Review: Xiu Xiu – Nina

Review: Xiu Xiu – Nina
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This is obviously a work of love. This homage to the late, great soulstress Nina Simone is beautiful and stark. … read more

Review: Young Turks – Where I Rise

Review: Young Turks – Where I Rise
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“I don’t give a shit, your music means nothing! Your actions speak even less,” yells Matt Koenig at the beginning of “Territo(royally) Pissed.” … read more

Review: VNV Nation – Transnational

Review: VNV Nation – Transnational
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Remaining true to their sound, VNV Nation have stuck with their trendy, almost mainstream, future pop style that created their popularity. … read more

Review: Windhand – Soma

Review: Windhand – Soma
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Soma echoes the smoke-wreathed incantations of Electric Wizard with their heavy, powerful riffing and foreboding atmosphere. However, Windhand tones down the grooviness of the British black wizards, aiming instead for something closer to a traditional doom sound.  … read more

 
 
Review: Various Artists – SMM: Opiate [Ghostly International Comp.]

Review: Various Artists – SMM: Opiate [Ghostly International Comp.]
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A Winged Victory for the Sullen, Noveller, Celer, Black Swan and Pjusk (plus many more) breathe life into their structured explorations of softened noise and white, foamy swells of feedback and elongated tones. Concentrated as this compilation is, there is a surprising amount of variety running through the curated contributors. … read more

Review: Ultra Bidé – DNA vs DNA-c

Review: Ultra Bidé – DNA vs DNA-c
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Ultra Bidé have long been a source of aggressive music that could be described as noise rock mixed with artsy post-hardcore. … read more

Review: Vastum – Patricidal Lust

Review: Vastum – Patricidal Lust
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I’ve mentioned before that death metal is getting a weird reputation because of new bands mixing in stuff that doesn’t make sense just to be different, and that old bands that should just give up putting out lousy albums. Breathe in the putrid air of Vastum—it’s a bit newly putrid and just as properly old school putrid.  … read more

Review: Tyler Newman – Zonekiller (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Review: Tyler Newman – Zonekiller (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
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As I contemplate a robot apocalypse or a tyrannical future controlled by a mindless government, I take with me a soundtrack that gives life to these ideas. If you enjoy ’80s-infused dark electro comparable to the Quake soundtrack, I highly recommend this album. … read more

Review: Throwing Muses – Purgatory/Paradise

Review: Throwing Muses – Purgatory/Paradise
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As one of the more rocking acts on the initial 4AD Records lineup, Throwing Muses combine hummable melodies with jagged guitar lines and punkish rhythms. … read more

Review: Tom Brosseau – Grass Punks

Review: Tom Brosseau – Grass Punks
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North Dakota prodigy, Tom Brosseau, is soaring into the New Year with his newest album, Grass Punks. Compared to prior albums like What I Mean To Say Is Goodbye and Posthumous Success, Grass Punks falls on the simpler side of things. … read more