Across the Wire: An Interview with Colin Newman and Graham Lewis

Across the Wire: An Interview with Colin Newman and Graham...
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Over three decades ago, the legendary art-punk band Wire released their debut album Pink Flag. By the mid-90s, the band once consisting of frontman Colin Newman, bassist Graham Lewis, drummer Robert Grey and guitarist Bruce Gilbert had broken up, pursued solo projects and reunited, only to break up again. Eventually, they faded into obscurity. Their music, however, left a mark inspiring a whole new generation of bands In 1999 the band reformed for good—and with a vengeance. … read more

A Portrait of a Punk Rock Powerhouse

A Portrait of a Punk Rock Powerhouse
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The early ‘90s in Berkeley, California has become a special time in music history. For Marian Anderson, lead singer of The Insaints and the subject of Lilly Scourtis Ayers’ upcoming documentary, Last Fast Ride, the community of 924 Gilman Street offered temporary comfort, support and a place to play. “Marian was the most extreme example of a troubled kid who found a family through music. The band’s sound was definitely a product of its place and time,” says Ayers. … read more

Napalm Flesh – Local Spotlight: Ravings of a Madman

Napalm Flesh – Local Spotlight: Ravings of a Madman
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This week the blog features an interview with local metal group Ravings of a Madman. Read on for a review of their self-titled album and to find out when and where the band is playing this week and for some blog exclusive CD reviews. … read more

Napalm Flesh: Local metal band spotlight: Reveeler

Napalm Flesh: Local metal band spotlight: Reveeler
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This week’s blog marks the start of a new journey showcasing local metal bands. I post every local metal show I know about on here every week, so why not get to know some of the local talent. Ogden, UT’s heavy metal crew, Reveeler, are the first of many local spotlights to come. Reveeler’s singer, Brad Losito, answered the questions on behalf of Reveeler. Also included are the usual blog exclusive CD reviews, featuring sluge/doom metal crew, Sons of Tonatiuh, death/grind super group Murder Construct’s debut EP, Kamelot and Mr. Death.  … read more

An Extremely Unquestionable Presence: An Interview with Atheist

An Extremely Unquestionable Presence: An Interview with Atheist
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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

Napalm Flesh: Prelude to the Apocalypse – Interview with Decrepit Birth

Napalm Flesh: Prelude to the Apocalypse – Interview with Decrepit...
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For this week’s blog we have an interview with California death metal crew Decrepit Birth. There’s also the usual round-up of concerts going on for the week, lots of national and local metal to be seen all around. Also, there is a slurry of blog exclusive CD reviews as well as reviews that didn’t make the print magazine for November. … read more

Meat Beat Manifesto: An Unexpected Rhythm

Meat Beat Manifesto: An Unexpected Rhythm
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A lyric via MC Young Cassius on Meat Beat Manifesto’s 2008 album Autoimmune is a fitting slogan for the group’s main man Jack Dangers: “… as heavy as motherfuckin’ Buicks.” For over two decades, Dangers (née Corrigan) has pioneered, employed, expanded and mastered so many so-called electronica and sample-based styles, and “heavy” is the only way to describe him. … read more

Napalm Flesh: Intentional Madness – This is Haeresiarchs of Dis

Napalm Flesh: Intentional Madness – This is Haeresiarchs of Dis
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This week’s blog contains an interview with Cernunnos, the sole person behind the unique black metal entity Hæresiarchs of Dis, which released its second album on Oct. 15 via Moribund Records. You also get the rundown of metal shows for the week as well as some blog exclusive CD reviews and some reposted CD review goodies surrounding the upcoming Watain tour stop in Salt Lake City on next Thursday. … read more

Pretty Lights: Fuckin’ You Up Every Time That I Drop

Pretty Lights: Fuckin’ You Up Every Time That I Drop
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Derek Vincent Smith, the mastermind behind Pretty Lights, has a vision: beautiful, emotional, hard-as-shit dance music. His dedication to digging through old vinyl for samples, constantly producing fresh, soulful, banging beats and putting on live shows to melt your face off has fueled a well-deserved rise to success in the electronic music world. … read more

Two Cow Garage

Two Cow Garage
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Looking at the routing of Two Cow Garage’s current tour reveals many gigs taking place at bars, pubs, lounges, and even the odd brewery or tavern. If there was any justice in the world, these Ohio natives would have broken out of the bar scene and gained the same level of popularity as like-minded bands like The Hold Steady and The Gaslight Anthem. Injustice notwithstanding, one must admit that Two Cow Garage’s songs make a lot more sense after a few beers. … read more