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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)

Eyes Averted

Eyes Averted
Independent (2009)

Eyes Averted return with a four-song EP that the band is once again self-releasing, something they're used to after self-releasing their debut album back in 2006. These four songs continue the band's display of technical abilities but with a slightly different approach than what was displayed on their debut. The four songs still boast a technical hardcore sound akin to The Dillinger Escape Plan at points, but its lacking a little bit of the aggression and off-kilter approach that they offer. Instead, the band has infused more melody and almost a straight-forward hardcore approach used in groups like With Honor. You can definitely hear this in "Voices" and "For the Weary." The members of Eyes Averted also dabble in more indie-rock adventures from time to time over the course of these four songs, something that brings a new twist to their sound. Overall, you get a rather interesting mixture of sound styles on these four songs. On one side of the coin, it's cool to hear a band doing so many different things. On the other side, I wish they'd stick with one approach and perfect it, something they've got the skills to do, now they just need to focus. Read more

200 Words Or Less

Murder Practice

Prophecies of Doom
Independent (2008)

Bay Area stalwarts Murder Practice return with their second full-length, this time they've abandoned the world of plastic and CD's … Read more

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Gray Ghost

Gray Ghost
Copper Lung (2008)

Copper Lung Records strikes with another great find in Atlanta, GA's Gray Ghost. The five-some melds together atmospheric post-rock, meandering … Read more

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Caestles

We Have Built a New God
Independent (2008)

Caestles is a six-person conglomeration of two bands that have fused together to form one entity. And when you listen … Read more

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Timber

2008
Something Crucial (2008)

Hailing from Maryland, Timber is a hardcore outfit that plays an interesting style of the genre that reaches beyond the … Read more

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Bad Lovers

Four Bad Lovers Sitting in a Tree
Independent (2008)

Bad Lovers is a new project from members of Restrained. This Los Angeles-based punk outfit offers four songs on their … Read more

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One from the archives

Stone Temple Pilots with Chester Bennington

High Rise EP
Play Pen LLC (2013)

For those who recall, the first time that Stone Temple Pilots got tired of waiting around for Scott Weiland to turn his shit around was in 1997. The DeLeo brothers and drummer Eric Kretz recruited singer Dave Coutts and Talk Show was born. I saw them play live on the second leg of Foo Fighters' Colour and the Shape tour. It was so vastly different than watching what would become the train wreck of Weiland fronting the band in later years. Different in the sense that a train wreck is at least interesting. It'll hold your attention at least until emergency services arrives. Coutts holds the distinction of being the single most boring frontman I've ever seen. But what was so memorable about their opening slot was that i was … Read more

More album reviews

Tim Barry

Manchester
Suburban Home (2008)

Manchester is the latest album by Avail frontman Tim Barry. Barry has always had a very distinctive voice. Not just vocally, but lyrically and thematically. So as he offers up his second proper solo effort, Manchester, we are once again taken along for a ride with his slightly sweet and bitter, sometimes gravelly voice as he weaves tales of soldiers … Read more

Guapo

Elixirs
Neurot (2008)

Neurot Recordings has lately been putting out releases from some great and surprisingly diverse bands such as U.S. Christmas, A Storm of Light, and Grey Daturas. Prepare to chalk up another name on that list: Guapo. Guapo occupies an interesting place on the Neurot roster as the band has a spacey yet focused sound based in progressive rock, avant-garde jazz, … Read more

Unreal City

Ephemeral Subsistence
Double or Nothing (2008)

Cities like Boston, San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles get a lot of attention when it comes to hardcore. And it's not that it isn't deserved, they turn out a ton of quality bands. But there are other cities to keep tabs on as well... Pittsburgh is one of those cities and it has finally unleashed the debut full-length … Read more

Dead Vows

Bad Blood
Refoundation (2008)

Bad Blood is the debut effort from Swedish hardcore outfit Dead Vows. This release is my first exposure to the band, though I am familiar with one member's other group - Anchor. Dead Vows serve up eleven tracks that whip by in just about a half-hour's time. "We're All Judas" leads the album off with a fast-paced hardcore sound reminiscent … Read more

Deathcycle

Prelude to Tyranny
Lifeline (2008)

Deathcycle brings hardcore laden with throwback influence and metal finishes. They're young, angry lads who have, within the past month, announced their breakup before I even got around to Prelude to Tyranny. The first thing to strike me upon listening is Ron Grimaldi's voice. It's especially powerful and carries well above the abrasive music. Normally, he is singing over the … Read more

iLiKETRAiNS

The Christmas Tree Ship
Fantastic Plastic (2008)

As I write this, Christmas 2008 is receding into days past the decorations hanging guiltily on to the ceiling, the cooking trays full of congealed fat and the gentle disappointment of a thousand ill-received gifts floating in the air. But I'm still feeling festive enough that a limited edition Christmas release from iLiKETRAiNS feels appropriate to review. Not that anything … Read more

Vancouver / Zatokrev

Split
Get a Life! (2008)

Get a Life! Records brought together two bands on its roster to release a split recording. The twenty minute split features two tracks from each of the bands who have previously released material - Zatokrev with two full -engths; Vancouver with a split and a full length - on Get A Life! This independent label has also released material from … Read more

Constantines

Kensington Heights
Arts & Crafts (2008)

Kensington Heights is the fourth album from Ontario's Constantines and their first since 2005. The group, best known for a powerful live show, has yet to capture their stage presence on a piece of wax. However, the record takes strides and shows flashes of that magic energy that sets the group apart from many other indie rockers. The band uses … Read more

The Streets

Everything is Borrowed
679/Vice (2008)

2008 was the year where journalists pushed and shoved each other to be the first to frantically lavish praise upon a rapper with the voice of a frog, underwhelming beats, and the lyrical talent of a self-obsessed sixth grader. Tha Carter III has made everyone temporarily insane, and it's going to be fun in about five years watching everyone listen … Read more

Neon Neon

Stainless Style
Lex (2008)

I might be misjudging my audience here, but you remember the 1980's? By "remember" I don't mean "act them out in a horrible retro manner while not letting on that you were born in 1990." I mean remember. Predator. Commodore 64. Endless Mattel toy lines. The entire decade fucking ruled and if you dare to disagree I cannot be held … Read more

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Bloodbath

Unblessing the Purity
Peaceville (2008)

With this being a side project for everybody involved, it isn't strange that members have come and gone with great frequency since the band's inception. Bloodbath however, is a seriously good band consisting of established musicians from Opeth and Katatonia indulging in their love of old school death metal. Unblessing the Purity is a four-track EP offering up fierce old … Read more

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Impiety

Dominator
Pulverised (2008)

A year after they released their latest full-length, Impiety spit out a mini album where they sound just as fierce as the relentless attack of their previous works. This is the kind of death/black metal that you would expect when it comes from countries not famous for their vibrant music scenes. The characteristics are that their Satanic imagery always sounds … Read more

Smartbomb

Diamond Heist
Think Fast! (2008)

Smartbomb return with their debut full-length, Diamond Heist, following the quite promising debut EP Chaos and Lawlessness. The band's first long-player is packed with more of what we heard on the EP, fast-paced punk with a melodic twist. Diamond Heist kicks off with "Barely Legal." First and foremost, you are met with a fury of searing guitars of Billy Bean … Read more

Fear Falls Burning

Frenzy of the Absolute
Conspiracy (2008)

Damn, is there a trend going on with single member bands or am I just now picking up on this long running reality? Fear Falls Burning is the prolific lo-fi post-rock vehicle for Vidna Obmana (the musical pseudonym for one Dirk Serries). A mostly improvisational project, Fear Falls Burning give Frenzy of the Absolute as one of many LP's which … Read more

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