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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)

King Diamond

The Spider's Lullabye (reissue)
Metal Blade (2015)

When King Diamond's album The Spider's Lullabye, his sixth, was first released in 1995, it was a unique entry in the catalog as it was the first of Diamond's albums since his Fatal Portrait debut that was not a full concept album. It also marked the debut of a whole new band, with the exception of guitarist Andy La Roque, Diamond's partner in crime, who has been with King since the beginning of his solo career.There's some great guitar work from La Roque on this album, whom, along with King remain the group's main songwriters. Truth be told, when metal nerds like myself talk in hushed reverence of King's albums, Spider's Lullabye isn't the first topic of conversation, but the songs hold up. This is confirmed by the fact the title track was dusted off for the 2016 tour. The production has, of course received an upgrade to the 21st century and does the music proud. Also included is a disc of four demo versions of "Moonlight", "From the Other Side", "Spider's Lullabye" and "Dreams". These are a great inclusion - metal artists like King Diamond so rarely pull back the curtain to give us a glimpse of the unfinished … Read more

Full Of Hell

Amber Mote in the Black Vault
Bad Teeth Recordings (2016)

Full of Hell remain successful in orbiting the broad domain of hardcore punk without becoming victims of convention or straying … Read more

Graves At Sea

The Curse That Is
Relapse (2016)

During the early to mid '00s, Graves at Sea had acquired a legendary stature. Their first demo, Documents of Grief, … Read more

Kaada & Patton

Bacteria Cult
Ipecac (2016)

John Erik Kaada and Mike Patton. Two great tastes that taste great together. It's been twelve long years since the … Read more

Tombs

All Empires Fall
Relapse (2016)

Since their inception back in 2007, Tombs have been in a phase of constant turmoil. Band members have been changed … Read more

Various Artists

Crab Legs/Not Half Bad - Dorks/Nerds
Ocelot Records (2015)

Spanning the country’s geography north and south, this split from Fargo, ND’s Crab Legs and Fort Worth, TX’s Not Half … Read more

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One from the archives

Moth

Endlessly in Motion
Independent (2013)

The short-form progressive album seems to be a dying art. Bands who venture into the genre are few and far between; more infrequent still are those who can do it well. There's just something about progressive music that compels bands to push themselves longer and longer, and while that's not unwelcome, there's something to be said for fitting all of that complexity and intrigue into a smaller package. Metal newcomers Moth tackle that exact problem on their 2013 debut, Endlessly in Motion.What I like most about this album is that, while the band are firmly rooted in straight-up death metal with a noticeable progressive twist, they don't let themselves get chained down doing one thing. You can hear clear hints of death metal, heavy metal, and djent throughout the album, … Read more

More album reviews

Nevermen

Nevermen
Ipecac (2016)

The list of people that Mike Patton has collaborated with over the years is as long as it is diverse. Not so diverse however, that any of the co-conspirators were a surprise, be they Dan the Automator, Melt Banana, Rahzel or untold others.So when the Nevermen album was announced, featuring Patton, Anticon founder Adam ‘Deosone’ Drucker and Tunde Adebimpe from … Read more

Magrudergrind

II
Relapse (2016)

Fucking finally. It’s been six long years since we’ve heard from the Brooklyn via D.C. grind-brigade. This month marks the release of II, the only Magrudergrind record since 2010’s Crusher EP and a welcome relief to those only moderately pacified by Avi Kulawy’s (vocals) doom project, Ruine. II presents some major changes from Magrudergrind without exhibiting a substantial departure from … Read more

Wolvserpent

Aporia: Kala: Ananta
Relapse (2016)

When it comes to mystical vibes, few can challenge the music of Wolvserpent. The duo consisting of Blake Green and Brittany McConnell in the past six years has been putting out a series excellent works. From their debut, Blood Seed, their drone/doom vision started coming into view, a concept that felt finalized with the release of their latest album, Perigaea … Read more

Various Artists

Radon/Worthwhile Way - split 7"
No Idea/Eager Beaver (2015)

Radon has never really done a lot for me. The melodies are nice but it really never strikes a chord one way or the other. In “Headaches and Bullshit,” it’s 2:29 of their traditional sound, melodic and emotional, delivered via Dave Rohm’s Greg Attonito-styled (Bouncing Souls) vocals over melodic hardcore with an emphasis on the melodic. It does feature a … Read more

Oranssi Pazuzu

Värähtelijä
Svart Records/20 Buck Spin (2016)

Värähtelijä marks Oranssi Pazuzu’s fourth foray into the outer reaches and the Finnish band pull no punches in creating a record that melds tripped out cosmic rhythms with the distinct aesthetics of modern black metal. Oranssi Pazuzu aren’t your typical Finnish black metal band and with their music they set out to push the boundaries of what the genre should … Read more

Bunnygrunt

Vol. 4
Happy Happy Birthday To Me (2015)

St. Louis indie pop band Bunnygrunt will probably always be stuck with the 90s cuddlecore label, as much as they may hate it. The lovable duo Matt Harnish (guitars/vocals) and Karen Ried (drums/vocals) specialize in fun, disposable - and dare I say cute - punk rock, Bunnygrunt reliably delivers the ephemeral sound of what their label Happy Happy Birthday to … Read more

Emmy The Great

Second Love
Bella Union (2016)

Finding an anchor in your life is one of those inevitabilities that is constantly chattering away in the back of your head; you're trying to figure out where you should be and where you should stay. If your 20s are there to discover what you're doing with your life and which space on this planet is most homely to you, … Read more

Iggy Pop

Post Pop Depression
Loma Vista Recordings (2016)

When Iggy pop parted ways with The Stooges in the mid-seventies, no one really knew what to expect from the man next. If they had been taking bets in Vegas, the highest odds would have gone to: Moving to Berlin to collaborate with David Bowie. Nevertheless, that's exactly what happened, and the result was his first solo release, The Idiot. … Read more

The Body

No One Deserves Happiness
Thrill Jockey (2016)

Since 2010 and the release of their album All The Waters of the Earth Turn to Blood, sludge outfit The Body have really taken off. Originally found back in 1999, the band from Oregon did not seem to be very active, releasing a good debut album in 2004, but it would take six years until their next full-length. However, since … Read more

Agoraphobic Nosebleed

Arc
Relapse (2016)

It’s not often a band whose tenure spans as long as Agoraphobic Nosebleed’s makes such a successful effort in redefining their sound without conjuring notions of desired mass appeal. More importantly, it’s not often a band as influential to heavy music as Agoraphobic Nosebleed creates what is easily their most accessible effort without sacrificing their abrasive integrity. We see an … Read more

Agoraphobic Nosebleed

Arc
Relapse (2016)

Led by Scott Hull, Agoraphobic Nosebleed is one of the quintessential grindcore acts out there, and probably the most prominent band in the genre to make use of a drum machine, leading to hundreds of followers. Their style is dictated by ferocity and speed, albums filled with bursts of violence and constant pushing of your mental state. From Honky Reduction … Read more

Kindling

Galaxies
No Idea Records (2016)

Debuting in 2014 and quickly releasing the surprisingly outstanding Spike & Wave 7”, Easthampton, Massachusetts-based Kindling has undergone a substantial metamorphosis over the past few years. The original duo of Stephen Pierce (he of Ampere) and Gretchen Williams have been joined by drummer Andy Skelly and bassist Andrew Farr, allowing the group's initially rather sparse material to be fleshed out … Read more

Shadow in the Cracks

Shadow in the Cracks
Goner (2015)

What does it mean when a three-piece band has a spin-off two-piece? While the premonition is that drama is afoot for member number three, that’s probably overthinking it. At least in the case of Shadow in the Cracks, a side project of The Blind Shake where brothers Blaha split off from their main gig for a more ambient approach at … Read more

Hexvessel

When We Are Death
Century Media (2016)

Mat McNerley is sure keeping himself busy. A few months back the new Grave Pleasures (ex-Beastmilk) album came along, and soon enough a Hexvessel album would follow. That would mark the third full-length record that Hexvessel would release, coming after Dawnbringer and No Holier Temple, and following an excellent EP in Iron Marsh.When We Are Death carries on the psychedelic … Read more

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