Generally Impressed With Riffs
[Cover art by Jef Whitehead] Cognizance’s In Light, No Shape serves as a useful reminder that when it comes to our musical preferences, our whats are subservient to our whys. If, for example, you are a fan of the early …
[Cover artwork by Michael Cloutier] Prog, of course, is known for technical musicianship and songwriting complexity above all else, a reputation well-earned by the early giants of the genre and happily maintained by their progeny ever since. It’s also true …
[Cover artwork by Timbul Cahyono] In the interest of full disclosure, I will admit that I’ve always found the concept of the split to be flawed. It works best when there’s a shared theme or the band’s involved cover each …
[Cover art by Mars Triumph] Petrichor, the sixth full length album from Greece’s epic metal stalwarts Battleroar, commences with the sound of rain and an invitation to reflect. That word, “petrichor,” is a relatively new one (coined by scientists in …
In “Diamonds & Rust,” Last Rites looks back at classic albums from metal’s storied history. Some of those albums were big hits, and others are overlooked gems. All of them deserve your time and attention… …
Christian Kolf has been in a whole bunch of bands, with none more important than the work he’s produced with Owl and Valborg. 2017 saw Valborg release Endstrand to much acclaim (especially here at Last …
“Album Of The Day” is a Last Rites Facebook feature we started whose purpose is quite straight-forward: highlight one album per day and say a few words about it. Understanding that not everyone chooses to …
GRUNGE It was both what and not what you think. It came on the heels of the thrash explosion, and it signed the death warrant for LA glam “metal.” It was a few great nobodies …
Innovation is intrinsic to all living creatures and necessary for survival, and stagnation means death—the death of thought, invention and viability. Without evolution, we’d still be using a sharp stone to carve our knickers from …
The function of the record label has changed quite drastically since the days of yesteryear when the slick-haired, cigar smoking fat cat from Columbia would come in promising jumbo jets, cocaine, and world tours. The …
There’s a fine line between homage and thievery. Nearly two decades ago now, Municipal Waste came raging out of Richmond, with a silly sense of humor and a sound borrowed heavily from DRI, early Exodus, …
Ordinarily, I’m not much on live albums. For every Live After Death or Strangers In The Night or Live & Dangerous there are fifteen unnecessary catalog-fillers, most of them little more than a greatest hits …
