For every rush of adrenaline there’s the eventual lull. For each euphoric high there’s the comedown to follow. Thunderheads (Aqualamb Recordings) — the debut record of LaMacchia — plays like the 3am winding down of a night of excess. Thrills and sensual desires wedded to a shadow of sadness and introspection.
When it comes to acrimonious splits within bands, some music fans have long memories. Tending to side with one party over the other, many loyal devotees can either be unwilling or simply unable to let go of the past no matter how much water has passed under the bridge in the meantime. The faint hope of some future reconciliation usually remains among the embittered faithful but when death becomes part of the story a grudge often turns into something unforgivable and can last a lifetime.
They say (well, Turisas did, which is probably as unlikely a band to reference in the introduction to a review of a solo album by the vocalist from The Menzingers as you’re going to get) no good story ever starts with drinking tea. But, maybe, just maybe this one does. For the journey of Don’t Go Throwing Roses In My Grave (Epitaph Records), the first solo album from Gregor Barnett begins with the premature closing of one adventure and the unplanned void of returning home to… no plans. Just peace, quiet, solitude, and, well, whatever hot drink of choice our man from Pennsylvania chooses to imbibe the morning.
Ghost Cult stalwart, mainstay, and truly valued senior writer Mat Davies blesses us with his top twenty albums of the year, plus some thoughts on the year that has been, and that which is still to come… Continue reading
Legendary artist Nick Cave will perform a solo piano livestream event, Idiot Prayer: Nick Cave Alone at Alexandra Palace, a film shot at the iconic London venue this June. Join the online streaming event on 23 July 2020. In a one of a kind event, audiences around the world will have the chance to watch Cave play songs from his extensive back catalogue, including rare tracks that most fans will be hearing for the first time. The songs are taken from across the breadth of Cave’s career, including early Bad Seeds and Grinderman, and the acclaimed recent album, Ghosteen. The performance was filmed by award-winning Cinematographer Robbie Ryan (The Favourite, Marriage Story, American Honey) in Alexandra Palace’s stunning West Hall. It was edited by Nick Emerson (Lady Macbeth, Emma, Greta).
Following up on last month’s relief efforts to aid bands affected by the coronavirus. Renowned Grammy-winning producer Marc Urselli (U2, Foo Fighters, Nick Cave, John Zorn, Mike Patton) is collaborating with Latin Grammy-winning Kevorkian Mastering (Beyoncé, Willie Nelson, Dave Matthews Band) on a crazy giveaway!
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Renowned producer Marc Urselli (U2, Foo Fighters, Nick Cave, John Zorn, Mike Patton) is mixing three bands for FREE as a part of a giveaway he is hosting to support independent artists during the coronavirus crisis. All bands need to do to sign up at the link below and enter their bands’ name. Bands can direct fans to this same page which acts as a poll. The three highest vote-getters will each get a song mixed for free by the legendary producer.Continue reading
Here is yet another Ghost Cult “End Of Year” Guest post! We’ll be sharing lists, memories, and other shenanigans from our favorite bands, partners, music industry peers, and other folks we respect across the globe. Adrienne Davies, drummer and artist non-parallel of Earth has shared her shortlist of faves from 2019 with us. Earth released their immense new classic Full Upon Her Burning Lips in May via Sargent House and we chatted with her and Dylan Carlson in New York to discuss the album and their career. Check out her picks! Continue reading
Ask a proud American to identify the EoB and they’ll gaze, either wistfully or with revolution in mind, toward a grand old building not far from Pennsylvania Avenue. 2018, however, has given birth to another EoB – the Evolution of Boom, a kind of cultural reworking of the Low-End chords which brought all manner of sounds into the realm of enjoyment for the average music listener.Continue reading
Ulver’s Sic Transit Gloria Mundi (House of Mythology) stands as a kind of unofficial conclusion to the vision set out in 2017’s The Assassination of Julius Caesar, comprising a selection of cuts from the final draft, and select live recordings.Continue reading