Grandpa Capra

Grandpa Capra- Episode 3 New Episode of My podcast is up,...

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:14:56 -0400

Grandpa Capra- Episode 3

New Episode of My podcast is up, please feel free to check it out!

High on Fire- De Vermis Mysteriis “I got this idea...

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 10:37:42 -0400

High on Fire- De Vermis Mysteriis

“I got this idea about Jesus Christ and the Immaculate Conception: What if Jesus had a twin who died at birth to give Jesus his life? And then what if the twin became a time traveler right then?”

Now, these aren’t the maniacal ideals of a two-bit cult leader, or even a “drunk off the communion wine” Catholic Priest. This is Matt Pike, singer/guitar player of the band High on Fire describing his inspiration for the lyrical concepts found on their newest record “De Vermis Mysteriis”.

High on Fire are a trio from Oakland, California who have fine tuned their portrayal of stoner, sludge, and progressive metal over the last ten years of their existence. Since their origin, High on Fire has always mixed aggressive rock/metal with strange and borderline outlandish concepts into their music. This record is no different, but what does stand out however is that “De Vermis Mysteriis” has a much more raw, thrashing feel to it courtesy of production credits by hardcore/metal mastermind Kurt Ballou. Between Ballou’s stripped down approach to recording and High on Fire’s “take no prisoners” songwriting style, this record carries a sense of urgency that was lost in translation on previous efforts. Fast paced riffing, insanely technical guitar solos, Motorhead inspired vocals, dirty low end bass licks, and frantic drum parts make this 52-minute slab of epic rock and metal something you will walk away from bruised and broken, yet yearning for more.

It may take an Easter miracle to understand the concepts on High on Fire’s “De Vermis Mysteriis”, but it’s a no brainer that this record is extreme metal fans musical revelation. You can follow this artist through their Facebook, purchase this record through Insound, or stream a track below:

Pallbearer- Sorrow and Extinction Even to a common music...

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 15:32:00 -0400

Pallbearer- Sorrow and Extinction

Even to a common music aficionado, the genre “Doom Metal” is mostly considered uncharted waters. This extreme medium of metal music is chock full of slower riffs with low-tuned drone elements that either seem absolutely epic or incomprehendable walls of noise depending on the listener. Luckily for us, Pallbearer have developed a traditional Doom Metal styling that progresses the genre even further on their debut album “Sorrow and Extinction”.

It’s absolutely accurate that Pallbearer channels their sludge-filled approach from inspirational acts such as Black Sabbath, Pentagram, St. Vitus, and Candlemass on “Sorrow and Extinction”. However, the band also incorporates progressive metal and psychedelic rock into their already monolithic musical blueprint, birthing a unique sound that becomes more rewarding with each listen. Clean dramatic vocal melodies, harmonized guitar parts, extremely distorted low-end bass, and drumming played alongside and around gigantic riffs spawn a more grandiose vision of Doom Metal excellence that Pallbearer accomplishes in only five tracks.

It may take a little longer than usual to realize what these Little Rock, Arkansas gentlemen are accomplishing on “Sorrow and Extinction”, but it’s a genuinely rewarding moment when the realization arrives that this record is a gloom infused masterpiece. You can follow this band through their Facebook, purchase this record through their label Profound Lore, or stream a track from the record below:

Episode 2

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:51:42 -0500

Episode 2:

Awesome music podcast featuring an interview with Jerry Jones of Trophy Scars. Please continue to support independent music and share this podcast if you enjoy what you’re hearing.

Schoolboy Q- Habits and Contradictions I find myself...

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:08:24 -0500

Schoolboy Q- Habits and Contradictions

I find myself constantly having the same arguments with individuals claiming to be “well versed” in hip-hop culture that organic hip-hop is still alive and well. I get it, the 90’s were a great period for independent hip-hop, but times change and there are still relevant artists pushing the culture forward like never before. Throughout the 2000’s, different rappers and crews with interesting approaches on the genre surfaced such as Definitive Jux, Asap Rocky, Doomtree, Pac Div, and finally Black Hippy which Los Angeles rapper Schoolboy Q is a member of and considered a valuable asset. His latest release “Habits and Contradictions” just so happens to offer the most refreshing hip-hop to be released so far this year.

It’s somewhat of a challenge trying to pin down Schoolboy Q’s rap style. He’s amorphous in many ways channeling street life, drug dealing, and the defilement of women one moment, but then showcases optimism about his day-to-day struggles at the next turn. His rapping characteristics are not always heavy on wordplay, and he’s also not constantly “hot dogging” his flow with speed and accuracy. Some may write off these particular traits as a lacking MC still discovering his footing, but it actually has the opposite effect in making Schoolboy Q’s style seem well rounded and allows his listeners to immerse themselves in the world he creates throughout “Habits and Contradictions”. No matter what walk of life you are from, this record has the uncanny ability to make Schoolboy Q’s experiences seem channeled through the listener as if it were their own everyday happenings. With this mesmerizing appeal backed by the excellent use of production and sampling, “Habits and Contradictions” becomes more of an addictive experience than just another hip-hop record doing the same old song and dance.

Schoolboy Q’s “Habits and Contradictions” is a breakout record for this young artist, and should be on the tip of any hip-hop aficionados tongue. Don’t say I didn’t tell you so. You can follow this artist through their Facebook, purchase this record through Amazon, or stream a track from the album below:

Orange Goblin- A Eulogy For The Damned A few years ago I got...

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:37:00 -0500

Orange Goblin- A Eulogy For The Damned

A few years ago I got into Orange Goblin by complete chance. There’s a critical point in every music lovers life where the listener undergoes a faze of complete infatuation with either a particular artist or entire genre of music. In my case, I went through a spell where I became engrossed in anything that carried the moniker “Stoner Rock”. To this day I’m not exactly sure where or how this inspiration came about. There wasn’t any influence from my friends; they were too busy worshipping bands like Jimmy Eat World, Radiohead, or The Mars Volta. I also was the farthest thing from your stereotypical Stoner getting high in his black light poster filled bedroom while listening to Pink Floyd records. I just somehow fell in love with the general idea of how the songwriting in Stoner Rock focused on incorporating the same riffs that would continually groove for extended periods of time. I was getting reacquainted with bands that I already loved like Queens of the Stone Age, Soundgarden, and Fu Manchu but also was discovering artists that I should’ve been listening to like Kyuss, Electric Wizard, Sleep, and finally England’s Orange Goblin who quickly became one of my personal favorites in the genre. So it goes without saying how ecstatic I became when finding out that Orange Goblin were releasing a new record in 2012 entitled, “A Eulogy For The Damned”.

Orange Goblin play a brand of Stoner Rock that strongly focuses on the classic influence of Black Sabbath and Motorhead, but also blends elements doom, metal, and punk into their crust-driven sound. However, “A Eulogy For The Damned” takes what Orange Goblin does best, and gives it a more polished and produced feel without watering down the intensity of this band’s signature sound. Riff-laden guitar work, smooth low-end bass, dynamic drumming, and ruggedly sung vocals all honor this vintage style, but gracefully transitions this record into current times without renouncing them as a revival act.

Orange Goblin are seasoned veterans when it comes to the “Stoner Rock” genre, and “A Eulogy For The Damned” is a fantastic reminder and step forward for this English band. You can follow this band through their Facebook, purchase and listen to their entire album through their Bandcamp, or stream a track below:

Brick + Mortar- Heatstroke Demo I’ll be completely honest,...

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:45:10 -0500

Brick + Mortar- Heatstroke Demo

I’ll be completely honest, the first time I was introduced to Brick + Mortar’s music it didn’t really leave a lasting impression. It wasn’t that I believed they weren’t talented; it just seemed after hearing their last release “7 Years in the Mystic Room” some songs stood out and the rest just seemed slightly unfocused. I understood what this group was trying to achieve translates gracefully through a live setting and anyone lucky enough to witness their onstage antics would follow this band to the ends of the Earth, but what about an individual that didn’t have this luxury? Well, Brick + Mortar recently put out a 3 song demo entitled “Heatstroke” that showcases tremendous growth in their songwriting and is a finer representation of their trademark “Lightning in a Bottle” energy and sound.

Brick + Mortar are Brandon Asraf (Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Samples) and John Tacon (Drums, Vocals, Samples) that play and interesting hybrid of Indie Rock, Electronica, Hip-Hop, Reggae, and Pop. A musical stew of influences this off the map normally spells a recipe for disaster, but the Asbury Park duo have somehow created and mastered a sound that presents itself as intriguing uncharted territory. Catchy sincere vocals, impressive groove oriented drumming, ambient looped samples, and light strummed guitar work serve as the meat and potatoes for this act, but are more inviting and focused this time around leaving the listener eager to return to this brief release yet yearn for a full-length effort.

Brick + Mortar are taking huge strides on their latest demo “Heatstroke”, and it won’t be much longer until more people stand up and take notice. You can follow this artist through their Facebook, purchase and listen to this entire release through their Bandcamp, or stream a track below:

Move To The Ocean by Brick+Mortar

Vasudeva- Roots of the Tree EP Perhaps I’m biased because I...

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:08:00 -0500

Vasudeva- Roots of the Tree EP

Perhaps I’m biased because I live here, but I strongly believe that New Jersey is fertile soil for some of the best-unsigned talent in the United States. It’s almost as if the Garden State is this untouched creative bubble that never really goes through a lull of visionary artists. Whether it has been through playing music in different bands or just attending shows in general, I’ve constantly discovered wonderful up and coming acts time after time again. With that being said, Vasudeva is another local act that has taken me by surprise with their latest 4-song effort, “Roots of the Tree”.

Vasudeva is a four piece instrumental band from Central New Jersey that combines elements of dance-infused, progressive, and experimental rock that is comparable to artists such as Minus the Bear or Maps and Atlases at first listen. However as the Ep unfolds, it slowly sinks in that Vasudeva are moving in a direction away from these influences and write songs that are a fresh take on this musically complex yet accessible genre. Lightly strummed and nimbly tapped guitar parts, groove heavy bass lines, and expressive rhythmic drumming help to convey elements of lightheartedness and optimism throughout this entire instrumental Ep. It also allows the four songs to emanate a musical aura that compels the listener to experience the same “rose-colored lenses” artistic vision that Vasudeva create through their music.

Vasudeva are a Garden State secret that should progress to bigger and better things, and “Roots of the Tree” is a fantastic stepping-stone in doing just that. You can follow this artist through their Facebook, download this entire Ep for free through their Bandcamp, or stream a track below:

<a href=”http://vasudeva.bandcamp.com/track/earthmover-2” data-mce-href=”http://vasudeva.bandcamp.com/track/earthmover-2”>Earthmover by Vasudeva</a>

Retox- Ugly Animals We live in strange times. Anything...

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:42:00 -0500

Retox- Ugly Animals

We live in strange times. Anything you’ve ever wanted is instantly downloadable, individuals spend more time communicating through social networks than conversing face to face, and the telephone has become a new age technological Swiss-Army knife that tricks the owner into feeling smarter than what they actually are. It’s constant mind-numbing pitfalls like this that make every day seem even more lackluster than the next, and is exactly why Retox wrote a 13-minute long middle finger of an album entitled “Ugly Animals”.

Retox is a band that plays a snotty yet intricately abrasive blend of punk, hardcore, and thrash metal. This San Diego based group consists of members Justin Pearson, Brian Evans, Thor Dickey, and Michael Crain who all cut their teeth playing in nonconforming acts such as The Locust, Head Wound City, Cattle Decapitation, The Festival of Dead Deer, and The Crimson Curse. “Ugly Animals” is a direct address to the monotony that our society has collapsed into over the course of this generation. Spastic guitar and bass lines, harshly-shouted vocals, and precise yet bludgeoning drum parts fly by on this short record that help create a sense of chaotic urgency that somehow feels catchy and cathartic after each listen.

Retox’s “Ugly Animals” is a sonic purging that is meant to light a fire under the ass of any mundane listener. You can follow this artist through their Facebook, purchase this record through Insound, or stream a track from the record below:

Wizard Rifle- Speak Loud Say Nothing Wizard Rifle strikes me...

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:53:02 -0500

Wizard Rifle- Speak Loud Say Nothing

Wizard Rifle strikes me as a group that has become accustomed to people writing them off. It’s somewhat understandable; the music they create is too unusual for the general public to wrap their heads around, and it’s fairly easy at first listen to pigeonhole them as a band riding the coattails of hipster-induced music trends. Hopefully, you won’t follow the herd either and realize that “Speak Loud Say Nothing” is an adventurous release from this exciting obscure band.

Wizard Rifle is a Portland, Oregon duo that features guitarist/vocalist Max Dameron and drummer/vocalist Sam Ford. Their sound teeters on experimental rock that can be compared to other two man acts such as Hella or Lightning Bolt, but also incorporates elements of metal and stoner rock that are similar to The Melvins, Torche, or Queens of the Stone Age. Even though this familiarity is upfront and apparent in their sound, Wizard Rifle crossbreeds their musical ideas to create an avant-garde sludge metal assault that will make any naysayer think twice about accusing them of living in the shadows of their influences. Intricate grooves and distorted guitar riffs, walls of reverb and feedback, flashy hard hitting drumming, and strangely sung vocal melodies are showcased on this debut record that embraces its eccentric oddities just as much as its heavy metal swagger.

Wizard Rifle’s “Speak Loud Say Nothing” is a fantastic debut from this forward thinking musical tag team and is highly recommended for anyone that enjoys his or her music just outside the box. You can follow this artist through their Facebook, purchase this record through their label Seventh Rule Recordings, or stream a track below:

&amp;amp;lt;a href=”http://wizardrifle.bandcamp.com/track/tears-wont-soften-steel-2” _mce_href=”http://wizardrifle.bandcamp.com/track/tears-wont-soften-steel-2”&amp;amp;gt;Tears Won’t Soften Steel by Wizard Rifle&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

St. Vincent- Strange Mercy It’s difficult at times to remember...

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:29:00 -0500

St. Vincent- Strange Mercy

It’s difficult at times to remember that when it comes to any individual, there are always two sides to every coin. Take for example Annie Clark, a 29-year-old singer/songwriter that goes under the moniker St. Vincent. This seductress at first glance seems bubbling over with charm and sophistication, but under the layers is a manic-depressive pressure cooker set to blow at any moment. It’s a Jekyll and Hyde act that St. Vincent straddles well, and keeps listeners guessing on her newest record “Strange Mercy”.

Every track on “Strange Mercy” toys with complex concepts that are presented as sugarcoated and digestible at first listen. Themes of overwhelming longing, self-doubt, rage-infused outbursts, and lustful dominatrix run rampant throughout this record, yet Clark pulls the reins back just before things can spiral too out of control. This tightrope walker communicates her convoluted sound through fuzzed-out guitar tones, sweetly sung vocals, interesting and climatic synth lines, lax bass guitar, and in the pocket drumming. It’s a world that only St. Vincent knows for sure how the pieces align, but leaves the listener making their own conclusions and attempting to fill in the blanks.

St. Vincent’s “Strange Mercy” may come off as a Rubik’s Cube of emotions, but it’s a puzzle you won’t mind trying to solve. You can follow this artist through her Facebook, purchase this record through her label 4ad, or listen to a track below:

Khann- Erode In so many respects Orlando, Fl is a cesspool. ...

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:27:33 -0500

Khann- Erode

In so many respects Orlando, Fl is a cesspool. After you strip away the bubble of enchantment that is the Magic Kingdom, you are left with nothing but stretches of deserted highways, rundown local businesses, project housing, and one of the highest rates of gang related crimes in America. When surrounded by such bleak conditions, it’s easy to slip and fall through the cracks, but Orlando group Khann have embraced their disposition and channel it through a cathartic profound blast that is their newest record “Erode”.

There is a plethora of genre jumping throughout this record. Elements of metal, hardcore, punk, progressive rock, screamo, and even southern rock are all accounted for, but never seem oversaturated or confusing. It actually has the opposite effect of being a more unified effort for the sake of musical and lyrical impact. Khann’s whole artistic vision for “Erode” is the concept of becoming weathered by everyday events, but in turn creating an individual who has become hardened and streamlined. This process is portrayed center stage through sludgy yet intricate guitar playing, manic-shouted vocals, low-end grooving bass, and precision drumming.

Khann’s “Erode” is an impressive display of aggression from such a young act, and will cause the needle on your record player to erode from playing this one over and over again. You can follow this artist through their Facebook, purchase this record through their label Blackmarket Activities, or stream a track below:

<a href=”http://khann.bandcamp.com/track/implosion” _mce_href=”http://khann.bandcamp.com/track/implosion”>Implosion by Khann</a>

Will Haven- Voir Dire As far back as I can remember, Will Haven...

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:58:00 -0500

Will Haven- Voir Dire

As far back as I can remember, Will Haven has always been a band that just got lost in translation for most people into aggressive music. Even at the pinnacle of their success, I always heard the same negative stance of “This band is a Deftones rip-off, who gives a shit?” leaving very few to truly appreciate or understand what they were trying to accomplish. Well, it’s safe to say that Will Haven’s “Voir Dire” just might be their finest achievement yet, and will extract any naysayer’s head right out of their own tight ass.

The title “Voir Dire” is a Latin term meaning “to speak the truth”, and Will Haven couldn’t be more honest when it comes to sticking to their guns on this record. “Voir Dire” exudes a hearty dose of noisy, sludge-filled atmospheric metalcore that will inspire new and old listeners alike to return to this band’s back catalogue. Shrieked vocals, down-tuned bass and guitars, airy keyboards, and primal drumming allow this record to pummel and groove, but grant quiet yet dense drone-filled ambience before building back to pure chaos. This album takes off running and never bothers to look over its shoulder for uptight diehards or green newcomers leaving anyone in the dust that isn’t willing to keep up.

Will Haven’s “Voir Dire” is another tour de force and should serve as a reminder of their importance in the hardcore/metal community. You can follow this artist through their Facebook, purchase this record through their Webstore, or stream a track below:

Darkside- Self-Titled ep

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:34:00 -0500

Lets be forward here, the last thing the music industry needs is another guitar and electronic dynamic duo based out of New York City. That horse left the gate long ago, most of the time being performed with little to no substance, and usual served as a soundtrack to some Williamsburg loft meat market dance party that you got unwillingly dragged out to. So how is it that electronic producer Nicolas Jaar and guitarist Dave Harrington managed to catch my attention with their newest project Darkside? It turns out this twosome are all about creating and capturing brooding dark atmospherics on their newest self-titled ep.

The downtempo/minimalism of electronics through synth lines, tape loops, reverb layered vocals, and triggered drum patterns all compliment the funk inspired bass and guitar lines on this ep. This approach allows Darkside to deliver and captivate the listener with ethereal moods through their songwriting. It becomes easy to lose sight that this supposed to be a short introduction of a new artist, and you are instead transported into a sensual nocturnal world full of confidence and swagger. Although the ep is brief, it would be fascinating to see if Darkside could hold that same type of cerebral mysticism when it comes time to release a full-length effort.

Darkside’s “Self-Titled” ep shows promise to a genre that has gone through the ringer and leaves the listener with a craving for more. You can follow this artist through their Facebook, purchase this ep through Juno Records, or stream the entire ep below:

DARKSIDE - DARKSIDE EP by Clown & Sunset

Gates- The Sun Will Rise and Lead Me Home

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:11:00 -0500

The first time I ever heard Gates is an amusing story in itself. It was about this time last year that the legendary post-hardcore/rock band Rival Schools (which I am a huge fan of) was doing a reunion tour with a string of more intimate dates at smaller venues. One of these venues was this shitty yet charming dive bar in New Brunswick, NJ called The Court Tavern where I have seen a slew of awesome bands perform before. So my girlfriend and I decided to make the trek down to the college town looking forward to a fun night ahead of us filled with great music, cheap drinks, and giant Grease Truck sandwiches.

We arrived and settled in by having a few pitchers of Rolling Rock, then made our way downstairs into the Venue past a very jaded and weathered troll of a doorman. Gates opened this show and totally blew me away with their unique sound and tightness for such a fledgling band. Rival Schools were supposed to take the stage shortly after, but waited a good thirty minutes for their singer to even arrive at the show. It was his birthday this particular night, and he had been busy celebrating while his band had been setting up to perform. He finally made his way through the crowd taking the stage inebriated out of his mind, and played one of the most disheartening sets I had ever seen. Here was this band that I was so excited to have an opportunity to see again, and before me stood this cocky drunken douchebag that was singing and playing guitar extremely sloppy and was receiving death glares from the rest of his embarrassed bandmates. About halfway through their set, my girlfriend grabbed my arm and said, “I’ll be upstairs” which I translated as, “Lets get the fuck out of here” and I couldn’t have agreed with her more.

On the car ride home, we both discussed how that show would’ve been a complete disaster if it hadn’t been for the opening band Gates. Once we arrived home, we downloaded their debut ep, “The Sun Will Rise and Lead Me Home” off of their website for free and were sold on the sincerity and great songwriting that came through the speakers. Gates is a band that plays a type of ambient/indie rock that can be compared to bands such as Explosions in the Sky or even Thursday’s earlier work, but show more influence from these artists than from mimicking them and create a trademark sound in the process that is entirely their own. Atmospheric and progressive guitar lines, driving low-end bass, precision drumming, and heartfelt vocals create a musical tapestry that sets the backdrop for this albums lyrical content told from the disposition of a broken man. The brevity of this ep leaves the listener craving more, and looking positively toward the bright future of this small band from New Jersey.

Gates “The Sun Will Rise and Lead Me Home” is a great reminder that Independent music is alive and well. You can follow this artist through their Facebook, purchase or download the entire record for free through their website, or listen to a track below:

All Pigs Must Die- God Is War

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:46:00 -0500

Any time I hear the term “Supergroup”, it scares me. In so many instances, it ends up being comprised of musicians that have gained your respect through prior efforts, but now play in a regurgitated hollow sounding shit fest that rides out on a wave of watered down familiarity. Thank you All Pigs Must Die for not falling victim to this common musical atrocity, and for putting out “God Is War”, which is one of the most streamlined, no-nonsense, hate-fueled records to be released in 2011.

All Pigs Must Die is a hardcore/punk/metal/thrash band that consists of Kevin Baker (The Hope Conspiracy), Ben Koller (Converge), Adam Wentworth, and Matt Woods (Both known for their time spent in Bloodhorse). When listening to “God is War”, the listener can certainly hear the influence of the different acts this group came from, but it’s more important to focus on the direction this group is going toward. Relentless blast beats, buzz-saw distorted guitars, and filthy bass lines all help to support the harsh roared vocals showcasing lyrics that teeter between political bleakness, religious blasphemies, and the common underbelly of human nature. This freight train of ferocity is produced none other than genius hardcore/metal producer Kurt Ballou, who helps to expand the significant strengths of All Pigs Must Die’s unrelenting sound and vision of heaviness.

All Pigs Must Die’s “God Is War” is a brute force that hits with everything it has, and may knock the wind out of an unprepared listener. Consider yourself warned. You can follow this band through their Facebook, purchase this record through their Webstore, or listen to a track below:

KEN Mode- Venerable

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:23:00 -0500

Try to wrap your head around this: You’ve been in a metal band with your brother for twelve years. You’re pushing 30 years old. In theory, you should be well known and respected, but in actuality most people outside of your hometown don’t know who you are. You’ve put out the last few releases on your own label that you run in between your full-time job. You can’t keep a bass player in your line-up that sticks around for the long haul. All of these factors would be the white flag of surrender for any artist, but not Ken Mode. Instead, they wrote “Venerable” which is their best record to date and tour nonstop in support.

KEN Mode (An acronym which stands for Kill Everyone Now taken from a Henry Rollins biography), is rounded out by brothers Jesse and Shane Matthewson and currently Andrew LaCour (Also of the Florida band Khann). They are a three piece that play a blend of hardcore, sludge metal, and noise rock that is kind of a throwback hybrid of bands like The Jesus Lizard, Unsane, and Burnt By The Sun, but done with an interesting twist. Their newest record “Venerable”, builds off this solid core sound, but focuses on great structured songwriting and great production courtesy of Kurt Ballou (Well respected metal/hardcore producer and guitar player of legendary hardcore band Converge).

This record is a nonstop kick to the teeth from start to finish. Intricate and sludgy rhythmic guitar lines, menacing screamed vocals, extreme low-end bass lines, and ferocious drumming barrage the listener on “Venerable”, but are crafted with intelligence as well as brute force. The record does play around with the use of dynamics that help to build on the extremes that this record embodies, but doesn’t give too much time for the listener to stay down before it starts to pulverize again.

By the end of “Venerable”, Ken Mode is able to accomplish something every artists wishes. They have allowed the listener to ask themselves, “Who is this band, and what just happened?” You can follow this artist on their Facebook, purchase this album and listen to it in entirety on their Bandcamp, or listen to a track below:

&amp;lt;a href=”http://kenmode.bandcamp.com/track/book-of-muscle” _mce_href=”http://kenmode.bandcamp.com/track/book-of-muscle”&amp;gt;Book Of Muscle by KEN mode&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;

James Blake- Self Titled

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:07:00 -0500

Dubstep music is awful. I was going to build up to this, but I figured it would be more effective if I just came flat out and said it. I’m sick of these so-called “Producers” that create shitty over-processed “canned cheese” music. With that said, it should be no surprise that when I heard the buzz circling the 22 year old mastermind Dubstep/Songwriter James Blake, I was skeptical and slept on his “Self-Titled” release. I guess that was the older-jaded musician in me rearing its ugly head, but I’ll be the first to admit that I made a mistake.

The best part about James Blake is that he uses dubstep elements to help add extra layers to his soulful singer/songwriter foundation. He’s at his best on this record when the core of his songwriting is basic piano and vocal melodies that are electronically tampered with in a tasteful fashion. Tinny drum and bass, vocoder/auto-tuned vocal patterns, and synthesizer keyboard lines all contribute to the albums mood of loneliness, desperation, heartbreak, and despair.

I tip my hat at James Blake’s “Self-Titled” release, and hope that this release inspires more artists find other creative ways to showcase Dubstep. You can follow this artist on Facebook, purchase this album through Rough Trade, or listen to a track below.

Ladder Devils- Forget English

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:22:00 -0500

As a music fan in general, the term “Post” attached to any genre annoys the hell out of me. In my opinion, it gets thrown around way too often and is kind of a lazy way to describe a sound that isn’t really accurate. I couldn’t begin to count the number of times I’ve been coaxed into listening to some lame artist that had an enormous sticker with this term glazed all over the cellophane wrapper of their record. The reason I’m bringing this up is because after hearing Ladder Devils new EP “Forget English”, many listeners will adhere that dirty word to their sound and doing so would be a huge mistake.

Ladder Devils are a Philadelphia based band that plays a blend of rock, hardcore, indie, and noisy punk. This may seem at first like a bunch of guys just banging away, but Ladder Devils have a knack for writing very structured songs that seem loose and rough around the edges. Interesting melodic guitar parts, fuzzed out bass lines, accented rhythmic drumming, and shouted vocal parts help to paint a clearer picture of an unusual rock band that adds a bit of piss and vinegar to their sound. “Forget English” is a great first step forward for a new band that isn’t afraid to ruffle a few feathers in the process.

Be sure not to lump Ladder Devils “Forget English” as another “run of the mill” release. You can follow them on Facebook, listen and download their entire record for free on their website, or listen to a track below.

&amp;lt;a href=”http://ladderdevils.bandcamp.com/track/common-dogs” _mce_href=”http://ladderdevils.bandcamp.com/track/common-dogs”&amp;gt;Common Dogs by Ladder Devils&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;

The Atlas Moth- An Ache For The Distance

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:57:00 -0500

As of late, music enthusiasts that have their ears low enough to the ground are starting to look towards Chicago as a bright beacon of hope. The Windy City currently harbors some of the most interesting unknowns that daily claw tooth and nail to be released from the city’s bowels. Soon enough, The Atlas Moth won’t have to worry about going unnoticed, because this bands newest offering “An Ache For The Distance” is another wonderful release that sheds even more light on Chicago’s rich underground music scene.

The Atlas Moth on first listen can commonly be interpreted as a hybrid of sludgy psychedelic doom metal. However when carefully examined, The Atlas Moth has more of a rhythm and blues foundation, separating them far from the pack of bands attempting this particular style. Another key point of their sound is the successful use of three guitar players. Typically, this approach tends to make a band sound disjointed, but in this case helps contribute to the atmospheric and distorted sounds on “An Ache For The Distance”. Elements such as clean sung vocals, doom growls, haunting shrieks, ambient synths, grooving bass lines, and laid back drumming are all essential in supporting the guitar driven concepts showcased on this record.

It should be no secret that Chicago’s The Atlas Moth has finally arrived on “An Ache For The Distance”. You can purchase this through their label Profound Lore, follow them on Facebook, listen to the entire record through their Bandcamp, or check out a track below:

&amp;lt;a href=”http://theatlasmoth.bandcamp.com/track/perpetual-generations” _mce_href=”http://theatlasmoth.bandcamp.com/track/perpetual-generations”&amp;gt;Perpetual Generations by The Atlas Moth&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;