Issues: Issue 280 - April 2012
Local Reviews: Gravetown
Logan’s Gravetown could be considered “the new(er) guys” in Utah’s metal breeding grounds. For a demo, the production of the five tracks here is better than a good chunk of material I’ve come across that actually had album producers and mixers. Gravetown dish up some devious death n’ thrash with the intent to respect the elder metal gods as well as bust the heads of “noobs.” … read more
Local Reviews: Huldra
Clocking in at nearly 45 minutes, this might be the longest EP I’ve ever heard—but I’m totally okay with that. Huldra’s sound is firmly cemented in the spacey, weighty grounds of post-metal where ISIS and Neurosis trod before them, their songs building and crashing over striking keyboard passages, and punctuated by bellowing howls. … read more
Local Reviews: Israel West
My only real complaint with this album by local hip hop artist Israel West is how hard the vocals are to hear on some of the best songs. They often sound like they were recorded in a shower, or from down a hallway and the beats totally overwhelm them. … read more
Local Reviews: The Plastic Furs
With a sly and energetic style, The Plastic Furs display a musical repertoire that spans the distance between dark, sexy psychedelia and supercharged rock tunes. The band’s punchy drone sensibility meshes well with Brian Mink’s hazy guitar reverberating through their washed-out tone. … read more
Local Reviews: S.L.F.M.
Utah musician S.L.F.M. (A.K.A. Jessica Davis) has something unique. The music of a girl who sings with a distorted mic and plays with a distorted ukulele The Kissing Game may be an acquired taste. … read more
Local Reviews: The Summer Storm
The Summer Storm is the kind of outfit that possibly would’ve thrived quite decently in the late ’80s and might’ve even gotten a listen by Steve Albini, but repetitious guitar tones with spoken word in lieu of sung melodies has never been common. … read more
Local Reviews: Various Artists
This compilation is the first release from Bass Machine Music, a Salt Lake-based record label run by local DJ and producer Jon Rappaport. What it lacks in length it makes up for in pure power—the songs are heavy, in-your-face innovations of the bass/house realm. The compilation kicks off with a collaboration between SLC local Nate Holland and French producer Heblank: a bass-driven, R&B powerhouse track that continues to delight me after hundreds of plays. … read more
Local Reviews: Veggie Stew
Nü-metal meets butt rock on this thankfully short EP from Veggie Stew. Crunchy power chords and standard drums play under juvenile raps about partying and ego. The clichés abound here, so don’t be surprised when you hear the rhyming of “Bacardi” with “party” or lines like “I’m a terror when I flow” from the lead singer. … read more
Local Reviews: Zero To Ballistic
Logan-based Zero To Ballistic describe themselves as “modern Paul Reveres with guns at their hips, bullhorns at their lips and instruments at the ready,” and their album reflects this passion for the state of the Union in its revolution-stoking lyrics. … read more
SLUG Does SXSW
For five days in mid-March, SLUG Magazine invaded Austin, Texas for the 26th annual SXSW music festival. Throughout our week, excessive Lonestar beer and delicious street cart food were consumed and our minds and eardrums will never be the same again after witnessing the array of musical acts. Here are some of our favorites. … read more