ALBUM REVIEW: Insomniac – Om Moksha Ritam


Atlanta’s Insomniac brings the surreal sounds of the early nineties back to life on Om Moksha Ritam (Blues Funeral Recordings). These guys drape brooding baritone vocal lines over layers of atmospheric guitar that swell into big sludge-tinged riffs of epic proportions. On a song like “Mountain,” the twin guitar attack is a dizzying affair that accelerates in an almost Mastodon-like manner. Deceased drummer Amos Rikin keeps the cymbals crashing with enough gusto to move their hypnotic riffage with locomotive momentum. This reaches peak heaviness for these guys when harsher growls roar up from the back of the mix to accent the punchy chugs.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Still In Love – Recovery Language


Out via the British extreme music-centered label Church Road Records, UK Hardcore five-piece unit Still In Love launches a debut full-length entitled Recovery Language – with thematic focuses circulating around the discourses of generation trauma, catharsis, emotional release, and personal boundaries. Highly introspective and deeply rooted in raw, intense emotions that speak of resilience, the aggression-laden UK Hardcore undertones of this album fit the recurring themes so well, with a hint of Post-Hardcore influences as well. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: The Beaches – No Hard Feelings


Canadian four-piece The Beaches always know how to a) have a damn good time and b) write songs that while they may be tongue-in-cheek, are also stupidly catchy and/or memorable. And their newest work is no different.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Fleshwater – 2000: In Search Of The Endless Sky


Fleshwater’s new album 2000: In Search Of The Endless Sky (Closed Casket Activities) displays the lessons the band learned from playing arenas with a more anthemic nineties Rock sound than what was heard on “We’re Not Here to Be Loved.” It shoved singer Marisa Shirar into the spotlight, forcing her to own her identity as a frontwoman. The mix of this album is more radio-friendly with the vocals out front, as the guitar swirls around them. Shirar’s singing style is more Rock-oriented on this album, belting the choruses out as the guitar sits back in the mix. The atmospheric opener is the strongest song on the front end of the album, as the singles dial back the more shoegazing elements. Though it depends on what you want from music in this regard; if you are a fan of Paramore, the more alternative rock-leaning sound might be more to your liking.  Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Modern Life Is War – Life On The Moon


Life On The Moon (Deathwish Inc) is Modern Life Is War’s first full-length in over a decade. They have returned and are deviating from what you might expect from Punk in 2025. It does not stray dramatically from what the definition of Punk was in the mid seventies. They still carry most of the aggression, though layers of singing chime in for the chorus of “First Song On The Moon.” The guitars carry a frantic jangle rather than a Hardcore chug. “There Is A Telephone That Never Stops Ringing” finds the urgency building into an explosion. The kind of organic chaos The Stooges once kicked up.  Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: In Mourning – The Immortal


What first became so apparent when listening to The Immortal (Supreme Chaos Records) is that In Mourning are one of the best bands when it comes to using different volumes and styles of vocals to not only pique interest, but to completely encapsulate and tell a story.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Signs Of The Swarm – To Rid Myself Of Truth


Shortly after debuting on Century Media Records back in 2023, Deathcore outfit Signs Of The Swarm have put forth their latest installment under that label with To Rid Myself Of Truth.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: The World Is A Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid To Die – Dreams Of Being Dust


Much like their distinct name, The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die continue to pen unique songs with flavor and character, and new studio album Dreams Of Being Dust (Epitaph Records), is no different.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Marissa Nadler – New Radiations


Marissa Nadler’s 10th album, New Radiations (Sacred Bones Records), finds her stripping down to a more minimalist yet cinematic feel. It feels spacious, yep, with an intimate yearning. Her vocals are produced in a similar reverb-heavy manner. Her approach to vocals continues to expand the well-layered vocal harmonies. The harmonies are more prominent in the mix time, adding more depth in the absence of more Rock-oriented instrumentation. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: False Gods – Lost In Darkness And Distance


Long Islanders False Gods emerged in 2015 from the ashes of the well-regarded Skeletondealer! Prior releases include a trio of EP’s: 2016’s Wasteland; 2017’s Reports From Oblivion; and 2019’s The Serpent And The Ladde. Twenty-twenty’s full-length debut No Symmetry…Only Disillusion followed soon after, as did 2022’s Neurotopia and finally a 2023 split with Japan’s AbiuroContinue reading