Scott Hefflon – Page 296 – Lollipop Magazine

Mortician – House By The Cemetery – Review

April 1, 1996

Vomit in a toilet bowl and smash your knuckles into something really hard, really fast – it sounds the same, and it’s equally painful.

The Threat – Sacred Ground – Review

April 1, 1996

Eleven plodding, over-reaching, out-dated songs like the ones I used to skip over on the first two Metal Church albums.

Ministry – Filth Pig – Review

April 1, 1996

Ploddingly minimalistic repetition of simple phrases and music that was recorded live instead of taking the time and energy to meticulously craft each song.

The Loudmouths – Review

April 1, 1996

Their debut record (17 songs, 29 minutes, you do the math!) is a gorgeously unpolished testament to the power of three-chord punk rock.

Journey Into Darkness – Near Death Experience – Review

April 1, 1996

From lumbering repetition, to a chaotic climax, each song is a scene, building drama, expressing mood, yet linked with the rest to form a whole.

Hypocrisy – Abducted – Review

April 1, 1996

The death roots intact, but exploring Pink Floydian tangents. Surprising are the fist bang anthems, twisted beyond pop only by Peter Tastgren’s gnarled growl.

Hi-Standard – Growing Up – Review

April 1, 1996

A Japanese punk/pop band that covers Bay City Rollers’ “Saturday Night” and Rainbow’s “Since You’ve Been Gone,” and sounds almost identical to Down By Law.

Swag – Review

April 1, 1996

Sparse production and minimal layering bring to the forefront a guitar/vocal combo that, while very early ’90s in vibe, is comfortable and welcome.

Spaceman – Feel The Real – Review

April 1, 1996

A Berklee Boy Wonder calling himself Spaceman releases a 12-song CD of indulgent techno-hop much like mid-’80s Pop Will Eat Itself.

Snapdragon – Drinking Watermelon Sugar – Review

April 1, 1996

Tara VanDevender has a breathy, baby voice similar to Mary Lou Lord, but she’s got a band behind her that provides more than an excuse to put out a record.