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This is the second of a two-part tribute to Chris Poland (today is his birthday). After Return to Metalopolis, Poland had a band called Damn the Machine. As with RtM, his brother Mark was on drums, with David Randi on bass and Dave Clemmons on vocals. The band’s 1993 self-titled debut on A&M was its […]

A guitarist’s tone is in his fingers; this is especially true for Chris Poland. He’s played in a wide variety of settings, but I can always identify him within seconds. Few musicians have such a distinctive voice, or have brought such joy to my life. This is the first of a two-part tribute to Poland’s […]

Rock bands evidently don’t care about trademark protection, as no less than ten claim the name “Katharsis.” Three alone, including this one, come from Germany. Perhaps in some alternate universe these bands are competing on a reality show for the right to use the name. This Katharsis would no doubt wipe the floor with its […]

Scale the Summit is a Houston-via-LA instrumental prog metal band that began in late ’04. Influences are usually obvious with young bands, but with Scale the Summit, only a few reference points come to mind – Atheist, King Crimson, Dysrhythmia, the proggy parts of Between the Buried and Me. For being a bunch of guys […]

Formed in 2003, Zoroaster unload slow, sludgy grooves befitting of their beards. It’s heavy stuff, but it would have been heavier had the band named itself after a different religious leader, like, say, Mohammed or Jesus. Imagine the death threats! (See South Park, “Mohammed” episode) However, the original Zoroaster evidently also had a beard; maybe […]

My dual review of Stolen Babies’ There Be Squabbles Ahead and Unexpect’s In a Flesh Aquarium is up at Stylus.

One thing Europe has that America doesn’t is girls who are into metal. At my first metal show (Enslaved) here in Berlin, I was astonished to find that 40% of the long hair there was in fact female. Each time I go to the record store, there’s at least one hot girl in the metal […]

My review of Isis’ In the Absence of Truth is up at Stylus. The NY Times has also reviewed this album; the critic has the challenge of describing the album to the general public. Thus, he paints with extremely broad strokes. It would be futile for him to reference Neurosis and Godflesh as I did. […]

Since I recently reviewed Fuck the Facts‘ Stigmata High-Five here, I thought I’d revisit 2002’s Backstabber Etiquette. If Stigmata is a well-oiled machine, then Backstabber is a crazy, unhinged beast. This is the band’s first album with Mel Mongeon, and while she doesn’t have the control she has now, her vocals here are amazingly feral. […]

My interview with Relapse Records artist Dysrhythmia is up at Stylus.