Album review
The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
The Downward Spiral uses loud sound with a clear purpose. Guitars scrape, rhythms pound and Trent Reznor can push his voice into a scream, but the record offers much more than…
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Album review
Facelift
Alice in Chains
Facelift sounds more confident than most debut albums have any right to. Alice in Chains arrive with heavy riffs, a remarkably forceful singer and vocal harmonies that make ev…
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Album review
Blizzard of Ozz
Ozzy Osbourne
Randy Rhoads gives Blizzard of Ozz both its immediate excitement and much of its depth. His guitar can deliver a simple, memorable riff, then open the arrangement with a caref…
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Album review
Split
Lush
Split gives Lush's dreamy guitars more force and their songs more room. The band can still sound almost weightless, but bass and drums push harder. The singing has a clearer p…
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Album review
Ecdysis
Horrendous
Ecdysis becomes most interesting when Horrendous step away from the straightest route. Beneath the rough death metal sound are melodies which push the songs beyond a tidy exer…
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Album review
The Black Parade
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance approach death with an unusual amount of enthusiasm on The Black Parade. The record contains fear, grief and self-disgust, but the performances are too liv…
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Album review
Skeletá
Ghost
Ghost still dress like the most dangerous band at the party and write choruses that your neighbours could sing. Skeletá leans further into that combination, with Tobias Forge …
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Album review
The Perfect Element, Part I
Pain of Salvation
Daniel Gildenlöw gives The Perfect Element, Part I a voice capable of making an arrangement change direction almost instantly. He can sound confrontational, tender or desperat…
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Album review
Überjam
The John Scofield Band
Überjam puts John Scofield's distinctive guitar inside a busy mix of funk, electronic sounds and heavy rhythms. The music keeps the freedom of a jazz group, but its immediate …
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Album review
Amaryllis
Mary Halvorson
Mary Halvorson places her guitar inside a lively group on Amaryllis. Trumpet, trombone, vibraphone, bass and drums each give the music a different colour. No instrument needs …
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Album review
Far Beyond Driven
Pantera
Pantera push their harshest instincts further on Far Beyond Driven. The guitar tone is abrasive, the drums strike with very little softness and Phil Anselmo frequently sounds …
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Album review
The Time of the Oath
Helloween
The Time of the Oath finds Helloween working convincingly with their familiar power metal sound. Fast guitars, double-bass drums and large choruses give the record substantial…
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Album review
Sinners Never Sleep
You Me at Six
Sinners Never Sleep is pulled between two appealing versions of You Me at Six. One wants a heavier guitar attack and a more hostile voice. The other trusts Josh Franceschi's m…
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Album review
Applause of a Distant Crowd
VOLA
Ruby Pool is a useful measure of VOLA's confidence on Applause of a Distant Crowd. Piano, gently picked guitar and a clear vocal can carry a complete song without waiting for …
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Album review
Futique
Biffy Clyro
There is something reassuring about Biffy Clyro making a song called Friendshipping. The title is a little awkward, but the feeling behind it is easy to understand. Futique sp…
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Album review
The Divine Conspiracy
Epica
Epica move firmly towards their heavier side on The Divine Conspiracy. Mark Jansen's growls receive more space, the drums can attack sharply and the guitars carry considerable…
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Album review
Crack the Skye
Mastodon
The voices provide the clearest route into Crack the Skye. Mastodon build their arrangements around melodic exchanges between Brann Dailor, Troy Sanders and Brent Hinds, givin…
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Album review
The '59 Sound
The Gaslight Anthem
Brian Fallon sings about old songs as though they are people he can still telephone. On The '59 Sound, that attachment gives The Gaslight Anthem's romantic rock a clear emotio…
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Horehound
The Dead Weather
Horehound turns blues rock into something dark and restless. The Dead Weather let heavy riffs run while drums frequently move around the central pulse. Alison Mosshart sings f…
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Shangri-La Dee Da
Stone Temple Pilots
Shangri-La Dee Da has enough good melodies to make its occasional uncertainty frustrating. Stone Temple Pilots can still move easily between a bruising riff and a beautifully …
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Album review
Cities
Anberlin
Stephen Christian's voice gives Cities a strong identity before Anberlin start trying anything especially unusual. Clear, high and full of urgency, it can lift a straightforwa…
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Album review
STILL SUCKS
Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit take themselves less seriously on STILL SUCKS. Fred Durst's big mouth remains, alongside the heavy riffs and inviting rhythms, but the band seem more aware of how …
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Album review
City of Evil
Avenged Sevenfold
City of Evil enjoys the possibilities of a large heavy metal arrangement. Avenged Sevenfold fills its songs with harmonized guitars, busy drums, strong vocal hooks and occasio…
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Album review
OK, I'm Sick
Badflower
OK, I'm Sick makes discomfort difficult to ignore. Badflower bring anxiety, abuse and self-destructive thoughts into songs with clear hooks and a rough alternative-rock sound.…
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