Sometimes bands create an album so creatively stellar that it leaves its mark on who they are as artists, such is the case with Skunk Anasie and their 1999 album Post Orgasmic Chill (Virgin Records) that transcended genres as well as eras of music. But Skin does not care how big they were in the past, she presses forward on their new album The Painful Truth (FLG Records), disregards being defined by anything to reinvent what the band is about. The song This is Not Your Life” proves Skin is in fine voice, even as an older wiser artist. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Dub
ALBUM REVIEW: Rat Boy – Suburbia Calling
Hitching their wagon to both Ska influences and Pop-Punk/Alt Rock proclivities, Rat Boy opts for colorful and lively compositions all across new full-length Suburbia Calling (Epitaph Records).Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Many Blessings – Emanation Body
Ethan McCarthy‘s myriad recordings under his classification of ‘Noise’ are what many of us might name Harsh Ambient or Ambient Drone. Dystopian, disturbian, yet with elements of clarity that break through the crushing sound (and occasional soundbites of sex), many fans will have encountered these often challenging passages through his work with Primitive Man and here with his solo project Many Blessings. Sophomore album Emanation Body (Translation Loss Records) embraces more atmospheric airs whilst retaining much of that visceral anger.Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Woorms – Twitching, As Prey
‘Twas a mere fifteen months ago that Baton Rouge, Louisiana trio Woorms released debut album Slake (Sludgelord Records), its grooves twisted into nasty bites of hostile Sludge Metal. Follow-up Twitching, As Prey (Sludgelord Records), stays hot on the heels of that initial full-length, both chronologically and in temperament, but shows a maturity and an inventiveness far beyond its predecessor.Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Khost – Buried Steel
Those who’ve known me for some time will have had their ears blunted by my constant praise for Birmingham, UK Industrial Doom duo Khost. Equal parts sampled violence, malevolent strings and vocal apocalypse, beautiful Eastern lamentations often deflect from that harsh path and create a nuance flavoured by the likes of VAST and Moby. Their fourth album Buried Steel (Cold Spring Records) sees a band now truly at ease with its style, happy to have edgy two-minute psalms populating a set in the knowledge that they serve a purpose for the whole.
Killing Joke – RDF Live at KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton
A single support in RDF (Radical Dance Faction) are in store for the hundred or so that are here with me by the time they come on stage, the numbers a touch disappointing for a gig that is sold out for the full tour. Against their name, their music is actually more eclectic Dub, making little sense at first in terms of who they are supporting, though this notion changes as they get further into their set, with a bit more of their stated Punk side coming out to play. While not awful, the audience around me doesn’t seem particularly engaged, with plenty of chatting going on, though there is some polite applause at the end of each track, while a few people do seem to genuinely enjoy some tracks. They occasionally bring on another vocalist to help out, though not to any particularly great effect. In all, a fairly forgettable support act, which is a shame given they have existed for over three decades at this point, as they just don’t feel right for the act they are supporting.Continue reading
Spotlights – Love & Decay
Having been graced by the patronage of Aaron Harris and Chino Moreno for the last three years, Brooklyn couple Spotlights have shared the stage with the latter’s Deftones while still sailing under many radars. That may be about to change with the permanent appointment of live drummer Chris Enriquez and the release of sophomore album Love & Decay (Ipecac Recordings).Continue reading