LP Review: "Paramnesia" by Destroying the Devoid

Paramnesia

My preferred mode of travel, be it commuter or long distance, is by rail.

Riding a train, well there's just something majestic about that. It's easy to think about the people who laid those tracks across the country or how easy it is to get around in Japan by Bullet Train.

Here in the United States we don't have the relationship with trains that other nations do, but part of that is probably due to our great (already) country being so vast.

Most European nations are the size of one of our states, so it's much easier to travel by rail that way.

Spending time in Philadelphia and San Francisco, I saw just how awesome commuter travel can be in other cities not named New York. But what's great about travelling by rail is that the next stop is going to change everything.

EP Review: "On The Outskirts of Hades" by Paganizer

On The Outskirts of Hades

When I go to certain restaurants, ordering the same thing each time is a common occurrence for me.

Like Dante from Clerks, I'm not always ready to risk my comfortable situation for the fabulous prices. At Crusoe's, the fried chicken is always perfect.

When the family is at Culpeppers, the Stake Sandwich never failed to create cheers.

What's all that matter?

Though many of us are fans of avant garde music the likes we have never heard before doesn't mean that adherence to convention is a bad thing.

Take the most avant garde music from 2016 and deconstruct it. You'll be left, most likely, with several different conventions from several different types of music, but it's not normal for doom metal to be laden with blast beats....see?

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.

LP Review: "Never Enough" by The Company Corvette

Never Enough

When your friend and humble narrator was just a lad, music lovers didn't have this thing called choice.

Our music came from the radio, then we could buy the tape or the vinyl. One hit wonders didn't last long back then, because an artist had to make an entire album's worth of tunes.

This was for the single fact that we had no ability to skip a track.

Well, we couldn't really do it for years as for me, I missed out on the original vinyl era and when I was purchasing it was all about cassette tapes...and that was hard.

Then enter in the CD. My father many times talked about how it was so easy to skip tracks now. The singer in my band in the mid-90's refused to switch to CD, because he didn't want to purchase anything that wasn't good all the way though.

LP Review: "The Hecatomb" by Temple Nightside

The Hecatomb

Cold, grimy, and dark.

That's a simple way to describe the best months of the year in my personal opinion, the winter.

Life is never as good for me as when my neighborhood is covered in snow and ice. Sweating, heat exhaustion, and sun burn are words not stated in the murky grip of January.

Those are serious problems in my home during the oppressive months of summer.

Aside from the apparent desolation, there are some juxtaposed upsides as well. As our home is in a fairly historic neighborhood, and that our domicile is older than my grandfather, a beautiful, snow covered winter looks like a Charles Dickens novel. Even in darkness, there is beauty.

Concert Photos: TESLA February 4, 2015 at The Pageant, St. Louis , Missouri -photos by Danny Nichols

Jeff Keith of Tesla rocks the Pageant in St. Louis

LP Review: "II" by Dumb Numbers

II

There's a road near my house that I drive basically every single day of my life.

It's one of the longest roads in the City of St. Louis. There are a great many neighborhoods, personalities, and walks of life on Grand Blvd.

When driving west on I-70, that Grand exit has a familiar name, but the first time I used it, the area of the city was wholly unfamiliar to me.

There certainly weren't any sushi restaurants there.

This particular street, like the city, like people, like everything, hasn't remained static over the years. It's grown, changed, progressed, and even regressed. Simply because we all know its name, doesn't mean we know what it's like this very instant in that very spot.

LP Review: "Kingdom of Sand" by Myriad of Lights

Kingdom of Sand

There was a time when the ooze was still primordial.

In that time, the world was very old, but the living were young. In time, things began to change. Pangaea broke up into several smaller continents.

The air become breathable.

Life crawled out of the sea and onto the land. This is when things really started to hot up.

Eventually the world has become what we know it as, but try as we might to make our world into Coruscant, there are still pockets of what used to be.

We live in a world that contains places that man has yet to despoil or improve, depending upon your stance at the moment. What if humanity could return to the point of the primordial ooze?

Album Review: “Black Hole Space Wizard Part 1” by Howling Giant

According to legend, in early March of 1951 Ike Turner’s guitarist Willie Kizart was driving to Memphis, Tennessee for a recording session when his amplifier tumbled from atop his car and bounced down Highway 61.  

A makeshift attempt to repair the amplifier by cramming it full of newspapers rendered it operational, except it now produced a fuzzy distorted sound.  The song recorded that day “Rocket 88” found its way to the top of the charts and is often credited as being the first rock-n-roll song.  

Clearly, the world wanted the fuzz then, and has never stopped doing so. 

The sound accidentally discovered by Kizart has since been captured, refined and controlled by amplifier manufacturers. Wise is the band who has chosen to harness this almighty power.

Howling Giant brings the fuzz and so much more on their second album “Black Hole Space Wizard Part 1”.  It is one down-tuned crunchy stoner metal riff after another, in a style closely resembling genre legends The Sword and Witchcraft.  

Only instead of focusing their attention of themes of paganism, this concept EP takes to the stars, telling a science fiction inspired tale of mankind abandoning Earth to avoid a celestial wizard.

Interview: Crobot, There Will Be Touring!

In a world of iTunes, The Kardashians, and millennialls with long term memories of approximately eight seconds, Crobot, somehow, still exists.

Their sound, which they just call riff rock, feels timeless because, even though in parts they look and sound like what Stillwater should have been in Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous, their music has never really existed in any time period of popular music.

Full of riffs, doom, frenetic tenor vocals, and a rhythm section that Mayans could build their pyramids by, Crobot is truly isn't just in a league of their own, it's a sport they created.

Their career won't be made by power brokers getting their material played on MTV (which no longer exists), FM radio (which no longer exists), but by pouring their hearts out on stage before any band that'll accept them on stage.

Crobot has played my city in at least three different venues opening up for at least four different bands since the fateful day they crossed my path and sold me my first piece of new vinyl.

Their names will be made on the road. They've toured with Volbeat, Moorhead, Kill Devil Hill, and countless others. If they miss your town on opening up for someone, don't worry, they'll catch you on the next tour which probably starts the weekend after the one they're on now.

Glacially Musical: Thank you for taking the time out your insanely busy schedule to talk with me.

Crobot: No problem at all! 

EP Review: "I (Songs About Dystopia, Satan, Ghouls, & Marilyn Monroe)" by Sulfur Ensemble

I (For Brevity's Sake)

When my friends and were much younger and learning the geography of the world, Turkey and Hungary always were a big joke to us.

Because people in Hungary should go to Turkey!

We were literally the world's best nine year old comedians as far as I'm concerned. Granted, nowadays comedy has come farther along, like that kid that does impressions. He's amazing.

In 1985 though, children's comedy hadn't reached such dizzying heights.

Turkey is an interesting country and their exports are always greatly appreciated. Turkish Tobacco was something that I have partaken quite a bit of. Hmm, maybe that's the only export that's come to my attention. Oh, hookahs are pretty popular over there too right?

Wait...that's pretty much the same thing.

Concert Photos: L.A. Guns at the Whisky A Go Go, Sunset Strip, July 25, 2014 -photos by Danny Nichols

Phil Lewis, Steve Riley and Michael Grant of L.A. Guns play the famed Whisky A Go Go

Interview: Pseudo/Sentai

There was a time when bands were formed with heroes of insurmountable powers or by the like minded.

The members of Guitar Wolf were raised by wolves and then began to play jet rock'n'roll music.

GWAR is peopled with crazy persons from another part of the galaxy.

Today let's take some time to get to know the members of Pseudo/Sentai who are also super heroes.

Glacially Musical: Let's get to know you guys a little bit. First off, explain the name Pseudo/Sentai for us please.

[RED]: We wanted a name that would capture the idea of a band that’s also a task force, while also relating that the task force is just a bunch of musicians. We’re sort of a task force! The / is like the lightning bolt in the Power Rangers title!

[BLUE]: Not much else to say there.

EP Review: "Chapter 1: Hysterics" by Gus McArthur

Chapter 1: Hysterics

Recently we traveled to Joliet, IL from our home in St. Louis, MO.

Sadly, my attempt to ride the train was thwarted. There was a possibility of not being able to arrive on time, but it all basically worked out.

Which left us with the tried and true: ROAD TRIP!

Before leaving, combos and sodas were acquired, because those are the essential foods for such a journey.

As we moved along Interstate 55, a road coma began to take over me, thankfully, as I sat in the passenger seat.

Then all of a sudden, a semi truck started to merge into our lane and we were then nearly rear ended by an SUV behind us who didn't see the semi. The coma was gone.

Album Review: "Ouroboric Stagnation" by Neurogenic

The vast majority of music is vocal based, meaning the melody and primary focus of a song can be found in the vocal track.  This is not necessarily true in heavy metal, where often the main feature is the guitar riff and the vocals are just another instrument, rather than the focal point of a tune.  This is especially the case in death metal where growled vocals are usually indecipherable, rarely contain melody and are utilized to create atmosphere and emphasis.  

Neurogenic’s album Ouroboric Stagnation is notable for the lack of attention placed on the vocals.  Vocalist Matteo Bazzanella’s tracks are so low in the mix, they seamlessly blend with the instrumental tracks.  Perhaps they are even a bit too low, but I understand the reason.  These tunes are entirely guitar driven, and the guitar tone is masterful.   

LP Review: "Celebrate" by The Big Bend

Celebrate

Surprises are a wonderful thing.

This album came as a surprise to me, it just kind of showed up on my door step. Well, I did some detective work, i.e. searching my inbox, and figured out the mystery!

It's a feel good story is it not?

Anyway, music to me is a purposeful art form. It's not like a painting or even a play in my personal view.

There are different kinds of music for different things. Soft, instrumental music is fantastic for dinner conversation. Wildly progressive instrumental music is not.

Brutal metal is great for video gaming or just getting it done, whatever the it may be. The Blues, well that's just good drinking music.

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?

Concert Review: Guns N' Roses Arrowhead Stadium Kansas City June 29, 2016 and Soldier Field Chicago July 1, 2016. -photos and words by Danny Nichols

The days of rock bands filling stadiums appears to be coming to an end.  Without the power of terrestrial radio to filter a limited selection of music to the ears of the masses, it is difficult to imagine how new super groups will be created.  The list of rock bands who could still command the attention of over 60,000 fans a night is limited to Iron Maiden, the Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Paul McCartney, maybe Bruce Springsteen, and now Guns N' Roses.

All of these bands are at the tail end of their careers with no heir apparent.  This is a shame.  Although I am grateful to live in a world where small bands can find a stage and a niche market, and while concert attendance should not be a barometer of a band's quality, I think there is a place in the world for for the energy and environment of a packed stadium all listening to the same music.

You can have a great concert experience without fireworks during the encore, but they sure don't hurt.

Interview: AL Yeti Bones of Gypsy Chief Goliath Talks Music, Beer, and Fatherhood

AL Yeti Bones (center)

Sometimes you get these emails and all of a sudden your interest is piqued.

Let me tell you, as a Grade F Flunkie in the music business, I'm privy to all sorts of emails that we receive here at the 33,576,222nd most popular website in the world.

Some of them are expected, X band has a new record, Y band has a new video, Z band is going on tour.

Then you get Gypsy Chief Goliath is going on tour and releasing a beer called Black Samra(IPA). At this point, my natural curiosity took over, as this particular beer is not readily available here in St. Louis, but as a former beer blogger... I had to get the scoop.

Glacially Musical: Let's get to know you guys a little bit. Where do you look for inspiration?

LP Review: "Longing For Infection" by Fistula

Longing For Infection

Let's take a moment to talk about something.

Personal pain.

Pain and anger go hand in hand, which is part of what makes it such fertile territory for loud and aggressive music.

When someone is in pain, they are stronger, they are weaker, and they seek survival at all costs.

Anger is similar to that. There are a great many examples in the history of man, both written and oral, of people using their anger and pain to affect great change.

Whether or not the results are a net positive or negative is something best left to the annals of history on a case by case basis. In the USA right now, we are seeing great pain and great anger. There is a reaction happening to both.

Interview: Sascha Latman of Winterhorde

On May 3, 2016, Glacially Musical reviewed the new Winterhorde album "Maestro", which is an absolute masterpiece of symphonic black metal.  It was a privelege to be able to follow up the review with an interview of Winterhorde's bassist, composer and lyricist Sascha Latman.

Danny Nichols of Glacially Musical: I think the Israeli metal scene is much more extensive and has produced so many more great metal bands than many American metal fans realize.

How has forming in Israel contributed to the sound of Winterhorde?

Sasha Latman of Winterhorde:  Hello Danny! Actually forming in Israel didn’t contribute that much to our sound, because most of us are immigrants from post-Soviet republics. 

We carry our culture and musical influences from the areas of our origins. Be it Ukraine or Belarus, the Soviet musical roots are still deep within us. 

We had always a different sounding from the other  Israeli metal bands. Moreover, we were inspired mostly by European metal scene, which is recognized with its melodic approach.  

LP Review: "Welcome To The Graveyard" by Castle

Welcome To The Graveyard

Art in and of itself is an expression.

Learning a song on guitar recently, it was evident that the players were breaking the rules of the song in order to spice it up.

Learning what the rules is very important to being able to break them effectively.

The song in particular was a 12 Bar Blues Standard that, in this arrangement had some little fills tossed in between measures, effectively creating a song that was more than 12 bars.

So, was this song still a Blues song? Those little melody breaks were far more appropriate in metal than they were blues. Beyond that, the song was original recorded by a man and his guitar, but here I was listening to a 12 piece band performing it. Is it still the same song?

LP Review: "Biolith" by Third Ion

Biolith

In the history of music there have been about one quintillion super groups, and most of them kind of suck.

Even Velvet Revolver kind of sucked, apart from some beautiful tracks here and there.

When bands are peopled with members of other bands, what makes this transition so hard?

Well, personally speaking, it could be attributed to stars of bands going into other bands and not being able to make their mark. Again, Velvet Revolver comes to mind. Slash didn't make his mark as Slash on those records.

Well certainly there  has to be a panacea for this poison. Groups like Cream have shown us the way. When several members of bands get together, each player has to be able to make their statement in the songs.

LP Review: "Yeth Hound" by Tyfon's Doom

Yeth Hound

In 1977 Ace Frehley and Peter Criss told Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley that they felt musically confined in Kiss and were going to quit the band and release solo albums.

How many times in the course of musical history has someone in a band gone solo thinking they could do it all themselves only to fall flat on their face?

For every one Ozzy Osbourne there are about 200 Ace Frehleys, and this coming from a huge Kiss/Ace Frehley fan.

What irks the most about solo records is that most of the time, they are not solo albums, but bands being named after the singer. Ozzy Osbourne's original "solo" band was the work of four people, but that's not what it ended up being.

Another solo success story would be King Diamond, successful in that he at least kept up the same levels of popularity outside of Mercyful Fate as he did inside of it.