Eclectic Vibes

Valient Thorr - Our Own Masters

Balls-to-the-wall slip sliding stoner sludge metal from North Carolina has never sounded so good! Pulsing and pounding riffs and rhythms spiral and surge, blistering with unvarnished intensity and brilliance. Grab hold! 

Mire - Inward/Outward

Touted as being the heir apparent to the long vacant TOOL throne of progressive rock, Montreal’s Mire provide a convincing display of aptitude, depth and prowess, while sounding a LOT like TOOL. These complex compositions with delicate dynamics captured my attention from first listen and continue to provide satisfaction as more layers unfold.

Delain - Human Contradiction

Still having a soft spot for female fronted symphonic metal, I was pleased to find that the Dutch band Delain’s newest delivers an ample amount of crashing metal attacks juxtaposed against delicate refrains and floating synth driven atmospheres. Charlotte Wessels demonstrates an emotional but not overpowering vocal approach, which propels their overall musical ferocity and gothic undertow to new heights and depths.

Brownout - Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath

Take the Austin-based Latin funk band Brownout, add congas, horns, zest and psychedelics to choice catalog selections from Hard Rock and Heavy Metal godfathers Black Sabbath and you get Brown Sabbath, their funky, salsafied cousins. They make it surprisingly hard to decide whether to bang your head or dance your ass off to these 7 classic tracks.

Various Artists - Uprising (Metal Alliance)

Feast your ears on this fist pumping slurry of 17 new and throwback metal tracks compiled of bands from around the country who are united in this new metal massacre. Serving as a roll call of contemporary metal musicians that are still emanating hot and heavy rhythmic churns and aggressive attitudes, this release will help you discover new names in the realm of metal goodness. Next time you are in the mood to bang your head, kick some ass and devour some new furious metal, look no further than The Uprising. 

lespecial - Omnisquid

Vascilating between intense Tool level prog metal, and ambient electronic glitches this truly IS the Omnisquid! Weaving a path of ever morphing grooves and rhythms occasionally popping into King Crismson level tinkering and tweaking on their guitars, lespecial delivers twists and turns a plenty, but not so many that the music suffers. Bristling with activity and inspiration there is much to absorb and observe here.

Baroness - Purple

They ascended to top of the metal heap with their masterpiece Yellow and Green, only to be thrust into temporary oblivion by a tragic bus accident, resulting in among other things fractured vertebrae and near limb amputation. This broke the band into pieces causing the loss of 2 members and a lot of momentum. Their return, Purple, finds their angst, wounds and determination woven into another tantalizing musical tapestry of intense emotion pounding and atmospheric groovy refrains while offering a home to two new members and their own record label. Wish the production was better. (8) yourbaroness.com

Heilung - Lifa

Neofolk can take on many forms, but few are as decorated and enthralling as the spectacle that is Heilung. Lifa was recorded live at Castlefest 2017 and is the auditory compliment to the truly transformative performance given there. Throat singing, drumming, chanting and exquisite attire create a compelling Viking visage and platform for this music and group as they transport you through time and space with their bleak ritualistic ambiance and spiritual drone.

Opeth - In Cauda Venenum  

Delightfully delicious, dynamic and intense musical drama from Sweden’s one and only Opeth! Their 13th release is a double, offering these 10 engaging and enrapturing progressive rock and metal compositions sung first and foremost in Swedish, but then also including with English accompaniment. Every listen unveils new layers of breathtaking delicacy, interesting interludes and amazing musicianship. Bravo!

Babymetal - Metal Galaxy

Nothing short of a fascinating anomaly in the world of music, the chart topping (recently #1 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart) Japanese group Babymetal mixes the vocals and choreographed movements of a trio of cutesy teeny bopper type girls with anthemic, super heavy, metal music. This release is a loose concept album about being dispatched to distant parts of the universe. After headlining performances at many prestigious festivals around the world, who knows which part of the universe they will explore next?

The Darkness - Easter Is Cancelled

Looking for a buff Savior just in time for Xmas? The obvious choice here would be the crotch-thrusting rock’n’roll group The Darkness! The sixth album from these British rockers still screams and strains with cheesy iconic hooks and riffin a plenty. Like a trip through the hairy 80s, the finger flying beginning gives way to the power ballads before apexing with anthemic fist pumpers. Good to go.

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