Album Review: Fear by Valkyrie (July 24th, Relapse)

My propensity for writing introductions has declined in old age, so let’s just launch right into it…  Virginia rockers Valkyrie are releasing their fourth album on July 24th, 2020, once again via Relapse Records.  If you liked Shadows, you’ll certainly be purchasing Fear— with the Adams brothers on dueling guitars and the same rhythm section… Continue reading Album Review: Fear by Valkyrie (July 24th, Relapse)

Album Review: Echoes from Deep November by Fires in the Distance

The debut album from Connecticut metal supergroup Fires in the Distance, Echoes from Deep November more than lives up to expectations from their local scene — and furthermore, the expectations placed upon a band that was signed before their first release in the midst of a pandemic.  But these guys have been at it long… Continue reading Album Review: Echoes from Deep November by Fires in the Distance

Album Review: Subterranean Exile by The Wizar’d

Australia’s The Wizar’d have been churning out traditional doom metal since 2004, amassing a solid catalog of four full-length albums and several EPs.  Their most recent long player, Subterranean Exile (released April 24th via Cruz Del Sur) is the work of a band comfortable in its own skin.  Unlike the death metal-tinged war beat of… Continue reading Album Review: Subterranean Exile by The Wizar’d

Brandy and The Butcher Reveal “Pool Party”

Every so often, you get a promo that makes you say, “Man, this is really good” — and makes your husband look up from the couch and ask, “Who’s THAT??” Brandy and The Butcher’s Dick Circus was one such promo. And now Alternative Control is excited to present another single from the South Carolina band’s… Continue reading Brandy and The Butcher Reveal “Pool Party”

EP Review: All The Pretty Little Horses by Henry Derek Ellis

Metal is often ignored by the mainstream media and sometimes belittled by those who can’t see past the loud and seemingly unwelcoming surface of the music. In spite of this — or perhaps, because of it — the metal community has continued to thrive as a supportive and welcoming scene. In the past, though, there… Continue reading EP Review: All The Pretty Little Horses by Henry Derek Ellis

Album Review: Pale Divine’s Consequence of Time (Cruz Del Sur, June 19th/26th)

Consequence Of Time marks 25 years since Pennsylvania doom metal stalwarts Pale Divine began their career. The fantastical album cover features a scythe-endowed wizard-type figure and the press release contains references to classic prog rock and metal. The promo photos feature the band with a woodland background in all their leather jacketed, long-haired and bandana-wearing… Continue reading Album Review: Pale Divine’s Consequence of Time (Cruz Del Sur, June 19th/26th)

AltCovid: The Ballad Of 2020, or How Bair Spent His Quarantine

It has been far, far too long, Alternative Control. It brings me great joy to be contributing once again to a blog that has always given myself and my contemporaries here an opportunity to showcase entertainment that we believe deserves recognition (or steer you away from something less so). When I reached out to Esteemed… Continue reading AltCovid: The Ballad Of 2020, or How Bair Spent His Quarantine