Steel Nation / Crucified
Split
Double or Nothing (2009)
Two very promising bands take on each other with this split 7": Steel Nation hailing from Pittsburgh while Crucified call the Bay Area home. Both offer menacing metallic hardcore that is not to be passed over. Steel Nation delivers two brand new tracks, their first since parting ways with their vocalist and having the remaining members share the vocals. In … Read more
Stereotyperider
Songs in the Keys of F & U
Suburban Home (2009)
I've had a long-standing career of completely ignoring Stereotyperider even though friends have made valiant attempts to reassure me that I would like this band. I kept hearing whispers of Samiam, Seaweed, and other great rock bands from the 90's. So when I saw a promo for Songs in the Keys of F & U was available for review I … Read more
Steve Kilbey
Painkiller
Second Motion (2009)
The first solo record from The Church frontman in seven years, Kilbey handles all the instruments here except drums. Thankfully it does not sound like a Paul McCartney record. Tim Powles, drummer from The Church covers the sticks and production duties. But there's still a strong guitar presence on this one. "Outbound" features a flowing bassline, while 'Wolfe" seems to … Read more
Stone Roses
Self Titled-Deluxe Edition
Silvertone (2009)
3 disc release of their debut, which was 20 years old last year. Remastered by original producer John Leckie and Ian Brown, the original record sounds fantastic. The close to 10 minute "Fools Gold" is tacked on as a bonus track at the end of the first disc. The 2nd CD is demos, with one song-"Pearl Bastard" being the only … Read more
Strangers
Night Minutes
Action Man (2009)
Night Minutes is the latest release from New Zealand's Strangers. The group made quite a splash with their 2007 debut, Holding., and the subsequent full-length, Weight. This six-song 7" release continues Strangers destructive and abrasive metallic assault, beginning with "Voyeur." It's fast and raw; the guitars are loud and the low end is extremely powerful. Fans of Jane Doe-era Converge … Read more
Streetwalkers
Vile Thoughts
Six Feet Under (2009)
It seems as though Six Feet Under is showing its punk roots. Not so surprisingly, so are some collected members of Ceremony. This short release works pretty well in relation to the Broken Patterns release I also reviewed. This takes a more classic hardcore punk route. Back in the mid '80s punk and hardcore got along mostly and the sound … Read more
Stressed Out / Rip it Up
Split
Independent (2009)
Self-released split 7"s are a rarity these days. This one features two bands from the state of New Jersey with both bands offering their take on straight edge hardcore. Stressed Out play fairly straightforward aggressive hardcore punk. It's got a definite vintage approach; though they do work in some thrash metal flair with solos. I think the band's strongest aspect … Read more
Struck by Lightning
Serpents
Translation Loss (2009)
I've said it before: Translation Loss has an amazing knack for finding bands that are head and heels over most of the metal world. This time they saved a bunch of trouble. After a fall out between members of another band on the label one of the members left and formed this beast. Though this is a heavy band there … Read more
Strung Out
Agents of the Underground
Fat Wreck Chords (2009)
Strung Out's Blackhawks Over Los Angeles was a record that had a lot of ups and downs. The album showcased the band's improving musicianship and songwriting but the production really brought the record down. Singer Jason Cruz's voice felt processed in too many areas and it restricted the power that his vocals usually have. I also felt that the band … Read more
Strung Out
Prototypes and Painkillers
Fat Wreck Chords (2009)
Currently recording their eighth studio album, California punk quintet, Strung Out decided to put together this little compilation album full of b-sides, rarities, alternate takes, and demos. Given that Strung Out has undergone a bit of a transformation in their seventeen years as a band, you're bound to get just a bit of everything with this collection. It's really interesting … Read more
Sunn 0)))
Monoliths & Dimensions
Southern Lord (2009)
Okay, I must say that Sunn 0))) lost me with Oracle, particularly after some mild disappointment in Altar. My eventual listening of Domkirke came quite a while after its release, but it did revive my interest in the band. Now, finally delivering a new studio album (it has been quite a while since their last studio album Black One), Sunn … Read more
Sunny Day Real Estate
Diary / LP2 (Reissues)
Sub Pop (2009)
When it comes to album reissues, it is actually a much more difficult task to write a fair and unbiased review than you might think, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the reviewer - in this case, me - has heard the original recording; therefore there is a pre-conceived opinion of the material. Secondly, the majority of these types of … Read more
Sunset Rubdown
Dragonslayer
Jagjaguwar (2009)
Spencer Krug may be our generation's Robert Pollard. Both seem to excrete music. Both create surreal visions full of vibrant characters and dense metaphor. Like Pollard's best albums, Dragonslayer sweeps us across a landscape replete with broken lovers and ephemeral romance and lonesome dirges. The connections between characters, images, and ideas are easier to spot than on 2007's more elusive … Read more
Supermachiner
Rust
Deathwish Inc. (2009)
Following the vinyl issue of Rise of the Great Machine (their first full-length album), Supermachiner finally offers more music with Rust. This two CD collection combines a remastered version of their first full-length as well as a second CD that collects more material from the group. As exciting on a personal level as this release is, there remain quite a … Read more
Swamp Thing
In Shame
6131 (2009)
Rob Gordon's first lines uttered in High Fidelity are What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen … Read more
Swan Lake
Enemy Mine
Jagjaguwar (2009)
n theory, this band should be really, really fucking good - a supergroup composed of three accomplished artists already involved with various supergroups of their own. Dan Bejar (Destroyer, New Pornographers), Carey Mercer (Frog Eyes, Blackout Beach) and Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown) collaborating and throwing around their signature esoteric surrealist sounds like a aural feast. Buzz surrounding Enemy … 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
Teenage Bottlerocket
They Came From the Shadows
Fat Wreck Chords (2009)
I really wanted to like They Came From the Shadows. I did. And to an extent, I do. There are some very catchy pop-punk songs on this album. But this will definitely not be seen as one of the stronger Teenage Bottlerocket albums in the future. Opening the album is "Skate or Die," which brought me high hopes for this … Read more
