cboland

Are we at the point of acknowledging the genre “hipster black metal”? It seems the American take on BM has been maligned with the dreaded “hipster” put-down. Krallice, Xasthur, Nachtmystium, and Wolves in the Throne room receive derision from the black metaler-than-thou. Does mass acceptance (relatively speaking) of an underground band negate its validity? RenihilationBeyond […]

A little maturation goes a long way. Youthful energy is key to aggressive music, but it takes experience and talent to channel that energy productively. In the case of The Catalyst, they’ve tightened the reins on the droopy tantrums of their previous EP’s. Now their music seethes, with biting lyrics to match. Eric Smith still […]

The Armed are young. You hear their youth in their energetic stitching together of various strands of punk and metal. A band like The Armed could not have existed ten years ago, or perhaps prior to Deadguy (who inspired Dillinger Escape Plan, who clearly inspired these Detroit dudes). Though not without its missteps, These Are […]

Unlike most of their counterparts, Burnt by the Sun combined extreme music with extreme politics. This was particularly welcome in the Bush 2 era, when protest of any sort stood tantamount to treason. Though many missed the violent velocities of drummer Dave Witte’s prior acts Discordance Axis and Human Remains, BBTS executed complex songs doused […]

Boston’s Disappearer certainly sound familiar with Neurosis’ Through Silver in Blood. It’s not surprising that they began as an instrumental trio in the vein of Pelican. The tempos trudge and the drums sound like they were recorded in Carlsbad Caverns (with bats in black orbits for evil ambience). What makes their debut a welcome addition […]

D-beat has been beaten like a dead horse. Every new band with bullet belts and Amebix t-shirts thrashes through the motions. Though Victims will be new to many Americans thanks to Deathwish, Inc. reissuing their latest, Killer, they have torn up stages for a decade. While nowhere near as ferocious as Skitsystem, Wolfbrigade, or Tragedy, […]

Though associated with the hardcore scene, Iron Age are a consummate metal band. They harken back to crossover’s big bang in the late ’80s. Corrosion of Conformity’s Animosity and Cro-Mags’ The Age of Quarrel surely serve as soundtracks in their van. While many former Minor Threat clones now tease their music with metal moves, Iron […]

Tournament successfully marries the slow burn of Houdini-era Melvins with the swing of Drive Like Jehu. The band imbues its material with a seething, rumbling tone. As on debut EP Swordswallower, the songs drip noise, with shrieking guitars and cacophonous vocals. Now they’re slower and even dirtier. SmokeloreSnuff News The production on Years Old (Forcefield, […]

Philadelphia’s Reign Supreme takes its cues from hardcore forebears who borrowed from metal: Hatebreed, Madball, Cro-Mags, and Agnostic Front. The blurring of lines between genres resulted in legions of reprehensible bands. Yet Reign Supreme stands out due to a firm (though formerly limited) command of the music and an above-average frontman. Saving GraceSlipping Away Thanks […]

The members of New Zealand’s Dial probably grew up during the peak of AmRep. Their debut EP (Robotic Empire, 2009), a stateside re-release of their demo, demonstrates the hallmarks of the style: cavernous drums; downtuned, ragged guitars; bass as thick as cement; vocals like ipecac-induced vomiting; and lyrics trawling the muck of human existence. The […]