Gym Class Heroes - The Quilt
Gym Class Heroes The Quilt It’s weird suggesting a group whose previous album demanded listeners get their “Clothes Off!!” ever lacked confidence. But 2006’s As Cruel As School Children seems downright tentative next to Gym Class Heroes’ latest-the sound of four musicians who can now do whatever they want. A sampler of styles (sweet reggae;...
Esham
Esham Sacrificial Lambz [3/5]
For nearly two decades, Esham has consolidated his acid-rap empire beneath the mainstream radar, watching as Motor City friends and enemies, from Insane Clown Posse to Eminem, took elements of his demented horrorcore straight to the bank. If you suppose underground stardom suits him, think again: “I will kill for that...
Einstürzende Neubauten
The Jewels [4/5]
What started as a diversion for the their members has become one of Einstürzende Neubauten’s most fascinating and introspective albums. With only one exception, every song is under four minutes; most are sonically sparse, featuring a few clicking and thumping sounds as rhythm, a one-finger melody line and the usual crackles, rustles...
Alec Empire
Alec Empire The Golden Foretaste Of Heaven [4/5]
The first album on his newly established Eat Your Heart Out label, The Golden Foretaste Of Heaven sees former Atari Teenage Riot leader Alec Empire completely abandoning conventional instruments and re-embracing electronica. Fears that the album will fail to “rock” as a result are completely unfounded; akin...
Propagandhi / Paint It Black east coast tour announced
Propagandhi will be making a rare excursion to the U.S. east coast. The band will be accompanied by Paint It Black on all dates.
Prop will be supporting their forthcoming album on Smallman, Supporting Caste, which is due out March 10th in Canada. Paint It Black issued New Lexicon last year on Jade Tree.
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Zozobra
Zozobra Bird Of Prey [2/5]
After freeing themselves from a major-label nightmare, the members of Cave In tried desperately to regain their lost credibility by putting out a so-so hardcore/metal record, Perfect Pitch Black. While the other band members moved in different directions, bassist Caleb Scofield took another stab at hard music, making a go...
Young Widows
Young Widows Old Wounds [4.5/5]
Who could have guessed that such an artistic rock machine lurked in the shadows of the now defunct Breather Resist? Young Widows, three-fourths of the aforementioned Louisville, Kentucky, hardcore band, have established themselves as the true heirs to the Jesus Lizard’s throne over the course of only two albums. Tight...
Light Yourself On Fire
Light Yourself On Fire Intimacy EP [2/5]
If being in a noisy, chaotic, DIY hardcore band seemed like a far more pioneering move 10 years ago, it’s only because all the mediocre ’90s HC bands didn’t yet have a 24/7 internet reminder of the giants who outgunned them. Unfortunately for Florida’s Light Yourself On Fire-whose...
The Human Abstract
The Human Abstract Midheaven [3.5/5]
The Human Abstract have gathered up a lot of the latter-day prog signifiers floating around the metal scene: Cover art worthy of Muse’s next disc; vocals that are equal parts the Mars Volta’s Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Fugazi’s Guy Picciotto; fleet guitar solos; polyrhythms and unexpected percussion instruments (bring out the...