Anadivine from Kingston, NY have been gaining cult status over the years as one of the finest melodic prog-tinged emo punk bands of the early 00s. As someone who grew up friends with the band and who also helped shape the Hudson Valley alternative scene myself, I still objectively think some of Anadivine’s sophisticated melody-laced songs like “Capitol Arrangement”, “Dangerous Mixed With” or “Filling The Lungs (Of This Dead Machine)” remain some of the best rock to emerge from the region. “The Timid Gentleman” still proves Anadivine had some of the best hooks around. Twenty summers have passed since the band released their full-length effort Zoo, a time when Coheed & Cambria, Three, my old Nu/Post-hardcore band Divest, Anadivine, Shai Hulud, and more were all playing to growing crowds and gaining steam in the region.
Tag Archives: Morgan Y. Evans
INTERVIEW: Dallas Smith (Barghest) of Faustian on “Primordial Rot” and More
Following up 2022’s banger S/T EP, Louisiana death metal trio Faustian are back with a soul-searing new single “Primordial Rot”. The group are flowing with creativity like the River Styx flows with hatred, so come sail away with them! In all seriousness, this band is poised to be one of your new favorites. “Primordial Rot” seethes with masterful blunt force and “Morbid” upheaval combining acute skill with caveman mean mugging for a perfect death metal fix. It was a pleasure to speak with Dallas Smith (also of Barghest) about the gestation of the project.
INTERVIEW: Hekseblad’s Bruxa on “The Witcher” Themed Black Metal of “Kaer Morhen”
Anticipated is a word that gets thrown around a lot, like the sun also rising after a dark night of the soul. In Black Metal, the soul generally wants to stay in the dark. A long cold night can be fuel for triumphs. Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher series contains both hope and ferocious challenges, the perfect inspiration for up-and-coming metal duo Hekseblad’s bombastic sonic exclamations. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: The Iron Roses – The Iron Roses
Anyone who has ever screamed along to every word of Boysetsfire‘s biggest anthem “Rookie” knows Nathan Gray can deliver messaging, intensity and hooks in equal parts, but only until recently they weren’t living their full truth showing all the facets of themself to the public. After backing Nathan on a sort of solo-band journey of self-discovery, newer project The Iron Roses have found their full potential as well under their own name and elevating everyone (all six!) to equal prominence on one of the most jubilant, socially potent and catchy punk records you’ll ever hear.
ALBUM REVIEW: Doro – Conqueress – Forever Strong And Proud
Doro Pesch is the epitome of a metal repping lifer. Not just one of the nicest people in metal who regularly remembers everyone’s birthday and a constant genre cheerleader, but also one of the greatest front-people to ever hype up a crowd. Her heartfelt and classic albums have stood the test of time and embodies “True Heavy Metal” just as much as a masculine landmark like Manowar‘s ‘Louder Than Hell’.
ALBUM REVIEW: Filth Is Eternal – Find Out
A lot of bands sound like they are writing their albums with a view to the live setting these days, with business perhaps more focused on big riffs or breakdowns and how they’ll go over in a club than fitting in to the overall theme of an album, or a band’s catalog. Washington’s current finest punk band Filth Is Eternal sound like a killer live band who also took the extra time at every element of their craft. From message to delivery, this is the full package.
ALBUM REVIEW: With Honor – Boundless
In an astoundingly potent year for hardcore that is seeing beautiful and passionate efforts from so many bands from Gel to Fiddlehead to the upcoming Filth Is Eternal release, the return of Connecticut hardcore band With Honor is still a cause to celebrate.
ALBUM REVIEW: Oni – The Silver Line
The third album under the moniker of ONI from Canada’s Jake Oni continues the adept blend of commercial and cutting-edge progressive metalcore elements paired with big hooks and the odd curveball or three that helped explode ONI out of seemingly nowhere almost a decade ago. Enthusiasm bleeds from every measure, section after section building energy to satisfying conclusions.
ALBUM REVIEW: Girlschool – WTFortyfive
Mighty Girlschool returns for their fourteenth-long burner and first music in nearly ten years. The title track refers to longevity. The way they deliver to the max on a record steeped in themes of doing your best, road doggin’ it, and standing true to your friends shows why they have lasted so long. It is a seize your own destiny type of album that connects in a big way and works wonders on the spirit the way the best rock n’ roll should.
ALBUM REVIEW: Saint Agnes – Bloodsuckers
Saint Agnes, from the UK, spark the fires of aggression with Alt. Nu-groove album Bloodsuckers (Spinefarm Records). The band fits within the label’s ranks with ease alongside acts that have their own vision,but crossover appeal such as Sleep Token, Atreyu, and Killing Joke. Add in a Mimi Barks cameo (the short and ferocious ‘Body Bag’) and a Sean Bevan production boost on the semi-glossy ‘Follow You’ and this record has the potential to be a Summer ’23 pit starter.