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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)

Coleman Hell

Stark Raving
Independent (2013)

Coleman Hell is a three-piece Canadian band from Northern Ontario. It consists of vocalist Coleman Hell along with Rob “La+ch” Benvegnu and Michah “Dustbuster” Dowbak. Along with being a band, it is a project that experiments with sound and also consists of their “behind-the-scenes” engineer Brendon “Stretch” McDonald, whom all together help to create, produce and perfect the beats and instrumentals to Hell’s cleverly constructed lyrics.Their album entitled, Stark Raving brings a whole new level to the genre they classify themselves with as “indie/hip hop” while incorporating an electronic feel. Their style and sound is so diverse and unique that it cannot be characterized simply by individual songs, but the album as a whole. The first song, entitled “Chasing Amy,” introduces the album with symphonic sounds that smoothly transition into piano riffs before showcasing the talented effect of Hell’s vocals and introducing his audience to his witty and humorous lyrics. The song has a jazzy vibe, which displays only a fraction of the talented abilities of La+ch and Dustbuster. The next song, entitled “Beer Cans,” begins a pattern for the album after the first song. Hell’s lyrics continue to convey wit and humor where he makes references to things such … Read more

Seagraves

Weight of the World
Witchhunter Records (2013)

It turns out that in the time I decided to write about this record (approx one million months ago*) and … Read more

Gogol Bordello

Pura Vida Conspiracy
ATO (2013)

Gogol Bordello, on their earlier releases, were one of those rare bands that everybody agreed was a must-see live band … Read more

Baptists

Bushcraft
Southern Lord (2013)

Crusty hardcore is making a sort of renaissance as of late. With more and more bands playing the basics and … Read more

A.M.S.G.

Anti-Cosmic Tyranny
Profound Lore (2013)

The history of A.M.S.G. (or Ad Majorem Satanae Gloriam, or For The Greater Glory Of Satan) is one that is … Read more

Utarm

Apocryphal Stories
Handmade Birds (2012)

What do you do with a record that you just cannot place, and how do you express what you think … Read more

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One from the archives

Evening Standards

World’s End
Lets Pretend (2019)

It’s a dramatic understatement to say that music has changed since I first discovered DIY in the 1990s. But in many ways, one of the first things I discovered about real people making music, is that contacting a label you like usually leads to good things. While you can sample music online nowadays and there are ample bot-driven “recommended if you like” autoplay options, I still find that many of the new bands I discover in 2019 are discovered simply by checking out the catalog of a reliable label.That’s what tuned me to Evening Standards, and their second release, World’s End. I honestly don’t know much more about the band than what I learned putting together SPB’s premiere of “Forever.” That’s somewhat intentional because I think the best way to … Read more

More album reviews

Corrections House

Last City Zero
Neurot Recordings (2013)

With an impressive line up including Scott Kelly of Neurosis, Bruce Lamont of Yakuza, Sanford Parker of Minsk and Buried At Sea, and Mike IX Williams of EyeHateGod, the debut album of Corrections House is met with some high expectations. And thankfully the four musicians are able to deliver. It is quite intriguing to hear what these guys can bring … Read more

Joel Martin

The Tipping Point
Independent (2013)

Ottawa-native Joel Martin is back with his twelfth album entitled The Tipping Point. For someone who has spent the majority of his career experimenting with sound and innovative ways and techniques to strike his audience, it’s safe to say he has succeeded in showcasing his creativity and talent with this interesting collection of songs which best represent him as an … Read more

The Slow Death

No Heaven
Rad Girlfriend Records (2013)

If you haven’t heard of The Slow Death by now, you probably aren’t as depressed as the majority of us. Luckily their new album No Heaven hits the spot for the more cynical listener. Which, lets face it, punk rock has never been about sugar coating the bullshit that comes with life. If it wasn’t the album cover with a … Read more

The Tangent

Le Sacre du Travail
Inside Out (2013)

If there's anyone who can make the mundane interesting, it'd have to be progressive rockers The Tangent. As evidence, I cite their newest album, Le Sacre du Travail (The Rite of Work), which is a five-movement, hour-long piece of music encapsulating the variety of emotions in the typical Westerner's work day.And it certainly succeeds at that project--bland concepts and trivial … Read more

What's Fluffy

Happy B-Day Mike
Independent (2013)

On Happy B-Day Mike, the latest self-release from math rockin’ boys What’s Fluffy, the Bloomfield, NJ quartet fires out six sonic anecdotes of hypnotic guitar lines, swaying time signatures, sparkling saxophonic blows, and never-ending feelings.The EP, running at just over 18 minutes, opens up with “I Really Hate Cats”. The track isn’t something PETA should be worried about: it’s meant … Read more

Multiple Authors

Nirvana

In Utero (20th Anniversary Reissue)
Universal (2013)

It’s easy to read a posthumous reissue as a mining of a band’s demos and outtakes. Nirvana saw the deluxe treatment of Nevermind a few years back and now, celebrating 20 years since its release, they get the same treatment on In Utero. For a band that only released three proper full-lengths, yet received accolades beyond what I care to … Read more

Multiple Authors

Nirvana

In Utero (20th Anniversary Reissue)
Universal (2013)

Some anniversary reissues are like tapas. Small, manageable servings of exactly what you want and you wind up leaving utterly satisfied. Others are like going to Country Buffet. More food than you could ever need or want and you end up gorging on shit you never asked for in the first place and when you finish you ask yourself "Why … Read more

Ash Borer

Bloodlands
Gilead Media / Psychic Violence (2013)

Do you love tossing on a record that is just crushing from start to finish? I mean regardless of dynamics where even the quiet parts make you feel that the heaviness could simply collapse in around your ear drums while the record spins because Bloodlands is definitely one of those records, and with it, Ash Borer is certainly staking their … Read more

Jesu

Every Day I Get Closer To The Light From Which I Came
Avalanche Inc. (2013)

When you go travelling for a while (be it physically or mentally), sometimes there is this ache or longing to return to more familiar surroundings where the memories of comfort and solace both act as a salve and additional salt for the wound of being away; and in the midst of such feelings perhaps more work from Justin K. Broadrick’s … Read more

Highness

Hold
Magic Bullet (2013)

With one fell swoop Highness manage to confirm suspicions and completely avoid them. When a band made up of more than a few well known underground acts get together there is bound to be a few ideas as to what they should or will sound like when the finished product is available. When your band consists of members of such … Read more

Motörhead

Aftershock
UDR (2013)

Motörhead have the blues. Sure, they've worn their influences on their sleeves for the entirety of their 40 year career. But on Aftershock, the band's 21st studio release, the ghosts of Chuck Berry, Robert Johnson and Little Richard come home to roost like never before.This doesn't mean that they've slowed down, of course. From beginning to end, Aftershock is an … Read more

Seidr

Ginnungagap
Bindrune Records (2013)

Existing on the outer realms of the galaxies, where space and time collide, Seidr return with their sophomore release,Ginnungagap. Led by A. Lunn, also of Agnosis, Kolga, Throndt and most importantly of Panopticon, the band is here to build further upon the impact that their debut album, For Winter Fire, caused.Even though the band is at its core a doom … Read more

The Silks

Last American Band
Independent (2013)

When I first caught The Silks playing in a friends living room I was amazed at the raw energy these guys bring to a live show and as we have learned time and again, one of the hardest things to pull off as a record producer is to capture that sound and feel in the studio. Well I'm happy to … Read more

Kodaline

In A Perfect World
RCA (2013)

Mohill is a rural Irish village in county Leitrim, it's nice, quaint and generally doesn't divide opinion. To use an Irishism: sure it's grand. It's also where the majority of the songs on Kodaline's debut album In A Perfect World were written. In effect what Kodaline have done is written a powerful, evocative album, that has them on the precipice … 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)