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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)

Think I Care

World Asylum
Bridge Nine (2006)

During the Cold War, the specter of Mutually Assured Destruction formed the backdrop against which many musical and literary statements were articulated, but in today's post-9/11 world there are a myriad of new concerns to take the place of the long-standing threat of nuclear annihilation (which still exists but is now usually placed comfortably out of view). Of all possible responses to the evaporation of atomic age terror, Think I Care chose nostalgia. The cover depicts a devastated metropolis and the title track roars with bitterness: "Look at this asylum we live in…Armageddon can't come soon enough." World Asylum is a record about as pleasant and friendly as a toxic waste dump. This is hard, ugly music that's dripping with contempt; an appropriate soundtrack for a public execution or the demolition of a major city. The adjective "brutal" gets tossed around a lot to describe bands like this, but I've rarely heard an album more aptly described as brutal than World Asylum. It's got that same air of savage caveman fury that you hear in Crossed Out, but bolstered by an awesome production and some truly memorable songs. It's undoubtedly Think I Care's best offering yet; the band has never … Read more

Divider

At Twilight
Shock Value (2006)

A few days ago I found out that I had Bell's Palsy - the muscles that control the right side … Read more

From the Ground Up

Words Can't Explain
Round Two (2006)

Words Can't Explain may be the title of this compilation of From The Ground Up's 2004 demo and a handful … Read more

The Dillinger Escape Plan

Plagiarism
Independent (2006)

Some bands churn out albums like they have nothing better to do and some bands release an album every couple … Read more

Maximum Penalty

Demo '89 & East Side Story EP
I Scream (2006)

By the end of the 1980's New York City youth-crew was in its final days and tougher, fatter, metal-laced hardcore … Read more

Dashboard Confessional

Dusk and Summer
Vagrant (2006)

Being in high school when The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most came out, I played the role … Read more

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One from the archives

Wolf Eyes

Burned Mind
Sub Pop (2004)

Listening to Wolf Eyes is not what I'd call a traditionally pleasurable experience. Unless you consider having your face ravaged by a two-by-four while masturbating to an execution an enjoyable experience or, to a lesser extent, tonguing a blister you got from drinking hot soup, I'd advise you to skip over this review and check out what Zed has to say about the new Hot Cross or whatever. Though this may be Wolf Eyes' first major release (for Sub Pop no less!), the group is no spring chicken; with over 50 tape, CD-R, vinyl, split, and compilation appearances to their credit, the group has been taking their brutal amalgam of pure sadism and noise to audiences around the country for nearly a decade now, even managing to finagle opening slots … Read more

More album reviews

Ambulette

The Lottery
Astralwerks (2006)

When a band breaks up, it can be a good thing. The members who your ears felt a pull for will start new bands in new directions. Such is the case when Denali broke up, a band that started off jaw-dropping-good with Denali and then stagnated into something slightly better than generic with The Instinct that loomed into a large … Read more

Mind Eraser

Glacial Reign
Painkiller (2006)

I will put this simply. There are too many powerviolence bands. You can find more Myspace pages with Infest and No Comment under their influences than were ever records pressed from either band. I've realized this is a pretty egregious style of music (kind of like moshcore…which these kids call stupid and neandrathalic). So who out there is stopping the … Read more

Betrayed

Substance
Equal Vision (2006)

I just finished watching the trailer for the book-to-film documentary American Hardcore and it got me thinking. Anyone that claims to be a fan of hardcore/punk is bound by an unwritten law to have read that book, as well as Get in the Van. Many - mostly the older blokes - feel that those times documented in those books were … Read more

Empty

Open Aeon
Aphotic Audio (2006)

The alternative electronic world is a strange one. In a realm of, literally, limitless possibilities, beats and effects and bound only by human imagination, there is a clique of acts that all sound the same. These acts make electronic music in the same way that punk bands make punk music. There are, of course, a few exceptions to that rule … Read more

Sonic Youth

Rather Ripped
Geffen (2006)

I love Sonic Youth. I've been a fan from the beginning. So it is with a heavy heart I say that their newest album Rather Ripped is neither Sonic, nor Youthful. "Sure", you cynical bastards say, "I've been feeling that way since Goo". But with each subsequent album, the band has found a way to tweak their sound just enough … Read more

Sonic Youth

Rather Ripped
Geffen (2006)

Rather Ripped showcases a slight stylistic shift for Sonic Youth. Their trademarked noisy dirge rock has been subdued a bit to allow a bit of melody to accentuate the more subtle nature of their music. Quite possibly, this may be the most accessible the band has been since Goo and Dirty, which is not a bad thing. At more than … Read more

No Trigger

Canyoneer
Nitro (2006)

Melodic hardcore seems to be falling back into favor these days, which is a good thing in my opinion. And Massachusetts' No Trigger provides an excellent debut full-length that doesn't stray from the tried-and-true. Everything you'd expect from a melodic hardcore band is here: breakneck speeds, good ol' guitar solos, gang vocals, etc., and though it's not as fresh a … Read more

Terror

Always the Hard Way
Trustkill (2006)

Terror is one of the hardest bands ever. Not that being hard makes a band good, but it definitely adds a sense of credibility and relativity when listening to Scott Vogel's lyrics. In a scene, no, a world full of "pussy ass fronters" (Vogelism - 6/14/2005 - West Dundee, IL), it's nice to know there is a band that describes … Read more

The Hope Conspiracy

Hang Your Cross
Deathwish Inc. (2006)

Hang Your Cross is déjá vu; my ears relay the message to my head, "We've heard this before... we think." The Hope Conspiracy has made some steps since their last effort, Endnote. However, it's up to the listener to decide in which direction these steps were taken. Depending on how you feel about the band - or if you are … Read more

The Hope Conspiracy

Hang Your Cross
Deathwish Inc. (2006)

Okay, okay, yes The Hope Conspiracy is back and Hang Your Cross is the clarion call for their abrasive take on hardcore. Keeping with the their usual revolving door of a line-up, Neeraj Kane (also of The Suicide File) is back on guitar, and Tim Cossar (American Nightmare, Bars, and Ten Yard Fight) joins as the second guitarist. In essence, … Read more

Envy

Insomniac Doze
Temporary Residence (2006)

"In such an ugly time the real protest is beauty," said some smart dude once. Right now, July 17 of 2006 at 3:36 p.m. I'm living in one of the ugliest times in the history of the homo sapien. Reading any newspaper makes that abundantly clear with who-knows-what on the horizon. At the moment out of everything that I can … Read more

Envy

Insomniac Doze
Temporary Residence (2006)

Unless you haven't heard Envy before, which would be a tragic mistake, then you already know how incredible this Japan-based melodic hardcore band is. This band truly is the instrumental representation of angst and sincerity that is a rare find in the crowded pool of crappy hardcore bands today. That being said, their new album, Insomniac Doze is sure to … Read more

Envy

Insomniac Doze
Temporary Residence (2006)

I came to Insomniac Doze with no prior knowledge of Envy, but with a strong interest in Japanese culture. As a country, Japan isn't exactly renowned for its success in the international music scene. Its successful exports tend to be few and far between, offering only a brief glimpse into what is in fact perhaps one of the most diverse … Read more

Head Automatica

Popaganda
Warner Bros. (2006)

When searching Daryl Palumbo's name on Wikipedia - a great tool to prolong pointless Internet usage - an interesting passage appears under the trivia headline: "Palumbo is an avid fan of 80's British band Squeeze and the Godzilla universe. He is considered an anglophile." After reading this last line it seems the direction Head Automatica took with Popaganda makes perfect … 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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