Tag Archives: riffs

LIVESTREAM REVIEW: The Ocean Collective – Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic 

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The last live show I attended was on February 22nd, 2020 watching Opeth at the Apollo Theater in New York City. It was a magical night, but little did I know that was going to be the last live music I was going to be watching perform in a year. I miss live shows, as I’m sure every single one of you does as well and I was particularly reminded of this since the beginning of last week. Having said that, when The Ocean Collective announced that they were going to play a live stream show of their amazing album Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic (Pelagic Records) in its entirety, I immediately jumped to my feet and said: “I NEED to watch that”, I knew it was going to be magical as everything the German band does. 

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ALBUM REVIEW: Baest – Necro Sapiens

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Death Metal is in rude health. It is a status that has been brewing and broiling over the last ten years, with pushes and spurts in pocketed sub-sub genres, until now the whole scene, and its multitude of variants and mutations and off-shoots, feels like it is not just doing alright, but burgeoning with a lush virility unseen since it’s fomentation some thirty years ago. 

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ALBUM REVIEW: Spelljammer – Abyssal Trip

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Funny, before writing this review I had just finished a very interesting conversation about Swedish bands with someone as passionate as I am for Swedish music and we concluded that there must be something about being born in Scandinavia that automatically increases your chances of being good at making music. Spelljammer proves this point with their latest effort Abyssal Trip (RidingEasy Records). An equally catchy, beautiful, heavy, and dark album that brings a scenario that can be only compared as being a collection of Black Sabbath’s darkest, twisted tracks but heavier and more melodic. And it’s impossible not talking about Black Sabbath when talking about a Stoner/Doom Metal band, but this Swedish trio can easily be in the same conversation.

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LIVESTREAM REVIEW: Avatar Ages- Age of Madness Livestream

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Avatar took my live stream “virginity” away in this concert Ages|Madness from their series of Livestream concerts titled Ages, which has been running since January 9th and will end this upcoming weekend on January 30th. The Swedish band demonstrated why they are one of the most popular and entertaining bands in the genre right now by giving a performance that very well is worth the “price of admission” that COVID normalcy has given us for these types of events since we cannot go to live shows for the time being. Avatar was able to set a tone and ambiance like no other with this performance which was concentrated on tracks from the albums Black Waltz (Gain Music Entertainment) and Hail the Apocalypse (eOne Music). 

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ALBUM REVIEW: Gravehuffer – NecroEcolosion

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The first word that comes to mind when listening to Gravehuffer’s new album NecroEcolosion (Black Doomba Records) is “fun”. Gravehuffer takes us on a journey through many different styles. Their versatility and ability not to be genre bound is on full display with this entry.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Fumarole – Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes

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Today on the block we have Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes by Australian Stoner Doom band Fumarole, out now from the excellent Interstellar Smoke Records. I’ve heard a couple of their singles and dug what I heard, so I was definitely stoked to get the album in hand. Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes starts off pedal down and never really lets up. Loaded with hooky as hell riffage, driving rhythms, and killer spots where the bass and drums lay down the groove while the guitar has its fun. The solos are tasty, they have a rock feel sprinkled with some blues that truly add to the overall vibe. 

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ALBUM REVIEW Boris and Merzbow – 2R0I2P0 (Twenty Twenty RIP)

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2R0I2P0 (Twenty Twenty RIP, Relapse Records)  is a collaboration album from two luminaries of the Japanese experimental music scene, Boris and Merzbow. Boris has released a vast number of albums over the past 25 years, and their sound ranges from psychedelic post-rock to crushing metallic doom riffery. Noise artist Merzbow (the brainchild of Masami Akita) has been even more prolific, having released hundreds of records over a 40-year career.

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EXCLUSIVE ALBUM STREAM: Code Noir – “Jack of All Spades” 

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Greek/Swedish Heavy Metal disciples Code Noir will release their new EP tomorrow, Jack of all Spades, and it’s full of bangers that take you on a journey to the center of your mind! The album releases on CD and digital formats via Leviaphonic Records and pre-orders are available now at the link below. Ghost Cult is proud to bring you this album today! 

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ALBUM REVIEW: Junior Bruce – Pray For Death – Sludgelord Records

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This year has been as chaotic as anyone has ever seen. And for chaotic times we need good, solid, tight riffs, and Junior Bruce provides them on their album Pray For Death (Sludgelord Records). The Florida quintet brings an album with absolute bangers for fans of Stoner/Sludge Metal. Having a clash of different styles, Pray for Death is an album that reflects the collective anger society has against whatever anyone they choose to be mad about, still combining a certain melancholy that grows some of the most interesting aspects of Junior Bruce. 

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Dino Cazares Shares a Playthrough of New Fear Factory Music

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Fear Factory, by Melina D Photography

According to a report by Metalsucks, Dino Cazares has posted a snippet of him playing new Fear Facotry riffs over on his Twitter account. Cazares has been posting a lot on Twitter to stay in touch with his fans, while he presses forward on the new Fear Factory album, tentatively titled Regenerate and due out in 2021 from Nuclear Blast Records. No word yet from the guitar legend how the progress goes on replacing Burton C. Bell, who announced his departure from the group after thirty years last month. 

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