Integrity
The Blackest Curse
Deathwish Inc. (2010)
Finally, after literally years of waiting to hear this new Integrity album and a couple of teaser releases that barely whet my appetite for this monster, The Blackest Curse sees the light of day with all the power of a dark, ominous poison cloud alighting on the bland morass of what passes for hardcore punk these days. Admittedly, as I … Read more
Integrity
Thee Destroy+orr
Holy Terror (2011)
Yes, please peel my face off with the punishing blackened hardcore (that only Integrity can provide), please because life might be too comfortable otherwise! A new record from Integrity is both unexpected and completely welcome; so, having Detonate VVorld’s Plague (and the compilation CD that includes Detonate VVorld’s Plague as well as a collection of compilation, singles, and split release … Read more
Integrity
Those Who Fear Tomorrow (Reissue)
Fractured Transmitter (2006)
Growing up on a steady diet of Sabbath, the darker aspects of music always held so much appeal to me. Yeah, I liked punk rock, still do, but I was looking for something heavier, darker, and as cheesy as it sounds, more evil. I am not talking about Slayer's fake evil. I am talking about visceral scare the shit out … Read more
Integrity
To Die For
Deathwish Inc. (2003)
"Welcome to 1996." I think that would be a more appropriate name for this record. Integrity is back with the original line-up, sans Melnick, after a stint doing the really terrible Integrity 2000 records. They are now on Deathwish and they haven't been this pissed in some time. The record starts off with "Taste My Sin" which I must say … Read more
Integrity
Walpurgisnacht
A389 (2008)
Ah, Dwid, where have you been hiding your mischievous and malevolent musical vehicle Integrity for the last five years? Ever since 2003's To Die For, Integrity's absence hangs over the hardcore scene like a looming spectre waiting to strike down pretenders and infidels alike. Sure the usual re-issues of Integrity's back catalog and singles as well as live records continue … Read more
Inter Arma
Sky Burial
Relapse (2013)
If there is any definitive point to life, certainly it must involve leaving something behind that has a positive impact that is discernible well after you are gone. While most of us will ultimately fail to have that kind of effect, we all have the great privilege of being the affected. Inter Arma are a band that have obviously been … Read more
Inter Arma
Sulphur English
Relapse (2019)
In the early ‘10s it felt like the progressive sludge scene had produced all of its great records, and that moving forwards the genre would settle in a plateau state. But in the underground, there was one band that was still not contempt with the confinements of the genre, and they displayed that with their debut record Sundown. Inter Arma’s … Read more
Inter Arma
The Cavern
Relapse (2014)
With their sophomore album, Sky Burial, Inter Arma released one of the best metal albums of the past year. Their style of playing brought to mind the earlier days of Mastodon and Baroness, but Inter Arma was not merely borrowing ideas from the two great acts. The vibe that Sky Burial had was much darker and bleaker than any of … Read more
Internal Affairs
Deadly Visions
Malfunction (2007)
Internal Affairs is a band that embodies what hardcore should truly be about. The music is fast, energetic, and pissed off. The lyrics are honest to the point of being blunt - hardcore used to be about speaking your mind, somewhere along the way most bands forgot this. And finally, the band puts on one heck of a performance, inviting … Read more
Internal Affairs
Internal Affairs
Malfunction (2005)
Corey Williams scares me. Now, this isn't anything bad because Williams is a great guy. But add a microphone and a stage - or maybe just a microphone - and this man turns into someone that you probably don't want to meet in a darken alleyway. If Mr. Williams is scary, Internal Affairs frightens me to death. After several prominent … Read more
International Superheroes of Hardcore
Takin' it Ova!
Bridge Nine (2008)
Hardcore is serious business well most of the time. Mixed amongst those pushing forth ideas concerning local and world issues are those out to have fun, usually in the form of some kind of joke. Jokes/gimmicks like these tend to last only a short time and the initial response is rather intense but quickly fades away. A few examples from … Read more
Into the Moat
Means By Which the Ends Are Justified
Lovelost (2003)
After hearing The Dillinger Escape Plan's Calculating Infinity, I had no idea that this style of weird timing technical metal influenced chaos could become a trend, mostly due to the fact that creating this music requires a lot of talent. It took a few years, but to my surprise, this sound has begun to rise from a few bands, such … Read more
Intronaut
Habitual Levitations (Instilling Words With Tones)
Century Media (2013)
The mighty Intronaut is back! The band returns with their fourth full length, still following the same path they first set with the release of their monumental debut Void. You know when a record is great when you cannot really start pinpointing it in one specific genre, and this is the case here with Inronaut’s last album Habitual Levitations (Instilling … Read more
Intronaut
Prehistoricisms
Century Media (2008)
Every so often you just want a metal album that is that, a metal album. Well here we have just that with the latest full-length from Intronaut. Prehistoricisms is a heavy metal album that is not a concept album, but an album based upon the theme of evolution. I can dig that, especially when the music is - at its … Read more
Intronaut
Void
Goodfellow (2006)
Intronaut is a four piece from California made up of members of Uphill Battle, Impaled, Exhumed, and Anubis Rising, although they sound nothing like I remember these other bands. Intronaut sounds more like a technical metal band with jazz-like flourishes. Void is their first full-length after the wittily monikered EP, Null. "A Monolithic Vulgarity" leads off Void like a jazz … Read more
Invade
Invade
Independent (2006)
My roommate likes to call early 90's hardcore "The Dark Ages of Hardcore" with its metal influences, all the way to the left neo-hippie politics, poetic non-sense, and mosh parts. In many way he's right, but the beginning part of the 90's wasn't all bad and we got some great bands like Undertow, Unbroken, Integrity, Indecision, and others that start … Read more
Invasion
The Master Alchemist
This Is Music (2009)
Now listen carefully, people I'm only going to say this once. You need to listen to this album. Further to that, most people need to own it. I hate to kick off with such a blatant endorsement that has now leached out all sense of suspense from reading this modest review, but frankly this is the most refreshing and urgent … Read more
INVSN
Self Titled
Razor & Tie (2013)
The problem with a passion project is that its appeal is going to be fairly strictly limited to those who are passionate about the focus of the project or passionate about those behind it. I'm not sure which of those sides of the coin will turn out to be the one to call in mid-air, but as turns out to … Read more
