Tag Archives: Rock albums

Ghost Cult’s Album of the Year Countdown 2023: Part 1 (75-41)

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2013 saw Ghost Cult crown Surgical Steel (Carcass) as our inaugural Album of the Year in a democratic aggregated vote process, untouched by editorial hands (other than the sliding of the abacus balls from one side to the other – or rather the logging of votes and the use of a rather rudimentary spreadsheet), a format we continue to utilise as the years pass, and the seasons grey. Our dedicated team of writers, editors, photographers make their submissions on demand following a month of much wringing-of-hands and profanities being aimed into the editorial mailbox.Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Duff McKagan – Lighthouse

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Duff McKagan is an interesting character. Having released his first solo album in 1993, a big gap followed till 2019’s Tenderness, with Lighthouse (BFD Records /Orchard/Sony) his third. This of course is but a fraction of McKagan’s musical story. Consistently coming across as the most likeable out of the classic Guns N’ Roses lineup (in which he played bass and for his part was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), such a rock pedigree is already more than most mere mortals would ever get a sniff at.

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EP REVIEW: The Callous Daoboys – God Smiles Upon The Callous Daoboys

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Much like the Atlanta band’s name is a mocking twist on the Dallas Cowboys, their take on metalcore is a mocking twist on the genre. Normally this sort of thing is not my personal taste, and I write it off as MySpace metal, however these guys have perverted in such a manner that it appeals to me. They are aggressive yet highly skilled in the mathematics of their contorted riffing.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Black Stone Cherry – Screamin’ At The Sky

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When your first two albums are such bonafide classics as to not only launch you to rock fame but also firmly establish your sound and style in everyone’s conscience, it can be difficult to find the space to grow amongst the weeds and weight of expectation, particularly when your third album saw some of the earnestness and depth not quite sacrificed at the altar of “the commercial gamble” (one that paid off, whether or not you choose to blame it on the Boom Boom), but tempered in exchange for slick, rock arena fillers.

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ALBUM REVIEW: With Honor – Boundless

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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.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Starbenders – Take Back The Night

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Life is a cabaret, old chums, with the scintillating Take Back The Night (Sumerian Records). A power-packed, credulity-stretching showcase of strong, strong pop-rock songwriting and arranging courtesy of Starbenders; this album is full of punky attitude and thrusting ambition.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Foo Fighters – But Here We Are

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Ronnie James Dio. David Bowie. Dimebag Darrell. Lemmy. Jeff Hanneman. John Lennon. Kurt Cobain. Layne Staley. Trevor Strnad.

 

Countless others.

 

We all know where we were when we first heard they had died.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Arctic Monkeys – The Car

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For anyone fooled into thinking this is 2022, Arctic Monkeys deliver a musical message that the 1970s are still going strong, on their new record The Car (Domino Records) the follow up to 2018’s Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino

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ALBUM REVIEW: Boston Manor – Datura

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Not even a year on from their last EP, Boston Manor is back with their fourth full-length album, Datura (Sharptone Records). Over the past five years, the band has made a name for themselves by upping the ante with each release. Anticipation is high for Datura to see what the quintet can create next, with news of the band delving deeper into concept albums for the release, this is raised even further.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Author and Punisher – Krüller

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Tristan Shone knows a thing or two about wacky, unorthodox percussion, thanks in large part to his expertise in mechanical engineering. With that kind of arsenal at his disposal, Shone ran with it on his latest effort for Author & Punisher, Krüller (Relapse Records), eight tracks packed with diversity, uniqueness, and precision. It’s also his ninth full-length release since 2005, and it superbly stands alone.

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