Nickelback (yes, that Nickelback), Slipknot, Turnstile, Theory of a Deadman, and various other rock and roll for your body, heart, soul and MySpace acts that we haven’t mentioned here are WAY too large to be underrated, so they won’t be listed here in this piece highlighting the ten most underrated albums from Roadrunner Records. Founded in the Netherlands, where rock, and particularly metal, still reigns supreme, in 1980, Roadrunner Records annihilated the late-90s and early-aughts with BLOCKBUSTER (wow, what a difference) releases in the heavy but not morbidly obese world. The proof is in the pudding as the label is now a division of Warner Music Group, which also owns Elektra Records, Reprise Records, Atlantic Records, and not freaking Victory Records.
Biohazard “Urban Discipline” (1992)
Let’s start this Roadrunner Records underrated piece with the oldest release to be listed here, in the year of our lord known as 1992, which was just one short year after grunge infiltrated the earth and killed hair metal dead: Biohazard’s second studio album “Urban Discipline” is for sure extremely revered by the underground, but even many mainstream metal and punk heads have never heard this multi-genre hardcore masterpiece, and we’re here to change that! Critics from inferior publications certainly agree with us, because we’re always right, and this nearly hour length LP doesn’t let up till the very end, and pummels you consistently throughout all of its fourteen tracks. Fun fact: Your favorite punk band unless it isn’t, Bad Religion, gets the NYHC approved Biohazard treatment on track twelve of “Urban Discipline” with a guttural cover of the opener to their classic “How Could Hell Be Any Worse?”
Creeper “Sex, Death & the Infinite Void” (2020)
We’re forever scratching our heads at the bitter truth of Creeper being SO MUCH bigger in their home country of England than they are stateside, especially with the major resurgence of My Chemical Romance, but that’s what makes horse racing. If you wanted to hear Gerard Way if he sang on David Bowie’s “Aladdin Sane,” complete with superstar makeup, check out Creeper’s second full-length studio album “Sex, Death & the Infinite Void” for so much more than an ampersand. Honestly, if the record was track four, “Cyanide,” repeated sixteen times exactly the freaking same, this hell of a LP would still be listed here and all of your friends agree, unless they don’t. A 2020s glam revival would rule so much, fam!
The Dresden Dolls “Self-Titled” (2003)
The Dresden Dolls released their perfect self-titled debut via the aptly named 8 ft. Records in 2003, and Roadrunner Records snagged the band shortly after, and re-released this record just one year later from Boston’s dark cabaret to end all dark cabaret duos. Even though The Dresden Dolls eventually supported the then-rising Panic! at the Disco stateside on a run for its also fantastic follow-up LP “Yes, Virginia,” the stars were aligned for global domination, but sadly the band never rose to the heights of the young exclamation point group that eventually removed such for album #2 and then added it back for effort #3, and even drew confused apathetic blank stares at the shows on the tour. Still, this is a cult favorite for those in the know, and it is showcased by frontwoman Amanda Palmer’s solo success after the fall of DD, but not designated drivers.
Glassjaw “Worship And Tribute” (2002)
Even though, to sound like a true Long Islander, post-hardcore godfathers Glassjaw publicly talked shit about all things Roadrunner Records, their sophomore LP “Worship and Tribute,” likely the most popular record on this underrated album list, deserves an amplitude of, err, worship and tribute here, as it was a strong influence for many mid-aughts aggressive rock bands, but not successful enough to adequately infect the mainstream. Sadly, because of an unhealthy combination of life, liberty, the pursuit of sadness, and deplorable accents, it would be their last full-length for fifteen years, showcasing that the band consisted of pigs stuck in the mud, suffering from a combination of cosmopolitan blood loss and upset tummies from ingesting pink roses… As BMTH said, “Whatever and ever AmEN!”
Highly Suspect “The Midnight Demon Club” (2022)
Highly Suspect’s fourth full-length studio album, “The Midnight Demon Club” is their first effort for Roadrunner Records, and some may think it is off-brand for the label, but we just want to say that we love its multifaceted blend of alternative, blues, grunge, and not klezmer. In addition, this record is the newest one to be listed here, so if you think that 2022 is current, check it out, and if you’re looking for a throwback, do the same, you wild-eyed sons and daughters! Cape Cod is not just for trust fund brats, even worse accents than Long Islanders, Wade Boggs, and fried clams, y’all! The Grammy Awards committee agrees with us because we’re right, and showcased such with a Highly Suspect, but not highly sus, nomination for Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards for their 2015 debut “Mister Asylum.”
Kemuri “Little Playmate” (1997)
Easily, and by FAR the most underrated and unknown entry here, and we mean such with zero hyperbole whatsoever, Japanese ska-punk act Kemuri released a pretty much flawless late-90s third wave record, their debut LP “Little Playmate,” that likely (wait for it, wait for it) got lost in translation. If you spot this one in any bargain bins, and you likely will, we implore you to purchase it and find a CD player to listen to it on, as most cars and computers this day and age don’t even contain an outlet for playing such. Japan was a hotbed for Warped Tour sounding bands like Hi-STANDARD, Potshot, Yellow Machinegun, and Styx, and Kemuri managed to stand out via their incredible horn section, fun sound, and catchy, catchy melodies.
Marmozets “The Weird And Wonderful Marmozets” (2014)
We love it good when a band has its own name in its own album title. Bingley, yes Bingley, West Yorkshire’s Marmozets released two full-lengths that elevated ‘em to mainstage festival status in England, but only in ratty clubs in the USA; wtf. Their debut “The Weird and Wonderful Marmozets” is a thirteen track LP that was favorably reviewed all over the world, and subsequently never lets up till the last second of closer “Back to You,” which should cause you to move, shake, hide, and write witticisms on our social media pages like, “They have more than one song?”.
Shelter “Mantra” (1995)
Shelter’s first album for Roadrunner Records, and second oldest LP listed here, “Mantra,” is and was a Krishnacore, yes Krishnacore, masterpiece brought to you by Connecticut hardcore legends Ray Cappo, John Porcelly of Youth of Today, a band that isn’t just a t-shirt with posi lyrics, Adam “I Have A Pretentious Last Name” Blake, and Dave “I Bet You Can’t Pronounce My Last Name Correctly” Dicenso. On an unexpected and friendly note, the band covered The Beatles’ classic “We Can Work It Out” on the Brazilian and reissued bonus tracks for “Mantra,” and while you can’t find said song on Spotify, you can do so on YouTube.
Spineshank “The Height of Callousness”
Speaking of underground two-tone 1982 favorites The Beatles, even though the predecessor to this album, Spineshank’s debut LP, “Strictly Diesel,” contained a sick cover of Dhani “I Know Jeff Lynne” Harrison’s classic “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” that doesn’t feature renowned douchecanoe racist Eric “Why Do I Hate Black People Even Though I Bastardize The Blues” Clapton on “lead” guitar, “The Height of Callousness” deservedly gets its superb smelling flowers here, and is honestly one of the better nu metal efforts from the early-aughts. Want proof? They recorded said record at the most butt rock named studio of all time, Vancouver, Canada’s Mushroom Studios.
Young the Giant “Self-Titled” (2010)
This article and the game of life are both too short to even care at all, and it’s a competition between the aforementioned Highly Suspect and Irvine’s Young the Giant as to whether the former band or the latter is more hipstery. Spoiler alert: It’s YTG by a jake. Despite the fact that this self-titled debut LP went gold, it is still not widely known as a Roadrunner Records release, and thus technically underrated here; we don’t make the rules but your body, side, apartment, and trust funds sure do! Every little thing Young the Giant does is magic, and even your least favorite vegan and ours known as Morrissey even sang this album’s praises, proving to the world that people can in fact get off of their own lawn to go to the local CVS Pharmacy for cough syrup. God may have made man, but Roadrunner Records elevated YTG.