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Acid Fast

Rabid Moon
Protagonist (2014)

Acid Fast play really angst-y yet bouncy punk rock that is rooted as deeply in the Midwest sound as it is the Pacific Northwest. But here’s the thing: they’re not from Olympia or Minneapolis or Portland or Chicago; they’re from Oakland. But goddamn, if they don’t sound like a band that came up playing damp basements alongside The Soviettes, RVIVR, … Read more

The Obits

Bed & Bugs
Sub Pop (2013)

Obits don’t offer many surprises on Bed & Bugs, but that’s never really been the expectation. In a long lineage of bands, Rick Froberg has defined a distinct sound and this, Obits’ third full-length, doesn’t offer many deviations. The success of Obits comes through classic, big r’n’r chops. It’s about taking the familiar and playing it in a new, memorable … Read more

Perfect Pussy

Say Yes To Love
Captured Tracks (2014)

In 2010, it was Wavves. In 2012, it was Japandroids. Now, the vaginal Syracuse outfit Perfect Pussy is Pitchfork.com's newest punk band crush. Yes, this is the same popular indie music site whose 2013 Reader’s Poll allowed Kanye West’s Yeezus to be the Most Underrated and Most Overrated Album Of The Year, and yes, these are also the writers who … Read more

Noisem

Agony Defined
A389 (2013)

For all of the hype and bluster that was the so called "thrash revival" a few years later few bands can make a viable claim that they remain, let alone stick out (save for Municipal Waste). Even the standard bearers (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer) have clearly lost the energy the once had (Slayer) or lost the plot entirely (Metallica and Megadeth). … Read more

The Curtis Mayflower

Everything Beautiful Is Under Attack
Independent (2014)

The first studio release from The Curtis Mayflower titled Everything Beautiful Is Under Attack is a combination of talent, great songwriting, and beautiful haunting melodies. This is what happens when you take five of the best musicians from the Central Massachusetts area and send them up to an old farmhouse in Maine to record an album in 24 hours. Done … Read more

Brown Brogues

Triflin'
Stolen Body Records (2013)

The phrase "hanging out" can mean different things for different people. Some may use it to describe a night-in or a low-key stop at the neighborhood bar. Others may use it to describe their weekend-long, mind-melting bender adventure. In this instance, the phrase "big time hanging out" may be used. Really, though, it's all about attitude and believing in the … Read more

Pretty Boy Thorson & the Falling Angels

An Uneasy Peace
Kiss of Death (2013)

Have things finally turned around for Jesse Thorson, making the country-punk band sing a new song of joy and celebration? Of course not.Previously, the band didn’t play alt-country so far as they wrote punk songs to country lyrics—however, An Uneasy Peace definitely sees that paradigm shifting toward a fuzzier genre classification. Maybe it’s because Thorson now has an outlet for … Read more

Set and Setting

Equanimity
Sound Of Silence / Forcefield (2013)

I really enjoy how pretty “Through The Unhindered Break Of Day” is, and the idea that something so simple and borderline repetitive could somehow draw me in to Equanimity, the debut album from Florida’s Set And Setting, is a bit of a mystery until the album progresses and repeated visits with the record drive the point home; these calm and … Read more

Francis Cheer

Mapmaker
Well Sure Records (2013)

John Gerrard is an artist hailing from Calgary, Alberta and he is no stranger to the local music scene; having played in some heavier bands such as Alivia and Nikola Testla. He may be more recognized as both the man behind the art and the former base player of Victoria’s Northcote. Having followed most of the bands he’s been a … Read more

Beastmilk

Climax
Magic Bullet / Svart (2013)

Having appeared on our Top 5 Modern Goth Records list for 2013, it seems only right that we talk a little bit as to how bloody good Climax is. Because it is good. Really bloody good. Beastmilk aren’t breaking the mould with their cold, goth-tinged rock and roll but they sure are making it feel fresh and intoxicating. The Finnish … Read more

Against Me!

Transgender Dysphoria Blues
Total Treble (2014)

It's been a long time coming, but Against Me! have finally released their sixth album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues. It packs a hit harder than previous records. It's loud. It's powerful. It's full on rock 'n' roll! It took awhile for them to finally get the record to take off. Original recordings weren't cutting it which prompted the band to head … Read more

The Sensibles

A Bunch Of Animals
Rijapov (2013)

The opening track to The Sensibles’s first full-length album is entitled “Happy,” which may be the most self-descriptive name I’ve seen in ages. I was hooked immediately—not just from the first song, but from the first few exuberant drum beats. The Italian pop punk/punk rock band is still relatively fresh on the scene, having only released one 4 track EP … Read more

fragment.

Temporary Enlightenment
OPN (2013)

Immediately strikingly to the heart with the opening notes of “Cast Out” as if awakening people from sleep with this as an early morning clarion call, Fragment. effectively kicks off Temporary Enlightenment (the fourth proper full length album from this one man project) and launches what is arguably the best batch of music from this project; the overall sound on … Read more

Old Funeral

Our Condolences (1988-1992)
Soulseller (2013)

The history of Black Metal has been told ad infinitum. We know that groups like Venom, Posessed, Mercyful Fate and Sarcofago planted the seeds that stretched like a dark vine across Europe and taking hold in Norway. By now, we all know the story of groups like Darkthrone and Mayhem, but lesser known is the story of Old Funeral.The band … Read more

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