Single Review: Sinoptik’s Standalone Syndrome

Ukrainian indie rockers Sinoptik just released a new single, “Standalone Syndrome.”  Says the band, “This story is about the hardship of being yourself in this reality. Reality itself can leave just a tiny ghost in your identity. You did all you possibly can, and still you didn’t get anywhere near your aim. But you will… Continue reading Single Review: Sinoptik’s Standalone Syndrome

EP Review: NYDTyson’s If You’re So Smart, Why Are You So Sad?

The debut EP from garage rock duo NYDTyson is irreverent at times and relaxed at others.  If You’re So Smart, Why Are You So Sad? experiments with meter, dynamics, and effects to create a paradox befitting of the album title.  My favorite track was “Who Cares?,” a slow number with some nice bass grooves that kick in… Continue reading EP Review: NYDTyson’s If You’re So Smart, Why Are You So Sad?

Album Review: Psychocide’s Alcohol & Bad Decisions

The March 2017 album from Canadian rockers Psychocide, aptly titled Alcohol & Bad Decisions, is surprisingly catchy for being named after a cliche of everyone’s early twenties.  (Or mid… Or late… Or early thirties…)  But there’s truth in cliche — in “Temporary Friends,” Goldwyn Thandrayen croons, “Seems I could never get this right.”  Haven’t we all… Continue reading Album Review: Psychocide’s Alcohol & Bad Decisions

CT Innovation: A Review of Xenosis’ Devour and Birth

A band in the local Connecticut metal scene often consists of people that know how to play and want to play heavy metal. Well, duh. But it takes a special kind of band to take that ability and passion and turn it into innovation. There’s nothing wrong with a group of people getting together and… Continue reading CT Innovation: A Review of Xenosis’ Devour and Birth

Tom’s Top 20-ish Of 2017

For the past few years, I always think I’m finally going to become a stereotypical old man and declare, “There isn’t any good new music being made” — and every year I’m proven wrong by the tons of great new albums that come across my computer. Granted, these lists are subjective, so one person’s trash… Continue reading Tom’s Top 20-ish Of 2017

Album Review: Westward’s The Empire of Deception

“Please, please, please, give my work to some machine,” croons vocalist Andrew C. Marshall on “The Last Stand.” Ain’t that the way it goes in the twenty-first century, and Westward has it all figured out on their new album The Empire of Deception.  Released on October 14, 2017, Empire features ten tracks of so-called cowboy… Continue reading Album Review: Westward’s The Empire of Deception