Tag: Zoroaster

  • Sorxe – Surrounded by Shadows

    Sorxe – Surrounded by Shadows

    Though I haven’t heard of them before, Sorxe is part of the same Arizona sludge scene as the likes of TOAD, Godhunter and North — not to mention the Southwest Terror Fest, which I hope to attend some day — so that’s good enough for me to give ’em a listen. “Steamroller” comes rolling out…

  • Bastard of the Skies/Grimpen Mire split

    Bastard of the Skies/Grimpen Mire split

    I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve never heard either of these British bands before, though they’ve both been around for a handful of years. But that’s what’s great about splits—they’re a bite-sized introduction to acts otherwise unknown, without putting you through the paces of a 72-minute album or something. And while I’m not…

  • Culted – Oblique to All Paths

    Culted – Oblique to All Paths

    By Gruesome Greg Bit of an interesting back story to this death-doom unit, mostly from Winnipeg, but with a Swedish singer they’ve never actually met in person, exchanging songs over the internet and whatnot. OK, so maybe that’s not so unusual in this day and age. Anyhoo, the band’s sophomore effort begins with massive, 19-minute…

  • Pyres – Year of Sleep

    By Gruesome Greg I don’t deny that I’m not as plugged-in to the local scene as I used to be, so if it takes the label sending me a promo to get on board with Toronto sludge squad Pyres, so be it. I can tell you before even hearing a note that I already like…

  • A fond farewell to Quest For Fire…

    In my 7.5 years of living in Toronto, I’ve seen my share of local bands break up, but last night was the first time I saw one pack the Horseshoe Tavern for their farewell gig. The venue couldn’t have been more fitting, as it was there that my relationship with Quest For Fire began five…

  • Amenra – Mass V

    Overall, this isn’t a bad listen for fans of Neurosis, Zoroaster and the like. That said, I’m not sure this one’s a real winner—especially coming hot on the heels of the former’s latest record.

  • Blue Aside – The Moles of a Dying Race

    Blue Aside – The Moles of a Dying Race

    It’s no secret that I dug the shit outta the first Pyramid record (to put it not-so-mildly), so in some ways, this is kinda what I’d hoped BP II would be. But don’t get me wrong, these guys aren’t some second-rate Black Pyramid imitators, by any means. There is only one Blue Aside, and they…

  • So I missed the NFC Championship to see Ghost, but should I skip the Super Bowl for some Slow Southern Steel?

    I gotta say, I’ve been pretty stoked for Slow Southern Steel ever since I first heard of the concept a couple years back. A documentary on the southern sludge scene starring Kylesa, Eyehategod, Sourvein, Zoroaster, Dixie Witch and Weedeater, to name but a few, directed by CT from Rwake, sure sounds like it’s right up…

  • Beneath Oblivion – From Man to Dust

    As a whole, this album is a very long slog, but not an entirely unpleasant one.

  • Black Tusk – Set the Dial

    “These guys have definitely got the Georgia sound (Kylesa, Baroness, Zoroaster et al), though they mould it into shorter, faster and maybe not quite as loud tunes. Still better than most.”