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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

200 Words Or Less

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

200 Words Or Less

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

Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip

Angles
Sunday Best (2008)

If you have the good/bad fortune to live in the U.K., you will in all likelihood have a fairly limited view of hip-hop. For many years it kind of bypassed us, only really hitting the charts in the mid-to-late 1990s with the gangsta boom (a term which I am hoping will catch on). As a result, most U.K. hip-hop is … Read more

Rocket from the Crypt

All Systems Go Volume 3
Vagrant/Swami (2008)

Leaving behind a recording legacy as large as Rocket from the Crypt is doing rates fairly high on the impressive scale considering how difficult it is to maintain consistency and relevance over a couple of albums let alone the roughly six full-lengths as well as a multitude of EP's and singles that this rock and roll outfit is responsible for … Read more

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