2019: a year of chock full of awesome albums celebrating ten years of heaviness. This includes Crack the Skye by Mastodon, Constellations by August Burns Red, and The Harvest Floor by Cattle Decapitation to name just a few. But in 2009, the metal world turned upside down with the self -titled debut of a band… Continue reading On the Front Line: Animals As Leaders, The Contortionist, & Moon Tooth @ Irving Plaza on May 21, 2019
Author: Rodey Tsapralis
Editorial: Batushka or Batushka?
In my years performing under the moniker of Blackthorne as part of CT Black Metal band Theogonia, many a practice session was spent debating who was the true (TRVE) Gorgoroth. For those unfamiliar with the story, the legendary Norwegian band experienced a nasty split from 2007 to 2009. Long story short, vocalist Kristian “Gaahl” Espedal… Continue reading Editorial: Batushka or Batushka?
On the Front Line: Meshuggah & The Black Dahlia Murder at Hammerstein Ballroom, May 16, 2019
There is something special about that Hammerstein Ballroom that forever associates it with New York City. It’s cavernous and gorgeous when empty, but becomes a very different place when the lights are low and the crowds roll in. And when the pit opens up, the floor rumbles like a 1 train thundering down the tracks.… Continue reading On the Front Line: Meshuggah & The Black Dahlia Murder at Hammerstein Ballroom, May 16, 2019
On the Front Line: Cradle of Filth and More @ Irving Plaza, NYC
Riddle me this: fifty some-odd goths and horror punks waiting outside Irving Plaza with not a single clove cigarette between them. This on the night that extreme metallers Cradle of Filth come to New York City on the most recent leg of the “Cryptoriana World Tour,” aptly subtitled “The Second Coming of Vice.” Maybe it… Continue reading On the Front Line: Cradle of Filth and More @ Irving Plaza, NYC
AltCtrlToob Goes Easter Egg Hunting with Rammstein’s “Deutschland”
I woke up on March 28 to two ugly truths that I seem to have suppressed for some time now. First, going to bed at 2:30AM is not something I can do anymore if I plan on having a productive day. Second, and more importantly, it has been nearly a decade since the release of… Continue reading AltCtrlToob Goes Easter Egg Hunting with Rammstein’s “Deutschland”
Album Review: The Black Dahlia Murder’s Abysmal (Metal Blade)
With new releases from Between the Buried and Me and Cattle Decapitation, 2015 has been quite a stellar year for Metal Blade Records. As the final months of the year roll around, The Black Dahlia Murder returns to the frontline with Abysmal to round out the impressive Metal Blade catalog. Beginning with 2011’s opus, Ritual,… Continue reading Album Review: The Black Dahlia Murder’s Abysmal (Metal Blade)