Since the debacle over “the tour poster,” Bad Omens have been working their way back into the hearts of metal and rock fans alike by releasing some truly ambitious music. The Death of Peace of Mind (Sumerian Records) continues this on in spades.
Tag Archives: synth pop
Chino Moreno (Deftones) Says The New Album by Crosses Might Be Finished During The Pandemic
Crosses (sometimes stylized as †††) a post-Punk and 1980s Gothic synth-pop influenced side project of Deftones frontman Chino Moreno may indeed be springing back to life for 2021. In a new interview with “The Boo Crew”, Bloody Disgusting’s weekly Podcast, Chino was interviewed by the gang to discuss the new Deftones album Ohms (review here), his horror episode score for Hulu’s Into The Dark series, stalking Anton Levay’s house in San Francisco, his favorite horror movies, and much more. Asked about Crosses, Chino confirmed that back at the end of 2018, the band had completed 6-7 songs with the idea of finishing them and teased some activity on social media at that time. When pressed about a future release Chino remarked that the break from Deftones touring to support Ohms until 2021 “might provide the chance to complete the new record”. Ghost Cult also interviewed Reyka Osburn of Death Valley High in 2019 and commented that he worked on new music with Chino, some of which was for Crosses too. Crosses released their self-titled album in 2014, and two other EPs, and toured the world several times. The band includes Moreno, Shawn Lopez (Far), and Chuck Doom. The interview was excellent and we suggest you check it out, like and subscribe to The Boo Crew Podcast too! Continue reading
K-X-P – IV
Ambient music is tricky. Get it right and you can create some of the most mind-blowing, expansive, forward-thinking art imaginable. Get it wrong and you’re left looking like a pretentious mess. It’s very difficult to ride the line of pretension and come out on the right side when making anything that forsakes a conventional song structure, but by album six, you’d think K-X-P would be pretty adept, right?Continue reading
Bring Me The Horizon – amo
When That’s the Spirit was released in 2015, everyone who didn’t favor it immediately labeled Bring Me The Horizon soft. Those who did, called them brave—brave to leap out of their Deathcore upbringing and develop a fantastic radio-friendly but still hard record. Now with the release of amo (Sony Music / RCA) the Sheffield natives have courageously created their boldest, bravest record to date.Continue reading
The Black Queen – Infinite Games
Supergroup is a term bandied about too much these days, including here at this very website. It’s hard to help it in the streaming music age, which coincidently has also fostered a new openness and freedom for artists to come together as never before. Perhaps we need another terminology to describe these collectives. How about “artistic hive-mind”? That’s one that definitely suits The Black Queen, who is more than a mere musical group, but carry these sensibilities in everything they do from songs and lyrics to album art, videos, t-shirts, and visual performances live. The sum of their recorded output is but one facet of what can be possible when they get together.
Bad Rabbits – Mimi
Bad Rabbits’ new album, Mimi (InGrooves), huh? Not my usual review fare, I will admit, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t work for me. After several weeks of hardcore, doom, death metal, and Gundam themed albums, Bad Rabbits house blend of funk, synth pop, rock, and R&B may be the palate cleanser I didn’t know I needed. Continue reading
GHOST CULT ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2017: Part 2 (25 – 2)
Continuing our round-up of the very, VERY best albums of 2017, we pick things up where Part 1 left off… So, without further ado, immerse yourself in our recommendations of our favourite and the absolute best albums of the year, as we bring you Part 2 (25 – 2) of the official Ghost Cult Album of the Year (2017) countdown:Continue reading
The Black Queen At The Gramercy Theater
The Black Queen 12-09-2016
At The Gramercy Theater, New York, NY
All Photos By Jonathan Arevalo PhotographyContinue reading
Matt Skiba And The Sekrets- KUTS
Matt Skiba is very busy these days. He’s fronted Alkaline Trio for close to two decades and also dabbled in side projects like Heavens and The Hell. In case you didn’t know, he’s also currently filling in for Tom Delonge in Blink 182.
And because apparently the devil makes good use of idle hands Skiba just released KUTS (Superball Music) with The Sekrets. The Sekrets almost being a supergroup for the Alternative Press crowd as it also features AFI bassist Huntar Burgan and My Chemical Romance’s Jarrod Alexander on drums.
Are you still with me? Good, because if you are a fan of any of those aforementioned groups then you are in for a pleasant surprise with KUTS.
The formula here hasn’t drastically changed. It’s simple, yet effective songwriting mated to a bright, but not overbearing mix. And that’s not to say that 2012s Babylon or Haven’t You EP weren’t good, but The Sekrets are starting to stretch their sound a little more as opposed to sticking with traditional pop-punk compositions. While there still are bits pf punk fire from time to time like on opener ‘Lonely and Kold’ and ‘She Said’ it seems that Skiba and his cohorts have been revisiting their The Smiths, The Cure, and Echo & The Bunnymen LPs.
This more post-punk approach really sets in on the second half of KUTS. Songs like ‘Way Bakk When’ and ‘Hemophiliak’ shift The Sekrets’ emphasis to melancholy as opposed to two minutes of aggression. ‘Never Believe’ and ‘Vienna’ close out the album and finds Skiba further channeling Johnny Marr with simple but haunting music to compliment his almost world-weary vocals.
Skiba finds a way to honor some of his musical heroes without it coming across as just a love letter to the late 70s and early 80s. But then again the man has time for what seems like 400 other musical projects. Not sure how he does it, but hopefully he won’t stop soon.
8.0/10
HANSEL LOPEZ