Interview by Jessie May and Jillian Simpson Questions by Jessie, Jillian, Christopher Baldwin, Thomas Pizzola, and Doug Welch III On May 29th, Alternative Control had the opportunity to talk with Ensiferum’s Sami Hinkka at Irving Plaza in New York before the final show of the band’s North American tour. Hinkka, who has been playing bass and doing… Continue reading Toilet Autographs and More Tales from the Road: An Interview with Ensiferum Bassist Sami Hinkka
The Meek Shall Inherit Magee’s: An Interview with Mike Keller of Meek is Murder
Meek Is Murder play hardcore that is technical, noisy and chaotic. The New York City-based trio, which features guitarist/vocalist Mike Keller, bassist Sam Brodsky and drummer Frank Godla, tear into their short, sharp, shocks of songs like men possessed, as heard on their new EP Onward, which has just released, along with their 2012… Continue reading The Meek Shall Inherit Magee’s: An Interview with Mike Keller of Meek is Murder
Album Review: Nic Nassuet’s Eleutherios
Eleutherios, the latest release from gothic folk artist Nic Nassuet, reminds us not to judge an album by its cover… But then, to judge an album by its cover. The foreboding picture of a goat-skulled figure surrounded by vultures and human carrion would be at home alongside the album art of a band like Skeletonwitch.… Continue reading Album Review: Nic Nassuet’s Eleutherios
EP Review: Grumsling’s A Church, On a Boat, In the Sea
One of the tags on Grumsling’s bandcamp is “new classic” — and in this case, it’s accurate. The Oakland indie rock quartet have a Weezer-meets-Grateful-Dead vibe that I’ve never heard before, and I’m intrigued. A Church, On a Boat, In the Sea, released in March 2015, tells the story of a trickster named (unsurprisingly) The Grumsling. He… Continue reading EP Review: Grumsling’s A Church, On a Boat, In the Sea
2015: A Space Odyssey – A Review of Arcturus’ Arcturian
It’s been ten years since Arcturus has given us a gift. I call them gifts because to my ears, Arcturus hasn’t offered up a dud since their inception. Sure, Sideshow Symphonies was perhaps a bit too “normal” sounding. It was more like symphonic metal than anything else. But calling Arcturus avant-garde metal was a stretch… Continue reading 2015: A Space Odyssey – A Review of Arcturus’ Arcturian
The Only Thing Better Than Free Bacon…
What’s the only thing better than all the free bacon at Bacon Fest?? Getting into the show for free, too! One lucky metalhead will win two Bacon Fest tickets courtesy of Lyra and Alternative Control, a free beer from show organizer Eric Iocca (possibly with a hug), AND an AltCtrl prize pack. This includes a free… Continue reading The Only Thing Better Than Free Bacon…
Backstabbed by a Mouth-breathing Panther, And More! Hardcore This Friday at Whitney House
For those of you who live in Hartford County, like me, and complain that there aren’t a lot of good loud rock shows taking place in that neck of the woods, you can now shut up, because there is going to be one killer show taking place on May 15 at the infamous Whitney House… Continue reading Backstabbed by a Mouth-breathing Panther, And More! Hardcore This Friday at Whitney House