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)

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 I lead with that intro because my unofficial rule of thumb is generally: the cleaner it sounds, the less it’s my jam. But there are always exceptions and I’m trying to pinpoint why. Parker, from Derry, Northern Ireland, is one such band. The sound on this record is clean and accessible, but with gang vocals and some grit within the production that keeps it feeling sincere instead of saccharine. I’m going to say that it’s pop-grounded and the structures vary from the 1-2-3-4 Ramones styles with some heavy doses of emo. It’s predictable and singalong but still simple and to the point. Songs like “Ruin My Life” show a little bit of drama, but without overdoing it. Instead that drama and some of the punchier, cleaner moments give the 10-song album variety instead of commercial appeal. I enjoy the general … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … Read more

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One from the archives

Baptists

Beacon of Faith
Southern Lord (2018)

Canadian hardcore is a weirdly veiled style. Like Canadian politics, it is highly deferential, often distinctly so. This means it both blends in with previous hardcore styles at the same time it writes original sounding songs, and it sounds highly derivative and mediocre despite the musician’s individual skill. Split in so many contradictory directions, Baptists newest release, Beacon of Faith, shows how the best musicians Canadian hardcore has to offer, can produce such an underwhelming record.Fundamentally there’s nothing interesting or artistic about the album. Aside from the title track’s atheistic abreaction in monosyllables, the album is fundamentally secular, politically personal, and subtly ideological. Beacon of Faith is full of partly articulated ideas attached sometimes to ready-made ideological societal observations, and sometimes to general feelings of 'bleagh'. I’m not sure if … Read more

More album reviews

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

Northeast Regional

Brand Managers of the Mid-Atlantic
Tor Johnson Records (2023)

Brand Managers of the Mid-Atlantic is a lot to digest. And not just because of its lengthy title. The album itself has 23 tracks and was recorded over many years (2015-2022). The final six tracks are covers, and it’s more a discography feel than a standalone album, at least to me. The main sound of the record is post-hardcore with … Read more

Ardent Nova

Ardent Nova
Wise Blood Records (2023)

Ardent Nova is the brainchild of Mike Pardi (Empty Throne). Originally formed as Pagan Thunder about 22 years ago, it was after a dream that Pardi decided to change the bands name to Ardent Nova and by asking in the odd guest solo and backing vocals here and there, Mike wrote and composed this eight track self titled debut album … Read more

Opus Kink

My Eyes, Brother!
Nice Swan Recordings (2023)

  It’s something new if you’ve never heard something old before- in the best way possible. Despite the general overcrowding of the UK post-punk scene, Opus Kink cut their own silhouette with My Eyes, Brother!. Opus Kink are a UK based sextet, who released their debut EP, ‘Til The Stream Runs Dry, in June 2022 to critical acclaim. Four singles from … Read more

Off!

Free LSD
Fat Possum Records (2022)

Blistering fast-paced Punk Rock energy proton pills shoved down your esophagus. Gobble Gobble. Glug Glug Glug, Rallllph... Let’s Get It On and not like the Ed Sheeran Remake ha ha ha. Everyone's loveable favourite punk that seemingly appears in every Punk Rock documentary…Keith Morris continues to pulverize, perpetuate, pontificate and ponder life, death and all that other gobbly gook in … Read more

Harsh Realms

CVLT
Shield Recordings (2023)

For some reason I never checked this band out, even though they always had a spot on my to check list. After several years they got lower and lower on that list. CVLT, their new album after six years of silence and nine years after their debut album catapulted them to the top of my list. Could they win me … Read more

Flores y Fuego

Altar
Pirates Press (2023)

Originally released in 2021 by the band (digitally), Pirates Press just released Altar on vinyl. It’s the debut album by Flores y Fuego, a hardcore band from Mexico and it feels both fresh, yet familiar, with big riffs, tangible anger, and a cathartic call to come together. You know: classic hardcore. The sound is big and powerful, but the lyrics … Read more

Various Artists

Horrorpunk's Not Dead Vol. 2
We Are Horror Records (2023)

A mere 6 months after We Are Horror Records released Horrorpunk's Not Dead! Vol.1, which for those that don't know was 27 tracks of horrorpunk gloriousness with a whole host of exclusives, we are treated to Vol.2 which boasts almost double the amount of tracks from Vol.1. Out of these 50 tracks, 22 songs are previously unreleased, never heard before, … Read more

Angus McSix

Angus McSix and the Sword of Power.
Napalm (2023)

The story of this album is forged thusly; after heroically dying in the greatest battle of all time at the hands of goblins, Prince Angus awakes in the underworld, realm of martyrs. Remembering that his homeland of Scotland and, indeed the galaxy, are still under threat he endeavours to return. After loseing his hammer he finds the mighty sword of … Read more

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