It’s taken ten long years but Edinburgh thrashers Black Talon follow up highly promising full-length studio debut Endless Realities with their independently released second album, Scenes of Agony. Continue reading
Category Archives: Reviews
ALBUM REVIEW: Jaye Jayle – After Alter
Jaye Jayle went from being Evan Patterson’s solo project that explored sounds outside of what he did in Young Widows and has now become a full-fledged band.Continue reading
Ghost Cult’s Top 20 Rock and Metal Vinyl Reissues for 2024
Check out Keefy’s full list of his Top Vinyl Reissues of 2024, with a few honorable mentions! Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Godzillionaire – Diminishing Returns
The 1990s brought a little Lawrence, Kansas band by the name of Paw, who put out two full-length albums 1993’s Dragline (which featured the catchy singles “Jessie” and “Couldn’t Know” that got moderate rotation on MTV as well as featuring in the computer game Road Rash) and 1995’s overlooked Death to Traitors. There were a couple of final releases in the shape of the Home is a Strange Place EP and the Keep the Last Bullet for Yourself odds and sods collection before the band’s eventual 2000 split. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Kelsy Karter And The Heroines – Love Made Me Do It
As soon as it became clear what Kelsy Karter And The Heroines were all about, I knew I was in for a joyride like no other, and I was ready as ever to be completely immersed in it.Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Mogwai – The Bad Fire
Robert Smith once called these guys his favorite band and it is easy to hear why. Eleven albums into their career, Mogwai has a clear focus on their sonic journey on The Bad Fire (Rock Action Records). Vocals appear right from the first song, serving as a smooth texture that sits in the swirl of sound. Things get more into their older bran of majestic melancholy on the second song. It’s less pop-oriented than the opening track. If you came here wanting post-rock this is the song for you. “What Kind of a Mix is This” feels like it just spills out from the end of the lingering ebb of the previous song. It takes a minute for a guitar melody to establish the song’s footing.Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Vertex – The Purest Light
For a microgenre that asserts itself to be progressive and quite serious, the result in regards to band members is quite the opposite. Djent, while having quite serious origins in the progressive metal-sphere, quickly turned quite tongue-in-cheek, with even big hitters Periphery using their tongue-in-cheek album title Djent is not a genre as a light-hearted jab at the genre. Vertex, on the other hand, seem like they’re bringing in a more serious tone to the scene, taking inspiration from huge acts in the acne with their debut EP in 2019, the band have been hard at work to follow this up with their debut album, The Purest Light (Le Cri Du Charbon). This may have taken over 5 years, but the band has grafted hard to create this 53-minute behemoth. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Eidola – Mend
I have recently learned that “Swancore” is a genre that apparently refers to Progressive Post-Hardcore music with high-register, clean vocals. Accepting that premise, it’s easy to understand this tag being applied to Salt Lake City’s Eidola and their sixth album Mend (Blue Swans Records/ Rise Records).Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: ALT BLK ERA – Rave Immortal
It’s a cliche, but this album blew me away. Blew me away like the guy in the old Maxell ads. But that’s not right because you cannot listen to ALT BLK ERA’s Rave Immortal (Earache Records) without legit dancing. Finds like this are why I love doing these reviews. Let me do a reset to where I first hit “play”.Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Harakiri For The Sky – Scorched Earth
Getting a Harakiri For The Sky record release in the heart of winter will pull at your heartstrings. Scorched Earth (AOP Records) does just that for over an hour and doesn’t overstay its welcome. It is an audible voyage through pain, suffering, and loss that is both cathartic and beautiful. Every song has its own story and emotional journey that compliments the songs around it. Oh, and there’s also a sweet Radiohead cover at the end to ice the cake.Continue reading