Tesseract
Altered State
Century Media (2013)
Up until this point, TesseracT wasn't a band I held much respect for. Though a competent release, their debut album One showcased all of the worst traits of the djent movement, doing little to move the genre beyond the "fad metal" title it had inherited. However, after the release of their sophomore album Altered State,TesseracT have bafflingly defied expectations and … Read more
Tesseract
One
Century Media (2011)
Bring out the djent parade!Every single Meshuggah-loving act and their goddamn mother is releasing an album this year. Xerath released their sophomore album, Uneven Structure and Vildhjarta have their debuts planned, Cloudkicker released a single, Periphery and Gojira both have EPs on the schedule... In fact, it seems like the only band who isn't getting in on this action themselves … Read more
Tesseract
Perspective
Century Media (2012)
TesseracT made quite a splash in the djent scene with their debut last year, the aptly titled One. Though the album itself wasn't particularly impressive, it still struck a chord with a lot of listeners and garnered the band quite a following. It's no surprise they've rushed to produce something to follow it up, and that follow up is 2012's … Read more
Test Icicles
For Screening Purposes Only
Domino (2005)
If you believe the hype currently going around then you must think that the UK music scene is at its strongest since Oasis and Blur fought over the Brit-pop crown or perhaps even when The Stone Roses and The Happy Mondays were teaching the kids to take drugs and dance. Test Icicles are seen to be one of those leading … Read more
Testament
The Formation of Damnation
Nuclear Blast (2008)
Since the mid 1980's Bay Area thrashers Testament have persevered in the world of heavy metal, undergoing numerous lineup changes and even a few medical scares. While their peers in Metallica, Anthrax, and Slayer consistently received glorious praise and popularity with metalheads, Testament instead maintained a mediocre level of success as their unleashed album after album. Now, twenty-five years after … Read more
Thalassa
Bonds of Prosperity
Sige (2017)
Formless and endless. When dealing with drone music, these are two elements you need to take into consideration. With a deep understanding and experience of the genre and experimental music, Aaron Turner, of SUMAC and a myriad other projects, and William Fowler Collins collaborate in the avant-drone project Thalassa. Taking influence from the Greek mythology, and the primordial personification of … Read more
The (Fallen) Black Deer
Requiem
Southern (2008)
This is seriously one of those releases that would normally fall completely into obscurity if not for a few people who champion such records. Please, if you will, allow me to be that person for this record. Southern Records has a running series - Latitudes - where it gives artists a very finite amount of studio time to record a … Read more
The (International) Noise Conspiracy
Armed Love
American (2005)
Taking what seems like years, in fact almost two, to come out on the shores of the United States, The (International) Noise Conspiracy's latest album Armed Love unleashes our daily dose of revolutionary approved rock-n-roll. This album has been maligned by critics and fans alike and seems to have an incredible polarizing effect on its listeners. People either love or … Read more
The (International) Noise Conspiracy
The Cross of My Calling
American/Vagrant (2008)
It must be rough to be Dennis Lyxzén. Ten years ago, he was a part of the loftily-titled but nonetheless astounding album The Shape of Punk to Come with his band Refused. The bar was set very high, and once The (International) Noise Conspiracy was unveiled, we all realized that the bar would not be met. The (International) Noise Conspiracy … Read more
The 1975
Self Titled
Dirty Hit (2013)
If you were to walk past any major chain shop these days, there is an overwhelming high probability that you will spot multiple 'retro' items placed in the window display; frankly society's current infatuation with the 80's and 90's is starting to get to a rather worrying level. And if you are as a savvy as The 1975 appear to … Read more
The 4onthefloor
4x4
Independent (2011)
There is a type of rock & roll that is very, well, American—thunderous, hard-driving, electrified rhythm and blues with greasy guitars. Music that evokes a variety of American imagery—an oversized, gas-guzzling pickup truck covered in mud barrels down a gravel road; the driver—sporting a camouflaged hat and a farmer’s tan—rides shotgun with a six pack of beer and an actual … Read more
The 69 Eyes
Death Of Darkness
Atomic Fire Records (2023)
Death Of Darkness is the thirteenth album from the Helsinki vampires The 69 Eyes. The Finnish five piece have been knocking out their smooth style of gothic, glam rock since the early 90s and have managed to deliver stunning unique and catchy albums every single time. This up coming eagerly awaited album Death Of Darkness is no exception. Featuring 10 … Read more
The Abi Yoyos
Mill Valley
Raccoon (2006)
In a town where the highlight of a night is loitering in front of 7-11 with the bipolar Marshall manning register, you can't help but wonder what these kids are going to produce. Surrounded by triumphant Redwood trees, aging hippies on oxygen tanks, a cloud piercing mountain, and bridges into concrete realities, The Abi Yoyos have self-released the sleeper hit … Read more
The Abi Yoyos
The World is Not My Home
Riisk (2005)
I've always wondered when "classic" albums first came out how people reacted to them. For the most crucial bands it seems people fell in love with the music after the band broke up. Spinning on my record player is what will become a "classic". It's made of black vinyl. Nothing about it visually separates it from any other 7". But … Read more
The Absence
Riders of the Plague
Metal Blade (2007)
The Absence hails from Tampa, Florida. Anyone with a sense of history knows that in the late eighties this meant something. Death, Obituary, Deicide, and Morbid Angel all hailed from Florida and significantly helped mold the clay into what we now know as death metal. The Absence are fully aware of their roots and have set forth to continue the … Read more
The Acacia Strain
Continent
Prosthetic (2008)
Oh, the wasted potential. Sweet, sweet potential, flushed away like nothing. The Acacia Strain has been building a name by pummeling faces with their relentless breakdowns and searing guitar leads, appealing to the scuzzy kids you see at shows who have their hoodies up and can't wait to do a spinkick right into your innocent crotch. Except they found a … Read more
The Academy Is...
Santi
Atlantic (2007)
Something I've always had trouble imagining is five grown men sitting in a room, writing music that directly appeals to fourteen-year-old girls, and being totally happy with themselves. Maybe it's my own musical snobbery, but I can't believe that these bands go to sleep at night, creatively satisfied, and legitimately thinking that the music they write is worth anything. They … Read more
The Ackleys
Forget Forget, Derive Derive
House of Love (2006)
It has to be considered near unforgivable to include the words "They're certainly not the first to write songsââ¬Â¦ and they probably won't be the last - but infectious, rock-solid indie pop will never go out of style" in a press sheet when one's aim is to try and sell a band, not make prospective listeners sigh with disappointment before … Read more
