Year: 2005
Local Review: Vile Blue Shades – Dark Wizard
Vile Blue Shades Dark Wizard Croakfrog Vile Blue Shades = Do Make Say Think + The Fall + Ralph Steadman Vile Blue Shades, who had a CD release at SLUG HQ during April Gallery Stroll, are in anti-heaven where The Swans float around with The Fall, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Junior Kimbrough, monk-like chanting and
Local Review: Twilight Transmissions – Self-Titled
Twilight Transmissions Self-titled Nova One Twilight Transmissions = 23 Extacy + Philip K. Dick All-instrumental industrial annihilation brought to you by Chris Alvarado of 23 Extacy is all pleasure, no pain. Calculated repetition saturates the drone with sophistication. Everything on TT has been thought out as carefully as a Scrabble championship game, from its
Local Review: Tragic Black – The Sixx Premonitions
Tragic Black The Sixx Premonitions Tragic Black = Cinema Strange + The Cadavers Sociopolitical death rock never tasted so good. Tragic Black is back with this six-song EP, recorded at Arrogant Hipster Studios, which is tighter, crisper and boasts more cohesive production than Articulate Lacerations. The songwriting has also progressed a lot; the guitar riffs
Local Review: Thrashcorps – Self-Titled
Thrashcorps Self-titled Thrashcorps = Danzig + Apocalypse Theater + Carnaval + Ichi the Killer There’s something really untamed, scary, twisted and sick about Thrashcorps’ (formerly Absinthe) brutal take on the world, and I don’t scare easily, señors. Lo-fi metal combines with hard rock to make a crusty, blistery, bubbly poison potion that will fry your
Local Review: Toob Top Shakur – Live Demo
Toob Top Shakur Live Demo Toob Top Shakur = Circle Jerks + Sonic Youth Convincing old-school punk rock post-2000 never sounded so 1982. Toob Top Shakur from Fort Collins is as wild and dangerous as Michael Jackson let loose on the set of Romper Room when the TV cameras aren’t running. Or maybe when they
Local Review: The Obliterate – The Eternal Conquest
The Obliterate Plague The Eternal Conquest Hellspawn Creations The Obliterate Plague = Dark Throne + Mayhem + Kreator + Blasphemy The Obliterate Plague is yet another shining black creature of hate from the dark recesses of Salt Lake City’s darkest corners. This CD actually contains two separate recording sessions, one slightly rougher in sound
Local Review: The Wolfs – Lights Out +4
The Wolfs Lights Out +4 PseudoRecordings The Wolfs = Iggy & the Stooges + The Germs The Wolfs remind you of all the tough, grimy reasons you fell in love with rock n’ roll and/or punk—and it didn’t have anything to do with romance, money, status or fashion. “The Baroness” is my favorite track on
Local Review: The Second Opinion – Flesh Except Dust
The Second Opinion Flesh Except Dust Second Opinion = Mayhem + Burzum + Aodl + Ramsses + Skullflowers I think with a name like Second Opinion, I was expecting West Valley nü-metal crap trying to redeem itself with second-rate female vocals. O how far from the truth. Open your arms to chilling industrial/noise that seems
Local Review: The Legendary Porch Pounders – A Little Gift:...
The Legendary Porch Pounders A Little Gift: Authorized Bootleg Self-Released LPP = Muddy Waters + Bob Dylan I swore off drinking yesterday, but halfway through the emotionally exhausting second track, “Up for Days,” I had one leg swung back up on the wagon. Dan Weldon’s lyrics are more folk-poetic than would traditionally accompany many of
Local Review: The Brobecks – Happiest Nuclear Winter
The Brobecks Happiest Nuclear Winter Self-Released The Brobecks = Weezer + They Might be Giants + Flaming Lips + Alkaline Trio This album isn’t over-cute, it’s just cute drawn out. Happiest Nuclear Winter struts clever through 12 tracks of electro-pop subtle-saccharine with bummed-out lyrics and occasional near-jazz piano ditties. Sad, socially conscious, mostly strange and