Search results for 'infectious grooves'

Review

The Volume of Self

It seems like every summer, Crash Music rolls the dice on one relatively big project, one that stands out from their usual fare of licensed albums from Europe. None of their hopefuls from the past few years have really set the world on fire – anyone still talking about MY FATE or BRICK BATH? — ...

Review

Peeping Tom

A schizophrenic mix tape from former MR. BUNGLE and FAITH NO MORE vocalist Mike Patton, whose output after those bands has ranged from the harshly accessible (the excellent TOMAHAWK) to the attention-deficit deranged (FANTOMAS) to the downright irritating (the ridiculous "Adult Themes For Voice" rec...

News

THE BLACK CROWES Go Into The Vault For 'The Lost Crowes'

Twice THE BLACK CROWES have recorded albums that were never officially released: "Tall" in 1993 and "Band" in 1997. While a few songs from these lost albums were re-recorded and released on studio albums, many have emerged only through the band's legendary live shows. THE BLACK CROWES recently went...

Review

Our Darkest Days

The terms "melodic" and "hardcore" tend to go together like oil and water if not done just right. On "Our Darkest Days", Orange County's IGNITE does it just right. Considering the number of bands that combine the two elements and ultimately water down the best parts of both (i.e., WITH HONOR),that...

News

LIFE OF AGONY Frontman KEITH CAPUTO: New Audio Interview Posted Online

A 34-minute audio interview with LIFE OF AGONY frontman Keith Caputo, conducted earlier in the month by Belgium's FM Brussel 98.8 radio station, has been made available for download at this location (MP3, 48 MB). As previously reported, audio samples from Caputo's second solo album, "Heart's Blood o...

Review

Pitch Black Brigade

Norway's VREID put the world on notice with debut album, "Kraft", the statement made one of razor-wire riff black metal, strong songwriting, and a dash of rock and roll groove. It helped the band, which features former members of the now defunct WINDIR, stand out just a bit from the pack. It was wit...

Review

Speak of the Dead

Career arc-wise, RAGE seems to take a page from the SAVATAGE playbook (except for the fact that they, like, release records and work and stuff). Starting from more raw and coarse origins in the early 1980s, both bands have evolved into increasingly graceful, orchestral, even theatrical outfits. But...

Review

Crucifire

I am told that SAVIOURS falls into a hot new category called "hipster metal" that is also inhabited by bands like THE SWORD (and there are similarities between the two acts). Considering that a generally stoner rock (the metallic end) delivery with fat riffing, rumbling bass, earthy tones and old sc...

News

LIFE OF AGONY Frontman KEITH CAPUTO: New Solo Album Samples Available

Audio samples from LIFE OF AGONY frontman Keith Caputo's second solo album, "Heart's Blood on Your Dawn", have been posted online at this location. An MP3 of the song "Livin' the Blues" can be downloaded here. As previously reported, Caputo released "Heart's Blood on Your Dawn" on May 1 via his ...

Review

Not For You

Before the "true" metal warriors among you pass judgment, you really ought to give "Not For You", the second album from San Diego's MOWER, a try. Aspersions will be cast because of Mikey Doling's (SNOT, SOULFLY) involvement as producer. All one needs to be concerned about in Doling's case is the ban...

Review

Cash Is King

Stoner to the core, wielding riffs like the hammers of Thor and trading in soulful grooves big enough to drive semis through, Indianapolis's DEVIL TO PAY make a big leap forward on this, their second album. Not content to mimic the genre's conventions, the band wander a little beyond the standard fu...

Review

Terror For Sale

The last time I interviewed SOILWORK vocalist "Speed" Strid, he hadn't recorded this new TERROR 2000 album yet. I asked him if it was gonna be stressful or taxing to make another album so soon after "Stabbing the Drama", and he replied, more or less, that "we just have to get drunk and go make ...

Review

Travesty of Heavenly Essence

After a sidestep into industrialized post-black-metal a couple years ago, Finnish rippers THYRANE return to what they do best on "Travesty of Heavenly Essence" — intense, riff-hungry black metal with plenty of dynamic changes, just the right amount of keyboards, and enough thrashed-out fury to make...

Review

Adultery

Traveling from Spitfire to Artemis and finally finding a home on Rotten Records, Baltimore's DOG FASHION DISCO hits pay dirt on "Adultery", a concept album that continues to showcase the band's lunatic genre blend of strangely accessible hard rock, metal, punk, jazz, ska (you name it) and all-around...

Review

Sinner's Intuition

I'll not beat around the bush. "Sinner's Intuition" by Chicago's ENFORSAKEN is one of the best examples of melodic death metal that I have heard in quite some time. Bold words, I know, but ENFORSAKEN gets everything right with the Gothenburg-infused style heard on its third full-length release (and...