Various Artists “Uncorrupted Steel 2” (Metal Blade) Metal Blade has always been a label with some great bands, but in my opinion has always done a shitty job in letting the rest of the world know about how great some…
New Mexican Disaster Squad “Self-Titled” (A-F Records) So are these guys from the state of New Mexico or are they a new Mexican Disaster Squad? What do disaster squads do? I realize the obvious definition: squads that cause disasters. But,…
Neil Perry “Lineage Situation” (Level Plane) I don’t really know where the name Neil Perry came from. It’s probably in their bio or something, but I threw that paper away. What I do know is that this is a excellent collection of…
Matchbook Romance “Stories and Alibis” (Epitaph) I was just talking to my friend Hailey. She’s going to law school at BYU. How brutal is that? Mormons everywhere, encroaching on every little bit of her life until all she sees are…
Grandpaboy “Dead Man Shake” (Anti) This first song kicks so much ass I can’t believe my ears. This is some serious rock music. Imagine a current day version of “Johnny Be Good” with a sound that truly sounds as vintage…
Harold Ray “Live in Concert” (Alternative Tentacles) The idea is so simple and effective that it borders on genius. Why not ditch all music of the last several decades and recreate something that has already worked, namely horn-driven scorching R&B.…
Various Artists “MTV 2 Headbangers Ball Compilation” (Roadrunner) The thing about compilations is that they kind of serve as nothing more than an appetizer for each band. If you dig the song on the album, the hope is that you’ll…
Hot Cross “Cryonics” (Level Plane) Hot Cross’ second release, “Cryonic”, is a respectfully solid hardcore album. Clean guitar riffs plucked at a mile a minute, frantic interludes with lots of mettle, visceral howls and poignant lyrics juggled by dual vocalists…
Kevin Devine “Make the Clocks Move” (Triple Crown) Kevin Devine is pitiful. I don’t know if he’s acctually trying to make us feel sorry for him, or if he’s just had a bad go of things and writes about it.…
Kevin Devine “Make The Clocks Move” (Triplecrown Records) Kevin Devine is pitiful. I don’t know if he’s acctually trying to make us feel sorry for him, or if he’s just had a bad go of things and writes about it.…