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

Dystopian Symphony: An Interview and TICKET GIVEAWAY with Virus of Ideals

As their album fundraiser show approaches, Alternative Control had a virtual sit-down with Connecticut symphonic metal band Virus of Ideals.  Here’s what they had to say about the band’s origins, the recording process, and more….  Don’t forget to check them out at Cherry Street Station (Wallingford, CT) on Saturday February 24th — and enter to… Continue reading Dystopian Symphony: An Interview and TICKET GIVEAWAY with Virus of Ideals

AltCtrlToob: New Videos from Last Legion and The Absence

On this first edition of AltCtrlToob, check out brand-new videos from Last Legion and The Absence! NYC Viking metal outfit Last Legion just released a video for “God Ov Chaos,” a track off their sophomore album Muspelheim.  Performance shots alternate between a shirtless black metal guy chained up in an abandoned factory, with blood dripping on him… Continue reading AltCtrlToob: New Videos from Last Legion and The Absence

The Black Dahlia Murder and Me: A Conversational Review of Nightbringers and ALBUM GIVEAWAY

What can I say about Black Dahlia?  Hearing Unhallowed for the first time around 2005 or 2006 gave me a whole new perspective on music.  I kept that album in regular rotation for many years, as well as their third album Nocturnal.  My now-ex husband and I even joked about playing “Closed Casket Requiem” at… Continue reading The Black Dahlia Murder and Me: A Conversational Review of Nightbringers and ALBUM GIVEAWAY

Rejuvenated – A Review of Omnium Gatherum’s Grey Heavens

Omnium Gatherum happen to be one of my favorite melodic death metal groups. The reason for this is pretty simple, even if it goes against my usual listening habits. There’s nothing strange or even original about them. They’ve arguably been pumping out the same sort of encyclopedic melodic death metal since their inception. Yet despite… Continue reading Rejuvenated – A Review of Omnium Gatherum’s Grey Heavens

Music: It’s Good For People – An Interview with Jeff Loomis of Arch Enemy

Jeff Loomis is a guitar player who needs no introduction – well known for his band Nevermore and various solo projects, he is currently sharing guitar duties with Michael Amott in Arch Enemy and headlining the Summer Slaughter Tour. Alternative Control was fortunate enough to catch Jeff at the NYC stop of the tour and… Continue reading Music: It’s Good For People – An Interview with Jeff Loomis of Arch Enemy

Bair Grills… Under A Serpent Sun; Also, Armageddon is Upon Us

Under A Serpent Sun performing at Cherry Street Station.

  It was my last day working at Senor Pancho’s. I was meeting a girl for a drink in between shifts, at a watering hole down the road, when I got a text from a member of the self-professed Gayest Band in Connecticut, Lightsbane: I could NOT MISS THE SHOW TONIGHT. Well, why? I CAN’T… Continue reading Bair Grills… Under A Serpent Sun; Also, Armageddon is Upon Us