Black Altar/Vulture Lord
Deathiah Manifesto
Odium Records (2022)
I'll be completely honest with you I am a bit of an amateur when it comes to black and death metal. I am only really familiar with the more well known bands of the genre; Mayhem, Burzum, Darkthrone, Carcass, Entombed and so on. I'm slightly embarrassed to admit to knowing almost nothing about Black Altar or Vulture Lord until choosing … Read more
Black Anvil
Hail Death
Relapse (2014)
Black metal is cool now right? Not to complain. I enjoy the genre, generally speaking, and the statement isn't a cut on Black Anvil as a band. It does seem like there are millions of BM bands coming out of the woodwork at this point. The skill or adherence to the genre are always up in the air. Black Anvil, … Read more
Black Boned Angel
The Endless Coming to Life
20 Buck Spin (2008)
Sometimes, curiosity completely gets the best of me, as is the case with my musical listening habits. And because of that I do hear quite a bit music that takes a while to process, like Black Boned Angel. Admittedly, the first exposure of Black Boned Angel to which I was privy, can be attributed to the collaboration with Nadja, Christ … Read more
Black Breath
Sentenced To Life
Southern Lord (2012)
Black Breath came out of the depths of the Seattle hardcore scene about 6 years ago and released a sole demo before getting the eyes and ears of the infamous Southern Lord. Since then they have managed to make a name for themselves playing a well thought out mix of hardcore and classic metal (in this case meaning Motorhead and … Read more
Black Cloud
Demo
Independent (2009)
Sometimes, there are chances that demos can surprise you while at other times they make you wish that you never put it on your stereo in the first place. Black Cloud's nondescript demo (in the most classic of terms), with its hand made heavy cardstock cover and barely visible cover image and homemade feel, falls squarely in the former category. … Read more
Black Cobra
Chronomega
Southern Lord (2009)
Black Cobra have quite an impressive sound considering they're only a two-piece band consisting of a guitarist and drummer. The duo consisting of Jason Landrian on guitar/vocals and Rafeal Martinez (ex-Acid King) on drums do a pretty good job of delivering a strong sludge metal sound that remains consistent throughout on their third album, Chronomega. Already with two albums under … Read more
Black Dice
Roll Up / Drool
Paw Tracks (2007)
Black Dice are ridiculous; they have the spottiest and most transformative of musical histories even when compared the most dysfunctional bands. After ten years and numerous experimentations in sound, the band is somehow still cooking up and destroying music, and with plenty of gusto to boot. The first of two songs is "Roll Up," and it starts the record off … Read more
Black Dots
Everything Has Gotta Change
Snappy Little Numbers / La Escalera Records (2019)
Some albums just hit you right away. I was vaguely aware of Black Dots – some friends saw them at The Fest last year and said nice things, so I figured I should check it out myself when a lovely one-sided 12” showed up at my door.Everything Has Gotta Change hits immediately. Opener “I’m Already Gone” lays the framework: introducing … Read more
Black Elk
Black Elk
Crucial Blast (2006)
Am I the only one who doesn't hear the comparisons to The Jesus Lizard that Black Elk has received from a handful of reviewers? I'm not saying that makes it a bad album, but besides a few isolated pieces of songs here and there, saying that this sounds like The Jesus Lizard is kind of a stretch. What I do … Read more
Black Eyes
Black Eyes
Dischord (2003)
I'm glad I got into this album before seeing Black Eyes' live show, because I would have been very unimpressed with the album after witnessing the insanity of their first show in Omaha. They nearly tore the ceiling off that tiny basement, and it was a nigh-religious experience. It's hard to believe that their first full-length, the s/t on Dischord, … Read more
Black Flame
Imperivm
Forces of Satan/Regain (2008)
Black Flame is an Italian black metal trio that holds the distinction of being one of the first bands signed to Forces of Satan Records, a label created by Gorgoroth founder and guitarist Infernus. Now, the future of Gorgoroth may be uncertain, at least until there's a ruling on who owns the rights to the name, but the future and … Read more
Black Hell
Deformers of the Universe
Hater of God (2006)
I'm from Arizona, so I'm not jumping at the chance to describe Black Hell as "crawling out of the sandblasted wastes" or any such thing; it's not as exotic for me. But they do in fact come from my beautiful and notoriously dry home state, hitting hard with their debut Deformers of the Universe on the always-reliable label Hater of … Read more
Black Hell
How the Rest was Lost
Hater of God (2009)
Venture deep into the desert of the Southwest and you'll find Black Hell, a doom metal quartet featuring ex-members of Wellington and Unruh who have just released their second album, How the Rest was Lost. Black Hell show show a bit of a split personality on their sophomore effort. On one half, they play fast, groovy stoner-influenced doom metal with … Read more
Black Lips
…Sing In a World That’s Falling Apart
Fire Records/Vice Records (2020)
In an era of heart-on-sleeve Americana, the Black Lips are up to something else on …Sing In a World That’s Falling Apart. Black Lips approach Americana in this record in half parody and half serious mode. It embraces the ugly with their tongues sticking out instead of buried in their cheek. The record takes traditional stylings, music-wise, and piles the … Read more
Black Map
Melodoria
Minus Head Records (2022)
Black Map came to be in a moment of synchronicity. Somehow at the exact time period, dredg, Far and The Trophy Fire were all put on hiatus. As a result, Mark Engles, Chris Robyn, and Ben Flanagan started to collaborate on their new project. And so Black Map’s debut record, …And We Explode arrived in 2014, with the band coalescing … Read more
Black Moth Super Rainbow
Cobra Juicy
Rad Cult (2012)
Black Moth Super Rainbow are a great group of musicians led by one person mysteriously known as Tobacco that pump out some of the most psychedelically delicious sounding records that I have ever heard in my life, and they are the type of musicians that do whatever the hell they want while still making ass shakingly fun records. With the … Read more
Black Moth Super Rainbow
Dandelion Gum
Graveface (2007)
Making themselves known to a national audience by opening for The Flaming Lips and already slated as an opener for Aesop Rock this winter, Black Moth Super Rainbow latest release, Dandelion Gum, was lent to me by a friend. The psychedelic/drone-pop is repetitive and spaced out in all the right ways, but the jams never get in the way of … Read more
Black Moth Super Rainbow
Eating Us
Grave Face (2009)
Wow, just seriously wow, even though Black Moth Super Rainbow has been on my list to check out for a while now, I am glad that their latest album, Eating Us is my first exposure to the group because it is a breath of fresh air at just the right time. When trying to describe the band to people (as … Read more
