Alternative music, cult films, and pop culture explored through a Gen X lens — with reviews, interviews, and a deep-dive podcast.
Metal trio Prong emerge triumphant again on searing new album ‘State of Emergency’, a punchy collection of groove metal featuring an unlikely cover. Always criminally underrated, Prong are one of the most dependable bands in metal. Despite numerous line-up changes and career ups and downs, the power trio, led by sole original member-songwriter-frontman-guitarist Tommy Victor […]
Filmmaker Mike Schiff discusses entertaining doc: ‘The History of Metal and Horror’ that showcases the intertwinement of 2 disparate genres. On our latest podcast episode we’re doing a genre double-dip when I talk to director Mike Schiff about his informative new documentary, The History of Metal and Horror, which features notable luminaries from the worlds […]
Baroness ‘Stone’ Review: stalwart metallers get expansive and reflective on latest release recorded during the pandemic. Baroness return with Stone (Sept 15, Abraxan Hymns), their first album since 2019’s Gold and Grey, and the group’s first effort without a color in the album title. Recorded at the height of the pandemic, the album sees frontman/primary […]
Slowdive ‘Everything Is Alive’ Review: Reunited British Shoegazers prove once again they are a vital entity not dependent on 90’s nostalgia on new album. Slowdive have had quite the career reappraisal. They were critically panned during their 90’s tenure before being dropped by Creation Records and then disbanding, only to garner a massive cult following […]
Episode 47: Survival Guide’s Emily Whitehurst Talks New Album ‘Deathdreams’ Emily Whitehurst first rose to prominence under the alias Agent M, lead vocalist for late 90’s/early 00’s punk act Tsunami Bomb. After leaving the group in 2005, Whitehurst would go on to form indie-electronic project Survival Guide alongside guitarist Jaycen McKissick, but she’s been the […]
hackedepicciotto’s Alexander Hacke & Danielle de Picciotto Talk New Album ‘Keepsakes’ For over 20 years, hackedepicciotto, the musical project of Alexander Hacke (Einstürzende Neubauten) & Danielle de Picciotto (Love Parade) have forged their own unique musical path, mixing the electronic and the analog for emotive and haunting listening. And now the duo have returned with […]
Episode 46: Remembering ‘The Exorcist’ and ‘The French Connection’ Filmmaker William Friedkin, RIP-SLIS Podcast Last week lovers of intense cinema were saddened by the passing of director William Friedkin, who died on August 7 at the age of 87. Friedkin was a true force of nature, an uncompromising director known primarily for two of the […]
Concert Review: Love and Rockets at ACL Live: reunited post-punk trio brings psychedelic bliss to rabid Austin fans on first reunion since 2008. It’s been a VERY good year for fans of alternative 80s rock, particularly of the gothic variety. Depeche Mode, The Cure, and The Sisters of Mercy have all mounted recent successful tours, […]
SWANS ‘The Beggar’ Review: Michael Gira and collaborators return with stirring collection of songs composed during the pandemic. The pandemic affected every working musician. Economically, all artists suffered, and some musicians felt too unsettled to find creative inspiration. For SWANS frontman and founding member Michael Gira, the opposite was true: this was a time to […]
Episode 44: Royal Thunder’s Mlny Parsonz Talks New Album ‘Rebuilding The Mountain’-SLIS Podcast Royal Thunder are back with Rebuilding The Mountain, their first album in 5 years, out June 16th via Spinefarm. Like past efforts including Wick and Crooked Doors, it sees the group continue their unique marriage of classic rock and 90’s alternative with […]
