All posts by Dan Obstkrieg

Happily committed to the foolish pursuit of words about sounds. Not actually a dinosaur.

Best Of 2022 – Dan Obstkrieg: In Which Foolishness Is Again Considered

The introduction, in which claims are made It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the vest …

Qrixkuor – Zoetrope Review

If we wanted to keep it short and sweet, we could probably just say that London’s (likely Scrabble cheaters) Qrixkuor make nightmare music. Here at Last Rites, however, we are generally impressed with being neither …

Darkest Era – Wither On The Vine Review

We here at Last Rites Music Listening (And Sometimes Writing But Often Yelling About Seeming Minutiae) Emporium HQ strive for accuracy and timeliness. We aim to stay abreast of consumer trends. To anticipate the discerning …

Devin Townsend – Lightwork Review

Years ago, in another life, I remember talking about the philosopher John Rawls with a grad school classmate. Having read too deeply in poststructuralism and critical theory, I made some sneeringly insufferable attack on Rawls, …

Worm – Bluenothing Review

Despite slithering out of the Floridian murk close to a decade ago in demo form, Worm’s last five years have been marked by several rapid metamorphoses (from black metal to rotted doom/death to a statelier, …

Avantasia – A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society Review

Though it was originally formed as a side-project of Edguy’s vocalist Tobias Sammett, Avantasia has since surpassed Edguy’s reach and popularity. Although the project was initially intended only as a vessel for the two-part Metal …

Autopsy – Morbidity Triumphant Review

Here is a curious and potentially self-defeating opening for a review of a new Autopsy album: Do you need a review of a new Autopsy album? Don’t misunderstand: the question is not, “Do you need …

Sigh – Shiki Review

Genre Funeral Theatre Heavy metal is about a lot of things. I guess you can try to bang out a list of restrictive musical requirements, but in the lyrics department, heavy metal music on the …