I thought I listened to doom… And then I heard Soma, an upcoming release from Virginia band Windhand. From the opening notes of the first track, “Orchard,” I was taken in. The downtuned sludge was too much for my car’s one broken speaker, but I had to crank it anyways. The album is united by… Continue reading Windhand: Did Someone Say Doom Metal?
Bair Grills… Serotonin Syndrome; Also, A Glimpse Into Bill Klopfer’s Coffers
Over a year ago, I was asked to review a new release called Heretic’s Fork by Murder Castle. Now if you hadn’t heard, we at Alternative Control adhere to a strict code of conduct that avoids conflicts of interest. I was tasked with that journalistic endeavor by our esteemed editor because I had no prior… Continue reading Bair Grills… Serotonin Syndrome; Also, A Glimpse Into Bill Klopfer’s Coffers
Mindsnap is Back!
Two years ago, Alternative Control described Mindsnap Music’s Metal-Rock Mania as “fun, free, and flowing with cheap beer,” a relaxed bi-weekly event that welcomed bands from many genres. But shortly after we wrote that article, the bar that hosted the event closed down and the all the metal-mania was put on hold… Until now. Christian… Continue reading Mindsnap is Back!
Here It Comes… The Last Week of Summer
Aside from the summers off, er, the joy of molding young minds, the best thing about working in education is the opportunity for a fresh start every year. I feel lucky to have a defined time in my professional life to trash what doesn’t work and build on what does. But summer ain’t over for… Continue reading Here It Comes… The Last Week of Summer
Smokehouse Sausage Goes Italian
The best thing about Alternative Control? One minute we’re writing about local metal and the next minute we’re writing about sausages! Broccoli rabe and sausage is one of my all-time favorite meals — so when my husband and I picked up some rabbit and elk sausages (yes, you read that right) on a visit to… Continue reading Smokehouse Sausage Goes Italian
Bair Grills Nightbitch
It makes you want to throw your clothing aside and writhe in the entangled mass of a thousand slaves’ living flesh. It makes you want to bathe in lukewarm bacon grease. It makes you want to consume an inhuman amount of red wine, whiskey, tequila, then finish with a dark, flavorful stout, before driving on… Continue reading Bair Grills Nightbitch
No Absence of Passion – A Review of Misery Signals’ Absent Light and Interview with Guitarist Greg Thomas
Misery Signals is a stand-out band for me, and a bit of an enigma in my music collection. I really don’t find myself listening to their brand of metal that much, but I have a special appreciation for what they do. Let’s face it, the metalcore sound has been beat to death, with most of… Continue reading No Absence of Passion – A Review of Misery Signals’ Absent Light and Interview with Guitarist Greg Thomas