Authors: Henry Glasheen
I Am Thor: King of Muscle Rock
Thor is bending steel bars in his teeth, still standing as a testament to the resilient spirit of rock n’ roll.
Pallbearer: Foundations of Burden
“Sorrow and Extinction developed a following pretty quickly, and luckily, we had a lot of people in our corner to help push the new album,” he says. “It sort of came out of the gate pretty hot, surprisingly. None of us really expected that at all.” Despite their sudden popularity, Pallbearer try to focus on their music, not on the publicity. “It’s basically like we do with everything—try to take everything in stride, not have any expectations about what is coming next and just roll with it,” says Pallbearer bassist Joseph D. Rowland. … read more
Top 5: Ered Wethrin
Just like the epic themes of fantasy and esoteric mysticism that inspired Ered Wethrin’s lyrics, Tides of War takes its time unfolding a vast and enchanting audial world. From the Glen Cook–inspired “Bloody Annals and Brooding Skies” to the Steven Erikson tribute in “Requiem for the Fallen,” Sven Smith’s solo recordings recall the stoic and battle-hardened tales of lesser-known fantasy realms. … read more
King Diamond: A Visit From The Dead
King is the kind of guy who has heavy metal in his soul—in a way that goes far beyond the theatrics and posturing that dominate the scene today. When I asked him about the biggest changes he had seen in the heavy metal scene over his long career, his answer was simple but thoughtful. “It hasn’t changed that much,” he says, “but you keep learning more and more all the time.” … read more
Kory Quist: Roadie Warrior
When I asked Kory Quist to give me the highlights of his time spent on tour with SubRosa, who was supporting Boris, he replied with a surreal 10-item list where each entry baffled me more than the last. … read more
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls: Dropping Acid with K.R....
My first experience with Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats was with their second album, 2011’s Blood Lust. A tribute to the vile psychedelia initiated by the likes of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, what really caught me was how close they could come to heavy metal roots without sounding derivative. … read more