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Staff
Reviews 666
Soundoffs 103
News Articles 99
Band Edits + Tags 354
Album Edits 2,283
Album Ratings 3276
Objectivity 73%
Last Active 01-01-70 12:00 am
Joined 01-01-70
Review Comments 44,399
| | Best User Reviews: Sept 2024 | | 1 |  | Disembodied Tyrant/Synestia
The Poetic Edda
"The breakdowns are well timed and brutal, the synths add a top notch “horror movie” atmosphere and the black/death metal parts that mostly dominate this EP are the glue that holds it all together. These guys have taken what Lorna Shore has done and upped it by 1000. This is pure fun and energy boys. If you hate a good time then I’d say avoid this. If not, strap in because this 20 minute ride will leave you disheveled and begging for your life." --Hawks | | 2 |  | Marianas Trench
Haven
"Haven is another rock opera from the Vancouver pop-rockers. “A Normal Life”, the kind of sprawling album opener we’ve come to expect (Phantoms aside) from the likes of “Masterpiece Theatre I”, “Ever After”, and “Astoria”. Thunder, lightning and rain set the sonic stage before tremolo strings and Ramsay’s signature growl enter the fray. Verse and chorus one are mostly open, with lush string arrangements backing Ramsay until the galloping drums kick in on the downbeat of verse two, and in-your-face distorted guitars take center stage in the second refrain. Then, the remainder of the near-seven minute track acts as an overture for some of the melodic and lyric motifs that will be returned to later on in Haven’s (relatively tight, all things considered) 53 minutes." --Beaker1975 | | 3 |  | Acrid Tomb / Tomb of Annihilation
Hermetic Invocations (Split)
"In an affirmation of band name choice, Tomb of Annihilation storms into the second half of Hermetic Invocations in a successful attempt at breaking the trance Acrid Tomb initially cast. The buzz saw is revving and the listener quickly transports to the HM2-soaked caverns of Stockholm and Gothenburg. Leads reminiscent of forebears Dismember and At The Gates behind vocals akin to contemporary elites Be’lakor propel the EP forward in masterful harmony. In a world where the genre continues to distance itself from its death metal past, Tomb of Annihilation injects some much needed heaviness into the mix." --frozencarl | | 4 |  | Remi Wolf
Big Ideas
"Thematically, this is a pop album. Most songs are about love - the defective kind -, getting ***ed up and having a good time. On ‘Toro’, Remi imagines herself a toreador, goading her partner sexually. 'Cherries & Cream' is about dating a cheater. “if she’s perfect, what are you here for?” On Frog Rock, Remi laments her ex moving on too easily: “I know it's evil to say: I wish you well, but I don't want you to be okay”. It's adolescent, it’s dramatic, but it’s fun. It helps that Remi doesn’t take herself too seriously." --durkl | | 5 |  | The The
Ensoulment
"Despite all the darkness and despair ‘Ensoulment’ registers as a comforting listen overall and in particular the closing elegiac ‘A Rainy Day in May’, with its wordless singalong refrain and tender strings, works like a soothing balm calming our collective worries. Johnson has always known what note to finish an album on, frequently The The album closers are highlights, and it’s reassuring that happy habit has continued here. It would be hard to argue it’s the neat bow that ties up a perfect return, but encouragingly we’re still somewhere close to a ‘perfectly imperfect’ attempt; even if ‘Ensoulment’ proves to be the most substantial ‘parting statement’ Johnson ever gives us, it was well worth him coming out of that self imposed semi-exile to find his voice again." --DoofDoof | | 6 |  | Disney
A Whole New Sound
"This compilation feels like the maximization of the crossroads of the “Disney adult” and “elder emo” subcultures. This may even be a last gasp for the so-called “emo revival” that has sustained the 2020’s to date. It feels like this is designed to be nothing more than a product for us to share with each other as a lot of us are getting older and fading away in relevance from the cultural zeitgeist. When the project shines its brightest like the star you wish upon, you feel the Disney Magic. As a whole though, this is mostly inessential." --tmagistrelli | | 7 |  | low before the breeze
It Kindly Bent Around Me
"It Kindly Bent Around Me represents a large upgrade in the audio quality and musicianship that was previously demonstrated by LBTB on their demo and split ep. Over the course of three tracks the band showcases what it is that makes them unique - and that is their willingness to experiment with the tired and true black metal infused hardcore that has seen such a rise in popularity over the last two decades." --PrPillMNTNz | | 8 |  | Ameer Vann
Woof
"He almost does something interesting on the track "Good Boy" and "Shawty" sounds like something that could have been on a Kevin Abstract album, but even in the few moments on here he could have done something special the fact that the songs are so short really bites him in his ass. Matt Champion, who was also his bandmate also released his first album this year and this also contained short songs, but what he did right was making something memorable, even if he wasnt rapping. Even Kevin Abstracts last effort was interesting in its own flawed way as it confused listeners who expected something completely different from what they got." --Lassie | | 9 |  | Dai Allusion
The Better Man
"Returning with The Better Man, this time the rapper proves that he is indeed becoming better. And not only mentally, but also as a producer. His lyrics became more stingy, the beats – tougher, and the voice – deeper. Musically this track is in the division of the late 2000’s with it’s dramatic vibe and keyboards in the background." --gbongzilla | | 10 |  | Katy Perry
143
"143 had a unique opportunity to explore Katy Perry's artistic impulses in greater depth, adding thematic variety and conceptual complexity to her music. Unfortunately, it squanders that potential and is left bogged down in banality, resulting in a disheartening experience for fans and newcomers alike. The irony of this release lies in its timing; arriving a full decade after her previous successes, had it emerged then, it might have helped maintain her status at the forefront of pop music. Yet, in 2024, its anachronistic sound and lyrics serve as a catalyst for a descent into obscurity, leaving listeners to question how an artist of Perry's caliber could miss the mark profoundly." --LaurenPaulson | | 11 |  | 40 Watt Sun
Little Weight
"While Little Weight admittedly feels like a slight step down from 40 Watt Sun’s previous outings, it’s ultimately a quality effort that maintains the band’s somber appeal. The move back to those slowcore-doom textures is executed in a way that doesn’t feel derivative and continues to play well into the group’s strengths, especially when it’s paired with a return to a full band format. There are times where the songwriting doesn’t feel quite as impactful as what has come before, but there are still some great songs on display. Time will tell if Little Weight will eventually hit my sadboi jam rotation with the same fervor as Perfect Light or even Watching From A Distance, but I’m pretty willing to see how much more it ends up growing on me." --PsychicChris | | 12 |  | Kid Anansi
Kid Anansi
"Kid Anansi feels like a fusion of modern spoken word stylings with the rich tradition of West African griots—storytellers and historians who use rhythm and narrative to captivate their audience. He has the ability to find humor in the tension of being pulled in different directions. He delivers lines that are both sharply funny and richly layered, leaving you thinking long after the punchline hits." --AnnieWay | | 13 |  | The Supervoid Choral Ensemble
Live From the Downwhen Terminus
" Free from the gravitational pull of production labour, Ben spreads the full span of his wings once more and delivers a half-hour barrage of his trademark odd time-signature riffage and atmospheric gliding. The creative reinvigoration is palpable on this record, accentuated perfectly by Vinny’s frenetic skin slapping. Live From the Downwhen Terminus is everything you would expect from a top-of-the-pile Cloudkicker record, but benefits monstrously from not being Cloudkicker at all." --Aerialist | |
Sowing
09.30.24 | Thanks to everyone who wrote this month. | someone
09.30.24 | Yay it's back
From what I'd read, a definite shootout to durkl for many quality reviews and wishing them room to grow and blossoming writing escapades here. | Hawks
09.30.24 | Thanks for the shout Sowing bro! | Zac124
09.30.24 | Nice to see this back. Especially as I have gotten back into reviewing again lol. | Sowing
09.30.24 | Also remember that I only include reviews for albums with "recent release dates", so if you reviewed something from 1995, the omission here is not a slight against you ;-) | Zac124
09.30.24 | Yeah, I remember. I did the review for the review an album 2024 game and it revitalised my enjoyment of writing reviews, so I will probably return to new releases soon. | AnimalForce1
09.30.24 | Ayyy glad to see this making a comeback! Congrats to all the users who made it on here | DadKungFu
09.30.24 | Yoooo so glad this is back | frozencarl
09.30.24 | oh shit thank you Sowing! appreciate you | Manatea
10.01.24 | Really really glad to see this come back | durkl
10.02.24 | Thanks for the shoutout Sowing. And thanks Someone. That's incredibly encouraging and kind. I've been a lurker on this website since 2008, never really tried writing anything myself in all that time. But now that I do I find it incredibly fun! Glad to be contributing to the website | bananatossing
10.02.24 | "Nice to see this back" x2 | NightOnDrunkMountain
10.04.24 | Great job to everyone who got their rev featured! Keep it up | foreverendeared
10.05.24 | Nice |
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