Stream: "Back In The Valley" by Skye Steele

Let's have a moment to enjoy some new music. Skye Steele, owner of many E's, has a new album being released on May 26th via the wonderful world of Bandcamp.

Listen to the song. If you dig it, preorder it HERE and catch up with Steele on FACEBOOK.

I'll leave to you to decide if those E's are superfluous. No claims are made by me.

LP Review: "Dead Ringer" by Whiskey Gentry

Dead Ringer

There's no reason in muddying the lake, so let's begin.

My favorite country artists are of the more outsidery vein, Merle Haggard, Bob Wayne, and the man, the myth, the legend himself, Johnny Cash.

My father once told me that real country had died and what was played on the radio was just 50's rock'n'roll sung with an accent. He left out the pedal steel guitars, but the idea's the same.

Fast forward two decades and country music is just bro-pop singing about how great they have it. The beauty of Hank Williams, the power of Johnny Cash, and the musicianship of Chet Atkins...

There is none of this to be found in mainstream country. It's just become a me too pile of worthless music that doesn't even deserve to be called art. Yeah, Toby Keith, I'm looking at you. Red Solo Cup isn't as deep as My Headband from Glee.

Guest Post: This Is Why To PR by Curtis Dewar

I’ve had several bands tell me that there really is no point in having a PR and that they can do it all themselves. While DIY is an admirable quality and definitely cheaper, there are some things to consider when choosing between hiring a PR and doing it yourself.

Keep these in mind:

-A PR already has a list of magazines, websites and journalists 

Interview: Dynfari, Icelandic Black Metal

Dynfari

In the not too distant past while sitting in the Glacially Musical Kyushu Prefecture Headquarters, Corridor 3, 14th floor, Room 15, an album was suggested to me by an Icelandic Black Metal band called Dynfari.

Being a somewhat newly minted Black Metal fan, it was worth checking out and it was spectacular. Certainly it this album merited getting to know the artist a little bit better.

What follows is the conversation we had. He noticed it was strange, and he was right.

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

Dynfari: You're welcome.

Video: "Ramsvarta Tankar" by Gra

Have you worshiped your own personal Dark Lord today? Whether that be Voldemort or the big guy himself, Darth Vader, enjoy some Swedish Black Metal to go with your unholy ritual.

Catch the fellows on Facebook or order their album HERE.

LP Review: "Sacred" by The Obsessed

Sacred

Welcome to a tale of little woe.

The best fringe benefit of this endeavor is that every single day I have the opportunity to experience music by bands I'm not familiar with.

More often than not, they are brand new or on their second or third albums. In today's case, we're cranking up an old school doom band.

Funny thing about this review, I asked a friend of mine if he'd heard of The Obsessed, as I hadn't. This unleashed a torrent of his fandom that left me a bit bewildered. This...I was not prepared for.

Two hours after his floodgates had opened, he was playfully calling me out on twitter for not jumping up right then to have streamed old albums on YouTube.

I was not prepared for this at all!

Video: "Ritualistic" by NervoChaos

Legendary Brazilian Death Metal group, NervoChaos has released a 360 Degree Video for their new single, Ritualistic.

Check it out below and hit up the Brazilians on Facebook.

Make sure you play with the arrows.

Album Review: "Wick" by Royal Thunder

I had never heard of Royal Thunder until a couple of years ago when I had the opportunity to see them as the opening act for The Sword.  The outstanding feature of this performance was Mlny Parsonz’s haunting, angst filled vocals, which straddled the line between being sung and being shouted, but always in perfect key, and always with the gravitas of a tortured soul.  

I resolved at the time to investigate Royal Thunder further.  Tragically, by the time headliners The Sword had finished pummeling my brain with an onslaught of mighty riffs the openers had slipped my mind.  I failed to give them the attention they had earned.  When I saw the promotion for their latest album WICK hit my in-box, I was grateful for the chance to remedy this oversight. 

The band has made a point of noting this album is somewhat of a departure from their previous offerings, but it certainly reminds me of everything I liked about their live set.  Moody, dark and rumbling guitar tones, hypnotic drum beats and Parsonz’s spooky vocals.

Stream: "Matavitatu" by Selvans

From Italy comes an unusual band featuring a strange array of influences and melodies.

Selvans are a new brand of black metal. Check out their track below and pick up the album on CD, Cassette, or Digital at Bandcamp.

LP Review: "Lands" by Bereft

Lands

Life is a mean, mean thing that comes at you quickly when you're least expecting it.

In terms of life and death, how often do we have Life portrayed as a menacing criminal waiting for you in the shadows?

That sort of personification is always reserved for death.

The difference is that we as people only really know life. We have experienced nothing of the afterlife. So, all hopes and joys are ascribed to life and all terrors are ascribed to death.

Today though, life threw curves at me that were highly unexpected.

In times when things are going well, I've always waited for the shoe to drop. Life is always moving and there's a yin and yang to the world and to karma.

Vinyl Review: "The Flesh Is Weak" by James Chance and the Contortions

The Flesh Is Weak

Here's something about me that many folks who read these pages may not realize...

I'm a big fan of etymology.

After having seen about what seems like a hundred broadway shows now, there's a phrase that always tends to stick out in my head, all that jazz.

(This might seem like it's totally random, but get inside my head, read the thoughts and then come back out and tell me if it's scatterbrained or totally ordered and logical.)

(HINT: It's totally number two.)

Jazz...that's something that was rebellious about 70 years before the Rolling Stones were rebellious about 50 years ago right? Well, rebellious music that's been out rebelled normally doesn't really resonate with me and both the Stones and Jazz seem like my grandfather's music at this point.

Stream: "2AM Chinatown" by Julian Jasper

Los Angeles based psych-popper, Julian Jasper is on the cusp of releasing his first EP, 2AM Chinatown on Misra Records in May.

Until then check out the first two tracks below. Make sure to check in with him on Facebook.

LP Review: "Season of the Witch" by John 5 and the Creatures

Season of the Witch

Let's ignore the elephant in the room. That elephant is an annoying hipster and will go away if drink enough American Lagers.

Being a fan of an artist, in some ways, feels like being their parent.

Personally, I'm always hoping for what's best for the folks whose records I buy, spin, review, etc. The better they do, the better the world is for their music.

It's hard to watch some of them stumble and fall while making the same mistakes they have made in the past. Fans can only stand on the side mute while the choices are made.

In the end though, for me, it's important to watch these people grow and change. Granted, I'm a bit different in that regard. There's a reason why Carnival of Souls and Music From The Elder are my favorite Kiss records and why AC/DC barely merits a notice in my music library....

Stream: ACROPHØBIA by NØMADS

It's been quite awhile since we've heard anything out of the NØMADS camp. That makes this particular release a welcome respite from the not wacky music.

They're releasing single after single leading up to their 2018 vinyl release of PHØBIAC.

Interview: War Brides

War Brides

War Brides are on the cusp of releasing the new album, Regrets via Triple Eye Industries.

Theirs is the kind of music that combines hardcore with melody. They were kind enough to stop by the International  Headquarters of Glacially Musical Bldg B in Kenosha, WI to give us some info on what's up.

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

War Brides: No problem man. Thanks for reaching out.

GM: Let's start at the beginning. Tell me about the name War Brides and where it came from.

WB: It was Justin's idea before he was even part of the band. It was fairly recent after Tristan joined the band, and we were in need.

I think he was in a history class and the topic of war brides from the first World War -- women who'd marry these guys that would get shipped out soon after, and sometimes not come back -- was discussed. Real captivating and tragic stuff.