EP REVIEW: President – King of Terrors


Anonymity is the new metal. Wait, or is anonymity the new nu-metal? Hold up, anonymity is aesthetic, metal is a sound that invokes a certain feeling, no matter if it is wearing corpse paint or bell-bottoms. Now that we have cleared up, we can proceed into the new album by buzz-band President, who are dropping their debut EP King of Terrors (ADA/Warner Music). The lead single, “In the Name of the Father” opens the album. It’s a great pop song that was a big hit with kids who are fans of other pop acts like Ghost, and Sleep Token. Unlike Ghost, these guys do not draw influence from ABBA or Andy Gibb, whose song “Love is Thicker Than Water” pretty much encapsulates the sound of Papa Emeritius and his band of trick-or-treaters.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: LÜT – Lüt


Somehow, I’ve dealt myself a significant number of not-in-English albums recently. LÜT‘s self-titled fourth album from Indie Recordings is the latest. This Norwegian Power Punk quartet displays a range of the genre’s styles, particularly in the vocals of Mads Erland Ystmark, Orjan Nyborg Myrland Stensby, and Maurius James Platt.Continue reading


INTERVIEW: Pinkshift Embraces Their Heavy Side on “Earthkeeper” – New Interview and Album Deep Dive


In this episode, Keefy catches up with Pinkshift! We last met them a few years back at Riot Fest, supporting their debut album! The band is back with “Earthkeeper” – out now from Hopeless Records! Befitting of these tough times, “Earthkeeper” is a battle cry for change, tapping into their rage and Nu-Metal influences!Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Fleshwater – 2000: In Search Of The Endless Sky


Fleshwater’s new album 2000: In Search Of The Endless Sky (Closed Casket Activities) displays the lessons the band learned from playing arenas with a more anthemic nineties Rock sound than what was heard on “We’re Not Here to Be Loved.” It shoved singer Marisa Shirar into the spotlight, forcing her to own her identity as a frontwoman. The mix of this album is more radio-friendly with the vocals out front, as the guitar swirls around them. Shirar’s singing style is more Rock-oriented on this album, belting the choruses out as the guitar sits back in the mix. The atmospheric opener is the strongest song on the front end of the album, as the singles dial back the more shoegazing elements. Though it depends on what you want from music in this regard; if you are a fan of Paramore, the more alternative rock-leaning sound might be more to your liking.  Continue reading


INTERVIEW: Steven Blush Celebrates 15 Years of “American Hardcore” Documentary with Q and A Screenings


Noted author Steven Blush is celebrating 15 years of the release of American Hardcore, the documentary film based on his award-winning book of the same name from 2001! He is kicking off a busy summer of projects by hosting screenings, starting this Monday.  To preview a season of events appearances, and talking hardcore history, Steve caught up with Keefy to discuss the project and his upcoming book, “When Rock Met Hip-Hop!”Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Deftones – private music


Five years can seem like an eternity if one is a big enough fan of a band, and waiting half a decade for new music from Deftones has certainly had fans chomping at the bit. Deftones’ 2020 album Ohms (Reprise Records, review here) took on a heavy and reflective tone that mirrored the emotional distress of the pandemic and lockdown. Now, Deftones followers can rejoice, as the band have emerged with private music (via Reprise and Warner Records), with eleven tracks of silver lining to what’s been a tense 2025. Co-produced and recorded in California and Nashville with producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Korn, Alice In Chains, Mastodon), who worked on 2010’s Diamond Eyes and 2012’s Koi No Yokan (both also Reprise/Warner).Continue reading


EP REVIEW: Freeze the Fall – The Red Garden


Spoiler alert, this is one of the best albums released so far in 2025. If you do not know this young power trio, Freeze the Fall, from Canada, it’s time you did. This is the band’s second EP, but the path from gaming and internet buzz to the Rock perfection achieved here on The Red Garden (604 Records) found Freeze the Fall coming into their own as songwriters along the way. They went from being known as the kids who covered The Warning to being a superior band to their early inspiration in a short time. Most of this growth came thanks to the depth Quinn Mitzel sings with, in order to nail uncanny hooks in every anthemic chorus she utters.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Skunk Anasie – The Painful Truth


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


Dropout Kings Singer Adam Ramey Has Died, A GoFundMe Has Been Shared For His Family


Adam Ramey, vocalist of Arizona Nu Metal band Dropout Kings, has died. He was 33. No cause of death has been revealed. The band broke the news on social media and remembered their fallen friend for his passion for music and his family. The band was set to tour Europe this summer. A GoFundMe to support his wife and son has been made live and you can donate at the link below, as well as read a remembrance of Adam. RIP. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Magnolia Park – Vamp


The press release can call it “neo-gothic” or whatever they want, but Magnolia Park‘s Vamp (Epitaph Records) is Nu Metal, landing somewhere between Linkin Park, and Oh! The Horror.  What that means in this context is that I really dig it. Continue reading