![[Album Review]: REDIVIDER (US) - ‘Sounds of Malice’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1768882285306-X5J5OKLY981AIRW2PELS/616939.jpg)
[Album Review]: REDIVIDER (US) - ‘Sounds of Malice’ LP.
[Album Review]: See here for the latest stellar effort from independent Louisville, Kentucky US bruisers Redivider in the Sounds of Malice LP. Our own Hamza Siddiqi has provided a fantastic analysis of the album, plus we’ve also included artist media/streaming/social links for further headbangability!
![[Album Review]: SICK SAD WORLD (France) - ‘Deuil’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1768713590131-D2672VO5F2ZSJKB3IAWQ/sicksadworldband.jpg)
[Album Review]: SICK SAD WORLD (France) - ‘Deuil’ LP.
[Album Review]: Sick Sad World (France) - Deuil LP, released 1st October, 2025. Check out ISC author Hamza Siddiqi’s analysis of the latest effort from French underground post-metal crew Sick Sad World, as well as artist links, single streams/music video and more. Riffin’ hard and slow, internationally.
![[Album Review]: HEALTH - ‘Conflict DLC’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1768273784660-9SHCAXRIKAG33IHCF5KR/MAIN+PRESS+SHOT+HEALTH0624.jpg)
[Album Review]: HEALTH - ‘Conflict DLC’ LP.
[Album Review]: LA-based industrial metal/alt-pop trio HEALTH delivered a real shocker for me in December 2025 - in a good way, with 6th release CONFLICT DLC landing in my Top 25 Albums of the Year. Find out why in the full review, which also includes links to the artist and additional media. Get your metalhead boogey on.
![[Review] DEADWOOD (CA) - ‘Rituals Of A Dying Light’ EP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1767781802974-G646UNRFER3O5C4VECA5/deadwood.jpg)
[Review] DEADWOOD (CA) - ‘Rituals Of A Dying Light’ EP.
[EP Review] For our first music release review of the year, we have a snappy, narky, bludgeoning and fun EP from the tundra-coated wilds of Canada, with Deadwood’s latest EP Rituals of A Dying Light, which drops worldwide on Jan 7th via Innerstrength Records. Check the link for EP review, music videos, EP preorder, artist links and more, buddy!
![[ALBUM REVIEW] ALL TIME LOW – ‘EVERYONE’S TALKING!’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1760589885569-U83UE5HU6V9ZNQ9AHIU3/Everyones+Talking+Final+copy.jpg)
[ALBUM REVIEW] ALL TIME LOW – ‘EVERYONE’S TALKING!’ LP.
All Time Low release their tenth album, titled Everyone’s Talking! And indeed we are, with a lot of positive things to say about this brilliant LP.
![[ALBUM REVIEW] THE BAND CAMINO - ‘NEVERALWAYS’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1757060143795-7BY44YWDEIWC5UI7SKIP/NeverAlways_OfficialArtwork.jpg)
[ALBUM REVIEW] THE BAND CAMINO - ‘NEVERALWAYS’ LP.
The Band Camino’s 2025 album 'Neveralways' is a compelling blend of introspective lyricism and vibrant indie rock energy.
![[Review] CONDITION CRITICAL (US) - ‘Degeneration Chamber’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1756727114789-G3WTTOT9PZRUBSQZZD2C/conditioncritical.jpeg)
[Review] CONDITION CRITICAL (US) - ‘Degeneration Chamber’ LP.
[Album Review: Condition Critical - Degeneration Chamber]. Nope, not even inclement weather, power outages or a dead first draft can keep this thrasher down! See here for latest review from ISC host Brady, exploring a ripping, technical affair via these independent New Jersey modern-thrash upstarts. One for the thrashers and mosh-fiends, Degeneration Chamber drops Sept 5th, 2025.
![[Review] BRUXIST - Self-Titled LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1754304102969-V3R54P1Q173U416RCJZJ/548669.jpg)
[Review] BRUXIST - Self-Titled LP.
It’s been a minute between album reviews from your podcast host, and I’m glad I settled on this pick! Comprised of several Aussie underground veterans, Bruxist brings you a cleverly devilish mix of crust, d-beat, Swedish buzzsaw/riffage and even a healthy drop of Norwegian blackened darkness. Read on for full review, and be sure to support the latest self-titled LP via links, courtesy of Gutter Prince Cabal.
![[REVIEW] RISE AGAINST – ‘RICOCHET’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1753607276427-I1W8CUFI0V8XA7SCO05Z/RiseAgainst_Ricochet_Digital+Cover.jpg)
[REVIEW] RISE AGAINST – ‘RICOCHET’ LP.
Rise Against unleash a barrage of musical artillery that mostly hits the mark on their tenth album in 25 years, 'Ricochet'.
![[REVIEW] STANDOVER (NZ) - ‘…When A Clenched Fist Is No Longer An Option’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1750217029840-N0IZ2R9ST4GG7IJXL4O5/475770143_593864023804155_607402825164242248_n.jpg)
[REVIEW] STANDOVER (NZ) - ‘…When A Clenched Fist Is No Longer An Option’ LP.
I’m physically exhaling with relief, as a pseudo-intellectual, pretentious dude (aka, every metalhead, ever). Taking a break from endless pontification and metaphor-heavy meandering BS, I’m smacked upside the jaw by some stress-tested, tried-and-true metallic hardcore in the classic late-90’s/early-aughts vein by New Zealand’s Standover and latest bruiser ‘…when a clenched fist is no longer an option’. I’m all for musically being smacked upside the head with good ‘core. Let’s go.
![[ALBUM REVIEW] SENNA - 'STRANGER TO LOVE'](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1747917197889-10PTZMPNC53VQDDKSV8Q/Senna+Stranger+To+Love+Hi+Res.jpg)
[ALBUM REVIEW] SENNA - 'STRANGER TO LOVE'
Edgy hard-rock meets progressive post-hardcore band Senna unveil their ambitious debut album titled Stranger To Love, released 23 May 2025 via Sharptone Records. Creatively crafted by these Mannheim, Germany natives, this LP has a refreshingly dynamic sound,
![[RIFFS] #BehindScreenandSpeaker April 2025: Album Mini-Review Round-Robin.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1746531257633-RPVFHIIZ6AT42MDHIB0C/f3lbgufwual41.png)
[RIFFS] #BehindScreenandSpeaker April 2025: Album Mini-Review Round-Robin.
I do what I want over here at ISC. That’s the beauty of running your own blog and podcast. With that freedom of thought in action, rather than simply pump out a listicle, I decided to give some lesser-known bands from around the globe a slew of mini-reviews in this Riff (article). Featuring April releases from: Slung (UK, power-pop/psych-rock), Felgrave (Norway, avant-garde blackened death-doom), Tigerleech (France, noise-rock/hardcore/stoner), Ancestral Sin (Netherlands, crossover/hxc/deathgrind) and Vyr Muk (Ukraine, dungeon-synth/dark ambient/blackened death metal)!
![[REVIEW] MACHINE HEAD - ‘UNATØNED’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1746349356885-29627CIH7I53OBORL89V/image003.jpg)
[REVIEW] MACHINE HEAD - ‘UNATØNED’ LP.
Time for our latest album review here at Inner-Strength Check! Today, we take a detour from Australian election shenanigans to bring something decidedly less chaotic/painful to your sensory organs. Pod host Brady provides thoughts on Machine Head’s 11th studio opus, UNATØNED, released April 25th via Nuclear Blast Records. Check link for review plus single streaming, album order, artist/label links and more!
![[Review] TRIA PRIMA - ‘Three Primes of Alchemy’ EP](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1744537676910-R5DJ3MYY38SGAE78CMVP/triaprimaband2.jpg)
[Review] TRIA PRIMA - ‘Three Primes of Alchemy’ EP
The lost arts of alchemy foretold the ability to meld metal, matter, elements and more in a carefully-prepared concoction. We can say much the same of Ukraine’s Tria Prima, whose Three Primes of Alchemy EP is combed over by fellow ISC staffer and honestly-probably-a-wizard-IRL, Dean. Check out the review, with further artist/album links available as well! Slava Ukraini.
![[Review] Drudkh - ‘Shadow Play’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1744445473350-1XVJDCWUYG089UY2MTQP/p5k9tajoj0qe1.jpeg)
[Review] Drudkh - ‘Shadow Play’ LP.
Ukrainian atmospheric black metal veterans Drudkh offer their latest musical outing to the world, Shadow Play, released on March 21st via label Season of Mist. Check out ISC staffer Dean’s comprehensive review of this sojourn into their latest darkly aesthetic offering, as well as full-album and single streams, artist/label/album order links and more.
![[Archive Review] Brian Campeau - ‘Old Dog, New Tricks’ LP (19.07.18)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1744095660954-S8PS8WG9AR1IL2YY1MXF/From+The+Vault+%231+Brian+Campeau+-+Old+Dogs%2C+New+Tricks+LP.png)
[Archive Review] Brian Campeau - ‘Old Dog, New Tricks’ LP (19.07.18)
Reposted from the sadly now-defunct Overdrive Music Magazine, with permission from owner Sebastian Graham. Check out ISC staffer Hamza’s prior review from 2018 of an interesting fork from our usual - Australian folk/indie acoustic singer-songwriter Brian Campeau’s 2018 LP Old Dogs, New Tricks! Link also contains artist/label socials, as well as a little intro preamble from your host, Brady. More treasures from the vault to be posted across 2025! Thanks again to label Art as Catharsis.
![[ALBUM REVIEW] THORNHILL - ‘BODIES’ LP. ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1743674857885-VGRV3BJ95E9WWOKN5JDA/THORNHILL-BODIES-3000X3000.jpg)
[ALBUM REVIEW] THORNHILL - ‘BODIES’ LP.
If you missed Thornhill’s recent Bodies album preview shows and can’t wait to hear the LP, here is your chance to familiarise yourself with this first-class metalcore creation, the night before its official release.
![[Review] INDUSTRIAL PUKE - ‘Alive To No Avail’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1743413681046-6Q6K4T8KOP2WNZUFZJZD/726014.jpg)
[Review] INDUSTRIAL PUKE - ‘Alive To No Avail’ LP.
What a timely little slice of Swedish death metal/crust/hardcore from Industrial Puke, eh? Having recently covered Svenska crust/d-beat on the Musolegion blog, these mind-readers provide an up-to-date addition to the crust-canon with the relentless, fun LP in Alive To No Avail. Check the link for full album review, single/album stream links, artist/label details and more! Get your grime on.
![[Album Review] SPOILED - ‘Collapse’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742101987442-QK4J8RTZ8WKGCKHJMZ8O/spoiledband.jpg)
[Album Review] SPOILED - ‘Collapse’ LP.
Tearing out of the blocks like a drunken cop-chase on a scooter through the intersections and alleyways of Rome, Italian crossover-thrash unit Spoiled deliver a decidedly Americanised and fun blend of punk, hardcore and retro-revival thrash. And it’s as fun as it is snark-riddled and bruising. Check out the link for our review of latest LP Collapse, full album stream, artist media/links and more!
![[Album Review] SANDS - Sands](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1742042662148-XJKV7GVOTIPRQCOGJLA5/a0763238959_10.jpg)
[Album Review] SANDS - Sands
Our esteemed writer Hamza has once more delved into the post-rock/metal depths of the Melbourne underground, and reached for aural pearls. This time, he’s fished up the self-titled act by Australian progressive math-rock/sludge act SANDS, examining the treasures contained within their self-titled LP. You can find artist Bandcamp/LP order and socials links within as well - dive in!