Roy
Big City Sin and Small Town Redemption
Fueled By Ramen (2003)
The whole "ex-members of" marketing campaign is starting to get out of control. The hype that surrounds these types of bands before they even release anything is ridiculous. What is the point of even reviewing them if all you ever hear is about is the artists' former endeavors? And with that question posed, I introduce you to the band Roy, … Read more
Royal Brat
Eyesore
Moniker Records (2018)
Royal Brat follow an intriguing trend I see in a lot of queer punk: taking direct and heavy subject matter and addressing it with vitriol, then flipping a switch from anger to singsong and back. It’s fascinating that the two emotions, so different, can jump back and forth without feeling more jarring.Eyesore is the first full-length from Royal Brat, out … Read more
Royal Headache
Self Titled
Whats Your Rupture? (2012)
Royal Headache has been gathering some hype lately. Their self-titled record is a twelve track piece of high energy garage-punk, blazing past in twenty-six minutes. It’s clean; it’s crisp; yet, it’s also got a driving rhythm section and more than its share of aggression. While the genredrop isn’t necessarily difficult based on their sound, it feels unfair to pigeonhole them, … Read more
Royal Thunder
CVI
Relapse (2012)
Like many albums, I picked up Royal Thunder's CVI because I heard someone somewhere describe it as progressive metal. Like many of those albums, it turned out to have little to do with the genre. Unlike the majority of those albums, however, I wound up being impressed by this one anyway, and here's why:Royal Thunder may just be the last … Read more
Rudimentary Peni
Cacophony (Re-issue)
Outer Himilayan (2013)
In the darkest recesses of some of our minds lies an unspeakable and unknowable terror, and some artists have brushed against that darkness throughout time (some recent examples might be H.P. Lovecraft, Francis Bacon, and a select few others) and Cacophony is a perfect illustration for the madness induced by such brushes with our inner demons; although nowhere near as … Read more
Rudimentary Peni
No More Pain
Southern (2008)
Rudimentary Peni are, at least in some circles, a criminally underrated punk band that releases music semi steadily since their inception (besides the seven year layoff between their landmark album, Cacophony and its successor Pope Adrian 37th). Cacophony is a personal favorite and always keeps me coming back to their material and checking out the new material whenever it hits … Read more
Ruined Families
Four Wall Freedom
Independent (2010)
Ruined Families are another band entering the hardcore sweepstakes. The band hailing from Greece carries the torch that Cursed carried. Meaning you're in for heavy nasty sounding hardcore with metal influence. The band stay fast and gritty throughout the album leaving little doubt that they are beyond pissed. Much like the aforementioned Cursed the lyrics stay on a more personal … Read more
Ruiner
Hell is Empty
Bridge Nine (2009)
With Hell is Empty Ruiner return with one scathing, vicious, and beautiful album. It was worth the two year wait that fans endured between this Prepare to be Let Down. What Ruiner had developed on Prepare to be Let Down has been greatly expanded upon on Hell is Empty. The songwriting is much more dynamic, and J. Robbins' organic production … Read more
Ruiner
I Heard These Dudes are Assholes
Bridge Nine (2008)
I really want to know why this CD even exists in the first place? Ruiner's last album Prepare to Be Letdown is barely in its toddler stage and the 1917 Records EP What Could Possibly Go Right is just entering preschool. Is there really a need for re-releasing material that isn't even half a decade old? Are their super fans … Read more
Ruiner
Prepare to be Let Down
Bridge Nine (2007)
There was a time when I thought that Prepare to be Let Down was never going to be released. The album was slated to come out via 1917 Records before the band and label amicably agreed to go their separate ways. Well, after a brief stint without a label, Ruiner have finally brought Prepare to be Let Down to the … Read more
Ruiner
What Could Possibly Go Right...
1917 (2005)
When I hear the term "melodic hardcore" I think of something in between 7 Seconds, Gorilla Biscuits and Lifetime. But there's a new brand of melodic hardcore that strays from those influences while still being melodic and hardcore. Bands like Final Fight and Life Long Tragedy seem to be pushing this style with great guitar harmonies, driving punk beats and … Read more
Rum Diary, The / Kilowatthours
Split
Springman (2003)
Springman records are coming of age, and this release definitely shows it. Being the label that got popular on their Punk Rock Strike compilation series, they are branching out as of late with releases from A Day At The Fair (ex-Lanemeyer), and now this split release between Kilowatthours and The Rum Diary. The former I knew nothing about before coming … Read more
Rumspringer
Stay Afloat
Dirt Cult (2013)
Every so often bands live up to their buzz. Rumspringer popped onto my radar through the defunct Dangerous Intersections series of 4-way splits from Traffic Street Records. I had one song at home on the comp., but it never got me deeper into the band’s catalog. Here comes 2013 and the band has released Stay Afloat on Dirt Cult Records—a … Read more
Run The Jewels
RTJ4
Jewel Runners / BMG (2020)
It was a surprise to see Run The Jewels’ RTJ4 as Scene Point Blank’s top-billed record for all of 2020, but it demonstrates the widespread scope of its impact on many of our writers, myself included. The hip-hop duo of Killer Mike and El-P operates in their own stratum within mainstream rap, excelling far beyond their original underground roots. It’s … Read more
Run With the Hunted
Everything Familiar
Refoundation (2009)
When you name your band after a Charles Bukowski book, you are automatically selling yourself as an intellectual band, or at least a well-read one. This strategy can be either beneficial or cause negative affects on a band if their music and their lyrics fail to own up the intelligence level they wish to portray themselves. Luckily, Run With the … Read more
Rush
Clockwork Angels
Roadrunner (2012)
On some days, when I'm really brutally honest with myself, I can safely admit that all of my favourite old rock bands from the 1970s have gone completely past the point of no return; they'll never release an album of the same calibre as those from their heyday, they'll never sell out huge stadiums and get the attention they used … Read more
Russian Circles
Enter
Flameshovel (2006)
Hearing a new band for the very first time can be an awesome experience - it can also be horrible, but that is not the case here. I had never heard of Russian Circles prior to seeing their name listed as an opener for a semi-recent Isis tour. Being curious as to what they sounded like, I scoured the Internet … Read more
Russian Circles
Guidance
Sargent House (2016)
The constant presence of Russian Circles in the post-rock domain has raised them to a prestigious status, and rightfully so. The band from Chicago started off about a decade ago, releasing their debut, Enter, in 2006. Their music was heavy and moving, and record by record the craftsmanship of the trio progressed, and especially since Geneva and Empros, they have … Read more
