Dear lord in heaven, it’s 2024 and we’re still talking about the fact that Glen Benton has an inverted cross on his forehead. This is not a knock on Deicide, by the way, as they have consistently recorded and toured seemingly nonstop since the early nineties, hence the new album Banished by Sin (Reigning Phoenix Music). No this is regarding a text message I received from an anonymous listener during my radio show, The Stress Factor (cheap plug), last week when I played “Trick or Betrayed.” Continue reading
Category Archives: Reviews
ALBUM REVIEW: AWOL – Tear ‘Em To Bits
One of the defining characteristics of the hardcore scene is its emphasis on community and companionship, especially between the artists and the fans.
Australian up-and-comers AWOL have debuted with Flatspot Records for their sophomore record Tear ‘Em To Bits and this is, by and large, a hardcore album for the people.Continue reading
CONCERT REVIEW: Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) and The House Band From Hell Live at The Whisky A Go-Go
On April 12 and 13th in LA, this unknown band known as The House Band From Hell headlined two nights at the infamous venue The Whisky A Go Go. As the dates grew closer… it turned out that this wasn’t just any up-and-coming band, no. SURPRISE! It was Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden with his new and improved solo band supporting his new album The Mandrake Project (BMG) Read our review here. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Atræ Bilis – Aumicide
There are two dead giveaways that Atræ Bilis have something very, very weird in their back pocket.
Released by the continuously boundary-blurring 20 Buck Spin, Aumicide’s cover artwork is something that, let’s just say, probably shouldn’t be focused on too long whilst at work or in a public setting. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Glassing – From the Other Side of the Mirror
Hailing from Austin, Texas, Glassing is an intriguing band who have released some quality music across the albums Light and Death (2017), Spotted Horse (2019), and Twin Dream (2021). They’ve always shown that they are not one to be musically pigeonholed, as they convey a wide range of sounds from Post Metal to Hardcore, Sludge to Black Metal while often breaking up the chaos with moments of drone atmospherics. Continue reading
CONCERT REVIEW: Decapitated – Septicflesh – Kataklysm – Allegaeon Live at The Observatory
It was my second time coming to The Observatory at Santa Ana, as it’s become a place I enjoy seeing shows, with floor area having inclined sections for fans from afar to see, instead of being blocked from the ground level. Also, the sound of bands and vocals is always sounds great. Walking into venue, there’s a long line for merch, which is expected, as fans talked about whom they came to see, or have seen.Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Accept – Humanoid
Being able to keep a steady line-up over the last few years has proven difficult for German metal legends Accept. With guitarist Wolf Hoffmann being the only remaining member from the glory days of the seventies and eighties, this current incarnation is the first time since 2014’s Blind Rage the band has maintained stability for two or more successive albums. And even then, they have been temporarily deprived of the services of touring guitarist Philip Shouse.Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Full Of Hell – Coagulated Bliss
Maryland’s Full of Hell are not fucking about. 6 studio albums, 5 collaboration albums, 9 EPs, 8 splits, and 4 live albums in 15 years, and with their latest album Coagulated Bliss (Closed Casket Activities), the band continues to demonstrate their refusal to stand still. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Engulfed – Unearthly Litanies of Despair
Death metal has always been a very hit-or-miss subgenre for me but most of it I do appreciate it. In good news, I have been listening to the new Engulfed album, Unearthly Litanies of Despair (Me Saco Un Ojo/Dark Descent Records), and it is certainly a hit and not a miss. Just shy of forty minutes, the four-piece from Turkey slams and shreds their way through your cranium. Just the right mixture of grimy OSDM and technical fretwork gives this album some replayability.Continue reading
CONCERT REVIEW: Sessanta Tour – A Perfect Circle – Primus – Puscifer Live at Talking Stick Resort
So sorry, I’m a lil hungover, I was at this crazy house party last night. It was my friend’s birthday and he invited all his friends to jam out! It was insane. There were a ton of people. There were two levels to this place. The top level held three full drum kits and two lounge / living room areas with sofas. This was connected to the lower level by staircases (featuring fully functional stair lifts for the old man), and featured a ping pong table and rock em – sock em robots. It was great to see the members of the bands just hanging out and partying while randomly picking up their instruments and playing their favorite original songs. Continue reading