ALBUM REVIEW: Helmet – Left


 

Helmet are a legacy band, who at over 30 years into their career– albeit with an early 2000’s hiatus– are still very much thought of as a specific, early mid-nineties era band when alternative rock was king. And for good reason, as they are a band who certainly had a huge influence with early Interscope Records such as Meantime (1992) and Betty (1994), providing a sludgy down-tuned version of the more commercial alternative styles of the time.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Ora Cogan – Formless


 

Singer-songwriter Ora Cogan, based in Vancouver Island, has been creating and releasing “cinematic compositions” since 2007. Her ninth album, Formless (Prism Tongue Records), presents a “bizarre sonic Venn diagram” of influences including gothic country, psychedelia, post-punk and more, according to the accompanying press release.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Mr. Phylzzz – Fat Chance


 

Amphetamine Reptile, remember them? The legendary Noise-Rock label home to countless legends such as Helmet, Melvins, The Jesus Lizard, Tar, etc etc. In later years a newer generation of bands emerged that includes Gay Witch Abortion, White Drugs, Hepa-Titus, and of course Mr Phylzzz.

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ALBUM REVIEW: James And The Cold Gun – James And The Cold Gun – Loosgroove Records


 

With how common it has become for strong artists to get watered down by overproduction, it is refreshing to hear some raw, straightforward garage rock made solely for the love of music. Cardiff-based quintet James And The Cold Gun recorded their self-titled debut album (Loosegroove Records) from their very own garage, bringing an astute balance of polish and roughness – in other words, pure rock n’ roll.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Pvris – Evergreen


 

Evergreen (Hopeless Records) is a very ambitious album and frankly by far the most thematically well-rounded and best effort from Pvris yet. Lyndsey Gerd Gunnulfsen has seamlessly planted a flag on the moon here, showing it was her that made this project special all along. Not only a queer champion, Gunnulfsen is a top-notch creator and performer who can back it up with grade-A material with startling philosophical depth amidst the beats and hooks.

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EP REVIEW: PLAIINS – Puppet – self-released


 

It’s not every day you come across a band with members from Hong Kong, Israel, and Germany, giving them such universally diverse perspectives as the shameless genre-benders of PLAIINS – let alone ones with the musical chemistry to create an EP like Puppet (Self-Released). Through a seamless blend of punk, indie, hardcore, and alternative rock, the multicultural trio uses their range of experiences to oppose political issues from around the globe. Thus, making them lyrically relatable across nations, as well as sonically appealing to indie and punk fans alike.Continue reading


Levitation Festival 2023 Books High on Fire, Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats, Dead Meadow, Ecstatic Vision, Unwound, and More


 

Halloween weekend 2023 will see the return of Levitation Festival returns! The first wave of bands includes High on Fire, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Badbadnotgood, Flying Lotus, Unwound, Amyl & The Sniffers, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Oneohtrix Point Never, Panda Bear + Sonic Boom, Durand Jones, The Black Angels, Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, Ty Segall & Freedom Band, Beach Fossils, Blonde Redhead, Hannibal Buress / Eshu Tune, Shannon & The Clams, High On Fire, Altin Gün, The Dandy Warhols, The Church, Jockstrap, Codeine, Water From Your Eyes & More! Taking place Halloween Weekend, October 26-29 in Austin, Texas, tickets are on sale at the link below.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Trophy Eyes – Suicide And Sunshine


 

Five years and a near-breakup since their last full-length record, Australian rock outfit Trophy Eyes have fortunately returned for the foreseeable future. The long-awaited fourth album, Suicide And Sunshine (Hopeless Records) has reinforced the connection shared between the four-piece band. In the process, they made their most vocally, musically, and emotionally diverse collection of songs yet.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Gallus – We Don’t Like the People We’ve Become


 

The pop-punk genre will never die. It’s fresh, fun, sometimes a bit silly, and wholly needed in a world full of stress and hate. People need music that makes them happy. People need music that will put a smile on their faces. People need music that will invoke a fresh breeze, wind in their hair, and a joyful being. Thank Gallus for the new album We Don’t Like the People We’ve Become (Marshall Records).

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ALBUM REVIEW: The Used – Toxic Positivity


 

From the album title alone, it is evident that The Used are just as sincere in their art as they’ve always been over the last two decades. Nine albums deep into their career, the emo quartet have graced us with the blunt Toxic Positivity (Hassle Records). The record calls out the detrimental mindset of suppressing negative emotions, addressing how it worsens one’s mental health over time due to ignored bottled-up feelings.

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