Make no mistake, Gira has his mojo back and Swans are very much alive.

Root For Ruin is a worthy continuation of their oeuvre, and a better album than 07's "Let's Stay Friends."

A Thousand Suns is a more experienced and experimental Linkin Park. You may not get it to begin with but persevere and you'll be rewarded.

It's a pleasure to report, then, that Hurley is a fine album.

Featuring the classic, jagged and tar thick riffery and off-beat timing that have become Helmet's signature, Seeing Eye Dog is a great (especially re the vocals) and gritty listen.

For all those teens who grew up disgracefully with Taylor and Jim Root's other band, Audio Secrecy is the soundtrack to the rest of their lives.

Asylum won't set the world alight, but it's certainly not monotonous enough to send anyone to the madhouse.

It's not to say Time For Annihilation isn't very good, just if you like Pink and other commercial rock, you're going to love this.

All your usual horror and metal needs are catered for, although according to Wednesday 13 the lyrics are more personal this time round.

The riffs remain as ample and hard-hitting as ever, and with Matt Bayles (Isis, Mastodon) handling the production, The Sword have never sounded better.

As fans of the group will attest, there's nothing quite like experiencing Mogwai in a live setting and while Special Moves might never fully capture that sheer weight of sound, it nevertheless represents a hugely impressive live document (even without Burning, the accompanying DVD).

It's all good fun and makes the most of its human components, but there isn't much here that emerges as truly awe-inspiring or anything else other than a jolly good jam between chums. Of course, if that's all that's needed for Apocalyptica to remain among Finland's most popular imports, then for now, at least, it's still job done.

The Final Frontier might sound alien at first, but Iron Maiden's DNA is splashed all over it.

More industrial than 08's Anthems For The Damned, this fifth effort should slip them into that position.

Kaleide runs out of steam towards its close--heaven knows why the original, blustery version of "Smarts" has made way for a sombre reworking--but it's still an enjoyable, grown-up follow-up to the band's debut.

Mr Wylde is onto another grininducing winner here and long may it continue.

Featuring two members of the late great Jay Reatard's band--the towering garage rawk that defined his sound is tangible with Wavves too but here left to bathe in the sun and taken for a quick dip in the ocean.

There's a glorious new depth to the old formula here showcasing undeniable talent.

A right dirty dose of LA rocking is in order courtesy of Buckcherry, and boy, is it great to have them back!

If there's criticism, it's that Nightmare still falls back on cliches, building with aggressive force to then rely on a safe melodic chorus. However, there's enough of a change to see A7X lash out beyond their core sound, making Nightmare their greatest achievement to date.

Super producer Ross Robinson has been given the unenviable task of bottling lightning, and he's certainly earned his money this time round; from Jonathan Davis' tortured, primal yelps to the pounding drums and a bass sound that ebbs and flows violently through your extremities.

There's enough originality to warrant a second look, though, evoking the epic soul of the infamous The Haçienda club with percussive clatter overseen by techno producer Ewan Pearson.

There's nothing immediately wrong with Perch Patchwork--'Living Decorations' and 'Israeli Caves' are serviceable indie rock tunes, and 'Was' is a teasingly low-key ditty--but the core of the album is eminently forgettable.

Their sound, now more than ever, is a paradox: despite the Cure-ish grey waves of guitar and Spencer Krug's morose vocal tics, Wolf Parade can't conceal the fact that being in a band is clearly terrific fun for them.

Baffling yet hum-able at the same time, this is the work of a band without a clue where they're going, and it's all the stronger for it.

With longer songs between their trademark short frenzied blasts, they maintain a clenched grip on how the ethos behind grassroots hardcore and the necessity of a modern punk fusion can mix effortlessly to create something truly special.

Continuing where the dark grooves of 8's Nude With Boots left off, The Bride… exhibits the perfect marriage between the Big Business boys and Melvins main-men King Buzzo and Dale Crover.

It'll probably help if you're on mushrooms, but nevertheless this is quite something.