Category: Reviews
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High Priestess – self-titled
Although there are some outstanding female-fronted doom outfits that don’t dabble in witchcraft and wizardry (Witch Mountain and Windhand being two excellent examples), most of the ones that do aren’t taking things any further than what Jex Thoth and Blood Ceremony were playing 10 years ago. But once in a while, a band such as…
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Fister – No Spirit Within
Anywhere there’s high levels of violence and poverty, sludge metal often isn’t far behind. Listed as the Number 4 Murder Capital of America, ahead of Baltimore, Detroit and Compton, St. Louis definitely fits the bill (the suburb of East St. Louis is actually Number 1), and its native sons Fister display plenty of downtrodden aggression…
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Mos Generator – Shadowlands
Shadowlands, the sixth album by Washington fuzz rockers Mos Generator is officially released on May 18, the same day that they play Toronto for the first time. So hey, CD release party at Baby G’s? This Listenable Records recording follows by a couple years its predecessor, 2016’s Abyssinia, a pretty solid heavy-rocking release in its…
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Gruesome – Twisted Prayers
As a lifetime fan of metal, very few things or bands truly get me excited about new releases. I mean, when you grew up listening to the birth/early stages of Thrash and Death Metal the bar has been set pretty high, and today’s music usually seems too often to fall short. I know what you’re…
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Wykan – Solace
Wykan are making their music for all the right reasons. Not to show off body modifications; rather, they are all about brain modifications. They have dug deep into the primordial well-spring of the music that we all love. Inspired by the blues (working man’s music, just like heavy metal), doom metal and even a touch of…
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Heron – A Low Winter’s Sun
This Sludgelord Records signing outta Vancouver namedrops Isis, Sleep and Corrupted in their Bandcamp bio, so you know it’s gonna be heavy. Heron’s debut full-length album features six tracks clocking in at just under 40 minutes, with shades of all the aforementioned. The awesomely titled “Of Gods and Goats” kicks things off with a slow,…
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Fallen Legion – Downfall
Downfall is an impressive effort for a young band. It shows a great chemistry between band members Nick Saunter on guitar, Jon Kal on bass, Josh Masterson on vocal and Dylan Waybrant on drums. Their musicianship is first class, as you’d expect from a band that has been playing together for years. Nothing beats hard work! Overall, on…
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Paradise Lost – Believe In Nothing
Paradise Lost’s career has been plagued by changes in sound and direction. You could see this as band-wagon jumping, or fearlessly following their own musical muse. You can decide what you think; it’s good to make your own mind up. What is certain is this. Circa Icon, Paradise Lost stood a very good chance of…
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Rainbow Bar and Grill
As usual, I seem to be always late to the party when it comes to cool music, movies and or even visiting historically killer places such as the world famous Rainbow Bar and Grill. What can I say, I tend to stay away from what is trendy or popular due to the fact I don’t…
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Hallux – Hallux
It would be fair to describe Hallux as a trend-free band. Hallux are a three-piece in the classic vein of Motorhead circa The Three Amigos line-up (Lemmy, Philthy Phil and Fast Eddie), and like the ‘Head, they keep their music lean and mean. Theirs is a brand of crusty, anti-authoritarian thrash metal, inspired by the likes of…