The Minerva Conduct - The Minerva Conduct

Over the years we've been receiving album promos, I've noticed that the majority of the promos that we get from the Southeastern Asia region tend to use the use the words "brutal", "extreme", and "grind" in the band's description. "Instrumental" and "atmospheric" are terms that are a rarity, so coming across the debut of India's The Minerva Conduct was a real treat. Comprised of members of other Indian extreme metal bands, The Minerva Conduct is also aided in the drumming department by ex-Animals As Leaders member Navine Koperweis. While the self-titled debut of this collective doesn't necessarily bring anything new to the table, it does pool together familiar elements in an impressively balanced manner. Technicality, rhythmic hooks, heaviness, and ambiance are things that not all instrumental act tries to equate in their band's formula, but The Minerva Conduct does exactly this, making it more than a worthwhile listen.

Exclusive Interview - Johannes Persson (Cult of Luna)

Cult of Luna has been one of those bands I've loved but never gotten to see; the last time they were in Chicago, I was on a family trip (live alone and have no friends kids; it's the only way).  I suppose I should say had been; a few weeks ago, CoL came through Reggie's to play their staggering Mariner album with Julie Christmas.  The band was sensational live, everything I'd hoped for, but Christmas was an absolute revelation, a Puciato-level force of nature that elevated the performance far above my wildest expectations.  I couldn't have asked for anything more (ok... maybe a "Mute Departure" encore) from the set.

Before the show even started though, I was living the high life, as I got to sit down with CoL's lead singer/guitarist Johannes Persson to talk about the band, Mariner, touring, collaborating, and a slew of other topics!  This was one of the coolest interviews I've had, so check it out after the break!

Top 10 Dream Theater Tracks For Metalheads

Let me start by acknowledging that this article was born in my mind after reading an Invisible Oranges article that was reflecting on Dream Theater's sophomore album, Images and Words, turning 25 years old. Anyone who knows me personally or has read this blog more than a few times probably knows by now that Dream Theater was a seminal gateway band for me after my initial days of listening to hard rock and mainstream metal on the local radio station. Because of that history, despite how my metal tastes have and will continue to change, I will always consider myself a Dream Theater fan (I can hear your collective sighs.....they fuel me).

So, after reading the aforementioned article, I put my thinking cap on and asked myself, "What Dream Theater tracks could potentially sway metal fans who wouldn't normally consider themselves Dream Theater fans (or even better, actually HATE Dream Theater)?"

Elder - Reflections of a Floating World

Sometimes it can be hard for me to write reviews, typically for one of two reasons. Sometimes an album will be really bad, in which case I don't want to write about it because I don't like writing negative reviews most of the time.  Other times an album will be really good, and I'll love it, and I'll start writing a review of it, and then after a week of work, I'll read my draft and discover all I've written is "Uh... Falls of Rauros' Vigilance Perennial is really, really good" 10,000 times, like a much more upbeat, sort of less alcoholic, still batshit crazy Jack Torrance.

Exclusive Interview - Jun-His & Ontto (Oranssi Pazuzu)

I had the pleasure of interviewing Jun-His and Ontto of Oranssi Pazuzu at their very first US show at St. Vitus Bar in Brooklyn, NY 2 days before they hit Maryland Deathfest. We talked about expectations for a US show, making a name for themselves in Finland, Roadburn, and overall fan reception to their style of play. Also joining in on the interview is Nine Circles contributor and fellow Finn, Zyklonius.

Exclusive Interview - David Rodgers (Godhunter)

banner image courtesy of CvltNation

Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of sitting down via Skype with David Rodgers of Godhunter and Battleground Records to chat about the band's upcoming Codex Narco, out this Friday.  Our conversation touched on the band's different process in writing and recording this album, cover songs, and the merits of releasing music online.  It's one of my all-time favorite interviews that I've done, and I really hope you enjoy it!  And don't forget to check out Codex Narco, which is a pretty fantastic album!

Exclusive Interview - Will Smith (Artificial Brain)

photo credit : Invisible Oranges

 Arriving in Philadelphia for the Decibel Metal and Beer Fest on Saturday afternoon, I sought out Artificial Brain vocalist and all around great guy Will Smith to talk about the band's brand new album, Infrared Horizon, the untimely passing of FDNY firefighter and drummer of Internal Bleeding; Bill Tolley, and the death metal scene as a whole.

The Ditch and the Delta - Hives in Decline

As I was perusing the ol' Töp inbox the other day, looking for promos, I came across a band described as an "exploratory sludge/math metal trio."  Suffice it to say my trousers became a smidge tighter at that combination of words, and so I downloaded the debut album from Salt Lake City's The Ditch and the Delta, Hives in Decline.  Was my semi-chub, brought on by musically erotic thoughts of an Eagle Twin/Dillinger Escape Plan sex scene, brought to full mast?  Or would I be left with doomy blue balls?

Godhunter - The Codex Narco

For a band that's only been around for six or so years, Godhunter sure has been busy.  In addition to their stellar debut full-length City of Dust, they've put out six EPs, splits, or collaborations, each of which has seen their brand of sludge pulled and tweaked in different directions.  Their newest album, Codex Narco, continues that pattern, but with another, bigger twist: after a 2015 tour, a few members of the band left amicably, leaving guitarist/vocalist David Rodgers, drummer Andy Kratzenberg, and keyboardist Matthew Davis in the band.  Rather than find new members to flesh out a lineup, the trio invited musicians from other bands to play on Codex Narco.  There's no point in burying the lede; the result is a really cool album that's rooted in Godhunter's traditional sludge sound, while still charging forward.

Dakhma - Suna Kulto

 

Last year, Oathbreaker landed on many a year end list for blending ambiance with the aggression of hardcore. While it was a release that I thoroughly enjoyed, it seemed to delve too far into tranquility, without striking the necessary balance with the volatile energy that hardcore is known for. I loved the idea of the sound, but ultimately wanted something a little more relentless. "Ask and you shall receive" is what I remember thinking to myself immediately after listening to Suna Kulto, the latest release from Grand Rapids, Michigan three-piece Dakhma. Every year there's bound to be an album or two that I miss out on before I put my year end list together; you can count this one as a huge miss for 2016.