Barren Harvest
Subtle Cruelties
Handmade Birds (2014)
It is quite difficult to define what Barren Harvest is offering in Subtle Cruelties. The duet of Jessica Way of Worm Ouroboros and Lenny Smith of Atriarch and Trees has found an intriguing way to present a neo folk album. But, it seems like there is always something underlying the initial folky sound of the album with its majestic melancholic … Read more
Barren Womb
Lizard Lounge
Loyal Blood Records (2020)
Barren Womb can hardly be accused of stagnation. Lizard Lounge, the fourth album by this hard working two-man band is again an interesting step further down the road. The band once started with a heavy Refused influenced framework on which they added whatever came to mind. The albums that followed showed slightly more focus, but Barren Womb kept writing songs … Read more
Barren Womb
Old Money/New Lows
Spartan Records (2018)
Shortly after releasing their debut full length I had the opportunity to have a chat with Barren Womb. They then told me they liked playing in a two-man band as it gave them the opportunity to work really fast. The decision making process is so much easier without a lot of different opinions around. These words seemed to be true … Read more
Basement Benders
Lydiad
No Idea (2015)
Side projects aren’t supposed to invite other band comparisons, they’re supposed to separate, to show artisticrange. Who are we kidding here? Basement Benders is a punk project out of members of This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb, Hidden Spots, Future Virgins, and Black Rainbow—DIY bands who live the scene, meaning that being themselves and having fun with friends probably outweighs … Read more
Basement Benders
Shrapnel Songs
Dead Broke Rekerds (2019)
I recently wrote about Future Virgins, stating that the band tempers their anger, choosing more subtle reflection in their songwriting to express that always important human emotion. I guess I know where the band’s members let it out.Basement Benders play a somewhat lo-fi melodic punk with a lot of vocal tradeoffs that pull together with joined melodies. It’s a pop … Read more
Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash
Mile Markers
Texicali (2005)
Be not afraid. Mile Markers by Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash is not the soundtrack to Aunt Edna's covert line-dancing ops at the Iron Horse Saloon. This is good country. Mellifluous, melodious, easy on the ears and heavy on the heart; it's where the best of country music always meant to go before it got sidetracked by private jets, monster … Read more
Batillus
Concrete Sustain
Seventh Rule (2013)
The issue that I had with Furnace, the 2011 debut album from Brooklyn's doom metal band Batillus was that it kept losing my interest after the first two songs. Don't get me wrong, I love those first couple tracks and the overall chilling atmosphere of that album, but I just found myself getting sidetracked every time I tried to listen … Read more
Batoche
Terra Incognita
Independent (2007)
Batoche is a fast-paced, self-proclaimed DIY hardcore/metal band from Vancouver, Canada. They have released three records independently (and changed their name) all before releasing their most recent, Terra Incognita. They boast that "new elements of chaos, atmosphere, flow and power" are found in their music, which is accompanied by insightful lyrical thought. Terra Incognita, the Latin term for "unknown land," … Read more
Batshit Crazy
Batshit Crazy
Basement Records (2019)
I didn’t even realize how much I’ve stigmatized horrorcore until Batshit Crazy showed up in my mailbox and made me question my way of thinking. The band embraces the term so I will for the context of this review. To me, the cover art, font and subgenre name make me think of Misfits-meets-rockabilly or, shudder, psychobilly.But Batshit Crazy sets a … Read more
Battle of Mice / Jesu
Split
Robotic Empire (2008)
Wow, this split is a long time coming after its initial announcement roughly this time last year as being one of the last of a slew of Jesu-related releases to come out last year. Instead listeners are only now being able to listen to these recordings from both groups. Battle of Mice is a project from Josh Graham (ex-Red Sparowes, … Read more
Battlefields
Thresholds of Imbalance
Translation Loss (2009)
There are bands and musicians that, when heard, give off the sense that their physical environment informs, influences, and shapes their music. Battlefields is surely one of those bands whose base of operations plays a part in just what their music sounds like. And coming from Minnesota and Fargo, North Dakota, an image of stark and harsh winters and a … Read more
Battles
Dross Glop
Warp (2012)
I wanted to write this entire review as a spoonerism, but my editor slapped me through my computer screen before I could even begin to type it. Though she was probably right to stop me, it would've made reviewing this dod gamned remix album much more interesting. Dross Glop is a series of remixes, originally released as a four-part vinyl … Read more
Battles
Gloss Drop
Warp (2011)
Okay, I'm going to be honest about my credentials here. For as long as Battles have been on my radar, and despite the amount of praise I have heard thrown at them, I still have not listened to Mirrored. It surprises me even today that I haven't gotten around to listening to an album nearly everyone (yes, even Pitchfork) describes … Read more
Battles
Mirrored
Warp (2007)
The members of Battles definitely have impressive resumes when it comes to their former and current musical endeavors. Everyone knows John Stanier from his days in Helmet and his recent work in Tomahawk. Ian Williams is a guitar wizard who spent many years with Don Caballero. Dave Konopka played in the under-appreciated Lynx. And Tyondai Braxton is the son of … Read more
Battlestations
In A Cold Embrace
Independent (2012)
Battlestations is one of those bands that is doing amazing things despite the fact that no one seems to have heard of them. I stumbled upon them completely by accident while looking for an entirely different band—and I still feel very fortunate for that mistake. Their eponymous debut was solid, but Battlestations have really begun to stretch themselves to the … Read more
Be Your Own Pet
Mommy
Third Man (2023)
Retrospective genre creation by both grizzled music critics and TikTokers has had many victims, from the constituents of Twee to Yatch Rock; however, the rebranding of 2005 garage rock and punk to indie sleaze has to be one of the more egregious. Half aesthetic movement and half musical umbrella for any 2000s band with smudged eyeliner (that hadn’t already been … Read more
Be’lakor
Coherence
Napalm (2021)
I’ve been trying for years to get into Be’lakor. A lot of friends and acquaintances liked to throw their name around as a solid recommendation for prog death. I just couldn’t buy into it for whatever reasons. I firmly believe that Coherence is the record which finally sold me on the band. Be’lakor amassed quite a following, with a steady … Read more
Beach Rats
Rat Beat
Epitaph (2022)
Should I review Beach Rats on its own merit, or should I pause to describe the concept? That’s always the question with these, but in this case a little background may go a long way. The band features several older punks, seeking to rekindle the old spark and play fast, loud ‘n’ snotty music like the days of yore. They … Read more
