In a world where you can never keep on top of everything being released, we can be pretty confident that there isn’t anything else in 2024 quite like Malconfort and the band’s debut, Humanism (Transcending Obscurity Records).Continue reading
Tag Archives: Ambient
ALBUM REVIEW: Xasthur – Disharmonic Variations
Dark folk is an all-around enthralling genre with a wide range of well-known names, from Vàli to Ulvesang, but recently, what especially has been catching my attention is the new release from Xasthur – namely Disharmonic Variations, out via Lupus Lounge. Specializing in Black Metal and avant-garde releases, the label has worked with various names of note, including Nachtmystium and Austere.Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Pijn – From Low Beams Of Hope
Sincerity is difficult to fake – ask any politician in the build-up to an election – yet post-rock Manchester collective Pijn (pronounced “pine”) keep it real on their powerful, atmospheric, heartfelt new album, From Low Beams Of Hope (Floodlit Recordings).Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Construct of Lethe – A Kindness Dealt In Venom
Virginia’s very own Construct Of Lethe has released three full-length albums to this day, with A Kindness Dealt In Venom being the most recent, out via Transcending Obscurity Records. The Death Metal unit seems to be fond of incorporating the lyrical themes of chaotic psychological terror into their songs, but on this album they managed to encompass an even more wider range of emotions, from suicidal depression, self-hatred and existential void. Continue reading
Return To Earth (ex-The Dillinger Escape Plan) Releases Their New EP “Octavius”
Long-running Prog Metal legends Return To Earth have released their new EP, Octavius, via Nashville record label Bald Freak Music. Against their type, Octavius is an ambient electronic music album made only with synthesizers and owing to their love of composers and movie soundtracks. The band released their debut album Captains of Industry in 2007 via Metal Blade Records, and a series of independent releases over the years. Octavius is produced The band features Ron Scalzo, former drummer for Coheed and Cambira, and The Dillinger Escape Plan – Chris Pennie, and Brett Aveni. Buy and stream the record below.Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Je Est Un Autre – Flatworm Mysticism
As one half of the infamous Funeral Doom Metal band Bell Witch, Dylan Desmond is a musician renowned for powerful and contemplative soundscapes and is no stranger for emotive music. Following from the band’s Patreon launch a couple of years ago, Desmond has since been prominently experimenting with Ambient, synth-led music in part made to accompany segments of films (as anyone who has seen Bell Witch live will attest to their use of visual artistry in their performances). A further result of this is this solo output Je Est Un Autre, with a moniker taken from quotes of surrealist poet Arthur Rimbaud which, unsurprisingly, is a deep thought-provoking piece. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Hiverlucide – Abandonne
It’s said that the only two certainties in life are death and taxes, but thanks to the anonymous Parisian duo of Void & Moon, we might soon want to add a third item. Abandonne (Self-Released), the duo’s second album as Hiverlucide, continues the pair’s run (whether as Hiverlucide, Non Serviam or Biollante) of having a new release every few months that’ll defy whatever expectations you might have. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Ghost Atlas – Dust of the Human Shape
It’s amazing the feelings that can be packed within an album. ERRA’s Jesse Cash pours himself into his personal project Ghost Atlas. Seven years have passed since the last album release and fans have been eagerly awaiting and anxious, nervous the project had been laid to rest. Finally those nerves can be quelled and doubts soothed; Ghost Atlas hit the bullseye with their second full-length album. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Blodet – Death Mother
Death Mother (Church Road Records) is the debut full-length from Sweden’s Blodet, and it arrives after the tragic death of their guitarist Rickie Paleski-Östland, who contributed to the writing of the album. In spite of the inevitably difficult process of getting the record finished, it is nevertheless described as “cathartic”, “mesmerising”, and “alluring” by the press release which also draws comparisons to Chelsea Wolfe, Cult of Luna, and Sonic Youth.
CONCERT REVIEW: Royal Thunder – Spotlights – Boozewa Live at Saint Vitus Bar
1-5-23, St Vitus, Brooklyn, NY
This was a hell of a show from start to finish and the best way I could have started the 2023 year if you want to quantize it that way. Boozewa (ˈbooze-ˌwä), features members of Backwoods Payback, hailing from West Chester, PA started the night off. Good lord, riffmas stayed late this year and treated Brooklyn with a healthy heaping of head-banging, fun time signatures, thick bass, and caveman drums.