Trying to crack the shell that is Greylotus is like the struggle of explaining the inner workings of the Holy Roman Empire in three sentences.Continue reading
Tag Archives: Djent
ALBUM REVIEW: Bleed From Within – Shrine
I think I’ve made my point regarding redundant subgenres within metal quite obvious in past reviews. If you haven’t read those, then what are you waiting for? Go arm yourselves with knowledge. I only bring this up because after a few listens of Bleed From Within’s Shrine (Nuclear Blast) I have no idea exactly where to file them in the grand metal rolodex. And that is actually a good thing. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Meshuggah – Immutable
Although the word itself suggests an insusceptibility or inability to change, Immutable (Atomic Fire), the title of the ninth studio album by prog/tech death metal act Meshuggah, proves to be the opposite, acting as another step forward in the band’s natural evolution. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Animals As Leaders – Parrhesia
Animals As Leaders started as a project by virtuoso guitarist Tosin Abasi, after his former label Prosthetic Records asked him to create a solo LP, following the end of his band Reflux. After taking a year out to study and immerse himself in his guitar playing, he put together the group who have now been releasing music for over a decade through to Parrhesia (Sumerian) their fifth album.
ALBUM REVIEW: Rolo Tomassi – Where Myth Becomes Memory
They say no band is really an “overnight success” in the music industry. Like most cliches, that one has been ridden into the ground by lazy people. Rolo Tomassi has been a band for over fifteen years at this point, and if their ascent to the top of the underground metal genre has taken you by surprise, you just weren’t paying attention. The band has been DIY (with some proper distro mixed in) the entire way, making music on their own terms, gathering forces of fans and waves of respect. Wearing many musical masks and expertly jumping from Grindcore, to Thrash, Hardcore, Pop Rock and even Blackened extremism, the band has always sported loads of talent and great songs. For their debut album for MNRK Music, Where Myth Becomes Memory, the band is determined to change your perception of the band, even if you are a longtime fan.
ALBUM REVIEW: Spiritbox – Eternal Blue
Let’s take a minute and talk about hype. We all have a vague notion of what it is, but how does one obtain it? Can it be harnessed long term or is it a matter of riding that wave while it’s marginally available? For instance, how did Job For A Cowboy use it to jump from MySpace unto Metal Blade? Beats me. Whatever the case may be, it appears abundantly clear that Spiritbox know how to tap into it and are doing so on Eternal Blue (Rise Records). But can Spiritbox carry this momentum all through an album? Continue reading
LIVE ALBUM – DVD REVIEW: Tesseract – P O R T A L S
It is quite outstanding when we sit down to realize how human nature can easily adapt (for better or worst) to its surroundings and environment. Particular historic examples in the music industry like the shift of the typical major label model, to music piracy, to streamings platform era, and some more social events, like a pandemic, are some of the major challenges that musicians have had to deal with through history. How some musicians have been able to, somehow, stay on their feet and continue to deliver quality products to their fans it’s simply remarkable. Some bands have been able to release some formidable production, and an example of this is Tesseract’s latest livestream event P O R T A L S (Kscope Records), released in December 2020. Continue reading
Arctangent Postponed to 2021, Ticket Rollovers and Refunds Available
More pain for the festival world as Arctangent, the fest of all things progressive and tech metal, has been postponed until 2021. The festival organizers have posted a statement as well as an info link for fans looking for information. We are looking forward to the 2021 version of the fest. Continue reading
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO PREMIERE: Open The Nile – “Hawking Radiation”
Months after they wowed us with their last video clip for ‘Borealis’, Open The Nile is back with another head smasher! The proggy, post-Djent metal technical style of the band comes through in the performance video for their new track “Hawking Radiation”! The brain-bending riffs and machine-gun beats of the track will have all the shred heads throwing their “Jazz hands to the sky, as well as the devil horns! Meridian is coming March 15th and you can pre-order the album and merch at the links below. Check out the video only at Ghost Cult! Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Jinjer – Macro
Jinjer has got to be right up there when it comes to the busiest bands in all of hard music today. Just examining their 2019 schedule leads me to notice that they kicked things off with the Micro EP, toured Europe, launched their first headlining North American run this Fall and somehow still found studio time to assemble their fourth proper LP Macro (Napalm Records) just in time for another Euro trek. Don’t know how they do it, but nothing but respect for our Ukrainian friends even if our president is a vile pig monster who tried extorting you guys for political gain. Continue reading