A Tyranny of Vastness: Eight Bells’ Melynda Jackson and Haley Westeiner on Their New Album, Their New Drummer, and More

Eight Bells plays a hypnotic form of experimental/progressive loud rock that references everything from metal to kraut rock. The band, which features Melynda Jackson (guitar/vocals) and Haley Westeiner (bass/vocals) and new drummer Rae Amitay (Immortal Bird), is about to drop their excellent new album Landless, on February 12 through Battleground Records.  They are also embarking… Continue reading A Tyranny of Vastness: Eight Bells’ Melynda Jackson and Haley Westeiner on Their New Album, Their New Drummer, and More

Single Review: “Haunt Me” by Construct Paradise

By Jonathan Hammer Construct Paradise released their latest single, “Haunt Me,” on Christmas day – and there’s a reason why the weather got hotter for a while there. Since its release, “Haunt Me” has gained some notable attention, and in my opinion, rightfully so. On my first listen, the production was an immediate attention-grabber; the… Continue reading Single Review: “Haunt Me” by Construct Paradise

Tempted by Your Cunning Voice: A Review of Mile Marker Zero’s Young Rust

Comprised of former Western Connecticut State University music students, Mile Marker Zero puts their education to good use on Young Rust.  The April 2014 EP is multi-faceted without pretension, complex without sacrificing catchiness. The short album vacillates between moods, from spacey and romantic on “Bound” to forceful on “Toughest Love.” Much to my relief, the… Continue reading Tempted by Your Cunning Voice: A Review of Mile Marker Zero’s Young Rust

Narrowing the Orbit: An Interview with Jonathan and Peter of Apoapsis

This Saturday, 8/15/15, Apoapsis vocalist Jonathan Hammer and bassist Peter Parkes met me at Death to False Metal Festival to chat about what’s going on with their band.  The southern-Connecticut prog metallers released their first EP, Balance, in February of this year after working on it since 2011.  But now with a solid lineup and… Continue reading Narrowing the Orbit: An Interview with Jonathan and Peter of Apoapsis

The New Xenomorph: A Review of Xenosis’ Sowing the Seeds of Destruction

Xenosis has returned, and they’re even better. It’s easy to claim favoritism when lead guitarist Mark Lyon happens to be a personal friend, but Sowing the Seeds of Destruction is genuinely awesome – a focused, well-trained creature of extremity and maturity. I might even claim it as the strongest local metal release I’ve heard yet.… Continue reading The New Xenomorph: A Review of Xenosis’ Sowing the Seeds of Destruction

Album Review: As Darkness Falls by Winter Calling

Florida band Winter Calling released their debut full-length As Darkness Falls this March to much critical acclaim in the blog-o-sphere.  Warranted?  Let’s have a listen: With the cinematic scope and excellent recording quality of their songs, it’s impressive that Winter Calling formed less than two years ago.  Pros or not, to put out a full-length album of this… Continue reading Album Review: As Darkness Falls by Winter Calling

Getting the Vapors: A Review of Writing in the Skies’ Aphasia

Writing in the Skies, hailing from Western Massachusetts is a talented instrumental metal/prog rock act for sure. Their debut EP Aphasia is a sweet taste of what the band has to offer with their upcoming LP. I’m only assuming (and hoping) that the band will continue to progress from their EP, since they seem to… Continue reading Getting the Vapors: A Review of Writing in the Skies’ Aphasia