Review / 200 Words Or Less
By Night
A Shape of New Desperation

Lifeforce (2007) Kevin Fitzpatrick

By Night – A Shape of New Desperation cover artwork
By Night – A Shape of New Desperation — Lifeforce, 2007

Where to begin, where to begin... For starters they're Swedish, which would normally be a plus, but in this case it is not because they opt to sound like every other 'Mercan scream-core band you've ever heard and that's really about it. Do you like Lamb of God? Do you like every band like this that tries to sound like Lamb of God? Then you need to get out more, my friend because Lamb of God ain't that good.

But they're popular. They have their finger on the pulse of today's youth and lemme tell ya, that's a hard thing to do what with all the studded wristbands and whatnot. By Night is another cookie-cutter band with cookie-cutter songs and cookie-cutter lyrics that for the most part aren't even memorable accidentally. Buy something else. I told you they're Swedish. I told you they're lame. You need to know nothing more than that.

By Night – A Shape of New Desperation cover artwork
By Night – A Shape of New Desperation — Lifeforce, 2007

Related news

Recently-posted album reviews

Overcalc

Fruits of the Decision Tree
Sleeping Giant Glossolalia (2024)

Some instrumental records create atmosphere while others create movement. Fruits of the Decision Tree feels like it creates an entire environment. It’s unstable, mechanical, strangely beautiful, and constantly in motion. The solo project of Nick Skrobisz (Multicult, The Wayward), Overcalc exists somewhere between electronic experimentation, prog-level guitar precision, ambient drift, and full on sci-fi hallucination. Trying to pin it cleanly … Read more

Fangus

Emerald Dream
From The Urn Records (2026)

The needle drops, and there’s no introductory sweaty handshake. Fangus doesn’t care for niceties; they’re ready to get down to brass-knuckle business. With their debut full-length, Emerald Dream, the Montreal quintet has exhumed a sound that feels less like a tribute to the early '70s and more like a master tape found rotting in a damp basement behind a stack … Read more

Drakulas

Midnight City
Dirtnap, Wild Honey Records (2026)

I’m assuming Midnight City is the “fictionalized New York-esque metropolis” where the band/gang members of Drakulas survive(d in the mid to late 70's;). It’s also the third album by this Austin TX based, concept driven supergroup. Not really sure if I’m supposed to out these dudes but their secret identities include members of Riberboat Gamblers, Rise Against, High Tension Wires … Read more