Authors: Bryer Wharton
Localized: Irony Man, Poo Pee D and the Family Jewels...
October’s Localized features two bands that take on characters and personas on a regular basis. Irony Man channel the sound and members of early 70s-era Black Sabbath. Poo Pee D and the Family Jewels take the approach of being larger than life, performing as ingloriously odd characters. Kiss Thiss opens Oct. 16 @ The Urban Lounge. … read more
National CD Reviews – October 2009
Reviews of national music, including new releases from The Black Dahlia Murder, Converge, The Entrance Band, Exene Cervenka, Health, Karl Blau, Liturgy, Mew, Pissed Jeans, Thrice, The Twilight Sad and many more. … read more
GWAR: Granny Sex, Crack & Heavy Metal
There is no correct reason to worship GWAR, there is only a wrong way and that way is not on their knees. A lot of old people like GWAR. … read more
National CD Reviews – November 2009
National music reviews from Brother Ali, Devendra Banhardt, Fuck Buttons, The Gossip, Immortal, Jookabox, Lewd Acts, The Raveonettes, Sea Wolf, Strike Anyhwere, White Denim and many more. … read more
National CD Reviews – December 2009
This month’s national reviews feature releases from Asobi Seksu, Beak>, Dead To Me, Evangelista, The Mary Onettes, The Prodigy, The Rakes, Skeletonwitch, Slayer and many more. … read more
Negura Bunget: Out of the Light, Into the Fog
Black metal is an ever-changing sonic experience. From the extreme raw and harsh tones to beautiful atmospheres that share the raw primal and spiritual exorcisms, all of it is an exercise in emotional releases and a general expression of beliefs and ideology. “Our music is a direct reflection of our souls. We do the music we do because of who we are, but at the same time we are who we are partly because of the music we do. Negura Bunget was always a spiritual endeavor for us, our ultimate goal is to have people sharing this,” says drummer Negru. … read more
Homenaje a Los Antiguas: A Mayan and Mesoamerican Black Metal...
Yaotl Mictlan has a primal edge with their feet planted in black metal, yet dispel the notion that all black metal bands sound the same. They prove that the genre is a vessel to portray artistic visions and themes and can ideally transfix and transport listeners to experience emotions and feelings they might not have known they even had. Yaotl Mictlan embrace their Mayan and Mesoamerican heritage, using their music as an exploration into ancient realms that are still not fully explained by historians. … read more
Top 5: Melechesh
Melechesh, a Sumerian/Mesopotamian-themed black metal band that originated in Jerusalem in 1993 and relocated to the Netherlands in 1998, have always been a favorite artist of mine. The Epigenesis is Melechesh’s fifth full-length album, and easily their best. The record pushes hard on the boundaries of what black metal is, going well beyond the typical blast and scream fare. … read more
An Extremely Unquestionable Presence: An Interview with Atheist
The history of Atheist, a revolutionary extreme metal band that created forward thinking, technically engrossing and emotionally empowering music, is a storied one. Atheist broke up in 1994, but their albums grew in popularity and the band attained legendary metal status as their fan base grew. Atheist reunited in 2005 and released their fourth album in November 2010. I got to talk to one of Atheist’s founding members, vocalist Kelly Shaefer, about the band past and present. … read more
Subrosa: Welcome to the Dark Country
On March 1, Salt Lake City’s Subrosa unleashed their second full-length album No Help for the Mighty Ones. The band, together for roughly six years, has had plenty of time to grow and progress, moving forward in leaps since their first album Strega. Subrosa has taken standard doom metal and morphed into a monster with downtuned guitar rage, dizzying violins and hallowed, haunting vocals. Subrosa offers any listener a challenge—read on and decide if you’re ready for that challenge. … read more