EXCLUSIVE STREAM: “Valley” by Fumarole

Alternative Control is happy to present some thunder from down under, the new track “Valley” from Australian power trio Fumarole.  This dystopian banger drops on October 4th, 2019.  It’s a must-listen for the burly guitar riffage and full-steam-ahead rhythm section that will please any stoner rock fan. The band commented about the song’s lyrical content, “‘Valley’… Continue reading EXCLUSIVE STREAM: “Valley” by Fumarole

Album Review: HORROR by EXHUMED

Many bands go through stylistic changes during their career.  Some are radical changes, such as Celtic Frost [Morbid Tales vs. Cold Lake] or Corrosion of Conformity [early crossover thrash to later Southern rock-tinged boogie].  Many are slight adjustments, adding aspects of another genre or sound to give the material a new edge.  Veteran death grinders… Continue reading Album Review: HORROR by EXHUMED

NERD TALK with LINDSAY SCHOOLCRAFT

Lindsay Schoolcraft

  When you think of the internationally renowned gothic metal band Cradle of Filth, the last association is a cuddly little Pikachu.  But the UK outfit’s keyboardist and narrative vocalist Lindsay Schoolcraft, who is releasing her debut solo album Martyr on October 7th, is a diehard Pokemon fan and anime enthusiast.  In fact, her look… Continue reading NERD TALK with LINDSAY SCHOOLCRAFT

Album Review: Moon and Azure Shadow’s Age of Darkness and Frost

Where did he find all those trees in Los Angeles??

By Nikita Alekseyevich Khrenov When one thinks of influences and nuances of black metal, the last thing they would imagine would be incorporating Japanese film scores into the genre — yet that is precisely what Los Angeles musician Sean Yoshioka sets out to do. Starting his project Moon and Azure Shadow in 2012 with a self-titled record, he… Continue reading Album Review: Moon and Azure Shadow’s Age of Darkness and Frost

Exclusive Track Premiere: “Pandaemonium” by HER DESPAIR

There’s a lot to be gloomy about in 2019, and here to provide the soundtrack to these grim and desperate times are Her Despair. Taking their inspirations from the heyday of goth rock, the UK sextet bring these up to the modern era with their own twist. After an exceptionally successful EP entitled Mournography, they… Continue reading Exclusive Track Premiere: “Pandaemonium” by HER DESPAIR

Why Are You Doing This? A Chat with Connecticut Metal Coalition Founder and Apostasy Frontman Ryan Early

If you’re looking for unbiased journalism, this is not it.  Ryan Early’s band Apostasy has been active in the Connecticut metal scene for roughly as long as I’ve been paying attention and we’ve occasionally shared a lineup.  Now Early has started a group called the Connecticut Metal Coalition, of which I am a part.  But… Continue reading Why Are You Doing This? A Chat with Connecticut Metal Coalition Founder and Apostasy Frontman Ryan Early

AltCtrlToob Video Premiere: “Spit of Stars” by GHOST:HELLO

Our friends in Ghost:Hello are always pushing the creative envelope.  Check out their latest endeavor, an animated music video for their song “Spit of Stars.”  Inspired by Lovecraft and the Tibetan Book of the Dead, a mysterious artist known as Stonino made the animation — and also contributes the Italian narration of Dante’s Inferno in the middle of… Continue reading AltCtrlToob Video Premiere: “Spit of Stars” by GHOST:HELLO