Defeater
Lost Ground
Bridge Nine (2009)
This is the latest EP from Massachusetts' Defeater, who had a little bit of notoriety by being a band that liked to travel in a van fueled by vegetable oil. Defeater play emotionally ridden melodic hardcore in the vein that I like but never really go out of my way to hear. They remind me of an exciting version of … Read more
Defeatist
Sharp Blade Sinks Deep into Dull Minds
Willowtip (2009)
I really hate bringing up the ex-members of thing when talking about records. No, seriously I do. Defeatist is the perfect example as to why. When doing research for this album I found a pedigree of underground metal. Members of Anodyne and Kalibas join forces to create a grindcore band indebted to early Napalm Death and Repulsion. To someone like … Read more
Detournement
Screaming Response
Chunksaah/Pirate Press (2009)
Detournement are an Eastcoast band with members from a host of familiar bands. Rather than focus on who they are, though, their music should speak for itself. The fifty-one second opener, "Focus Explosion!," makes a quick impression, with melodic hardcore that's over before you've found your seat. The lyrics aren't exactly discernible, but I know both titular words were screamed … Read more
Dinosaur Jr.
Farm
Jagjaguwar (2009)
This may be going out on a limb here, but Dinosaur Jr.'s reunion album in 2007, Beyond was one of the best albums of said year, if not one of the best reunion albums ever. Bands reuniting is always seen as a lame cash-in attempt by artists going bankrupt, but with Beyond it felt more like Dinosaur Jr. were making … Read more
Disappearer
The Clearing
Magic Bullet (2009)
Massachusetts-based Disappearer returns with their long-awaited second release. The Clearing marks the band's first full-length effort, which follows up the band's 2006's self-titled EP release (which is actually the group's 2004 demo reworked). So it has been, in a way, five years since we've gotten fresh material from Disappearer. For the super-fans, I am aware of last year's Steven Brodsky … Read more
Disembodied
Psalms of Sheol
Prime Directive (2009)
As the crushing, bottom heavy sonic force of "Enochian Prayer" plays, the only thought running through my mind is: "YES! Disembodied rules where would I be without their destroying my ear drums right at this moment?" If you have ever given a spin or two or more to any Disembodied record, than you kind of have an idea of what … Read more
DOOM
Born Like This
Lex (2009)
Even though he took up the same moniker, all-caps not withstanding, it's unlikely anyone is going to mistake the artist formerly toting metal fingers for the legendary crust band. One decade after the landing of Operation Doomsday, Danielle Dumile re-emerges with a modified alter-ego, and perhaps a bruised original ego. The reinvention of MF Doom to DOOM comes after a … Read more
Doomriders
Darkness Come Alive
Deathwish Inc. (2009)
Doomriders debut effort Black Thunder launched the Boston-based outfit into action with their dark-themed hybrid of punk, metal, and hardcore. Since its release the band has kept busy with a slew of recordings surfacing. There was a live 7" EP released shortly after their debut, two split recordings - with Coliseum and Disfear respectively - spread out over the past … Read more
Downpresser
Age of Ignorance
Triple B (2009)
Hailing from Santa Barbara, CA is the metallic hardcore attack of Downpresser. Six tracks of down-tuned, head cracking, thick skulled hardcore in the vein of early Merauder or any other band that you wouldn't be surprised supporting thick hair braids, bandannas, and stomach tattoos. Age of Ignorance toes the "Slayer-line," an imaginary line in which a band straddles being a … Read more
Drag the River
Bad at Breaking Up
Suburban Home (2009)
"I know I'm not the easiest lover," Drag the River admits in "Jeff Black Song." That honest and simple line over a minimal acoustic track tells you as much as you need to know about Drag the River. The alt-country band started as a side project, grew into a full-time band, and fell apart as band members went in different … Read more
Drunkdriver
Fire Sale
Fashionable Idiots (2009)
I like to consider myself pretty versed in rock - I listen to a lot of stuff and a good amount of variety. But, every so often, I'll get something that I just can't categorize or explain well. That's not a bad thing at all. In fact, it's a pretty good accomplishment, as long as the wax is listenable. Drunkdriver … Read more
Eagle Twin
The Unkindness of Crows
Southern Lord (2009)
Gentry Densley is somewhat of a living legend in the metal world. Unfortunately I am not as familiar with his work in Iceburn as I should be, but I've known him as an indispensable part of the Southern Lord supergroup Ascend. Ascend took experimental metal to new heights, but his latest project Eagle Twin, while moving in a similar direction … Read more
Echo & The Bunnymen
The Fountain
Ocean Rain Records (2009)
New record from the band blasts off with the first single "Think I Need It Too" and doesn't look back. Will Sergeant's guitar is prominent throughout, and Ian's vocals still impress after all these years. "Do You Know Who I Am?" may be the hardest rocker on this collection, with driving drums powering the song along. But the quieter moments … Read more
Empty Promise
Start from the Ground
Independent (2009)
Austria, the home of some of my ancestors and one of my favorite finds of the year, Empty Promise. This four-piece melodic punk band definitely took me by surprise and are sure to do the same to more listeners. Already having an impressive demo EP on their resume, Empty Promise continue to come out strong with their debut album, Start … Read more
End of a Year
End of a Year
Deathwish Inc. (2009)
Yes, End of a Year give us yet another new record into which we can sink our collective teeth (if one so chooses) and its three songs might just be the best work that they can lay claim (outside my favorite song of theirs still, "Harrison"). This Albany, New York, crew truly give three crisp, D.C. hardcore inspired tracks of … Read more
End of All
Places
Halo of Flies (2009)
Sweden is a country known for its thrash and death metal bands. End of All's name had me thinking of End This Day. And since they are from Sweden I figured they'd be a Euro-thrash influenced metalcore band. But they are not, thankfully. "Into the Abyss" opens with a slow churning building riffing before it launches into a ferocious metal … Read more
Ender
Ender
Darkroom (2009)
New Zealand is quite a long distance away from the United States, and whenever I hear New Zealand mentioned, Lewis Black's (the comedian and political commentator) sketch about performing there always pops in my mind " if you fly to New Zealand by plane from New York City it takes twenty-two hours if they really wanted to be more of … Read more
Everlovely Lightningheart
Sein Weal Tallion Rue
Hydra Head (2009)
Everlovely Lightningheart was a band (even though championed by Hydra Head for some time) that exists in virtual obscurity. And considering what this collective offers people, aside from a bunch of limited releases (one of which includes an LP that is still only limited to 5 or so copies), the challenging soundscapes on their albums beg to be heard. Sein … Read more
