Force of Change
The Bond We Share
This Blessing, This Curse (2006)
Metallic hardcore is easily my favorite genre of not only hardcore, but of all musical genres. My fondness of this genre is a direct result of it being the first type of music I truly immersed myself in. Bands like Integrity, Strife, One King Down, Snapcase, and Indecision among others regularly dominated my Walkman. You know, those things like an … Read more
Fordirelifesake
A Daydream Disaster
Thorp (2005)
Kids aren't born cool. For the droves of kids that are growing up in small towns watching third rate metalcore at their local VFW Hall, it couldn't be harder to come across cool music, let alone music that is pushing boundaries. Fordirelifesake, although not pushing the boundaries of what the CD label described as 'melodic-metallic-hardcore,' seem to be the kind … Read more
Fordirelifesake
Dance.Pretend.Forget.Defend
Thorp (2004)
Henry Rollins had this to say about being in a band in his book Do I Come Here Often: Black Coffee Blues Pt. 2: "I see now that it's a lot more than just the music that got them [Janes Addiction] where they are. There's a lot of planning and wise moves made. Timing is a key element... I just … Read more
Forensics
Hogback Mountain Sessions Vol. 1
Magic Bullet (2005)
Let me be frank. Picking up records based off of the information given on the record sleeve is usually (99.9% of the time) a tenuous proposition. More than likely, the record will not come through on its boastings. I normally make it a point to never believe a damn thing that those stickers announce ( i.e. "the best band in … Read more
Forensics Sonic Victimization Unit
Deathscream
Magic Bullet (2009)
About the only comment that I could muster when I saw the existence of this release was an extremely emphatic, "NICE! A new Forensics record," before promptly heading over to the Magic Bullet web store and ordering the extremely limited CD (only 88 copies and a few additional that did not meet the artistic standards of the group). Even though … Read more
Forests
Get In Losers, We're Going To Eternal Damnation
Dog Knights Productions (2022)
Singaporean trio twinkle band, Forests, just put out their 3rd full- length entitled Get In Losers, We're Going To Eternal Damnation. I guess the title itself explains what would lie in the theme of the lyrics. It Ssounds stupid but serious at the same time. The band still encapsulates what's good from 2010's emo scene, and some words to describe … Read more
Foret Endormie
Etire dans le ciel vide
Pretty Purgatory (2017)
Led by Falls of Rauros' Jordan Guerette, Foret Endormie takes quite a different route to what we can expect from the black metal guitarist. This chamber ensemble draws its influences from the past, be it the modern take on classical music implemented by the likes of Erik Satie or the poetry of the decadent movement, mainly Paul Verlaine. This is … Read more
Forever Unclean
Best
Hidden Home Records (2022)
It’s a tough to summarize Forever Unclean in a neat little genre-name. It’s punk rock, but with elements of ‘90s alt rock, screamo and more. It’s short and concise, energetic and uplifting, yet unpredictable and far more complex than your average 3-chord beentheredonethat. The music is driving but varied: guitar-driven with sing-shouted vocals and lots of surprising-but-not-jarring shifts along the … Read more
Forge Of Clouds
Self Titled
Independent (2011)
I'd like to invite you to look at the cover art of Forge of Clouds for just a moment. This is one of the few times I've ever looked at a cover for an album and said to myself “Yes, this is exactly what this music sounds like.” Every detail of this Polish quartet's music is captured in this image—the … Read more
Forgotten Tomb
...and Don't Deliver Us from Evil
Agonia (2012)
The Italian boys of Forgotten Tomb are certainly not new kids to the black metal scene. The band, going strong since the turn of the century, has made a name by building its own little corner in the depressive black metal genre. With each record the band allows their emotions to show through a bit more and, in turn, it … Read more
Form of Rocket
Men
Sick Room (2006)
SLC, Utah's Form of Rocket is five dudes, just as humble as they are talented, blasting out some really creative and inspiring stuff. They could quite possibly be the best band around right now, as I honestly can't think of a more exciting band. They're seamlessly bridging a wide range of genres all the way from post-hardcore, post-rock, folk, metal, … Read more
Fórn
Rites of Despair
Gilead Media (2018)
Boston’s Fórn have been making slow, emotional music that rips your heart to pieces since 2012 and in that time the band have progressed into an entity that can make a simple guitar phrase induce introspection on a massive scale. “Manifestations of the Divine Root,” the first track after album intro “涂地,” places gorgeously fluid guitar lines alongside Chris P’s … Read more
Foundation
Chimborazo
Paper + Plastick (2009)
I like to refer to Foundation's self-titled record as campfire punk. It takes basic punk songs (often from the Ann Beretta catalog) and strips them down to the acoustic basics. In the process, Rob Huddleston doesn't run them through the genre-grinder and spit out new alt-country or folk versions of old songs so much as he creates Ann Beretta Unplugged … Read more
Four Fists
6666
Doomtree (2018)
Four sixes, four fists, two rappers and some punchy production that’s equally space age and heavy hitting. It’s my own interpretation here, but the group name is more a reference to solidarity and kinship between rappers P.O.S and Astronautalis than it’s a statement of anger or frustration. The group is built on the fluid, and often laid-back raps of Astronautalis … Read more
Four Tet
Everything Ecstatic
Domino (2005)
There is nothing quite like having to follow up a great record. 2003's Rounds was such an album; engaging, beautiful and charismatic. And for an electronica album, or "IDM" if you must, that was really something. Ironically, it was even released in the same month and on the same very label as Ulrich Schnauss's latest attempt to create the perfect … Read more
Four Year Strong
Rise or Die Trying
I Surrender (2007)
Do you love bubblegum pop-punk? Do you love sign-alongs? Do you love ridiculous breakdowns? Well, then Four Year Strong and their debut full-length, Rise or Die Trying, are going to be exactly what you've been seeking. This Worcester, Massachusetts five-piece delivers pogo-errific pop-punk with more than a few opportunities to sing-along and break out your dance moves. Rise or Die … Read more
Fox Face
End Of Man
Dirtnap (2021)
It seems fitting that one of the first 2021 releases I’m reviewing is called End Of Man. A look at the news shows a world in crisis and, for deeper meaning, the common parlance is shifting away from gender specific language. So maybe Fox Face is saying men ruined the planet and we’re all gonna die. Maybe they are saying … Read more
Foxhall Stacks
The Coming Collapse
Snappy Little Numbers Quality Audio Recordings (2019)
The best part of a super group is hearing talented musicians working in a comfortable space. A diligent review of Foxhall Stacks is obliged to mention Jawbox, Government Issue, Velocity Girl and Minor Threat, with whom this band shares members. I hear similarities to many of these groups because of the unmistakable players participating. The powerpop formula on this record … Read more
