SHOW REVIEW: Khemmis, Crypt Sermon, and Sanhedrin, January 14, 2017 // Brooklyn, NY

It was my maiden voyage to the seminal Brooklyn metal club Saint Vitus, and my GPS told me that I had “arrived.”  There was no marquee, no sign… Only a few long-haired dudes in jean jackets standing outside of a bodega, next to an unmarked black door with a cross over it.  Was this the… Continue reading SHOW REVIEW: Khemmis, Crypt Sermon, and Sanhedrin, January 14, 2017 // Brooklyn, NY

Album Review: SOURVEIN’s Aquatic Occult (Metal Blade)

It’s been a long, slow slog to get to this point, but T-Roy, the creative force behind Sourvein, has shown no let-up in his dedication to his craft. On Aquatic Occult, the band’s new album released this past week on Metal Blade, he offers a master class on the art of doom. In fact, the… Continue reading Album Review: SOURVEIN’s Aquatic Occult (Metal Blade)

Banging Heads: An Interview with YOB’s Mike Scheidt

So if any of you have read my recent top ten of the year article, you know that I was a big fan of YOB’s latest album Clearing the Path to Ascend. But after delving into the band’s history and checking out a few of their shows online, I turned the corner towards becoming a… Continue reading Banging Heads: An Interview with YOB’s Mike Scheidt

Album Review: Dopethrone’s Hochelaga

When Dopethrone’s PR folks asked Alternative Control to review the band’s upcoming album Hochelaga following our writeup of their single “Scum Fuck Blues,” I was happy to oblige.  Hochelaga serves up all the snarling sludge promised by that track, and then some. Dopethrone maintains a steady pound throughout the seven-song album; drums and guitar riffs… Continue reading Album Review: Dopethrone’s Hochelaga

Dopethrone: This is Your Brain on Satan

I don’t know what’s in the water in Montreal, but a lot of dirty, bluesy metal seems to come out of there.  Anyone who’s been reading this blog for awhile knows that I was a huge Barn Burner fan.  I also really enjoyed Mountain Dust, a stoner metal project that Kevin Keegan was (is?) involved… Continue reading Dopethrone: This is Your Brain on Satan

EP Review: Atomics by Problem With Dragons

A reader just turned “us” (me) on to stoner rock trio Problem With Dragons and I’m really enjoying their 2012 EP Atomics.  Hailing from Easthampton, Massachusetts, these guys deliver fuzz-laden anthems in manageable 3-4 minute chunks. The EP opens with “Wanting,” catching the listener with a doomy hook almost immediately.  That guitar riff builds gradually,… Continue reading EP Review: Atomics by Problem With Dragons

THE SKULL – For Those Which Are Asleep (Tee Pee)

The Skull features Eric Wagner (vocals) and Jeff “Oly” Olson (drums), who were both founding members of doom metal legends Trouble. In addition, they added longtime Trouble bassist Ron Holzner, along with Lothar Keller and ex-Pentagram guitarist Matt Goldsborough to their new group, which was originally formed to pay homage to their old group. After… Continue reading THE SKULL – For Those Which Are Asleep (Tee Pee)