Local Reviews: Rotten Musicians

Local Reviews: Rotten Musicians
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Here we have another sophisticated hip-hop album straight from the heart of the SLC made up of Mike Danner, Shanty, Scarecrow and Madman. “Fantasy Impromptu 89” is probably my favorite track, but the disco-ish, R&B “Rotten Musicians Go to the Movies” is also a charmer. But then again, “So What Comes After Postmodern” is really catchy and powerful too, with its strobing guitar beat and buzzy synth samples.  … read more

Local Reviews: Paper Cranes

Local Reviews: Paper Cranes
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Insanity lo-fi noise guitar/synth dancebeats are piled under paroxysmal thrashpunk powerviolence/Curtis Jensen-ish screams and yelps and indecipherable mutterings, and occasionally replaced by nearly-epic keyboard dirges that deteriorate as they form to make the five songs (all named after dinosaurs — Allosaurus, Dimetrodon, etc) that comprise this EP. … read more

Local Reviews: Cave of Roses

Local Reviews: Cave of Roses
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The oddly named Cave of Roses, one of the Utah metal scene’s best-kept secrets, is finally unleashed upon us with this, Redemption, their first demo. Only a three-piece, these guys have more technicality and aggression inside them than lots of other bands combined!  … read more

Local Reviews: Hellbound Saints — Demo

Local Reviews: Hellbound Saints — Demo
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These boys from Provo have garnered a lot of support in happy valley. I hope this is just a taste of thing to come from the Hellbound Saints. … read more

Local Reviews: This Dying Need — Disconcerning Divine

Local Reviews: This Dying Need — Disconcerning Divine
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This Dying Need might turn off non-industrialists, but for those with initiated palettes, they’ll come off as decent at their brand of old-school industrial beats and undressed synths with mainstreamish dark pop structure.  … read more

Local Reviews: Redemption — Home

Local Reviews: Redemption — Home
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Redemption is like the Sandman brought to life: edgy, mysterious, not black and white but grey, aloof and cold — yet strangely warm and comforting. … read more

Local Reviews: The Rattails Present The Loyal — One.Two..Three…

Local Reviews: The Rattails Present The Loyal — One.Two..Three…
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It can make the listener feel a bit uneasy — kind of like when that red-headed overweight girl in the velvet dress absolutely must read you her newest poem. … read more

Local Reviews: King Tree — Chasing Ghosts

Local Reviews: King Tree — Chasing Ghosts
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Oh my gosh! Sevenstringbassfreak is a member of King Tree! When they signed up to Violet Run’s myspace page, we were like, who the hell is this? But added him anyway because we wanted to have more than 23 friends.  … read more

Local Reviews: Nolens Volens — I’m Sad Your Living

Local Reviews: Nolens Volens — I’m Sad Your Living
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Tribal atmospheric drumming melts into NYC Ghosts and Flowers Sonic Youth wavering guitar-picking, bright as a daisy growing between a crack in a disgusting city street in the opening track, “Jon Bytheway is Actually Satan” … read more

Local Reviews: Form of Rocket

Local Reviews: Form of Rocket
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In the three years since their last release, Form of Rocket have improved every aspect of their music. The drumming, bass, guitars, vocals, lyrics and production all make your jaw drop. Just put on the first track, “This is Occupation,” and you’ll get an immediate idea of what I’m talking about. The songs are more uniform while remaining complex; technical without becoming too cluttered. … read more

Local Reviews: Visitors

Local Reviews: Visitors
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Immediately reminding me of one of my favorites, the astounding O’Brother, I fell in love with Nova right off the bat. It’s moody and atmospheric, driving and aggressive when it engages, and I’m pretty sure I’m slowly falling in love with Ian Cooperstein’s dynamic voice, soaring in and out between the guitars. … read more

Local Reviews: Winterlore

Local Reviews: Winterlore
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In the current climate of black metal, where those who sound more like tribute bands than original artists are rampant, sounding fresh is a task few new bands rarely achieve. Winterlore have made an album that provides a bountiful pillaging of excitement.
  … read more