Boy Sets Fire
The Misery Index: Notes from the Plague Years
Equal Vision (2006)
In 2001 Boy Sets Fire recorded an album that many consider to be the band's finest hour, After the Eulogy, for Victory Records. The band was becoming bigger and bigger, and were ultimately snatched up by major label Wind-Up Records in 2002. The following year brought an EP, Live for Today, a teaser for an upcoming full length. Later that … Read more
Bracewar
Juggernaut
1917 (2007)
Is a band just as good if they don't have the hype? In today's hardcore scene, I feel like a lot of bands get passed over for lack of glorification and message board fame. Now, it's hard to tell if Bracewar is really one of those bands; I would say they are on the lower end of the fame spectrum, … Read more
Brain F≠
Empty Set
Grave Mistake / Sorry State (2014)
Apparently this band is called “Brain Flannel.” I don’t know what that means, but as somebody capable of reading the English language, I’m pretty sure it’s actually “Brain Unequal To.”Empty Set here is their second full-length, and it’s really only a full-length by a hair, totaling 20 minutes for the 10 punk rock jams that it contains.The band itself is … Read more
Brain Failure
American Dreamer
Thorp (2005)
Punk is a relative concept. In 1982, shaving your head into a mohawk and wearing studded jewelry was a symbol of rebellion. It was the aesthetic of a youth movement fueled by frustration with the status quo. It was a visual statement against suburbanite jocks listening to Bad Company and Styx. Today, the mohawk is a passing fad in hair … Read more
Brain Tentacles
Brain Tentacles
Relapse (2016)
Three great musicians of the extreme/experimental metal scene meet up to as Brain Tentacles. Bruce Lamont of Yakuza, Dave Witte of Discordance Axis and Aaron Dallison of Keelhaul, do not need much of an introduction, but their new project certainly does. The band's debut album, coming out through Relapse, shows an unconventional take on extreme metal, replacing electric guitars with … Read more
Braindead
No Consequences
Burn Bridges (2008)
Hailing from areas around the city of Philadelphia, Braindead have quickly become one of my favorite current hardcore bands. Formed only a few years ago, the band has already released a demo, a split 7" with Blackbirds, and this, their debut full-length, No Consequences. Over the course of the ten-song twenty-three minute affair Braindead showcases a variety of influences within … Read more
Brainkiller
The Infiltration
RareNoise (2011)
I was actually quite excited when I heard the trio Brainkiller's new album, The Inflitration, described as a mix between jazz, prog, and psychedelic music. I listen to a fair amount of all of those genres, so I thought it shouldn't be a half-bad listen at all. I retrospect, I suppose I should have thought it over a bit more: … Read more
Braintoy
Vehicles
Independent (2008)
Whether the music a band presents is groundbreaking or not, it's undoubtedly an awesome accomplishment when its members learn and develop much quicker than expected - as such is the case with Braintoy. Like most young artists just starting out, they saw it fit to hone their sound almost footprint-to-footprint with their influences. Braintoy's 2005 EP, Tremors, saw the crew … Read more
Brainworms
II: Swear to Me
Rorschach (2009)
There is a caustic, angry, and somewhat aimless feel permeating Swear to Me that convinces me that Brainworms is a good name for the band. They remind me of a lot of 80s punk where the band does one dissonant thing while the singer goes off into his own world. Every so often the two different styles converge, bringing a … Read more
Brand New
The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me
Interscope (2006)
Reviewing albums isn't an especially technical task. Anyone can do it. But, when you are piecing together your thoughts for an album review, there is a lot to be concerned about. Mainly, will the words put down on paper (or in this case, a computer screen) be an adequate representation of the music contained on the album? More times than … Read more
BRASS
Look On The Bright Side
Early Onset Records (2022)
I can’t help but internally groan when a group is described as a ‘live band’. The phrase is pinned onto many a few semi-famous local bands who are known more for their on stage antics than their musical chops. A ‘live band’ stands in direct opposition of an ‘album band’ who do asinine things like practice and tune their instruments. … Read more
Breakfast
Six Packs Classic
625 Thrashcore (2007)
Westerners tend to love Japanese pop culture almost as much as Japanese kids love western (read: American) pop culture - especially rock and roll. And punk is no exception to this phenomenon, as each side doesn't hesitate to make a fetish out of the other: American punks work themselves into a lather bidding on GISM LPs, while Japanese punks go … Read more
Brendan Kelly & The Wandering Birds
I'd Rather Die Than Live Forever
Red Scare Industries (2012)
I’ve never thought of Brendan Kelly as much of a singer. Sure, I’ve followed his career—hell, Slapstick played at the first real DIY show I ever saw—but he’s always been in that category of “punk vocalist,” who relies on attitude far more than vocal chops. As such, I had pretty mixed feelings coming into his solo project Brendan Kelly & … Read more
Brendan Kelly & The Wandering Birds
Keep Walkin’ Pal
Red Scare Industries (2018)
Does the world really need a ska-tinged surf song about waterboarding? How you answer that question will probably answer how you feel about this record as a whole. Not that such a concept is really a surprise for those who have followed Brendan Kelly’s musical output and sense of humor over the years. While I personally think “Boardin’ USA” feels … Read more
Brian Posehn
Nerd Rage
Independent (2005)
Stand-up comedians aren't funny. With very few exceptions, this is a truism that has become stronger and stronger over the years with every "I drive my spouse nuts" line and "Black people do things differently" joke. Brian Posehn is one of those exceptions. Culled from the last bastion of laughter - The Comedians of Comedy Tour, Nerd Rage reminds us … Read more
Brian Simpson
Postcard from L.A.
Independent (2006)
Brian Simpson plays that sort of music that you feel like you've heard before but can't really remember when or who else plays that sort of music. It carries all the influences of Bob Dylan and The Allman Brothers and ends up sounding something like what Van Morrison has been doing for the past decade or so and where Brian … Read more
Bricheros
Live at Hensley
Snappy Little Numbers Quality Audio Recordings (2021)
I don’t know anything about Bricheros beyond what’s in the press sheet. Which has quite a bit of info, really, but in the spirit of due diligence, let’s just say I want a little more. The band plays Panic Button Records-style Ramones-core with a strong dose of Screeching Weasel. In fact, they cover both of those bands on side B. … Read more
Bridge and Tunnel
East/West
No Idea (2008)
If there has ever been a band that you would expect to be on No Idea Records that doesn't feature any bands that were ever on the No Idea roster than it would be be Bridge and Tunnel. Honestly, this co-ed four-piece from New York City doesn't even sound like any band on No Idea besides some gruff vocals belted … Read more
