Norway’s Sahg have been melting faces since 2004, but 2013 marked a fresh new approach for the ambitious Scandinavian metalheads. After three albums, all of which sequentially numbered, the group let their imaginations run wild with a conceptual album idea, one that wouldn’t be given a number like past records. Delusions of Grandeur took the … Continue reading REVIEW: Sahg’s New Concept Album Is Downright Ascendant
Author: Alex Carlson
REVIEW: Red Fang’s Whales and Leeches Unleashes Primal Groove Metal
Rising metalheads Red Fang hail from a rather interesting place for metal: Portland, Oregon. While many of the most prominent metal bands of the 2010’s come from Europe, California or even the south of Georgia, Red Fang’s roots come from a place that’s more associated with the nearby grunge movement from nearby Seattle. This is … Continue reading REVIEW: Red Fang’s Whales and Leeches Unleashes Primal Groove Metal
REVIEW: Baroness’ Live EP Delivers a Small Taste of Awesome
Since 2003, Baroness has been one of the most promising acts in metal. Alongside fellow southern metalheads, Mastodon, Baroness have pioneered a progressive metal sound that has sounded much less technical than their peers in Dilinger Escape Plan or Between the Buried and Me. After two critically acclaimed albums in Red Album and Blue Record, … Continue reading REVIEW: Baroness’ Live EP Delivers a Small Taste of Awesome
REVIEW: Down Among the Dead Men Deliver an Energized Form of Death Metal
Bolt Thrower/Benediction vocalist Dave Ingram, along with Rogga Johansson and Dennis Blomberg from Paganizer are no strangers to death metal or even the idea of a side project. Ingram’s work in metal subgenres and even radio programming specifically show that he simply can’t escape the metal community (not that he’d want to). With more than … Continue reading REVIEW: Down Among the Dead Men Deliver an Energized Form of Death Metal
REVIEW: Fallen Fate Leave Their Concept Hanging in New Album
Fallen Fate are one of the newer metal bands to appear after the new millennium began. The cavalcade of heavy metal bands from the UK meant that metal was once again empowered. The thrash world mixed death metal and punk for metalcore to rise, and Fallen Fate were ready to plow their way down the … Continue reading REVIEW: Fallen Fate Leave Their Concept Hanging in New Album
REVIEW: Scythia Deliver True Prog Metal Majesty
Canada’s Scythia have been pushing their snow-covered cavalry for nearly six years now, touring vigorously across the world and constantly aiming to find their comfort zone in the crowded realm of post-90’s progressive metal. It’s not easy; there are so many subgenres and styles to approach, but with their newest release, the band is finally … Continue reading REVIEW: Scythia Deliver True Prog Metal Majesty
REVIEW: Blitz From Boston – Punk/Hardcore Anthology Pays Tribute
Beyond the streets of Los Angeles, Washington D.C. was a hub for a budding interest in adrenaline-drenched punk and hardcore music ideologies. But while Bad Brains was taking control of the Capital City, the punk vibe was steadily brewing further north. Boston, Massachusetts was gathering its own punk and hardcore scene, one that LA and … Continue reading REVIEW: Blitz From Boston – Punk/Hardcore Anthology Pays Tribute
A Tradition Worth Repeating: Fates Warning’s Dark/Light 11th Album
As the first Fates Warning album in nearly ten years, Darkness in a Different Light has a long legacy to fulfill. Alongside bands like Queensryche and Dream Theater, Fates Warning were a definitive progressive metal band, influencing countless other groups in their journey to step beyond speed or doom metal. They fused the epic nature … Continue reading A Tradition Worth Repeating: Fates Warning’s Dark/Light 11th Album
Threat Down: Hank Williams III’s Punk Trudge
Hank Williams III’s fascination with genres beyond his family’s pedigree has been one of his most intriguing features in his music. His iconic country legend grandfather and his southern rockstar father have risen to the spotlight for decades now, but Hank III, discontent with that settled vibe, has turned to rock, metal and punk to … Continue reading Threat Down: Hank Williams III’s Punk Trudge
Rough and Rugged: Hank Williams III’s Return to Country
When it comes to having a pedigree on his belt, Hank Williams III is a poster-child. As the grandson of one of the forefathers of country music and the son of a country rock mainstay, Hank III has a family rooted in the fundamentals of southern spirit and down-home tradition. But even with country in … Continue reading Rough and Rugged: Hank Williams III’s Return to Country
Therapeutic Rap-Rock: Tech N9ne’s Nu-Metal Mystery
Aaron Dontez Yates, best known for his work as rapper Tech N9ne, has always had a habit of sneaking his way outside of the hip-hop genre and mixing in with rock and metal genres; it’s become one of his most appealing features. He’s a verbose and skilled rapper, but it’s his desire to experiment that … Continue reading Therapeutic Rap-Rock: Tech N9ne’s Nu-Metal Mystery
Into Space: Ayreon Continues Sky-High Ambition With Eighth Album Opera
Dutch musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen burst onto a new scene in 1995, pioneering a project that made the world of metal stop for a brief moment. As a fan of sci-fi and dramatic musical opera, Lucassen brought out Ayreon, a group that gripped its goal of massive and cinematic metal with a clenched fist. After … Continue reading Into Space: Ayreon Continues Sky-High Ambition With Eighth Album Opera
A Klok Opera: Dethklok’s Fourth Album Is Less Metal, More Humor
When Adult Swim debuted the brand new cartoon series from Home Movies creator Brendon Small, Metalocalypse, the world was introduced to five metal maestros who aimed to deliver their own brand of fist-to-face, shout-to-hell death metal to the masses. Skwisgaar Skwigelf, Toki Wartooth, William Murderface, Pickles and Nathan Explosion were Dethklok, a band whose massive … Continue reading A Klok Opera: Dethklok’s Fourth Album Is Less Metal, More Humor
Dear Sister: In Solitude Continue Sweden’s Metal Mastery
Sweden has been contributing to the world of metal for decades, but even now in 2013, they always seem to surprise the metal community. Even after bringing legends like Messhugah and stars like In Flames to life, the recent years have been kinder than ever to Swedish metal and the bands it brews. As if … Continue reading Dear Sister: In Solitude Continue Sweden’s Metal Mastery
The Body Beyond Redemption
There is a way to make something beautiful and noteworthy out of something unexpected and unorthodox. Noise is a tough element in music to use well, but there are some ambitious artists who can shove distortion to the front lines and actually make something wonderful. The same mantra can be applied to grindcore, death metal … Continue reading The Body Beyond Redemption
Happily Ever After: Nightwish Soar Higher With New Concert Film
Beyond the pseudo-aggro thrash metal and grinding nu-metal, Finland’s Nightwish were a surging new sound when they hit the scene in 1997. Influenced by dark gothic atmosphere, classical and symphonic musicianship and the heaviness of thrash metal, Nightwish blew the doors down and brought an epic and majestic sound to metal, all capped off with … Continue reading Happily Ever After: Nightwish Soar Higher With New Concert Film
Getting the Joke: GWAR Shock and Rock with 13th Album
Beneath the countless genres of rock and metal, shock rock is the one that everyone needs to take a deep breath for before talking about. Alice Cooper, KISS and Marilyn Manson remain the cornerstones of their eras for scaring the crap out of their audiences while delivering their music, but with that embrace of spectacle, … Continue reading Getting the Joke: GWAR Shock and Rock with 13th Album
Needs More Punch: Big Guns Pay Tribute to the Classic Rock Icons
Northern Ireland’s Big Guns have no shame in living in the era where Guns n’ Roses and AC/DC ruled the airwaves. There’s a constant vibe in their music that hearkens back to leather jackets, Harley packs and the grimy, dirty hard rock of the 70’s and 80’s. Big Guns’ debut, Down But Not Out, is … Continue reading Needs More Punch: Big Guns Pay Tribute to the Classic Rock Icons
Believe It: Royal Canoe’s Ruthlessly Experimental Alternative LP
Despite a surprisingly lengthy career so far, Canada’s Royal Canoe has still been reserved in publicity, but their newest record Today We’re Believers aims to change that. By embracing a spacey and spiritual sound, Royal Canoe takes the vibes from modern indie and almost obsessively deconstructs and reconstructs them. Royal Canoe diverges from the catchy … Continue reading Believe It: Royal Canoe’s Ruthlessly Experimental Alternative LP
Anything But Cheap: Hey Monea! Take Folk Rock Back to Its Roots
The early 2010’s brought us a folk explosion in popular music. Fuzzy guitar tones and thunderous drum solos were no longer the name of the game; today, it’s all about acoustic guitars, banjos and percussion without the fifty-piece drum kits. Say what you will about the quality of bands like The Lumineers, but with their … Continue reading Anything But Cheap: Hey Monea! Take Folk Rock Back to Its Roots
Stick to Tradition: Satyricon’s Black Metal Motions
Oslo’s Satyricon are one of the survivors of the Norwegian black metal scene. Countless tragedies in other bands have notoriously marked the genre as a dangerous mechanism in metal, but Satyricon have always remained a pure entity, grounded by musical integrity and civility. With only a vocalist as an original member and a long-time drummer … Continue reading Stick to Tradition: Satyricon’s Black Metal Motions
Bloodshot – Hardcore Thrashers Ringworm’s Blistering Vinyl Release
Cleveland, Ohio’s Ringworm have had quite a career. With a huge number of lineup changes since the band’s inception in 1991, it’s clear that they’ve had multiple opportunities to shift their fist-to-face sound over time. After more than 20 years running riot on tour, Ringworm celebrate another move to the road with a special vinyl … Continue reading Bloodshot – Hardcore Thrashers Ringworm’s Blistering Vinyl Release
A Misfit Shines: Doyle’s Debut Abominator Slays Expectations
In the Pantheon of punk, there’s always a special place for The Misfits. Where Black Flag and Minor Threat used crazy, hardcore elements and The Ramones spearheaded elements from pop music like The Kinks, The Misfits were the ones who descended into the darker realm of horror-themed images and creepy-as-hell aesthetics. In comparison to the … Continue reading A Misfit Shines: Doyle’s Debut Abominator Slays Expectations
HORSEBACK Defy Genre with Rarities Collection, A Plague of Knowing
Let’s cut to the chase: HORSEBACK is thoroughly original. No band really sounds like them when they’re in their element. Combining rough and distorted vocals with cosmic, indie-alt production and musicianship, Jenks Miller’s bizarre project defies all identification, priding itself on breaking tradition instead of accessibility. Their latest rarities collection, A Plague of Knowing, over-indulges … Continue reading HORSEBACK Defy Genre with Rarities Collection, A Plague of Knowing
Casting a Scornful Eye: Primitive Man’s One-Note Debut
Filthy. Malignant. Frightening. These words can and have been used to describe Scorn, the debut album of Denver’s Primitive Man, the death/doom metal double team. Those three words are potent adjectives to describe the band’s undeniably angry and depressing musical force. The filthy grinding guitars, the rough, guttural vocals, the frightening bass tones: those adjectives … Continue reading Casting a Scornful Eye: Primitive Man’s One-Note Debut
Losing the Legacy: Her Dying Regret’s Untapped Potential
Very much like hair metal, post-grunge and nu-metal before it, metalcore is an underwhelming genre. It’s nothing particularly bad; it’s just oversaturated. Very few bands have been able to move beyond those screaming vocals and grinding riffs; for every Killswitch Engage or Underoath we see, we see hundreds of slapped-together outfits plagued by repetition and … Continue reading Losing the Legacy: Her Dying Regret’s Untapped Potential
Just Rock – Black Water Rising’s Nameless Riffs
Brooklyn’s Black Water Rising’s second effort capitalizes on the band’s self-proclaimed moniker: “No frills riff rock.” At that explanation, the band’s image is already settled onto a plane riddled with derivative radio butt rockers like Pop Evil and Saliva. But let’s not count out their second album, Pissed and Driven just yet, because it’s not … Continue reading Just Rock – Black Water Rising’s Nameless Riffs
Forever Doomed – Trouble Stomp Back With The Distortion Field
Black Sabbath are widely recognized as the progenitors of what would later become heavy metal. Unsatisfied with what rock was during the 70’s, the British kings of metal become one of the most important bands in history, pioneering a dark genre and a mighty movement unlike anything seen before in rock. Metal was alive. But … Continue reading Forever Doomed – Trouble Stomp Back With The Distortion Field
On a Technicality – Dichotomy Favor Heaviness Over Intricacy
Dichotomy is a band with a penchant for heaviness. Death metal is their game and they’ve been brewing up a fanbase in their home country of Ireland since 2010. They can dole out the darkness and build up the circle pits; that is clear as day. But the band members prove to be unsatisfied with … Continue reading On a Technicality – Dichotomy Favor Heaviness Over Intricacy
Take the Jewels and Run – El-P and Killer Mike’s Priceless Collab Record Masterpiece
Since 2002, Jaime Meline (best known by his rapper moniker El-P) has unknowingly become one of the most important rap artists of this generation. In an era where sensationalism and lavishness has conquered the hip-hop scene, El-P has locked himself away in his laboratory, all while creating memorable and poetic lyrical escapades that no one … Continue reading Take the Jewels and Run – El-P and Killer Mike’s Priceless Collab Record Masterpiece
Pittsburgh Music Magazine 