Six years (where did that time go?) after their Grammy award-winning album Electric Messiah, comes High On Fire’s latest effort Cometh The Storm (MNRK heavy). Gone is the ferocious, Thrash-like assault of the last album, replacing it is their trademark sludgy, Stoner Metal, but with a broadened palette. Can this record live up to its revered predecessor? Continue reading
In dire times of crisis and injustice caused by oppressive systems, the least we can do is to voice our aspirations through the creative media that we have going – and that’s what the hardcore unit Racetraitor have been doing. Racetraitor has always been a band that’s ahead of their time – voicing opinions on systemic racism and white privilege before they were even often discussed in a large audience.
Nytt Land rip the balls off a Siberian tiger (no wild animals were injured for the purposes of this review) with the adventurously ambient, spirited and spiritual Torem (Napalm Records). Elemental, wild and ancient. Throat singing, Finno-Ugric languages. The kind of old-world wisdom the new world craves.
When an album features Al Di Meola, Trevor Rabin, Vernon Reid, Joe Satriani, and Marty Friedman you know it’s going to be a corker. To make this reviewer squeeze with joy is that Outlanders is actually Tarja Turunen. Tarja is accompanied by Torsten Stenzel.
The Palladium, Worcester, MA 9/8/2022
Sometimes your mind is clouded by your own thoughts, and you just need to get yourself saged, and howl throughout the night. I’m seeing Heilung on the 19th anniversary of my mother’s passing. I definitely felt some kind of way that day. If you’re still not familiar with Heilung by this point in time, the short answer is, they are an earthly ritual based performance.
The HU – Rumble of Thunder (Better Noise)
The HU and their joyful rock laced with Mongolian folk condiments rode into our collective consciences with 2019’s brilliant The Gereg, establishing themselves immediately by managing to produce something new, yet simultaneously neither novelty nor cheesy despite its requisite ingredients. A skilful piece of musical chef-ery indeed. Second time around, the HU have sought to refine things a little, less bold in some of their choices, yet with an eye on producing something more palatable to more people now that the attention has been piqued.Continue reading
With almost nothing revealed about their identity, singer Elitha Treveniel is an enigmatic presence in the contemporary world where true mystery is hard to maintain. As the main songwriter/vocalist for Ianai, this project’s music is equally as cryptic in part as it transcends across multiple spectrums. If there is one thing clear about the album Sunir (Svart Records) however, is that it is a captivating and wonderful experience.
Heavy, yet groove-laden, Bloodywood brings to the world Rakshak (Self-Released). Bloodywood marries classic Bollywood strains with some serious riffage and wicked heavy metal. Everything about Rakshak is loud and in your face. The listener has a primal urge to hear and see Bloodywood live. Every track on Rakshak is gobsmackingly amazing.
Eclectic and amazing genre smashers This Way To the Egress have already announced their new album, their sixth, Retrospectiva! on Halloween 2020. The band has teamed up with Ghost Cult today to share their new single “Gravedigger”, lovely bop and mediation on the apocalyptic end-times vibe of 2020, or really the last few years in the world. The band will certainly draw comparisons musical chameleons and misfits from Art rock, Cabaret Punks, and World Music. However, its’s on repeat listens the band’s idiosyncratic special sauce is revealed, a synapse shattering portend of their expanding sound and potential for greatness. The rising band from Pennsylvania has already appeared at festivals alongside major names like M.I.A., Cypress Hill & The Specials and shared stages with Squirrel Nut Zippers, World/Inferno Friendship Society, Aurelio Voltaire, Red Elvises, and The Dresden Dolls, including being Amanda Palmer’s backing band at her New Year’s Eve Bash. The new album was recorded and produced by Dan Shatzky at his NYC Vibromonk studio, a mecha for the NYC gypsy/klezmer-punk scene with credits including Gogol Bordello, Balkan Beat Box, and Firewater. Hang on to someone you love for dear life, and jam out to “Gravedigger” right now!
World music outfit Heilung will be working with U.K.-based gaming company Ninja Theory on the soundtrack for their upcoming game, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. The announcement trailer for the new game, which has just premiered at this year’s Game Awards, features Heilung’s song ‘In Maidjan,’ which is taken from their debut album, Ofnir. Watch the trailer now!Continue reading