LP Review: "Temple" by Olde

Temple

Over the Fourth of July holiday, my cousin and her family were in town from Chicago.

It's been almost two years since we've seen each other and just as long for the kids too. When we have time, our daughters have Facetime Tea Parties.

Yes, it's every so metal.

Keeping up with people is something I have never been good at to be perfectly honest about the situation, and that does include family.

Thankfully, she was willing to make the overture and a great time was had by all. There was an 11th Hour decision not to take our children to the park where we spent large portions of our youth...bleeding in the sand...because that place is dangerous.

LP Review: "The Great Dying" by Yeti on Horseback

The Great D ying

So many bands in this world play at about a thousand miles an hour.

In our current era of music, the term speed metal is no longer valid, because most of it is played at breakneck speeds.

Lyrics almost can never be understood either due to sheer speed or demon growls.

Speed of playing is kind of like adding effects to the music. It makes it sound different and better. Take a look at some of Metallica's earlier work and there's quite a lot of very simple riffing, but played faster than anyone ever had before.

That stuff still holds up today, but how often can you hear a band that plays slower than the old lady in a hat driving in the left hand lane when you're late for work who keeps it interesting?

Album Review: "Hibernation" by Lightsabres

Cassettes were my introduction to the world of rock.  When I first got into music in 1986, vinyl had just gasped its dying breath and compact discs had yet to appear.  This was the era of going into the mall record store, picking up Iron Maiden's "Somewhere in Time"  and slapping down your unspent lunch money so the shopkeep would free this masterpiece from its excessively long shoplifter proof package.  

Or better yet, joining one of those mailorder tape clubs, where for very little money they would send you a box of 15 cassettes of your choice, plus 4 more for signing up a friend, plus a free one with every purchase thereafter.  How did they stay in business ? Turns out it really was too good a deal, and none of them did.  

I amassed hundreds of cassettes in the last four years of the eighties, which would fundamentally alter my perception of the universe. Sure cassettes wore out way before I was tired of listening to them, sometimes played too fast, sometimes played too slow, and were prone to being devoured by the always hungry tape deck. Still, I am not alone in having a sentimental attachment to them and a regret it is no longer a viable medium.  Releasing albums on vinyl has become a trendy thing, so when will cassettes once again see their day in the sun?  Lightsabres is here to make it so.

Album Review: "Stocial" by Sealclubber

Stoical

Are you one of those people who loves to have deep conversations about a wide range of topics that actually knows a damned thing about what they're saying rather than parroting what they've heard on their slanted media outlet?

If you're like me, then you know what it's like to talk to those kinds of people. They can't stay on topic because they have nothing of any actual substance to offer rather than repeating something they heard as if it was the final word.

Dealing with these kinds of people can be ever so frustrating and tiresome, but I cannot stop myself from doing it. I'll be honest, I'm a pretty smart guy, but with my OCD....

I can't keep away. If you're like and find yourself engaging with these kinds of people, you've been called every name in the book. Our little parrot friends cannot think for themselves so they cannot begin to understand someone who does or the thoughts they express.

Album Review: "Devil Down" by Twingiant

Devil Down

Today's review subject hails from the desert city of Phoenix, AZ.

Can you think of any other bands from that area? I believe that Godhunter is from Tuscon, AZ...but I also have no idea how far apart these cities are and the aforementioned Godhunter has very little in common from Twingiant.

The similarities end at playing high gain guitars and metal.

Formed in 2010, their idea was to play loud as all get out rock'n'roll, but in today's society, grooving rock music gets classified under the Stoner Metal category...

Our good friends Crobot can attest to that I think.

Twingiant has been fairly active in their short time in existence. Today we're looking at their sophomore LP, Devil Down, but aside from their debut, they also have an EP to their credit and will be releasing a Split EP next year and going on tour.