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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)

P.O.S.

Never Better
Rhymesayers (2009)

The unique style of P.O.S. continues to come together - from the disjointed and experimental Ipecac Neat that caught Rhymesayers' attention, and the slightly more mainstream Audition in 2006, Never Better continues to build and unify P.O.S.'s distinct and witty brand of hip-hop. To get it out of the way early, P.O.S. is also in the hardcore/mathrock band Building Better Bombs. Yes, he raps and is affiliated with punk. Sometimes this shows in his songs, but most of the time it's more subtle and shows through his lyrical content, abrasive beats, and occasional screaming than in a direct Transplants sort of way. Thank god. Much like his previous release, Never Better starts off with an intro track - not your run of the mill skit or namedropping intro, but a minimal track where P.O.S. establishes his style and stance on the world. He quickly mentions the recession, Obama, and reps his crews (Doomtree and Rhymesayers), all while mixing in a variety of possible names for the allusive acronym Stef Alexander used as his pseudonym. Between his introductory, character establishing intros and his tendency to leave the tape rolling as his songs end, he creates a personal and down to earth … Read more

Sleepingdog

Polar Life
Gizeh (2008)

It's a rare delight when music completely unknown to you pops out of thin air to become one of your … Read more

Wolves in the Throne Room

Malevolent Grain
Southern Lord (2009)

Each song of the Malevolent Grain EP, "A Looming Resonance" and "Hate Crystal," comprises one side of an exquisitely packaged … Read more

The Blackout Argument

Remedies
Lifeforce (2009)

Germany's The Blackout Argument are one of the many new hardcore acts being spawned in the scene today. In their … Read more

Anchor Arms

Cold Blooded
Fail Safe (2008)

These days everything reminds me of The Fest. Today's memory comes from release FSR001 by Anchor Arms, reminding me that … Read more

Escape the Floodwater Jug Band

Wrong Doings and Done Wrongs
Whiskey For Breakfast (2008)

With the recent surge of former and current punk rockers playing folk, roots rock, bluegrass, etc. of course there is … Read more

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One from the archives

Annihilation Time

II
Six Weeks (2005)

For the past few years these ragers have been taking their brand of Bl'ast-influenced punk all over the world. Their first LP was twelve inches of furious hardcore taking from 1980s California bands like Black Flag, Aggression, and Bl'ast. The Bad Reputation 7" took the band into a new direction, influenced more by the '70s rockers that those California bands adored. On II, the Annihilation Time dudes take a giant leap back into the fuzzed-out riff-rock era. The sound was thickened up by adding the former guitar player for Ohio thrashers Gordon Solie Motherfuckers, Shaun Filley. Even with the influence of Blue Oyster Cult, early Deep Purple and Blue Cheer, they still hold on to their punk roots, showing off hints of bands like The Germs, Sick Pleasure, and RKL. … Read more

More album reviews

Morrissey

Years of Refusal
Lost Highway (2009)

How does one introduce Morrissey? By no means am I intending to put the seasoned vocalist on a pedestal of godlike caliber it's just that, well, pretty much everything that can be said about the man has already been said, or in this case, written. Rather than waste time with some whimsical anecdote, I'll instead jump right into his latest … Read more

Freshman 15

Throw Up Your Hands for One Night Stands
Standby (2009)

This is a tough one. At some point, there was a crossover between cheesy melodic pop-punk and the worn-out "scene" image of white belts and devil locks. It became cool to sound like Simple Plan as long as you listened to August Burns Red, and constantly posted pictures of how tough your band looks. I've done my best to avoid … Read more

The Loved Ones

Distractions
Fat Wreck Chords (2009)

The Loved Ones' popularity took off quite a bit last year with the release of Build & Burn. This had the band taking a more basic rock-n-roll approach than their debut Keep Your Heart, which is one of the best pop-punk records to be released in recent years. The band's latest EP, Distractions shows the band going in the same … Read more

Dead to Me

Little Brother
Fat Wreck Chords (2008)

Dead to Me is one of those bands that has been generating a lot of buzz since their debut Cuban Ballerina . I never understood all the fuss. I thought they were okay, but nothing on that album really stood out to me. And I didn't listen to it enough to have it really grow on me, as some people … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Red Eyed Legends

Wake Up, Legend
File 13 (2008)

First full-length from this Chicago band fronted by Chris Thomson (ex-Circus Lupus). Dense, multi-layered rock that will require repeated listening. That's really because it will require some thinking on the listener's part. "Je M'Appelle Macho" is currently the song on here that's getting repeated playbacks. Maybe since these are some of the few French words I retained from five years … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Technostress

Technostress
Postfact (2008)

First EP from this trio that consists of Treiops Treyfid (ex-Pitchblende) on bass and vocals, Aimee Soubier on guitar, and Karl Hill on drums (both recently of The Factory Incident). I'm hearing early PiL, some Peter Murphy, and an overall healthy respect for Manchester post-punk from the dawn of the 80's. "All is Styled" crackles and burns with some cool … Read more

New Found Glory

Not Without a Fight
Epitaph (2009)

Over their twelve years together as a band New Found Glory has pretty much encountered it all. They started at the beginning on a fledgling indie label just playing shows wherever they could and enjoying the fact that they got to play music. Then came the glory and the fame, the major label deal and the huge touring opportunities. This … Read more

Propagandhi

Supporting Caste
Smallman (2009)

Canadian punk rockers Propagandhi have undergone many changes in the past few years. For one, they now have a second guitarist known as David "The Beaver" Guillias and they parted ways with Fat Wreck Chords and announced the closing of their own record label, G7 Welcoming Committee. Changes like this happen with bands, and sometimes it effects their music. Thankfully … Read more

RevCo

Sexo Olympico
Thirteenth Planet (2008)

Who's your favorite Cock? Hopefully you answered either Al "Buck Satan" or Luc, Luc Van Acker, seeing as they're the only returning members. I missed 2006's Cocked and Loaded, which was their first record since 1993, but the change from its predecessor Linger Ficken' Good to Sexo Olympico is measurable - as you'd expect with fifteen years in between and … Read more

Rudimentary Peni

No More Pain
Southern (2008)

Rudimentary Peni are, at least in some circles, a criminally underrated punk band that releases music semi steadily since their inception (besides the seven year layoff between their landmark album, Cacophony and its successor Pope Adrian 37th). Cacophony is a personal favorite and always keeps me coming back to their material and checking out the new material whenever it hits … Read more

200 Words Or Less

The Wonder Years / All or Nothing

Distances
No Sleep (2009)

The glorious split 7" - how I love thee. What's this? Two bands from opposite sides of the Atlantic? Even better! There is something strangely comforting in knowing that two bands that are separated by thousands of miles of ocean can found a place together on a slim piece of wax. The Wonder Years return with two brand new songs. … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Thou

Tyrant (Reissue)
Gilead Media (2008)

Hailing from Louisiana, it's not a surprise that Thou offer up grimy metal/doom on Tyrant. With fellow bruisers like Eyehategod, Crowbar, and Down before them, Thou take the southern metal sound and make it their own, thanks to a varied field of influences. The title-track leads off and immediately the listener is consumed with slow bludgeoning riffs and down-tempo rhythms … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Wunami

Pointless
Independent (2009)

Wunami is a fairly young group from southern California. While I mostly associate this region with it's volatile hardcore history, Wunami is about the furthest thing from it that a band could be. Pointless is the band's demo recording featuring three songs. The four-piece offers up melancholic post-rock over the course of a half-hour, beginning with "Pointless." The song starts … Read more

200 Words Or Less

I Call Fives

First Things First
Open Your Eyes (2008)

New Jersey natives I Call Fives offer up a style of pop-punk that have become increasingly popular in the past couple of years. You know the type. Fast and melodic punk meets bubblegum pop. The results are undoubtedly catchy, but it's a sound that is quickly becoming supersaturated. Thankfully, I Call Fives don't rely on neon-splattered logo t's and out … Read more

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