Category: Reviews
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Arcana 13 – Danza Macabra
Colour me intrigued by this horror-inspired Italian psych/doom outfit, which just might be The Boot’s answer to Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats. Italy’s tradition of cult horror is certainly not lost on Arcana 13—they even cover the theme from Suspiria on this one. Danza Macabra starts off with an eerie howling wind, as some Italian…
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Black Tusk – Pillars of Ash
Not entirely sure if this is to be Black Tusk’s final album—bassist/vocalist Johnathan Athon tragically passed away weeks after it was recorded. They’ve replaced him with a guy who used to play in Kylesa, and are hitting the road in March, so whether or not it’s the end of the band’s legacy, Pillars of Ash…
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Seven Sisters of Sleep – Ezekiel’s Hags
I have not heard from this L.A. sludge crew since their self-titled debut in 2011. Seven Sisters of Sleep have put out another album—and a whole shitload of splits—since then, but now that they’ve signed to Relapse, their status is about to get a big boost. While you might accuse such a band of dropping…
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Bloodiest – self-titled
We last heard from this Chicago post-sludge supergroup (of sorts) in 2011, with their debut album Descent, which was pretty decent. But almost a full five years have passed, and Bloodiest’s ranks have been narrowed from a nine-musician collective to a solid sextet, which appears on all tracks on this one. So while I might…
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David Bowie – Blackstar
[Editor’s Note: This review was written prior to David Bowie’s death on January 10, 2016 but did not arrive on the editor’s desk at Hellbound until after the singer’s passing. As a result, some of chronological references in the review may seem skewed but, out of respect for the subject and theauthor, we present it…
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Agoraphobic Nosebleed – Arc EP
Is it just me, or has everybody in grindcore gone sludgy of late? First it was Pig Destroyer with their Mass & Volume EP, and now Agoraphobic Nosebleed, a band best known for putting out a 100(!) track CD in ’03, has jumped on the sludgewagon. Now, this three-song EP runs five minutes longer than…
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Brimstone Coven – Black Magic
If Brimstone Coven isn’t my favourite occult rock act, then they’re definitely right up there with the likes of Jex Thoth, Blood Ceremony and Electric Wizard. Chances are, you’ve heard those names before, but this Coven is likely more unfamiliar. I certainly hadn’t heard of them before stumbling in on a mid-afternoon set at the…
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Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble – A Legend in the Making LP
It’s a far more rare event now than it used to be, thanks to the internet digitally bootlegging music and making it all available for the downloading, but there are some albums which are regarded as lauded and collectible – even now. These albums are usually hard to find (some even digitally) and often develop…
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Harrington Saints – Upright Citizen 7”
This year, Harrington Saints really broke through and made an impression when they bucked their own traditions, crossed pop-punk and Oi and changed their fates forever on the Fish & Chips EP. The change from street-y Oi yo fare which could be instantly accessible to a much larger potential market almost seemed spontaneous; Harrington Saints…
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ECHOES OF YUL – THE HEALING
While post-metal may or may not be at the nadir of scene ascendance, 2015 was undeniably a banner year for left-field, hipster-friendly heavy(ish) outfits. Quality releases from artists like SANNHET, BOSSE DE NAGE and PYRAMIDS muscled their way to the top of many a critic’s best list. One of the year’s especially avant-garde offerings came…