For Alice Ronzini (better known as Ailise Blake in her current musical guise) the visual component of her art is no incidental afterthought. Indeed the cover photo of her latest record Soave (These Hands Melt), with Blake sitting on a wooden frame, her face obscured, grass and trees around her, very well captures the mysterious, paganistic atmosphere of the music contained within. Continue reading
In a way, every album has a story. In the case of Songs of Abandon (Supernatural Cat Records) though, the latest release from solo project THE MON, the story is a specific and unique one. Several years ago, Urlo (bass player and vocalist for doomy, heavy-rock unit Ufomammut) decided to try writing nine songs, each one in a day—just himself and an acoustic guitar. Fast forward to 2025 and Songs of Abandon comes as the first part of a two-album concept: Embrace The Abandon (to be followed by Songs of Embrace in the new year). The result is an intimate and eerie collection that favours subtlety over sonic extremes, while maintaining an understated power.
In this episode, Tom Osman talks with Grant Netzorg of In The Company of Serpents about their new album “A Crack In Everything” (Self-Released). Check out the conversation! Continue reading
In this episode, Tom Osman interviews Steve Von Till (ex-Neurosis) about his new album “Alone in a World of Wounds” (Neurot Recordings). Check out the conversation! Continue reading
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Disburden Disciple (The Circle Music)—the first truly “post-Swans” solo record from the ever-magikal (and prolific!) singer, musician and songwriter Jarboe (remastered and available on vinyl for the first time).
Those who dwell in these dark territories of underground Rock and Metal, of the noisy, the abrasive, the alternative, and the avant-garde are not always so open to big anthemic hooks. Sometimes our reaction to music that dares to rouse the spirits and attempt to soar can be somewhat dismissive. But let us not entirely close our ears and our hearts to hope, because sometimes in the right hands, the results of such sincere passions can be glorious and in the case of Everything A War (7 People Records/ Village Slut)—the latest record by former Prog-Metal frontman David Judson Clemmons (previously of Damn The Machine)—glorious is exactly what they are. Continue reading
Suppose the spirit of Dorothy Vallens from David Lynch’s surrealist, noir classic Blue Velvet could be transported into a Trip-hop-inspired, dark, Electro-Rock album in 2025. In that case, it’s hard to think of a more fitting home than To Cross Or To Burn (Ipecac Recordings) – by Paula and Dave Lombardo under their Venamoris moniker. Continue reading
Back in 2023 this young (not so young), innocent (well, pretty corrupted actually) writer had the pleasure of attending Berlin Deathfest—two days of Death Metal, Slam and Grind. For the pummelling rhythms, churning riffs, turbo-charged energy and just gleeful silliness it’s hard to pick a bigger high point than Dutch, Goregrind four-piece Rectal Smegma. Continue reading
I am neither the world’s biggest Black Metal fan, nor authority, and I would never pretend to be either. That said, the door to me being swept off my feet by Satan’s minstrels is always open. It happened last year with the latest Trelldom release, …By The Shadows….Continue reading
On the band’s fourth album, Dweller (Three One G Records), Seattle Noise-Punk trio Haunted Horses treat the listener to a ghastly, gothic, sci-fi nightmare of the soul. Continue reading