Life in Your Way
Ignite and Rebuild
Indianola (2005)
Oh jeez, another one of these bands. You know the kind - screamo/emo band who wants anything but to be labeled as such. They come up with alternate and sometimes startlingly inaccurate descriptors such as "melodic hardcore" or "emotion rock," or they take the easy way out and spout off the classic "we don't like to label ourselves" or "our … Read more
Life in Your Way
Waking Giants
Solid State (2007)
Waking Giants marks Life in Your Way's jump from the farm leagues to the, well, the somewhat bigger indie league. This is their first effort for Solid State, home to many bands that seem to be ultra popular with the kids these days: Underoath, The Chariot, etc. So with the new label comes an increased opportunity for success; opportunity that … Read more
Life Long Tragedy
Runaways
Deathwish Inc. (2008)
Evolution in the music world results in one of two things: fame or infamy. Life Long Tragedy have slowly grown from a group of young individuals writing blazing, punishing, and angst-ridden metallic hardcore jams into a group that has honed their craft to construct cathartic, brooding, and dark songs that blur the definition of hardcore music, all while maintaining a … Read more
Lifeforms
Multidimensional
Life Force (2013)
I have made some questionable decisions in my lifetime, such as sticking a fork into a live electrical socket, investing in Bernard Madoff, and (briefly) voting Republican. But never have I made a decision I so viscerally regretted as much as I did when I decided to listen to the album Multidimensional, the debut from metal (?) band Lifeforms.Lifeforms are … Read more
Lifetime
2 Songs
Decaydance (2006)
Everyone into hardcore over the age of twenty-five reeled in shock and horror when they found that the newly reunited Lifetime had signed with Decaydance Records, the label that Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy owns. No, Lifetime, say it isn't so. Fall Out Boy? The marbled-mouth teen pop-punk mega-stars bassist signs the most revered melodic hardcore band of all … Read more
Lifetime
Somewhere in the Swamps of Jersey
Jade Tree (2006)
Somewhere in the Swamps of Jersey is a two-disc set of everything Lifetime released besides Hello Bastards and Jerseys Best Dancers. It's awesome to have the song "Somewhere in the Swamps of Jersey" on a CD. The re-mastered versions of the Seveninchesare a great listen, especially for newer fans that wanted to hear exactly when Lifetime perfected the precise mixture … Read more
Light Bearer
Lapsus
Halo OF Flies/Alerta Antifascista (2011)
You know there are those moments in songs where everything is just so perfect that you don’t want it to end? You do? Fantastic. Light Bearer have this in spades and none more so than on "Prelapsus," a track so soaring in tone that the sense of elation is enough to make even me crack a smile. But let’s not … Read more
Light Bearer
Silver Tongue
Halo of Flies (2013)
The hyper literate lads of Light Bearer have always kept a level of consistency within their records. whether through the content lyrically , or musically the band have always been nothing but themselves. So here the band return with their second official LP and delving deeper into stretched out structures. While the band have never written "short" songs on this … Read more
Light Field Reverie
Another World
Avantgarde Music (2020)
I’m always on the prowl for dreamy music, especially metal. It’s harder to find things that fit that descriptor in the metal area too. After discovering sometime three or so years ago ISON, I somehow didn’t run into Light Field Reverie until earlier this year. My surprise arises from the fact that former ISON vocalist, Heike Langhans performs vocals on … Read more
Light Pupil Dilate
Snake Wine
Lifeforce (2007)
It's never easy to be a band today with many disparate influences. Today's groups are trying to become immortal or are at the very least play music that they want to hear. But the fact is that there have been so many classic bands so far that have provided us with awe-inspiring albums that it's so hard to top. So … Read more
Lightning Bolt
Fantasy Empire
Thrill Jockey (2015)
This noise rock duo has been terrifying the music scene for close to two decades now with their unconventional sound and experimental attitude. Throughout their career Lightning Bolt have stuck with the same recipe that seems to be working so marvelously for them: chaotic patterns, schizoid riffs, intense songs and with a fucking razor sharp edge to them. Fantasy Empire … Read more
Lightning Bolt
Hypermagic Mountain
Load (2005)
Preparation for listening to the new Lightning Bolt record for the first time: ' Call up around a dozen of your closest buddy's and get them to haul ass to your place. ' Splash out your last forty bucks on as much low grade beer as your arms can carry. ' Take the last ten bucks you earned pumping gas … Read more
Lights Out
Get Out
Youngblood (2005)
When was the last time you were angry? You're on a computer at the moment, so maybe you have a sticky key that really pisses you off. Or maybe your computer speaks to you in a really sarcastic tone, and you...just...can't....take...it...anymore. At any rate, anybody can relate to anger. Hey...you also like music, I bet. Crucial music you say? Well … Read more
Lights Out
Overload
Youngblood (2005)
Overload, Lights Out first full-length, is nothing less than amazing. Honestly I was not expecting this from the band because after listening to Get Out so many times, it got rather old. But this new album still hasn't gotten old and I've listened to it every day since I got it. And the reason is that on Overload, Lights Out … Read more
Lil Fame & Termanology
Fizzyology
Brick (2012)
Lil Fame of M.O.P., going by his producer moniker “Fizzy Womack,” has crafted soundscapes for a for the likes of Kool G Rap, Cam’Ron and the Wu-Tang Clan, as well as a number of songs in M.O.P.’s catalogue. So when Boston emcee Termanology set out to start work on another solo album he linked up with Fame to be his … Read more
Lil Wayne
Tha Carter III
Cash Money (2008)
Over the course of the past two years, virtually no rapper has been more prolific than Lil Wayne. The New Orleans born and bred, former Hot Boy, and face of the Cash Money Millionaires compiled over one thousand verses during this time period through a combination of his own mixtapes as well as guest appearances on other mainstream tracks and … Read more
Lily Allen
Alright, Still
Regal/Parlaphone (2006)
Anyone from the United Kingdom that hasn't heard of young Miss Allen has either been living under a stone for the last four months or is at least fifty years old - not saying that fifty year olds haven't heard of her, just they are oooooolld. The daughter of "comedian" Keith Allen and "the newest face of the Myspace generation," … Read more
Limbeck
Hi, Everything's Great
Doghouse (2003)
Consistency is a hard thing to perfect. Too many bands aim too high and pollute their great ideas with sub-par songs, whereas an equal amount simply don't try hard enough or cop out for easy formulas, making their songs generic and boring in the process. Limbeck is one of those bands who manages to get things right for the most … Read more
