“Steven Wilson coming up with a new album in 2013; it’s pretty much a progressive affair. As simple as that. There is nothing here that manages to stretch itself out of the canons of such a well-defined genre. On the contrary, the music on The Raven that Refused to Sing (and Other Stories) revolves around what has made prog rock what it is today: complex dynamics, a wide range of styles harmoniously compressed to form a variegated compound and digressions; lots of them.” Alex Franquelli wanders through the maze that is the new Steven Wilson release and tries not to take too many digressions himself.
Alex Franquelli
Kongh – Sole Creation Review
Quite an epic album. The fuzz is there in all its imperfect majesty, while the pace is as slow as ever, bringing back the doom where it belongs: in the realm of repetitions, through think layers of narcotic sounds. Overall, the final result is a solid evolution from the psychedelic throes of Shadows of the Shapeless, but whoever (well, everyone) says that Kongh sound like Yob is right. And yet they’re wrong at the same time [Oh God! Which is it!? — AMG], since the sound these three lost souls from Nässjö and Småland (that’s southern Sweden, for the most curious nerds amongst yourselves) seem to enjoy touching on the likes of Alice in Chains (“Skymning”), Mastodon (“Sole Creation”) and Brooklyn’s own Tombs.
Tomahawk – Oddfellows Review
Of all Mike Patton’s project, Tomahawk is the one I appreciate the least. Let’s be unprofessionally honest from the start: I can’t be impartial when it comes to judging the work of the genius from Eureka, CA because, yes, I am one of those pedantic nerds who can talk about him for hours at bus stops and grocery stores. Pranzo Oltranzista is in my opinion: “a postmodern monument to deconstructivism and a wordless essay on the very meaning of semiotics from a non-Kojevian perspective”. Or “it fucking rules”: you decide. And don’t get me started on the tragedy behind Fantomas or Mr Bungle’s sardonic stance on the morals of our times because I may end up comparing Patton’s vocal chromaticism to the continuous dichotomy between techne and episteme. Or “both bands fucking rule”: you’re an agent with free will, so you can decide for yourself.
Cult of Luna – Vertikal Review
I started listening to Cult of Luna with The Beyond. The year was 2003, the city was quiet and the light had been swallowed by the sound of an unspecified frequency – an electric wall of sound that made everything glow. And it burned so bright that I remained silent for the following, painful 67 minutes. I stopped listening to Cult Of Luna a year later. It was 2004, the album was Salvation and I couldn’t help but think that everything that had to be told had already been told. I resumed listening to Cult of Luna in 2013. Resistance became futile. And, yes, giving in was the right thing to do.
Things You Might Have Missed 2012: Swans – The Seer
Our scribe Alex never says something simply when he can say it philosophically. Even by his lofty stands, this here review of the new Swans is crushed under the weight of fancy ass cocktail party words. Grab the thesaurus and jump right in!
Trillion Red – Metaphere Review
Trillion Red is one man’s idea of what strange, progressive metal should sound like. To discuss the relevance of that idea, our ever angsty, in-house tortured philospher Alex is here to coat your cranium with his deep, introspective musings and sometimes he even discusses the album.
Neurosis – Honor Found In Decay Review
Neurosis has been called many things over their storied career, from sludge to shoegaze to post-rock. Alex is here to examine these labels as he reviews Honor Found in Decay. He’s a deep thinker, that Alex.
The Secret – Agnus Dei Review
Alex reviews Italian sludgey black metal act The Secret and their new opus of pain entitled Agnus Dei.
The Contortionist – Intrinsic Review
If Anathema, Obscura and Cynic got stuck in an elevator, What would happen? Alex attempts to answer this and other existential questions as best he can while reviewing the new opus from The Contortionist. Is it progressive? Is it metalcore? Is there enough air in that damn elevator??? Read on.
Vision of Disorder – The Cursed Remain Cursed Review
Alex discusses the rise and fall of hardcore heroes Vision of Disorder and also takes a few swipes at Long Island music fans. Let’s hope Steel Druhm doesn’t read that part.