B-Movie at a Muddy Drive-In Theater: A Review of Wardehn’s Now Cometh The Foul

Now Cometh The Foul is one hell of an energetic stoner/sludge metal offering from Wisconsin’s Wardehns. It’s an engaging and fun listen, loaded with what I would call a fine yet gritty production value. It’s a dirty sound with a smooth texture. One thing that grabbed me immediately is the band’s talent as sculptors of the… Continue reading B-Movie at a Muddy Drive-In Theater: A Review of Wardehn’s Now Cometh The Foul

New Reality: A Review of Soilwork’s Verkligheten

I can’t think of a better way to start off a hopefully busy 2019 of album reviews. I’ve lost track of Soilwork’s output since the Natural Born Chaos days of yore. Verkligheten makes me think that I’ve been missing out. Last time I left Soilwork, they were in the process of reformatting their music to… Continue reading New Reality: A Review of Soilwork’s Verkligheten

Album Review: Ossuarium’s Living Tomb

Sometimes I think I’ve gotten too old to listen to death metal; my taste has gravitated towards groovier, less jarring metal subgenres.  But when I heard about a new release coming up on 20 Buck Spin — the label of my boyfriends Khemmis — for a “death/doom” band called Ossuarium, I figured I’d give it a,… Continue reading Album Review: Ossuarium’s Living Tomb

Atet Arises: A Review of Basilysk’s Emergence

I was pleased with what I heard from the forthcoming sophomore effort from Philadelphia death metal band Basilysk. I’m often left cold regarding a lot of recent death metal releases. There’s usually a lot of recall and a prideful tradition that lacks innovation. The only time I’m put in my place is if the band… Continue reading Atet Arises: A Review of Basilysk’s Emergence

Confessions of a Music Blogger: Top Five Releases I Should Have Reviewed in 2018

One of my many resolutions for 2019 is to write more album reviews — not the “Listening Lately” kind that just have blurbs about four or five albums, but real, in-depth reviews.  But since it’s still 2018, here are blurbs on five albums that I should have sat down and written long reviews for, but… Continue reading Confessions of a Music Blogger: Top Five Releases I Should Have Reviewed in 2018

Baldwin’s Top 20 Albums of 2018

My process of music consumption is simple, but not easily explained. Many great albums take time to grow on me, which is a normal occurrence for a lot of listeners. But certain pieces of music have an almost paranormal quality. I listen to some albums once and immediately know that the artist has hit that… Continue reading Baldwin’s Top 20 Albums of 2018

AltCtrlToob: Getting in the Season with Arden & the Wolves’ Take on “Mary, Did You Know?”

The modern Christmas classic “Mary, Did You Know?” was originally recorded by Christian singer Michael English in 1991.  Since then, the song has been covered many times — notably by Clay Aiken, Pentatonix, and Wynonna Judd and Kenny Rogers performing a duet version.  The latest band to put their own spin on it is LA… Continue reading AltCtrlToob: Getting in the Season with Arden & the Wolves’ Take on “Mary, Did You Know?”