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 …
Welcome once again, friends, to Staff Infections, the monthly review of just what the heck the Last Rites Staff has been listening to. With autumn right around the corner, we can expect a raft of …
“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 …
One of the more tragic aspects of the genre-defining New Wave Of British Heavy Metal was that few bands managed to continue the momentum after the peak of the movement. By the mid-80s, many acts …
There was a stretch in the early 90s when any Jane or Joe could sidle up to the rail and say, “Bartender, give me a True Norwegian,” and immediately receive a frosty mug of vicious …
Over the course of a couple full lengths and several EPs, Germany’s Owl has delivered a blend of synth-heavy ambient and dark, morose doom/death, never twice bringing the same mix or balance of the band’s …
Want to like Ghost, but can’t stomach all the pomp and theater? Want to like High Spirits, but can’t stand fun and guitar solos? Well, Cauldron may be for you. Now five albums into their …
“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 …
It’s been six years since Pig Destroyer released Book Burner. Add the additional five years between that one and 2007’s Phantom Limb, and we’re now 11 years removed from what remains as the band’s creative …
