Listening Lately: Drivin’ Cross-Country with NECROSEXUAL and RIFFLORD

It’s the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and I’m not in the mood to write an introduction… Philadelphia’s grimmest Franzia enthusiast, The Necrosexual, ventured up to Cherry Street Station this past Saturday night; he didn’t find any posers to slay, but he did find plenty of HEAVY METAL.  Following a performance that won over the curious crowd,… Continue reading Listening Lately: Drivin’ Cross-Country with NECROSEXUAL and RIFFLORD

Listening Lately: MOTHER FEATHER, YEAR OF THE COBRA, 1476, and DUST PROPHET

We’re barely into November and it’s already a great month for music!  As the days grow shorter, I’ll decorate with sound to raise my spirits…. …and Mother Feather is the perfect band to combat the end of daylight savings time.  This Brooklyn outfit is by far the most colorful band on Metal Blade, and probably… Continue reading Listening Lately: MOTHER FEATHER, YEAR OF THE COBRA, 1476, and DUST PROPHET

Eye Of Nix Reissues Black Somnia, Playing Brooklyn 11/3/18

This is coincidentally Alternative Control’s second post this week about an avant garde re-release…. The first was Patrick Grant’s twenty-year anniversary celebration of FIELDS AMAZE and other sTRANGE music, a jagged modernist soundscape of gamelan and Western instruments.  And now we examine Seattle outfit Eye of Nix, who has reissued their full-length Black Somnia with Prophecy… Continue reading Eye Of Nix Reissues Black Somnia, Playing Brooklyn 11/3/18

AltCtrlToob: We’re All Going to Hell with “Predators” from We Are The Catalyst

This morning on AltCtrlToob, we have an offering from Swedish hard rock/metal group We Are The Catalyst: “Predators,” an ominous song about overvaluing fame and popularity.  Says the band, With this song we wanted to go darker and heavier than we have before, adding an uncomfortable air to our sound. “Predators” is a song about… Continue reading AltCtrlToob: We’re All Going to Hell with “Predators” from We Are The Catalyst

Doom That Heals: An Interview with Jacqui Powell of Witching

Of all the recent bands with “Witch” in their name, Witching is my favorite.  This badass Philly doom outfit has only released an EP and a single so far, but already they are turning heads.  On the eve of a brief tour, frontwoman Jacqui Powell talked with Alternative Control about where the band came from… Continue reading Doom That Heals: An Interview with Jacqui Powell of Witching

NERD TALK with Kelly and Jessica from DAXMA

On the flip side of the Nerd Talk’s “shared culture” theme, I’ve also enjoyed getting submissions that discuss completely unexpected topics.  When members of Oakland post-doom band Daxma sent in their column, I was surprised to read about magic mushrooms and picture frames.  Yep, picture frames — or rather, “custom framing.”  Didn’t even know that was… Continue reading NERD TALK with Kelly and Jessica from DAXMA

Nerd Talk with Vikki from Her Despair

Vikki -- photo by Scott Chalmers Photography, borrowed from the band FB page.

The British Invasion continues at Nerd Talk — what is this, the War of 1812??  This week, bassist Vikki of Berkshire’s gothic metal band Her Despair takes over; I have a feeling she could get quite a tabletop battle going with Nerd Talk alums Howling Giant!  Read on to find out about Vikki’s tastes in… Continue reading Nerd Talk with Vikki from Her Despair