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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)

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 Rutherford (Bad Sports on drums and a second guitarist. While the namedrops are heavy, it is Burke’s project, a continuation of The Novice, a band he played with while living in Japan. He moved back to Texas and kept some of the songs, changing the band name and his surrounding cast in the process.Right when the record starts it has that familiar feel. Maybe it’s a touch slower (maybe) and the group harmonies aren’t as pronounced, but it’s immediately powerful and standout. This matches Burke’s discography and continues to explore those punchy melodies and big, hyper rhythms. His songwriting voice has always been strong, but it continues to grow. Starter “Sickness” sets the tone but, when the record hits the third song, “World of Pleasure,” the ball drops. The volcanoes erupt. The world may have ended; I’m not sure. I’m … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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, … Read more

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One from the archives

Mikey Erg

Tentative Decisions
Don Giovanni (2016)

It took all of three seconds into Tentative Decisions, about 10 seconds before his unmistakable voice, to ID the record as being made by Mikey Erg. Drummer/guitarist/vocalist in bands ranging including but definitely not limited to The Ergs!, The Dopamines, Worriers, The Slow Death, and so many more. Erg’s work has long been built on a pop-punk foundation, emotional indecision (note the album title), and his longing voice that’s well suited to that indecisive note.Those lyrics and vocals define this record. Using descriptive imagery Erg paints visual settings where he uses metaphoric descriptors like “I’ve got the emptiest bed in the loneliest room tonight” (“1001 Smashed Motel Rooms”). The visual conveys his core emotion and his voice elongates and emotes on the words to paint that mental picture while the … Read more

More album reviews

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

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 … 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 actually writing about this record, that Seagraves have chosen to call time on the band. Which is a massive shame because Weight of the World is really great and I feel terrible about being so tardy with this review. Sorry … 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 that and was able to capture a reasonable facsimile of that imperative on record. Later releases, in particular the band's 2010 release Trans-Continental Hustler, were not as successful capturing that live energy in the studio.Pura Vida Conspiracy is a step … 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 still more adding the style to their more broad repertoire it can make it harder and harder to pick a truly great example of the genre as opposed to a band that merely does it well.2 years ago Vancouvers' Baptists … 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 filled with darkness and the actions of vocalist/guitarist Angelfukk Witchhammer are dubious to say the least (Mr. Witchhammer has spent some time in prison and wrote this album during a period of incarcaration) and yet the duo have found ways … 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 about such an album when words escape you? This is the dilemma before me as I listen to Apocryphal Stories from Utarm for about the tenth time because I just am at a loss as to what is actually going … Read more

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

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