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Playing Enemy

I Was Your City
Hawthorne Street (2005)

The members of Playing Enemy certainly have an impressive resume of musical ventures in which they have been previously involved: Rorschach, Kiss it Goodbye, Deadguy, Undertow, and Nineironspitfire among others. But rather than re-hash sounds and styles characteristic of those projects, Playing Enemy, instead ventured down a different path in the hardcore/metal realm. The Seattle-based band first hit the scene … Read more

Shere Kahn

Get Fucked
Rock Vegas (2005)

I was really excited when I put this CD on. For years there have been rumors of a Goonies sequel popping up here and there in the media. It always made me wonder what happened to the cast. Whichever Cory it was had been in and out of rehab and the tabloids, before discovering his true calling as a (failed) … Read more

The Nothing / Send More Paramedics

North of England, South of Heaven
In at the Deep End (2005)

There's not really that many instances I can think of where I could use the words; "hardcore", "thrash metal" and "zombies" in the same sentence to refer to something good. In fact, I'm not even sure I can think of many instances when I'd ever use those words in the same sentence at all. When talking about Send More Paramedics … Read more

Hot Hot Heat

Elevator
Warner Bros. (2005)

Hot Hot Heat has managed to weave in and out of the limelight in the last few years. Often compared to the Cure, they are able to hold onto the fringes of the mainstream thanks to the "new" new wave and dance rock movements. The single that broke them to the mainstream was the catchy yet repetitive "Bandages," which has … Read more

A Silver Mount Zion

Horses in the Sky
Constellation (2005)

A few days after Horses in the Sky was released, *coughtwomonthsagocough*, I sat down and tried to review it. After one listen my review was nearly done. I'd given the album a score of 5.0, dismissing it as "the most frustrating album of the year." I now realize that my review, while being both wildly hilarious and jarringly insightful, was … Read more

Torche

Torche
Robotic Empire (2005)

Whenever I am having a discussion of music with friends, which happens more often then I'd like to admit, for music is my sole sense of being, the topic of why there aren't more "sludge-metal bands incorporating vocals into their songs always seems to come up. I've always had an answer - I won't divulge it here for fear of … Read more

Meshuggah

Catch Thirty Three
Nuclear Blast (2005)

There are lots of ways that one can view the genre of metal and any of its countless sub-genres - a soundtrack to your miserable life, a vicarious escape from the mundane, the optimum means of combating (or embracing) anger - all are possibilities, but not many will admit to regarding it as a valid art form, just as capable … Read more

Final Fight

Under Attack
Straight On (2005)

Lack of sleep, Influenza A virus and a spike through your chest, among other things, cause people to get sick. When you get sick usually taking medicine is the cure. Lately I've been getting sick of "amazing-core". It's essentially hardcore pop: vague lyrics that every hardcore kid and hot topic consumers can connect to paved atop over-the-top polished "HXC jamz." … Read more

Brain Failure

American Dreamer
Thorp (2005)

Punk is a relative concept. In 1982, shaving your head into a mohawk and wearing studded jewelry was a symbol of rebellion. It was the aesthetic of a youth movement fueled by frustration with the status quo. It was a visual statement against suburbanite jocks listening to Bad Company and Styx. Today, the mohawk is a passing fad in hair … Read more

System of a Down

Mezmerize
Sony (2005)

Let me begin with a disclaimer. I don't mean to rant, but in general, I hate political bands. I can't stand political bands. I can't stand them because, generally, when they aren't misinformed fools popularizing redundant attitudes, they are sententious idiots that are just as misguided as victims of their malignant invectives. Generally. Somewhere then, in what is a combative … Read more

Foo Fighters

In Your Honor
RCA (2005)

"When someone comes up to you and asks which Led Zeppelin album they should buy, you should say 'Physical Graffiti'. And in 20 years, when your kid comes up to you and asks which Foo Fighters album he or she should buy, I want you to say 'In Your Honor'." - Dave Grohl, 2005 Strong words, Mr. Grohl. Particularly since … Read more

Multiple Authors

These Days

These Days
In Spite (2005)

"Hey, these dudes are seriously pissed." That's probably the initial thought that comes to mind when listening to These Days debut full-length. Yes indeed, the music is highly volatile and the lyrics are quite hostile at points. But don't write this Norcal hardcore outfit off as just another bro-band acting tough, for These Days are more than meets the eyes' … Read more

Multiple Authors

These Days

These Days
In Spite (2005)

These Days took the time to build a following, and then just after they released their debut full-length, they decided to take a break. This self-titled release is These Days' newest, and their best. These Days is all brand new material, except for one song, "Never Ending," which is re-recorded from their demo. Among the brand new songs is possibly … Read more

Spoon

Gimmie Fiction
Merge (2005)

Music elitists say that excellent music has not come out since the 70's; that the past thirty odd some years have been regurgitated, diluted crap. Some might admit that there have been some good bands in the past couple of years, but none of those bands are groundbreaking or memorable. And in the end, those bands are just extremely influenced … Read more

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