Alternative Control’s Top Ten Articles of 2013

  10. Connecticut’s Gonna Have a Cop Problem and  The Hipster King on Mazzy Star (a tie!)                           9. Sound, Blood, and Lineup: A Review of Howl’s Bloodlines 8. LSG on the CT Music Awards Best Metal Nominees 7. Official Truth, 101 Proof:… Continue reading Alternative Control’s Top Ten Articles of 2013

Sound, Blood, and Lineup: A Review of Howl’s Bloodlines

Bloodlines, Howl’s second full-length album, is due to be released by Relapse Records April 30th.  Fans of the Rhode Island doom metal band will find this work to be just as powerful as Full of Hell, but with some marked differences. The first distinction is that Bloodlines is a lot less sludgy.  If Full of… Continue reading Sound, Blood, and Lineup: A Review of Howl’s Bloodlines

Mosh Potatoes: One Rockin’ Cookbook

A couple months ago, I got an awesome housewarming present from Vegetarian Metalhead: Mosh Potatoes, a cookbook of recipes by metal musicians.  Compiled by Steve Seabury, each dish in the collection begins with an anecdote from the artist/cook, and there are lots of funny pictures of the bands “rocking out” in their kitchens. But can… Continue reading Mosh Potatoes: One Rockin’ Cookbook

doyoulistentogrindcore? A Review

As someone who doesn’t know a goddamn thing about grindcore, I was outside of my element reviewing David Carradine’s latest release.  My comrades and I watched Bones on mute while listening to the untitled album, a split CD with Indonesian band Ah-!!!.  The sixteen frenzied tracks were a fitting accompaniment to scenes of decaying bodies… Continue reading doyoulistentogrindcore? A Review

My Lifelong Struggle with Metal Trivia

  At work, we talk a lot about how important it is for students to have background knowledge of influential people and important historical events – in other words, “No, sweetie, Michelle Obama’s mother couldn’t possibly have been a slave BECAUSE THE CIVIL WAR ENDED IN 1865!”  I’m finding that background knowledge is also helpful… Continue reading My Lifelong Struggle with Metal Trivia

On the Phone with Howl

  “A huge rat just crawled across my feet!” And you thought being a touring rock star was all about whiskey, money, and naked chicks. Well, Alternative Control had a phone chat with Howl guitarist Andrea Black before the band’s 9/21 show in Washington DC, and apparently touring involves spending all your money on gas,… Continue reading On the Phone with Howl