Authors: Peter Fryer
Review: Usnea – Random Cosmic Violence
Usnea = Samothrace + Disma + Winter … read more
Review: Trap Them – Blissfucker
School is in session, and Trap Them are teaching a graduate level course on how to make a blackened-crust hardcore record in 2014. Let me illustrate: first, that ride cymbal in the opening of “Habitland.” … read more
Review: Trigger – Start Our Revenge
Trigger = Magrudergrind + Man is the Bastard + Napalm Death … read more
Review: Today is the Day – Animal Mother
Today is the Day = Converge + Neurosis + Pig Destroyer … read more
Review: Total Abuse – Excluded
Total Abuse = Black Flag + Ceremony + Void … read more
Review: Stuntman – Incorporate the Excess
Chaotic and frenzied, France’s Stuntman packs an impressive amount into Incorporate the Excess. On its surface, this grind-influenced album would appear to be predominantly grind based, but with so many odd time signatures and syncopation, their assault is more calculated. … read more
Review: Sissy Spacek – Lead Their Exit
Sissy Spacek = The Locust + Wolf Eyes + Pharmakon … read more
Review: Seeker – Unloved
Knee-jerk reaction would lump these guys in with the somehow-still-prevalent deathcore genre, but Unloved lacks the breakdowns and the tech-noodling. What they do play is ferocious, syncopated rhythms where guitars serve as another percussive instrument, punctuated by slow interludes of open strumming. … read more
Review: Red Hare – Nites of Midnite
“Don’t want to not fit in in the wrong way” sings Shawn Brown on Red Hare’s debut, kicking style over substance square in the balls. Nothing less should be expected of a punk veteran like Brown, or the rest of Red Hare. Although technically a debut, Red Hare is essentially Swiz/Sweetbelly Freakdown with a new drummer, the raging Joe Gorelick (Bluetip). … read more
Review: Punch – They Don’t Have to Believe
Punch = Vitamin X + What Happens Next? + Suspect … read more
Review: Power – Heavy Muscle
Power = Bl’ast + Blacklisted + Cold World … read more
