Middle Distance Runner
Middle Distance Runner
Independent (2007)
Dabbling coolly with grit of the 'the' band sound while borrowing ruminants of Brit rock's pop sensibility, Middle Distance Runner offer up something with the potential for a real fan based success. Hinting at better things throughout the six-track effort, the five-piece uses the formulaic idea of songwriting based around guitar/synth hooks layered with a full and strong rhythm section. … Read more
Mike "McBeardo" McPadden
Heavy Metal Movies
Independent (2014)
According to Mike "McBeardo" McPadden's Heavy Metal Movies, Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey"profoundly influenced" a yet-to-be-named Black Sabbath. Fifty pages later on in the book, and the reader learns about the night in 1969 in Birmingham, England when Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward were getting ready to take the stage as blues rock … Read more
Mike Schiff
The History of Metal and Horror
Independent (2022)
The History of Metal and Horror is an extensive dip into a world where two defining genres of audio and visual come together so perfectly it's difficult to imagine one without the other. Music and film have had a long and happy marriage and both play a big parts in each others existence . Rom Coms and pop music, action … Read more
miniaturized
miniaturized
Independent (2023)
This self-titled record is the debut by miniaturized. While it’s their first record, the musicians have also played with the likes of Pinback, Rocket From the Crypt, No Knife, and more. You’ll pick up on hints and patterns from some of those groups here, but this record is an exploration of new styles and territories. While the band formed for … Read more
Minute of Arc
Future Forests
Independent (2009)
People make it a point to search far and wide for new music. I'm not against this by any means; I've found many quality bands from the other continents besides mine. But oftentimes there is little to no effort needed when searching as there is quality music being produced right under ones nose. A perfect example of this is Minute … Read more
Mire
A New Found Rain
Independent (2021)
The first time I ran into Mire was about two years ago. I was looking for stuff that was at least somewhat adjacent to Gojira and a friend recommended Mire. At the time the band had an EP titled Shed which was released in 2018. For whatever reason, it seems that (mostly) all traces of it were scraped and there … Read more
Mittenfields
Optimists
Independent (2015)
Optimists is the debut LP from Washington D.C. emo/indie-rock outfit Mittenfields. The band’s influences are immediately recognizable: Singer Dave Mann obviously listens to Modest Mouse and Arcade Fire, while the band’s three guitarists draw heavily from 1990s indie and emo classics like Mineral, Built To Spill, and Pavement. If you like those bands and want to hear the same sound … Read more
Monolith
Eclipse
Independent (2008)
A first record for a band taking their first steps is both exciting as well as potentially harrowing when putting one's work out for others to hear. Monolith make that leap with their debut album, Eclipse, and to be completely honest, I admire the fact that this Pennsylvania four-piece put the record out themselves. Monolith is one of those "post-rock" … Read more
Moth
Endlessly in Motion
Independent (2013)
The short-form progressive album seems to be a dying art. Bands who venture into the genre are few and far between; more infrequent still are those who can do it well. There's just something about progressive music that compels bands to push themselves longer and longer, and while that's not unwelcome, there's something to be said for fitting all of … Read more
Moving Mountains
Foreword
Independent (2009)
Moving Mountains' Foreword may only be a four-song EP but they bring everything to the table and showcase their full abilities on this brief piece of music. Foreword is roughly thirty-six minutes, which seems to be the perfect length for an album like this, not terribly short but it doesn't drone on too long to the point where it's dull. … Read more
Mug
Self Titled
Independent (2011)
Müg are a pretty new band on the punk scene of London, yet they're already making waves and booking shows left, right and centre. Formed between friends and colleagues and featuring a drummer who had never before drummed, Müg are firmly stamping their mark on the punk rock world. This coming year sees them playing Amplitude Festival, supporting The Flatliners, … Read more
Murder Practice
Prophecies of Doom
Independent (2008)
Bay Area stalwarts Murder Practice return with their second full-length, this time they've abandoned the world of plastic and CD's for vinyl (each record comes with a free digital version of the album). Prophecies of Doom shows significant growth for the group as they've matured and left behind the more cliché mosh-forward sound they offered on their debut. Don't worry … Read more
My Bloody Valentine
m b v
Independent (2013)
In what might be one of the longest case of collective breath holding since a band’s last previous album, My Bloody Valentine finally release the follow up to their landmark 1991 album, Loveless; and the single biggest question on many people’s minds has to be whether or not m b v is as good as the astoundingly enduring and growing … Read more
My Dad Vs. Yours
After Winter Must Come Spring
Independent (2006)
I don't know when it happened, although I think it might have been around the time the movie Friday Night Lights came out and word got out that Explosions in the Sky was doing the soundtrack. That may have been the point but I'm not really sure. Anyways, at one time or another post-rock got popular. Now, after kids everywhere … Read more
My Flea Circus
Fancy Feast
Independent (2006)
I've come across some weird avant-garde bands, but it's a rare occurrence that I hear a band as bizarre and creepy as My Flea Circus. I usually find a way to pin down even the most out-there bands, but this is kind of a first for me. I'm at a total loss for words. So I'm going to have to … 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
Naïve Sense
Self Titled EP (2017)
Independent (2017)
“If I am unable to transform you into a Naïve Sense fan, then I have not done my job.”So begins “Win a Trip to Vegas: Heavy Metal Bikini Contest/Men’s Support Group,” in a sound clip before the EP’s second to last track. It’s a bold proclamation for a bold EP that recalls the best elements of Refused but with a … Read more
Neal Eles
As Night Sinks
Independent (2006)
Neal Eles sounds like Jose Gonzales. It's that simple. Maybe Jose Gonzales sounds like Neal Eles, or maybe they both sound like someone else? Who knows? It's that gentle singer-songwriter formula all played on pianos and acoustic guitars with some melancholic vocals. Neal Eles chooses to beef up the archetype with drums and increased timbres, however, and even has a … Read more
