ALBUM REVIEW: Serpent Rider – The Ichor of Chimaera


There must be something about the thin air, and gloom of Seattle, WA that has given birth to some fantastic modern melodic NWOHM bands. Serpent Rider is one of those bands and hearing them for the first time rekindled my love of NWOTHM (New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal) bands.  For a while there, I found myself somewhat bored with the bands that seemed to either deliver each album with disappointment or bands that would take years off, return with a subpar album, and then disappear again.  It’s hard to keep my attention that way but Serpent Rider grabbed my attention immediately.  

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ALBUM REVIEW: Fleshspoil – The Beginning Of The End


Fleshspoil not only features the former drummer of Arsis but finds them attacking the Blackened Death Metal subgenre, with a catchier take than most. Their debut album The Beginning of the End finds their dissonant mix of atmosphere and thrashing striking a soothing discordance. They do not attack your ears with a bludgeoning hammering, but there is nuance to their intricate songwriting that holds the technical aspect of their sound check This album is produced in a manner that makes it sound like it came out twenty years ago, which plays to their favor.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: David Judson Clemmons – Everything A War


Those who dwell in these dark territories of underground Rock and Metal, of the noisy, the abrasive, the alternative, and the avant-garde are not always so open to big anthemic hooks. Sometimes our reaction to music that dares to rouse the spirits and attempt to soar can be somewhat dismissive. But let us not entirely close our ears and our hearts to hope, because sometimes in the right hands, the results of such sincere passions can be glorious and in the case of Everything A War (7 People Records/ Village Slut)—the latest record by former Prog-Metal frontman David Judson Clemmons (previously of Damn The Machine)—glorious is exactly what they are. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Deafheaven – Lonely People With Power


Since their inception, Deafheaven have always been that band not to show where they’re going next. After releasing what some could consider their magnum opus in Sunbather (Deathwish Inc.), the band did not let that define the band they would become. Only two years later, they’d return with the far more moody New Bermuda (Anti Records/Epitaph Records). This would continue for the career they’d lead up to this point, especially in their previous efforts, Infinite Granite (Sargent House), taking the band from the Blackgaze sound they had cultivated and popularised, in search of a lighter, synthier approach. That brings us to the modern day, and it seems for all the teasing the band have done over the lead-up to their new project, Lonely People With Power, their debut release in their new deal with Roadrunner Records. This appears to be a culmination of what’s come before in one solid package, how these conflicting sounds will come together and meld is a completely different matter altogether.Continue reading


CONCERT REVIEW: Disturbed – Three Days Grace X2 – Sevendust Live at TD Garden Boston


Disturbed celebrated their 25th anniversary of The Sickness (Warner Music) album on tour at TD Garden on March 14th. The tour has not been without controversy after the alleged pyro accident at The United Center for the band’s hometown stop on this tour. Did they burn the banners, or not? No one is sure. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: The Darkness – Dreams On Toast


With their debut album Permission To Land, The Darkness enlivened a rock music scene dominated by the likes of The White Stripes, The Strokes, Evanescence, and Linkin Park amongst others. Their goofy lyrics and AC/DC, Thin Lizzy, and Queen sound struck a chord and twenty-two years later they are still at it with the release of their eighth record Dreams On Toast (Cooking Vinyl).Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Bloodywood – Nu Delhi


With a pair of studio albums under their belt (including 2022’s magnificent work Rakshak), Metalcore/Indian-inspired Folk/Hip-Hop standouts Bloodywood have both carved out a bit of a signature sound whilst also leaving room to continue experimenting and injecting flair and originality into their work.Continue reading


CONCERT REVIEW: Danzig – DOWN – Abbath – Cro-Mags Live at The Virgin Theater


I rolled into the city of sin with my homie and bandmate in Angst, Abe Allen, for a cool quick trip to see the first night of the big Danzig tour! I was seriously hyped for this tour and glad to catch it since these dates are few and Glenn doesn’t like to tour much anymore. I was really excited to take this trip for four bands I have loved for a long time. Thanks for making this happen, Abe!Continue reading