ALBUM REVIEW: Nest – Endeavors


Nest is helmed by multi-instrumentalist John Jarvis of Agoraphobic Nosebleed and Scour. Given his connection to Phil Anselmo through Scour, it only makes sense for this project to be on Housecore Records. Endeavors marks the third full-length album of the project. They opened select dates for Pantera’s recent tour; they are at least heavy enough to warrant having a slot on that run. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Ministry – HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES


Ministry’s long career began back in 1981 and has seen many different incarnations over the proceeding 43 years with the one constant of producer/singer/multi-instrumentalist Al Jourgensen steering the ship throughout. It’s fair to say the band have had to navigate some severely choppy waters over the decades, with a revolving door style policy of other personnel joining the larger-than-life frontman in his lifelong musical pursuit, and with various controversies never too far away.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Timelost – Drained


It’s easy to get lost in the minutiae of music genres and what defines a band; what they can and can’t be, are and are not, and what makes them “good”.

Strangely, subjectivity has taken a backseat to this artform. If it’s not pristine, perfect, polished, and full of impressive instrumental or vocal acrobatics, it’s boring. Worse, it’s bad. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Sundrifter – An Earlier Time


Small Stone Recordings, which is famous for the renowned Acid King and Wo Fat listed in their roster, sure got their thing going by releasing An Earlier Time (Small Stone Records), the third studio album of none other than Sundrifter. Having been around since 2012, the Boston-based desert rock trio has left significant marks through their 2016 debut Not Coming Back, and their 2019 sophomore album Visitations. They have also shared stages with a wide range of fellow heavy psychedelic units, King Buffalo and Gozu. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Ihsahn – Ihsahn


Eighth solo studio album from Ihsahn, the legend of Norwegian Metal, releases his modern self-titled (Candlelight Records) opus hot on the heels of his 2023 EP – Fascination Street Sessions. As the principal creative force behind Emperor, his iconic status as a Black Metal musician was secured with their impactful nineties debut album In the Nightside Eclipse which released at the height of the genre’s second wave. While the experimental and progressive influence of his solo output has somewhat gone under the radar in comparison to his work with Emperor, those that have followed his releases since The Adversary in 2006, have been treated to an extraordinary body of work. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Mother Mother – Grief Chapter


Nothing grounds human existence quite as quickly as death, especially when it hits close to home. The feeling of untouchable invincibility is suddenly replaced with mixed emotions of shock, mortality, fear, regret, and grief. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Ghost Atlas – Dust of the Human Shape


It’s amazing the feelings that can be packed within an album. ERRA’s Jesse Cash pours himself into his personal project Ghost Atlas. Seven years have passed since the last album release and fans have been eagerly awaiting and anxious, nervous the project had been laid to rest. Finally those nerves can be quelled and doubts soothed; Ghost Atlas hit the bullseye with their second full-length album. Continue reading


EP REVIEW: ALT BLK ERA – Freak Show


 

Talent-wise, the sisters of ALT BLK ERA are well beyond their years even if lyrically, it’s just about as cringe-worthy as anyone’s high school diary. Hearing the “nobody understands me” cliche from actual teenagers instead of balding middle-aged men trying for a new demo is a very refreshing change, though!

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