Great black metal is a balancing act between atmosphere and brutality. This one-man effort from Quebec proves that it has the ability to deliver on both. … read more
Reviews: Sombres Forets – La Mort du Soleil
Reviews: Speedtrap – Powerdose
Prepare yourself, because Powerdose takes off fast. Ville Valavuo’s guitar snarls out with a heavy metal vengeance while Miika Keränen sets the breakneck pace with swift fills and a relentless beat. … read more
Reviews: Steel Cranes – Ouroboros
Ouroboros is a huge, raw sound, with only drums, guitars and vocals, all from the talents of just two ladies from Oakland, Calif. … read more
Reviews: Stomach Earth – Self-Titled
Stomach Earth is the solo project of Mike “Gunface” McKenzie (Red Chord), and is being branded as a funeral doom record, although there are industrial sounds floating throughout, and the album isn’t sorrowful so much sorrowful as menacing. … read more
Reviews: Swiiim – Cellophane Castle
From the first song on this album, I was enthralled. Sadly, the infatuation didn’t last long. … read more
Reviews: These Animals – Pages
These “pages” nod back to late ‘90s alternative indie/emo. The problem is: That’s a place I don’t prefer to go. … read more
Reviews: Transplants – In a Warzone
After breaking up in 2005, shortly after the release of their second album Haunted Cities (I would’ve broken up after that album too…), this rap/punk supergroup has returned with a fun (if kinda dumb) new album. … read more
Reviews: Turn Me On Dead Man – We Are The Star People
The new age mysticism concepts on We Are The Star People comes off as too contrived, the riffs are too cut-and-dried (especially when paired with the band’s Marc Bolan and George Harrison influences) and the lyrics sound like drivel spewed from a smug yuppie backpacking in India. … read more
Reviews: Void Meditation Cult/Sperm of Antichrist – Sulfurous Prayers of Blight and Darkness
What essentially amounts to a split release by the same band (Void Meditation Cult was previously called Sperm of Antichrist), the first side of Sulfurous Prayers of Blight and Darkness is Void Meditation Cult and the second side is Sperm of Antichrist—confused yet? … read more
Reviews: Watain – The Wild Hunt
I don’t quite understand why it is that Watain has become such a polarizing band in the metal underground—people either love them or absolutely despise them. … read more
Reviews: Zola Jesus and JG Thirlwell featuring Milvox Quartet
Versions is existing Zola Jesus material reimagined with string arrangements by No Wave icon JG Thirlwell. … read more
Reviews: Speedy Ortiz – Major Arcana
Major Arcana comes across as pretty, ’90s lo-fi grunge, and would be appropriate listening after watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer while wearing a flannel shirt and ripped jeans. … read more
