Raging Nathans
Waste My Heart
Rad Girlfriend Records (2021)
It’s the pop-punk conundrum. Raging Nathans are a distinct band -- yet they aren’t. On first listen their sound is familiar. Take Lookout Records and Ramones-inspired sing-alongs, add skatepunk urgency, put it in a blender and set to crush. It’s not an even mix of all the ingredients, rather familiar fragments with a lot of unique twists and turns when … Read more
Ragnarok
Malediction
Agonia (2012)
Norway's Ragnarok have made their name playing traditional Black Metal for nearly 2 decades now. On this, their 7th, full length they remain steadfast in style and attitude. Much can be said for consistency especially when it comes to genre whose fans can be as fickle as Black Metal. The record itself starts with a cold atmospheric piece before breaking into … Read more
Rainer Maria
Catastrophe Keeps Us Together
Grunion (2006)
Finally. This record has taken forever to actually see the light of day. Rainer Maria is normally consistent (at least that is the way it seemed) with their time between releases. For those who are unfamiliar with the band, Rainer Maria is a three-piece based out of Brooklyn, New York by way of Wisconsin, and they play poppy indie rock. … Read more
Rainer Maria
Long Knives Drawn
Polyvinyl (2003)
Rainer Maria? More like Rainer Boring. The lack of rock and only prettiness make this boring. It would be ok if the prettiness was really good, but it's just kind of bland. The female vocals aren't really working for me either. I'm sure she has a good voice, but it adds to the already stale feeling. At the same time … Read more
Rainer Maria
Long Knives Drawn
Polyvinyl (2003)
Wow. This band changed. A lot. Last I had heard of this band was A Better Version Of Me which I believe was their last full length record. Well something happened in between as this new record is quite a bit darker than that record. Caithlin's vocals are allot stronger than they have ever been and really steps into the … Read more
Rainer Maria
Long Knives Drawn
Polyvinyl (2003)
Long Knives Drawn is quite a good rock record. Each song is well-written and sculpted quite perfectly by Rainer's members. Highlights on the record, to me, are the opening track "Mystery and Misery", "Ears Ring", and the final song "Situation Relation". I've never been a fan of Rainer Maria, or even heard too much by them, but I have been … Read more
Raise the Red Lantern
Thunderfuck
Witch Trial (2006)
It's hard to say if stoner rock on a whole tries to be "epic" in a way that other instrumental oriented metals do. Mostly they try to get as heavy and slow as possible while still rocking out. Raise the Red Lantern eschews thatââ¬Â¦mostly, and makes a pretty epic EP. Now when I say epic EP I don't mean it's … Read more
Raised Fist
From the North
Epitaph (2015)
From The North is Raised Fist’s first release since 2009’s Veil of Ignorance, and is a continuation of the style and sound honed on that album. Veil of Ignorance was a ridiculously catchy album, and a repetitive guilty pleasure for this reviewer. The reason I could not fully get behind Veil of Ignorance, despite not being able to stop listening … Read more
Rallidae
Turned, And Was
Gold Bolus Recordings (2016)
The other week a friend and I went to a jazz club - the Lilypad in Cambridge, MA. We didn’t know who was playing there that night - we were mostly looking for a way to kill time after stuffing ourselves with Indian food - but it turned out to be pianist Burton Greene. I hadn’t heard of Greene - … Read more
Rally the Fray
To Never Live in Denial
Volatile (2006)
I don't know about anyone else but when I get a new album I don't listen to it right away at first. I usually check out the song the titles, then I look at the thank-you list, and then read over some lyrics just I can get a feel for the band before I actually listen to the music. Sometimes … Read more
Ramming Speed
Brainwreck
Teenage Disco Bloodbath (2008)
Boston-based Ramming Speed burst onto the scene with their debut 7" in 2007. The EP followed suit of the crossover/thrash revival that had recently begun to sweep our nation. But don't write these fellows of as a knockoff, Ramming Speed is the real deal and the thirteen songs found on Brainwreck are evidence of just that. "Speed Trials" kickstarts the … Read more
Rammstein
Made in Germany 1995-2011
Universal (2011)
I usually don't have the time to listen to all of the albums sent to us by every Tom, Dick and Harry around, so I generally save reviews outside of my normal purview for bands of some stature or note. So when this band Ramm-something-or-other wanted to send us a copy of their new album, a compilation no less, I … Read more
Rammstein
Paris – the special edition
Universal (2017)
Ah, Rammstein. Härte. Neue deutsche. Grinding metal guitars, brute masculinity, pyromania, double entendres, operatic sub-sonic vocals, wordplays galore and taboo subjects. In a live context, they burn – literally, being one of the few bands whose singer eventually deemed it necessary to become qualified as a licensed pyrotechnician and with fans on occasion having been carried out of concerts suffering … Read more
Ramones
It's Alive 1974-1996
Rhino (2007)
The Ramones are finished. Over. Unlike their peers from the 1970's, there will be no reunion tours. Joey, Johnny and Dee Dee have passed on. That's three out of the four original members. Tommy's playing with Uncle Monk, a bluegrass duo bringing full-circle the original mission statement of CBGB's. Marky's in and out of the Misfits. Ritchie's now brought up … Read more
Rampage
Limit of Destruction
Lockin Out (2007)
Boston-based hardcore outfit Rampage unleash thirteen tracks of thrash influenced hardcore on Limit of Destruction. Some of the cuts here take on a definite New York hardcore vibe, while others incorporate a more tharshy and early crossover sound of D.R.I. The title-track was definitely my favorite song on this 12", it had a good groove and nice 90's styled breakdown. … Read more
Ramparts
Tramps Like Us
Independent (2007)
Complacency is one of the greatest threats to hardcore's continued vitality. Many bands fail to grasp the importance of taking risks to produce a fresh sound. Even more frustrating are lyricists who allow hardcore to become insular. On their Tramps Like Us demo, Ramparts make certain they are committed to fighting stagnation. What struck me first about Ramparts was how … Read more
Rancid
Honor Is All We Know
Epitaph (2014)
For years I was the biggest Rancid fan. The first record I didn’t buy on its release date was B-Sides & C-Sides, and that’s because I already had the songs. I was an unapologetic completest. As the post-2000 records have been coming, I became an apologetic completest. I bought the double album version of Let the Dominoes Fall and spun … Read more
Rancid
Let the Dominoes Fall
Hellcat (2009)
I could write a thousand words on Rancid here if I wanted. I spent the better part of the 90's defending them amongst the punx, though my enthusiasm for the band has waned markedly as the current decade has passed. It's been a few years since their last release: Tim Armstrong's divorce is history, The Transplants experiment is over, and … Read more
