Wow, halfway through Week Seven of COVID closures in the land of AltCtrl…. Here are some songs you can download when bandcamp waives its revenue share on Friday! Despite their name, Smoke & Mirrors Productions is a lot more than just smoke and mirrors. The Florida recording studio is run by two members of The… Continue reading Quarantine Music, Part 3: Smoke & Mirrors Productions, Ravioli Musick, Addy Edward, and Si Ombrellone
Album Review: Phylogenesis by ABYSMAL DAWN (Season of Mist)
Death metal often walks a narrow tightrope. The lyrical themes can sometimes be too didactically political or, on the other hand, too cartoonish to take seriously. Musically, there is also a balancing act. Some bands who try so hard to sound relentlessly punishing can at times end up sounding monotonous and uninteresting. Phylogenesis, the latest… Continue reading Album Review: Phylogenesis by ABYSMAL DAWN (Season of Mist)
Quarantine Music, Part 2: The AltCtrlToob Edition ft. Heilung, Ghost Cult, Murder Castle, and GimpAlisous
Going on Week Six of COVID-19 closures here in AltCtrl-Ville…. Maybe folks need something new to watch on Youtube?? Check out these videos! First up, Danish pagan collective Heilung released their first-ever music video yesterday, for the song “Norupo.” (I checked, all the other videos on their Youtube channel are live performances or album teasers.) … Continue reading Quarantine Music, Part 2: The AltCtrlToob Edition ft. Heilung, Ghost Cult, Murder Castle, and GimpAlisous
AltCtrlToob Video Premiere: “The Lord Conspirator” by MONOLITH ZA
Ever wonder what local death metal sounds like in… South Africa?? Welp, check out this brand new lyric video from Port Elizabeth outfit Monolith ZA, for their song “The Lord Conspirator.” Melding the stylings of Death and Opeth, the band is looking forward to releasing a full-length on April 28th via MMD Records. The band… Continue reading AltCtrlToob Video Premiere: “The Lord Conspirator” by MONOLITH ZA
Quarantine Music, Part 1: Eryka Fir, Undercliff, Army of Karens, and Turkey Vulture
If you’re not an essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re probably finding yourself with a lot more time on your hands — and even if you are working in healthcare or essential retail, your social life is shot. All this “extra” time at home is giving birth to some unique projects…. First up is… Continue reading Quarantine Music, Part 1: Eryka Fir, Undercliff, Army of Karens, and Turkey Vulture
NERD TALK with Matt Bacon, Diehard Trekkie
Editor’s Note: Matt Bacon is a music journalist, marketing guru, and the founder of Dropout Media, a full service management and label services company. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter to learn music industry social media strategies and more. Read below as he pulls back the curtain on a certain sci-fi TV obsession…. I’m writing this… Continue reading NERD TALK with Matt Bacon, Diehard Trekkie
Sometimes It’s Fun to Have Fun: MANGATA and COVET
One thing modern heavy metal can be hopelessly devoid of? Fun. It’s all gloomy doom rituals or shredding as fast as you can in as many time signatures as possible…. But sometimes girls/boys/all genders of people just want to have fun. Mangata and Covet are two fun bands I’ve come across on my quarantined April… Continue reading Sometimes It’s Fun to Have Fun: MANGATA and COVET