Rock

Whiskey Ritual – Black Metal Ultras Review

By Mark Z. on May 7, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Folter Records, Italian Metal, Reviews, Rock, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Rock, Thrash Metal, 27 comments

“Duality is a part of life. Man and God. Heaven and Hell. Filet mignon and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. There’s a time and a place for putting on your best suit and giving a polished presentation to your boss, and there’s a time and a place for slamming Michelob Ultras in your underwear while listening to Impaled Nazarene’s discography in reverse order. Since this is a band called Whiskey Ritual, I’m sure you’ve already figured out which side of the spectrum they fall on. Here’s a hint: my pants are already off.” Pants off, dance is also off.

Hopesfall – Arbiter [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Mark Z. on December 15, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Equal Vision Records, Hardcore, Non-Metal Metal Things, Rock, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Hardcore, Non-metal Metal Things, Rock, 48 comments

“In many ways, Arbiter feels like the culmination of everything Hopesfall are. Much like their former swansong Magnetic North, the album takes influence from all the band’s eras while harboring their characteristic sense of longing and distance. Arbiter is the rare comeback album that doesn’t recapture the spirit of early works, it makes it sound like that spirit never left in the first place.” Hopesfall springs eternal.

KEN mode – Loved Review

By Mark Z. on August 30, 2018 in 2018, Canadian Metal, Hardcore, Noise, Reviews, Rock, Season of Mist, Sludge, Hardcore, Noise, Rock, Sludge, 44 comments

“What the fuck is that? A demented shadow person? A medieval executioner? The nightmarish specter of your father asking you why you haven’t eaten your Brussels sprouts? These are the questions you’ll ask yourself as you try in vain to fall asleep tonight, knowing full well that leering figure is definitely not standing right at the foot of your bed. In a way it’s fitting, because KEN mode’s music is equally likely to leave an impression.” Sludge monsters.

Khôrada – Salt Review

By Saunders on July 19, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Post-Rock, Progressive Metal, Prophecy Productions, Reviews, Sludge, Stoner Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, Rock, Sludge, 81 comments

“It’s probably fair to say that Agalloch and Giant Squid went out with differing degrees of success on the recording front. Both issued their final albums in 2014, with Agalloch’s The Serpent and the Sphere garnering mixed opinions, while Giant Squid’s Minoans opus was a fine conceptual piece that stands among their stronger releases. With the dust settled on two stellar careers, can the ex-Agalloch collective of Don Anderson, Jason Walton and prolific drummer Aesop Dekker combine successfully with former Giant Squid and current Squalus frontman/guitarist Aaron Gregory?” Salve for loss or salt in the wound?

Octopus – Supernatural Alliance Review

By Master of Muppets on April 10, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Retro Metal, Reviews, Rise Above Records, Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Retro Metal, Rock, 78 comments

“Here we are, once again, gathered together under the metaphoric roof of the Angry Metal Hall. Our ranks comprise fans of all walks of metal, no two tastes are identical and yet we all convene here to bang our heads as one. What joins us disparate degenerates as children of the Jørn? What fantastic force unites the photometers, hamsters, and screaming boxes that plague our comment section? The answer holds as trve now as in those dark days preceding the internet: it’s the riffs, stupid. This obvious answer in turn poses an obvious question: “What does this have to do with Octopus’ Supernatural Alliance?”” What a big tent you have.

The Atlas Moth – Coma Noir Review

By Saunders on February 20, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Prosthetic Records, Reviews, Rock, Sludge, Stoner Metal, Rock, Sludge, Stoner Metal, 2 comments

“Shape-shifting Chicago act The Atlas Moth exorcised some particularly nasty personal demons on 2014’s bleak, The Old Believer album. Although failing to hit the glorious highs of predecessor An Ache for the Distance, it proved a mature, emotionally raw and harrowing chapter in the band’s career. Not content to repeat themselves, The Atlas Moth return in a decidedly more chipper mood, by their despondent standards, serving up an energetic and refreshingly upbeat collection of tunes that widens the scope considerably beyond the psychedelic sludge tag they are frequently saddled with.” Like an Atlas Moth to the flame of judgment.

Barren Womb – Old Money/New Lows Review

By Kronos on February 16, 2018 in 2018, Hard Rock, Loyal Blood Records, Norwegian Metal, Rock, Noise Rock, Rock, 1 comment

“The first word that pops into your head when you hear Old Money/New Lows – regardless of any review’s priming – is “fat.” Closely followed by “sassy.” Barren Womb’s fourth album possesses of swagger in immense proportion, but as one would expect from a band whose debut carried the moniker On The Origin of Faeces, it’s tempered by good humor. The Trondheim noise rock duo sure as hell know how to hold your interest, mixing irreverence with earnesty and violating Yngwie’s law with a shit-eating grin.” How can sassy be MOAR??

Chasing Ghosts – These Hollow Gods Review

By Kronos on February 9, 2018 in 2018, British Metal, Hard Rock, Mighty Music, Releases, Reviews, Rock, Hard Rock, Rock, 0 comments

“I am nothing if not a glutton for punishment, which is why I continue my dive into corners of the promo bin untrammeled by more self-respecting reviewers. While my last foray into the depths brought back a surprisingly good collection of alt-metal songs, today’s entree is a bit less appetizing. Marking their ground somewhere between bluesy hard rock and ’90s death doom, Chasing Ghosts don’t sound like many other bands.” Boo-urns.

Hobosexual – Monolith Review

By Master of Muppets on November 13, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Hard Rock, Kitchenable Records, Reviews, Rock, 61 comments

“To fully appreciate where we’re going, we must understand a few things about Hobosexual. Firstly, they’re not metal, and that isn’t going to kill you. I might though, if you opt to miss out on this slab of goodness based on that detail alone, but let’s try to avoid all that. Secondly, that name. According to the band’s Facebook page, ‘Hobosexual was adopted by Ben and Jeff as a tongue in cheek dictatorial spin on affiliation as antiquated preference.” Once you go Hobo, you never get clean.

Cortez – The Depths Below Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on July 1, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Rock, Salt of the Earth Records, Sludge, Stoner Rock, Doom Metal, Rock, Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal, 17 comments

“It’s occurred to me that when I go stoner, more times than not, I tend to lean against bands just west of me. Bands like Kyuss, Sleep, High on Fire—all residing in sunny California. Funny enough, my favorite stoner outfit is all the way out in England. Hell, if you were to look at my stoner collection, you’d think Orange Goblin was an outlier and that stoner metal was an American thing. And my review of Temptation’s Wings newest record wouldn’t challenge that assumption. And now, the stoner bug has bit old Grier once again. I desire something to make my eyes puffy, my ears happy, and chill me the fuck out.” Lead or gold?