Recent reviews

Our latest album reviews, featuring the records we've most enjoyed (or not) over the past few weeks.

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

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 - which is similar to the country set with more distortion, and often a second vocalist, usually in the form of Damn Band/Assjack member Gary Lindsay. And the final set is the punk or metal set. This used to be Assjack, but more recently has been 3's new project, A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Domination).A Fiendish Threat is more or less the Hellbilly side of things. Country with fuzz, distortion and a whole lot of attitude. 3 handles all vocals and instrumentation on this one. It's a bit of a departure from what we're used to. 3 has one of the most distinctive voices in music but here he's stretching that familiar twang to add some punk dimension, creating an album full of Oi's and whoa-oh's to make the most cynical of listeners prick up their ears.Instrumentation is sparse - most songs including … Read more

200 Words Or Less

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 … Read more

Caves

Betterment
Bombed out (2013)

I’d call Caves frantic punk rock, if not for the title track on Betterment actually being a casual acoustic affair. … Read more

Various Artists

Circle & Mamiffer - Enharmonic Intervals (for Paschen Organ)
Sige (2013)

Try to imagine that two of the most interesting experimental acts out there not only decided to collaborate for a … Read more

200 Words Or Less

California X

Self Titled
Don Giovanni (2013)

It seems the term “grunge” is getting thrown around again quite a bit these days when it comes to describing … Read more

Future Virgins

Late Republic
Recess (2013)

After how hard Western Problems hit, it would be hard for Future Virgins to deliver another punch-out of similar quality. … Read more

Browse our review archives

Reviews by year

Choose a year to view reviews of albums released in that year.

Reviews by artist name

Choose a letter to view reviews ordered by that letter (band name first).

Review categories

200 Words Or Less

750 reviews

Book Review

42 reviews

Classic Album

25 reviews

Multiple Authors

300 reviews

Review

4920 reviews

Video/DVD Review

19 reviews

One from the archives

Sol Cat

Self Titled
Independent (2013)

Nashville based Sol Cat independently released their first full length album on bandcamp in mid February. The indie and rock scene in Nashville is a well kept secret thanks to the city’s reputation for country music and being home of so many major labels, but you won’t find any country influences here. The nine track self-titled release is all chilled out, good vibes rock. The sound is simultaneously playful and laid back, and emanates an effortless type of cool rarely found in studio recordings. The group manages to put the perfect imagery to the atmosphere created by the music in the two music videos created for the tracks “Fishin’ With John” and “Dirty Glasses” (links below).Straightforward and lighthearted lyrics don’t weigh heavy on the brain and playful instrumentals promote foot … Read more

More album reviews

Seven Sisters Of Sleep

Opium Morals
A389 (2013)

Think long and hard and decide just what it takes for a band to enter your own personal rarified air (sure this personal status can be mutable over time with bands falling out and joining in depending on how quickly your tastes might change); for me it can be as little as one record and can last an entire “Career” … Read more

30,000 Monkies

Somewhere Over The Painbow
Consouling Sounds (2013)

Somewhere between rock, stoner, sludge and noise, 30,000 Monkies manage to find a point of equilibrium and they are now unleashing their latest EP, Somewhere Over The Painbow. The malice of the Melvins merges with the spirit of Sonic Youth to bring four songs that will leave you stunned. With their furious sound, heavy riffs and relentless groove, this release … Read more

Pinkish Black

Razed To The Ground
Century Media (2013)

Last year's self titled record from Pinkish Black was a distinctly (un)pleasant surprise from a duo that have been making music together for a substantial length of time. Pinkish Black took the critical world by storm with their debut and the record was, quite rightly, considered a breath of fresh air within the darker confines of the musical spectrum. Pinkish … Read more

Janelle Monáe

The Electric Lady
Wondaland Arts Society (2013)

It's encouraging that after releasing one of the best records of 2010, Janelle Monáe wasn't rushed into releasing the follow-up album to The ArchAndroid until she was good and ready. Three years have given her and her Wondaland Arts Society time to regroup and evolve and the range and talent of her collaborators this time around reflect the maturity Monáe's … Read more

Worriers

Cruel Optimist
Don Giovanni (2013)

Worriers are yet another Brooklyn band to note, made up of former members of some higher profile DIY punk bands from the area. Most noteworthy in terms of sound is vocalist Lauren Denitzio, previously of The Measure [SA]. Obviously, her familiar voice and vocal style will bring a number of comparisons, including within this very review, and it should serve … Read more

Radioactivity

Radioactivity
Dirtnap (2013)

Each time I write the phrase “garage-punk” I like it less and less. Still, how else to describe a band that blends pop-punk and garage so well? Actually, in recent reviews I’ve taken to simply comparing bands to the Marked Men, which takes us directly to Radioactivity.Radioactivity is Jeff Burke and Mark Ryan, half of Marked Men, joined by Gregory … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Nö Pöwer

No Peace
Sorry State (2013)

No Peace is the debut LP by Charlottesville, NC’s Nö Pöwer. There are subtle elements of garage and psych at play here but it’s primarily raging hardcore punk, with a noticeable emphasis on the noise. It's a primitive and blown-out style of D-beat that’s been injected with a distinctive dose of artiness and then drenched in feedback. Although he’s not … Read more

AFI

Burials
Republic (2013)

As a zine built on the foundation of loving AFI, it would clearly be remiss not to talk about their new record. We try to pretend that Decemberunderground and Crash Love never happened - the first rule of AFI fandom is.... - but it would be silly to think that AFI made it to Burials without having to go through … Read more

Hope Drone

Self Titled
OSCL (2013)

Heading over to their Last.fm account, the light hearted description ‘Australian for Deafheaven’ doesn’t exactly seem to serve as an appropriate designation for Brisbane based black metal troupe Hope Drone. Sure, the atypical approach towards standard genre fare is evident, and the lush, wide production on this 4 track release certainly draws parallels. Though it is likely more of a … Read more

Papermoons

No Love
Deep Elm (2013)

The press blurb that accompanies Texas-based indie folk duo Papermoons' sophomore album No Love claims that "the idea that you can say a whole lot more without screaming or shouting" is solidified in this LP. No Love is 10 tracks of smouldering, cleverly composed melodies with occasional gushes of shimmering electric guitars. Written during the five years after Papermoons' debut … Read more

Steve Adamyk Band

Third
Dirtnap (2013)

Sometimes calling something the “[insert record label]” sound is meant in a derisive way. Before the clichés came home, however, it was also used to complement a label’s stable for having some unique defining qualities. That’s where Steve Adamyk Band fits with their Dirtnap Records home. The general style that SAB plays can be summed up in a few distinct … Read more

Castevet

Obsian
Profound Lore (2013)

When I first came across Castevet’s debut album I was hooked with their sound. The hybrid post metal/black metal band was very innovative with their musical structures and their complex, outside of the box thinking when it came to their technical side were just some of the highlights of Mounds of Ash. Unfortunately back then; the other release of the … Read more

Frank Turner

Tape Deck Heart
Interscope (2013)

Tape Deck Heart is a transition album for Frank Turner. Not only for his music career, but it seems like a transition album for himself too. When asked about the theme of this album, Turner said, “This album is about self-examination, running through your own faults, about change, and about ending. Something like that”.Turner starts with his most adverse yet … Read more

Bangers

Crazy Fucking Dreams
Beach Community (2013)

Bangers are a punk band from Cornwall, but they don’t play to expectations in their second full-length Crazy Fucking Dreams. Instead, the record starts with the mid-to-slow tempo “A Curious Mix,” with speak-sing vocals and a trumpet. Singer Roo Pescod’s voice remains confrontational and direct, and that’s the most “punk rock” thing about “A Curious Mix.” From there, of course, … Read more

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