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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)

William Elliott Whitmore

Field Songs
Anti (2011)

William Elliott Whitmore’s Anti debut, Animals in the Dark, was something of an outlier in his discography—the bigger label release introduced more instrumentation and a more global lyrical scope than much of his earlier work. While an excellent album, it isn’t fully indicative of Whitmore’s strengths, and with Field Songs, he returns to his son of the soil theme, built on an ideal of hardworking Americana that has characterized much of his work. At the core of the record are only three things: Whitmore’s voice, his guitar and/or banjo, and an atmospheric snapshot of rural culture. There are some backing pieces in place: deeper instrumentation and simple, complementary drum parts, but the album is mostly Whitmore alone.Many words have been spilt already on Whitmore’s coarse, “whiskey” voice, with ample character and wisdom buried within its textures. Make no mistake, his voice isn’t a tool to conjure working class imagery, rather he crafts his singing with a true ability to conjure emotion and hit his notes. In “Let’s Do Something Impossible,” which takes an underdog mentally while referencing several historic instances of the little guy winning, Whitmore opens his voice in a way previously unheard, and he shows impressive vocals chops … Read more

Lavinia

There Is Light Between Us
The Mylene Sheath (2011)

Lavinia are a post rock super group of sorts. being comprised of members of more than a couple Mylene Sheath … Read more

Buck Gooter

Devil Worship
Flannel Gurl (2011)

When I think of Devil worship I think of all the scary stuff from my youth. I think of serial … Read more

Locrian & Horseback

New Dominions Split
Utech (2011)

This collaboration between Horseback and Locrian was a hotly anticipated one in several musical circles (particular if you were a … Read more

Junior Battles

Idle Ages
Paper + Plastick (2011)

After a few years of EPs and splits, Canada’s Junior Battles finally released their debut full length this Summer on … Read more

The 4onthefloor

4x4
Independent (2011)

There is a type of rock & roll that is very, well, American—thunderous, hard-driving, electrified rhythm and blues with greasy … Read more

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One from the archives

Noxagt

The Iron Point
Load (2004)

There's this pretty great interview in the most recent issue of Chunklet magazine which talks to Pen Rollings of Honor Roll, more recently of Loincloth fame. In the article, he talks about how all those European metal bands that burn churches down and totally front like they're hard are, in fact, pussies who try too hard. As a result, he and his band Loincloth released a lyric-less album with song titles like "Church Burnings." They did it as a joke but it was very effective. Where I'm going with this, in an admittedly round about way, is to say that the Norwegian group Noxagt is similar in this regard on their sophomore full-length, The Iron Point. While still maintaining the sheer heaviness of European metal, they don't fall victim to … Read more

More album reviews

Oskoreien

Oskoreien
Independent (2011)

I first heard about Oskoreien after acquiring a fantastic compilation album by the name of Der Wanderer über Dem Nebelmeer. The title is taken from a famous painting, The Wanderer Above The Sea Of Fog, and it also happens to be a Wolves In The Throne Room track name. And if you know anything about Wolves In The Throne Room, … Read more

Cyvoid

Self Titled
Thirty Days Of Night (2011)

Cyvoid are a band out of Britain with a strong sense of the past. This band made up of ex members of zombie fanatics Send More Paramedics among others bring the thrash. Well past the point when they could be called bandwagon jumpers they clearly love their thrash. Similar in a sense to Send More Paramedics, Cyvoid also play with … Read more

Witches

Forever
Bakery Outlet (2011)

Witches are a tough band to break down. The vocals from Cara Beth Satalino are far and away the driving force on their debut, Forever. Yet, the band is anything but a singer-songwriter project. The guitars and a rhythm section are subtly driving, with an anxious energy ready to break loose, but somewhat confined. From the opening “Creature of Nature,” … Read more

Capsule

No Ghost
Rorschach (2011)

I'm not sure if I exactly understand what post-hardcore is supposed to be, but I do know what Capsule's sophomore effort No Ghost sounds like. It sounds like tech death if the guitars were layered more densely than the population of Monaco, the head songwriter accidentally started writing while under the influence of paint thinner, and his dog accidentally turned … Read more

Junior Battles

Idle Ages
Paper + Plastick (2011)

Junior Battles have made their name touring and releasing a few splits over the last year or so. So what does a band with a short history do when they get signed to one of the better known upstart punk labels? Well in Junior Battles' case they play on their strengths. The band's basic template of strong, rocking pop punk … Read more

Face To Face

Laugh Now, Laugh Later
Antagonist (2011)

By the end of 2004, Face to Face had disbanded and there were no signs that would have suggested they’d ever write or play again. It was 4 years later that a glimmer of hope began to shine when the band announced a run of reunion shows. Eventually, word broke out that there would be a new album, and the … Read more

Jeff The Brotherhood

We Are The Champions
Infinity Cat (2011)

Have you ever wondered what Weezer would sound like had they turned into a psychedelic garage band? Well, look no further because the Nashville duo, JEFF the Brotherhood, do a fine job of showcasing that concept. This band of brothers have been rocking the Nashville music scene for the past decade and finally began to get some exposure with 2009’s … Read more

Sequences & Isolated Existence

Graminaea / Poaceae
Music Ruins Lives (2011)

Graminaea / Poaceae is one of those releases that I love but have an extremely difficult time explaining just what draws me to the release over and over again other than that I find all three pieces rather soothing in a creepy sort of way (of course as with any work of this nature, what you get out of the … Read more

Embers

Shadows
Independent (2011)

Embers is a grouping of people from Oakland California and while most of what their area is known for is being dangerous hip hop tends to be the best known export of the city. Meanwhile in the shadows Embers have built something that may be more reminiscent of their hometown. A four piece that, at least on recordings, includes more … Read more

Iceage

New Brigade
Whats Your Rupture? (2011)

This summer my girlfriend and I… Sorry ladies, I’m taken. That’s one less music nerd on the market. Bummer, I know, right? Ah, where was I? Oh yeah… So, this summer my girlfriend and I have a little Saturday morning tradition, so to speak. We get up early, pack a bag with towels and magazines we won’t read, and head … Read more

Coathangers

Larceny & Old Lace
Suicide Squeeze (2011)

For a city its size, I know next to nothing about the Atlanta, GA scene. For some reason I think of Nashville Pussy-styled sleaze rock, Athens indie, and dirty South hiphop—none of which remotely apply to the Coathangers. Instead, the Coathangers take a post-punk, No Wave sound and run with it, adding in more contemporary influences such as Riot Grrl … Read more

Legend

The Pale Horse
Rise (2011)

What is there to say about Legend? The band released an album titled Valediction last year. That album was another entry into the deathcore fan grab. The album while proficient in playing down tuned "riffs" and breakdowns added little to a simple formula already having been in practice by what may now be a million other bands. Generally bands tour … Read more

Cloudkicker

It's Inside Me, And I'm Inside It
Independent (2011)

Ohio prog-metal artist Ben Sharp, moniker Cloudkicker, has been in the forefront of the Internet-based free music community since the release of The Discovery in 2008. His new single “It's inside me and I'm inside it.” comes on the tail of his previous single “You and Yours,” which explored a lot of his Isis-esque post-metal influences. This track, conversely, explores … Read more

Deadverse Massive

Takeover
Deadverse (2011)

Deadverse Massive is a group of sorts headed by the duo of Dalek and Oktopus, who also make up the group Dalek. This compilation or group album acts as a reminder of some of their cohorts as well as a good introduction as to what they have been up to since their last album. Those familiar with the group know … Read more

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