Tag: hard rock

  • SOiL – Whole

    SOiL – Whole

    Few things are more instantly satisfying than a hard rock song which isn’t afraid to embed a glistening pop hook at its core. Songs like that often catch unsuspecting listeners deeply and just drag them along for miles; they’re the kinds of songs which make fans with radio play and establish the band who makes…

  • Bachman Turner Overdrive – Not Fragile (1974)

    Bachman Turner Overdrive – Not Fragile (1974)

    Fuck you, I like Bachman Turner Overdrive.  At least, just as much as the next guy, anyways.  Although I still can’t stand it when “Takin’ Care of Business” blasts outta every junior-hockey rink across the country, these guys actually wrote a few decent tunes in their time, aside from the overplayed hits.  Besides, I figured that if anyone…

  • Lee Bains III and The Glory Fires – Dereconstructed

    Lee Bains III and The Glory Fires – Dereconstructed

    There’s an awesome sense of power and familiarity about Dereconstructed, and that’s only the first appealing thing about Lee Bains III and The Glory Fires‘ sophomore album (first for Sub Pop). It’s impossible to hear this album and not be reminded of the original stable of signings to Fat Possum; they were old blues players…

  • Big Wreck – Ghosts

    Big Wreck – Ghosts

    Under most circumstances, hearing that a band has spontaneously slowed down on their newest album sends chills through fans. In rock, “slowing down” is usually synonymous with “getting old” or becoming “less energetic” and, when these phrases start flying around, it’s like a death knell for the band at which they’re aimed. No fan likes…

  • Bloody Hammers – Under Satan’s Sun

    Bloody Hammers – Under Satan’s Sun

    The creative spirit must run pretty deep in Bloody Hammers mastermind Anders Manga. The latest release from this North Carolina-based outfit is Under Satan’s Sun and it just happens to be their third release in three years. Releasing material at such a clip doesn’t necessarily leave much time for a change of style. As such…

  • The Oath – The Oath

    The Oath – The Oath

    What do you get when you combine some of the trendiest current styles in metal in retro, occultish and female-fronted doom? You get The Oath. And I swear if this eponymous debut isn’t the catchiest thing you’ll hear this month, I’ll eat my hat. (No I won’t.) The Oath is the result of the alchemical…

  • Mos Generator – Electric Mountain Majesty

    Mos Generator – Electric Mountain Majesty

    I believe this is album number five from Pacific Northwest vets Mos Generator, who’ve been kicking around — and old school — since the dawn of the new millennium. Their sound certainly takes you back more than 15 years, more like 40, to the good ol’ days of vintage rock ‘n’ roll. “Beyond the Whip”…

  • Watch Monster Truck live from Download Festival 2013

    Hellbound Metal: “Monster Truck recently had the opportunity to perform at Download 2013 in the UK, one of the bigger UK hard rock/metal fests and they have just released a video of a song from their performance there. Please take a look at our hometown boys playing Furiosity’s lead off track “Old Train” before thousands…

  • The Grammy’s are a joke. In case you need to be reminded, here’s why…

    In fact, there used to be two categories, Best Hard Rock Performance and Best Metal Performance, before the academy decided to combine the two last year for the first time since 1989. What was so special about ’89? Well…

  • Bullet – Full Pull

    Overall, Full Pull is a terrific outing for Bullet and their first for Nuclear Blast. While the album contains little in the way of surprises, the songs are strong and catchy with great sing along choruses. Sometimes, that’s all you really need in a record.