Please bear with me for a moment: this review is about a young Canadian jazz trio that calls itself BadBadNotGood, which is written as BADBADNOTGOOD and abbreviated as BBNG. Seems simple right? Alas, it isn’t, especially when learning that BADBADNOTGOOD also is known under the confusing names of GoodGoodNotBad and The Odd Trio. Solely judging on the many band names one could say they’re struggling to find a comfort zone within the unruly landscape of the contemporary jazz scene. Or are they just here for the fun of it? Earlier this month BBNG dropped their third studio album since they started out in 2011 and remarkably carries the convenient name… III. Continue reading
Gamma Ray – Empire of the Undead
On and on rolls the power metal train, with just about every German power metal band firing shots one after another. And what’s more: all those bands are releasing unexpectedly strong and heavy albums. It’s as if some Holy Spirit of metal has touched these bands, showing them where their roots lie and that there’s no shame in writing fast songs with double bass drumming (I’m looking at you, Edguy and Sonata Arctica). German metal institution Gamma Ray is the next in line. Continue reading
Mac DeMarco – Salad Days
24-year-old Canadian, Mac DeMarco doesn’t mind to stir things up a bit. His onstage behavior is memorable to many. Heavy drinking, smoking, nudity, obscenity and indecent jokes are a regular part of his sloppy looking performances. At home things are not very tidy as well. The Guardian describes his house to be a dump and quotes him saying “I live like a scumbag, but it’s cheap”. Continue reading
Sonata Arctica – Pariah’s Child
Before we dive into this review, there is a confession I have to make. I really, really enjoyed Sonata Arctica’s Stones Grow Her Name (2012), a record that is much maligned for being too weird, faux artistic and soft. And whilst I do love the earlier power metal efforts (up to and including Reckoning Night), I think Unia is by far the strongest album the Finnish band has put out. Then again, I also think A Matter of Life and Death is the best album Iron Maiden has released since Powerslave. Perhaps I’m just a sucker for classic metal bands who dare to tread outside of their safety zone and into a more daringly progressive area, which is exactly what Sonata Arctica has been doing for years now. So, with that out of the way, let’s check out what’s on offer this time. Continue reading
Chad VanGaalen – Shrink Dust
I don’t know if you noticed, but I briefly mentioned the name of Chad VanGaalen during my last review of Timber Timbre’s Hot Dreams. But ok, I have to accept that my footnote was easy to be missed and, of course, doesn’t reflect the man’s stature of being a wonderful multi-instrumentalist, illustrator and animator. However, we’re in luck because a few days ago VanGaalen released his newest scion, Shrink Dust. So that’s reason enough for me to give him the sort of attention he deserves. Continue reading
Timber Timbre – Hot Dreams
I don’t know if this is a confession or not, but i’ve been dreaming about this release for several months now. Usually longings like this are very non-descriptive, however after being teased by a glimpse of the video that comes with the first single, I believe all dreams I had about Timber Timbre since became pretty hot. Continue reading
Elysian Fields – For House Cats And Sea Fans
Transforming Goya’s painting Duelo a garrotazos into an epic noir rock track is one of Elysian Fields most notable milestones to date. After hearing it for the first time, Jennifer Charles’ lingering voice got me swamped as well. Charles’ sleepwalking and somber style is the band’s biggest strength and trademark. For House Cats And Sea Fans therefore contains more of the same delightful romanticism, and, frankly, that’s not a bad thing at all.
Stormwarrior – Thunder & Steele
It feels like 2014 has barely begun, but it’s already the best year for German power metal in ages. With releases from Iron Savior and Freedom Call already under our belt, and Gamma Ray, Edguy, Rage and Grave Digger scheduled to release albums later this year, there is nary a reason to complain. Amongst the vast array of German metal bands releasing new material, we can also find Stormwarrior. You know, the band you will regularly find playing Helloween‘s Walls of Jericho sets together with ex-pumpkin and Gamma Ray fronter Kai Hansen. Of course, besides providing a much appreciated journey down memory lane, the band also writes and releases its own material, and Thunder & Steele is the newest in a growing catalogue of top tier power metal for the band. Continue reading
Angel Olsen – Burn Your Fire For No Witness
Once in a while I try to listen through the proceedings of everyday hoping to discovering some new music. Alas, the daily bustle heavily distorts such a process so I’ve come to accept that discovering new music for me is all about trusting my subconscious to preselect the average from the great, simply by neglecting what’s playing at the background. About a week ago, after an unknown number of background plays of Burn Your Fire For No Witness, my subconscious finally shook me up, telling me it was time for a proper listen to Angel Olsen. And then it hit me: Olsen’s second full release is probably my first true highlight of the year. Continue reading
Blues Pills – Live at Rockpalast
If there’s one thing the American-Swedish-French youngsters of Blues Pills should do, is finally release a full length debut album. And I mean a.s.a.p. The wait between the most excellent Devil Man four-track EP and the next piece of work was already tantalizing, but to be treated to another EP – although just as excellent – makes the wait for a full-blown album even more so. Then again, it’s better than nothing. Continue reading
soundsfromthedarkside 