It can not be said that Nick Cave’s career has not aged gracefully. Sure, The Birthday Party feels like another life, but with each album released in the past two decades, Cave has successfully moved towards filling the gap Leonard Cohen’s death would leave. Wild God (Play it Again Sam) continues to uphold his legacy while carrying the hopeful shimmer of a life not met with the kind of tragedy Cave has known. After the death of his son, he is moving past the kind of grief that haunted some of his more recent work. Even at 66 years old, Nick’s vocals have held up, even if the title track is more spoken than sung.Continue reading
Category Archives: Reviews
CONCERT REVIEW: Lamb of God – Mastodon – Kerry King – Malevolence Live at the Kia Forum
It’s August 2004 and two legendary hitters in the heavy metal kingdom just released two iconic albums; Leviathan by Mastodon and Ashes of the Wake by Lamb of God on the same day. Fast forward 20 years and these two legends are joining forces to perform each respective album to an insanely amped Los Angeles crowd while on a joint headlining North American tour, “Ashes of Leviathan.” Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Leprous – Melodies of Atonement
Leprous is a band that stands apart from other progressive acts. Their ability to effortlessly experiment while remaining exceptionally grounded in their superior signature and skillful sound is uncommon. This Norwegian five-piece has been labeled as unique and is known to be creatively inventive within the heavy music sphere. Each record they make manages to explore new ground and deliver world-class wonders. They are about to release their eighth full-length record, Melodies of Atonement (InsideOut Music) and its distinctively different approach compared to their previous works proves once again how aptly ingenuous the band is. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Ellende – Todbringerin
If Taylor Swift can do it, so can Ellende.
The longtime Austrian Atmospheric Black Metal outfit have re-recorded their 2016 record Todbringer for purposes of acquiring ownership. That new effort, entitled Todbringerin (AOP Records), is a shining example of Ellende’s innate ability to produce music that is precise and approached with care and balance.Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Mondo Cozmo – IT’S PRINCIPLE
Josh Ostrander has had a unique and eclectic career stretching back the majority of this millennium so far. Beginning with Laguardia, to working with Eastern Conferences Champions, each one of his projects has brought something completely new and interesting to the table. Now having produced three solo albums under his moniker, Mondo Cozmo, it was time for the solo artist to explore even further into his sonic repertoire with his fourth studio album, IT’S PRINCIPLE (Last Gang Records). With the tragic passing of his namesake’s dog, Cozmo, it was clear that this was set out to be one of his most emotional and vulnerable material to date.Continue reading
CLASSIC ALBUMS REVISITED: Lamb of God – Ashes of the Wake 20th Anniversary
On August 31 Lamb of God’s Ashes of the Wake (Epic Records) officially turns twenty. I was still in highschool and vividly remember stopping by Bullmoose Records in Salem, New Hampshire to pick up my copy. But that’s not to say that those were simpler times.Continue reading
CONCERT REVIEW: King Buzzo and Trevor Dunn – JD Pinkus Live at The Chapel
Somehow in my three years as a resident of San Francisco, I had never made it out to The Chapel! Even though this venue is just a block away from my favorite bar, The Sycamore (come for the Bingo, stay for the brews and top-tier food), they just haven’t had a show in my sphere of metal or metal adjacent bands so far. That all changed when the King Dunn tour stopped by! Yes, only the second solo tour ever from King Buzzo of Melvins, accompanied by Mr. Bungle bassist and man of 1000 other bands, Trevor Dunn! JD Pinkus (of the late Butthole Surfers and ex Melvins) was the opening act and I was hyped. I love San Francisco for many reasons, one being I can walk to and from home to most shows, except for a few of those in the East Bay. The fans online to get in were super nice and the people watching/shirt game was on-point where I noticed not only Melvins, Bungle, and Butthole Surfers, but an eclectic bunch of avant-garde metal, Hardcore, and even a Madonna shirt, likely repped for Madge’s recent birthday!!
ALBUM REVIEW: Black Birch – Black Birch
Incorporating various influences ranging from Crust, Post-Metal, to Black Metal, Swedish Atmospheric Black Metal two-piece Black Birch are crafting an ever-gnarly, meticulously composed debut full-length after having previously released a sold-out EP. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Nails – Every Bridge Burning
Eight years on from You Will Never Be One of Us, Californian Powerviolence four-piece Nails return with their fourth full-length, Every Bridge Burning (Nuclear Blast Records), evidently intent on doing some damage.
CONCERT REVIEW: OTTTO – Bastardane Live at The House of Blues Chicago
On August 10th OTTTO and Bastardane – both prominent groups within the modern hard rock scene – came to Chicago in light of their current Reconquest Tour. The two rock outfits are no strangers to touring together, as both bands played together the previous summer as well. The Reconquest Tour sees both Bastardane and OTTTO in new fashions, but when it comes to each group’s signature sound, talent and onstage energy – those matters remain the same.Continue reading