Generally Impressed With Riffs
[Cover art by Mister Curse] Stack Overflow In Corpse Pile Interface. Stack Overflow in…Corpse Pile Interface? “What’s in a name? That which we call a corpse pile, by any other word would smell as putrid” – billy shakes Forgive my …
[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 …
Dear brothers and sisters, dear enemies and friends: it is okay to smile. Walpyrgus, the outstanding new(ish) project from members of Twisted Tower Dire, While Heaven Wept, and Daylight Dies that is more interested in …
It’s been over a decade since Life of Agony released Broken Valley. I don’t remember what the critical response was, but it didn’t matter. One of the most important bands from my youth was back, …
Now tackling their fourth album, Unleash the Archers seem poised to finally reveal the true character of their sound. Leading the way are bone-chilling vocals from Brittney Slayes accompanied by a band that is synchronized, complimentary and …
Here we are in June, and it’s time to discuss what the Last Rites crew has been listening to this past month or so. The staff is fresh off its yearly team-building exercise, otherwise known …
I have always been a fan of Anathema, but I haven’t always been a very good fan of Anathema. I was there at the beginning and count The Silent Enigma as required listening for early …
I ought to have more of a fondness for blackened death/doom than I do. With my depression, one would think it would speak to me as no other music can. But depression is not actually …
Traditionally, Astral Doors has never been my favorite of Nils Patrik Johansson’s projects, but with his abrupt departure from Civil War earlier this year, I guess it is now. Formed fifteen years ago as a …
There’s a distinct vibe here. One that causes you to close your eyes and let the music just wash over you. Slowly bobbing your head until it just rolls in lazy, dotted half note style, …
