This is a welcome return. Like many other listeners, I discovered Shadow of Intent when they released ‘Reclaimer’ in 2017. The Halo-inspired lyrics were a big draw, and Ben Duerr’s vocals turned him into a deathcore sensation overnight. It’s difficult to describe the subtle shift on their 2019 album, ‘Melancholy,’ Read more
NOTE: I originally wrote this review in 2021 when ‘Infinite Granite’ came out, but I never posted it. Since we’re on the topic of Deafheaven, and I reference ‘Infinite Granite’ in the main review, I figured this is as good a time as any to finally get this review out Read more
Deafheaven is an artistic masterpiece. Their combination of black metal, shoegaze, post-rock, and lush soundscapes is haunting. Their music shattered the glass ceiling that typically constrains metal artists, helping them transcend barriers to the point of being invited into mainstream culture. Much like Lorna Shore catching fire on TikTok, Knocked Read more
What a spectacular return to form. This might be the first time a band has actually lived up to their claim that “this will be our heaviest album yet.” For a band that is almost 20 years in, it is inspiring to see such a fierce comeback. Whitechapel started at Read more
This is the hardest type of review to write. There are some good things here, and while I have plenty of criticisms, I don’t want this to come across as a knee-jerk, reactionary review. So let’s set the stage. Architects completed one of the best three-album runs of all time Read more
What a ripper. This requires a bit of background knowledge so bear with me. In 2022, a band called Vatican released an album titled ‘Ultra.’ It was a bit different from their previous music, but it was getting a lot of hype. Despite the attention, Vatican broke up without making a statement. Their vocalist even Read more
It’s unbelievable that Silverstein has stayed so consistent after making music for 25 years. Of course, they’ve had a few ups and downs as they tested new ideas, but their post-hardcore DNA is ever-present. Most importantly, they haven’t grown up. The “emo” teenage angst of their early material is still Read more
Great American Ghost is kicking 2025 off with a bang. This was definitely my favorite album from January. I love how these guys have developed over the last few years. I found them in 2017, but they had a subtle Stray From The Path sound lurking under the surface that Read more
I’ve had this in my drafts since 2019, and six years later, it’s more true than ever. Adestria is one of my favorite bands that never made it big. I’ve been listening to their 2012 album ‘Chapters’ so much recently, and it kills me that they didn’t blow up. In Read more
Every longtime fan of August Burns Red has dreamt of this moment – ‘Thrill Seeker,’ in all of its glory, re-recorded with Jake Luhrs on vocals. What an unbelievable effort to bring the debut album of one of the most important metalcore bands of all time into the modern age. Read more