ALBUM REVIEW: Blind Channel – Exit Emotions


Taking over the charts in their home country, Finnish nu-metal outfit Blind Channel are on the road to spreading that stardom internationally with their fifth album Exit Emotions (Century Media Records). The album expands on their shameless blend of Metalcore, Rock, Hip-Hop, Electronic and Pop for a sound that is familiar, yet distinct and accessible to a wide range of audiences. Upbeat melodies are accompanied by bouncing and booming riffs, while breakdowns are emphasized with gleaming synth effects. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Arms And Sleepers – What Tomorrow Brings


 

Mirza Ramic doesn’t do anything halfway.

The musical artist and producer helped to found Arms And Sleepers, an electronic trip hop outfit that was formed back in 2006 and has since released 13 full-lengths and 20 EPs in that time. His latest effort is no less impactful.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Poppy – Zig


 

Following the bizarre and twisted brand of úber-pop and nu-metal mariah that Moriah Pereira (Poppy) tapped into for 2020’s I Disagree has been strained even further now we come to Zig (Sumerian). Her Flux album was the pop-punk bridge making her fifth album the next logical maturation point.

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INTERVIEW: Otep Shamaya of OTEP Discusses “The God Slayer” Album and The Legacy of Nu Metal


Ghost Cult Keefy caught up with Otep Shamaya of OTEP to discuss the new album – “The God Slayer” – out now via Cleopatra Records! OTEP discusses the journey to the new release, overcoming tragedy in the last few years, choosing which artists to cover, the one cover song that didn’t make the album, looking back at Nu Metal and its current popularity, her return to touring, the new vinyl version of “Hydra” and more! Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Code Orange – The Above


 

The hope for a band to “return to their roots” is a phrase that has been thrown around so much in modern music, it has begun to lose its meaning. As with the roots of a tree, a band’s roots are always there, securing the foundation of their sound, no matter how many different directions it may branch out into.

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EP REVIEW: Sicksense – Fools Tomorrow


 

While the leading names in Nu-metal are ones that started twenty to thirty years ago, bands like Sicksense bring high hopes for the genre’s future. Testing the limits of the style Linkin Park and Korn made history with, the group shares their second EP, Fools Tomorrow (Sound Escape Agency), a sequel to their debut EP Kings Today. They each promote the idea of holding on tight to the throne earned from major achievements, stating that it could always be pulled from right under you if your hard work ceases.

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The Sonic Voyage of Biohazard – Discography Deep Dive 1988-2023


 

The musical journey continues with The Sonic Voyage – the Discography show hosted by Ojayy of Ghost Cult Mag. This episode features the recently reunited Biohazard! The band is playing select headline shows and festivals in 2023 (including Milwaukee Metalfest) and are working on new music too.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Codefendants – This Is Crime Wave


 

Over the last few years, the likes of cybergrind and mathcore have reared their ugly heads into the musical zeitgeist, for better or worse, introducing to the world new visions when it comes to how to write and perform music. Enter Codefendants, a newly formed trio consisting of Fat Mike, Sam King, and Ceschi Ramos. The group’s debut album, This Is Crime Wave (Fat Wreck Chords, Bottles To The Ground), is their titular foray into a new world that combines hip hop, new wave, and an underlying dose of punk rock.

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ALBUM REVIEW: For The Fallen Dreams – For The Fallen Dreams


 

A great deal of today’s biggest metalcore fans consider the 2000s to the 2010s the golden years of the genre. Bands such as Michigan-based For The Fallen Dreams who have continued on since the MySpace era help to maintain the style’s raw spirit with their ever-evolving nu-metal twists – and their new self-titled album (Arising Empire) is no exception.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Borders – Bloom Season


 

Any band who knows how to blur the lines between two styles that are normally considered drastically different deserves some praise for that alone, and groups like Lincoln, UK’s Borders continue to push those boundaries. Their sophomore album Bloom Season (Arising Empire) ventures further on their seamless mingling of metalcore and hip-hop, yet there is no shortage of either genre’s core elements. While some tracks may embrace one over the other, the balance is consistent, making for a record easily accessible to a wide range of music fans. Continue reading