Listening Lately, the Delivery Jams Edition: Corrosion of Conformity, Kings and Liars, Myrkur, and BCAD

There’s a new feather in my side hustle cap: pizza delivery girl.  You know what the best thing about delivering pizzas is?  The tips.  And the second-best thing?  The fact that you’re getting paid to drive around listening to music. The first burned disc to go into the CD player this Saturday was Seven Scrolls… Continue reading Listening Lately, the Delivery Jams Edition: Corrosion of Conformity, Kings and Liars, Myrkur, and BCAD

CT Innovation: A Review of Xenosis’ Devour and Birth

A band in the local Connecticut metal scene often consists of people that know how to play and want to play heavy metal. Well, duh. But it takes a special kind of band to take that ability and passion and turn it into innovation. There’s nothing wrong with a group of people getting together and… Continue reading CT Innovation: A Review of Xenosis’ Devour and Birth

Book Review: What Does This Button Do? The Autobiography of Bruce Dickinson

I had the rare opportunity to meet the almighty Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden on Halloween night at St. Vitus in Brooklyn, NY where he was signing his new autobiography, What Does This Button Do?  After reading the book, I have even more respect for him if that’s even possible.  The man fronts one of… Continue reading Book Review: What Does This Button Do? The Autobiography of Bruce Dickinson

An Epic Journey with Coral the Merknight

Some say that everything has been done in metal.  Well, I think “Coral the Merknight vs. SEARANTULA” is the first of his kind, a merman knight (apparently this is a thing) on a quest to defeat the giant spider Searantula.  This one-man comedic metal act out of Maryland gives listeners on hell of a musical boat ride… Continue reading An Epic Journey with Coral the Merknight

It’s More Like a Warning: An Interview with Usnea

Usnea, from left: Justin Cory, Zeke Rogers (back), Joel Williams, and Johnny Lovingood. Photo by Orion Landau.

On Friday August 18th, Alternative Control talked with up-and-coming doom band Usnea before their set at Psycho Las Vegas.  The Portland, Oregon outfit — which includes guitarist/vocalist Justin Cory, bassist/vocalist Joel Williams, guitarist Johnny Lovingood, and drummer Zeke Rogers — releases their third full-length album Portals Into Futility this Friday on Relapse.  They will also be… Continue reading It’s More Like a Warning: An Interview with Usnea

Corrosion of Conformity’s Reed Mullin on Music, Divorce, and Confederate Monuments

Corrosion of Conformity. From left, Pepper Keenan, Woody Weatherman, Reed Mullin, and Mike Dean. Photo by Linda Dahlberg.

Alternative Control spoke with Corrosion of Conformity drummer Reed Mullin at Psycho Las Vegas on August 20th, 2017.  Reed’s words below are minimally edited for clarity.   I think we’re playing Connecticut next week at some casino…. They just offered it to us like four days ago — they had a wheelbarrow full of money… Continue reading Corrosion of Conformity’s Reed Mullin on Music, Divorce, and Confederate Monuments

Diamonds are Forever: An Interview with Diamond Head Guitarist Brian Tatler

It’s often said of Diamond Head that they didn’t get their dues when they first deserved them — but this NWOBHM band who inspired the likes of Metallica and Megadeth is certainly enjoying a renaissance in the twenty-first century.  Alternative Control had the opportunity to speak with guitarist and co-founder Brian Tatler before the band embarked… Continue reading Diamonds are Forever: An Interview with Diamond Head Guitarist Brian Tatler