September 8, 2006

Brightblack Morning Light Brightblack Morning Light [3/5] Once this whole pop-punk thing dies down, we’re putting our money on psychedelic indie rock as the next big thing. Alongside acts such as Six Organs Of Admittance, Vetiver and Espers, Northern California duo Brightblack Morning Light are helping to jumpstart the genre’s latest revival. In fact, the...

Satyricon Now, Diabolical [4/5] At first, Now, Diabolical doesn’t impress the way Satyricon’s early, more blistering black metal has. Taking its cues from 2002’s Volcano, it’s a midtempo disc, reminiscent more of latter-day Immortal in its monochromatic, head-down forward marching than of, say, the blind fury of classic Mayhem or Darkthrone. Drummer Frost brings plenty...

Knut Alter [4/5] Knut should be worshiped like gods. Their brand of stripped-down, mechanistic post-hardcore has been amply showcased on three albums (Bastardiser, Challenger and Terraformer) and a self-titled EP. Lately, though, they’ve taken a turn toward ambient experimentalism, as evidenced by the dominance of instrumentals on Terraformer, and now, on a remix album, celebrating...

Greeley Estates Far From The Lies [3/5] On their second proper album, Arizona’s Greeley Estates have clearly done their genre homework, studying the huge waves (and no doubt the huger record sales) made by their best-known screamo and post-hardcore forebears. Far From The Lies finds the band well-equipped with traditional melodic-hardcore chug, heavy guitar breakdowns...

Enslaved Ruun [5/5] Enslaved have done at least as much to expand black metal’s sonic palette as any of the pomp-rock acts (see: Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth) that have withstood the wrath of genre purists. And yet, somehow, they’re still okay in the eyes of the hardcore, even as their latest disc, Ruun, features...

Celtic Frost Monotheist [5/5] For better or worse, Celtic Frost were one of the most innovative and surprising metal bands of the ’80s: Their Eurocentric take on thrash, which included flirtations with glam and electronics, paved the way for In Flames and eight zillion other Scandinavian acts. Well, now the forefathers are back, stomping their...

The Acacia Strain The Dead Walk [3/5] Technically adept, and perhaps even challenging to the unseasoned metal listener, The Dead Walk is clearly the strongest effort to date from New England scene stars the Acacia Strain. Songs chug along at a fast clip, often with unexpected changes or unusual time signatures, a few heroic yet...

Regina Spektor Begin To Hope [4/5] Regina Spektor is like that crazy girlfriend you just know is a heap of trouble, but even still, she’s so hard to resist. Born in Russia and coming up in NYC’s anti-folk scene playing her piano like a loopier Tori Amos or Fiona Apple, Spektor was last seen on...

Six Organs Of Admittance The Sun Awakens [4/5] By the time most artists reach their ninth album (if they even get that far), they’re usually running on putrid fumes. Not so with Six Organs Of Admittance-a.k.a. guitarist/vocalist Ben Chasny. The Sun Awakens finds the Bay Area player in peak form. With tasteful help from Tim...