Year: 2013
Local Reviews: Nevertanezra
Local doom metal band Nevertanezra is proof that the scene is far from dead. They’ve dropped their new album, NTNR, on the valley, and like a delicious bag of Satan-flavored potato chips, you can’t stop at just one spin of this record. … read more
Local Reviews: Nick Neihart
Local folkie Nick Neihart hits a range of acoustic touchstones, employing his falsetto artfully on “Free as a Chain,” but also sounding just at home in the rougher, rootsy “Somewhat of a Loser.” … read more
Local Reviews: Nonnon
Salt Lake-based producer Nonnon’s new album, El Socialismo, is a hidden gem that needs to be heard by the world of glitch. With its complicated drum patterns and intricate use of samples, the whole album is glitch holiness! … read more
Local Reviews: Scenic Byway
Local rap band Scenic Byway have been taking Salt Lake by storm with their cool raps, sweet sounds and appealing messages. The track “Surprise Surprise” is the perfect song for anyone who has ever found themselves stressing out more than necessary. … read more
Local Reviews: Albino Father
Earlier this year, Albino Father released Blanket, and they returned six months later with a far more mature album. The opening track’s intro sounds like it was stolen from a White Stripes album, but the vocal melodies are more reminiscent of the British Invasion. … read more
Local Reviews: Cannons/Maraloka
With members having done some time in Parallax, God’s Revolver and a host of others, local boys Maraloka play down-tuned, sludgy heavy metal that’s as kaleidoscopic as it is leaden (which dorky bloggers will probably call “mathy”). Think ’90s ‘core after straight edge and the vegan apocalypse, or maybe Coalesce and early Converge, heavy on groove and light on shrieking. … read more
Local Reviews: Dark Seas
Dark Seas are great live performers, with their genuine charisma and drunken stage antics. The music itself is nothing extraordinary, consisting mainly of minimal, easygoing guitar strumming through a haze of feedback and reverb, with Rhett Hansen pounding out energetic mid-tempo drum beats. … read more
Local Reviews: Handicapitalist
Handicapitalist thwacks out an irreverent, blatant style of old-school crust. “Smart Girls” epitomizes the band’s straightforward temperament as vocalist Jake Gatenby scratchily wails, “I only fuck smart girls!” … read more
Local Reviews: 004
The Utah ska scene of the ’90s is fondly remembered (well… by some people), and the likes of Stretch Armstrong and My Man Friday have remained in the collective consciousness of local ska nerds over the years, but 004—quite possibly Utah’s first ska band—seems to have been forgotten. Hopefully, this great collection of 004’s music will rectify that injustice. … read more
Local Reviews: Albino Father
This Futurists side project is, unsurprisingly, one of the better sounding, current local projects. With bluesy folk-guitar riffs, the whole EP tends to ramble on in the least boring way possible. … read more