Category: Reviews
-
Decibel Magazine Tour @ Amos Southend, Charlotte, NC, May 4, 2012
Review and photos by Justin Richardson The Decibel Magazine Tour came through Charlotte almost three months ago, which puts this review in big bold letters as “LATE.” But the show was fantastic and the lineup was terrific. Being the inaugural tour for Decibel, I can only hope the caliber of bands presented only gets better…
-
Harangue – Feeding The Wolf EP
As an introduction to the band, the two tracks are an intense six minutes. In that short time, Harangue demonstrate a multi-faceted approach to their songcraft. Abrupt yet timely transitions from hardcore chug to frenetic freakout riffs or absolute slamming breakdowns betrays any notions of this outfit being a one-trick pony.
-
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,…
-
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…
-
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.
-
Def Leppard / Poison / Lita Ford @ Copps Coliseum, Hamilton ON, June 17th 2012
“Poison got folks pretty riled up, but if it wasn’t clear from the “Rock of Ages” tour name that Def Leppard was meant to be the main draw of the night, a digital countdown announced that fact in giant numbers. The old ‘all that glitters isn’t gold’ chestnut might’ve made me wary when the band…
-
Ozzy Osbourne – Speak of the Devil DVD
“this is an excellent watch, and a solid piece of metal history which should be requisite watching for people claiming to be Ozzy fans in 2012 who were born in the late 80’s or early 90’s.
-
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.