EP Review: "Dos" by Pinto Graham

Dos

Is there anything better than kicking back with a big spliff and spinning some stoner metal?

When you're a guy like me, you have to answer with a resounding....

Maybe?

So, maybe I'm not a stoner..actually I'm positively not a stoner, not there's anything wrong with it and I'm pleased to see a liberalization of our Marijuana Prohibition laws sweeping across the  nation.

But one of those things that stoners do ever so well is make art. At least 80% of my favorite artists have made some of their best work either about or under the influence of certain substances.

Great stoner/desert/psychedelic/whatever new tag is being used this weekend music has a swagger that's almost completely devoid in all other forms of music. It's like comparing Black Sabbath to Judas Priest...

Pinto Graham's Dos is a labyrinthine trip through a hallucination. No one really knows where that school bus is going or what these songs are about, but does that really matter?

What's most important about a song and the album is how it makes you feel. Dos gives me a feeling of abject freedom and strength. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but neither does my spaghetti and they'll both give you aid and comfort in these troubled times.

RELEASE 7/12/19 BANDCAMP FACEBOOK

Taco Grande with KOSM's Erik Leonhard

KOSM

If you turn your head slightly to the northwest, but look past the Pacific Northwest South and into the Pacific Northwest North, you'll see that beautiful city of Vancover, British Columbia.

And if you've ever been there, you'll know precisely why back in the day is 48 40 or fight.

But apart from being a target of American Imperialism in the 19th century, Vancouver is also home to KOSM.

This quintet has a brand new EP that's dropping today.

So of course we're going to talk about tacos.

But in the meantime, get with them on the WEB or FACEBOOK.

But in the meantime, TACOS.

Video: "Superposition" by Children of the State

In a day and time where we are wholly connected with the entire world at all times  based on the little rectangles we keep in our pockets, why is it that internationally flavored things strike me so?

Perhaps it's the devilishly clever usage of a rotary phone in a box, the fact that this video was recorded in Transylvania and the United Kingdom?

Maybe it's just because every so often we all need a nice dosage of beautiful music when so much ugly is happening right now.

Check out Children of the State on SPOTIFY.

Classic Spins with Blind Samson of Coffin Torture

Coffin Torture

It's time we check in with one of those most gruesome death metal bands in the world.

Let's look at the bands we have to pick from today, and South Carolina's (wait) Coffin Torture (HELL YES!) is ready to rock us to our bones with all of their death metal glory right?

Some metal fans don't realize just how brutal the Buckeye State of South Carolina is. 

The Capital of SC, Stockholm, has put out such amazing Tampa Bay Death Metal bands like Carcass, Manowar, and the heaviest and most brutal of them all....Metallica.

So, while your checking out the unholy blast beats of Coffin Torture, let's talk music.

1. My favorite kind of album is the concept album. The Wall is my absolute favorite. Beyond the amazing songs, it has spectacular nostalgia for me. What's your favorite one and why? 

LP Review: "Failure To Thrive" by Cazador

Failure To Thrive

After forming in 2015, Bostonian Sludge Doom Gloom Metal trio, Cazador, have released a single, and EP, and now they're preparing their full length debut.

Even though it's been a big topic, the season is over now and we're moving on.

On their EP, they have a song called Seppuku.

That alone is enough to get me to check out your newest and every subsequent record. Especially if you end up with a track called Fallen Diamyo....

Their latest release, Failure To Thrive is one of those releases that makes the most sense in context.

Were it available as such, this would be a perfect record to buy on vinyl because it's best heard front to back. In a world where many bands don't make albums anymore, this is a nice change of pace.

But it's not as much of an album as it is one giant song. The cover captures its essence ever so well. Imagine being bent over on a park bench because you just can't fight the injustice in the world anymore.

Failure To Thrive would be your soundtrack.

It's gloomy, thick, and angry. Cazador's debut LP doesn't fit neatly into any metal subgenre...which is how those terms came to exist anyway. Turn it on and prepare to take a ride.

RELEASE 7/12/19 BANDCAMP FACEBOOK

Vinyloscopy with Chris McCrimmon of Widow's Peak

Widow's Peak

Let's get down with Widow's Peak. That name brings up two things in my diseased brain:

Totally Metal...and my mom.

My mother has a widow's peak. She's always had it and hates it. I'm totally jealous, because I have a receding hairline. One of us looks way more metal with our hair pulled back into a ponytail...or in my case a man bun like the Ginger Ale dude.

Anyway Widow's Peak is more of the former than the latter, or my mother hasn't been totally open with me.

My newest favorite Calgarians (who aren't Brian Sutter) are about to hit the road all the way across Canada. Though there's only ten provinces in their home and native land, they're going to pound the holy living hell out of all them with their death metal.

Alberta is getting 8 shows. EIGHT SHOWS in Alberta. Widow's Peak is doing this the old fashioned way. 

In the meantime, check out their debut EP, Graceless, which will only cost you $5 CAD ($3.75 USD) via Bandcamp.

The best shredder this side of Medicine Hat, Alberta, talked to us about some records. 

Check it.

Pizza Pie Do or Die with Huelga's Michael Fonseca

Huelga and Fonseca

So, the Devil went down to Texas right?

Oh wait, that was Georgia and it was country music written by someone who politicizes tragedy. But for all the heat we in the world of metal take, you don't hear songs about the Devil went up to Scandinavia do you?

Today once again, we hear from Texas based single manned, multi insturmentalist, Michael Fonseca. 

As near as I can tell, he plays all of the instruments in the Texas based instrumental, progressive metal band Huelga.

And I'm not sure if we're supposed to pronounce that H or not...so if anyone could help me here.  There's something deliciously pretentious about having a solo act, but then giving it a band name.

While we're on the topic, check out their latest album and buy it on BANDCAMP. You'll be glad you did.

So let's talk pizza.

LP Review: Self titled by Wizard Rifle

Wizard Rifle

In this great big world full of legitimate problems, the one about to be detailed might just not even actually be one.

How in the world am I supposed to refer to a self titled album in the title of a review of said eponymous album?

Nearly 7 years into Glacially Musical, and I don't have a real clue.

This is really a great metaphor for Wizard Rifle's record.

It clocks in at about forty four minutes. That's nearly the perfect length for an album, and from there it gets a little bit weird. Like, there are only five tracks that make up that time. That's an average of over 8 minutes per song.

Even Metallica didn't do that on ...And Justice For All.

The only thing I can be certain of is the fact that this is metal...probably. Being as the band is from the Pacific Northwest, it surprises me very little to hear a bit of a Nirvana/Foo Fighters kind of vibe. (NOTE: Way early Foo Fighters...like before it was a band.... Kinda like Weenie Beenie.)

Kurt Cobain once described Nirvana as sounded like Black Sabbath after an assault by the Bay City Rollers. Wizard Rifle might just be Nirvana after an assault by High On Fire.

RELEASE 8/30/19 BANDCAMP FACEBOOK

Classic Spins with Ashen Horde

Ashen Horde

Have you noticed the style lately?

I've been putting out loads of these Classic Spins columns.

These column interviews are one of my favorite things to do because it's something where, with my meager amount of spare time to tend to Glacially Musical, I can keep introducing you the reader to new bands and hopefully talk about something you enjoy personally.

Apparently one thing out there that every musician seems to enjoy is music. Really, I mean, who knew honestly?

I thought they were all just sellouts looking for a big payday, but it appears they all have a passion for the art form and have been listening to it for their whole lives.

So, because of that, I'm often times doubling up on Classic Spins even though my particular MO is to only publish one of each column per week...making them...you know..weekly columns.

So, if you're a band reading this and you're wondering where yours is, it's coming. You have my assurances, unless your answers were shorter than the questions...aka my biggest pet peeve.

Today we're hearing from Rockshots recording artists, Ashen Horde. The Californian duo has the countryside reeling from the release of their latest, Fallen Cathedrals.

In the meantime...let's get with the music

LP Review: "Tomb of Doom" by Tar Pit

Tomb of Doom

Some days are for trying out new things, and some days, it's good to have the same old comforts.

Take Tar Pit for example.

This band, formed in 2014, was basically inactive until 2017, now here in 2019 we have their thunder drum of a debut.

Tar Pit has named themselves and their album in such a way that it's essentially impossible for the listener to get it wrong.

They are a doom metal band that's so full of sludge, just listening to the opening track will make you cough like a two pack a day smoker.

But it takes more than just an on the nose title and band name to get me interested. Songs that clock in around ten minutes certainly catches my attention as well.

Tomb of Doom is a perfect example of Doom Metal out of the Pacific Northwest. It's equal parts soft and heavy. Light and dark. It's as melodic as it is crushing.

They've taken the ten minute doom song to a new level. The band self released the album digitally, but now you can get this 5 track masterpiece on vinyl or cassette.

Don't miss it.

RELEASE 6/28/19 BANDCAMP FACEBOOK

Taco Grande with Chaps of Hellnite

Hellnite

Mexican Thrashers Hellnite are getting ready to hit the road across Western Canada.

Look out Stampeders, here comes Hellnite.

Interestingly enough, Paolo took the band from Mexico City, Mexico and relocated them to Edmonton, AB.

That might be the strangest relocation story I've ever personally heard as a pretend journalist and as a fan. It's not uncommon to move your and somewhere more advantageous careerwise, but this one is a bit of a puzzler to me.

Especially considering the climate. Mexico City is a very clement place to live. It goes from 43 to 86. That's kind of like San Francisco.

But Edmonton is a hellish nightmare of a wintery deathland.

Anyway, check out these Mexican Ex-Pats as they crush across Canada. Pick up their latest album on AMAZON.

In the meantime, let's talk about Tacos.

The Blood Cultures Manifesto

I don't normally like to do this, but I've been waiting for so long to publish a band's manifesto.

"THE BLOOD CULTURES MANIFESTO

Our hope is to create genuine, emotive art for individuals to connect with in a unique way. We choose to not publicly reveal any information about the project and ourselves in order to effectively carry out this mission: We believe that disclosing our personalities, politics, alignments, intentions, orientations, etc could detach the listener further from the personal connection that they have made with the music.

We must support and respect the unique truths and individual meanings that the listeners generate themselves from the tracks and the visuals. Art is not what the artist intends it to be, but rather what you make of it. If we are simply the vessels, who are we to take meaning away from something by imposing our own views, biasis, intentions, etc? 

We choose to be the blank canvas. We want our listeners to find their own significance in the pieces by looking inwardly and seeking the answers within themselves rather than from us: disclosing the context of the work could shatter the individual’s distinct value of the piece that they have created for themselves. There is only one true meaning, and it is that which the listener has concluded is their truth. 

Despite not sharing ourselves in the traditional and physical sense, we instead exclusively share our raw emotional selves by exposing our most personal thoughts, moments, and feelings in the music. Anonymity allows us the freedom to be candid and void of restraint, repercussions and fear. This music is the most personal thing I have ever done, so the relationship we have with our listeners through this channel is an extremely intimate one.

If you feel the music, you understand it, you understand us, and just like that, we are connected. Regardless of our potential differences, we are there together, in the same emotional landscape, through this music. And that is worth preserving. 

Though we're seen, we will never be seen: just like you

Though we’re heard, we will never be heard: just like you

Though we're known, we will never be known: just like you

Love,

Blood Cultures"

Check them out: FACEBOOK BANDCAMP SPOTIFY

Vinyloscopy With Pastrami of KOSM

KOSM

Once more into the breach we'll go with KOSM.

What more can I tell you that you don't already know?

Well, let's keep it simple.  Our friends are from Canadian Florida. That's right, pals, they're from the greatest city in the world to have not won a Stanley Cup in the NHL: Vancouver, British Columbia.

Now that YOUR St. Louis Blues have joined the club, we can poke fun...so LOOK OUT WINNIPEG!

Oh, I should've warned you in the first round, huh? It's uncertain if KOSM themselves are hockey fans and stereotyping is now appropriate at Glacially Musical, but Canadians LOVE hockey like Germans LOVE David Hasselhoff...so I'm going to assume.

Anyway, this hasn't been about KOSM really, but if you haven't yet, head over to their BANDCAMP page and check out their latest album, Cosmonaut. You can get that for $10 Canadian which is only $7.50 USD.

Now let's talk about records.

LP Review: "Cyber Metal" by Skelator

Cyber Metal

Do not underestimate the power of cover art.

When we as a people all frequented record stores, cover art is what sold the music to us, at least in part.

It's the first chance to catch a listener's eye. Your cover should connect with your possible listener and give me a good idea of what you're all about.

Iron Maiden's entire career can be traced back to a zombie. Eddie was what caught people's eyes, bet it on stage or on the cover.

The cover of Skelator's latest record certainly ticked off a goodly number of boxes for me.

This album cover made me interested in hearing the rest of the album and that's a total win for this guy. Skelator is roots music. At least for me. These guys hearken back to a time when twin gun guitar solos and super high vocals were all over the place in metal.

They're progressive, melodic, and have a damned good imagination when it comes to crafting lyrics. I'm still not precisely sure what a Cyber Samurai is, but I kind of want to watch a TV show about it.

Galloping twin guns, a bassline that'll drive you through a wall, and vocals that'll make your ear drums bleed...all of these things come together to fill that hole in your heart that rests between Def Leppard, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden that you never knew you had.

RELEASE 6/21/19 BANDCAMP FACEBOOK

Pizza Pie Do or Die with Billy Myers III of Glorious Rebllion

Glorious Rebellion

This past March, Glorious Rebellion took their first step towards immortality by releasing their third EP: Scholars of War.

This third one is the one, and it's not that this writer simply made an assumption that was incorrect. Hailing from Orlando, FL...

One has to wonder how much of a chance they have of becoming Florida Man...and I'm not trying to deflect from that earlier non-mistake.

This three track EP clocks in at 20 minutes...and it's progressive and thrashy. Looking to get it on?

Look no further, well, no further than BANDCAMP anyway. Now, let's talk to them about the symbolism in their latest release coupled with the backdrop of an impending World War III.

Nah...it's time to talk about pizza.

Classic Spins with Ghost:Hello

Normally, I wouldn't do this, but I think the press release bio sums up Ghost:Hello better than I ever could:

Ghost:Hello is a synth-loving stoner rock family affair from northeast Ohio.  Made up of a husband/wife duo and their cousin, the band members have been playing for decades.  

With extensive individual histories touring around the US and in Europe in other DIY groups, this project just feels like a natural continuation.  

Together as a family and as musicians, Ghost:Hello is now ready to take the rock n roll world by the horns.

Well, there you have it. In the mean time, they've got a record hitting the shelves this September.

You can preorder The Sound of Color in Space on their BANDCAMP page. In the meantime though, let's find out what kinds of albums they dig, mmkay?

Vinyl Review: "Fight The World" by Motive

Fight The World

Music is a personal thing and beucause of that it's time I got a bit more personal with you, my readers.

On September 12, 2015, my cousin died. Jamie was more than a cousin to me. He and his siblings were like brothers and sisters to me due to how we grew up.

Jame and Al were constant sources of new artists for me. From them, I learned about Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Slayer, Metallica, Morbid Angel, Carcass, Napalm Death, Iron Maiden, and countless other bands.

Jamie died the day after Slayer's last album, Repentless, was released. It's funny, but one of the first things I thought of was, I hope he got a chance to hear that new Slayer record before he left us.

Well, that answer I don't have.

But, in the early 90's, before I'd ever grown out my hair, seen a show, smoked anything extra-legal, or even enjoyed a beer or a bourbon, Jamie introduced me to an indie band called Crucible.  The next week, I saw them open for Agnostic Front and I picked up a T-Shirt and a cassette tape. (It was the 90s.) That was my first introduction to independent music.

LP Review: "God Has No Name" by Hex

God Has No Name

This record has been kicking around in my head for about a month now. I listened to it and thought, wow this is good.

Unfortunately it's getting harder for me to actually write reviews rather than my standard columns. So, it was finished and really, there was nothing I could say about this album apart from wow, it rocked.

There's just so much here. This is a big ol'fat record that's just crushing doom metal that wanders into the death metal pool from time to time.

God Has No Name is kind of like eating surf and turf...if you were eating the steak and lobster at the same time.

The vocals are always slow(ish). The rhythm section is always moving along at a fast clip. The drag created by the guitars and the vocals make for a satisfying feel. Then of course, when Hex just flat out goes straight doom, it's like trying to suck down a White Castle Milk Shake before you've let it melt a little bit.

God Has No Name isn't a technical metal masterpiece. There's no pretentious prog involved. It's not even as extreme as High On Fire.

It's just a sold album start to finish. By solid, I mean rock solid like, if it fell on your toes, you wouldn't be going skating for awhile, because in terms of quality, this is an excellent record.

RELEASE 7/5/19 BANDCAMP FACEBOOK

LP Review: "Crown" by Axioma

Crown

In the past, a friend of mine asked me to lend my critical ear to his friend's nephew's band who was starting to gain some traction.

They were a very talented group, but their album lacked any identity. Instead of it being overly the same, it overly different.

That was what not to do in order to make your name.

Cleveland's Axioma didn't do that...well not exactly.

The amount of variety on this record is staggering, but there's nary a drop of who is this?

Axioma's debut album is a full on stamp of who they are as a band. What they stand for and the kind of music they make is apparently whatever they damned well feel like at that precise moment.

In order to do this well, one has to have a musical signature. There aren't any techniques here to make a stand behind, but when they dive in and out of nearly every single metal style, they it never sounds like they're someone else.

Axioma may still be settling on a style, or their style may be a complete and utter lack of a style. We can't know yet, due to the small sample size, but it's going to be interesting to see where they go from here.

RELEASE 6/26/19 PREORDER FACEBOOK

Pizza Pie Do or Die with Gone Cosmic

Gone Cosmic

On April 19th, Gone Comsic released their epic thumper of a record, Sideways In Time.

You can preview the disc on BANDCAMP.

The space metal quintet from Calgary recently lent us one of their many members in order to discuss the finer varieties of Pizza.

Check it out below and be on the look out for superfluous U's!

I joke about the Canadian usage of the letter U, but it's always really cool getting folks from other countries to give us the lowdown on their hometowns, record stores, or just pizza in general.

Sometimes getting a look from an outside perspective is cleansing and pizza is delicious.

1. Pizza is the world's most perfect food. This is not up for debate. Please define pizza as based on your geographical location.

LP Review: "Take The Stairs To Hell" by Cable

Take The Stairs To Hell

Welcome back old friend.

That's what I would be saying if Cable had ever been inside of my orbit, but don't let my ignorance deflate any of the joy you might be having at the New Englanders returning after a ten year absence.

It took no time at all for Cable to sink their hooks into me. (Pun intended.)

Throughout this record, they balance between sludge and extreme metal, but they never lose the songs.

Never is there an attempt to be the heaviest, the fastest, or the most technical. Honestly, there weren't even any guitar solos that stuck out in my mind.

What makes that exceptionally odd is that extreme metal is my favorite genre, first and foremost, because of the guitar solos. The whole group locks into an emotion and then they shake the buildings.

Heavy is good, fast is great, and kick ass guitar solos are the best, but none of those accolades will mean a single thing if the tracks aren't awesome.

If Cable's version of the underworld is accurate, I won't be taking the stairs to hell, but falling down them in order to get my ticket punched even faster.

RELEASE 7/26/19 PREORDER 

Classic Spins with Jon Howard of Imonolith

Imonolith

Have you ever wanted some of your favorite and most popular (and therefore best) modern metal acts to get together and write tunes?

What if The Devin Townsend Project, Strapping Young Lad, Threat Signal, and the mighty Fear Factory all found themselves in the studio and recording?

Well, then TECHNICALLY, from a certain point of view, you'd have Imonolith. This Canadian five piece has members from all of those bands, and even more.

You can check out the video for their latest single HOLLOW.

But for now, let's talk about music with John Howard.

1. My favorite kind of album is the concept album. The Wall is my absolute favorite. Beyond the amazing songs, it has spectacular nostalgia for me. What's your favorite one and why?

News: MEDIUM WELL IN HELL FEST Serving Up Fifth Year of Kvlt BBQ This August

The tastiest and the grimmest of event of Raleigh, North Carolina's summer, Medium Well in Hell returns August 3rd, 2019 for its fifth year of blackened meat and metal at The Maywood.  Featuring twelve incredible bands and an array of vendors, this year promises to be one for the record books.

Highlights include a slew of succulent pork and more prepared by the incredible Glock BBQ, and the debut of mysterious Virginia project Garbage People, featuring Jon Rice (Behemoth, Job for a Cowboy, Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats), Brett Bamberger (Revocation, River Black), Dan Gargiulo (Revocation, Artificial Brain), Mike Paparo (Inter Arma) and TJ Childers (Inter Arma).

Complete Lineup:

• Woe (NY)
• Pyrrhon (NY)
• Garbage People (VA)
• Veiled (PA)
• Embra
• Voarm (VA)
• Mo'ynoq (NC)
• Arghast (NC)
• Bastard Tongue (NC)
• Glorious Depravity (NY)
• Paezor (NC)
• Ose (NC)

Event Information
Medium Well in Hell will be hosted by The Maywood at 658 Maywood Ave, Raleigh, North Carolina.
Doors/BBQ: 2pm
Music Starts at 3pm
21+
$30 (Food included with admission)
 
For complete information and bandcamp links, visit the Facebook event: FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE

Connect with Medium Well In Hell

• Facebook Page
• Instagram

Vinyloscopy with Centuries of Decay

Centuries of Decay

If it's been a little while since you've heard some atmospheric metal, you may wish to take the time to check out Centuries of Decay.

You might find that their name and their style don't necessarily make you think of what most people would refer to as Atmospheric Metal, but that doesn't really mean a whole lot.

They play loud and hard, but they create a vibe...or an atmosphere of brutality.

If you're lucky enough to be Canadian, you can glimpse these fellows live on the stages starting next month as they trek across the provinces of their home and native land.

Classic Spins with Chrisitan M. Theriault of Backstabber

Backstabber

It's time to had back to less traveled areas of the Great White North.

Here in the States, when we hear the name Quebec spoken...immediately, we think of the very cosmopolitan city of Montreal.

Some of us hockey fans will also consider Quebec City too, but there are a great number of other square miles...I mean kilometers in the Province of Quebec to explore.

Today's subject, Backstabber is from the town of Rouyn Noranda, PQ.

I have no idea where that is. You can learn a bit about the place on Wikipedia though. There's no shortage of educational opportunities at their BANDCAMP page as well.

But let's learn about records now.

1 UP with Justin Weiks of Burial Party

Burial Party

Before we get started. Can we talk about the term hoosier?

In St. Louis, MO, it's the insult of insults. You call a drunkard a hoosier in a South City bar with an old Budweiser sign on the front, and you're probably going to get punched in the noise.

But in Indiana, they're all about being hoosiers. It's very strange for me.

So, deep in a moment of hoosier styled existentialism, riffs were created and those birthed songs. Those songs will be on the 7" release, Please, Electric Move Slow.

This would be a good time to sample the wares HERE. Preorder this stuff on BANDCAMP.

Glacially Musical: My first system was a pong clone, the yellow and black Odyessey 300. What was your first Console?