Generally Impressed With Riffs
[Cover artwork by Old Hag] When I initially realized that Arckanum’s first album after a long hiatus—and, technically, its breakup—would be released on All Hallows’ Eve, I devised this rather cutesy and far-fetched idea to compare the entire album to …
[Album artwork / art direction by Joseph Niet / The Creative Corporation] Offering up a textbook definition of “holy crap, time flies,” Black Sabbath’s swan song, 13, was released 13 years ago, on June 7th, 2013. In a curious move, …
If you’re just now catching up, well, we’re just now catching up. Seth Buttnam and I (plus one uninvited guest) are rounding up some of our favoritest grindcore (or grind-adjacent) releases of the past however many months, since we (read: …
[Album artwork by Truls Espedal] It’s 17 albums for Enslaved now, comprising a discography I find exceptionally challenging to wrap my arms around. What’s going on here? Does anyone else forget that the relatively rote and by-the-numbers Frost is actually …
Greetings, friends. The time has come once again to civilly and sensibly discuss the Last Rites Best of 2014 list, as collected and voted upon by our noble crew. If your favorite releases are missing, …
It has been 10 years since “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott was brutally murdered on stage during a tragic scene at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio while performing with his post-Pantera band Damageplan. Ten. Years. If …
In 1991, I was 14 or so, another disposable teenager lost in the abundant wastes of suburban Middle(-class) America. Like countless others caught in the endless strip malls and high school football games, the Applebees …
Oakland’s Dimesland raised some eyebrows with their debut EP, 2012’s Creepmoon. It was a thrashing, technical mix that landed somewhere between Atheist, Voivod, Martyr, and even the more adventurous Pestilence material, pleasing a lot of …
I don’t like The Weed. Makes me feel like I’m the only thing to look at for a million judging eyes. And that’s good, I suppose, because I love stoner rock and if pot actually …
On debut Draumr Àst, Sweden’s Bhleg isn’t out to redefine anything; they both understand and revel in this. Despite their country of origin, they take a decidedly Norwegian approach in their black metal, looking to the …
Originally written by Chris Redar Hollow Earth comes with a bit of a pedigree, boasting former Shai Hulud members Steve Muczynski and Mike Moynihan (the latter also being a current member of Enabler, a band …
If you clicked the link simply looking for more reasons why Machine Head is terrible and worthy of nothing but contempt, I kindly direct you here. I’m sure any album-specific criticism still applies, as well …
