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)

Cannibal Corpse

Kill
Metal Blade (2006)

I initially prefixed the heading of this review as "Neil vs. Cannibal Corpse"; such was my preemptive assumption that I would hate Kill. I set myself ready for war. God knows from the off I was handed a plethora of ready material to systematically destroy the band. I mean, just look at any of their promo photos. Fucking fruits. A few of my assumptions were initially confirmed when Kill found its way onto my door mat. The layout is of blood. Awesome, would never have predicted that one. The lyrics are printed for what I assume is hilarities sake. There are so many choice morsels it is hard to decide what to quote for you. "Stabbing the faces, knocking out teeth with my nail spikes bat / Internal damage, Trauma from beatings causes organs to burst." and "Gratification achieved by dismemberment, Unnatural legions ravage the carcasses / Open wounds targets for evil defilers, seed of iniquity covers the body parts." in particular provided me with many a genuine LOL. Once you get past the thick layer of cheesy bullshit there is actually a fairly good brutal album underneath (…the rotting flesh of children decaying by the road side, or something). … Read more

Pink Razors

Waiting to Wash Up
Robotic Empire (2006)

Do you remember when pop-punk wasn't sung by guys with swooping black'n bleached haircuts wearing button-up shirts and girl pants? … Read more

Changing Face

Our Last Chance
Escapist (2006)

Changing Face's debut EP, Our Last Chance demonstrates a side of hardcore that is most commonly looked down upon. The … Read more

Streetlight Manifesto

Keasbey Nights
Victory (2006)

In 1998, Catch 22's first, and defining album, Keasbey Nights was released by Victory Records. The release was a departure … Read more

Set Your Goals

Reset
Eulogy (2006)

Deje vu. Nearly two years ago I was writing a review of the original release of this EP. I closed … Read more

Integrity

Those Who Fear Tomorrow (Reissue)
Fractured Transmitter (2006)

Growing up on a steady diet of Sabbath, the darker aspects of music always held so much appeal to me. … Read more

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One from the archives

Pirate

Left Of Mind
Bird's Robes (2011)

How on Earth do you achieve a goal as lofty and vaguely-defined as “to break out of the norm and push boundaries?” Well, Sydney-based progressive four-piece Pirate aimed to find out with their 2011 debut EP, Left of Mind, which was created with that exact goal in mind. Whether or not they actually succeeded is a different case entirely.I'll admit, when this album wants to be, it can be insanely cool in ways that are truly new and exciting. The title track is easily the highlight of the album, featuring not only the most engrossing melodies to be found on it and some particularly delicious bass from Ben Norvill, but an awesome sax solo from Joel Woolf to boot. I should also give the man credit for his vocal work; … Read more

More album reviews

Ennio Morricone

Crime and Dissonance
Ipecac (2005)

This is a biased review. Fuck you, you don't know me. I refuse to review this on the same bell curve as your lame little emo band. Genius is genius, period. And now, the review...... There are few living composers spoken of with more reverence than Ennio Morricone. Arguably (don't argue) the most famous film composer since the birth of … Read more

Go it Alone / Blue Monday

Split
Rivalry (2006)

I know very little of Vancouver, British Columbia other than the fact that the bulk of X-Files was filmed there and that it has the nickname of "Rain City." I may not be well versed in Canadian culture (everything I know was learned from repeated screenings of Strange Brew), but I do know that Vancouver is home to some stellar … Read more

La Quiete

Tenpeun '01-'05
The Perpetual Motion Machine (2006)

For whatever reason, the Italian La Quiete is supremely underrated. They've been putting out releases since 2001 and for whatever reason dudes and dudettes alike are sleeping on them. Well, now's your time to wake up, because their newest release, Tenpeun '01-'05 is a discography of sorts that includes their OOP (out of print) material. Included are their song(s) from … Read more

Ghost Buffalo

Ghost Buffalo
Suburban Home (2006)

Ghost Buffalo is an alt-country-ish band from Colorado. They lean more to the "alt" side of that genre as they don't really use (at least on this record) lap pedal steel guitar, banjo, or any other instrumentation that one would expect to hear on a country record. The record is also largely absent of country twang. This is a good … Read more

Omar Rodriguez

Omar Rodriguez
Willie Anderson (2006)

Recorded between shows on The Mars Volta's recent European tour, Omar Rodriguez' second solo outing is a different beast from his previous release on his GSL label, 2004's A Manual Dexterity: Soundtrack Volume 1. Recorded with a band partially recruited from Mars Volta personnel and other musicians, present to bolster the instrument count, the record serves not just as a … Read more

Resplendent

Am I Free? I Am Free
Mixx Tape (2005)

You might not have heard of Michael Lenzi, aka Resplendent, but if you have, you're probably wondering how a guy like this can go so unnoticed. He's that favorite actor or actress you fall in love with at first sight, but in this case, first listen. If you've missed out on the last three records, be here for what might … Read more

Magrundergrind / Shitstorm

Split
Robotic Empire (2006)

A few years back, I used to be friends with this kid Lee. He played drums in a few local metal bands and he loved blastbeats. He predominantly listened to a grind and death metal bands. I haven't seen him in quite some time, but if I did happen to run into him, I'd suggest that he buy this split … Read more

Let Planes Circle Overhead

Let Planes Circle Overhead
Motivesounds (2005)

Tantric music has its charms, but more often than not, it's boring as shit. What's tantric music you ask? Well I'll tell you, you nosey bastards. We all know what tantric sex is and the music works on the same principle. It starts out soft and mellow, keeps building and building, gets harder and harder, but never busts a nut. … Read more

New Bruises

Transmit! Transmit!
Kiss of Death (2005)

I don't think there's anyone on Scene Point Blank's staff that remembers Mid Carson July besides me and maybe Bob, but I'm grasping at straws there. Mid Carson July was mid-tempo emo band from Pennsylvania that went on to be a mid-tempo melodic punk band from Florida. I owned a couple of CD's from Mid Carson July but never thought … Read more

Cathedral

Garden of Unearthly Delights
Nuclear Blast (2006)

If you are into doom, stoner, or sludge metal and you don't know who Cathedral is, you fail at life. For the sonically impaired, Cathedral are one of the progenitors of the modern doom and stoner metal movement. They have released some of the most enjoyable records of these genres in their lengthy existence. Their first album, Forest of Equilibrium … Read more

Anti-Flag

For Blood and Empire
RCA (2006)

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Anti-Flag

For Blood and Empire
RCA (2006)

Punk rock has always been centered on the voicing of ones opinion, with the vast majority of those opinions taking direct aim at politics. In the 70's and 80's, leaders like Jello Biafra and Joey Shithead got so involved in political happenings that they found their way into jails and courthouses on frequent occasions. These encounters only added further fuel … Read more

Rocky Votolato

Makers
Barsuk (2006)

Seattle artist Rocky Votolato has been a busy man of late. His debut record for Barsuk, Makers, has already seen an episode of cult teen series The O.C. use the opening track, "White Daisy Passing", on its soundtrack. Such lofty heights for the Texan-born singer were hard to imagine back in his Second Nature Records days. Makers is a record … Read more

A Wilhelm Scream

Diver
Jumpstart (2006)

Ok, so it's no secret that I really like A Wilhelm Scream. Like, a lot. I gave their most recent full-length, Ruiner, an 8.5 out of a possible 10. The full-length has yet to leave regular rotation in my listening habits, and the thing's been out since August! There had been talks from Jumpstart Records for a long time that … Read more

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