Supersystem
A Million Microphones
Touch & Go (2006)
A Million Microphones is undoubtedly one of the biggest surprises of the year. Supersystem, minus the drummer, was formerly known as El Guapo. Despite releasing records on Dischord, El Guapo never managed to make an impression on me. So when they changed their name to Supersystem and signed to Touch And Go, I remained vaguely indifferent. "Not the Concept", the … Read more
Supreme Commander / Alive at Last
Split
Bishop 19 (2007)
The first six tracks on this split CD are from Supreme Commander whose 7" I reviewed and whole-heartily enjoyed a few months back. Supreme Commander play tuneful melodic quick paced punk that once ruled the roster of Epitaph Records in the mid-90's. If you wish to recall bands like Pennywise, NOFX, and Bad Religion and if you yearn for the … Read more
SURVIVE
RR7349
Relapse (2016)
S U R V I V E, the experimental synth quartet from Austin, rose to fame quite fast when it became known that two of its members contributed to the score of Stranger Things, a hit sci-fi/horror series on Netflix (just in case you have been living under a rock.) That information alone can give a fair insight on what … Read more
Sutcliffe Jugend
Blue Rabbit
Crucial Blast (2012)
Sutcliffe Jugend started as an offshoot of British power electronics specialists Whitehouse, using this project to reveal the outer reaches of the human psyche—both sexually and otherwise—more so than their counterparts. Most times, in the past, the music had managed to match the questionable content. The question is: how does one react when a band that is so reactionary responds … Read more
Sutekh Hexen
Become
King Of Monsters (2013)
Throughout their relatively short tenure, Sutekh Hexen has produced several thought provoking releases that intrigue from both a sonic and an aesthetic perspective; and Become is no different than that description as well as it seemingly marks a turning point for the (at times) shadowy outfit as it is purportedly the first recording to not feature one of the founding … Read more
Sutekh Hexen
Daemons
Dead Section (2011)
At this point, Sutekh Hexen is one of those groups that has reached full on obsession with me to the point where I could not say if there are days where I do not pop on something by them; Daemons (the second vinyl offering from the group) is a fine addition to the duo’s discography, which is quickly growing to … Read more
Sutekh Hexen
Larvae
Handmade Birds (2012)
If you have ever heard any Sutekh Hexen release prior to Larvae (and there is a multitude), than there is definitely a surprise in store for you because Larvae is a complete re-imagining of what this outfit has done from their first tape that they unleashed on the world; the mind bending riffing (of the black metal style) and the … Read more
Sutekh Hexen
Luciform
Wands (2011)
After a number of demos and EPs the members of Sutekh Hexen have unleashed their debut LP upon the world. Unleashed seems to be the only fair way to describe the release of this record as any other terminology feels as though it is undermining the nastiness of this recording. While the band play a form of black metal it … Read more
Sutekh Hexen
Monument Of Decay
Black Horizons / Belaten / Merzbild (2013)
This is the type of release that you might find yourself anxiously waiting for if, one, you are a hopeless nerd for the band (in which case I am) or, two, you find elaborate and unique packaging to be completely in your wheelhouse (double check for me); so Monument Of Decay from Sutekh Hexen is a perfect confluence of these … Read more
Sutekh Hexen
Ordo Adversarial
Wands (2011)
Sutekh Hexen, the name alone has an undeniable air of mystery and darkness that while you may not know exactly what they sound like at this minute but whatever that sound is, you feel in the darkest recesses of your subconscious something telling you to stay away from it; and that little voice in your head might be a smart … Read more
Svalbard
It's Hard To Have Hope
Translation Loss (2018)
Some bands need a couple of albums to find their sound, their niche if you like. Other bands seem to have stumbled upon their sound from their very first rehearsal. Their career is not defined by a grand steps from album to album, but rather by refining their craft on each album. Small changes to better their music a little … Read more
Svart Crown
Abreaction
Century Media (2017)
Blackened death metal requires a complex formula. It is not a hybrid state between black and death metal, where 50% of each individual component will give you the appropriate result. Svart Crown belongs in the few bands that understand how to get his sound right, and they have been traveling this distance since their debut album, Ages of Decay, came … Read more
Svarta Stugan
Aspects of Our Future Selves
Independent (2014)
With their 2014 album Aspects of Our Future Selves, Swedish three piece Svarta Stugan (translated as “Black Cottage”) has come up with their third EP release in as many years. One might have thought given the post-rock labeling that this band would make the type of intricate and melodic, typically instrumental music that groups likeMogwai have perfected over the years, … Read more
Swami & The Bed Of Nails
All Of This Awaits You
BMG, Swami (2024)
Some artists slow down as they get older. Who knows if that’s because of day jobs or family or something about the new creative process. It’s all case by case and speculation, and that’s not why I’m here talking about John Reis’s latest project anyway, other than to give a lengthy intro to Swami & The Bed Of Nails, which … Read more
Swami John & The Blind Shake
Modern Surf Classics
Swami (2015)
When it was announced that John Reis (Night Marchers, Rocket From the Crypt, Hot Snakes) was collaborating with The Blind Shake, it was expected that the combo would pack a punch. When it came out that the collaborative record was to be instrumental surf, even that made some sense—though the instrumental part is a bit surprising. But, as The Blind … Read more
Swami John Reis
Ride The Wild Night
Swami (2022)
Rock ‘n’ roll is full of clichés. It pretty much has been one about 50 years now. And the many projects of Swami John Reis revel in these roots. Whether we’re talking about Rocket From The Crypt or Hot Snakes or Night Marchers, Reis has an ear for the concepts that are core to the style. But he has a … Read more
Swamp Thing
In Shame
6131 (2009)
Rob Gordon's first lines uttered in High Fidelity are What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen … Read more
Swan Lake
Enemy Mine
Jagjaguwar (2009)
n theory, this band should be really, really fucking good - a supergroup composed of three accomplished artists already involved with various supergroups of their own. Dan Bejar (Destroyer, New Pornographers), Carey Mercer (Frog Eyes, Blackout Beach) and Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown) collaborating and throwing around their signature esoteric surrealist sounds like a aural feast. Buzz surrounding Enemy … Read more
