In a post to Instagram, legendary New York City band Orange 9mm has reformed with a new lineup for 2024. Although no firm plans have been announced as yet, we’d expect shows and festival appearances could be plentiful, and hopefully new music. A seperate post touted at least a new song and “maybe some shows!” Originally formed in 1992 by Chaka Malik (Burn, Ghost Decibels), joined by returning guitarist Taylor McLam, along with new additions drummer Chris Enriquez (Spotlights, Total Meltdown, On The Might of Princes, Julie Christmas, Lightower, Burn), and bassist Drew Kasal (Total Meltdown). The posts also shouted out integral past members of the band, such as Chris Traynor (ex-Helmet, Rival Schools, now of Bush fame). Orange 9MM released a demo via Revelation Records and three albums, including top-tier mid-1990s releases Driver Not Included (East-West Records) in 1995 and Tragic (Atlantic Records) in 1996. You can read public posts from the band and Chris below!
Tag Archives: alt metal
ALBUM REVIEW: Saint Agnes – Bloodsuckers
Saint Agnes, from the UK, spark the fires of aggression with Alt. Nu-groove album Bloodsuckers (Spinefarm Records). The band fits within the label’s ranks with ease alongside acts that have their own vision,but crossover appeal such as Sleep Token, Atreyu, and Killing Joke. Add in a Mimi Barks cameo (the short and ferocious ‘Body Bag’) and a Sean Bevan production boost on the semi-glossy ‘Follow You’ and this record has the potential to be a Summer ’23 pit starter.
EP REVIEW: Moodring – Your Light Fades Away
Florida/Atlanta three-piece Moodring has certainly been consistent with their output since they released showmetherealyou (UNFD) in 2021, with a number of singles and last years long-player Stargazer, gaining them some serious recognition.
EP REVIEW ROUND-UP: ft. Black Veil Brides – Oversize – Sugar Horse – Bayside
Black Veil Brides – The Mourning (Sumerian)
There’s an underlying belief that interim releases are merely disappointing cash-ins comprised mostly of filler and cast-off material. A strong title track usually followed by cover versions, demo versions, live cuts or songs simply not worthy to make it onto a full length record. A theory to which Hollywood based five piece Black Veil Brides clearly do not subscribe.
ALBUM REVIEW: Rob Zombie – The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy
Exploding with lurid technicolour noise and flooding your brain with nightmarish, acid-fuelled cartoon imagery, musician/director/writer/artist/sideshow freak Rob Zombie is back with his latest exercise in restraint and understatement, The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy (Nuclear Blast).
Dust Prophet and Conduit Release Split EP via Sleeping Village
New Hampshire prog and alternative metal bands Dust Prophet and Conduit have released a new split EP via Sleeping Village Records, the brainchild of the famous underground blog Sleeping Village Reviews. Each band contributes a single to the split. Stream and download the split here!
Cave In – Final Transmission
If you’re a fan of any music that Caleb Scofield created or played, bring the tissues for this one. Cave In‘s aptly-titled Final Submission (Hydra Head) is a collection of recordings made with the band’s late bassist before his tragic death last year and contains much input from the man himself. It’s a slightly different album than fans might expect, but in many ways, it’s more meaningful for it.Continue reading
Source – Totality
Whilst Progressive Metal is an overcrowded scene, it is undeniable that there is a depth and range within its ranks of late, arguably the most it has ever showcased. New soundscapes and directions are being explored and virgin terrains conquered, with even tried and tested ideas being given new shades and colours. With a well-received debut album and resulting tours across USA with the likes of Trapt, where do relative newcomers Source find themselves with album number two?Continue reading
Die So Fluid – One Bullet from Paradise
Starting out life as alternative rockers Feline in 1995, renaming as Ultraviolet after getting dropped by EMI in 1998, and finally forming as a heavier outfit in 2000, we have Die So Fluid. Fusing alternative rock and metal together towards one melancholic whole, Die So Fluid’s latest studio album One Bullet From Paradise (Strataville) is their fifth and comes after a traumatic time for the three-piece. Drummer Al Fletcher passed away two years ago after contracting pneumonia followed by sepsis, Georgina ‘Grog’ Lisee (vocals and bass) and Drew Richards (guitar) decided to soldier on with the help of Justin Bennett on drums. Continue reading
This Year’s Ghost – Yesterday Becomes Tomorrow Today
With hints of Smashing Pumpkins and Alter Bridge, Yesterday Becomes Tomorrow Today (self-released) commences in a cascading shimmer before the opening song is supplemented by a flowing guitar line and an understated chorus, as Paul McKenzie’s honest vocals form a frontline for alt.metal trio, This Year’s Ghost and their current EP.
Elements of grunge, alternative rock and post-rock all fight to make themselves heard across the five tracks and seventeen minute breadth of the release; second track ‘December Sun’ starts with a riffier approach, before opening out in an expansive chorus, while TYG tease a metal side as ‘Carry Us In Blue’ kicks off acerbically, before twisting away and revealing a more thoughtful, if underwhelming, underbelly.
With ‘Silver Tongue’ meandering and a stolid ‘Black Dogs’ leaving the album closing with a yelp rather than a bark, as an introduction to the band Yesterday Becomes Tomorrow Today, is a mixed bag. While it is a deluxe sounding release, with Matt “Slipknot” Hyde performing a slick job twiddling the knobs, and while each moment is well crafted, there is a feeling that it’s all a bit so near, yet so far. Riffs don’t quite snap, McKenzie’s vocals are decent but not exceptional or overtly distinctive, choruses don’t keep the attention, and the hooks, well, don’t always. All in all, while the songs are decent they lack any tangible identity and YBTT is all a bit nice, and all a bit not quite.
6.0/10
STEVE TOVEY
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