An Interview with Manuel Gagneux, the Artist Behind Zeal & Ardor

From the first notes of eponymous opening track “Devil is Fine” — harmonized call and response vocals punctuated by the clink of chains — you know that Zeal & Ardor is a different kind of metal.  The brainchild of Swiss-American musician Manuel Gagneux, this project melds Delta blues and black metal in a way that Robert… Continue reading An Interview with Manuel Gagneux, the Artist Behind Zeal & Ardor

Bair Witness: Wrecking Ball Legursky is Literally Larger Than Life

The hometown hero can be one of the most inspiring figures in all of literature and reality. A competitor or combatant that we can all relate to or identify with, because we know where they’ve been; hell, we are where they’ve been. We feel like we are a part of the journey to where they… Continue reading Bair Witness: Wrecking Ball Legursky is Literally Larger Than Life

Bair Grills… Civil Lividity by Continuum

Continuum, n: “A continuous sequence in which adjacent elements are not perceptibly different from each other, although the extremes are quite distinct.”   Before reviewing this recent release from one of Connecticut’s most prominent local metal bands, I looked up the definition of “continuum” for shits and giggles. What I found was an entire article… Continue reading Bair Grills… Civil Lividity by Continuum

Album Review: Marty McKay’s New York City Dreams

In his upcoming album New York City Dreams, Zurich-based rock artist Marty McKay presents a “Lifetime Original” vision of what could be across the Atlantic.  His Big Apple is an expected path of standard song structures, lyrics, and vocal arrangements that will be at home on soft contemporary radio, but probably won’t inspire much passion… Continue reading Album Review: Marty McKay’s New York City Dreams

Baldwin’s Choice: Miles Davis

UNITED STATES - JULY 02: NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL Photo of Miles DAVIS, Performing live onstage - looking to camera. (Photo by David Redfern/Redferns)

It’s Black History Month and my choice is Miles Davis. So many things have been said about the man’s brilliance and importance. He’s regarded as one of the 20th century’s top composers. And the reasons for it are chocked full with so much music theory bullshit. I don’t know how to play jazz music, and… Continue reading Baldwin’s Choice: Miles Davis

HAAN to Sing Praises in Waterbury on February 18th

HAAN is a plugged-in four piece from New York City that plays hard hitting and sludgy noise rock, as evidenced by their debut EP, Sing Praises. The band, which features vocalist Chuck Berrett, guitarist Jordan Melkin, bassist Dave Maffei and drummer Chris Enriquez, lays down one hell of a racket which is definitely informed by… Continue reading HAAN to Sing Praises in Waterbury on February 18th

AltCtrl’s Afternoon at the NYC Women’s March

When I first heard about the Women’s Marches in December, to be held around the nation on January 21, 2017, I knew this movement was something Alternative Control had to report on.  No matter how the mainstream media painted it, we the intrepid indie journalists would be there, marching and documenting what no one else would!… Continue reading AltCtrl’s Afternoon at the NYC Women’s March