Tag: rock

  • Motherslug – The Electric Dunes of Titan

    Motherslug – The Electric Dunes of Titan

    Admittedly, I don’t know much about the Aussie stoner scene. I mean, there’s never been a Desertfest Australia… although that would probably make more sense than Desertfest Berlin, when you think about it. So I can’t say I knew much about Motherslug before I pushed play. With that said, this album cover screams Nebula, and…

  • Year of the Cobra – Burn Your Dead

    Year of the Cobra – Burn Your Dead

    This husband/wife, bass/drums, stoner/doom duo is sorta like Seattle’s answer to Jucifer… only without quite as many amplifiers, I presume. After their debut album dropped last year, they’ve followed it up with this five-song, 25-minute, 12-inch EP on Magnetic Eye Records. “Cold” wastes little time in getting down to business, with a heavy, fuzzy bass…

  • Wo Fat – Live Juju (at Freak Valley and Beyond)

    Wo Fat – Live Juju (at Freak Valley and Beyond)

    From Made in Japan to Double Live Gonzo, not to mention those supposed Knights in Satan’s Service, the double live album has historically been a heavy-rock staple, albeit one that’s seemingly gone extinct. But with vinyl’s resurgence combined with doom’s patience-testing album lengths, ’twas only a matter of time before we saw its return. And…

  • Prophets of Rage – Prophets of Rage

    Prophets of Rage – Prophets of Rage

    I’d like to start this review by saying that I won’t personally be sharing my specific political views or opinions. I’ll do my best not to make this overly political, but it’s impossible to divorce the music from the message with a band like Prophets of Rage. Anyone familiar with Rage Against the Machine or…

  • The Night Flight Orchestra – Amber Galactic

    The Night Flight Orchestra – Amber Galactic

    Sometimes the degree of talent involved in a project leads you to expect that the said project will be at least as great, if not as good as the sum of its parts. Sadly, despite the competent musicianship displayed here (hence the five out of ten for that), this is music created by committee. The Night…

  • Pallbearer + Kayo Dot @ Lee’s Palace, Toronto, 30 August 2017

    Pallbearer + Kayo Dot @ Lee’s Palace, Toronto, 30 August 2017

    Are we all doomed out yet? Over the last seven or so years, doom metal has risen from its moldy grave like a fiend from a ‘70s Hammer Horror film. Consequentially, this trendy reincarnation has spawned an army of redundant Black Sabbath, Candlemass, Electric Wizard and Pentagram clones as well as summoning the original corpses…

  • Alice Copper – Paranormal

    Alice Copper – Paranormal

    In a world gone mad (and going ever madder) it is ironic that Alice Cooper has turned out to be one of the sanest and most reliable men in it. Alice always gives his music 100%. After all these years he could hardly do less; he would only be besmirching his own legend. And, as always,…

  • Anathema @ The Opera House, Toronto, 21 August 2017

    Anathema @ The Opera House, Toronto, 21 August 2017

    The last time England’s atmospheric progressive rockers Anathema came to Toronto in 2013, visa issues cruelly skimmed the line up to just frontman Vincent Cavanagh, guitarist Danny Cavanagh and vocalist Lee Douglas. Now live in Toronto tonight, the whole line up is present and it the audience’s anticipation marks this show as long overdue. Starting…

  • The Jelly Jam + Rustik @ The Rockpile, Toronto – 18 August 2017

    The Jelly Jam + Rustik @ The Rockpile, Toronto – 18 August 2017

    A progressive rock/metal supergroup strikes Toronto! The members of The Jelly Jam include bassist John Myung from Dream Theater, guitarist and vocalist Ty Tabor from King’s X and drummer Rod Morgenstein, an alumni of Dixie Dreggs and Winger. Despite their line-up’s impressive roster of musical contributions, this band has a criminally limited fan base. Their…

  • North Mississippi Allstars – Prayer For Peace

    North Mississippi Allstars – Prayer For Peace

    The terms and conditions for being regarded as an “artistic dynasty” are vague and often vary from band-to-band but, without question or argument, the Dickinson family fits the bill. First, there was Jim Dickinson. For forty-six years, Jim Dickinson was present in one capacity or another (either as an “artist” or as a “producer”) to…