Manufacturer: Warner

Manufacturer: RCA

Manufacturer: Parlophone

As if answering the challenge of those who dismiss them as a cartoonish joke, Slipknot claim that Iowa is a statement of intent, a real heavy-metal album. As percussionist Shawn Crahan puts it: "We're able to cut into the wound, crawl inside, stitch it up ourselves and fester in the f***ing hurt". And right from the introductory shriek and grind "of (515)", you know they're deadly serious. ...

Manufacturer: Roadrunner

Manufacturer: Asylum

Best-known--and reviled, by many hardcore headz--as the man who set a rap to a tune from Annie, that notorious tale of life in the 'hood ("Hard Knock Life"), Jay-Z clearly decided some time ago that amassing the Benjamins came before keeping it real, in the greater scheme of things. Still, even his harshest critics might be somewhat placated by the re-issue of this, his first album, which ...

Manufacturer: Northwestside

Will The Cool, the second album from Lupe Fiasco, do what his first couldn't and make this Chicago rap prodigy a star? If the answer must be no, maybe it's just because Lupe's too far ahead of the competition. The Cool gets off to a bit of a bumpy start--"Go Go Gadget Flow" shows off Lupe's quick-lips vocal talents, but it's a bit slight content-wise, while "Superstar" reaches for ...

Manufacturer: Atlantic

Manufacturer: One Little Indian

A product of post-Acid-House Manchester, Mr Scruff is a complete one-off; a cheeky innovator. His debut album is a bold statement, distinctive and confident. Keep It Unreal oscillates wildly between opposing styles--one moment Scruff's in deep, down-tempo dinner jazz territory, the next he's in Coldcut mode, chopping out superb big beat breaks with naughty hooklines to get you pogoing. At ...

Manufacturer: Ninja Tune

Manufacturer: U.M.T.V.