rock and roll fables

music, comics, and media in a rock 'n' roll world

Katatonia’s Latest Symphony Of Sorrow, Sky Void of Stars, Is A Moody And Massive Masterpiece

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Have you ever gotten into a band after hearing them perform a soundcheck while chillin’ in between back-to-back interviews with members of the other bands on the bill? Just us? Ok. Let’s set the stage: The year was 2012 and RNRF was in Worcester to interview Devin Townsend who was still making music as Devin Townsend Project and Nick Holmes of Paradise Lost. Pl was the opening act for a co-headlining run by DTP and Swedish Doom metallers Katatonia who we happened to catch soundchecking while waiting for one of the two interviews. The moment “Forsaker” hit our Spidey sense went through the roof and we made a mental note to delve deeper into Katatonia following the live music festivities to come and the rest, as they say, is history.

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Infected Rain Initiate Next Level Heaviness With Ecdysis

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What a savagely epic way to kick off the new year, right?!?!? Moldovan Metalheads Infected Rain begin 2022 with their fifth full-length and a record that will leave fans transfixed by its’ next level heaviness. While I’m going to actively try not to declare anything “ONE OF THE BEST OF 2022” barely a week in…I don’t necessarily see a problem with giving Ecdysis a “MUST HEAR” brand because that’s for sure what it is. And as for the former, check back with me in 6 months, okay?

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Alien Weaponry Usher In A New Global Heaviness With Tangaroa

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Less doubling down on the Sepultura/Gojira aspect of Alien Weaponry’s brand of World Metal, Tangaroa is intent to carve its’ own path by creating a defining moment for the young New Zealand trio and solidify their status as one of the brightest stars in the current heavy music scene.

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Andrew W.K. Royally Rawks On Ambitious Opus God Is Partying

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Who’d a thunk that 20 years after hearing I Get Wet over and over and over again while starting in a record store and subsequently dropping Andrew W.K. like a bad habit with every release since that I’d be gushing over a new record today??? But here we are with the imminent release of God Is Partying, Andrew W.K.’s fifth long player, which is a far cry from my record store daze, a far cry from the days of Jackass (Although with a new film on the way from Johnny Knoxville and co., maybe the more things change and all that jazz?), and a far cry from The Wolf which initially caused this reviewer to tune out.

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Dee Snider Wants To Rock (Again) On Vibrant And Vicious Leave A Scar

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There’s something about this recent second coming of Dee Snider that leaves a constant permagrin on my face because there’s very few artists out there today who can masterfully infuse some genuine FUN into Metal the way that Mr. Snider can. On his latest offering, the even more METAL follow up to 2018’s For Love Of Metal (Sweet jeebus, has it really been three years since this beastie?!?!?), Snider does just that with one heavy ass record that’s a cerebral celebration of the loudest musical genre.

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Monster Magnet Bring The Past Into The Present For A Better Dystopia

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As we’ve said in the past, cover albums in general are hit or miss. Give Monster Magnet the reins on one, though, and watch out! A Better Dystopia, the upcoming covers collection from New Jersey’s real favorite sons, sees Monster Magnet at their absolute gnarliest and Psych Rawk best throughout 13 tracks that sounds more like the latest Monster Magnet banger than a consistent nod to the past.

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Vexed Throw Their Hat Into Best-Metal-Album-Of-The-Year Contender Ring With Thrilling Culling Culture

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Dying for that new Meshuggah record to be done and out already? But wish they’d diversify and inject something new into their tried and true formula? Then Vexed is the outfit for you! And on their debut full-length, the Hertfordshire quartet offer up eleven righteous tracks that raise the stakes regarding where modern Metal is going.

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Sumo Cyco Get Definitive On Groove-Laden Metal Maelstrom Initiation

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Sumo Cyco is the sound of No Doubt fronted by Tairrie B. They’re heavy, they’re trendy, they’re genre-bending yet accessible and on Initiation, the Canadian quartet create the definitive Sumo Cyco album that cuts to the core of who they are and streamline their sound to bring listeners their best release yet.

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Greenleaf Channel Homme And Hermano On Hella Rawkin’ Echoes From A Mass

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As a massive fan, I try to limit how often I throw out comparisons to Kyuss (And, to a lesser extent, Queens of the Stone Age) but with Greenleaf, it’s kinda hard not to as it’s rightly deserved. “Good God I Better Run Away” in particular is like this ferocious forging of Kyuss’ Desert-soaked fuzz and Hermano’s honed wall of sound with Josh Homme’s velveteen voice as is opener “Tides” which has guitarist Tommi Holappa rippin’ it up like Homme used to during his early days. And now that that’s out of the way let’s get to the rest of Echoes From A Mass, shall we?

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Nervosa’s Modern Metal Thrash Goes Far Beyond Heavy On Perpetual Chaos

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Like Exodus and Venom Prison throwing down, Nervosa triumph with this collision of old school Thrash and new school techniques. On Perpetual Chaos, the Brazilian quartet master the METAL even more with a record that’s both thrilling and thoughtful.

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