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Big Eyes

Streets Of The Lost
Greenway Records (2019)

In the past I’ve described Big Eyes as half-punk, half-classic rock in a Cheap Trick vein. It’s concise and punchy like punk, but the energy relies on more traditional rock hooks. It’s great, but a part of me fears for the band’s growth because most other band’s I’ve enjoyed that get compared to classic rock eventually end up writing self-indulgent … Read more

ASHRR

Oscillator
First Second (2019)

Encompassing all of the most salient aspects of 80s synth pop, with clear nods to Talking Heads and New Order, LA trio ASHRR's debut album is a nostalgic but not particularly convincing first step for the band. The synth rock collective is made up of experienced musicians, with singer Steven Davis, producer Ethan Allen (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Sheryl Crow) … Read more

Book Review

Ian Lawrence Campbell Swordy

The Bull Loving Truth
Independent (2019)

I came to this book through it’s author. Ian Lawrence Campbell Swordy aka Pony. His involvement in Bent Outta Shape, Behavior and the New York art scene makes him a fascinating character in my mind’s eye. So naturally, reading his first book was an easy ask when given the opportunity. “The book is about a series of performances that started … Read more

The Carvels NYC

Life Is Not A Waiting Room EP
Independent (2019)

Is artwork an important part of a record? I tend to think so. I am bit old-school and like to listen to a record with the cover in my hand looking at the artwork or reading along with the lyrics. The Carvels NYC must feel the same. Their previous EP Everything With You Is A Travesty had a real gem … Read more

L7

Scatter The Rats
Blackheart Records (2019)

At the height of the Northwest music explosion of the early 90s, L7 were among many bands branded with the ubiquitous tag of “grunge”. They weren’t from Seattle, but they had just enough distortion on their guitars to be regarded as such. This put them in a unique situation, as they were really the only all-female band to be inducted … Read more

Sunn 0)))

Life Metal
Southern Lord (2019)

Experimental drone alchemists Sunn O))) have defined two decades of extreme music with their slow, dark offerings. Starting in the early ‘00s, the duo comprised of Stephen O’Malley and Greg Anderson proved to be the most talented disciple of Dylan Carlson’s early sonic investigations with Earth. In those early days the music of Sunn O))) was a cataclysmic experience, highlighted … Read more

Rivers Edge

New Hope for the Dead
Lifer Tapes (2018)

As a record reviewer, sometimes I find it hard to review different works by the same artists. There comes a point when I just say “this sounds like that,” which doesn’t help anyone. So as much as I’m trying to avoid that angle here, I’m going to start out by mentioning that Rivers Edge features members (and the same vocalists) … Read more

Vaura

Sables
Profound Lore (2019)

Vaura is an interesting act for multiple reasons. Firstly it is the brainchild of four incredible musicians in Joshua Strawn of experimetal, dark pop explorers Azar Swan, Kevin Hufnagel of technical death metal beast Gorguts, Toby Driver of elusive post-everything act Kayo Dot and Charlie Schmid, previously of extreme avant-metallists Tombs. What is even more intriguing however is that Vaura … Read more

Wristmeetrazor

Misery Never Forgets
Prosthetic (2019)

With a name like Wristmeetrazor could assume what you would be getting with this record before heading in and pressing play. While you may not be entirely wrong you would most certainly be partially wrong at best. While you could assume the record treads in emotionally raw lyrics and you would be correct but to also assume there is a … Read more

Bob Mould

Sunshine Rock
Merge (2019)

Music is a form of expression and therapy and often times the only way an artist can make sense of the events going on around them. It's something Bob Mould makes very clear when he steps up to the mic. After years of dealing with loss and delving deeper into a darkness that surrounded him, he's letting his new album, … Read more

Inter Arma

Sulphur English
Relapse (2019)

In the early ‘10s it felt like the progressive sludge scene had produced all of its great records, and that moving forwards the genre would settle in a plateau state. But in the underground, there was one band that was still not contempt with the confinements of the genre, and they displayed that with their debut record Sundown. Inter Arma’s … Read more

Oozing Wound

High Anxiety
Thrill Jockey (2019)

Chicago’s Oozing Wound have been riding the thrash train since their inception in 2011, yet this trio are more than just that label, instead they are a band that incorporates many different aspects of the metal world into their music and in doing so create high energy vibrations that enable them to put their points across in a fun and … Read more

Nadir

Collecting Misery
Independent (2019)

From the start of Collecting Misery it’s clear that Nadir is one of those bands fronted by someone who is usually on a different instrument. Sure, the DIY production also influences the sound, but the vocals are just a bit less fluid than in most bands. It’s not a slight against the band, just that it sounds a little less … Read more

Coathangers

The Devil You Know
Suicide Squeeze (2019)

Much of what I listen to on the regular is of the three-chord punk variety. While I want the bands in that field to switch up their sound, to develop and grow, the differences are usually pretty subtle in that world. The Coathangers, though, are something else and for some reason I’m always surprised when I put on each new … Read more

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