Tool. Pepsi Center. 10.26.16 Sometimes it is nearly impossible to remove yourself from your surroundings when attending a concert in a giant corporate arena. While others times, suspension of disbelief is achieved effortlessly. When it comes to a Tool show, the venue itself literally ceases to exist. That was the case at the Pepsi Center last night. Hypnotized by Can Buyukberber’s… Read more →
2015 was an interesting year in music. I spent time with many releases, across a spectrum of sounds, and I enjoyed every minute of the adventure. That being said, when I tried to define my favorite albums, I found myself in a difficult position. How does someone rank Jason Isbell in association to Grimes? How does Chris Stapleton’s obliteration of the pop country… Read more →
Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. Red Rocks. 07.05.15 The Mayhem Festival began its inaugural march through the United States around the same time I made the decision to move to Colorado. I wasn’t listening to a lot of metal back in 2008, and even if I was, I wouldn’t have made the trek to see Slipknot and Disturbed. It’s just… Read more →
The Missing Link Tour. Red Rocks. 05.03.15 It’s always amusing when someone claims they don’t like a certain genre of music. I understand not liking a band, or even an extreme subgenre like depressive black metal or horrorcore rap, but to say you don’t like country or metal or jazz just screams ignorance. That’s not to say I’m not guilty… Read more →
As with the past few years, the image above is slightly deceiving. It is not a true representation of my favorite metal albums of 2014. What it does represent is another impressive run by Profound Lore Records — the one man operation from Canada that continues to ship outstanding releases year-round. I didn’t think I’d have much to say when… Read more →
King Diamond is an icon. The man behind the mask is legendary on so many levels. His songwriting, storytelling, stage presence and survival skills place him in the upper echelon of heavy metal frontmen. He never garnered mainstream fame the way Ozzy Osbourne, Ronnie James Dio or Rob Halford did, but you would be hard pressed to find an individual in the… Read more →
“Where am I? How long shall I suffer here?“ Two years ago I was preparing for a road trip that would take me out of Colorado, through Utah and Idaho, and into the Pacific Northwest, only to return through the birthplace of the spirit of Agalloch. It was the year I had written my in depth profile on Profound Lore… Read more →
2013 was a great year in music. I’d argue it was among the best in the past 10 years. The diversity among the overachievers was remarkable. Representative artists from hip-hop, pop, rock, metal, hardcore and electronic music all brought their best to the table, but it was those albums that obliterated genre definitions that really stood out. Those undefinable sounds… Read more →
As with last year, the image above is slightly deceiving. It is not a true representation of my favorite metal albums of 2013. What it does represent is another impressive run by Profound Lore Records — the one man operation from Canada that continues to ship outstanding releases year-round. Many of the CDs pictured above are worthy of mention, but… Read more →
To say Oakland, California’s Neurosis have been influential in the modern metal space would be a gross understatement. In fact, I have learned more about Neurosis’ signature sound by reading comparisons in reviews of albums by other bands than I have by listening to their actual music. Starting out as a hardcore outfit in the mid-80’s, they went on to… Read more →
Last night was a perfect reminder as to why I decided to cut back on shows this year. There I was at the Marquis Theater, spitting distance from Norwegian metal-gods Enslaved, before the clock struck midnight, and I was yawning. “As Fire (and a sparse, violent circle pit) Swept Clean the Earth”, my mind was losing a battle with my body.… Read more →
