Funeral Tears – Beyond the Horizon
There is a heavy presence in every song, like that feeling of longing when you are missing someone who will never be there any more.
american – Violate and Control
An audiohorrorlove story, “Violate And Control” is an exercise of the former, the central, and the latter. In one sonic novel.
Goatwhore – Vengeful Ascension (Review and Interview)
Every song is a representation of Goatwhore and what they’ve done in the past, showing their vast evolution as a band over this 20 years.
The Sarcophagus – Beyond This World’s Illusions (Review and Interview)
Beyond This World’s Illusions is a beast called to life by this passion. Both anguished and terrifying, the creature moves of its own accord, drawing the listener along in its wake.
Nasty Surgeons – Exhumation Requiem (Review and Interview)
The band combines elements of Stockholm death metal with grindcore to create a stew of nastiness from which I can’t help but repeatedly partake.
Cloud Rat/Crevasse Split
This split release is another cog in the essential Cloud Rat machine. The Crevasse side is a revelation. The band has gained a new fan.
Chachi On Acid Review and Interview
Chachi is quite literally the band that introduced me to the underground and the DIY ethic as more than just an acronym.
Tuesday The Sky – Drift
Matheos sought to expand on the artistic direction of more understated and atmospheric music once recorded for a Fates Warning album but deemed incompatible with the band’s heavier, more aggressive approach.
Ecstatic Vision – Raw Rock Fury
On their Bandcamp site, Ecstatic Vision says that their sound is 35+ minutes of the dirtiest sounding recordings since Kick Out the Jams. I agree with this statement if full.
White Willow – Future Hopes
Nevertheless, there is plenty of ear candy here by which to be thoroughly engaged and awestruck. Certainly, the band’s likely influences are evident– Pink Floyd-ish guitar work here, mid 70s Genesis-esque keyboards there– but the band offers up a very modern sound, using elements of traditional prog but eschewing the technical fireworks and endless solos for the sake of emphasizing atmospherics and soundscapes.