Alternative music, cult films, and pop culture explored through a Gen X lens — with reviews, interviews, and a deep-dive podcast.
Melvins ‘Working With God’ Review: Sludge lords go back to their original 1983 lineup on latest release. Metal oddballs the Melvins have always had a fluid lineup, changing in numerous iterations over the years. For their latest release, Working With God (out 2/26 via Ipecac Recordings), they go old school, reuniting their original 1983 roster […]
John Carpenter ‘Lost Themes III: Alive After Death Review’: Carpenter and family continue winning streak on fifth collaboration. Filmmaker John Carpenter had become somewhat of a creative hermit in the 21st century: minus two theatrical films and some TV work, he was more inclined to indulge his passions for video gaming, the L.A. Lakers, and […]
Dale Crover ‘Rat-A-Tat-Tat!’ Review: Melvins drummer keeps it eclectic on sophomore solo release. For Dale Crover’s 2017 solo debut The Fickle Finger of Fate, he delved deep into his quirky musical soul, and spat out a truly strange and singular work. For The Melvin drummer’s new sophomore solo effort Rat-A-Tat-Tat! (out January 15th via Joyful […]
The Best Alternative Rock and Metal Albums of 2020: 13 of the best releases from a year that needed great music more than ever. What more can be said about the shit-show that was 2020? It’s been awful, exhausting, demoralizing, harrowing, maddening and relentless. But despite that, we found ways to adapt, some by sidestepping […]
Killer Be Killed ‘Reluctant Hero’ Review: metal supergroup bring the goods on sophomore LP. Killer Be Killed are in every sense a super-group: with members from the likes of Mastodon, Dillinger Escape Plan, Sepultura, Soulfly and Converge. Anytime so many esteemed musicians join forces, there is always a fear of “too many cooks in the […]
Puscifer ‘Existential Reckoning’ Review: Maynard James Keenan’s experimental trio perfectly encapsulates the WTFness of 2020. Maynard James Keenan has been on quite the prolific roll the last two years, releasing long awaited albums from both A Perfect Circle and Tool. And now he’s back with Existential Reckoning, the latest from Puscifer, his experimental multimedia project […]
Mr. Bungle ‘The Raging Wrath Of The Easter Bunny’ Review: Mike Patton and co. re-embrace their thrash metal roots on their first album in 21 years, which also features Scott Ian and Dave Lombardo. When Mr. Bungle reunited for their first tour in 20 years, they did the most Mr. Bungle thing they could do. […]
Greg Puciato ‘Child Soldier: Creator of God’ Review: ex-Dillinger Escape Plan powerhouse vocalist explores diverse sonic terrain on solo debut. Greg Puciato has been an artist drawn to extremes, and he’s stated as much in the press release for his debut solo album Child Soldier: Creator of God: “This record is me declaring ultimate freedom. […]
Episode 37: Steve Kilbey Talks New Solo Album ‘Eleven Women’, New Music From The Church and More-SLIS Podcast On today’s podcast episode I’ll be speaking to Steve Kilbey, best known as the vocalist, bassist, and primary songwriter for veteran Australian alternative psych group The Church. With The Church, Kilbey has generated a whopping 25 studio […]
Episode 36: The Mission UK’s Wayne Hussey Discusses Charity Single ‘TOS2020’ Featuring All Your Favorite Musicians: Mission frontman assembles a dream team of alt-rock greats for a worthy cause. Wayne Hussey is goth-rock royalty. Between his tenure as guitarist in The Sisters of Mercy to founding the The Mission UK, the frontman/guitarist has created some […]
