipper
Oaken Palace (2013)

Do you find that at times you need to change your perspective on something or someone, and if so how exactly do you gain that fresh perspective? For my part, gaining a fresh perspective usually means walking away from something for a period of time and coming back with a regained enthusiasm and excitement to dive back into whatever it … Read more

Integrity

Suicide Black Snake
Magic Bullet / A389 Records (2013)

Take this raging slab of an album and play it on your stereo at loud volumes until your fragile eardrums explode causing you to bleed out of your ear canals because Integrity is back with another record of metal / hardcore anthems that delve the dark side the way that only Dwid and his cohorts can (with this record he … Read more

Autistic Youth

Nonage
Dirtnap (2013)

I nearly died one night in the kitchen of Mexican restaurant I was cooking at. When it came time to clean up the floors at the end of my closing shift, I erroneously (read: stupidly) mixed ammonia and bleach in a mop bucket full of steaming hot water. One breath of that potent mixture and I was seeing stars and … Read more

Hank Williams III

Brothers Of The 4x4
Hank III Records (2013)

There's few artists that have been bent over by their record label more than Hank Williams III. That label was Curb, and they fucked the poor man up down and sideways. That blood contract was finally over with the 2010 release of Rebel Within - an album with potential, but the end result was what felt like an understandably rushed … Read more

Hank Williams III

A Fiendish Threat
Hank III Records (2013)

Those who have had the pleasure of seeing Shelton Hank Williams III perform live know that the man always gives his audience more than their money's worth. A typical show will be 3 full sets - each approximately 45 minutes to an hour long. The first set is a straight-up country set. Set #2 is often the "hillbilly" set - … Read more

Useless Eaters

Hypertension
Jeffery Drag Records (2013)

This is weirdo garage punk with some surf and new wave-y parts from Nashville, TN. Hard to tell if Useless Eaters are playing guitars that sound like fucked-up keyboards or if there is a keyboard that drowns out the fucked-up guitars. I honestly could care less because I happen to really like it. Sometimes just being a stupid music fan … 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)