• Music

    Raphael Weinroth-Browne – Worlds Within Live

    December 19, 2021 - By 

    Raphael Weinroth-Browne is a fine cellist from Canada.  He weaves together contemporary classical music, post-rock, post-metal and even some hints of ambient.  From Raphael’s Bandcamp site: “Realizing Worlds Within in the studio was more of a process of discovery rather than one of conscious creation. Long after its release, I felt that I was still getting to know the music and understand its nature. Learning to recreate the album live was an extension of this process which has taken me full circle, back to the initial impulse from which this music took seed, much in the same way that the…

  • Music

    Igra Staklenih Perli – Igra Staklenih Perli

    September 28, 2021 - By 

    Igra Staklenih Perli were one of the greater monster progressive/psychedelic rock bands to come out of Yugoslavia (the band themselves were Serbian) during the late 1970s and early 1980s, and though some of their work could be seen as taking cues from legendary western groups like Pink Floyd, I hear elements of Can, Hawkwind, Jimi Hendrix and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, about the only metal period I like short of Black Sabbath.  The only gripe I have with the album is the low mix.  Music like this should be listened to at high volume, so the punch…

  • Music

    Xerxes The Dark – Soundtrack To The Blind Owl

    September 8, 2021 - By 

    I feel a bit silly admitting this, but for some reason, I thought I had Soundtrack To The Blind Owl previously.  Iran’s foremost dark ambient composer Xerxes The Dark has been active for many years now, and is part of a pretty amazing scene developing in one of the least likely places on Earth.  Then again, with the Internet, I am expecting mind-blowing post-Industrial music to pop out of Togo or Burkina Faso eventually. To the music.  There are six tracks of ominous drone on this album.  This isn’t a typical drone or ambient album, however.  Xerxes expertly mixes in…

  • Music

    Various Artists – Doomed & Stoned in Chile

    August 10, 2021 - By 

    Doomed & Stoned is a series of compilations covering the best of doom metal and stoner rock all over the world.  This comp covers the scene in Chile, which is surprising rich.  There are 99 tracks of surprising variety, including one that left me mystified: It’s a track by Heraldica de Mandrake and perhaps the only way to describe it is Gregorian doom.  It’s actually quite pleasant.

  • Music

    Domkraft – Seeds

    April 20, 2021 - By 

    Today seems to be an important day, at least as far as I can read.  It’s apparently a pot holiday, and as such, though I can’t stand the smell of the stuff, I figure posting a sludgy piece of metal would be appropriate.  The Swedish band Domkraft roar with one of the louder pieces of music I’ve heard in some time.  This is heavy on the level of early Black Sabbath with a fuller guitar sound (reminding me of a very much slowed down Metallica or St. Vitus), more distant vocals, and pretty good guitar work.  I’m not much into…

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    Onségen Ensemble – Fear

    April 16, 2021 - By 

    I wish to thank my friend Slava, who is based in Kazakhstan, for introducing me into this avant-prog treasure.  The Onségen Ensemble are a Finnish group who have a rather open personnel, which is in keeping with their mission statement.  The sound is a mix of heavy progressive, psychedelic rock and a bit of raw, old-school metal.  I think a band like this would feel at home with American labels like Cuneiform Records, but they want to forge their own path, and it’s a very, very loud one.

  • Music - Youtube

    Tarah Who? – Manners

    March 12, 2021 - By 

    Los Angeles produces scores of great rock bands, and has since before I was born.  Tara Who? continue the tradition of mixing elements of straight-ahead rock, punk, and the kind of metal that seems to only come from the area of the city near venues like The Roxy or bars like The Rainbow.  Pretty solid stuff. From their promo bio: Los Angeles, CA. – Tarah Who? is back with “Manners” February 19, 2021, the follow-up single and video to their eruptive song, “Swallow That Pill”. The L.A. based firebrand frontwoman, Tarah G. Carpenter (vocals/guitar) and Corale Hervé (drums/backing vocals), complete this duo who have carefully crafted songs…

  • Music

    JARS (ДЖРС) – III

    January 22, 2021 - By 

    In parts sounding like the demos of an early Killing Joke album drifting almost into doom and death-metal territory, JARS (ДЖРС) are atypical for what people thing of as stoner rock.  They are comfortable playing in different styles, and their raw sound actually benefits the music tremendously. Brutal music, but very well-done.

  • Music

    Heckel & Jeckel – This War

    January 13, 2021 - By 

    Heckel and Jeckel have a couple of things going for them.  First, I’m old enough to remember the rather funny cartoon bearing their name.  Second, I really like early Black Sabbath, Big Black, and some of the better stoner rock bands coming down the line these days.  These guys do well making something powerful by blending these elements together.  I’m impressed. The link on Heckel and Jeckel’s name leads to Pogo Records’ Bandcamp site.  The label releases some creative music.  Give them a good exploring.