Recent reviews

Our latest album reviews, featuring the records we've most enjoyed (or not) over the past few weeks.

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

Diabol Boruta

Borutus Akustikus
Via Nocturna (2023)

Polish folk metal band, Diabol Boruta (or The Devil Of Borut), released this nine track acoustic album, Borutus Akustikus, through Via Nocturna Records in March this year. This is the bands fifth studio alum and is a selection of their songs performed acoustically with additional instruments and arrangements, featuring one previously unreleased track. Borutus Akustikus was created after the band had performed at a charity concert called "Solidarity With Ukraine' at the Wanda Siemaszkowa Theater in Rzeszow, Poland in Feb this year. I have to admit to being unfamiliar with Diabol Boruta until very recently. Even though the band have been on the scene since 2010 they have not appeared on my radar until now really which is an oversight on my part as their style is one that I enjoy and for anyone else that are into bands like Eluvietie, Heidevolk and Metsatoll then Diabol Boruta will very much appeal to you! Listening to a few of their previous albums for context I noticed that they do a cover of "Vodka" by Korpiklaani which is always great fun! It seems to me that Diabol Boruta are on the slower side of folk metal and like to build up their … Read more

VNV Nation

Electric Sun
Anachron Sounds (2023)

Considering VNV Nation have been around for most of my life and are one of my favourite bands both on … Read more

Viceprez

Tropical Connexion
Adagio830, Bigoût Records, Dispear Records, Don't Trust The Hype, Inhumano, Shove Records, Sonatine Produzioni (2023)

I like whisky tastings. Especially the ones I organize with my buddies. It is an ideal environment to catch up … Read more

Origami Angel

The Brightest Days
Counter Intuitive Records (2023)

I’m not biased. Not really. I just don’t like it. It, being pop-punk. I’m just young enough that the initial … Read more

The Penske File

Half Glow
Stomp Records (2023)

Take equal parts The Gaslight Anthem, Menzingers and blue-collar arena rock like Tom Petty or Springsteen, with a dash of … Read more

Various Artists

Godspeed... A Tribute to Pierre Kezdy
Independent (2023)

It’s probably been 30 years since I heard my first tribute album and I’m not sure my opinion has changed. … Read more

Browse our review archives

Review categories

200 Words Or Less

748 reviews

Book Review

42 reviews

Classic Album

25 reviews

Multiple Authors

300 reviews

Review

4853 reviews

Video/DVD Review

19 reviews

One from the archives

Year of No Light

Nord
Crucial Blast (2007)

As our global society is brought closer and closer as a result of the Internet and other lightning fast communicative technologies, the influx and exposure of foreign bands and musicians continues to increase in frequency at an unprecedented rate; one label that has fully embraced this global mixing is Crucial Blast who bring the United States the domestic release of French outfit Year of No Light's Nord. The band is a four-piece ensemble that wholeheartedly dives into the burgeoning territory that groups like Cult of Luna, Envy, Isis, and Jesu consistently traverse, but Year of No Light brings different sounds to the table and a much different vocal style (strangely reminiscent of the second Deadguy vocalist). My friends and I have an ongoing discussion as the proliferation of this particular … Read more

More album reviews

Bloodletter

A Different Kind Of Hell
Wise Blood Records (2023)

Bloodletter are a four piece thrash metal outfit from Chicago, Illinois and are here to assault your ears in the best possible way with their new album, A Different Kind Of Hell. Formed in 2012 and performing highly toned and proficient thrash/speed metal with melodic undertones and solo's to die for. A Different Kind Of Hell is their third full … Read more

Los Morts

Slasherpunk
We Are Horror Records (2023)

When it comes to horrorpunk I am rather conservative. I usually appreciate bands more if they stay close to the template the Misfits created. My favorite bands in the genre took that template and made it their own, but stayed close to the original. This requires great skill: don’t stray to far from the path to loose me, but also … Read more

Parker

Never Let This Go
Independent (2023)

I like poppy punk: melodies, singalongs, all that predictable stuff. But I also like it rough around the edges, not the super clean production style of Ramonescore or whatever that garbage from the early 2000s that’s on the nostalgia train right now is. So I choose my words carefully because it seems pop-punk means different things to different people. And … Read more

Rancid

Tomorrow Never Comes
Epitaph (2023)

Other write-ups I see of Tomorrow Never Comes are basically calling this Rancid V, Part 2. The cover art looks a bit like the back of that album, actually. And while there is some merit to the comparison, I think that description is misleading. This record absolutely shares that style of short, repetitive, and angry punk songs but it has … Read more

Robby Bloodshed vs Voice Of Doom

Robby Bloodshed vs Voice Of Doom
We Are Horror Records (2023)

This four track EP is a collaboration of New Jersey's finest as seasoned punk/metal artistes Voice Of Doom and youngblood Robby Bloodshed battle it out to cover classic Misfits songs and then each others songs. Let the horrorpunk battle of the year so far, commence!! Starting off with a sample from the 1938 radio adaptation of H.G Wells's War Of … Read more

Queens of the Stone Age

In Times New Roman
Matador (2023)

“Long is the way and hard, that out of Hell leads up to light.” Since the decayed hands of time turned the page into a promising new decade, a whole lot has happened in this world. It’s been a harder road traveled for some of us than others. There’s been love and loss. Sickness and wellness. Dark and light. Like … Read more

Skating Polly

Chaos County Line
El Camino Media (2023)

I won’t condescend. I won’t explain to you what ugly means. You know what ugly means. The sale rack at Marshall’s, usually. The concrete apartment complex built in 1992 and never updated. The cake your seven-year-old niece decorated for you. Okay, that one might’ve been a little mean, but the point still stands. Ugly, ugly, ugly. You don’t need it … Read more

miniaturized

miniaturized
Independent (2023)

This self-titled record is the debut by miniaturized. While it’s their first record, the musicians have also played with the likes of Pinback, Rocket From the Crypt, No Knife, and more. You’ll pick up on hints and patterns from some of those groups here, but this record is an exploration of new styles and territories. While the band formed for … Read more

Atmosphere

So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously
Rhymesayers (2023)

Atmosphere has always felt like rapper Slug pouring his soul into the mic. It feels authentic and refreshing to hear his humble self-reflection. But after a few albums, it also kind of feels like overload. There’s such a thing as too much emotion and strife. That’s not a knock on Atmosphere’s art, but Atmosphere took a break from each other. … Read more

Diamanda Galás

The Divine Punishment-Remastered
Intravenal Sound Operations (2022)

Divine Punishment was originally released in 1986.. Throughout her storied career, she has pushed boundaries, stayed true to her vision and accomplished an output of never replicated and truly original artistic beauty. Her vocal styling can be something of an acquired taste but once you understand and accept the unique styling you begin to understand how powerful her emotive wailing … Read more

The Tomb Tones

Ghost Of Toast
Independent (2023)

Atlanta, Georgia three piece horrorbilly rocksters The Tomb Tones released their debut album "Pumpkin Guts" in 2020 and are now following up with this brand new spooky foodie fable Ghost of Toast! This album tells the gruesome tale of Bill Higgins, a mill worker for the Miracle Bread Company back in the 60s. It was reported that Bill fell into … Read more

Ghost

Phantomime
Loma Vista Recordings (2023)

From the first taster of Phantomime... a cover of "Jesus He Knows Me", released in early May, I had a feeling that good things were to come with this new covers EP! This five track EP was released a few weeks after the Genesis cover on May 19th and follows after last years Impera as a between album aperitif which … Read more

Lisasinson

Un A​ñ​o De Cambios
Elefant Records (2023)

When we talk about pop-punk I, and I suspect you do this too, think about bands like Green Day and may drift off to Sum 41 and more bands like that had their prime in the late nineties and the early noughties. Spanish band Lisasinson play something that can only be described as pop-punk, but their sound has little in … Read more

Night Court

Humans!
Debt Offensive, Snappy Little Numbers (2023)

  What’s the difference between overabundance and starvation? Between drowning and dehydration? Between far too much and not enough? What’s the difference, then, between everyone else and Night Court? A lo-fi punk trio out of Vancouver, Night Court released their third album, Humans!, June 9th on Snappy Little Numbers and Debt Offensive Records. While their sound may have slightly changed since … Read more

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

Advertisement

DCxPC 2025