EP Review: Oliver Cheung’s Remembrance

Hong Kong composer and multi-instrumentalist Oliver Cheung has released his first offering, an three-track instrumental EP titled Remembrance.  It’s a pleasant, ambient listening experience, but it lacks passion.  Cheung has a solid songwriting foundation; moments in “Fragments” and the title track gain momentum quite well.  However, I feel this project would benefit from the input… Continue reading EP Review: Oliver Cheung’s Remembrance

Nerd Talk with The Necrosexual

New series here, folks.  Alternative Control will be hosting guest columns penned by people from all over the metal scene, about the nerdy things they love.  For our maiden voyage, “the most electrifying man in corpse entertainment” tells us about his favorite film, book, and video game.  Here’s the inner nerd of none other than… The Necrosexual!… Continue reading Nerd Talk with The Necrosexual

AltCtrlToob Video Premiere: Kaos Reign’s “Selfish Backstabber”

Hear ye, good people of the Connecticut metal scene: Kaos Reign’s upcoming album Epiphany is a doozy!  To be released April 2nd, Epiphany showcases the band’s unique blend of death, groove, and thrash metal — and also features their new permanent bassist, Matt Duggan. Check out their video below for the opening track “Selfish Backstabber”;… Continue reading AltCtrlToob Video Premiere: Kaos Reign’s “Selfish Backstabber”

Listening Lately: Exercises in Collaboration with Slomatics, Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard, and Glory or Death Records

Hearing Live and Dangerous literally changed my musical life, so when I saw that Glory or Death Records was putting out a compilation of Thin Lizzy covers….  OMG.  Featuring a couple of my Psycho Las Vegas favorites, Mothership and Goya, the first LP of Bow to Your Masters Volume 1 has just been released via… Continue reading Listening Lately: Exercises in Collaboration with Slomatics, Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard, and Glory or Death Records

Reading Recently: Rogue Town, The Iron Druid Chronicles, and More

This might get filed under the heading #noonecares, but here’s what I’ve been reading recently… Rogue Town, by Dennis N. Griffin and Vito Colucci Jr.  (2013) Vito Colucci Jr. is Stamford’s own Serpico, telling the story of how he fought the mobsters and corrupt police officers who ran this city during the 60s and 70s. … Continue reading Reading Recently: Rogue Town, The Iron Druid Chronicles, and More

Begat the Nephilim Surreptitiously Begets a Great Album

When I first saw New Hampshire’s Begat the Nephilim play at Cherry Street Station several years ago, I was struck by the contrast of their blistering performance and blithe stage presence.  Pretty sure one of them was wearing a skirt and fishnet stockings, although it may have been a Halloween show…  I later had the… Continue reading Begat the Nephilim Surreptitiously Begets a Great Album

AltCtrlToob: Saturday Morning Cartoons with Xenosis, Sacred Ash, and Wildstreet

Meant to post this installment of AltCtrlToob like a week ago, but sometimes grown-up things get in the way…. This morning, er, afternoon I’m riding the high of a fun show at one of the only Connecticut indie venues left, #thankfreakinggodforcherrystreet.  It’s the perfect time to make a fresh pot of coffee and pull up… Continue reading AltCtrlToob: Saturday Morning Cartoons with Xenosis, Sacred Ash, and Wildstreet