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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)

Miles Away

Rewind, Repeat...
6131 (2007)

If you were to listen to the latest offering from Miles Away, Rewind, Repeat , and yet knew nothing of the band, the last place that you would guess they were from would be Australia. If anything, you would have come up with either the Pacific Northwest or Boston. And while both are logical guesses based on the style of music Miles Away play; you obviously couldn't be further from the truth. Rewind, Repeat is the second full-length and third overall release from melodic hardcore outfit Miles Away - the two previous coming via Bridge Nine Records. Like their previous ventures, this album is jam packed with fast-paced hardcore with a standard fair of melodic accents. The band launches into things with "100 Yen," a typical intro track, though this one actually has a complete set of lyrics. This catapults the listener right into the thick of things on "Window Seat." A wave of soaring guitars and energetic drumming hits you. This is quickly followed by semi-coarse yells - think Have Heart's Pat Flynn. In fact, the whole combination of music and vocals brings to mind not only Have Heart, but also Champion. Like I said, there is this Northwest … Read more

Justice of the Unicorns

Angels with Uzis
Little Lamb (2008)

Yesterday, I received my bi-monthly batch of promos. While sorting through the records an album named Angels with Uzis by … Read more

Attica! Attica!

Dead Skin / Dried Blood
Red Leader (2007)

If Disney were ever to make an animated movie that involved the protagonist turning Congress into an alcoholic shitshow, then … Read more

So They Say

Life in Surveillance
Fearless (2007)

Before taking my first listen to Life in Surveillance, as a stranger to the band I deemed it only polite … Read more

Jay-Z

American Gangster
Roc-A-Fella (2007)

In the rap world of 2007, is there a more polarizing MC than Jay-Z? Chances are you'd be hard pressed … Read more

Young Widows / Plows

Split
Auxiliary (2007)

There are certain times when I enjoy championing bands, and Young Widows' cause is definitely one that I find myself … Read more

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One from the archives

Red Fang

Whales And Leeches
Relapse (2013)

There's an untold amount of new bands just waiting to be discovered. Some will be discovered and just as quickly forgotten. Some will be discovered, appreciated for a brief time and then forgotten. The very lucky few will be discovered, loved and will continue to be loved by a few, who will spread the word to a few and, higher power be willing, the few will become many over a long and illustrious career.I have no idea what the future holds for Red Fang, but goddamn, they prick up these tired ears, and I hope they do so for many years to come. Heaven knows the biggest cliche in music reviewing is comparing bands to other bands, but truly, the only way to describe them is taking everything you love … Read more

More album reviews

Perth Express

Discography
Teenage Disco Bloodbath (2007)

Perth Express is likely a band that you're unfamiliar with, but that's okay. Prior to being contacted by the label in regards to this discography release, I was totally oblivious to the band's existence. The world is a big place and you just can't be expected to know about every single band. Hailing from Germany, this discography encompasses the band's … Read more

Various Artists

Keep Singing!
Exotic Fever (2007)

Keep Singing! is another benefit compilation brought to you from the great folks at Exotic Fever Records; in this case the proceeds are going to the amazing organization Compassion Over Killing. Every band that contributed songs did so to raise awareness for veganism, vegetarianism, and animal rights and Compassion Over Killing. And each band does give their own recipe to … Read more

Dethklok

The Dethalbum
Williams Street (2007)

Metal, or all rock and roll for that matter, exists due to two necessary components: lies - fantasy a more fitting title if you're into prog rock - and boisterous showmanship. This truth then makes the next statement undeniable: Dethklok is the best metal band ever! How do I figure this? Let me analyze the grounds I set in the … Read more

Various Artists

United States of Hardcore
Hate Core (2007)

The title of this compilation speaks volumes about our nation. While there is an ongoing argument about who invented punk music - not that it really matters - the origins of hardcore are no secret. The U.S. birthed it and we still do it best (though there are some bands from other nations that do it well too). So what … Read more

Tusk

The Resisting Dreamer
Hydra Head (2007)

Tusk has long been a side project of the more and more highly esteemed band Pelican, but is much heavier and includes vocals at times. On The Resisting Dreamer, the normal members of Tusk are joined by Evan Patterson (Young Widows, Black Cross, Breather Resist, A National Acrobat) and Toby Driver (Kayo Dot). The Resisting Dreamer is meant to be … Read more

Cold World

No Omega
1917 (2007)

The Wilkes-Barre hardcore unit Cold World has a lot to answer for. First, they were the band that effectively shut down Posi Numbers Fest for good. They are also responsible for a new crop of fashion conscious hardcore kids outbidding each other on eBay over street wear influenced t-shirts... lots and lots of t-shirts. Cold World also likes to call … Read more

Battles

Mirrored
Warp (2007)

The members of Battles definitely have impressive resumes when it comes to their former and current musical endeavors. Everyone knows John Stanier from his days in Helmet and his recent work in Tomahawk. Ian Williams is a guitar wizard who spent many years with Don Caballero. Dave Konopka played in the under-appreciated Lynx. And Tyondai Braxton is the son of … Read more

Jon Crocker

The Dust Will Settle
Bluetint (2008)

After his thorough touring of each continental U.S. state (and several abroad) in an apparent effort to sate a sort of Sal Paradisian wanderlust, it is not difficult to begin to mythologize Jon Crocker's career and sonic development. It's interesting then, how nearly every red-meat note and yellow-cheeked syllable Crocker delivers manages to feel so innocuous, while still maintaining its … Read more

Baroness

The Red Album
Relapse (2007)

Forget everything that you have heard from or about Baroness to this point in your life; even their split record with Unpersons (A Grey Sigh in a Flower Husk) earlier this year does not prepare you enough for the dramatic leap that they throw at you with The Red Album. Baroness effectively rewrite their place in the current musical maelstrom … Read more

Sage Francis

Human the Death Dance
Epitaph (2007)

After 2005's A Healthy Distrust Sage Francis cemented himself as one of hip-hop's biggest heroes as well as one of it's most despised figures. Francis seemingly blurred the line between mainstream and the world of underground mix tapes, coming out as a possible savior of hip-hop, the opposite of rappers Nas blasted on Hip-Hop is Dead. While A Healthy Distrust … Read more

Imani Coppola

The Black and White Album
Ipecac (2007)

The lights, the sounds, the excitement If you've ever been to New York City, you know what I'm talking about. Regardless of the borough, walking around the city is exhilarating, bordering on overwhelming, keeping you hyper-vigilant for fear of missing something really, really cool. Imani Coppola sounds like New York. The Black and White Album is just like the city … Read more

Four Year Strong

Rise or Die Trying
I Surrender (2007)

Do you love bubblegum pop-punk? Do you love sign-alongs? Do you love ridiculous breakdowns? Well, then Four Year Strong and their debut full-length, Rise or Die Trying, are going to be exactly what you've been seeking. This Worcester, Massachusetts five-piece delivers pogo-errific pop-punk with more than a few opportunities to sing-along and break out your dance moves. Rise or Die … Read more

Ringfinger

Decimal
Little Black Cloud (2007)

The history behind Ringfinger's Decimal is rather interesting. Tracy Wilson, whom some of you may remember from Dahlia Seed, started the project shortly after the demise of her former group. Wilson originally wrote and recorded rough versions of these songs before seeking out many close friends to add, tweak, dismantle, and/or reassemble the songs with their own artistic insights. Now, … Read more

Nightrage

A New Disease is Born
Lifeforce (2007)

Allow me to preface my review with the following disclaimer: I am an avid follower of Tomas Lindberg's projects; so, due to his being the band's original screaming vocalist, I have some exposure to Nightrage in their previous albums, 2005's Descent into Chaos and 2003's Sweet Vengeance. They play a variation on the melodic Swedish death metal style popularized by … Read more

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