Alien Nosejob
The Derivative Sounds Of... Or... A Dog Always Returns To Its Vomit
Anti Fade Records, Goner (2023)
Alien Nosejob, the one-man project from Australian musician Jake Robertson has been releasing a lot of records. The project began a garage rock bent and recently moved into hardcore-inspired raw punk. The newest record, a 13-song collection called The Derivative Sounds Of... Or... A Dog Always Returns To Its Vomit goes full circle -- really even further back, with some of these … Read more
Alkaline Trio
Agony & Irony
Epic (2008)
Dear Matt Skiba, I recently picked up your band's latest release in the cut out bin at my favorite used CD store. After your last official long player, Crimson, which by the way sucked, I have given up all hope that your Alkaline Trio would ever release anything worth my time. Now here we are, Matt, with your first major … Read more
Alkaline Trio
Remains
Vagrant (2007)
I haven't met anyone in my life that is affiliated with hardcore or punk that doesn't like at least a handful of Alkaline Trio songs. Alkaline Trio's gothic twists on weathered topics like being drunk, drugs, and being heartbroken ring all but universal to the ears of every kid that has every thought about wearing black for a week and … Read more
Alkaline Trio
This Addiction
Heart & Skull (2010)
So. The big question. A return to form? Quick answer yes. Less quick answer yes, but. A lot has been touted about the latest album from Skiba, Andriano, and Grant and some of it is even true. It's a definite move away from the ill-advised adult rock of 2008's Agony & Irony, but it falls far from being a primal … Read more
All Hits
Men And Their Work
Iron Lung (2020)
Back in the 1980s there were some intriguing new sounds developing. Post-punk was always arty and a bit noisier, but always so serious. New Wave was danceable and synthetic, but sometimes not serious enough. The commonality between the two, tonally, was an exploration of new soundscapes with inhuman tones: finding a balance between a detached dystopian environment and the nuance … Read more
All Night Radio
Spirit Stereo Frequency
Sub Pop (2004)
Imagine driving down an endless highway in a thunderstorm while listening to your favorite AOR station. Suddenly lightning strikes the antenna and the gaps between the songs are erased. The songs of the Beatles, the Doors, Pink Floyd, Three Dog Night and even the Gypsy Kings all begin to coincide with one another, creating intricate, lengthy tracks. Through some variety … Read more
All Teeth
I am Losing
High Fidelity (2009)
Every so often you hear a record and it instantaneously floors you. All Teeth's debut full-length I Am Losing is one of those records. The thirteen songs that make up this album are filled with such passion, aggression, and emotion - it is as though anger, frustration, resentment, and bitterness actually fuel the songs. The lyrics and music perfectly match … Read more
All Them Witches
Sleeping Through The War
New West (2017)
All Them Witches is a rock band with a psychedelic blues tinge that reflects their southern-but-also-hip hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. Although All Them Witches can really deal in those druggy, heavy-hitting riffs that make you want to knock back a six pack in the desert, they also have a real musicianship that’s too often lacking in the dime-a-dozen bands that … Read more
All Your Sisters
Uncomfortable Skin
Flenser (2016)
Starting out as the solo project of Jordan Morrison, All Your Sisters turned into an intriguing duo with the addition of Mario Armando Ruiz on bass and synths. The band draws influence from mainly from the '80s new wave scene, paying tribute to the post-punk and noise rock styles of the era, but with an industrial edge and an ambient … Read more
Allegiance
Desperation
Rivalry (2007)
Do you ever buy the new album from a band you like and after a couple listens you just think, "This is about what I expected"? Most of the time this means the album is good; just more songs of the sound you've become accustomed to. This happened to me when I got Champion's full-length. I liked it, but it … Read more
Alluvial
Sarcoma
Nuclear Blast (2021)
Last year was definitely a great year for metal. Probably the best year for metal in the past like ten or fifteen years. So great in fact, that I’m still trying to catch up with albums I didn’t get to either listen to or review. I actually had to make a spreadsheet for tracking purposes, imagine that, hahaha! Anyway, I … Read more
Almøst Human
XS2XTC
Fastball Music (2019)
As most of you non-essential workers I have been working from home for what seems like forever now. What I see as one of the positive sides is that I get to decide what music to listen to (for those moments I am not in an online meeting that is). No discussions about what radio station to tune into. I … Read more
Altar Of Plagues
Mammal
Profound Lore (2011)
Ireland's Altar of Plagues play a style of black metal so atmospheric in nature, that you can't help but be completely taken in by the sounds you're hearing and the thoughts the music conjures in your mind. Mammal is only their second full length offering, and whilst White Tomb was unquestionably fantastic, this new record is on an entirely different … Read more
Altar Of Plagues
Teethed Glory and Injury
Profound Lore (2013)
Often an album comes along that defies all genre constraints and challenges your own perception on life and reality. Sometimes that album makes you delve deep within the self and question your own outlooks. Teethed Glory and Injury is that album. And oh, how it ravages your being.With Teethed Glory and Injury Altar of Plagues have created a work of huge scope that is … Read more
Altered Beast
Demo
Independent (2007)
About two months ago, I had the pleasure of seeing Altered Beast play a quick, understated, but totally badass set in my friend Paul's basement. Being the swamped college kid that I am, I am just now able to sit down and write a few words about the demo they passed out to everyone in attendance. If I hadn't been … Read more
Amateur Party
Public Utility Complaint
Paramnesia (2009)
Man, what a nice looking record. The sleeve includes an actual photograph for the cover, with a dozen or so variations that you can get, and the liner notes come as a stapled booklet with information on a Pennsylvania law regarding when gas companies can turn off the heat. It’s a solid mix of handmade art and political statement. Add … Read more
Amateur Party
Truncheons in the Manor
Rorshach (2011)
There are a lot of names that could be dropped when talking about Amateur Party—in fact, I did so when I reviewed their EP back in 2009. However, the band really stands as a completely different kind of monster than the members’ other work. As such, I’ll delay the biographies until later. Truncheons in the Manor is their first full … Read more
Ambarchi, O'Malley, Dunn
Shade Themes from Kairos
Drag City (2014)
The idea for Shade Themes From Kairos started when Belgian filmmaker Alexis Destoop asked Ambarchi and O’Malley to provide the score for his short film Kairos. The two musicians travelled to Belgium and started working on the score for the film, and after they finished with the soundtrack they returned to Randall Dunn’s Aleph Studios in Seattle to further explore … Read more
