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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)

Shorebirds

It's Gonna Get Ugly
Rumbletowne (2008)

When you consider the potentially high profile of Shorebirds, it's surprising how quietly they operated. Singer/guitarist Matt Canino was in the much-loved Latterman and bassist Chris Bauermeister played in Jawbreaker. With all the hype this could have created, Shorebirds instead laid low, putting their records out on Canino and co-owned label and establishing almost no presence on the Internet. And when they broke up this past Summer the announcement was as brief as possible. Whatever the reason for their demise was, it must been a good one because Shorebirds were onto something special. That something is a gritty form of pop-punk that brings together Latterman's fist-pumping enthusiasm with Jawbreaker's lyrical approach to personal politics. Only one song on It's Gonna Get Ugly tops three minutes with the rest being efficient, economical bursts of emotion, fitting the themes Canino lets fly. His guitar acts almost as a second vocalist, his melodic lines accenting the end of a lyric or burning right over the whole band. Not one song doesn't have the ability to burrow into your brain and make you hum it all day, but without that gross "Macarena" aftertaste. Matt Canino's voice and words will stay with you long after … Read more

Banner Pilot

Resignation Day
Go Kart (2008)

With a pedigree including Rivethead and Off With Their Heads there are certain expectations behind Banner Pilot's debut full length. … Read more

Gods and Queens

Untitled
Robotic Empire (2008)

Following the untimely demise of Versoma, Gods and Queens springs forth from those ashes (Tombs is another band which formed … Read more

Overcast

Reborn to Kill Again
Metal Blade (2008)

I would say ninety percent of the fans of the current bands (Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage, Seemless) that the members … Read more

Crime Desire

Crime Desire
Life Is A Rape (2008)

The singer of Crime Desire is dead ringer for Rasaraja/Robert Fish of 108/Judas Factor fame. So I can't help to … Read more

Multiple Authors

Thursday / Envy

Split
Temporary Residence (2008)

Envy is having an extremely busy year in 2008: re-releasing much of their back catalog, the Abyssal EP, a split … Read more

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One from the archives

Meneguar

I Was Born at Night
Magic Bullet (2005)

Meneguar, formerly Sheryl's Magnetic Aura, hails from New York and has members of Books Lie, I Am the Resurrection, and The State Secedes. Despite the impressive background of influential and often underrated hardcore bands, Meneguar doesn't bear much resemblance to their previous endeavors. In fact, they're not even hardcore. However, this is definitely as good as or better than anything else their members have done, which is saying quite a bit. Before this release, Sheryl's Magnetic Aura put out a handful of releases that vocalist/guitarist Jarvis recorded: a 7" entitled Like You Mean It, a CDEP, and a split 7" with Rapider Than Horsepower which is slated to be re-released under the new name. Under the moniker Meneguar, only a five-song demo has been previously released, three of which are … Read more

More album reviews

Multiple Authors

Thursday / Envy

Split
Temporary Residence (2008)

The pairing of a so-called emo band from New Jersey and a screamo/post-rock band from Japan may seem odd. But for those well versed in the recordings of both Thursday and Envy, this partnering of punk-minded individuals makes a lot of sense. Thursday begin the split with "As He Climbed the Dark Mountain." The sound set forth by the New … Read more

Grails

Doomsdayer's Holiday
Temporary Residence (2008)

Having only just been introduced to the wonder and at times awe inspiring music of the outfit known as Grails, I may be privy to not having my opinions of their records tainted yet by the "their first or early records were better" attitude. Thankfully so because their fifth album, Doomsdayer's Holiday, might just be the band's best record to … Read more

Estatic Sunshine

Way
Cardboard (2008)

What if an album isn't an album? What if it falls into absurdity while no one is listening? Does it make a series of obnoxious sounds? I'm probably coming off like some Bacharach-rocking philistine, but I really really like songs. Failing that, riffs. Failing that, music. The album Way by Ecstatic Sunshine fills somewhere between zero and three of those … Read more

Integrity

Walpurgisnacht
A389 (2008)

Ah, Dwid, where have you been hiding your mischievous and malevolent musical vehicle Integrity for the last five years? Ever since 2003's To Die For, Integrity's absence hangs over the hardcore scene like a looming spectre waiting to strike down pretenders and infidels alike. Sure the usual re-issues of Integrity's back catalog and singles as well as live records continue … Read more

Black SS

Terror of the North East: 2004-2007
Reaper (2008)

I've mentioned it before in other reviews that I usually try to find bands to enjoy musically by their own personal likability. Although I do realize that most of these likable factors are usually based on preconceived assumptions that I pull from band photos and lyrics. Let's take Black Sheep Squadron for example. We both have a love affair with … Read more

Multiple Authors

Dillinger Four

C I V I L W A R
Fat Wreck Chords (2008)

Being from the same state as well a fan of tuneful catchy pop-punk one would think that I would be really into Dillinger Four. Yes, one would think that. The fact of the matter is that I've always been a casual fan of this rambunctious often inebriated foursome. I've actually only seen them once in the last fifteen years and … Read more

Multiple Authors

Dillinger Four

C I V I L W A R
Fat Wreck Chords (2008)

As my age teeters closer to thirty than twenty, I continually ask myself three important questions: Am I still punk? Was I ever? Does it matter? Sure my love of punk music grows exponentially with every year I age, but is it just a label for me to wear on my shirt, or is it truly a way of life? … Read more

Helms Alee

Night Terror
Hydra Head (2008)

Following up a surprising teaser EP with a limited release earlier this year, Helms Alee drop their debut full-length on a mostly unsuspecting public; Night Terror is a great point to latch onto this three-piece and enjoy some noisy music that will leave heads spinning or throbbing or whatever head trip that it could impose. The ten tracks that Night … Read more

Cannabis Corpse

Tube of the Resinated
Forcefield (2008)

The equation is very simple. Take several old school death metal fans and add copious amounts of bud. The result is Richmond's very own blaze-driven Cannabis Corpse. The band, whose idea was to express its love for smoking weed and listening to Cannibal Corpse, released their second album, Tube of the Resinated, on April 20th, a fine day to champion … Read more

The Eye The Ear and The Arm

Paths
Portia (2008)

Remember when music had regional traits? You know - Chicago Blues, East Coast Swing, Seattle Grunge? Yeah, me neither. No one reading Internet music criticism does. But you can imagine, yes? It's kind of cute. Exciting, for the sort of person who loves over-precise analysis of pop-culture artifacts. Which I totally am not. In any case, I've got some good … Read more

Cold World

Dedicated to Babies Who Came Feet First
Deathwish Inc. (2008)

Thankfully raps inclusion into the world of heavy music has been greatly ignored in hardcore minus a few forays into the ugliest parts of New York City, North Jersey, and a couple sightings in California in the early 90's. Then came Cold World from Wilkes-Barre, PA with their cute little samples and lyrics lifted from various hip hop artists. Next … Read more

Deadbird

Twilight Ritual
At A Loss (2008)

Right off the bat, allow me to bring notice to the cover art for Deadbird's latest album, Twilight Ritual (following up 2005's The Head and the Heat) because it is rather stunning; John Baizley (guitarist/ vocalist of Baroness, and artist for such bands as Torche, Darkest Hour, Pig Destroyer as well as his own) continues his busy schedule of art … Read more

Exodus

Let There be Blood
Zaentz (2008)

Why re-record your own album almost twenty-five years later? Some, including this reviewer, find the redundancy almost laughable, but yet it appears to be more and more common, crossing across all genres everyone from Dimmu Borgir to the Cowboy Junkies is doing it. The more mainstream of bands could certainly be accused of doing it solely for financial gain. After … Read more

Ceremony

Still Nothing Moves You
Bridge Nine (2008)

I could easily give Ceremony's latest album a token crappy review because quite frankly I find this band a bit too overrated to garner an actual unbiased review from me. I really hate to be "that guy" but I haven't enjoyed anything from this North Bay based hardcore unit since their demo and subsequent 7". Everything afterwards just came at … Read more

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