SLUG Magazine’s collection of reviews covering the latest and greatest of Utah-based music, covering all varieties of genre, style and type.

Local Review: Rise In Style – Self-Titled

Local Review: Rise In Style – Self-Titled
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This six-song album has notes borrowed from a variety of alternative rockers. Opener “Do Away” is a hopeful anthem that strokes the edge of Angels and Airwaves without the excessive reverb. “Revival” has a post-hardcore, At the Drive-In feel, though without as much edge. … read more

Local Review: Mustard Tiger/Satanic Hispanic

Local Review: Mustard Tiger/Satanic Hispanic
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This grind/fastcore/powerviolence  split comes from two groups who don’t take themselves too seriously. Mustard Tiger, whose name is derived from an insult hurled during an episode of Trailer Park Boys, bring some raw jams to their side—and we’re talking raw. … read more

Local Review: Laughter – Ain Soph Aur

Local Review: Laughter – Ain Soph Aur
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There’s definitely not a lot to laugh about on this gloomy EP from Laughter, made up of a talented trio of SLC musicians. There is a duality in the music presented on the record. … read more

Local Review: Jake Burch – Bloodflower

Local Review: Jake Burch – Bloodflower
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Jake Burch sings like someone pleading for absolution, as if he’s somewhere in the astral plane, stuck between stations. Burch’s voice can move up the octave scale from a twangy, marble-mouthed drawl to an impressive Jeff Buckley howl in a strained falsetto that pushes the recording into the red in a few quick movements. … read more

Local Review: Echodog – Mine

Local Review: Echodog – Mine
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Echodog reeks with potential. With a short five-track album, these locals know how to play. Each track is rock-oriented, with the exception of “Mine,” which feels more along the lines of acoustic, alternative coffee-shop rock—not that that’s a bad thing. … read more

Local Review: The Blind Guide – The Feast

Local Review: The Blind Guide – The Feast
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I thought I was reviewing an ambient soundtrack before this finally picked up momentum, more than five minutes into Track 3. The first two songs consist of a spoken-word intro and a dreamy, ambient synth track. … read more

May 2014 Local Music Reviews

May 2014 Local Music Reviews

Local music reviews for The Blind Guide, Echodog, Jake Burch, Laughter, Mustard Tiger, Satanic Hispanic, Rise In Style and VCR5. … read more

April 2014 Local Music Reviews

April 2014 Local Music Reviews

April 2014 Local Music Reviews including Better Taste Bureau, Black Seas Of Infinity, Clint Lewis, Cory Mon, Excermentum Luciferi, False Witness, In The Making, For All The Girls, Foster Body, Her Luminaria, Taylor Fang, The Lazy Waves, MoneyPenny, Q1, Scalps and Silver Antlers. … read more

Local Review: Silver Antlers – All a River

Local Review: Silver Antlers – All a River
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It is really wonderful to hear some new work from Skyler Hitchcox, the guiding light behind Silver Antlers. To the uninitiated, Silver Antlers is heavily ritualized pop music that explores the endless possibilities of dreamy, shoegazy drone that seeks to communicate with something bigger than ourselves inside ourselves. … read more

Local Review: Scalps – Serenades Of An Abomination

Local Review: Scalps – Serenades Of An Abomination
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We’re not talking dandruff shampoo here. Scalps is assuredly a reference to those bloody spoils of war—a perfect mascot for the music this band makes. … read more