Lollipop Magazine

Huntingtons – Plastic Surgery – Review

April 1, 2000

There’re plenty of mid-tempo dippy love songs and enough traffic-weaving uptempo cruisers to get you a hefty ticket.

Hookers II – Black Visions of Crimson Wisdom – Review

April 1, 2000

Despite “Putting the evil back in the Devil!” and cool song titles (“Ball Crusher Love Machine”), this album lacks that one song that you remember.

Homemade – What Were We Getting Into, Before We Got Into This? – Review

April 1, 2000

Singing one note repeatedly while the guitars play the same progression every song is just not “emotional.” It’s the downfall of many crappy emo bands.

High School Sweethearts – Passing Notes – Review

April 1, 2000

As stiletto-sharp nods to ’60s girl groups punked out by a motley crew which includes one ex-Electric Frankenstein and assorted NY/NJ hardcore vets.

High On Fire – The Art of Self Defense – Review

April 1, 2000

The latest project from Matt Pike, formerly of Sleep. If you’ve heard any of the Sleep records, the sound of High on Fire won’t surprise you much.

Hi-Standard – Making the Road – Review

April 1, 2000

Tight fucking playing, thick’n’fuzzy guitars, and, of course, the catchy melodies that only Japanese bands can create (listen to anime soundtracks for proof).

Helloween – Metal Jukebox – Review

April 1, 2000

Seeing as these Germans were pioneers in the melodic speed metal scene of the mid-’80s, it’s kinda cool to see them dig back even deeper to their roots.

Harkonen – Review

April 1, 2000

With idols like Kiss It Goodbye, Trial, and Botch, Harkonen aims to be the next noisecore kings of the Northwest.

Hangnail – Review

April 1, 2000

There’s so much hard-rockin’ anthem/balladry going on behind the punkpop paces, it almost sounds like Dokken, though Stryper’s probably more accurate, huh?

Hangnail – Ten Days before Summer – Review

April 1, 2000

Rollin’ biker brew from Lee Dorrian’s Rise Above, known more for swingin’ a huge leaden dick labeled “doom” rather than this goodly chunk of rock qua rock.

Hades – The Downside – Review

April 1, 2000

A Pandora’s Box of retro mindgames, but in being that, it chooses doom, dirt, organics, and an interesting and discerning sampling of power and prog.

Enon – Believo! – Review

April 1, 2000

Enon is comprised of John Schmersal from Braniac and the two drummers from Skeleton Key. A good combination.

Electric Wizard – Supercoven – Review

April 1, 2000

With two bonus tracks, the running total is now four songs, 50 minutes. If ever there was a band that deserved the title “doom rock,” Electric Wizard is it.

Dynamite Boy – Finder’s Keepers – Review

April 1, 2000

It’s not bad at all; in fact it’s pretty catchy and very nicely sung (as well as produced). It’s just… not ’92 anymore.

Dwarves – Come Clean – Review

April 1, 2000

Although there are still fine moments to be had, this sounds like a neutered version of the band I used to love. Or so I thought.

Dorian Gray – The Sounds of – Review

April 1, 2000

Dorian Gray sound like they listened to a lot of Jellyfish, The Grays, and The Merrymakers. Key changes, descending melodies, dreamy harmonies… oh my.

Dismember – Hate Campaign – Review

April 1, 2000

Another slab of hatred and agony with which these Swedish forefathers can prove their worth, and all you kiddies out there should definitely pick it up.

Discount – Crash Diagnostic – Review

April 1, 2000

Part peppy punkpop with cool start/stop breakdowns, part, ya know, lo-fi indie noodling (useless musician show-off shit if you ask me, but you didn’t).

Digger – Monte Carlo – Review

April 1, 2000

While “pop punk with emo thrown in” sounds about as attractive to me as getting a spy satelitte shoved up my ass, I like Digger.

Super Chikan – What You See – Review

April 1, 2000

Not the usual head-cuttin’ stompin’ blues curiosity the label specializes in. James “Super Chikan” Johnson’s soulful elaborations on old themes will win fans.

Demons and Wizards – Review

April 1, 2000

The collaboration between Iced Earth’s Jon Schaffer and Blind Guardian’s Hansi Kursch. Quality, serious-minded power metal riffs and creatively fresh harmonies.

Stroke – First in Last out – Review

April 1, 2000

A mix of Seal, Peter Gabriel, and NIN (the slow stuff). Of course, anyone who wants to copy NIN sounds like Gravity Kills, Stabbing Westward, or Prick.

Deep Reduction – Review

April 1, 2000

Deep Reduction is a generally disappointing foray thru various rock’n’blues pieces that go nowhere everyone’s been before.

Stavesacre – Speakeasy – Review

April 1, 2000

It’s crunchy like Quicksand, poppy enough to give commercial radio a wake-up call, and possesses production that beckons for loudness.

Staring Back – Many Will Play – Review

April 1, 2000

A nice variation of styles, but most of the album’s moments still don’t rise above your standard “technical pop punk with Dokken-sounding guitars” bunch.