I Don’t Even Smoke Pot: A Positive Review of Sleep’s The Sciences

The fact that Sleep managed to release a surprise album in this modern age of download culture is pretty staggering. News always seems to leak out about events such as this. Add to it the fact that a well renowned stoner metal band released their first album in 15 years on April 20th, and it’s… Continue reading I Don’t Even Smoke Pot: A Positive Review of Sleep’s The Sciences

Sanhedrin: Riding on the Dawn to Fiddler’s Green

Sanhedrin -- Photo by Susan Abramson

Sanhedrin entranced me when I saw them open for Khemmis at Brooklyn’s St. Vitus in early 2017.  The ferocious trad/doom trio seemed to come out of nowhere, only playing a handful of shows a year — but on big stages, opening for national headliners.  And now through some wizardous aligning of the metal scene planets,… Continue reading Sanhedrin: Riding on the Dawn to Fiddler’s Green

Review the Nightmare: Johnny Pluckman’s Take on Rise to Burn’s ‘Baptize the Nightmare’

Rise to Burn of Westchester, NY are no strangers to Alternative Control, or to anyone in the local NY and CT metal scenes. They were formed in 2013, are fronted by singer and guitarist Will Checchi of the much-loved No Remission, and released their original promo album in 2014. After much anticipation I finally have… Continue reading Review the Nightmare: Johnny Pluckman’s Take on Rise to Burn’s ‘Baptize the Nightmare’

Gun Control, Shock Rock, and Prunes on the Road: Granny Goes on the Record with Alternative Control

It turns out that I popped Granny’s cherry. Alternative Control’s review of Granny 4 Barrel’s video for “She Likes Guns” was, in fact, the first negative review the song has gotten.  But what Granny mainly took issue with was how the review interpreted some of her comments to Loudwire — so like civil adults (one… Continue reading Gun Control, Shock Rock, and Prunes on the Road: Granny Goes on the Record with Alternative Control

Listening Lately: The Music Blogger’s Dilemma with Phat A$tronaut, Piss River, Aura Noir, and Howling Giant

Hey, folks!  In this installment of Listening Lately, I don’t even know what to do…  There is SO MUCH GOOD MUSIC that comes across the blog’s path that it’s impossible to do justice to it all.  But I’ll try to at least point you in the direction of some acts to check out… Local favorites… Continue reading Listening Lately: The Music Blogger’s Dilemma with Phat A$tronaut, Piss River, Aura Noir, and Howling Giant

AltCtrlToob: Going Down Under with Halfwait’s “Stand Alone”

This morning’s selection comes all the way from Australia: grunge rockers Halfwait.  For fans of Foo Fighters and Blink 182, their full-length The Official comes out this June and they are now sharing the single “Stand Alone.”  This lyric video shows a different Australia than the one pictured by my American, untravelled imagination; its litter, train… Continue reading AltCtrlToob: Going Down Under with Halfwait’s “Stand Alone”

AltCtrlToob, the Sexism Edition: Stormy Daniels vs. Swedish Chicks in the Snow

A friend and I have been having a running discussion about how gender factors into music marketing.  For better or worse, we both agree that a woman in a heavy band will garner that band more audience and media interest.  Is this a “good” thing?  Depends on who you ask — but I haven’t found… Continue reading AltCtrlToob, the Sexism Edition: Stormy Daniels vs. Swedish Chicks in the Snow