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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)

Overmars

Born Again
Crucial Blast (2009)

Yes, yes, there are many bands that descend outward and are influenced in a myriad of ways by a certain band (Neurosis), some more so than others. And still, of those bands, some speak more on their own than others or are more unique. Overmars is just one of those bands that while yes they do owe some to that band, they bring uniqueness and a different take or perspective (if you will) to the table. A large outfit that sometimes can reach eight members in a live situation, Overmars harnesses multiple vocalists (both female and male) to tie their musical vision together. In a live setting, they are an impressive act to behold (so if you ever get a chance to see them, go). Born Again is their second full-length and consists of one giant track that blows by at roughly the forty minute mark. As exceedingly difficult as writing an album consisting of one song, Overmars pulls it off well with Born Again. With multiple vocalists, male and female, the band does offer quite a bit of variation with the alternating vocals (with screaming, bellowing, and cleaner singing styles all mixed together) that keep the song moving in … Read more

Chord

Flora
Neurot (2009)

What happens when music nerds (hey, I am one of them) get together and bond over their music nerd-dom? Well, … Read more

Young Livers / Army of Ponch

Live at The Atlantic: Volume 1
Sound Study (2009)

What strikes in a live show doesn't always show evenly on the studio reproduction. My first thoughts on Sound Study's … Read more

The Metroschifter

Carbonistas
Noise Pollution (2009)

Scott Ritcher was one of the masterminds behind the rise of Louisville hardcore in the early 90's. He had some … Read more

The Johnson Report

The Johnson Report
Independent (2010)

During all of high school, Jen dated Zach. Jen was, hands down, the most beautiful girl in our year. Beyond … Read more

Mouthbreather / Enviornmental Youth Crunch

Split
Rorschach (2009)

There's a lot to say about this split. First, it features one great name (Mouthbreather) and one lesser one (Environmental … Read more

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One from the archives

The Suicide Machines

On the Eve of Destruction (1991-1995)
Noise Riot (2005)

The Suicide Machines have been a band for a long time now. Close to fifteen years, actually. In that time, they've released 6 studio albums, a retrospective compilation that included two new songs (2002's Least Worst of The Suicide Machines (1995-2001)), and even recorded a song with fellow Detroit "musicians" Insane Clown Posse while both groups were on Hollywood Records (no, seriously). In late 2005, The Suicide Machines frontman Jay Navarro and his wife Sandra launched the record label Noise Riot Records. The first release on the label? Why, a Suicide Machines rarities compilation titled On The Eve Of Destruction (1991-1995). The release contains the band's original 1991 demo, the "Green World" demo, and early demo versions of songs such as "New Girl" and "The Real You" that would eventually … Read more

More album reviews

Kings of Convenience

Declaration of Dependence
Astralwerks (2009)

After almost five years since their last outing, the Norwegian duo Kings of Convenience have returned with their third full-length, Declaration of Dependence. Erlend Øye and Eirik Glambek Bøe are best known for weaving simple acoustic melodies into lush pop songs akin to a modern day Simon and Garfunkel. Although a return to this musical style is nothing new these … Read more

Great Falls

Demo
Independent (2009)

The demise of Playing Enemy was a tough pill for me to swallow as they were a band that I had followed for a number of years and always thought that they got better and better as their releases stacked up over time. Following the untimely end of that project Demian Johnston and Shane Mehling went on to do a … Read more

The Lotus Eaters

Mind Control for Infants (Reissue)
Taiga (2009)

Finally a vinyl release for this album is here, and there has been quite a wait since The Lotus Eaters initially released Mind Control for Infants on CD all the way back in 2002 (a seven year lag is pretty impressive). But this record screams to be on vinyl, and thankfully that is now the case. Still, with the lag … Read more

Drunkdriver

Fire Sale
Fashionable Idiots (2009)

I like to consider myself pretty versed in rock - I listen to a lot of stuff and a good amount of variety. But, every so often, I'll get something that I just can't categorize or explain well. That's not a bad thing at all. In fact, it's a pretty good accomplishment, as long as the wax is listenable. Drunkdriver … Read more

Bane

Boston 6:58 PM / Los Angeles 3:58 PM / At Both Ends
Triple B/6131/At Both Ends (2009)

It has indeed been a number of years since we last heard from Bane; their last full-length - The Note - came out in 2005, and with the hectic touring schedule that the band maintains, these seven inches are the first new recording from the band in quite some time (their Ten Year Plus 7" were old recordings that were … Read more

Teenage Bottlerocket

They Came From the Shadows
Fat Wreck Chords (2009)

I really wanted to like They Came From the Shadows. I did. And to an extent, I do. There are some very catchy pop-punk songs on this album. But this will definitely not be seen as one of the stronger Teenage Bottlerocket albums in the future. Opening the album is "Skate or Die," which brought me high hopes for this … Read more

The Bomb

Speed is Everything
No Idea (2009)

Considering how much I've heard about the Naked Raygun reunion, you'd think there would be more buzz regarding The Bomb. Speed is Everything is the Jeff Pezzati led group's first release for No Idea Records. When compared with Pezzati's more renowned group, I was expecting a more contemporary twist. Instead, The Bomb has a strong 80's feel to it, with … Read more

Total Fucking Destruction

Peace, Love and Total Fucking Destruction
Enucleation (2009)

Grindcore is one of those genres where these days you are just as likely to come across an abject piece of music as you are something good. This could be said of all genres but you got to be skilled to provide something original with music where speed is the primary ingredient. The classics brought something new and did it … Read more

A Storm of Light

Forgive Us Our Trespasses
Neurot (2009)

Following an impressive debut album (And We Wept the Black Ocean Within) and a nice split and collaborative release (see their record with Nadja called Primitive North), A Storm of Light give their latest album Forgive Us Our Tresspasses to show just how far the band has progressed in the interim. The ten new compositions that Josh Graham (Neurosis, Red … Read more

Nadja

Under a Jaguar Sun
Beta-Lactam Ring (2009)

When was the last time that you experienced an extremely impressive musical project that made your jaw drop to the ground in awe of the scope, execution, and general quality of the complete package (sound, music, record art, record packaging, etc)? Speaking for myself, I know of the last record (or group of records) that I considered exceptionally impressive in … Read more

Michael Yonkers with The Blind Shake

Cold Town/Soft Zodiac
Learning Curve (2009)

The Blind Shake are a power-garage trio from Minneapolis. They play highly synchronized, precision rock with guitar, tenor guitar, and drums. Michael Yonkers is a noise-guitar pioneer, having finally gained recognition when Destijl and, consequently, Sub Pop released the 1968 recorded, but never released, Microminiature Love in 2003. The record starts with haunting, dark, and heavy guitars and Yonkers' warbly … Read more

Everlovely Lightningheart

Sein Weal Tallion Rue
Hydra Head (2009)

Everlovely Lightningheart was a band (even though championed by Hydra Head for some time) that exists in virtual obscurity. And considering what this collective offers people, aside from a bunch of limited releases (one of which includes an LP that is still only limited to 5 or so copies), the challenging soundscapes on their albums beg to be heard. Sein … Read more

Ruiner

Hell is Empty
Bridge Nine (2009)

With Hell is Empty Ruiner return with one scathing, vicious, and beautiful album. It was worth the two year wait that fans endured between this Prepare to be Let Down. What Ruiner had developed on Prepare to be Let Down has been greatly expanded upon on Hell is Empty. The songwriting is much more dynamic, and J. Robbins' organic production … Read more

A Death Cinematic

A Parable on the Aporia of Vengeance and the Beauty of Impenetrable Sadness
Simple Box Construction (2009)

Every once in a long while there comes a release which takes several listens to sink in to one's thick skull (particularly my hard head can take time), but once that record sinks in, the record not only makes complete sense, but it seems to become a favorite release. Upon first listening to the latest release from A Death Cinematic, … Read more

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