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

SHOW REVIEW: Khemmis, Crypt Sermon, and Sanhedrin, January 14, 2017 // Brooklyn, NY

It was my maiden voyage to the seminal Brooklyn metal club Saint Vitus, and my GPS told me that I had “arrived.”  There was no marquee, no sign… Only a few long-haired dudes in jean jackets standing outside of a bodega, next to an unmarked black door with a cross over it.  Was this the… Continue reading SHOW REVIEW: Khemmis, Crypt Sermon, and Sanhedrin, January 14, 2017 // Brooklyn, NY

Album Review: SOURVEIN’s Aquatic Occult (Metal Blade)

It’s been a long, slow slog to get to this point, but T-Roy, the creative force behind Sourvein, has shown no let-up in his dedication to his craft. On Aquatic Occult, the band’s new album released this past week on Metal Blade, he offers a master class on the art of doom. In fact, the… Continue reading Album Review: SOURVEIN’s Aquatic Occult (Metal Blade)

Mourning Blues: A Review of Mammothwing’s Morning Light

Mammothwing is a doom band based out of Nottingham, UK. They’re a brand new trio to the scene, and I would have missed them had it not been for my relentless browsing of internet music sites. I liked the album cover, which is an album trait that dictates more often than not what I choose… Continue reading Mourning Blues: A Review of Mammothwing’s Morning Light

Doom, Noise, and Death Metal: Tom’s Top Twenty-Five Albums of 2015

Every year, I always hear the complaints from various people that there isn’t any good new music being made. Well, here are 25 albums that totally floated my boat in the past year. And I could have put another 10 on here. KEN Mode – Success (Season Of Mist) Fight Amp – Constantly Off (Brutal… Continue reading Doom, Noise, and Death Metal: Tom’s Top Twenty-Five Albums of 2015

Band Interview: Chris Bull of Tides of Sulfur

By Jeff McCarthy I had a chance to catch up with bassist and vocalist Chris Bull from Welsh sludge band Tides of Sulfur about the progression of the band and their upcoming releases.  Here is what he had to say: Spewed from the emptiness of a black hole in late 2011, Tides Of Sulfur began writing songs… Continue reading Band Interview: Chris Bull of Tides of Sulfur

Whatchu Know ‘Bout Piss-Yellow Cassette Tapes? An Interview with Jeff McCarthy of Against All Odds Productions

Jeff McCarthy of Against All Odds Productions has been writing a bit for us over the past year.  This week, he and I “sat down” via email to talk about some of the bands he’s working with and their releases.  Here is what he had to say about Know Nothing, Fistula, and Meth Drinker among… Continue reading Whatchu Know ‘Bout Piss-Yellow Cassette Tapes? An Interview with Jeff McCarthy of Against All Odds Productions