Earth Crisis “Slither” (Victory Records) Metallic hard-core that has grown out of its tag and is pushing to further define heaviness. Riff jumping across ripping guitars, rumble low end bass and interjected doses of vocalist Karl Buechner’s best attempt at…
Jimmy Eat World “Singles” (Big Wheel Recreation) After the brewha surrounding Jimmy Eat World’s last CD, “Clarity” (which sold well and was a darling among the critics), the band was still released from its contract with Capitol (oops, they’ll regret…
Apollyon Sun “Sub” (Mayan Records) “Apollyon” as far as I can discern is some sort of destroyer demon who lays waste to whatever needs waste laid on it. “Sun,” as far as I’ve been able to gather is the bright…
Rev. Neil Down “American Friend” (Burn Barrel Records) I drove from Los Angeles to Las Vegas last month. I brought along fifteen or twenty of my most trusty CDs for the excursion, but I was unable to find one that…
The Hives “Veni Vidi Vicious” (Burning Heart / Sire / Reprise) What the hell is going on in Sweden? Here’s another fine band from the chunk of land best known for a bikini team, whatever the fuck that is. At…
The Vandals “Look What I Almost Stepped In…” (Nitro Records) Dumb punks. (Not stupid just dumb). It takes a clever wit to construct the mentality that surrounds the Vandals approach at making a song. Which is typified by fast punk…
Leona Naess “Comatised” (MCA Records) It’s so soft and pretty, I can hardly keep the rainy Sunday shivers away as I listen calmly. The album begins with a warm hum of a track called, “Lazy Days” that is mostly a…
Jebediah “of Someday Shambles” (Big Wheel Recreation) With a Johnny Cash flavored acoustic song (complete with horse neighs as the song closes) that sings the intention of building a, “A big beer wall” opening this disk, figuring where Jebediah was…
Strychnine “Born Too Loose” (Industrial Strength Records) Fast, up tempo, alcohol driven, and decidedly non-straight edge punk rock: that’s “Born Too Loose” by Strychnine. Maybe “Rock Punk” would be a more appropriate label for the band since you’re as likely…
Johnny Thunders “Johnny Thunders In the Flesh” (Amsterdamned Records) Johnny Thunders was punk before you were even born. This new release from Amsterdamned Records features 17 tracks from the legendary guitarist/singer of the New York Dolls and later the Heartbreakers.…