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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)

Strung Out

Prototypes and Painkillers
Fat Wreck Chords (2009)

Currently recording their eighth studio album, California punk quintet, Strung Out decided to put together this little compilation album full of b-sides, rarities, alternate takes, and demos. Given that Strung Out has undergone a bit of a transformation in their seventeen years as a band, you're bound to get just a bit of everything with this collection. It's really interesting to see how much they've changed as a band over time, especially since their cover of Descendents' "I'm Not a Loser" is followed by the heavier-edge Blackhawks Over Los Angeles b-side, "Novella." There in lies the problem with Prototypes and Painkillers; the ordering of the songs is completely random and it all sounds a bit awkward when listening to it as if it's a whole album. This is mainly an album for devoted Strung Out fans who are finally looking to own their cover of "Bark At The Moon" from the Punk Goes Metal compilation or hear some of the band's material from when they were a bratty skate punk band ("Sinner or Coward?," "Mad Mad World" ). With that said, there are some gems here like "Your Worst Mistake" and "More Than Words." This was probably just released to … Read more

Broadway Calls

Good Views, Bad News
Side One Dummy (2009)

It has been two years since Broadway Calls last graced us with a full-length release. But in that time the … Read more

Pink Mountaintops

Outside Love
Jagjaguwar (2009)

Shoegaze and psychedelics just naturally go hand in hand. Sure, you can have one without the other, but you'd probably … Read more

Project 86

Picket Fence Cartel
Tooth & Nail (2009)

Ideological stances are polarizing. They come with a set of existing concepts and reference points that are often hard to … Read more

Tall Ships

Voyages
Truth and Justice (2009)

When you review as many generic melodic hardcore bands as I do, you do whatever you can to try to … Read more

Nadja

Clinging to the Edge of the Sky
Adagio 830/Vendetta (2009)

Yes, Nadja continues to be a frustratingly prolific group that pumps out records faster and more geographically spread out than … Read more

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One from the archives

Kingdom

Kingdom
Independent (2006)

After the 90's, it seems that any vegan straightedge band seems hell-bent on pigeonholing itself into being a metalcore or melodic death metal band, with good reason, too. Abnegation's foray into death metal, Verses of the Bleeding, sucked and Earth Crisis's attempts to become like Pantera were lukewarm at best. Kingdom tries their hand at stepping outside of the box with something a little less extreme: modern hardcore. The record begins with the fast opener "Final Generation," but a couple things are fundamentally wrong from the get go: the guitar tone is so weak and is practically drowned out by the drums and vocals. The bass is barely there; I heard maybe two or three basslines throughout the whole record. The vocals are probably the worst part. Imagine if the … Read more

More album reviews

Constants

The Foundation, The Machine, The Ascension
The Mylene Sheath (2009)

Boston-based shoe-gazing space-rockers Constants return with their second full-length and follow-up to 2006's The Murder of Tom Fitzgerril EP. With The Foundation, The Machine, The Ascension Constants continues to make waves in the rock world as they showcase their talent towards writing intricate, dynamic, and ominous rock music. The Foundation, The Machine, The Ascension is ultimately broken up into three … Read more

Wilco

Wilco (The Album)
Nonesuch (2009)

By now, everyone should know the story of Wilco: Chicago alt-country pioneers-turned-alt-rock gurus record the most ambitious record of their career, their record label turns it down, it sits in limbo while the public consumes leaked copies on the web, another record label owned by the same entertainment giant as their previous one snatches it up, and suddenly it's one … Read more

Coreline

Bone and Blood as Stone and Mud
Sonic Mainline (2009)

There's something very important one has to keep in mind when reviewing a Coreline album, or indeed merely when listening to it. And that is this: The brain that gave birth to this is one fully capable of rickrolling an entire festival audience, in amongst a performance that also delivers a theater troupe performing in cardboard robot costumes. Tongue in … Read more

Cult Ritual

Cult Ritual
Youth Attack (2009)

Before I begin, let me get this off my chest: I wasn't a big fan of Cult Ritual's EPs. I don't mean to offend. It's very possible that the glowing reviews from punk blogs across the web had me convinced that I was about to experience some sort of musical enlightenment. Listening to Cult Ritual would somehow turn my life … Read more

Iron Age

The Sleeping Eye
Tee Pee (2009)

Texas natives Iron Age return with their second long-player, The Sleeping Eye, after making quite a name for themselves with 2006's Constant Struggle. The band's debut was highlighted by an onslaught of blistering crossover accented by classic hardcore undertones. With their new release, Iron Age builds on that foundation and adds some depth to their sound. What continues to strike … Read more

Black Hell

How the Rest was Lost
Hater of God (2009)

Venture deep into the desert of the Southwest and you'll find Black Hell, a doom metal quartet featuring ex-members of Wellington and Unruh who have just released their second album, How the Rest was Lost. Black Hell show show a bit of a split personality on their sophomore effort. On one half, they play fast, groovy stoner-influenced doom metal with … Read more

Unholy

New Life Behind Closed Eyes
Prosthetic (2009)

Unholy returns with a brand new full-length effort, and with it comes a number of new beginnings. First off, the band has seen a major lineup shift, trading out vocalists and its rhythm section. Secondly, the band has upgraded to a more high profile home at Prosthetic Records. In spite of these changes, Unholy has continued to deliver a quality … Read more

Weekend Nachos

Unforgivable
Deep Six (2009)

When I heard Punish and Destroy for the first time, Weekend Nachos easily became one of my favorite punk/metal bands. I was positive that these guys, along with Trap Them, would be the leaders of the next wave of great extreme music. Then Trap Them released Seizures in Barren Praise, a significant drop-off from their first two releases, in my … Read more

Cough

Sigillum Luciferi
Forcefield (2008)

The liner notes for Sigillum Luciferi are emblazoned with the phase "tune down, smoke up," which really ought to be the motto for any self-respecting stoner/doom/sludge band. Cough definitely fits that sound to a "t," and the packaging of the album, adorned with naked chicks, occult symbols, and pot leaves, does as well. But how does Cough stack up with … Read more

200 Words Or Less

At Our Heels

At Our Heels
Heart In Hand (2009)

At Our Heels is yet another in the ever growing list of bands to emerge from the Bay Area's excellent hardcore scene. Alex Pulisci began piecing together what would come to be At Our Heels following the breakup of Love, Hope and Fear. Musically the group treads similar water, fast-paced hardcore with a rock swagger. Pulisci, who enlists the drumming … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Tigers Jaw

Spirit Desire
Tiny Engines (2009)

Scranton, PA's Tigers Jaw has really captivated listeners since releasing their second full-length album last year. Sure, they released their first full-length two years prior, a release that A LOT of people missed, but sometimes it just takes time for a band to have an impact. Spirit Desire is a three-song 7" that follows through on the direction the band … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Strangers

Night Minutes
Action Man (2009)

Night Minutes is the latest release from New Zealand's Strangers. The group made quite a splash with their 2007 debut, Holding., and the subsequent full-length, Weight. This six-song 7" release continues Strangers destructive and abrasive metallic assault, beginning with "Voyeur." It's fast and raw; the guitars are loud and the low end is extremely powerful. Fans of Jane Doe-era Converge … Read more

200 Words Or Less

In the Hollows

In the Hollows
Mightier Than Sword (2009)

The pedigree of Baltimore-based In the Hollows is impressive, featuring members of Champion, Pulling Teeth, and Ruiner. The group offers up their debut release, a three-song self-titled EP. "Move Away" starts things off, and is a rock meets punk concoction similar to what bands like The Bronx and Hour of the Wolf are offering up. "In the Static" is centered … Read more

200 Words Or Less

The Recluse

Summer Showers
Heart In Hand (2009)

Summer Showers is my first exposure to Alabama group The Recluse. I swore I heard their name before, in fact I think I saw them once... maybe not. I can't quite place where/why/how I know them. "Pre-Death Realizations" is the leading cut and it is an odd song as it walks the line between equal parts melodic hardcore and metallic … Read more

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