Album Review: "Skeleton Wolf" by Skeleton Wolf

Skeleton Wolf

At some point every conceivable chord progression will have passed from a guitarist's hands, through an amplifier, and into the ears of the world.  

Thankfully, this day has not yet come, but we are a multitude of glorious riffs closer with the release of the eponymous Skeleton Wolf album. Following in the footsteps of other modern epic thrash metalers such as Amon Amarth, Exmortus and Machine Head, and reminiscent of one of the 80s most underrated thrash metal band’s Hallow’s Eve, 

Skeleton Wolf carries on the genre’s proud tradition of bombastic riffs, breakneck drums and thundering bass lines. 

Technology allows musicians to seamlessly track individual instruments one at a time, avoiding the necessity of having all band members present at the time of recording, or as in the case of this album a band’s roster need not even be entirely filled. 

Concert Photos: Goo Goo Dolls at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles July 22, 2014 -photos by Danny Nichols

John Rzeznik and Robby Takac of the Goo Goo Dolls play the famous Greek Theatre in LA.

Album Review: "ROT" by Prisoner of War

ROT

Lately there has been a series of debates on the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame and whether or not certain acts should be in.

Personally, my belief is that the RNRHOF is improperly named and should be named the Pop Music Hall of Fame as the genre known as "rock'n'roll" has come and gone.

But it's interesting to consider the roots of music and how we have arrived to the places we are now.

Jimi Hendrix was one of the most amazing musicians of all time and in his very short time in the spotlight amassed a large catalog of work.

What made The Jimi Hendrix Experience so special, in my opinion, is that it wasn't a rock band, a rock'n'roll band, a blues band, or an R&B band, but an amalgamation of all of those genres all at once. The roots ran very deep.

Album Review: "Titanomachy" by Imperium

Titanomachy

Considering how long the word has been in our vocabulary, it's hard to believe that "multitasking" was not one of the original words in the English language.

It's also quite possible that my memory is getting hazy.

Between the Blues playoff series win versus the Blackhawks and my neck spams, concentration and rational thought are at an all time low.

It doesn't feel like there are too many bands that are able to multitask well on their songs. Of course we've heard bands that are able to switch between styles, but that's not what I mean.

Singing and playing guitar is a great example of being able to do two separate things at the same time. Why doesn't anybody do this with music?

Album Review: "Pineapples and Ashtrays" by Beninghoves Hangmen

Pineapples and Ashtrays

Life goes in strange circles.

In reading a historical tome on The City of New Orleans, jazz came up many times.

The story of that city is largely told through the music itself. It's interesting how hearing about something enough can make a person become interested in something that doesn't normally turn their crank.

Jazz is certainly not among my favorite musical genres and to the best of my knowledge, there is nothing in my personal collection that could be described in any way as jazzy.

Although, this weekend past, my wife did grab a record that included The St. Louis Blues at an estate sale, but she may have been inspired by the NHL Playoffs...LET'S GO BLUES!

Album Review: "Crippling Lack Vol. 2" by David Thomas Broughton

Crippling Lack Vol 2

NOTE: Due to this triple album being release in three parts, on three labels, on three continents, each volume is being reviewed as a separate entity.

It was a very rainy day in St. Louis and I was driving home from the real world and back into my own world.

In reality, I'm as much of a writer as many of my good friends are musicians, we do it because of the love of it and not because we're being paid oodles of money. Incidentally, I make more money playing music than writing...which is really wrong.

But during that overlong rush hour commute from the outer suburbs back to my urban home, I looked around at what surrounded me.

Far from being the only driver on the highways that day, my car was the coffin that Patrick Swayze's Bodhi talked about in Point Break. My whole self at that moment was simply focused on getting home and fighting the traffic. How is that living? Thankfully....

Album Review: "Cowards Empire" by Node

Cowards Empire

Falling asleep is about the hardest thing in the world for me to do unless I've been awake for longer than 22 hours.

This is a problem that's plagued me since I was a very small child. For years people told me that to get more sleep, just to bed earlier, but they had no idea.

When my eyes are closed, the lights in my head are on and they are on full blast. Nothing stops until such point that my brain finally shuts down due to sheer exhaustion.

A book on Samurai sword philosophy is actually helping me learn how to switch off. "Too many mind" as was famously said to Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai.

Many people would find this to be a serious problem, but to me, it's just a part of the make up of who I am. There's certainly no curse in my brain being able to function quickly.

Concert Photos: Ne Obliviscaris at Fubar in St. Louis February 8, 2016 -photos by Danny Nichols

Vocalist Xenoyr

Album Review: "Everything Is Dead" by Coffin Dust

Everything Is Dead

Upon my graduation from High School, I promptly moved back to St. Louis. From that time forward until the advent of social media, the number of times spent with high school friends could be counted on one hand.

During the infancy of social media, think MySpace.com days, at the First Annual Repeal of Prohibition Beer Festival at the Schlafly Bottleworks, and old friend ran into me.

From that point it was nearly like we had never lost anything. It was wonderful being able to pick up our friendship from where we left off and move forward into new adventures.

Sometimes bands you love do the same thing. Remember when the Beastie Boys took seven years off before coming back with To The 5 Boroughs? It wasn't like when they took a few years off between albums after that because there was just nothing at all from them.

Album Review: "Death Blues vs The Dirty Spliff" by Left Lane Cruiser and 20 Watt Tombstone

Death Blues vs. The Dirty Spliff

The connectivity of the internet is probably one of my favorite things about This Modern World in which we live.

The rabbit holes created have done wonderful things.

Case in point, this weekend past, my family and I were watching videos on YouTube through the magic of our Roku Box and before long, Informer by Snow was playing.

My wife then picked up her phone and started reading off the lyrics to this song, and said "Oh, it's an anti-snitching song!"

The best way to find new music is just by being on Twitter. Mention a band name, and you might find yourself being followed by a bunch of bands that are new to you. 20 Watt Tombstone is one of those bands for me. They found me and now I have their upcoming split with one of my favorite Psychobilly Blues bands, Left Lane Cruiser.

Album Review: "Altars & Offerings” by De Los Muertos

Altars & Offerings

St. Louis, Missouri has always had a unique place in music history, especially when it comes to the blues, beginning with the genre’s local pioneers and innovators of the 1920s, through a confluence of talent descending on the St. Louis area during the 1930s and 40s and culminating in the merging with and transition to rock-n-roll, best exemplified by the revolutionary styles of Chuck Berry and Ike and Tina Turner in the 1950s.  

This fine tradition is not dead, and it is still proudly displayed by local acts such as De Los Muertos.  Although, geared further towards the rock end of the rhythm and blues genre, and containing elements which are more modern than what was available to the 1950s ear, the influence of the St. Louis blues rings true throughout their six song album “Altars & Offerings”.  

This blues influence, mixed with elements of rock, alternative country, Americana and soul produces a unique sound the Gateway City can be proud to claim. 

Although it may be somewhat of a disservice to the band, the temptation to compare new acts to ...

Interview: Engraved Darkness Tells of Tales

Engraved Darkness

Too many times we hear politicians, great moralizers, and the uninitiated talking about how extreme metal is glorifying evil in the world.

Frankly, this concept does not make sense.

When was the last time someone said that Law & Order: SVU was glorifying crime in New York City?

No one has ever said that or that Stephen King's IT was glorifying demonic clowns that turn into giant spiders and eat children every 30 years.

Granted, that would be a bit specific.

Bands who find themselves writing about the dark side of the world interest me. Do they hate the world all the time? Are they truly evil? Are they different from you and me? Let's find out with Engraved Darkness.

Album Review: "Black Heart" by Doomsday Ceremony

Black Heart

The worst thing about Standard Issue Death Metal is the fact that it's rather monotonous.

This is nothing new. Certainly no one feels right now that I have thrown shade on the genre and Pete "Commando" Sandoval is probably not reading this to know that comment is in direct relation to his drumming on the seminal, Covenant.

Even with the oft used line up of metal, there is a wider range of colors that are not used. This can create some bland sounding music, but that certainly does go for all genres of music.

The field is crowded and being heard is the key. Many an album crosses my desk that's good for a bit but grows weary before the beginning of side two. This goes double for the bands that confuse heavy and brutal for songwriting and melody. Yes, death metal can be melodic, beautiful, and varied.

What about the bass player?

Album Review: "II" by Tombstoned

II

A number of years ago, in what's become a former life.

My friends would love to go slogging through the woods in combats boots. Naturally they insisted that I come along, and certainly that happened.

We were certainly a mystical bunch and we were out looking for the Gates to Hell, the meaning of Light My Fire, or a place to indulge in private.

Regardless of the activity pursued, there was a common theme: being lost. Never once did we precisely know where we were or what was actually around us.

Being confident in ourselves, our lack of direction wasn't worrisome, but emboldening. Of course in 2016 this is much harder to do as we all have every map of the world on our phone, but those days in the woods, along the back alleys, and everywhere else....still resonate and we're all still looking for that feeling of being lost.

Concert Photos: Gwar with Butcher Babies, Battlecross and ThorHammer in Sauget, IL September 11, 2015 -photos by Danny Nichols

Balzac The Jaws of Death and Beefcake the Mighty of Gwar