Cancer Bats – Dead Set On Living
While Cancer Bats have never released a record that anyone could call a failure, this album should be a widespread, runaway success – it deserves to be, it is absolutely their best, most accessible album to date.
Barghest / False split LP
This September Gilead Media and Mirror Universe will co-release a split LP featuring two of USBM’s best, Barghest from Baton Rouge, LA and Minneapolis, MN’s, False. Both bands are coming off successful 2011s, which saw Barghest release their debut self-titled full-length and an untitled EP from False. While these two bands are undoubtedly black metal, their styles – at least on this release – are complimentary enough to make this split seem natural, yet distinguishing enough that there would be no confusing the two.
Threshold – March Of Progress
March Of Progress has much to offer and it’s a solid Threshold album by any standard. However, for me it simply lacks the punch and the energy of Critical Mass, Subsurface and Dead Reckoning. A little more spice wouldn’t hurt on the next Threshold album.
Agalloch / Taurus / Musk Ox @ Opera House, Toronto ON, July 23, 2012
“The relationship between musicians and the music they play comes in varying kinds. Some artists are clearly intent on displaying their mastery of the musical tools they wield. Others are more willing to relinquish control, letting the music itself dictate the ways it’s conveyed. Agalloch’s latest visit to Toronto was of the latter type, a night of musical channelling and possession, with all three bands performing as conduits between primal source and receptive fans.”
Live review by Laura Wiebe
Another viewpoint on Baroness’ Yellow and Green
I know that Baroness fanboys will hate me for this, but I think Yellow and Green is a failed concept and a disappointing listen—more Sandinista than London Calling, if you will.
Katatonia – Dead End Kings
The melancholic musings of Renkse and Co aren’t as convincing as on the three previous albums I’m afraid. Dead End Kings certainly has its moments of greatness, but for some reason I expected a stronger and more consistent album.
Witch Mountain / Blood Ceremony / Castle @ Hard Luck Bar, Toronto ON, June 13th 2012
By Natalie Zed Every once in a while there is a concert line-up that makes you do a double take. The bands are so…
High on Fire – The Art of Self-Defense
Though the original contained just six tracks, Southern Lord has beefed this edition up with a trio of demos and a Celtic Frost cover. But really, that’s just the icing on the cake (if you’re into vanilla frosting). These tunes stand alone without the added filler.
Danko Jones – Bring On The Mountain DVD
Bring On The Mountain is a great package, highly recommended to anyone who IS a Danko Jones fan, isn’t YET a Danko Jones fan, or any independent band that wants to learn how to do it right
Book review: Sabbath Bloody Sabbath by Joel McIver
Covering not just the Ozzy period of Sabbath, but also the times when Ozzy wasn’t there which produced marvelous music, the Dio years were outstanding, and the Tony Martin era produced some superb and sadly underrated music. A splendid read!