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)

Tides

From Silence
Teenage Disco Bloodbath (2006)

Tides have undergone a number of changes since we last heard from them on 2005's Resurface. Most notably, the band has added a second guitar player in Tim Fickeisen and they've picked up and moved from rural upstate New York for the metropolis of Boston. And even with those dramatic changes, Tides remain a focused rock outfit playing airy instrumental post-rock music. From Silence is comprised of three tracks, but when you listen to the album you really can't tell because the songs flow together as one. One listen to "The Sight" and its obvious that the band has grown as songwriters and thus refined their sound; the music is much more fluid and the transitions between the different segments are crisper. It also appears that the band has moved away from the direction of Isis (for the most part) and towards Explosions in the Sky - less distortion and more intricate melodies. This directional change will no doubt be accented by the presence of a second guitar in a live setting. "Unveiled" is bit more ambiguous as it is mainly comprised of swirling background noises/electronics and some droney guitar riffs. The closer, "In Their Arms," is more of the … Read more

Gracer

Voices Travel
Revelation (2006)

I feel sorry for emo kids these days. Rather than being a certain clique that listens to a certain type … Read more

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Stadium Arcadium
Warner Bros. (2006)

Like some ever-present albatross around the neck of the rock scene, the Red Hot Chili Peppers continue to linger, 23 … Read more

Refused

Refused are Fucking Dead DVD
Burning Heart (2006)

A Reflection: The Death of Belief "We drove a few hours to get there. And when I got there, everybody … Read more

Path of Resistance

Can't Stop the Truth
Victory (2006)

Okay, Path of Resistance was a more hardcore project of Earth Crisis and their friends that convened the first time … Read more

Cross Examination

The Hung Jury
Organized Crime (2006)

Everybody's so political these days. Protesting this, boycotting that. Hell, there are more hippie protest songs out now then there … Read more

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One from the archives

The 69 Eyes

Death Of Darkness
Atomic Fire Records (2023)

Death Of Darkness is the thirteenth album from the Helsinki vampires The 69 Eyes. The Finnish five piece have been knocking out their smooth style of gothic, glam rock since the early 90s and have managed to deliver stunning unique and catchy albums every single time. This up coming eagerly awaited album Death Of Darkness is no exception. Featuring 10 tracks of the band at their sultry best. It includes the three tracks from their 2022 EP Drive as well as their previously unreleased cover of 80's Finnish rock band Boycott "Gotta Rock" and a track featuring guest vocals from Kat Von D! The feeling of Death Of Darkness is one of slick 80s goth rock meets new romantic glitz complete with sex appeal, leather jackets and topped off with … Read more

More album reviews

Exit the King

Exit the King
Independent (2005)

While most publications seem to avoid reviewing independent releases, I actually enjoy covering bands that aren't joined to a label. It refreshing to hear from passionate artists - it says a lot about a band to not only take the time to release an album on their own, but also to send it off to be reviewed by the "elitist … Read more

Saves the Day

Sound the Alarm
Vagrant (2006)

It's been noted that the names of New Jersey's Saves the Day's records have been somewhat contradictory to the bands' career: Can't Slow Down, Through Being Cool, and Stay What You Are. The release of 2003's In Reverie was marked by a critical panning and a fan reaction that was far from, well, reverie. In some ways, it wasn't surprising … Read more

Dismantled

Standard Issue
Dependent/Metropolis (2006)

Gary Zon's blurb about the ethic behind Standard Issue reads something like, "a sarcastic take on the simplicity and emptiness of the current musical climate." What this means is, either it sounds exactly like what it says, or it means that Dismantled have disappeared into the chasm of banality that seems the staple of the current popular set of industrial … Read more

The Dick Cavett Show

Rock Icons DVD
Sony (2005)

My parents dug Dick Cavett, or at least I think they did. My dad certainly dressed enough like him - the rayon slacks, horrible monster-size lapel shirts, and maybe they spoke in a similar way too. I know, too, that like Cavett, my dad snuck a joint or two, socially of course. Still, who can really remember much about the … Read more

Avail

Dixie / 4 AM Friday / Over the James (Reissues)
Jade Tree (2006)

It's about damn time. Avail is a much beloved punk band out of Richmond, Virginia known for their blue collar style and attitude. They are the punk rock everymen. I can vividly remember my first Avail experience, as most people that I know can. It was 1998 (yes, I was a little late on the band). They were touring with … Read more

The Sea, Like Lead / Belegost

Split
Electric Human Project (2006)

It's a Saturday afternoon and I'm at present stuck at work flipping through a copy of the latest Alternative Press magazine. Good literature it isn't, an easy read between calls it is. This particular issue sitting in my lap contains a feature on the hundred bands that are going to be "taking over" in '06; i.e. rammed down my unwilling … Read more

Eagles of Death Metal

Death by Sexy
Downtown (2006)

The Eagles of Death Metal are back in action and are kicking all notions of a sophomore slump to the curb. Death by Sexy is thirteen tracks of sassed up garage rock that makes for the ideal Summer soundtrack. So pick up a copy of this album and plan a get-together, because if there is fun to be had, this … Read more

None More Black

This is Satire
Fat Wreck Chords (2006)

Have you ever heard a record for the first time and immediately received a feeling of comfort that you would normally get from an album you've been listening to for years? Every so often, you find an album that just "clicks" with you so well that you cannot deny it, and you know you will still be listening to it … Read more

Tool

10,000 Days
Volcano (2006)

Surrealistic imagery, lyrical lunacy, and musical fanaticism will always be the staples of Tool. Floating vocals amongst flares of guitars and some of the best drumming this side of Keith Moon's infamous demise. Tool albums all have the inescapable fact that they are Tool albums; they don't sound the same, but that they all sound like Tool. That Tool's brand … Read more

Jesu

Silver
Hydra Head (2006)

The truth needs to be said. The self-titled Jesu record was an almost masterpiece that topped many critics' and fans' top records lists last year (and was the #1 album of the year here at Scene Point Blank). So, Justin Broadrick (known for being the mastermind behind Godflesh and also for his part in early Napalm Death) and company have … Read more

Mouth of the Architect / Kenoma

Split
Translation Loss (2006)

When I started to write this review I wasn't really sure what direction this introduction was going to take. So I decided to let the album play on repeat and just sit back and in my chair and look outside at the rain. I closed my eyes and proceeded to relax, allowing the soft sound of the rain falling to … Read more

Angel Blake

Angel Blake
Metal Blade (2006)

The Crown was a good band; Angel Blake, not so much. Guitarist Marko Tervonen's decision to record a solo album seemed like an interesting move at the time. Writing all the music and performing all the instruments offered him the chance to really show what he was made of. Unfortunately, what he's apparently made of is the same milquetoast mediocrity … Read more

Rainer Maria

Catastrophe Keeps Us Together
Grunion (2006)

Finally. This record has taken forever to actually see the light of day. Rainer Maria is normally consistent (at least that is the way it seemed) with their time between releases. For those who are unfamiliar with the band, Rainer Maria is a three-piece based out of Brooklyn, New York by way of Wisconsin, and they play poppy indie rock. … Read more

The Sainte Catherines

Dancing for Decadence
Fat Wreck Chords (2006)

D-Beat hardcore is becoming a quite liked genre even outside of the shower-once-a-month hardcore cretins. Hell even one those little pukes in From First to Last was recently seen in a Tragedy shirt in a promo photo for their latest album entitled I Killed my Girlfriend with my Spiky $500 Dollar Haircut and then Pouted about it. D-Beat hardcore, for … Read more

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