ALBUM REVIEW: Insect Ark – Raw Blood Singing


On Raw Blood Singing (Debemur Morti Productions), Insect Ark returns with an otherworldly and compelling sci-fi landscape of noir, subtle menace and mystery.  Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Barry Adamson – Cut To Black


Eight years on from his last solo record, Cut To Black (Barry Adamson Inc) sees Barry Adamson (former Magazine bassist and Bad Seed) bring us back into his cinematic universe. While soul and murder are still very much on the menu, his latest vision seems a little less murky.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Oxbow – Love’s Holiday


 

When the David Lynch-directed movie The Straight Story was released in 1999 it was a surprising departure for anyone familiar with the creator of Twin Peaks and Blue Velvet. The surprise wasn’t floating aliens, ladies in radiators or ears in paper bags. Quite the opposite. Lynch had already exposed audiences to the dark and bizarre in many forms; it was the absence of surrealistic shock that made the poignancy of one man’s single-minded road trip to reconnect with his ill brother so strange. This was not what was expected. This was not the formula that audiences were starting to think they’d figured out. 

Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Xandria – The Wonders Still Awaiting


 

One thing which the German symphonic metal act Xandria cannot be accused of is staleness. A seemingly constant revolving door of members since day one, there simply isn’t enough time for inertia or sterility. The musical merry-go-round did slow down recently though, as for only the second time the band did actually manage to keep the same line-up for more than one record. However, it all changed once again as guitarist and founder member Marco Heubaum returns not only with an entirely refreshed group of musicians, but a noticeable modification to the band’s sound.

Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Imperial Triumphant – Spirit of Ecstasy


When the death metal scene blew up in the early nineties, it was exciting to watch fresh new blood delivering a much-needed kick up the backside to many lethargic established acts. However, with little room for growth and proliferation of bands all covering the same ground, stagnation, and panic soon set in. Just as their predecessors had found, forward-thinking and experimentation were often frowned upon while the alternative was perceived as merely playing safe or laziness. It was survival of the fittest in a catch-22 situation and the fans were a fickle and unforgiving judge.

Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Fracture Type – Pickaxe


On the right night, if you walk out from North Quincy Station, past the “brutalist McDonalds,” following the funk towards Wollaston Beach, you might come across a house that seems to be pulsing. On a night like that, if you fight your way through the mass of burly beards, skateboarders, and pitbulls and take a sonic blast to the face, you’ll find yourself in Ugly Robot Studios, and if you’re lucky, you’ll be treated to a front-row performance of Fracture TypeContinue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: I Klatus – Targeted 


After some serious consideration, I’ve decided that the sounds featured on I KlatusTargeted (Dead Sage) would totally make sense in a David Lynch film. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is a compliment of the highest regard. Lynch made his bones in the film industry by following his own non-linear muse and at many times incorporating rad sounds into his work (see the Lost Highway soundtrack). I Klatus doesn’t mind taking some strange left turns and certainly isn’t interested in traditional songcraft.

Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: MWWB – The Harvest


Originally planned for release last year, the fourth album from Welsh progressive doomsters MWWB (formerly known as Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard) had to be delayed after guitarist Paul Michael ‘Dave’ Davies suffered an almost life-ending Covid-related stroke from which he is still recovering. Recorded before his illness, The Harvest (New Heavy Sounds) finally sees the light of day but due to lockdown restrictions in place at the time, the Wrexham five-piece was reduced in size for the recording, the band losing guitarist Wes Leon, and bringing in Black Moth drummer Dom McReady to fill in for regular sticksman James ‘Carrat’ Carrington.Continue reading


EXCLUSIVE VIDEO PREMIERE: Curtis Godino Presents The Midnight Wishers – “No Place Like Home” Music Video


 

What happens when you marry the classic “Wall of Sound” aesthetics of girl groups with David Lynch vibes? Well, you get Curtis Godino Presents The Midnight Wishers! They will drop their brand new self-titled LP, due February 11, 2022 via Shimmy-Disc/Joyful Noise Recordings. Ghost Cult brings you the hypnotic first single and music video for “No Place Like Home!” Continue reading


LIVESTREAM REVIEW: Anthrax – 40th Anniversary Streaming Event


Okay, so watching streamed performances over the internet isn’t the best way to enjoy live shows. That’s a given. Every one of us would rather be in the middle of a sweaty moshpit, getting drunk with friends while being accidentally kicked in the head by overenthusiastic crowd surfers. Yes you would. Don’t lie.

Continue reading