ALBUM REVIEW: The Otolith – Folium Limina


 

My first encounter with SubRosa’s music was back in 2016 as an eighteen year-old who had just gotten a headstart into music journalism, just right after they released For This We Fought the Battle of Ages. That 2016 release was especially remarkable for my eighteen year-old self, because, apart from its droning resonance in a form of menacing atmospheric doom that would drive the listeners into a solemn state of enchantment, the album was also inspired by Yevgeny Zamyatin’s We, a Russia-bound dystopian novel that portrays a state ravaged by modern-day authoritative surveillance; an uncanny prediction towards the terror of the Stalinist regime in real life. The theme and inspiration of the said SubRosa album just instantly ignited the politically conscious side in me at the time. 

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ALBUM REVIEW: Dystopian Future Movies – War of the Ether


 

Metal in its various forms has a reasonably long-standing practice of making concept albums based on historical events, and the latest album from Dystopian Future Movies, War of the Ether (Septaphonic Records) continues that trend with what is almost certainly the most intense musical experience I have ever had.  

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ALBUM REVIEW: Stake – Love, Death and Decay


 

The concepts and the all too real, bleak experiences of mental hardships and loss of loved ones will be well known to many people and additionally to many people we know. For Stake, these have been the fuel for the band since their inception (previously under the Steak Number Eight moniker), a vehicle for vocalist/guitarist Brent Vanneste’s grief and anxiety. 

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ALBUM REVIEW: Might – Abyss


 

Based in Hannover, Germany, duo Might was formed in 2020 by Ana Muhi (vocals/bass/piano) and Sven Missullis (vocals/guitar/drums) and are part of the Exile On Mainstream roster which has been/is home to the likes of The Hidden Hand, Trialogos, Gore and Dälek.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Blacklab – In A Bizarre Dream


Never a country to be worried about being viewed as a bit strange, Japan has always enjoyed a rich history of unnaturally jarring cultural opposites. For every Spirited Away, Rashomon or Ponyo there’s a Battle Royale, Suicide Club, or Tokyo Gore Police, and for every bouncy and sickeningly wholesome J-Pop band there’s a Corrupted, Bathtub Shitter, and Flagitious Idiosyncrasy in the Dilapidation.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Telekinetic Yeti – Primordial


The fabulously named Iowa-based duo Telekinetic Yeti release Primordial their follow up the rather excellent Abominable on Tee Pee Records, and appropriately it’s a beast.

Notably minimalist in its composition, which serves to emphasize the satisfyingly abrasive low end, title track Primordial kicks off proceedings with a very potent low and slow deep groove. This is made even more impressive by the lack of a bass player.Continue reading


INTERVIEW: Tyler Cox of Wrack on Sludge Metal, and the Oakland Metal Scene


Ghost Cult caught up with musician Tyler Cox of the solo project Wrack released his new album “Solo Gravity” this spring via King of Sticks Records. Tyler is also known for his work in other bands such as Thought Leaders, Young Lions (with Noah of  Neurosis), The Mass, ex- Totimoshi, and more! We chatted about his entire career in music, his varied interests as an artist and producer, his move to the Bay Area, and much more!

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ALBUM REVIEW: Conjurer – Páthos


I like to listen to music while in the car and it so just happens that one of my side hustles involves me spending a lot of time in my Volvo driving about. What, did you think that writing alone pays the bills? In this economy? Today I found myself listening to Conjurer’s latest LP, Páthos (Nuclear Blast), while doing the usual of routine of picking up packages and dropping them off elsewhere. Conjurer was working nicely for me, but I recall the confused look etched on the young woman’s face who gave me my coffee at the Dunkin’ drive-through. 

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ALBUM REVIEW: Obscene – From Dead Horizon To Dead Horizon


Although unable to play live for over a year due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Indianapolis based death metallers Obscene were still fortunate enough to release their debut album The Inhabitable Dark in mid-2020. Finally back on stage last year, the four-piece didn’t hang around, taking the time to write the bleakly titled follow-up From Dead Horizon to Dead Horizon (Blood Harvest).Continue reading


EP REVIEW: Primitive Man – Insurmountable


The three-man deathsludge machine, known simply as Primitive Man, has dropped four new blistering tracks in the form of an EP entitled Insurmountable (Closed Casket Activities). Mixing funeral doom, black metal, and harsh noise elements, this powerhouse from Denver, Colorado is one of the most abrasive, yet satisfying bands out there. After thirty-eight minutes, any first listeners will certainly start working on the rest of the group’s discography.Continue reading