Generally Impressed With Riffs
[Cover artwork by Subhuman at Desert Dungeon] Let’s talk about our love for quirky metal. Okay, sure, any definable level of ‘quirk’ is obviously subjective, but I’m guessing you know we’re not talking about the guy who loves The Black …
[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 …
I know I’ll probably get crucified for choosing to cover this record, but that’s my cross to bear… Let’s go ahead and address the 400-pound gorilla in the room so that those of you who …
Originally written by Ian Chainey If you’re like me, you’ll spend today softly weeping in bed while listening to culture podcasts since it’s your only link to a social life. If you’re like the idealized …
This is the end of the line. Well, not really. There’s still a full two weeks left in the year, and you’re still bracket-busting your way towards crowning a Metal Madness 2013 tournament champion. But as …
Metal fans often seem to have problems deciding what constitutes “true black metal.” Is it lo-fi production and satanic lyrics? Perhaps it’s tremolo guitar riffs and non-stop blast beats. Whatever the essential elements may be, …
originally written by Juho Mikkonen When it comes to maintaining the brittle balance between drawing from the fountainhead and pushing beyond the familiar waters, many newer death metal bands could learn a thing or two …
originally written by Craig Hayes I understand that plenty of folk think a lengthy tune that sheds its hook gets real boring, real fast. That’s fair enough. Metal’s already drowning in the briny depths of …
Every music critic – and indeed, every music fan who cares and dares to dig – has pet bands, the bands that they’re forever touting as one that “should be huge” and “everyone should be …
Too often, good bands doing the intentionally old school thing go unnoticed because, by design, they don’t exactly stand out. Fans and writers looking for The Next Big Thing might pass quickly if some original …
