In terms of a normal year for me, this has been anything but normal for attending concerts so far. This is actually been a good change. I decided for my health mental and physical well-being that I need to do less concert and Festival-going than in the past. Five years ago, I might have been at a show 6 days a week when I lived in Brooklyn. Now I’m down to a few every few months. Even though I do suffer from some fomo, I am picking and choosing my spots of when to make an appearance in the local scene here. We’ll see if it keeps up. Not attending my first show until mid-month February is weird for me, let’s just say that.Continue reading
Tag Archives: Ghost Cult Magazine
ALBUM REVIEW: Avantasia – Here Be Dragons
Tobias Sammet’s Avantasia new record Here Be Dragons (Napalm Records) continues their bombastic brand of Meatloaf Metal. It is the German metal outfit’s tenth album and it is typically intense and grand in scale.Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Hirax – Faster Than Death
ALBUM REVIEW: Stress Test – Stress Test
The more uncertain the times, the more violent the reaction. A point proven in the eighties with the explosion of Hardcore and Thrash, and this self-titled debut by Oregon act Stress Test is like taking a step back into that time. A time when everyday existence meant the fear of war, disease and hate; a time when religion and politics were even more corrupt and depraved than certain types of criminals. The sad thing is though, you only have to spend thirty seconds watching the TV or doomscrolling through your news feed to see history repeating itself, only worse and often in more insidious ways.Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Venamoris – To Cross Or To Burn
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
INTERVIEW: Andrew Michael Wells of Eidola Talks “Mend” Album, Concept Albums, and Salt Lake City Misconceptions
In this episode, Keefy interviews Andrew Michael Wells of Eidola! Their new album “Mend” is out now via Rise Records / Blue Swan Records! We discussed the new album, the continuation of the last album “Eviscerate” – concept albums in general and how much the band values them, Andrew’s approach to singing, and some fun and underloved facts about SLC, including the best damn hot chicken sando at Pretty Bird! Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Hangman’s Chair – Saddiction
This review is going to break from the normal narrative we normally use here at Ghost Cult, where we steer away from how we feel personally about an album and try to stick to objective facts since Hangman’s Chair is one of my favorite bands. If you think that this will be a gushing love letter only fueled by my fandom, let’s correct that notion. My favorite bands are held to a much higher standard. My expectations here are exalted since I am emotionally invested in them. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Ocre – So Often Lifeblood Comes From Ashes
Duo’s appear to have a winning formula, as is exemplified by Petbrick, Big Business, Organized Konfusion, and Tears For Fears which the promotional notes for this release recognizes, describing Ocre as combining power and elegance.
ALBUM REVIEW: Nachtblut – Todschick
Out via Napalm Records which initially specializes in releasing Folk Metal and Black Metal units (but later expands in terms of genre diversity), Germany’s very own Nachtblut drop their seventh studio album entitled Todschick after previously having achieved a milestone regarding their previous release Vanitas, which peaked at #19 on the German album charts.Continue reading
EP REVIEW: ONI – Genesis
Hailing from Canada, Metalcore connoisseur ONI kicks off the new year with new five-track EP, Genesis (Self-Released). Each song has a sound massive enough to blow the roof off a stadium, yet accessible to a wide enough audience that fans from Metal and Pop scenes alike could easily appreciate it.Continue reading