EP Review: "Innen Aussen" by Tarasque

Innen Aussen

The first bit of housekeeping that needs to be discussed is whether or not this is an LP or an EP. The disc clocks in around 27 minutes which puts it slightly under one Reign In Blood.

Slayer's masterpiece clocks in at just under 29 minutes. So, that's the minimum. These delineations are here for the readers! Some of us, like me, know what it's like to buy an EP when you were expecting an LP....

Second bit of housekeeping. Tarasque are listed under the post-metal heading. Does anyone out there refer to anything as Post-Anything?

They're also listed as sludge metal. Each time a post-metal record is reviewed here, we ask for help defining this term. As no one's stepped up, my personal definition of Post-Metal will be this now and forever: It's metal that doesn't simply tick the boxes off and adds in non-metal elements. 

So it is metal and it's not metal at the same time with a tendency for the avant garde.

LP Review: "The Liars Bend Low" by Pyreship

The Liars Bend Low

In November, a simple conclusion hit me, in the coming years music is going to be really great.

That's because pain breeds art.

Consider the Vietnam War Era. When we look back at those years some of the true titans of music were stalking the earth: The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and the list goes on and on.

Those days were a time of upheaval in the world. The people were at unrest.

We are not even halfway through 2017, and there have been several amazing albums. It appears the pain being caused around the world is most definitely creating amazing art.

LP Review: "Stone and Skin" by Thera Roya

Stone and Skin

During the holidays, and as of this writing the following statement is still applicable, there are mountains of leftovers.

In my family, there was Christmas Eve which is attended by nearly one hundred people, New Year's Eve, and we even had a special Boxing Day fancy dinner...my good twitter followers saw how that shaped up.

During this time of year, the Post-Holidays as it were, there's all those leftovers.

From December 25th to today, the number of meals my family's eaten of holiday leftovers....well that number is incalculable. In fact, my lunch today consisted of beef brisket, ham, and turkey on a hoagie roll that I wrapped up into a single sandwich. All of those meats were from a holiday party.

So, in the chubby, post-holidays, we eat and eat...and continue to eat. It's also conceivable that we're eating something that's a bit of a pile up.

EP Review: "Atonement" by A Province of Thay

Atonement

Juxtaposed.

Life is best lived when there are many competing forces. Underneath it all, my nature is fiercely rebellious. You should have heard the things I said to my mother when she was displeased with my dyed hair, eyebrow ring, etc.

But at heart, I'm also a rule follower.

These two sides of my personality have long been at odds with one another.

It's something makes me uniquely me. It also explains my taste in music as well. Show tunes sit next to death metal which sits next to psychedelic rock which sits next to avant garde craziness. Life is best lived on a continuing adventure. Alchemy is about far more than the search for gold.