Month: September 2013
Reviews: Lycus – Tempest
It’s clear that Lycus know and understand their influences rather well, combining an atonal USBM riffing style with long sections of legitimately heavy and atmospheric funeral doom. … read more
Reviews: Lemuria – The Distance Is So Big
Masters of melancholy adorableness, Lemuria’s third LP sounds as though it could be a long-lost relic of early ‘90s indie rock—and that’s a good thing. … read more
Reviews: John Tole – Reign in Laughs
For a comic who calls himself the “Slayer of Comedy,” John Tole spends a paltry amount of his set discussing metal. … read more
Reviews: Jamaican Queens – Wormfood
While more notable acts like Purity Ring and Sleigh Bells benefit from finer production, Jamaican Queens fall short in this area. … read more
Reviews: Infected Mushroom – Friends on Mushrooms Vol. 2
I was a bit confused when I first pressed play on Infected’s newest album, because it sounded like some slow trance love song, but then the beat drops and quickens and the Israeli duo blows your fucking mind. … read more
Reviews: The Howl – Things I’ve Learned While Swallowing S...
What do you really get from a two-song release? In the case of Chicago-based The Howl, you get two songs, blow through them and then walk away with a serious case of musically induced blue balls. … read more
Reviews: The Garden – The Life and Times of a...
The Garden write some very interesting riffs. In fact, both the drum work and the guitar work on “The Life and Times of a Paperclip” feature some surprisingly progressive moments—an interesting departure from the simple garage-style fare which Burger Records are known for. … read more
Reviews: Action Bronson – Saaab Stories
I expected more from Bronson’s debut, Saaab Stories, but was disappointed by his monotone raps. … read more
Reviews: Alex Chilton – Electricity by Candlelight
On a dark and stormy night on February 13, 1997, the power went out as Alex Chilton and his band were about to play their second set of the night at the Knitting Factory in New York City. … read more
Reviews: Altars – Paramnesia
Australia’s Altars follow leads like Portal’s weird atmospheres and the heavy guitar layering of Ulcerate, and most likely not even intentionally build on both of those elements. … read more
Reviews: Barbez – Bella Ciao
This record is billed as “A Celebration of Ancient Roman Jewish Music and The Italian Resistance Movement.” Yet it avoids feeling like an academic historical musical exercise. … read more
Reviews: Baroness – Live at Maida Vale
Collecting four tracks recorded live from Baroness’ 2012 album Yellow & Green, Live at Maida Vale showcases the band embracing their expansion beyond their sludgy origins. … read more