Alternative music, cult films, and pop culture explored through a Gen X lens — with reviews, interviews, and a deep-dive podcast.
‘Surgical Meth Machine’ Album Review: New project from Ministry’s Al Jourgensen acts like a sampler of his varied musical history. [rating=3.5] Al Jourgensen has been involved with many musical projects over the years: in addition to his bread and butter industrial juggernaut Ministry, there’s his rotating supergroup Revolting Cocks, Pailhead, Lard, 1000 Homo DJ’s PTP, […]
Deftones ‘Gore’ Review: alt-metal titan’s latest rewards repeat listens. [rating=4] Sacramento’s Deftones have plugged away valiantly for nearly three decades, eclipsing, obliterating and transcending any affiliation with their late-90’s nu-metal peers. They’ve embraced elements of more experimental musical movements, integrating them into new and unusual shapes within their metal underpinnings. It speaks volumes to the […]
M83 ‘Junk’ Review Anthony Gonzales return with an album that skirts the line between irony and artistic ambition. Or something like that. [rating=3.5] M83 have charted their own unique musical course: be it digital shoegaze (Before The Dawn Heals Us), sublime New Wave (Saturdays=Youth) or their genre straddling double album smash Hurry Up We’re Dreaming. And now the Anthony […]
Youth Code ‘Commitment to Complications’ Review: Cali duo resurrect classic industrial with a modern twist. [rating=4] I found myself recently lamenting the current state of industrial music. Why hasn’t one of my favorite genres received a musical revival like so many other 80’s/90’s musical movements? Well thank Satan that I just discovered Youth Code, an […]
Al Jourgensen Talks New Project Surgical Meth Machine: Ministry frontman discusses new solo debut album, his synth-pop past, 2016 presidential election and other new projects in our exclusive interview. Al Jourgensen announced that Ministry’s 2013 album From Beer To Eternity would (possibly) be the band’s swan song after the death of guitarist Mike Scaccia. But be […]
Kaada/Patton ‘Bacteria Cult’ Review: Composer/vocalist duo reunite for first studio album in 12 years. [rating=4] The ever prolific Mike Patton has had a packed schedule the past two years: Faith No More returned with their triumphant 2015 reunion album Sol Invictus, and in January he released Nevermen’s début album his collaboration with Doseone, and TV on the Radio’s Tunde […]
Ex-guitarist returns for surprise appearance at Los Angeles concert performing tracks off ‘Siamese Dream’. It’s an Easter miracle: last night, estranged Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha joined the band to perform songs from their 1993 masterpiece ‘Siamese Dream.’ This marks the first time in 16 years that he’s shared the stage with frontman Billy Corgan […]
Ummagma ‘Frequency’ EP Review: Shoegaze duo give a refreshing, vibrant take on the genre. [rating=5] Here at Smells Like Infinite Sadness, I take pride on being ahead of the curve on musical releases. But hey, I’m no spring chicken, and sometimes I’m late to the party. Case in point: I’ve only recently discovered the 2015 […]
Primal Scream ‘Chaosmosis’ Review: Scottish iconoclasts return with a slick electro-pop makeover. [rating=4] Primal Scream never sit still for long. Their discography shows the Bobby Gillespie led outfit veering seamlessly from acid-house (Screamadelica) to roots rock (Give Out But Don’t Give Up) and all things in-between (XTRMNR, Vanishing Point). 2013’s More Light saw them refocus […]
Iggy Pop ‘Post Pop Depression’ Review: Pop and Homme join forces for a suitably strange, if overly restrained affair. [rating=3] It’s been a grim few months for rock music given the deaths of Lemmy, Frey, Emerson, and (most seismically) David Bowie. And while still alive and kicking, Iggy Pop is confronting his own mortality. His […]