Video: "The Games They Play" by Strangle Wire

Sometimes music from places one doesn't necessarily expect. Let's consider Northern Ireland's Strangle Wire. On 6/1/6/17, they'll be releasing their 7", Narcissism.

In the mean time, check out their video below. Buy them a Guinness on Facebook and buy yourself their single here.

Interview: Tomas Doncker, Former Producer/Guitarist with James Chance and the Contortions

Last week, the long awaited vinyl pressing of The Flesh Is Weak by James Chance and the Contortions was released. Now that was a record that we all loved here in the Glacially Musical Aldermanic Offices of Southwestern Fayette County, Kentucky.

Without even trying, I could be gushing about that record to you right now. It's a truly spectacular album for those who can reconcile jazz with punk rock. Interestingly enough, my dear wife is not one of them.

You however, you my intrepid reader who journeys with me through death metal to punk rock to well, wait till you see what I have coming up in the coming weeks.

You'll be the kind of person that needs to know about these new kinds of music that will have you toe tapping for years to come. Though, there's been some shuffling with the personnel. We were lucky enough to have Tomas Doncker, formerly the guitarist and producer for James Chance answer some of my (semi-ignorant) questions with class and professionalism.

Check it out.

Video: "Umbre in piatra apuse" by Argus Megere

There are few things that I love more than atmospheric black metal these days. Veterans of the genre, Argus Megere, have just released their latest effort, VEII, on Loud Rage Music.

Check out this epic track below. Hail them on Facebook.

LP Review: "Here's To Another" by The Birthday People

Here's To Another

There are times when I look in the mirror, see the grey hairs, the crow's feet, and my terrible beard.

Look, facial  hair...I can't grow it and this does drive me insane and thank you for bringing that up.

The thing about this is, when I was younger and life was slower, the idea of every reaching my forties was wholly unbelievable.

It was so far away that not only was it impossible to picture, it was impossible not having shuffled off this mortal coil by the time I'd aged to 41.

Yes.

I'm 41 years old and listen to way too much death metal for someone my age. More to the point though, life comes at you fast. It was only yesterday that my daughter was a baby, just last week that I had gotten married, and only last month that I'd moved into my first apartment on Chippewa.

Stream: "Gardner's Bell" by Overlake

On May 12th, the new album from Jersey City's own, Overlake, will be released on Bar/None Records.

Until then, stream the latest single below.

Remember, you can't love a band unless you like them on Facebook. 

Video: "Burst Inside" by Avelion

It's time to get trippy with some modern, progressive metal.

Avelion's released the second single off their latest album, Illusion of Transperancy. Enjoy Burst Inside!

Digital hugs via Facebook are the best, give them on won't you? Purchase the album on iTunes.

LP Review: "Dark Harvest" by Hammerdrone

Dark Harvest

How many Quentin Tarantino movies have you seen?

As a 41 year old adult, it's easy to say you that this man is a great director who's released some truly glorious films.

The Kill Bill flicks are probably my favorite. Yes, as they're the only ones in my personal home library, I would have to say that.

Thinking back to the middle 90's, I saw Resevoir Dogs with my best friend. Good lord, there was nothing about that movie that moved me in any single way.

Something that did stick with me though, the scene describing tipping. As a 19 year old who was barely making above minimum wage at only 15-20 hours per week and (stupidly) paying for Junior College out of pocket, any excuse to tip less was valid to me. For the record, I over tip today. When I get bad service, I still do 15% because these folks are paying their bills on those tips and 9 times out of 10, it's not your server's fault.

Vinyl Review: "My Bones Hold A Stillness" by Vrtra

Like any lover of vinyl grooves, the packaging is part of the experience.

That's why when I do my vinyl reviews on these pages, an unboxing video is included. There are always things to find and enjoy in the vinyl, the sleeve, etc.

Even before my reawakening to wax, I purchased physical copies over 95% of the time. There's nothing like a box arriving, or holding a bag from my favorite record store to get me excited about hearing some new music.

There's no romance in searching on iTunes and watching some files download to my phone or to my PC.

Over the past two years of assembling a library of records, it's become apparent to me that the vinyl hipsters were right. The analog grooves are a delicious meal that, when served correctly, never fails to satisfy.

Video: "The Wolves' Call" by Wind Rose

Mega Epic Super Folked Up Metal Tribunal Collective, Wind Rose, has released a lyric video for their first single, The Wolves' Call off of Stonehymn on Inner Wound Recordings.

This one falls somewhere between Sabaton and Amon Amarth if you can't picture it. If not, you can see it without picturing it below.

Send them the Sword of Gondor on Facebook. Their new record comes out on May 12th.

Concert Review: Gene Simmons at the Pageant in St. Louis April 8, 2017 -photos and words by Danny Nichols

Gene Simmons came to town for the systemic price gouging event known as Wizard World. Even though I had already had the privilege of interviewing Gene by telephone in February, I ponied up the exorbitant fee to briefly stand beside him in person and have him sign an album.  Here was the KISS demon, a man who exudes cool and dominates a room like no one I had ever observed.  A man who confidently walked into the football stadium where the convention was held, and asked the staff about its capacity, knowing he had filled venues of this size before, and could do so again with a few phone calls.  Still, as much as I enjoyed observing him in the element of celebrity and businessman, it paled in comparison to watching him in his true element of the stage.  The lower levels of the Pageant Theater were mostly filled for a much more fairly priced performance by his solo band.

When I had interviewed Gene in February about his upcoming solo tour I asked him about the set list.  He was tight lipped about the details at the time, but indicated it would feature several selections from the roots of rock-n-roll, such as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and Roy Head, and might not be as many KISS songs as the audience would think. A solo tour is a perfect opportunity for a rock innovator such as Simmons to pay homage to his influences.  It might also be true the audience, having seen many KISS shows, would enjoy seeing Simmons open a set with something other than “Deuce”.  This was fine by me, as I purchased a ticket fully expecting half the songs to be covers.  However, when Simmons and his band did indeed storm the stage with a thunderous rendition of “Deuce” I discovered it was exactly what I wanted to hear.  It did not let up from there, as the set was almost entirely glorious and mighty KISS songs.  The lone exception being when the band covered “Johnny Be Goode” in tribute to the recently deceased Chuck Berry. Simmons  attended Berry’s funeral the following day.

Video: "Awake Me" by Rosie Carney

Rosie Carney, an Irish singer/songwriter, has recently released an acoustic version of her track, Awake Me. In a true confessional fashion, Carney is telling tales of her eating disorder and depression.

Check out the video below.

Give Rosie a high five on Facebook.

Video: "Awakening" by Cry My Name

Sometimes you have go a little out of the zone and see what else there is in the world to see.

German Metalcore act, Cry My Name, are releasing their new album on 4/21 and you can check out their latest video below.

Get their latest updates on Facebook.

Interview: The Wizard of Pilgrim Knows How To Eat Sashimi

Pilgrim is headed out on a East Coast Tour with Heavy Temple. Any fans of Doom Metal will kick themselves repeatedly if they choose to pass this show up.

Sadly, they're only going to be within 500 miles of the Glacially Musical Global Domination Headquarters in St. Louis, MO.

The Wizard however was kind enough to teleport into the Northern Hemisphere regional offices of The Glacially Musical Vinyl Review Commission in Maniitsoq, Greenland to discuss their upcoming tour and apparently sushi.

Glacially Musical: Thank you for taking some time for us today.

Pilgrim: It's our pleasure.

Stream: "Shadows of the Thief" by Ultrviolence

More Canadians are taking hold in these pages.

On May 12, The Post Punkers will be releasing their latest EP, Forty Knives. But you can check out the latest single now.

Get in touch with Ultrviolence on Facebook or preorder the EP here.

LP Review: "The Tides Will Prevail" by Kenoma

The Tides Will Previal

There have been a great many instrumental records reviewed on this particular website, because this guy right here is a fan of instrumental music.

Long have I wondered why it's loved by such a relatively small number of people in the world. There really seems to be no rhyme or reason to it.

There have been many artists, like Jimi Hendrix himself, whose concerts were largely instrumental and other artists, like Ahab or Dakhma, whose albums are largely instrumental.

Why is it so hard to move forward from 89% instrumental, to wholly devoid of lyrics?

Though, I'm a fan, it's easy to see why some people don't enjoy the works of Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, or even John 5. Even some instrumental musicians have told why they don't like those particular artists. It's a small club I suppose....or a small series of clubs?

Hard to say really.