Carrie Biell
When Your Feet Hit the Stars
Independent (2007)
Amy Winehouse. Lily Allen. Jenny Lewis. All are media darlings. Despite any and all current public backlash, neither lady could release an album of humming in an aluminum coffee tin without the pundits all standing and cheering - the applause deafening. Carrie Biell deserves this adoration more than any of them but will never ever get it. Why? Because: a) … Read more
Carrigan
Young Men Never Die
Radar/So Good Music (2008)
Hailing from Vermont, Carrigan plays ambient post-rock, but more structured and upbeat than you would think. Although the group is a duo now, they had a couple transient members formerly from Drowningman and The Cancer Conspiracy during 2003. The Drowningman connection intrigued me; an old heavy gem that I hadn't heard anyone mention in way too long. The duo did … Read more
Carry On
It's All Our Blood (Reissue)
Youngblood (2005)
Despite the fact that they are broken up, Carry On is probably the second most talked about band in hardcore - American Nightmare being number one. There is always someone bringing up the band no matter where you go - record stores, concerts, and yes, the Internet. Granted, most of it is your typical messageboard talk about the edge-break/selling out … Read more
Carthiefschool
Kenjimiyazawa
Transduction Records (2021)
Japanese based Carthiefschool formed in high school in 2016 and over these last 6 years or so have thrived in the Sapporo city underground scene. The 3 piece comprised of Tomoya Murosaki (guitar/vocals), Genki Tsusaka (bass) and Yudai Takasago (drums) have wasted little time recording as hot on the heels of their self titled debut album Carthiefschool released in February … Read more
Casey Jones
The Messenger
Eulogy (2006)
Casey Jones, for those not in the know, is an unapologetically straightedge hardcore band. Originally a side project of Evergreen Terrace, this Florida based five-piece decided to make this band more "serious." They are more of a modern era hardcore group that has mid-to-fast paced music that sets up the crucial breakdown to mosh to. They do add hints of … Read more
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone
Etiquette
Tomlab (2006)
My initial experience with Casiotone for the Painfully Alone (henceforth referred to as simply 'tones, to save me a fair bit of typing) was not an audio one. Rather, for sometime the only working knowledge that I had of the band was their lyrics which I read through after Soulseek dropped the ball and returned no search results. This, granted, … Read more
Cassius
I Am Jim Jones
Lifeforce (2007)
My first impression of Cassius is "Oh no, not another metalcore band." As time wears on, I hope that a lot of the kids in these bands wake up and stop perpetuating a mostly tired genre. Cassius at least does a solid job of playing in the genre. They also bring refreshing brevity to their songwriting and arrangements. I must … Read more
Cast Aside
The Struggle
Deathwish Inc. (2004)
Remember those spelling/definition tests that you had to take in grade school? You know, the ones where they ask you to give the definition of a word or use it in a sentence. I always loved those, maybe because I thought they were so easy. Okay, term one: "irony." - "Michael, an individual who is not straightedge, enjoys countless bands … 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
Casual Burn
Mean Thing
HANDSTAND RECORDS (2019)
Imagine that your favorite modern hardcore band hopped into Doc Brown’s DeLorean and ended up in 1982. Upon arriving, they decided to start over and carry their same ferocious messages with the spirit of New Wave music percolating the airwaves at the time. Does that sound appealing? Then you’ll love Casual Burn’s most recent release, Mean Thing.The band has a … Read more
Cat Power
The Greatest
Matador (2006)
As Forrest Gump so nearly once said, "Cat Power is a lot like a box of chocolates..." From the disparities in her albums, songs ranging from the brilliant to the banal, her now infamous appearances in the live arena, and her erratic behavior that somehow seems to tag along behind her from time to time; it's true. With Cat Power, … Read more
Cataract
Kingdom
Metal Blade (2006)
Heavy metal and I have been struggling through a rocky love affair since I was thirteen years old. Aside from a few exceptions, metal in the 21st century has been rather disappointing. The most encouraging thing that I can say about Cataract is that their hearts are definitely in the right place. Kingdom begins with an intro that sounds dangerously … Read more
Cathedral
Garden of Unearthly Delights
Nuclear Blast (2006)
If you are into doom, stoner, or sludge metal and you don't know who Cathedral is, you fail at life. For the sonically impaired, Cathedral are one of the progenitors of the modern doom and stoner metal movement. They have released some of the most enjoyable records of these genres in their lengthy existence. Their first album, Forest of Equilibrium … Read more
Cattle Decapitation
Karma. Bloody. Karma
Metal Blade (2006)
Well what can you say about a group like Cattle Decapitation? First and foremostââ¬Â¦they're not emo. Secondly, they have a new album out called Karma. Bloody. Karma, and thirdlyââ¬Â¦it's one of the best albums of the year. One of the most criminally underrated bands on the grind/gore-core scene should finally get their due. Underrated because let's face it, the genre … Read more
Cattle Decapitation
Monolith Of Inhumanity
Metal Blade (2012)
For the sake of this review i will make wild and sweeping generalizations regarding the death metal genre so be warned.There seem to be 2 pervasive schools of thought in modern metal. The first rides the coattails of the old school Death Metal genre. clutching onto the first 3 Entombed LPs and early Morbid Angel records. The other is deftly … Read more
Caught in a Trap
Rats Get Fat
No Joke (2007)
Caught in a Trap are four, to a certain extent, hefty dudes with beards playing distinctive NYHC styled hardcore which really come as no surprise since they reside in both Brooklyn and Queens. If by some reason you don't know what NYHC sounds like, imagine tough metallic riffs placed over frenetic drumming where everyone in attendance tries to kill each … Read more
Cave In
Anomalies Vol. 1
Hydra Head (2010)
The only phrase that could describe my emotion right now is absolutely gushing, because “Inflatable Dream” is finally playing on my record player after years of obscurity as the “lost” Cave In song that blows away many other Cave In songs, and dear lord does its blasting goodness just make my 1999 barely twenty year old self scream like a … Read more
Cave In
Perfect Pitch Black
Hydra Head (2005)
About a year and a half about I was fortunate enough to catch a Cave In performance at which they debuted a handful of new songs, many of which made their way onto this release. When they played these new songs, they were sprinkled about a set-list of recent songs from Jupiter and Antenna as well as old jams from … Read more
