Articles
Album Review: Future Scars – Harrow
This intriguing album cover is a delicate balance of minimalist and ornate. If something will be a scar in the future, that means that is still an open wound in the present. This is bittersweet music of healing and sorrow. At times it sounds like the dulcet tones of 1970s songstresses, like Carly Simon and Carole King. At times it has a gruffer, growlier, rocker chick sound, roots still planted firmly in classic rock, like … read...
read moreAlbum Review: Lake of Tears: Moons and Mushrooms
The spacey themes of this 2007 release are out of this world. Melancholy metallers, Lake of Tears, live up to their melodramatic name. Hailing from heavy metal mecca, Sweden, this band is sordid and sorrowful. Smooth synth beats and distorted riffs converge to form an electric sound, combining elements of techno and heavy metal into a glorious, shimmering alloy. The psychedelia of this music is tangible. If the trippy title and befitting album art weren’t … read...
read moreLyrical Analysis: Amorphis – Sky Is Mine
Released in 2009, Skyforger is the 9th studio album from Finnish melodic death metal outfit Amorphis. Amorphis is one of my favorite bands, and this song is one of the many reasons why I love them. This track is from the concept album Skyforger, which is about the Blacksmith of the Gods, named Ilmarinen. (Not to be confused with Leminkainen, the warrior-poet, or Kullervo, the Tragic Antihero.) That’s the trouble with centuries-old ancient epic literature. … read...
read moreAlbum Review: Blood Wolf – Blood Wolf
Abomination of the Wretched/ Clergy of Sin lyric book, illustrated by Den Yudi Art. This self titled debut album is everything that the band Blood Wolf stands for. It’s heavy, it’s political, it’s fast, it’s loud, and it’s fun as hell. The riff master Chad Baca writes and shreds awesome thrash metal on his guitar. The opening track, 1680, hits the ground running with a galloping melody, and lead singer Ross Reano screams lyrics about … read...
read moreLyrical Analysis: Amorphis – Alone
The album cover for Am Universum, released by Amorphis in 2001. Being a band from Finland, Amorphis is known to reference the Finnish epic saga called the Kalevala. This song may allude to the heroic protagonist, Vainamoinen, who suffered greatly in his struggle to find a wife and carry on his legacy. He colluded with gods and spirits, yet the divine feminine still eluded him. Even though he was a heroic warrior-poet, he wasn’t even … read...
read moreAlbum Review: St. Victims – St. Victims
This band and their self titled debut have morbid medical themes, as well as a twisted sense of humor. When I first heard this album, I was way too hungover for that fucking kazoo intro, but that made it even more hilarious and entertaining. The weird sound effects and humorous undertones continue with the following songs on the EP. Tracks like Shiddnfard and Botfly Reunion, use the trombone for its inherent comedic value. The gross-out … read...
read moreBurning Churches, Burning Bridges: The Cognitive Dissonance of Being a Catholic Metalhead
St. Peter Martyr Exorcizing a Posessed Statue of the Virgin and Child, Vincenzo Foppa, 1468 Intro: All art is political. Religion and music are no exception. Many metalheads claim to be anti religion one minute, and then devil-worshiping Satanists the next. Others enjoy the music while still practicing their faith, whether it’s Judaism, Islam, or Christianity. To assume that all metal music is Satanic or Atheistic, is as asinine as assuming that all jazz fans … read...
read moreNews Flash: Fleshgod Apocalypse Debut New Singles, “Sugar” and “Carnivorous Lamb”
This surreal album art resembles the morbid paintings of Heironymous Bosch. I love me some death metal, especially when it’s both symphonic and technical, as with Italian masters Fleshgod Apocalypse. This song is reminiscent of their classic masterpiece of yesteryear, The Violation. The roaring vocals in the intro are especially memorable. The imagery of the music video, similarly, illustrates the dark elegance of this band. These musicians look like the Platonian ideal of a metalhead: … read...
read moreLyrical Analysis: Enslaved- Thoughts Like Hammers
Photo via Music Norway This song grew on me. At first, I was hesitant to listen to a 9 minute song from a band I barely knew. Especially when the intro is so noisy and cacophonous, leading into a heavy, slow riff. The sludgy pace fits the song title, thudding out a long, drowsy rhythm. Similarly, the lyrics were like a brick wall. I strained to grasp their meaning. Then suddenly, the wall of sound … read...
read moreAlbum Review: June 1974 – Nemesi
Album Review: June 1974 – Nemesi Beautiful women, angels, and flowers are some of the symbolic images on this fantastic album art. This is a solo project, conceptualized and brought to life by Italian composer Federico Romano. Even the band title, June 1974, brings to mind the psychedelic experimentation of the Hippie generation. Indeed, the surreal album art and trippy music are wildly creative and free, like a flower child in the Summer of Love. … read...
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