features

A town can be measured by its record stores. By that standard, Minot, ND, has gone to the dogs. I’m back in my hometown for the holidays, and I discovered that the one record store in the one mall here recently closed. Tellingly, a Christian bookstore also replaced the only toy store. Now, the only […]

One of my highlights of 2006 was interviewing Cannibal Corpse drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz for Hails & Horns, the metal offshoot of AMP magazine. For being in the world’s biggest death metal band, Paul was amazingly gracious and down-to-earth. He candidly answered burning questions I had – was the band being funny with its artwork and […]

I’m not one for year-end “Top XX” lists. Who actually reads them? Music critics compile them so they can feel important. And, really, they’re meaningless post-1986. Master of Puppets, Reign in Blood, Peace Sells…, and Somewhere in Time all came out that year, not to mention Pleasure to Kill and The Age of Quarrel. Fuck! […]

Speaking of Anaal Nathrakh, Mick Kenney and Dave Hunt are also in filth grind outfit Mistress. Kenney and Mistress bassist Dirty Von Donovan are in rocka rolla band Exploder. Napalm Death’s Shane Embury played on the last Anaal Nathrakh album. Embury and Kenney run Feto Records, who put out Exploder’s debut. Kenney does artwork for […]

My review of the new Black Elk is up at Stylus. It’s a hot, nasty slice of noise rock straight from the ’90s. Over at Metal Injection, I’ve reviewed the new Jotunspor, A.C.T., and Kylesa. Norwegian black metal/dark ambient, Swedish prog rock, and Southern sludge metal – all good stuff. Enjoy!

My review of the new Killswitch Engage is up at Stylus, as well as an interview I did with Facedown Records artist War of Ages. Over at Metal Injection, I have reviews up of the new Xasthur, Manowar, and Formicide. The “Immortal Edition” of the Manowar EP has one of the most enjoyable metal DVD’s […]

My review of The Esoteric’s Subverter is up at Stylus. Great album, great band, why aren’t these guys huge??? Also, I’ve started writing for Metal Injection. I’ve been a fan of the site for a while. In its early days, it put out primitive, often hilarious shows composed of metal videos, tongue-in-cheek interviews, and some […]

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

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. […]

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