Nopes
Djörk
Magnetic Eye Records (2021)
Nopes play that brand of melodic noise rock that pummels its listener in the face. It’s aggressive and abrasive, with big riffs, lots of feedback and barked vocals. The aggression sets the tone, but the nuance underneath the noise is what sets it apart from influences like The Jesus Lizard or Am Rep, with a base of Hot Snakes.While noise … Read more
Nordic Nomadic
Worldwide Skyline
Tee Pee (2011)
Nordic Nomadic resides as generally a solo project. This project taken on by the lead singer of Ontario based psych metal band Quest For Fire as a way of creating songs that are more plaintive and slightly more psychedelic than his main project. So it doesn't seem too surprising that Tee Pee records would be the label releasing this record. … Read more
Nordra
Nordra
Sige (2017)
Hailing from Seattle Washington, Monika Khot produces music under the Nordra moniker and is now releasing her self-titled debut album. Coming out from SIGE records, her record encompass a diverse set of elements, which while at first glance might appear inhumane and mechanical, under the surface contain moving moments and a lot of emotion. The album was initially released last … Read more
Nordra
Pylon II
Sige (2018)
Monika Khot has been exploring the realm of experimental music both as one half of the avant noise/prog duo Zen Mother, but also with her solo project Nordra. Just last year, Khot released her self-titled record through SIGE, displaying her adventurous ethic towards electronic music. Now SIGE turns back the clock and presents Nordra's first work in Pylon II, originally … Read more
North
The Great Silence
Cavity (2012)
I have to say, this one particular album took a while to grow on me. But it soon struck me that the new release from Tuscon, Arizona-based and strangely antithetically named post-metallers North was more than just another Isis or Cult of Luna styled sludge metal album. The Great Silence, I had to admit, was strikingly beautiful and deeply satisfying … Read more
North Lincoln
Midwestern Blood
No Idea (2009)
Most bands that are signed to No Idea Records have a sound that's usually expected from them. That, of course, being raw punk rock with gruff vocals and catchy melodies. North Lincoln are another band to add to that long list as they fit into this style almost perfectly. This album has been in the making since 2007 but recording … Read more
North of America
Brothers, Sisters
Level Plane (2003)
There's an alternate universe somewhere out there, one in which Steve Albini moved to Guelph, Ontario, hooked up with members of the Rapture and Hot Cross, and made some intense, danceable, abrasive rock music. Unfortunately, we do not live in that universe, but we may have one up on that equation, as we have North of America, another band that … 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
Northern State
Can I Keep This Pen?
Ipecac (2007)
Can I Keep This Pen? is Northern State's third full-length album and it proves that any and all naysayers dismissing the group as a novelty act can just get in that boat and float right to Camden. I admit, I was once one of those aforementioned naysayers. I mean . what can you say about three chicks from suburban Long … Read more
Northless
No Quarter for the Damaged
Halo of Flies (2009)
I could start and end this review with just one word: brutal. Unfortunately, I think my editor would prefer a few more words. This is a four-song 12 inch EP of sludge metal transposed over crust punk dynamics. Nothing on this EP goes very fast, the tempos get ramped up in each song but the riffs are so thick and … Read more
Northless
World Keeps Sinking
Gilead Media (2013)
Milwaukee's Northless have long been trudging within their brand a somewhat sprawling sludge. The band have consistently input further measures of post rock textures into their sound to create something a little bit more different from the norm. While still remaining mostly true to sludge on the whole the band seem to create something a little bit more tuneful and … Read more
Northwoods
Wasteland
Mothership Records (2018)
'[T]here the nightingale filled all the desert with inviolable voice and still she cried, and still the world pursues, "Jug Jug" to dirty ears.' And likewise, with dirty ears, the 'Jug Jug' of Northwoods' Wasteland will lose their hard earned respect, slowly. A respect sucked through a straw from the pool of distracted in-fighting popular music. The average listener, if … Read more
Norwegian Arms
Wolf Like A Stray Dog
Independent (2013)
I discovered Norwegian Arms the same way I discover most of the best music I listen to – with the pop of a facebook chat window opening accompanied by a youtube link. As the video for “Tired of Being Cold” loaded (I have satellite internet because I live in the woods. It’s very slow, comparatively.) My friend Cris explained that … Read more
Not On Tour
Outtakes EP
SBÄM Records (2021)
I can’t believe this is the first time Not On Tour is reviewed on this site. Not On Tour is a skate punk band from Tel Aviv, Israel. This band is insanely melodic and catchy. Not On Tour is one of those bands that master a certain art: they seem to effortlessly combine speed with catchy melodies. The band nailed … Read more
Nothing
Guilty Of Everything
Relapse (2014)
it would be perfectly simple to couple Nothing into the wave of modern shoegaze and close the book. They carry certain trademarks that point towards them owing their guitar sound and then some to Slowdive. This would show an immense degree of short sightedness. While it is clear what band their pedal board choices could be attributed to Nothing have … Read more
Nothing
The Great Dismal
Relapse (2020)
It’s strange, how the metal scene embraces certain genres as one of its own, enabling said genre to become “metal adjacent” and enjoy a somewhat wider audience in the long-term. Genres such as synthwave, shoegaze or dreampop, post-punk – all have a solid following from fans of much more extreme music and there’s surely an interesting study within that somewhere, … Read more
Nothing
Tired Of Tomorrow
Relapse (2016)
A relatively new band, started releasing music around 2010, Nothing display a strong grasp to alternative rock. Their debut album, Guilty of Everything, conjured and presented in great fashion elements such as shoegaze haze and alt-rock grooves, introducing the musical endeavors of the band, but it felt that there was still some way to go for Nothing to achieve their … Read more
Nothington
Borrowed Time
Red Scare Industries (2011)
I’ll be honest, I missed Roads Bridges & Ruins, even after guitarist Chris Matulich said it would be quite a transition from All In. While I liked All In, for whatever reason I never got to its follow-up. 2011’s Borrowed Time is surely a reflection of the evolution in between. The Social Distortion influence is more tempered (though it’s still … Read more
