Album Review: Shagohod’s Tin, Gold, Lead, & Blood

by Nikita Alekseyevich Khrenov  Music is an amazing storytelling medium. So many bands from Gorguts to Coheed and Cambria use their talents to weave compelling narratives through their art, blending verse with music beautifully. This is no easy feat, but as the Connecticut music scene has been proving as of late, we have no shortage… Continue reading Album Review: Shagohod’s Tin, Gold, Lead, & Blood

Album Review: Leaves of Yesteryear by Green Carnation

Leaves of Yesteryear provides everything one could hope for in the first new release in 14 years from Norwegian prog-doom-psych-metal titans Green Carnation. Within the first minute of the opening title track we have spoken word samples about loneliness, all-encompassing doom riffs, mournfully longing melodies and necro-prog Floydisms replete with brooding synths. Did I mention… Continue reading Album Review: Leaves of Yesteryear by Green Carnation

Sometimes It’s Fun to Have Fun: MANGATA and COVET

One thing modern heavy metal can be hopelessly devoid of?  Fun.  It’s all gloomy doom rituals or shredding as fast as you can in as many time signatures as possible…. But sometimes girls/boys/all genders of people just want to have fun.  Mangata and Covet are two fun bands I’ve come across on my quarantined April… Continue reading Sometimes It’s Fun to Have Fun: MANGATA and COVET

An End of Year Reflection: Music Nikita Wishes He’d Heard Sooner

By Nikita Alekseyevich Khrenov Every year, we as consumers discover a bevy of new music. Some more often than others but certainly not all of the new tunes are from the current year; we discover artists and albums from previous years and always ask the same question: “Why haven’t I heard of this band sooner?” I’d… Continue reading An End of Year Reflection: Music Nikita Wishes He’d Heard Sooner

Better Over Time: A Review of Dream Theater’s Distance Over Time

I remember that night back in 1994 clearly. “Take The Time” was playing on my father’s stereo at home. It was during the song’s lengthy instrumental workout that I made this innocent observation: “Boy, these guys write long songs.” My father’s response? “Well, they love to play.” It was an endearing thing to hear as… Continue reading Better Over Time: A Review of Dream Theater’s Distance Over Time

Album Review: Brave’s the calm | the storm

Washington DC prog rockers Brave released their sophomore album the calm | the storm on January 8th to positive reviews from AlternativeNation.net, Dead Rhetoric, and now this very blog.  The layered compositions feature active bass, interactive string and keyboard lines, and rich vocals. Singer and co-founder Michelle Schrotz says of the album, “These songs represent ‘life stories’ and lyrically… Continue reading Album Review: Brave’s the calm | the storm

Listening Lately: Runescarred, Skumbagh, and Martyr Art

Plenty of interesting tunes have infiltrated the inbox this October…. With a fitting release date of October 31st, Runescarred’s cover of “Moonchild” by Iron Maiden is sure to please oldschool metalheads and modern prog fans alike.  Frontman Ven Scott aptly takes on Bruce Dickinson’s epic vocal stylings, with the band adding modern grit to the song’s… Continue reading Listening Lately: Runescarred, Skumbagh, and Martyr Art