The issue that I had with Furnace, the 2011 debut album from Brooklyn's doom metal band Batillus was that it kept losing my interest after the first two songs. Don't get me wrong, I love those first couple tracks and the overall chilling atmosphere of that album, but I just found myself getting sidetracked every time I tried to listen to the entire record. Going into their new album Concrete Sustain. I was hopeful that they would create a full product that would hold my attention from start to finish. Turns out they did.Concrete Sustain begins with a killer opening track, "Concrete." A song that reminds me of early Swans. Especially in the song's use of an odd percussion sample that sounds like a steel trashcan or a broken cymbal. It's very similar to the abrupt and loud cymbal in Swan's first track, "Half Life" off their album Cop. Immediately upon listen you may notice how heavy, unique, and oddly catchy this song is. After a few listens I found myself knowing the words to the chorus, "sustain and dominate through concrete." One of the things that makes this album so unique is the production. Especially in the guitar tone … Read more
Beautiful Death Machine is the eighth studio album by the Vancouver, British Columbia rap group, Swollen Members. I must admit, … Read more
Upon initial listen, this came across as the kind of sloppy folk punk that I’d likely be annoyed by if … Read more
I unfairly judged Nai Harvest at first glance. Band name: wacky. Album title: hip self-awareness masquerading an average sounding record. … Read more
In the intervening years between her debut Own Side Now and this sophomore record, there has been very little sign … Read more
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Andrew Jackson Jihad make a return on their new label home, Side One Dummy, after a long tenure on Asian Man Records. Usually when a band makes a jump after a long run, many find a cause for concern. I assure you, there's nothing to worry about. The lyrics are as offbeat as ever and the compositions are still whimsical and catchy. The album also welcomes back Preston Bryant, Deacon Batchelor, and Mark Glick from Knife Man's recording sessions--this time as permanent additions to the band. As a more well-rounded full band this time around, everything feels more contrived. They open Christmas Island in true Andrew Jackson Jihad fashion. "Temple Grandin," is the classic folk romp you can expect from the band. It's a song described by frontman, Sean Bonnette, … Read more
Kenosha, Wisonsin's Jungle Rot have been peddling their form of death metal since 1994. The band have managed to release a nearly insane amount of records in that time and create a fanbase that allowed them to get signed by Victory records. The band have remained committed to their original thought process, to be brutal and heavy. Where as most … Read more
Though they all claim lineage to the great acts of the 1970s, no modern progressive band can claim that they sound even remotely similar to them. Bands in the modern progressive rock genre (see Transatlantic, Spock's Beard, Coheed and Cambria) tend to sound closer akin to brightly-polished half-metal than the rock of the 70s, with a loudness and clarity that … Read more
Dirty, spacey punk rawk—in a nutshell, that’s what The Spits are bringing. We could talk costumes, we could talks subgenres, and we could talk recording quality (and we will), but The Spits are a concept best described in those few words. Sound-wise, it’s largely Ramonescore run through a fuzzy filter, so much so that it sounds like half of the … Read more
I first became aware of Maynard James Keenan's solo work through his latest studio album, Conditions of My Parole, which immediately sold me with its incredibly pleasant meanderings through light-rock post-industrial soundscapes (with a fair amount of his trademarked humour mixed in). So, of course, I scooped up his new EP, Donkey Punch the Night, as soon as I saw … Read more
Protestant have around since 2007, yet it feels like longer. Mind you this isn't a put down as much as it is a reflection upon their multitude of releases. In the last 6 years the band has managed to cobble together a discography that reaches into the double digits. Throughout said discography the band has managed to broaden their original … Read more
So this is what happens when you gather up some of the best musicians around the Boston scene and then front the band with one of the top saxophone players going these days. Deric Dyer has played saxophone for the likes of Tina Turner and Joe Cocker even guesting on the Ric Ocasek - Beatitude album. Deric has been carefully … Read more
Nashville based Sol Cat independently released their first full length album on bandcamp in mid February. The indie and rock scene in Nashville is a well kept secret thanks to the city’s reputation for country music and being home of so many major labels, but you won’t find any country influences here. The nine track self-titled release is all chilled … Read more
As a critic there are certain things I’m supposed to keep up with. Fact of the matter is that’s not always possible and, once you get behind, just where do you catch up? Thee Oh Sees are a band I’ve heard peripherally for the past couple of years but never got jumping in on a full-length. Compound that with their … Read more
Despite their age and influence, Shai Hulud have rarely been the focal point of underground music. Sure, they've toured internationally, had some notable members during their time and have been released by some well-regarded labels; they've also had a permanently fluctuating lineup, periods of inactivity and a troubled relationship with the genre their guitarist, Matt Fox, coined- metalcore. However, they've … Read more
I truly think that the word “progressive” has lost its actual meaning for quite some time now. Instead of meaning something new, innovative, and daring it is reserved for bands that are being just technical. Well Azure Emote is a true progressive death metal band, doing something quite new in the extreme side of metal. Keeping a death metal base, … Read more
Is classic rock punk now a genre? I don’t have a whole lot of background with Restorations, other than catching half a set at Fest 11 last year. The energy in the room was powerful and vocalist Jon Loudon had a distinct and memorable voice, of the raspy variety. What I get in LP2, my first recorded introduction to the … Read more
Have you ever gone to a show for one artist or band that you look forward to seeing so much and, instead, walk away talking about one of the openers so much more because of the impression that they left (and that is not a knock on the band or artist that you originally went to see in any way)? … Read more
This EP runs all of 4:59, featuring two new cuts from Low Culture. The band just released a full-length earlier this year on Dirtnap Records, Screens, and it’s making waves—at least in this writer’s household. With that aside, this 7” jumps right into the heart of melodic garage-punk, very in tune with the Dirtnap sound (though this comes courtesy of … Read more
Hardcore veterans, Terror have sold over 200,000 albums worldwide and will release their forthcoming studio album, Live By The Code on April 9th. Mixed by Matt Hyde (Hatebreed, Slayer) and produced by Chad Gilbert (New Found Glory, Shai Hulud, H20, A Day To Remember). Terror’s legacy in the hardcore scene is already built as being one of the most respectful … Read more
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