Yet again, I have a very odd selection for you; from the utterly sublime to the screamocore metal. Most of it's quite good, but not all.

CD Reviews

Avenging Force: The Avenging Force

A load of Steve Albini self-obsessed bollocks can be found on this disc. Avenging Force evokes a band of metalheads giving it all they got. Iinstead, it's an avenging farce of mostly instrumental pointless meandering dullness. "Seventeen And" is just typical of the drivel that can found on this disc. This is supposed to be hard rock, but is more a bunch of indie kids trying to play hard rock and completely missing the point.

Drive by Argument: s/t

Now this might be indie in theory, but it's much more interesting. DbA are one of those bands that do eclectic in extremis and actually get away with it. This album takes you from bog standard pop indie through sleaze disco of Orgy (check out the uber-catchy "Sex Lines are Expensive Comedy" the first single) and their ilk to introspective material not far from the Smiths. Great care was taken in the tracklisting to make it all work. You just never know what to expect on this one, but it's all quite good.

There are tracks on here that could find themselves on the goth dance floor, others on the indie club floor, and some even at the disco. Expect this album to be pillaged for soundtracks. It's one of those discs that you like, but can't quite figure out why. Expect big things for this lot.

Son Lux: Art War with Walls & Mazes

First thing this reminded me of was Kraftwerk and Portishead. It's electronica, gothy and ambiant. I would not want to drive with this one as it puts me to sleep... I mean that in a good way. It's just a mesmerizing mixture of sounds that really gets into your head. This is the perfect chill out music for a heavy rocker. Not the bland pap that you get in most ambient stuff, but oddly endearing electronic music. As with the above disc, this one just screams movie soundtrack; depending on the scene either relaxing or creepy.

Terror: Live @ CBGBs