House Of Low Culture
Poisoned Soil
Taiga (2012)
Following the demise of Isis (which was a sad day indeed around my household), there was still plenty of material to come potentially as the band’s membership was active with side projects throughout the life of their main creative outlet; and the potential reactivation of the seemingly dormant House Of Low Culture was an exciting proposition as I had grown … Read more
Houseghost
Another Realm
Rad Girlfriend Records (2022)
Houseghost sprung up in late 2020, releasing their debut near Halloween. Two years later the ghost returns with more stories from Another Realm. The band features members of other bands and play poppy punk with a lot of harmonies. It’s peppy, catchy stuff that’s more about singalongs and pogoing than spitting vitriol. The band also has a theme or, arguably, … Read more
Houseghost
Houseghost
Rad Girlfriend Records (2020)
2020 is the year of a lot of things -- and a lot of concept records.But not a lot of ghost-themed concept records.Houseghost is an Ohio trio that shares vocals between a sister-brother team. The songs are about, well, having a ghost in the house and all the hijinks that might involve. It’s a theme, but relatively loose and playful. … Read more
How Dare You
Comfort Road
Fail Safe (2008)
This is the second review that I've done from Fail Safe Records that involves at least one member from a 90's melodic hardcore band that I like. This time it's As Friends Rust, whom will probably go down in mix tape history by having the audacity of having a song called, "The First Song on the Tape You Make Her." … Read more
How it Ends
Beloved
Thorp (2005)
There's something to be said for bands that get right to the point. Literally within the first ten seconds of "11th and Arch", Philadelphia's How it Ends lets you know exactly who they are and what they're about. And on their second album, Beloved, How it Ends is all about the heavy. Heavy guitars set just how i like my … Read more
Howardian
The Silly Shit You Say
Lets Pretend (2019)
While the title of Howardian’s fourth LP, The Silly Shit You Say, imparts a whimsical, spontaneous first impression, the record itself feels complete. This isn’t some spur-of-the-moment side project from Ian Vanek (Japanther), it’s the real deal.Overall I’d say the influence of this record is 1980s new wave mixed with new millennium DIY punk and a dose of lo-fi. Keyboards … Read more
Human Demise
Whitechapel Demise
xEnvy Recordsx (2006)
This review is an open letter to all the hardcore bands from the United States, consider yourselves called out. The next big thing in hardcore does not come to from the land of the free. Instead, Human Demise calls The Netherlands home. But these are not the quaint Dutch folk you see portrayed in cartoons. These guys are pissed off, … Read more
Human Issue
Faceless. Nameless
Rad Girlfriend Records (2022)
Hunter Martinez is a scene vet, playing drums and/or guitar with Decent Criminal, Dwarves, and Slaughterboys, among others. In Human Issue, Martinez takes the lead. That’s not to say this is some dude-with-an-acoustic vanity project. Human Issue is a full-on punk band, with Martinez joined by a wide cast of collaborators on the 6-song EP: Rikk Agnew (Adolescents, Christian Death), … Read more
Human Sculpture
Our World / Torn Down
Independent (2011)
Debut EPs rarely tend to be that standout. Most of the time, it will just present a band's core sound, as if to say “here is what we are capable of,” and then abruptly end. They almost never wind up being good albums in their own right. They often act as barometers, telling us what to expect in the future. … Read more
Humans
Noontide
Hybridity Music (2015)
The duo that make up Vancouver-based synth poppers Humans met by chance while engaged in artistic endeavours outside of music. Robbie Slade is a former forest fire fighter who met visual artist and film maker Peter Ricq when he was helping a friend put on an art show, and in 2009 they began creating the electronic sound of Humans. With … Read more
Hurry
EVERYTHING/NOTHING
Independent (2014)
Hailing from Philadelphia, PA, Hurry started out as the solo project of guitarist/songwriter Matt Scottoline before expanding to its current three-piece form, and it’s quite obviously Scottoline’s fuzzed-out vocals and guitar that are front and center in any of the songs on the group’s 2014 album Everything/Nothing. The album features ten songs that update established pop song formulas from years … Read more
Hurry Up
Dismal Nitch
Comedy Minus One (2022)
“American Weirdos” sets the tone quickly on Dismal Nitch, the second album from Hurry Up, with a refrain of “American weirdos/ Don’t need no more heroes.” A three-piece from Portland, OR, the lineup features Kathy Foster (Thermals), Westin Glass (Thermals), and Maggie Vail (Bangs), each sharing songwriting duties and vocals. Recorded shortly before the pandemic hit, this record does sometimes … Read more
husband&wife
Acoustic Recordings
Crossroads Of America (2013)
The beauty in acoustic albums usually comes from hearing a song you know and love take on a different resonance when it’s stripped back and unpolished. This is definitely the case for the songs on husband&wife’s Acoustic Recordings. All of the songs were recorded in the band members’ homes, which makes the songs sound quite homely and personal, as though … Read more
Hyborian
Volume II (2020)
Season of Mist (2020)
Hyborian is balls to the wall raw sludge metal hailing from Kansas City, Missouri. Volume II is their third album and what feels like a overall continuation from their previous record, Volume I. From the very beginning of the 8 song, 40 minute masterpiece is the song Driven by Hunger which gives you a perfect taste of what the rest … Read more
Hysterese
Hysterese
This Charming Man Records (2021)
The second record of German band Hysterese is a record I own and play quite frequently. To me it is one of those strange records that you enjoy a lot, but didn’t invite you to delve into their past or actively follow the band. Until now. As I saw the band name pop up in the heap of promos I … Read more
I Against I
Small Waves
White Russian Records (2018)
Last year White Russian Records made me very happy by releasing Travoltas’ comeback album Until We Hit The Shore, which ended up being my favourite record of last year. Next to a couple of interesting up and coming bands White Russian Records is now releasing another comeback album of another Dutch punk legend: I Against I. Legendary in part because … Read more
I Am Kloot
Let It All In
Shepherd Moon (2013)
Truly happy yet honest albums are in short supply. If they’re happy they’re usually over-the-top and use cringe-worthy lyrics, but if the album’s songs are bathed in sadness then there’s a risk that it will sound whiny and dull. On Let It All In I Am Kloot have struck a beautiful balance; the album can be best described as giving … Read more
I Am the Avalanche
I Am the Avalanche
Drive-Thru (2005)
If you look at the musical resumes of the members of I Am the Avalanche, they are quite impressive. Vocalist Vinnie Caruana fronted the pop-punk band The Movielife; Guitarist Brandon Swanson played in the highly-toted emo/indie rock band Further Seems Forever; bassist Kellen Robson was a member of Long Island hardcore band Scraps and Heart Attacks; and while guitarist Michael … Read more
