Lollipop Magazine

Clouds – We Are Above You – Review

September 1, 2008

If chugliness is next to godliness, Clouds are tuggin’ on the great one’s hem, grinnin’ and waitin’ for free beer.

Torche – Meanderthal – Review

July 1, 2008

The plainspoken vocals aligned with the semi-doom crush via melancholy sparkle is mid-90s AmRep, so I see Helmet and Slint more than metal qua metal as rootage.

Botch – We Are the Romans – Review

October 19, 2007

Crucial records, along with Refused’s Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent, they pretty much were the pinnacle of the metalcore movement.

Botch – American Nervoso – Review

October 19, 2007

Botch almost single-handedly carved a new path for metalcore. Instead of testosterone-fueled rage, they had genuine passion and a great sense of humor.

Clouds – Legendary Demo – Review

May 4, 2007

A spin-off of Cave In. Sick in the same way as the early, super-distorted Hellacopters records and Life of Crime/You Can’t Pray a Lie-era Laughing Hyenas.

Botch – 061502 – Review

April 6, 2007

In nine years (two full-lengths, an EP, and several singles), this quartet took hardcore to the next level. 061502 presents the last show in the band’s career.

Daughters – Hell Songs – Review

March 9, 2007

Think of it as grindcore without structure, Mr. Bungle on a violent meth high, John Zorn in the middle of a Central Park jog mind-building his next opus.

Zozobra – Harmonic Tremors – Review

January 1, 2007

While Cave In is on a break, bassist screamer Caleb Scofiled teamed up with Old Man Gloom beater Santos Montano for this slab of glorious ugliness.

Clouds – Legendary Demo – Review

January 1, 2007

Clouds is Cave In guitarist Adam McGrath and pals (in bands big and small, good and bad), and it’s noisy rock.

Botch – Unifying Themes Redux – Review

December 22, 2006

The non-LP/early years of sorely-missed tech metalcore greats Botch in one handy package, presenting the influential band’s roots and semi-primitive beginnings.