Recent reviews

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)

Animosity

Animal
Black Market Activities (2007)

Animosity has proven that metal can truly reign supreme again in the Bay Area. Following the initial burst of thrash metal that drew the attention of every person with long hair and a will to bang their head, the metal scene of San Francisco and its surrounding areas fell off and almost completely dissipated. Granted, in its absence we were catered to by a flourishing hardcore scene. But, when you're a Hessian seeking nothing more than wicked guitars, hardcore just doesn't cut it. With Animal, their second full-length and sophomore effort for Black Market Activities, Animosity have brought an unrelenting attack of thrash and death metal with the occasional flair of hardcore flavoring to the table. "Terrorstorm" begins the assault with a mixture of stunning drumwork courtesy of Navene Koperwies' insane double bass, killer blast-beats, and mind-boggling fills, newcomer Evan Brewer's fluid basslines, and the wicked shredding of guitar duo Frank Costa and Chase Fraser. Vocalist Leo Miller rounds out the team as he growls, shrieks, and spews his anger, hate, and frustration. Throughout Animal, Animosity demonstrate their growth as musicians and songwriters since their previous number, 2005's Empires. "Tooth Grinder" is a great example of this with its infusion … Read more

Broadway Calls

Broadway Calls
State of Mind (2007)

The term "pop-punk" has been really batted around in 2007. It has been used describe every band from Set Your … Read more

Ravens and Chimes

Reichenbach Falls
Better Looking (2007)

Lets paint a picture. After weeks of midterms and presentations in combination with 'seasonal' weather, I couldn't decide if I … Read more

Zs

Arms
Planaria (2007)

I was lucky enough to see Zs live on tour with The Locust, and I must first mention how badly … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Sweet Cobra

Forever
Hawthorne Street (2007)

Attempting to mix hardcore, d-beat, and riff heavy rock, Sweet Cobra does each with authority but sound unfocused when fusing … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Romans

All Those Wrists
Independent (2007)

Romans is the latest band to be sprung forth from Vermont's underground music scene - the last two that I … Read more

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One from the archives

Lyra Pramuk

Delta
Bedroom Community Records (2021)

It’s not often I run into a musical project like Lyra Pramuk’s. She is the kind of artist that did away with most of what conventions are, at least when it comes down to styles and labels. It is obvious that she has no regard for cookie-cutter/run of the mill/dime a dozen kinds of approaches to music. With an incredibly open mind and a brave heart she delivers a thrillingly honest musical discourse to her listeners. Her newest offering, Delta, makes no exception from this. Featuring the entirety of Fountain as remixed/reworked material, along with some fresh material as well, the record pushed the envelope of what we tend to expect usually from music. Don’t start imagining that this is some zany sound sculpture or some wild psychoacoustic experiment, it … Read more

More album reviews

200 Words Or Less

Xasthur

Defective Epitaph
Hydra Head (2007)

One-man black metal projects certainly have become overabundant in the past couple of years. I'm not exactly sure what brought on their increased presence in music, but nevertheless, their popularity has grown exponentially in recent years. Xasthur, which is the project of Malefic, has been releasing material under this moniker since 1995. Defective Epitaph is his sixth full-length release and … Read more

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Intronaut

The Challenger
Translation Loss (2007)

After the release of their debut full-length last year, Intronaut return with an EP containing three new songs and some added bells and whistles. The Challenger kicks off with the title-track and the members of Intronaut pick up where they previously left off with a fairly straight-forward display of metal, oftentimes reminiscent of High on Fire. "Whittler of Fortune" sees … Read more

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Don't Mess With Texas

Los Dias de Junio
Moonlee (2007)

Don't Mess with Texas is my first exposure to any artist from the country of Croatia. Despite reading through their one-sheet, I was a little skeptical of what I might hear - some crazy gypsy folk perhaps? Nevertheless, Los Dias de Junio made its way into my CD player and I was rewarded for my lack of abandoning hope. Los … Read more

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The Flatliners

The Great Awake
Fat Wreck Chords (2007)

The Flatliners hail from Toronto, Canada and The Great Awake is their second full-length. By the Fat Wreck Chords connection, you can certainly expect this, in the most general of descriptions, to be punk music. And sure enough, The Flatliners offer up twelve punk anthems to cause a ruckus to on this album. However, The Flatliners aren't your run-of-the-mill punk … Read more

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The Catalyst / Brainworms

Split
Rorschach (2007)

This split 7" features two up-and-comers from the hardcore punk scene of Richmond, VA: The Catalyst and Brainworms. Brianworms is up first with two cuts. "Winnie Cooper" takes to the less caustic sound we heard on the band's previous release. The song is a lot more indie rock than hardcore or punk; at times it reminds me of The (International) … Read more

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The Flash Attacks

Revenge of the Fruit Flies
Circle F (2007)

I know I've said this before, but sometimes a randomly received album can be a pleasant surprise. The Flash Attacks latest 7" release, Revenge of the Fruit Flies arrived at my door unsolicited, but you won't hear me complaining. Over the course of these four songs, the New Jersey three-piece unleashes a high-octane onslaught of hardcore punk with some thrashy … Read more

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The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza

Danza II: The Electric Boogaloo
Black Market Activities (2007)

This Louisiana/Tennessee metal conglomerate has a fairly funny yet juvenile name that is likely a huge hit with the faux-hardcore kids. But rather than live off of namesake alone, The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza can actually write a good song or two. Danza II: The Electric Boogaloo is the band's second full-length and third overall release. Since releasing their self-titled … Read more

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The Narrows

Benjamin
Wantage (2007)

The Narrows have been a band for nearly nine years and yet this is my first exposure to them. And its not like they haven't been trying; the three-piece outfit from Bellingham, WA have released an EP or LP for nearly every year they've been a band. Benjamin is the band's fifth full-length and clocks in at just under fifty … Read more

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New Atlantic

The Streets, the Sounds, and the Love
Eyeball (2007)

Hmmmmmm. That's the sound inside my head when I popped in New Atlantic's The Streets, the Sounds, and the Love. That is the sound of deep contemplation on what exactly New Atlantic is trying to accomplish with their first full-length. Hmmmmmm. The sound continues as I make my way through the ten songs that comprise this album. I hear pop-driven … Read more

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Fall of Serenity

Bloodred Salvation
Lifeforce (2006)

There seems to be an unhealthy amount of metalcore originating from the usually respectable country of Germany. And they all seem to be on Lifeforce. Out of these bands, Fall of Serenity is one of the better ones, or at least one of the least annoying of the bunch. The worldwide metalcore herd needs some serious thinning out, but Fall … Read more

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Deadsoil

Sacrifice
Lifeforce (2006)

Deadsoil is another one of those by the numbers German metalcore acts that I have come to expect from Lifeforce Records. But instead of being a Heaven Shall Burn ripoff, Deadsoil is more of a Hatebreed/Bury Your Dead ripoff, except with obnoxious singing parts and typical guitar harmonies. To their credit, the band does have considerably more musical chops than … Read more

Look Mexico

This is Animal Music
Lujo (2007)

With the exception of Gainesville, nothing good ever comes out of Florida. Or so I thought until I had the distinct pleasure of witnessing Look Mexico. Astonishing, entrancing, downright entertaining: all proper verbs to describe their performance. The next day I couldn't remember what they sounded like due to circumstances I needn't get into, but I remembered I hadn't felt … Read more

Under Pressure

Black Bile
Escape Artist (2007)

Apparently, Under Pressure hails from Winnipeg, Canada - former home of the Jets hockey team before they became the Phoenix Coyotes. Black Bile is the latest release for the band following several seven inches, compilation appearances, splits, and full-lengths; an impressive amount of work since their formation in 2003. Still, this is my first exposure to Under Pressure, and it … Read more

Said Radio

Tidal Waves and Teeth
Mankind (2007)

The initial rumblings of Said Radio caused a lot of excitement in the punk/hardcore community, and for good reason. Rumors of Said Radio - though different names have been tossed around - began to circulate the Internet early in the year, but by mid-Summer Said Radio was officially unveiled. Eric Ozenne, formerly of Redemption 87 and The Nerve Agents, is … Read more

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

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