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)

Bones Brigade

I Hate Myself When I'm Not Skateboarding
Fight Fire With Fire (2003)

In a time where skate boarding is about as punk rock as a walk through Disneyland, where skateboarding movie soundtracks are infiltrated by hip hop and pop punk, Bones Brigade skids in just in time to skate hard and rock even harder. Everything about this will make you want to get off your ass and plunge down a hill, unless you can't even ollie like myself, and then you'll have to resort to just playing some Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. If you happen to be sitting in a wheel chair, don't let this leg required activity drag you down, there are songs that cover different subject matter. A stellar example of one of these songs is "Evil Dead", which in short is about the living dead, and although I have two working legs, I'm sure even the crippled will lay slain in the path of a horde of zombies. In true hardcore style, the lyrics are just as straight up as morning wood, in your face as a mouthful of food, and able to rhyme with satisfying results. "Evil dead rise from the grave/Making the living their slave/Evil dead crawling out of the grave/Flooding the world, it's your flesh they … Read more

90 Day Men

Panda Park
Southern (2004)

It's hard writing about a band who's been around for a while that you're just hearing for the first time. … Read more

Far From Breaking

The Identity
Youngblood (2003)

Every once in a while, a band comes along that reminds you why you ever got into hardcore music. Far … Read more

North of America

Brothers, Sisters
Level Plane (2003)

There's an alternate universe somewhere out there, one in which Steve Albini moved to Guelph, Ontario, hooked up with members … Read more

The Cocker Spaniels

Withstand the Whatnot
Artbreak (2004)

The notion of a one-man band has always seemed like a bit of a novelty to me. Whenever I used … Read more

Premonitions of War

Left In Kowloon
Victory (2003)

What can I say about Toledo, Ohio? Honestly, I never found anything about the city to be remotely appealing at … Read more

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One from the archives

At Our Heels

At Our Heels
Heart In Hand (2009)

At Our Heels is yet another in the ever growing list of bands to emerge from the Bay Area's excellent hardcore scene. Alex Pulisci began piecing together what would come to be At Our Heels following the breakup of Love, Hope and Fear. Musically the group treads similar water, fast-paced hardcore with a rock swagger. Pulisci, who enlists the drumming of Ben Murray of Light this City/Heartsounds to help write the material, has put six tracks of frantic and blistering hardcore to wax on this debut 7" release (which comes with a digital copy too). Opener "1985" is a scorching display of modern hardcore. "Coffin Stuffers" boasts a bit more of a retro hardcore sound compared to the rest of the material. "Epitaph" is easily the best work on the … Read more

More album reviews

Sun Kil Moon

Ghosts of the Great Highway
Jet Set (2003)

If this album were being reviewed by a sportswriter the scoffing would begin within it's first 10 seconds. "Cassius Clay was hit more than Sonny Liston"...what the hell is this guy talking about? What is he some kind of sports conpiracist? "You're not duping me, Kozelek!" And even though Mark Kozelek seems to have a mild obession with boxers throughout … Read more

Keelhaul

Subject to Change Without Notice
Hydra Head (2004)

Remember when you and your friends formed your first band? It didn't matter what kind of music you were going to play. As long as you had a really awesome sounding name. So when a band takes the stage and screams "We are Keelhaul, from Cleveland, Ohio," I bet the first thing that pops into your head is what the … Read more

The Black Dahlia Murder

Unhallowed
Metal Blade (2003)

There seems to be a horrible trend sweeping the lands of America like The Plague. Kids everywhere are going to salons to get their hair done, wearing silly white belts, and whining more than the emo kids we all used to hate two years ago. This trend has been labeled with the misnomer "metalcore." It seems that these bands fail … Read more

Over My Dead Body

Sink or Swim
Indecision (2003)

Throughout the 1990s, San Diego, California, became well known for its lucrative pop-rock scene. Notable artists such as Blink 182, Unwritten Law, and Sprung Monkey sprung up from the depths of the just-north-of-the-border metropolis. Towards the end of the decade a band named Over My Dead Body,or xOver My Dead Bodyx to the Straight Edge kids, started playing decent-sized shows … Read more

Beneath the Ashes

Nailed To Your Ruins
State of Grace (2003)

First reactions as much as they shouldn't matter, really in fact do. For the most part, the first reaction with a band is hearing/reading their name, and from this name their sound can even sometimes be derived. Whereas post rock instrumental bands have names that contain at least four words, hardcore bands are usually only one. With a name like … Read more

Roy

Big City Sin and Small Town Redemption
Fueled By Ramen (2003)

The whole "ex-members of" marketing campaign is starting to get out of control. The hype that surrounds these types of bands before they even release anything is ridiculous. What is the point of even reviewing them if all you ever hear is about is the artists' former endeavors? And with that question posed, I introduce you to the band Roy, … Read more

Her Space Holiday

The Young Machines
Mush (2003)

Let's get this out of the way first, like always. Her Space Holiday is the name of Marc Bianchi's project. He recently left Tigerstyle in favor of Mush to release this, his third full-length. He played in a band that all you "screamo" kids adore, known as Indian Summer. The best way to describe him would be The Postal Service … Read more

Majority Rule

Emergency Numbers
Magic Bullet (2003)

Intensity and passion are two integral parts of music that can be very hard to convey in a recording. Live it can be a lot easier, for instance, you can just jump up and down a lot and rock your crotch towards the sun and/or moon, and then the people will go "wooooo." To obtain this reaction from the people … Read more

The Darkness

Permission To Land
Atlantic (2003)

The Darkness couldn't have arrived at a more bizarre time in mainstream rock music. With scores of pedantic nü-metallers, insipid garage rock revivalists, and happy-go-lucky mall punks currently occupying the charts and airwaves, a ragtag bunch of English boys with a fondness for the grandiose, lighthearted classic rock of yesteryear would seem unlikely candidates for success. But, lo and behold, … Read more

All Night Radio

Spirit Stereo Frequency
Sub Pop (2004)

Imagine driving down an endless highway in a thunderstorm while listening to your favorite AOR station. Suddenly lightning strikes the antenna and the gaps between the songs are erased. The songs of the Beatles, the Doors, Pink Floyd, Three Dog Night and even the Gypsy Kings all begin to coincide with one another, creating intricate, lengthy tracks. Through some variety … Read more

Iron Maiden

Dance of Death
EMI (2003)

Iron Maiden has built one of the most reputable legacies of modern music. There is no doubting that. From such a legendary band, the fans can only expect the best. Having said such a thing, I'm issuing the following disclaimer: This review will be extra tough considering Maiden's history and importance to heavy metal music. First thing's first; the artwork … Read more

Capture the Flag

Start From Scratch
Go Kart (2003)

Growing up in the Toledo, OH area, I have seen Capture the Flag mature throughout the years. Starting off as the Oven Mitts years ago, they have definitely put in their dues to this scene. Their previous efforts, Time and Again and Walking Away From Everything were everything you could need from a 3 piece punk rock outfit. Unfortunately, it … Read more

Elliott

Song In the Air
Revelation (2003)

It's always sad to see a pioneer go. Especially when it feels like they have reached the peek of their game. This was the case for Elliott. Since their birth back in 1995, Elliott has cemented themselves as a trailblazer in the "emo" game. With every release, they set new standards on how the game should be played. Your first … Read more

The Long Winters

When I Pretend to Fall
Barsuk (2003)

The Long Winters started up a few years ago after vocalist John Roderick's other project "The Western State Hurricanes" split up. He began writing songs for a solo project and proceeded to go on tour with ex-Harvey Danger member Sean Nelson. Shortly after his tour, he recorded his work, and around the same time, he formed The Long Winters. Before … 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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