Music that’s right here, right now, with echoes of glories past. A dream of an album that takes off fast, edgy, in a punky rush, sounding like … a punky Rush!
Tag Archives: Texas
ALBUM REVIEW: Portrayal of Guilt – CHRISTFUCKER
E-mail comes in from my editor regarding some upcoming reviews. Okay, new Portrayal of Guilt, should be promising. Wait, this must be some kind of mistake on behalf of my editor. I already reviewed Portrayal of Guilt’s We Are Always Alone back in February. Album of the year type stuff. Another e-mail later clarifies that this new album is titled CHRISTFUCKER (Run For Cover). Alright, but who drops multiple LPs in one calendar year?
ALBUM REVIEW: Portrayal of Guilt – We Are Always Alone
Who decided to file Portrayal of Guilt under Screamo? Where should we file them? I don’t know, that’s for folks who spend their time and energy in the endless heavy music genre debates and on websites like Encyclopaedia Metallum to decide. You know, the type of people that will insist that Annihilator isn’t a Thrash band as they really fall under Speed Metal. They are truly doing the Lord’s work. But to slap the screamo tag on Portrayal of Guilt, particularly on We Are Always Alone (Closed Casket Activities) seems a bit simplistic.
ALBUM REVIEW: Frozen Soul – Crypt of Ice
No better way than to start the year than with some new Death Metal is what I say. I’ve quit coffee and don’t touch Red Bull, so I need something to kick start the day. It’s a particularly cold winter here in New England and every time I check Twitter there is a freshly developed shitshow going on so the more extreme music the merrier. Long story short, thank you Frozen Soul for kicking in the 2021 door with Crypt of Ice (Century Media).
ALBUM REVIEW: Eternal Champion – Ravening Iron
It”s been four years since Eternal Champion unleashed The Armor Of Ire in 2016, but the hype has only intensified with their sophomore full-length. Ravening Iron (No Remorse Records) continues the Austin group”s Epic Metal aspirations as the coarse but melodic guitar work casts a dungeon friendly atmosphere and the vocals forever echo Manilla Road”s Mark Shelton (RIP) with their nasally yet bombastic character. Thankfully, there are enough alternate approaches explored that keep this album from feeling like a retread. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Kublai Khan – Absolute
On Absolute (Rise Records), Kublai Khan ticks off a lot of the boxes I’m looking for in modern Metallic Hardcore or extreme music, but something isn’t quite passing state inspection. They’re blending equal parts Hardcore and Metal fury, have meaty breakdowns, occasional Thrash tempos and happen to be from Texas. I should like this. Or I should like this a bit more. Continue reading
Deftones Perform “Royal” & “Lifter” Live For The First Time In Years
Deftones returned to the stage for their first show since November at last weekend’s Botanica Music Festival in San Antonio, and brought back some older songs into their set list. Continue reading
Oceans of Slumber – The Banished Heart
Much darker in tone than its ethereal predecessor (both Century Media), The Banished Heart is no less beautiful in its execution. Where Winter would often soar, this record looks inward and deals much more heavily with personal, introspective feelings of heartbreak and loss.Continue reading
Scour Cover Pantera’s “Slaughtered” In Austin
Scour performed two shows in Texas over the weekend, and they had a special surprise in store for their fans in Austin. Not only did they perform a ton of new stuff off their Red EP, but they performed two specials covers as well. Continue reading
Warbeast’s Final Show Featured Philip H. Anselmo, Edwin Neal, And More
Bruce Corbitt may have performed his final show with Warbeast in May, but the Texas thrashers still had one last gig booked at The Rail Club this past Friday night. With help from the likes of Philip H. Anselmo, Edwin (Hitchhiker) Neal, and Wayne Abney of Hammer Witch, their final show was a fitting tribute to Bruce, and the band’s legacy in the heavy metal scene. Continue reading