Album Review: Broken Bottles, Broken Bones by The Ratz

By Jeff McCarthy The album Broken Bottles, Broken Bones is completely raw jams, with definitive tones of the presumed-dead punk rock of the early 80s. In these uninhibited short anthems, I can taste a little Bad Brains, a touch of Ramones and a slathering Sex Pistols. Fuck you Johnny London, Donald Trump sucks!! The Ratz… Continue reading Album Review: Broken Bottles, Broken Bones by The Ratz

Band Interview: Mineva

In our effort to provide our readers coverage of the best new local music, we present to you Mineva, a fiery and passionate post-hardcore band.  On their debut EP, Precious, Endless, Kevin Covill (vocals), Jason Moriarty (guitar, vocals), Sean Prior (guitar), Peter Stroczkowski (bass, vocals) and Anthony Buck (drums) deliver four songs of jagged, sincere… Continue reading Band Interview: Mineva

EP Review: Downward Spiral

My buddy Marco G has been sending Alternative Control albums to review for a couple years, and Downward Spiral’s self-titled debut EP is my favorite so far.  It builds on the musical ideas from his previous group Stikpin and the production is radio-ready. Marco plays guitar in the current incarnation, joined by Stikpin vocalist Chris… Continue reading EP Review: Downward Spiral

Album Review: Phat Astronaut Live

In a world that’s recorded to a click track and run through autotune… Where the sound of instruments is replaced with electronic imitations of the sound of instruments… One local band had the courage…. To release… A LIVE ALBUM… Recorded… At their FIRST SHOW. Okay, end movie trailer voice.  Seriously though, who does that?  Great… Continue reading Album Review: Phat Astronaut Live

Bair Witness: Wrecking Ball Legursky is Literally Larger Than Life

The hometown hero can be one of the most inspiring figures in all of literature and reality. A competitor or combatant that we can all relate to or identify with, because we know where they’ve been; hell, we are where they’ve been. We feel like we are a part of the journey to where they… Continue reading Bair Witness: Wrecking Ball Legursky is Literally Larger Than Life

Bair Grills… Civil Lividity by Continuum

Continuum, n: “A continuous sequence in which adjacent elements are not perceptibly different from each other, although the extremes are quite distinct.”   Before reviewing this recent release from one of Connecticut’s most prominent local metal bands, I looked up the definition of “continuum” for shits and giggles. What I found was an entire article… Continue reading Bair Grills… Civil Lividity by Continuum

The Pluckening to Descend on Stamford, 12/9/2016

For the past several years, Alternative Control has celebrated the birth of our favorite webmaster, beer expert, bass player, and beard model Johnny Pluckman with an epic metal show dubbed The Pluckening.  This Friday December 9th, the ceremonial nativity rite will be held at Seaside Tavern in Stamford and feature a lineup of Connecticut and… Continue reading The Pluckening to Descend on Stamford, 12/9/2016