Album Review: Lightning Bolt’s Fantasy Empire (Thrill Jockey Records)

By Jeffrey McCarthy Fantasy Empire, the sixth official release by Providence-based power duo Lightning Bolt, is by far their most dynamic yet. The clarity of the recordings is much improved from previous ones — as Doug Mosurock of NPR put it, “(i)t’s less a blur and more a detailed map of planned aggression.” The fuzzed-out riffs… Continue reading Album Review: Lightning Bolt’s Fantasy Empire (Thrill Jockey Records)

Album Review: [debut]’s Postcards from Berlin

From the press release: “acclaimed Los Angeles alternative/rock/electronic artist [debut], described by creator Gareth Thomas as ‘more than a band. It’s a music and art collective with an ever-changing cast.’ With music that’s both cinematic and emotive, [debut] successfully blends the modern electronic influences like IAMX and Massive Attack with the dark, reflective songwriting and lyricism… Continue reading Album Review: [debut]’s Postcards from Berlin

Album Review: The Great Game (Self-Titled)

The Great Game’s SoundCloud page says they are World music, but not really World music, but who the heck cares what genre they are. This music is deliciously eclectic! Rich and layered with instrumentation and beats that make you want to move. And the vocals are such fun, ever changing from smooth and lustful to… Continue reading Album Review: The Great Game (Self-Titled)

Snooty Garland Springtime Opus Ticket Giveaway

“Intoxicate thyself with soul.   Dance under the waxing, crescent moon in defiant celebration of Lady Liz’s return! Witness the triumphant, live RE-BIRTH of SNOOTY GARLAND!   Experience a lush, original celebration of music in glorious expressions of light, color and sound.”   Alternative Control cannot let you miss Snooty Garland’s Springtime Opus, going down March 21st… Continue reading Snooty Garland Springtime Opus Ticket Giveaway

Trilogy of Pain – A Review of Leviathan’s Scar Sighted

Black metal is the metal genre I’d have to pick as my favorite. Despite the strict parameters it’s based on, recent bands have taken the sound into strange and artistic territory. It’s no longer always about Satan, Tolkien and teenage rebellion. And production values have greatly improved since the early 90s. But when a modern… Continue reading Trilogy of Pain – A Review of Leviathan’s Scar Sighted

EP Review: Burak Ozmucur’s In Silence

Burak Ozmucur’s October 2013 EP In Silence was described to me with a lot of slashes — e.g. “ambient slash progressive slash rock slash metal.”  That’s a lot of genres to fit into one sentence and I’d say in a non-detrimental way that “ambient” and “rock” are the best descriptors.  If there were a genre… Continue reading EP Review: Burak Ozmucur’s In Silence

Dopethrone: This is Your Brain on Satan

I don’t know what’s in the water in Montreal, but a lot of dirty, bluesy metal seems to come out of there.  Anyone who’s been reading this blog for awhile knows that I was a huge Barn Burner fan.  I also really enjoyed Mountain Dust, a stoner metal project that Kevin Keegan was (is?) involved… Continue reading Dopethrone: This is Your Brain on Satan