Authors: Henry Glasheen
Local Review: Monkey Rum – Banished from the Garden
Banished from the Garden moves through so many genres and styles that it gets hard to pin these guys down as one genre or another. In that way, you could almost call this album a dad-rock melange, where distinctions between styles get lost in the blend of hair metal, glam rock and grunge. … read more
Local Review: Fiendlord – Dust On The Chamber Floor
Fiendlord = Kataxu + early Nokturnal Mortum + Elffor
… read more
Local Review: Dwellers – Pagan Fruit
Producing more of their psych-tinged “gut rock,” Dwellers have doubled down on the space rock sound that they experimented with on Good Morning Harakiri. The resulting album is unbelievably laid back, sounding a lot like mid-’90s stoner rock but without the angst-driven intensity. … read more
Local Review: Delusions of Godhood – Dreamscape
Delusions of Godhood = Kalmah + Gates of Ishtar … read more
Local Review: Ben Q. Best – Apricot Exorcist
Though his songs are tinged with a kind of delicate earnestness, Ben Q Best excels most in his ability to craft unique melodic passages that carry the darker themes of this album. His voice warbles and wanes through layers of shoegazey post-rock and quiet piano passages. … read more
Review: Gladenfold – From Dusk To Eternity
Even though it sounds like a smooth blend of bands from Spinefarm’s early years, Gladenfold mixes just enough power metal into their synth-driven melodic death metal to breathe life into a genre I had given up on years ago. … read more
Review: Flotsam and Jetsam – No Place for Disgrace
This re-recording of No Place for Disgrace sounds overproduced and heartless, like a rote imitation of the original work. … read more
Review: Erik Enocksson – Apan (Reissue)
Erik Enocksson = Christian Zanesi + Ben Prunty + Earth … read more
Review: Evil United – Honored by Fire
Mired in their own mimetic banality, Evil United stand out only in their unusual brand of terribleness. … read more
Review: Desaster – The Oath of an Iron Ritual
Desaster = Gospel of the Horns + Nocturnal + Deströyer 666
… read more
Review: Death Karma – The History of Death & Burial...
Death Karma = Cult of Fire + Horrendous + Varathron … read more
Review: Dawnbringer – Night of The Hammer
Dawnbringer = High Spirits / Slough Feg … read more
