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
Tag Archives: Thrash Metal
NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: New Rock and Metal Releases 2-9-24
EP REVIEW: Ghoul – Noxious Concoctions
Masks, secret identities and scary pseudonyms are nothing new but Oakland horrors Ghoul clearly aren’t here to rely on gimmicks. Formed in 2001, the Californian act comprises four members who go by names like Digestor, Cremator, Fermentor, and Dissector. Continue reading
EP REVIEW: Slower – Slower
Covering Slayer is a tricky business. Many bands have tried and failed, and despite displaying obvious reverence to the Californian Thrash legends, only a handful have ever really been able to do real justice to the source material. And of those, it’s the ones who arrive from left field that remain in the memory the most.
From Finnish cellists Apocalyptica to LA rap-metallers Body Count, it’s US singer/pianist Tori Amos who produced arguably the most innovative cross-genre take back in 2001 when she gave the world a very different version of “Raining Blood”. And now it’s the turn of Fu Manchu guitarist Bob Balch, the stoner metal legend getting the idea after teaching a student how to play “South of Heaven” in a different tuning and, well… Slower.Continue reading
CONCERT REVIEW: Machine Head – Fear Factory – Orbit Culture – Gates To Hell Live at The Warfield
Kicking off 2024 with bang, we headed out to the first show of the year at legendary The Warfield! Hometown heroes Machine Head have not played the city in a few years, and joining them on this epic tour was Fear Factory who missed last year’s show in the city with Static-X. Joining them on this joint are current buzz band Orbit Culture who just got signed to Century Media Records, and Gates To Hell from Louisville opening This is a very strong bill top to bottom especially with two of the most dominant and enduring names in Metal from the nineties still at the top!Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Cognizance – Phantazein
New year, new label… Following their first two releases under the Prosthetic Records banner, UK-based Death Metallers Cognizance are back with Phantazein, a concept album via Willowtip Records that focuses primarily on “art, obsession, and the profound influence of one’s environment.”
The five-piece outfit surpasses typical Death Metal and on this record introduces elements of Technical Death Metal and thrash. None of this puts a strain on the production value, which is a well-oiled machine – and certainly sounds like it – from start to finish.
ALBUM REVIEW: Splitknuckle – Breathing Through The Wound
Having a band named Splitknuckle evokes certain ideas even before you’ve heard the music. Violence, aggression, possibly-self-inflicted pain. Such ideas are only amplified in the title of latest album Breathing Through The Wound (Daze Records) and yes, the music within very much follows these initial impressions.
PODCAST: Glacially Musical 162: D.R.I. – “4 of A Kind” Reviewed and We Love the Late 1980s
In our 4th episode on Dirty Rotten Imbeciles a.k.a. – D.R.I., Nik of Glacially Musical and Keefy of GhostCultMag discuss “4 of A Kind!” We talked about old Ronnie Reagan, the politics of wealth disparity, and recapped Nik’s birthday shenanigans in Las Vegas. Keefy sings Ozzy too!Continue reading
ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: STAFF PICKS – Steve Tovey’s Top Albums of 2023
As we barrel down towards the end of the year, we are sharing End of Year lists from staff, bands, and some friends in the business. Check out our Senior Editor Steve Tovey’s picks for his Top Albums of 2023!Continue reading
Biohazard, Forbidden, Warbringer, Exciter, Hatriot, Bewitcher, and More Booked for Omega Fest Next Spring
Omega Fest will be a one-day Metal Festival taking place on May the 4th in 2024 at the UC Theater in Berkeley, California! Headlining the show will be Biohazard, reformed Bay Area Thrash legends Forbidden, along with Warbringer, Exciter, Hatriot, Bewitcher, Deathgrave, Frolic, and Hellbender. Tickets go on sale Friday, December 22nd, at 10 AM PST. Continue reading