Album Reviews

Album Reviews

Neil Young and Crazy Horse “Psychedelic Pill”

Every so often an album comes along that fills a reviewer with equal parts excitement and dread. A work by someone of Young’s musical credentials would seem to be best approached with caution. Critiquing an album by someone so revered in the music industry is a treacherous task. Get it wrong and you’re in for […]

Album Reviews

The Mark of Cain “Songs of the Third and Fifth

Highly anticipated? A long time coming? Worth the wait? Certainly the first two are true. This is the first album from the Aussie hardcore/hard-rock mainstays since ‘This is This’ over a decade ago! It’s their fifth overall in an incredible career spanning three decades. So…what’s the answer to the third question? Read on to find […]

Album Reviews

The Beach Boys “Thats Why God Made The Radio”

Neatly coinciding with the band’s 50th anniversary, this album is the TWENTY NINTH the band have released in their incredible career! Musical content aside, this album is noteworthy for a number of reasons; it’s the first album of new material they have released in twenty years, it’s the first to feature guitarist and vocalist David […]

Album Reviews

Bob Mould “Silver Age”

So who’s this dude with the funny name then? Many of you may be wondering just that, but if you’re familiar with ’80s hardcore punks Husker Du or ’90s pseudo grunge act Sugar, then you’ve heard Mr Mould in action. Both groups produced critically acclaimed and hugely influential albums and Bob is certainly one talented […]

Album Reviews

Joe Walsh “Analogue Man”

This is the tenth studio album from Joe, who most of you will know from his work as lead guitarist in ’70s superstars The Eagles and James Gang. He has also contributed his guitar playing to countless other works by famous artists including The Beach Boys, Steve Winwood and Bob Seger. Of course Joe is […]

Album Reviews

Fear Factory “The Industrialist”

This is album number ten from the Californian industrial metallers (if you count the remix album Remanufacture).   Famed for their impossibly fast percussive sound and innovative technological approach, the band has been around for a long time now, so….are they still at the forefront of tech-metal? They have forgone an actual drummer altogether on The […]

Album Reviews

PiL “This Is PiL”

After a twenty year hiatus, PiL (Public Image Limited) are back with a brand new studio album. It is the tenth from the band and the first since 1992’s That What Is Not. Most of you will be familiar with front man John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) from his very short stint in seminal British […]

Album Reviews

Primate “Draw Back a Stump”

The metal community has been eagerly awaiting the debut album from Primate, a metallic supergroup featuring Kevin Sharp (Brutal Truth) on vocals, Bill Kelliher (Mastodon) and Mike Brennan on guitars, Dave Whitworth on bass and Shayne Huff on drums. This album is most definitely metal, but it’s not what you might expect. Rather than try […]

Album Reviews

The Dandy Warhols “This Machine”

This is the 8th studio album from the Dandys, following on from 2008’s Earth to the Dandy Warhols.  So it’s been a while between drinks for the band and I was eagerly anticipating this release having been an enthusiastic fan of most of their previous works.  Prior to the album’s release, front man Courtney Taylor-Taylor […]

Album Reviews

Turbonegro “Sexual Harassment

Turbonegro. The worlds greatest cult band? Probably… For anyone unfamiliar with this enigmatic Norwegian 5 piece, imagine the bastard offspring of AC/DC and Motorhead jamming to the Ramones underpinned with a distinctly Scandinavian sense of humour and your getting somewhere around the mark! Sexual Harassment is the band’s ninth studio release and the first with […]

Album Reviews

Philm “Harmonic”

I have to admit that this was one of my most anticipated new releases of this year so far. The debut album from Philm, a supergroup (although I don’t really like the term) of sorts featuring Dave Lombardo (Slayer, Grip Inc., Fantomas) on drums, Francisco “Pancho” Tomaselli (War) on bass and piano and Gerry Nestler […]

Album Reviews

Metric “Synthetica”

This is the fifth full length album from the eclectic Canadian electro/indie four piece outfit. It’s a more introspective work than previous releases, dealing with what you see when you look in the mirror. In fact, all the lyrics on the cd release are printed backwards! Don’t worry though, included is a reflective piece of […]

Album Reviews

The Presets “Pacifica”

The Aussie electronic duo had no trouble dealing with their “difficult second album” in Apocalypso which went triple platinum in 2008. And rightly so, as it won innumerable awards and contained some of the most interesting and intriguing EDM you’re ever likely to hear. So it’s been four years since that classic and the band […]

Album Reviews

Testament “Dark Roots of Earth”

There have been some very impressive releases of late from thrash bands who’s glory days were ostensibly in the late ’80s, proving that persistence can really pay off, particularly in the metal sub-culture.  Fans thereof are among the most dedicated and passionate of any musical genre, if not THE most dedicated and passionate. Metal fans […]

Album Reviews

Muse “The Second Law”

This is probably the most anticipated review I’ve written all year. Critics have loved the band’s recent offerings, yet fans have been left slightly bemused, some condemning them as self-indulgent twaddle.   The 2nd Law is the 6th album from the Devon UK three piece (not their second as the title would suggest to the uninitiated). […]

Album Reviews

Neil Young and Crazy Horse – Americana

Americana is the artist’s 34th studio album and his first recorded collaboration with Crazy Horse since 2003’s Greendale. It’s a collection of traditional and folk tunes from America given Young’s and Crazy Horse’s “unique” grunge treatment. What you get are twelve tracks that don’t do a great deal to surprise, but will welcomed by Neil […]