LP Review: "Remnant Light" by Vaiya

Remnant Light

In the grand scheme of life, what do you think the purpose of music is?

Of course it's to paint a picture, to convey an emotion, but what is the end game of a song, an album, or a career?

We listen to the blues when we feel sad in order to feel better. We listen to metal when we're angry and seek relief. We listen to techno or EDM when we want to dance.

This train of thought can continue, but you have the idea don't you?

In the end, music seeks to inspire. When it's all broken down and rooted out. I feel like all songs are there saying, "Hey, Nik. This bad day, it's not the end of your life. No matter what happens, we'll be here to push you forward."

Double LP Review: "Ruinen" by Waldgefluster

Ruinen

It's been nearly ten years since that day.

In a single moment, the words became actions and the actions became consequences and the consequences became the greatest challenge of my adult life.

I had spent the last 13 years of my life building to that moment. Of course, it could have easily been avoided had signs been heeded, but that's another story all together.

As I watched the door close, my mind was awash in torment, despair, anger, and confusion. Would I have the strength to raise my fist to the sky in defiance or would I shrivel into a former shell of myself?

Find that moment in your life as you read this introduction. Can you recall that time when you stood upon the precipice of assured destruction and the greatest happiness of your life? That's what Ruinen is all about.

LP Review: "Divination" by Vukari

Dviniation

Have you ever seen Game of Thrones?

Between that show and The Walking Dead Twitter can be absolutely unreadable at times with all the oohs and ahhs about that show.

There's a person in my life who continually texts me, have you started watching GoT yet??!

No, to this day, I have not seen a single episode of Game of Thrones and no matter how hard you try, Heather, it's seriously doubtful that I ever will.

The thing about that show that I am familiar with is the meme with King Dude Who Might Have Been In Lord of the Rings telling us to brace ourselves because Winter is coming.

That's easy to get behind. Winter is the best season of the year.

Album Review: "Moving Monoliths" by WILT

Moving Monoliths

What is in a genre?

When the term black metal is uttered in your presence, what comes to mind?

For me...it's people painted up like Kiss, but less cool, extremely vicious vocals like death metal, but less cool, and pounding rhythms that are bolstered by keyboards.

If you're a black metal devotee, you'll probably realize that I'm not a fan of the genre personally.

But perhaps I think of genres as steadfast rules rather a mere set of unwritten guidelines. It's also interesting to see sub-sub-genres of metal...like today...let's talk about atmospheric black doom metal.