Category: Reviews – Audio
Glorious metal in all its earthly forms, compressed onto shiny plastic discs or into digital files. Which ones will become the soundtrack to your life?
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Black Cobra – Imperium Simulacra
Another sludge band coming out of the woodwork after a considerable recording hiatus; Imperium Simulacra marks Black Cobra’s first release since 2011’s Invernal. That said, this heavy duo has never really stopped touring—they’re due back on these shores in April with Bongzilla, CBSA-permitting. Imperium Simulacra comes barrelling outta the gate as expected, with “Challenger Deep”…
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Sierra – 72
Really interesting backstory to this record. Kitchener trio Sierra has put out a 22-minute, one-song concept album about a murder that happened in their backyard in the early 70’s, and the dude who was wrongfully accused. (Turns out he’s one of their bros, or something.) 72 starts off with some slow-rolling stoner grooves, setting a…
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Soon – Vol 1
What, are we running so low on new band names that even adverbs are now in play? As far as monikers go, Soon is the blandest I’ve seen since Accept… and I fuckin’ love Accept. But this Carolina outfit, which includes a couple dudes from emo indie rockers The Love Language, might be more like…
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Rhine – An Outsider
Rhine is one of metal’s best kept secrets… but not for much longer. Rhine play progressive heavy metal in the best sense of the word. With some progressive metal bands, there is often an over emphasis on the progressive over the heavy or vice-versa, but Rhine have got the balance just right. Drinking from the…
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Buffalo Theory MTL – Skeptic Knight EP
When it comes to Montreal metal, you definitely think of death-metal blastbeats more often than stoner/doom grooves. In fact, this outfit includes guys from bands like Ghoulunatics, Les Ékorchés and Arseniq 33, but they’ve been united by their love of Kyuss. Skeptic Knight, the third recording from Buffalo Theory MTL, kicks off with a conspiracy; “Conspiracy…
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Snow Burial – Victory in Ruin
How fitting was it that the promo for a band called Snow Burial hit my inbox just as the Northeast was getting snowed under? I do believe that Chicago, which this trio calls home, was largely spared, but I’m sure these dudes are no strangers to the white stuff. Formerly known as Oxblood, this outfit…
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Rebel Wizard – Invocation of the Miserable Ones
Rebel Wizard released their first demo in 2013 and then went on a rampage in 2015 releasing 5 EPs of heavy black/speed metal. A band this new going this fast at the beginning of their career can sometimes run into problems down the road, but for now they seem to be going at a steady…
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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…