The AltCtrl Comp Album: All the Cool Kids Are Doing It

  … And for some reason, so are we.  Alternative Control will release Quality Control: Volume I in early summer, showcasing tracks from twenty hand-picked bands we’ve reviewed, interviewed, or enjoyed.  (Okay, and a few bands that our writers are in…)  Most are from Connecticut and most are metal, but we will spread our tentacles,… Continue reading The AltCtrl Comp Album: All the Cool Kids Are Doing It

Surfing Hellfire Waves: A Review of Ghost’s Infestissumam

What the hell makes Ghost so appealing? The band has gathered quite an eclectic fan base in a very short span of time, so what’s the deal? The songwriting isn’t complex, the music is easy to digest and covers a lot of familiar territory, and the Satanist theme is anything but a new concept in… Continue reading Surfing Hellfire Waves: A Review of Ghost’s Infestissumam

Dudes in Our Metal Scene: They’re Not All Rape Machines

  A week or two ago, Metal Cyndicate released a podcast (Episode 15: AlcoholiCAST) that caused a furor in the local metal community.  On-air guest Matt “Rape Machine” Broderick ruffled feathers by listing his least favorite Connecticut bands.  Seems like the fastest way to make yourself unpopular, but someone who calls himself Rape Machine clearly… Continue reading Dudes in Our Metal Scene: They’re Not All Rape Machines

My God, They’re Full of Hair! A Review of Replacire’s The Human Burden

I had the pleasant opportunity to witness Replacire at Acoustic Café last March with local favorites No  Remission and Xenosis. I didn’t know what to expect, but Xenosis lead guitarist Mark Lyon seemed very enthusiastic about them, so I decided to give them a chance. It’s a good thing I stuck around to watch them,… Continue reading My God, They’re Full of Hair! A Review of Replacire’s The Human Burden

Official Truth, 101 Proof: The Inside Story of Pantera by Rex Brown & Mark Eglinton

I grabbed this book the second it hit the shelf because I wanted to know the story of Pantera from the perspective of its quietest member, former bass player Rex Brown.  All I knew about Pantera were assumptions formed by a series of band interviews and tour videos from over the years.  Official Truth, 101… Continue reading Official Truth, 101 Proof: The Inside Story of Pantera by Rex Brown & Mark Eglinton

Bair Grills… Rise and Fall by Continuum

In my opinion, a band is great when they can not only showcase their musicians’ skills, but do so in the confines of composing enjoyable songs. A lot of people can shred but what they write might be bland wankery. And a lot of people write great hooks but don’t blister faces with solos. With… Continue reading Bair Grills… Rise and Fall by Continuum