VISCOUS REVIEWS

Brooding and dark. Cold and black. Faustian Echoes,...

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 19:07:19 -0400

Brooding and dark. Cold and black. Faustian Echoes, Agalloch’s latest EP, is one 21 minute and 34 second long song. This is Agalloch’s longest song to date, and is definitely one of their most atmospheric. Agalloch is one of the leaders in today’s atmospheric black metal movement, and Faustian Echoes justifies it.

I was surprised Billy Anderson produced this. Anderson has stuck mostly to sludge, doom, and stoner metal bands, but he proves his expertise to reach even the edges of black metal. The EP isn’t over-produced but it isn’t under-produced either. It sits just right, so you can hear everything perfectly. In fact, I believe that Faustian Echoes was recorded live. Very impressive.

The guitar parts are completely amorphous, which makes this release so beautiful. They’ll switch from sinister, evil riffs to ambient, calm, and melodic leads. John Haughm’s vocals are incredibly sharp and stabbing, filled with haunting chills. There really isn’t much to say about the drums. Drum structure is like any typical black metal release. Blast beats, then slow ride and snare, then blast beats, then slow ride and snare, and the occasional drum fill. However, they still pull their weight and provide vigor and pestilence to the record.

Faustian Echoes isn’t my favorite release from Agalloch, but it’s definitely one of their most interesting. It’ll put you in a trance that you won’t want to break free from. It’s on their bandcamp for only six dollars. Whether or not six dollars is worth it, it’s definitely worth listening to on repeat for hours. 7.9/10

http://agalloch.bandcamp.com/track/faustian-echoes

What a warm album. The Menzingers have always been fun, but...

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 03:27:00 -0400

What a warm album. The Menzingers have always been fun, but their most recent album, “On The Impossible Past”, was a real treat. They still stay true to their punk roots, but this album was much more mature sounding. They’ve finally perfected their “orgcore” sound.

Every song is a fun high-fiving party filled with emotion and vigor. While they maintain a bright sound throughout the album, you can definitely feel emotion in Tom May’s voice and his lyrics. It starts out strong with “Good Things”, beginning with a soft but upbeat guitar part, stick clicking, and Tom May’s cherub-like voice. It explodes with “I’VE BEEN HAVING A HORRIBLE TIME PULLING MYSELF TOGETHER” and it sets the mood for the entire album. Fun, bright, yet gritty and full of feeling.

This is The Menzingers best album to date, and it would probably be in your best interest to get it as soon as you can. Whether you’re into punk, “indie”, alternative, folk, or whatever, this is an enjoyable album for all ears of all kinds. 8/10

“Diamond crusted and served to you on a velvet...

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 03:08:00 -0400

“Diamond crusted and served to you on a velvet pillow.” Quite the understatement for GRANT’s newest release. Beat Tape Vol 1. is a compilation of classy beats and tasty treats. This beat tape combines grit and viscosity to make a powerful concoction that makes the spine tingle when it merely touches the lips.

Each track has such a natural feel. Tracks like “Ecstasy” feature GRANT’s own recordings of him playing guitar and bass, which give it a much more smooth and respectable sound than the competition. Tracks like “Decadence” make the compilation seem more full and alive, giving it a more natural than digital feel. Yet there are still friendly reminders like “Loser of Hoosiers” that show that GRANT has a technologically trippy side. And of course, we can’t forget “Give Me Scabies”, one of the tracks off of the e-famous Kitty Pryde’s “Haha I’m Sorry” EP.

Overall this is a solid compilation and incredibly unique. Beat Tape Vol. 1 is available on Bandcamp for $1. Definitely worth your dollar. 8.8/10

grantbeats.bandcamp.com