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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)

Stuttr

Stuck in the Muck
Early Onset Records (2022)

It seems like a knock, doesn’t it, when you say that a rhythm section carries a band. It seems like you’re knocking the vocalist and guitar player. Like you’re dismissing them. Like you’re dismissing their contributions. So, I have to be careful here, when I say the rhythm section is carrying this band. This band is, of course, Stuttr and their new EP, Stuck in the Muck, is out now. Vocalist and guitarist, Jono Delivuk and Ralph Cabebe, aren’t to be ignored. Their playing is tight and vocals regimented. However, being a good vocalist (great vocalist, really) fades into the background when you have the hardcore equivalent of Jaco Pastorius and Taylor Hawkins in your band. Brie Dunphy (bass) and Heather Ross (drums) accidentally take center stage for the entire EP with a hypnotizing mix of talent and creativity. Stuttr formed in 2018 at a house party with Cabebe, Delivuk and Dunphy and finalized their roster in 2020 with Ross on drums. Stuck in the Muck is the band’s second EP and first on legendary local label Early Onset Records. Early Onset is a non-profit, volunteer run group largely concerned with expanding Vancouver’s isolated punk scene. Label mates Brass recently … Read more

Won't Stay Dead

Purgatory
Don't Panic Records & Distribution (2021)

Four piece horror themed punk band Won't Stay Dead from Chicago, Illinois formed in 2017. After independently releasing two five-track … Read more

Stop Talking

Consequences Can Be A M.F.
Scat Boy Records (2022)

You know how every band is a skate punk band? Every band now, right now in 2022, is a skate … Read more

Ken Mode

Null
Artoffact (2022)

KEN Mode have always favored a dark and oppressive path for their extreme music aspirations. From their early days up … Read more

Dead Cross

II
Ipecac (2022)

Dead Cross consists of only four members. Vocalist Mike Patton, bassist Justin Pearson, guitarist Michael Crain and drummer Dave Lombardo. … Read more

Fields Of Regret

Fields Of Regret
Bassick (2022)

Fields Of Regret is the brainchild of musician Filip Van Lysebeth, a producer based in Belgium. This self titled five … Read more

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One from the archives

Food

Food
Molsook (2009)

Do you know the old bit of folk wisdom that goes something like "Never judge a book by its cover"? Well, substitute record for book, and the old axiom becomes apt the same way. Food's self-titled record is an example of this axiom working in this situation. At first, I completely mistake the cover image for something else because at first glance the cover looked rather muddled to these jaded eyes. But, after sitting in my desk for several weeks, I look at the cover in completely different light and noticed some unspeakable quality to it that piqued my interest in the album. Food has some seriously fuzzed out guitar tone that just immediately slaps listeners in the face, and the slower tempos, like what one can hear in "The … Read more

More album reviews

Graduation Speech

Controlled Burn
Jetsam-Flotsam (2022)

I mostly enjoy acoustic albums during my cruising time to work by bike. I can't explain what makes the acoustic sounds special when you listen to it in the morning. Maybe I'm a typical kind of guy who is slow to wake up and acoustic tunes are perfect to build up my mood. Graduation Speech is a moniker project initiated … Read more

Robby Bloodshed

Dripping Red
Independent (2022)

Robby Bloodshed is a musician from New Jersey and has been recording since 2010. With five EP's, seven albums and a number of singles to his name, Dripping Red is his eighth album to date. The digital and CD release has seven tracks which include covers of "The Crystal Ship" by The Doors and "Growing Up and I'm Fine" by … Read more

Dr. Acula

Dr. Acula
Silent Pendulum Records (2022)

First of all, I can’t believe Dr. Acula is back! When I saw the promo from Silent Pendulum that there’s a new album on the way, I had to triple check and listen to the single a couple of times. It still took a while for the reality to sink in and I’m not going to lie, I had some … Read more

Drakulas

Drunk Dial #10
Drunk Dial Records (2022)

My first thought on seeing that Drakulas cover The Jim Carroll Band on this was, “Huh, that’s a weird choice.” But about 10-seconds in, everything clicks. You see, Drakulas is a concept band, set in a dystopian, Warriors-esque world of broken streetlights, shenanigans, violence and smut. And, well, let’s just say that 1970s New York inspired a lot of that … Read more

More Kicks

Punch Drunk
Dirtnap (2022)

I was thrown the first time I listened to this. I came in blind, expecting “the Dirtnap sound.” But what matters isn’t the brand, it’s if the music is good, so it’s a silly bias to begin with. It also took me a few listens before I realized that the files I was sent weren’t tagged right, so I was … Read more

VoidOath

Ascension Beyond Kokytus
Cognitive Discordance Records, Cursed Monk Records (2022)

Four piece doom/sludge/death metal outfit VoidOath crawled their way up from the nether realms of San Jose, Costa Rica in 2018. In May 2020 they released a three track EP entitled Illumination Through Necromancy, a 30 minute taster preparing us for the abysmal horror doom of this debut full length album Ascension Beyond Kokytus. Kokytus translates (by the power of … Read more

Ann Beretta

Rise
Bully Me Now (2022)

I've been sitting on this record since it came out, and I wasn't sure exactly where I was with it until now. I really wanted to love this record, but my musical taste is that of a 47 yr old guy who has listened to so much music and been in so many bands, that I was afraid the review … Read more

Night Jobs

Never Happener EP
Independent (2022)

I was introduced to Night Jobs with The Shape of Bummers To Come tape. I liked it overall, but I did feel there was room from growth. I mean, there always is…but I digress. The band is back in 2022 with the new 7”, Never Happener, featuring four new songs. And I do hear that “growth.” Sure, Night Jobs play … Read more

Laraigne

The Brightside Of It All
Snappy Little Numbers (2022)

Oh, Canada! Hailing from Geneva and now back and forth between Toronto and the beautiful city of Montreal, Greg Laraigne weaves well-crafted stories into a tapestry of lore and social commentary. The album apparently was ten years in the making while he also perfected his trade as a well-respected man in the field of tattooing. Easy comparisons are made to … Read more

BRASS

Look On The Bright Side
Early Onset Records (2022)

I can’t help but internally groan when a group is described as a ‘live band’. The phrase is pinned onto many a few semi-famous local bands who are known more for their on stage antics than their musical chops. A ‘live band’ stands in direct opposition of an ‘album band’ who do asinine things like practice and tune their instruments. … Read more

Raging Nathans

Still Spitting Blood
Rad Girlfriend Records (2022)

The Raging Nathans owe a lot of their sound to the ‘90s punk scene. One thing they don’t take after, though, is that need to put out an album of 15+ tracks. Still Spitting Blood comes just one year after Waste My Heart and it’s only 10-songs and 20-minutes in length. The quantity is probably there, but the band is … Read more

The Mars Volta

The Mars Volta
Clouds Hill (2022)

After 10 years of silence, the hiatus interruptus is no more and The Mars Volta have unleashed a new self-titled album upon the masses. Now, before we go any further, it should be understood that this album does not represent the Volta that was, but rather the Volta that is. This is not a bad thing. This is merely an … Read more

Various Artists

Horrorpunk's Not Dead: Vol. 1
We Are Horror Records (2022)

Horrorpunk's Not Dead: Vol.1 is the first of (hopefully) many compilations created by the team behind Horrorpunk's Not Dead radio podcast. Not only are they fast becoming Europes best horrorpunk radio show but they are proving to be a significant force when it comes to promotion within the community, being the busiest and most proactive promoters of horrorpunk in Europe … Read more

Various Artists

The Things That Shaped Us Together
Haum Entertainment (2022)

By the time I'm writing this review, I would like to express my condolence for all the families and the victims of the police brutality in Kanjuruhan (Malang) soccer match. And this time we have a submission music coming from Haum Entertainment. Haum Entertainment is a Malang (Indonesia) based label that is known for releasing local notable emo/melodic hardcore musicians. … Read more

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