ALBUM REVIEW: Spirit Mother – Thistle


Spirit Mother represents the post-grunge era, entwined with Stoner Rock in a way that blurs the line between where one begins and the other ends. On Thistle (Sound of Liberation Records), they touch on a few different sounds from the nineties and bring them into a more modern focus rather than just trying to pay homage to an era. “Violent Son” has a moodier swagger and syncopated riff that finds the guitars adding atmosphere that allows the vocals to coast between it all. The vocals here are in a mellow croon that is possibly drug-induced. The strength of the vocals is not in their range, but in how emotion is conveyed and where he puts his voice. 

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ALBUM REVIEW: The Melvins with Napalm Death – Savage Imperial Death March


It feels like in the post-Pandemic world, the collaborative album has proliferated in the more experimental corners of metal. For Savage Imperial Death March (Ipecac Recordings), the marriage of the godfathers of Grindcore Napalm Death, joining forces with Sludge/ Noise-rock pioneers the Melvins. The opening track, “Tossing Coins into the Fountain of Fuck” sums up what is going down here. These are songs that feel like they are written by the Melvins side of the equation, and that Napalm Death are lending their raw, punchy, Punk Metal chaos. Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Tribulation – Sub Rosa In Æternum


The direction Tribulation heads on Sub Rosa In Æternum (Century Media Records) has been a long time coming. You can’t call a band goth without them eventually turning to the dark side. The Swedes started as a Death Metal band that flirted with the shadowy atmosphere, but never bore the Sisters of Mercy Halloween trappings they were credited with. Until this album. The sung vocals that open the first song solidify this; this may be the final step over this threshold for them. Johannes Andersson has sung on their previous albums in smaller doses, but this album finds him committed to it. Continue reading →