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)

Joy Division

Unknown Pleasures / Closer (Reissues)
Warner Bros. (2007)

With the imminent release of Control the bio-pic of frontman Ian Curtis, the death of Tony Wilson, and former members Hooky and Barney making the news by squabbling over the name New Order, there again seems to be a large rise of interest in one of the most pioneering bands this world has ever seen - Joy Division. Being ones never to miss a trick, the label that owns the rights to the music, Warner Bros., have reissued the debut album Unknown Pleasures complete with a live CD from The Factory Club night on July 13th 1979, and Closer backed with the set from the ULU and Still with a live CD recorded in High Wycombe just days before Curtis took his life (long have I believed that visiting the rotting shit hole of High Wycombe is the most likely reason for his suicide, but that is more fitting for a blog one day). Released in June of 1979, Unknown Pleasures is one of, if not the, greatest debut albums ever recorded. The sonic wash of "Disorder" as the guitars and drums flow over you during the intro to the song is something that has long stayed with me; there … Read more

Unholy

Blood of the Medusa
Lambgoat (2007)

Unholy first appeared on the hardcore radar in late 2004 when demo recordings from the band surfaced on the Internet. … Read more

Death Breath

Let it Stink
Relapse (2007)

Alright, let's look at the stats: Name: Death Breath. A truly ridiculous name for a band of any genre Albums: … Read more

Hellhole

Hellhole
Off the Books (2007)

With the release of their first 7", New Jersey's Hellhole demonstrates just what it means to be pissed off and … Read more

Living Hell

Pavor Nocturnis
Rock Vegas/A389/Lockin’ Out (2006)

Last year I declared this release from Living Hell as one of the top demos that got upgraded to an … Read more

The Cancer Kids

The Possible Dream
Youth Attack (2006)

The Cancer Kids call Massachusetts home. But unlike many of the artists from the state, they don't play tough-guy hardcore … Read more

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One from the archives

Eagles of Death Metal

Heart On
Downtown (2008)

Josh Homme wants it to be clear: Eagles of Death Metal is not a side project. Though he rakes in most of his dough and critical acclaim with Queens of the Stone Age, drumming for Eagles of Death Metal brings him just as much satisfaction as his big band does. Probably because he gets to play with his childhood friend, Jesse "The Devil" Hughes, a mustachioed man of action who loves to "get freaky in the shadows of the night." Eagles of Death Metal could possibly be viewed as a novelty act, given their propensity for goofy lyrics and shameless musical theft and debts, owed mostly to the Rolling Stones and 70's boogie rockers. Call them whatever you want, but they are only bringing those flames even higher, as Heart … Read more

More album reviews

La Piovra

La Piovra
Youth Attack (2006)

Music from foreign countries is something that I always find interesting, especially when they sing in their native language. La Piovra takes its name from a series on Italian TV about the Mafia - essentially the original version of The Soprano's. The band hails from Italy and play fast-paced hardcore punk. This one-side 12" is made up of six songs. … Read more

Sadville

Make Ready the Cross
Inkblot (2006)

Tennessee natives Sadville without a doubt could be the biggest misnomer for a group. These dudes don't play sad bastard emo at all. Instead they play stoner metal with elements of doom and hardcore punk. You can only imagine the relief when I heard the music after looking at their name. Make Ready the Cross is seven tracks long, but … Read more

Brainworms

Which is Worse
Rorschach (2007)

Brainworms hail from Richmond, VA, a city with a rich hardcore/punk history. So it's not a surprise that the members of Brainworms have made waves with several other bands. Which is Worse combines up the band's original demo and cassette only release Is it Weird? Musically, Brainworms is teetering on the line between hardcore and indie rock, so I guess … Read more

Rampage

Limit of Destruction
Lockin’ Out (2007)

Boston-based hardcore outfit Rampage unleash thirteen tracks of thrash influenced hardcore on Limit of Destruction. Some of the cuts here take on a definite New York hardcore vibe, while others incorporate a more tharshy and early crossover sound of D.R.I. The title-track was definitely my favorite song on this 12", it had a good groove and nice 90's styled breakdown. … Read more

Four Days to Burn

Lieutenant/Casino Bitch
Dada Drumming (2006)

Looking at the cover art to this 7" I was anticipating one of two things: stoner metal or art-metal akin to the Hydra Head roster. What I got was not too far off. Texas natives Four Days to Burn churn out two cuts of stoner metal with flairs of southern rock and metalcore. On side A we're treated to "Lieutenant." … Read more

Kids Explode / Dialogues

Split
Rome Plow (2006)

Rome Plow Records serves up another offering of under the radar music on this split 7". This time around we've got two bands that draw influence from the post-punk scene of the 90's. Kids Explode hail from Germany and offer up one song, "A Romance in Alcohol." The music sounds like a mixture of guitar-driven indie rock like Minus the … Read more

The Mall

Emergency at Everyday
Discos Huelga (2006)

The Mall plays post-hardcore with aspects of screamo and indie rock. But the most identifiable characteristic of their music is the use of keys. The have an 8-bit feel at times, and definitely dominate the musical landscape of the songs. Without the use of keys I would say that there is really nothing about these songs that stand out. I … Read more

Iamb / Candle

Come Back Home
Real Love (2007)

Two artists from California team up for a split 7". Iamb is the work on single individual - Ross Major - with the help of several friends. On this 7" he offers two songs. The first, "Three Years," is a mixture of indie rock and folk, not unlike the artists of Saddle Creek Records. "One Afternoon," on the other hand … Read more

Foot Foot / Casiotone for the Painfully Alone

Split
Oedipus (2006)

Los Angeles-based label Oedipus Records is an independent label run out of an apartment. As an individual doing the same thing with my label, I have admiration for the people of Oedipus. The latest release from the label is a split 7" from two folk/indie artists: Foot Foot and Casiotone for the Painfully Alone. Casiotone for the Painfully Alone lead … Read more

Thieves and Assassins

Martyr Brigade
Iron Pier (2007)

Everything I get in for review goes through the same process. The first thing I do after I greedily rip into the manila envelope like a kid on Christmas is check out the layout. You can tell a lot just from a cover of a CD. Usually if the cover depicts a scene of armored knights upon horseback fending off … Read more

The Degenerics

Generic Record Collection
Soulrebel (2007)

Our recent Scene Point Blank reader's poll told us at least two things about you, the reader: (1) you want to see less reviews of "generic hardcore", and (2) hardcore is your favorite genre. (If this doesn't apply to you, sorry; you should've chipped in!) So you love hardcore, but also hold high standards for it; maybe you're sick of … Read more

New Idea Society

The World is Bright and Lonely
Exotic Fever (2007)

For The World is Bright and Lonely, New Idea Society's Mike Law walks a fine line between poetry and prose. The lyrical structures are simple and for the most part unchanging, and there is a more simple pattern within it all, almost every line the start of a new thought or idea. But herein lies the genius and creativity that … Read more

The Black Atlantic

Send This Home
Five Point (2007)

Have you ever gone to a movie expecting to see an action movie, but as you watch it, you realize it's a drama? Not quite what you were expecting, but unless you're a meathead you take it for what it is and realize it's still pretty good. This is the case for The Black Atlantic's debut EP Send This Home. … Read more

Weedeater

God Luck and Good Speed
Southern Lord (2007)

When a band's name makes reference to sinful pleasures, especially of the herbal nature, it's a sign their sound will be akin to Black Sabbath; the emphasis on slow riffing that sounds even heavier due to down-tuned instruments. Weedeater is a perfect example, taking the suggestive themes of drug abuse and sacrilege made famous by Sabbath to new heights but … Read more

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