System of a Down
Hypnotize
Sony (2005)
It's official. System of a Down can't spell. I'm sorry to any Americans out there who like to get involved with this whole using a "zed" instead of an "ess" thing, but they can't. And yes, I did say "zed," none of that "zee" crap either. Let's face it. America was born from the remnants of a British people who … Read more
System of a Down
Mezmerize
Sony (2005)
Let me begin with a disclaimer. I don't mean to rant, but in general, I hate political bands. I can't stand political bands. I can't stand them because, generally, when they aren't misinformed fools popularizing redundant attitudes, they are sententious idiots that are just as misguided as victims of their malignant invectives. Generally. Somewhere then, in what is a combative … Read more
T.O.M.B.
Third Wave Holocaust
Black Plague (2013)
T.O.M.B., the one man blackened noise project, has been running strong for many years. the is such a consistency within No One's (the nom de plum of the man behind the project) output that the growth from one release to the next may be decieving to many listeners. Now, with the projects' fourth official full length we as listeners can … Read more
T.O.M.B.
UAG
Crucial Blast (2012)
T.O.M.B. or Total Occultic Mechanical Blasphemy has managed to up the stakes of what can qualify as black noise for over 10 years. The group sounds like distorted occultist activities that are taking place within a tomb. So now that we know how truly appropriate their name is one may question how well this record carries said reputation. The record … Read more
Tahiti 80
A Piece of Sunshine
Minty Fresh (2004)
The temperatures across the States are getting higher. Flowers are approaching or at their finest state. The cicadas are dying out both by human consumption and just their natural cycle only to return 17 years in the future. The sun rays gently kiss exposed skin with UV radiation. It's the perfect time of year to put away the disheartening CDs … Read more
Takaru
There Can Only Be None
Alone (2004)
While to some, hardcore is a type of pornography that involves penetration and giraffes, for others it's a style of music, even a lifestyle. When punk and hardcore were originally birthed, they were fast, radical, aggressive, and socially conscious forms of expression. Twenty-odd years later, punk and hardcore have all but lost their edge. For one, neither is all that … Read more
Taking Back Sunday
Self Titled
Warner Bros. (2011)
Taking Back Sunday were once the face of the new alternative underground movement often labeled as “emo” but over the last few years they seemed to have lost their footing. After losing pivotal member in Fred Mascherino and releasing the uninspired New Again, an album that met a negative critical reception, many fans including myself gave up on the band … Read more
Taking Back Sunday
Tidal Wave
Hopeless (2016)
Taking Back Sunday accidentally ended up being one of the bands that spearheaded the emo movement that bled into the mainstream in the early noughties, a label that the band aren't entirely comfortable with. More recently, frontman Adam Lazzara got into an argument with the organisers of an LA club night that catered to the nostalgic whims of former emo … Read more
Taking Back Sunday
Where You Want to Be
Victory (2004)
When I started my own zine as a sophomore in highschool (I am now a freshman in college), Victory would send me all their releases to review. Honestly, I stopped reviewing Victory releases because I was tired of making fun of every record I had to review. Although 96% of Victory releases are awful, sometimes, between Freya, Snowdogs, Atreyu, Catch … Read more
Talk is Poison
Condensed Humanity: The Prank EPs
Prank (2007)
At last. A fairly short-lived, late '90s hardcore band, Talk is Poison seemed to stick in the heads of connoisseurs after disbanding, leaving behind a small but dedicated cadre of fans. They produced three records - two EPs and a split with Deathreat - and after many laments about this material going out of print, it's nice to see all … Read more
Talk Me Off
Cursed
Smartpunk Records (2020)
There’s a lot to like on Cursed, the debut full-length by Richmond, VA’s Talk Me Off. But as much as I enjoy the structures, the vocal tradeoff, and the political urgency, I just can’t get over the vocals on this record. They just feel flat and robotic at key moments, which is ironic for a band named Talk Me Off.This … Read more
Talk Show Host
Mid-Century Modern
Disconnect/Disconnect, Wiretap Records (2021)
Talk Show Host is a power-pop group from Toronto. And while it’s chock-full of those pleasant, soaring melodies expected of the style, the band establishes its tone early, showing there are some teeth behind the smile with opening track “You Asshole!” Songs like the lead track, “Crisis Actors” and “Warmest Condolences” defy the idea that pop songs are empty, instead … Read more
Tall Ships
Voyages
Truth and Justice (2009)
When you review as many generic melodic hardcore bands as I do, you do whatever you can to try to find things that make one band stand out from another. Believe me, it wasn't easy to as I listened to Voyages. Tall Ships sounds like just another hardcore band going through the motions of being a new school hardcore. They … Read more
Tame Impala
Lonerism
Modular Recordings (2012)
This review is part of my coverage of the 2013 Progressive Music Awards, on 3 September. Australian quintet Tame Impala (whose name I insisted on pronouncing as "TA·may im·PA·la" for the longest damn time) don't seem very eager to fight off the stereotype about bands from down under. (You know, the one that they're all batshit crazy?) And we should … Read more
Tangorodrim
Justus Ex Fide Vivit
Southern Lord (2007)
So what are we to think of this "pure, unholy black metal from Israel"? Well for starters, taking into consideration their country of origin doesn't mean a whole lot. Whether you're from Israel, South Africa, New Zealand or Paraguay, if you're black metal, you'll probably still sound Norwegian. Originality, you see, isn't one of the tenets of the black. Everyone … Read more
Tar...Feathers
Make Way for the Ocean Floor to Fall to the Surface
Release the Bats (2006)
How many Swedish bands do you listen to? Wouldn't your friends think you're way indie if you told them you're diggin' on this sick Swedish band that produced their album on a laptop? You guessed it, my obscure band-loving friends, Tar...Feathers is straight out of Göteborg, Sweden and yes, they recorded Make Way for the Ocean Floor to Fall to … Read more
Team Sleep
Team Sleep
Maverick (2005)
When I was 15, I remember thinking Korn was the greatest band on the face of the earth. I was angry. I was rebellious. I felt alienated just like Jonathan Davis. But in all fairness, Limp Bizkit was a close second. And while bands like Korn and Limp Bizkit refused to change their nu-metal riffs, and their "Are you ready?" … Read more
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
Living with the Living
Touch & Go (2007)
Like a well-deserved punch to the face, a breath of fresh air in a smog-ridden city, or indeed, a good musician amongst a plethora of bad ones, Ted Leo and his illustrious Pharmacists have returned with their Touch & Go debut, Living with the Living. At just over an hour long, the record beats Leo's previous offering, 2004's Shake the … Read more
