Recent reviews

More album reviews

Spokenest

We Move
Independent (2013)

Two piece bands seem to be gaining in popularity again, and it’s easy to see why from a musician’s perspective. The fewer people involved, the easier to organize, practice, and tour. There are duos done well (see Street Eaters) and lesser cases who aren’t getting the namedrop here. Spokenest is a newer project of similar ilk, bringing Adrian and Daryl … Read more

Vampire Weekend

Modern Vampires Of The City
XL Recordings (2013)

When the hoax artwork claiming the group’s next album was to be “Lemon Sounds” appeared, it is perhaps unsurprising that so many people were convinced it was real. For the band’s detractors it was confirmation that Vampire Weekend were content to rest on their laurels and produce a Contra II. For fans it meant approximately the same thing; they were … Read more

The National

Trouble Will Find Me
4AD (2013)

DISCLAIMER: Readers, a bold claim is about to be made. The National’s Trouble Will Find Me could, quite possibly, be as essential as air. Tread carefully, the sheer force of the overwhelmingly mournful nature of this album may surprise you with its taciturn but fitting attempts of disbelieving optimism. Happiness is not The National’s forte, but tussling with overbearing emotions … Read more

Queensrÿche

Frequency Unknown
Deadline (2013)

The name on the front of this album says Queensrÿche. It does not say Geoff Tate's Queensrÿche or any other variation. Just Queensrÿche. There is now a battle in court for the right to retain this name and on November 18, 2013 a decision will be made as to who gets to continue using it - Geoff Tate or the … Read more

Kite Party

Baseball Season
Animal Style (2012)

Kite Party reside and make music in Philadelphia, PA. They’ve released some well-received EPs over the last half-dozen years, and seem to have done a lot of live performing too. Their debut full-length, Baseball Season, was self-released in 2011, then picked up by Animal Style Records and re-released in early 2012.My initial reaction upon dropping the needle and hearing the … Read more

The Ocean

Pelagial
Metal Blade (2013)

The Ocean, the German post-sludge-metal act masterminded by guitarist Robin Staps, is one of the most consistently high-quality bands in metal today. Ever since Fluxion and Aeolian, Staps has led The Ocean to even greater heights with each release, never settling for anything less than hard-earned perfection. Their latest release, 2013's Pelagial, is no exception.Musically, Pelagial continues where Heliocentric and … Read more

Tesseract

Altered State
Century Media (2013)

Up until this point, TesseracT wasn't a band I held much respect for. Though a competent release, their debut album One showcased all of the worst traits of the djent movement, doing little to move the genre beyond the "fad metal" title it had inherited. However, after the release of their sophomore album Altered State,TesseracT have bafflingly defied expectations and … Read more

The Psyke Project

Guillotine
Swarm Of Nails (2013)

The Psyke Project have been terrorizing the metallic hardcore scene since the mid 00s. With their albums steadily increasing in quality, and considering that the quality has been set quite high even with their debut album, Samara that really means something here. The dark sound of the band came into full realization with their sophomore album, Daikini while their utter … Read more

Big Big Train

English Electric
English Electric (2013)

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a progressive rock band in possession of a good reputation must be in want of a double album. They're something of the gold standard of progressive music--proving that you have the chops to write over eighty minutes of music without it beginning to suck is such a truly monumental and respectable feat that … Read more

Forgotten Tomb

...and Don't Deliver Us from Evil
Agonia (2012)

The Italian boys of Forgotten Tomb are certainly not new kids to the black metal scene. The band, going strong since the turn of the century, has made a name by building its own little corner in the depressive black metal genre. With each record the band allows their emotions to show through a bit more and, in turn, it … Read more

Gateway District

Old Wild Hearts
It's Alive (2013)

“We’re going to break you down this Saturday night,” sings The Gateway District in “Break You Down,” off their new LP, Old Wild Hearts. It’s as fitting a place to start as any. The band has a working for the weekend vibe to them, celebrating the good times and letting your Saturday nights roll. On their third LP, the transition … Read more

Queensrÿche

Self Titled
Century Media (2013)

An eponymously titled album is somewhat unusual this late into a bands' career and will typically signify that the band in question is, despite all excuses and comments to the contrary, simply out of any new ideas - as reflected in the lack of title along with the lack of songwriting. This could not be farther from the truth in … Read more

Koko Beware

Something About Summer
Independent (2012)

I have to be honest here. A band named after a professional wrestler, no matter what they sound like, is going to tug at my heart strings in a way that’s totally unfair to all bands that are not named after professional wrestlers. I also love summer, summer jams, and any jams that evoke some sort of summer-ness. And with … Read more

Enslaved

RIITIIR
Nuclear Blast (2012)

the black metal horde Enslaved seems to have been around forever. Unlike most bands of their genre and pedigree they have managed to add elements to their style to make themselves more their own band with each release. Each album has flirted with their Pink Floyd fascination while stripping away the unneeded kvlt aspects of the band's sound. For most … Read more

• First
• Previous
• …
• 98
• 99 (current)
  Page 99 of 300
• 100
• …
• Next
• Last