ALBUM REVIEW: The Obsessed – Gilded Sorrow


Keyboard warriors, warmongering politicians and wicked women, Scott “Wino” Weinrich has got a bone to pick with all of you. He’s also got a truck-load of doom-soaked, monolithic, heavy-metal riffs to unleash. On Gilded Sorrow (Ripple Music), the latest album by metal road-warriors The Obsessed, Weinrich is taking names and kicking ass and he’s got the band and the studio sounds to inflict some sonic damage. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: ZAHN – Adria


 

German instrumental three-piece ZAHN (featuring members of Einstürzende Neubauten and Heads) combines musical elements that might seem strange on paper, but make perfect sense on record.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Sarattma – Escape Velocity


 

Escape Velocity (Nefarious Industries) is the debut album from Philidelphia, Pennsylvania-based instrumental duo Sarattma, and follows their debut Inner Spaces EP released in 2017. Featuring Mellowdeath and ex-Brian Jonestown Massacre drummer Sara Neidorf and Cleric guitarist Matt Hollenberg, their music is highly experimental with a distinct edge of tripped-out psychedelia, and is uniquely impressive! Continue reading


PODCAST: Episode #134: Tom De Witt of TDW on His New Album, and Writing for Famous Guest Collaborators


We caught up with Dutch progressive music artist Tom De Witt of TDW. His new album The Days The Clock Stopped is out now via Layered Reality Productions, and the album is a masterpiece of prog metal. We talked to Tom about his journey in the music industry, his approach to composing, how he connected with other artists to guest on his album, writing with them in mind, how we approached writing for the choir, we got deep on progressive music history, how do deal with reviewers, the genius of Frank Zappa, and more! and more. You can purchase and stream The Days The Clock Stopped here and check out our chat.

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Frank Zappa Tribute Beer Released For His Birthday


“Why Does It Hurt When Ipa?” the cleverly titled new IPA beer tribute to Frank Zappa, has been released by the Zapp Trust and Duck Foot Brewing Co for his birthday, today December 21st. In true Zappa improvisational fashion, the brewed with ZAPPA hops, Simcoe and Cascade. The West Coast-style IPA has notes of passion fruit, spice, and grapefruit (a favorite of FRANK ZAPPA’s) with a clean and dry finish. The can features never-before-published photos of Frank which pair nicely with the beer itself. In addition, the label explains more, “the Zappa hop, like the man, has a hugely eclectic style. Published flavor notes have ranged from passion fruit, mint, spicy, savory, fruity cereal, and uh…purple. (Try the beer, you’ll get it). Just like Frank, this hop is one of a kind and awesome.” This comes on the heels of the just-released Zappa documentary, directed by Alex Winter (the Bill and Ted series, The Lost Boys). Watch the trailer now for the beer:Continue reading


REVIEW: Devin Townsend – Order of Magnitude: Empath Live Volume 1


Devin Townsend is a music extraordinaire who is well-known for his many different and successful projects that he has participated in over the last 25 years or so. Whether it be Strapping Young Lad or Devin Townsend Project the man has always thrown his heart into it. He is a Canadian machine that expertly and consistently generates epic-scale music in many diverse forms. Last year he released his latest solo album, Empath (InsideOut Music). He took his essence to a new level of eccentricity with a masterful embodiment of bonkers meets serene. Many cling to the wilds that is Dev for his honest presentation, whether that be in Jazz, Metal, or whatever genre he chooses to express himself with. His devotees gather in the masses at his shows for a guaranteed excellent and entertaining performance. Last December he brought his uncommon magic to England and much like his actual works, the presentation was a little unconventional. Dev is about to release his new live album, Order of Magnitude: Empath Live Volume 1 (InsideOut Music) documenting that European tour. It will be released as a limited deluxe 2CD/Blu-Ray/DVD artbook package, a limited 2CD+DVD digipak, gatefold 3LP+2CD vinyl box set, and more.

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MFTJ Band Featuring Mike Keneally and Scott Schorr New Album Out Now


MFTJ, a band featuring Mike Keneally (Frank Zappa, Joe Satriani, Devin Townsend), and Scott Schorr (Producer of Levin Minnemann Rudess, Levin Torn White, Tony Levin’s Stick Man) have released their self-titled debut album. Described as an “instrumental prog soup flavored with art-rock, hip-hop, hard rock and psychedelia”, its an inventive and fun release with killer musicianship. It’s out now to purchase and stream from Schorr’s Lazybones Records label and features Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, King Crimson) on a track. Check it out!Continue reading


Alex Winter’s Frank Zappa Documentary to Debut at South By Southwest


Alex Winter (Bill and Ted 3, The Lost Boys) will finally premiere his long in the works Frank Zappa documentary at South By Southwest (SXSW) 2020, according to a published report by Rolling Stone. The festival takes place in Austin, Texas, between March 13th and March 22nd. Although Zappa has been the subject of many films, Winter’s movie is unique in that it covers the artist’s entire life; he had access to the Zappa family’s vault of uncirculated and rarely seen footage. The film will include commentary from Frank, his wife Gail, his one-time “stunt guitarists” Steve Vai and Mike Keneally, Mothers of Invention members Ruth Underwood, Ian Underwood and Bunk Gardner, and GTOs member Pamela Des Barres, among many others. Winter is known for his iconic roles in pop culture hits, but has also made several award-winning documentaries. He sifted through hundreds of hours of footage to make the picture. “Zappa was an extremely complicated and brilliant man who had as many detractors as he had fans,” Winter told Rolling Stone. “I hope that our audience finds him as captivating and significant an American artist as I do.”Continue reading


EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: Huelga – ‘Chinga de Perro’


Instrumental metal act Huelga is the brainchild of artist/activist and jazz multi-instrumentalist Michael Fonseca of Austin, TX. Huelga is bringing the release of his debut EP next month, promising to rewrite the book on progressive metal. Huelga, mixed by Mick Kenny of Anaal Nathrahk, will be released in digital and cassette format on April 5th, 2019. Inspired by modern composers Charles Ives, Frank Zappa, and Elliot Carter, as well as the Chicano Movement and the current political tensions that have come to a boil on the Texas/Mexico border, Huelga is making an emphatic statement musically and politically. Check out the new single ‘Chinga de Perro’ right here at Ghost Cult! Continue reading


Frank Zappa’s Hologram Responds To Ticketmaster Censorship


Famous for his brilliant guitar playing, composition, but also as a champion against censorship, Frank Zappa continues to fight the power from beyond the grave. Zappa is facing censorship yet again over so-called “questionable content” in the ad artwork for the upcoming “The Bizarre World Of Frank Zappa” hologram tour which will make its debut this April in the U.S. Ticketmaster would not post the ad online for the tour, instead posting a warning image about the content. Now Zappa, in hologram form as answered! Watch his response below. Continue reading