No more anger, only experiment — In December 2021, I asked for metal albums to get angrier and received my wish. It was great seeing monstrous albums in January that are contenders for the best of 2022 and the album of the year. …

balcony seats won’t ruin our amusement — After the suffocating concert in 2018, it was great the band came to my neck of the woods on October 2021. Since they’re coming here, I can enjoy them this time. I can buy a seat where the people won’t push. There is no need to pay a thousand dollars…

Musical highlights from last week — I head to albumoftheyear.org for the latest releases. And from there, build a playlist for Friday through Sunday every week. I’ve been doing this ritual for a while now, and I won’t stop. I love discovering new music from engaging and worthwhile new bands and artists. Those who say today’s…

Have they reached their peak? — Since 2013, I’ve been a fan of Dance Gavin Dance, and I recall how excited I was when they announced Instant Gratification in 2015. I quickly went to their merch site and purchased a CD copy of Instant Gratification when the promo videos appeared on YouTube. Upon the release, I…

Donning black is more than a tradition — There’s a famous saying that black looks good on anything. The expression warrants truth, as black can mesh well with any color. Even though black can bring out any hue, the color itself radiates on its own. It can make any object or clothing stand out. …

Defending while entertaining the masses — Whichever city they occupy, a band or artist has a pre-programmed phrase to say to concertgoers. In The Aquabats’ case, they had an expression of hospitality. Whether your city is the best or worst, the bat defenders of the sea say it’s the finest. After all, your home city is…

Pop country from the Irish islands — Music has always had a pivotal scene. New York had CBGB, and Nashville, Tennessee, had country. Those moments transcended time, as artists from overseas found inspiration to recreate those scenes. Some pay tribute and others reconstruct the sound from those periods. …

A strong start for 2022s metal — Miracles do come true. Last year, I asked for metal to get angrier and faster. Metal bands have answered my questions, and we’re only two months into the new year. It’s a sign that metals bands, modern and old, won’t let me down. On January 14th, two bands, Fit for…

And a million times after — Each time I get a challenge, I don’t know if I should accept or deny it. I couldn’t resist when fellow writing friend Terry Barr challenged me to write about ten albums I’ll listen to this year. As any music fan would say, “Ten isn’t enough.” I agree, so I…

Here the potent cries of earth’s children — I have to confess; I’m an angry person. My anger could cause me to appear on the ten o'clock news if it wasn’t for loud music and violent video games. Though, this year, my inner wrath wanted to unleash — regardless of what I did to tranquilize it. The last…

Instead of Christmas pop tunes playing during the holidays, how about heavy metal ones? — It’s the time of the year again when stores and radio stations get flooded with Christmas merchandise and music. At work or at home, there’s the one person who’s playing these Christmas songs: Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You”, or Dean Martins’s “Let It Snow! Let It…

Take your love for music to the next level — There’s a podcast for everyone, and if you want to take your musical knowledge to another level; this is a good place to start. These podcasts will not only help enrich you, but they’ll entertain you; making you come back for more. Here are the four podcasts to take your…

Celebrating the brownest album that’s boognish approved — The early ’90s brought the melancholy uneasiness from grunge, but one band said they don’t have to make aggressive depressing music to lighten the sprits. No, instead they can make weird and fun music that would make you laugh, and remember you don’t have it so bad. That band is…

An act to not leave behind — If you look at the title, scratching your head saying, “the forgotten who and what now?” You have a right to, as Forgotten Faces is not a well-known band. They’re local talent from across the pond I hope to enlighten you with. …

There’s poison in the water, and we deserve it — Since their inception in the 2010s, the U.K.-based alt-rockers have produced three albums driven by pragmatic instrumentation, distinguishable vocal inflections, and Pop/R&B hooks. …

They know how to sweep you off your feet — It’s early December 2015 in Santa Ana, California, as I eagerly wait outside The Observatory concert hall to meet one of my favorite post-hardcore bands, Dance Gavin Dance. As I wait, the pungent scent of cigarettes and vape pens waft the air and caresses my nostrils, inviting me to partake…

What’s better than one butterfly? — The consistent Australian rockers are back with their seventeen studio album, Butterfly 3000, released on June 11, 2021, through KGLW. King Gizzard & The Wizard Lizard is Stu Mackenzie (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, flute, sitar), Ambrose Kenny-Smith (vocals, harmonica, keyboards), Cook Craig (guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals), Joey Walker (guitar, bass…

It started with one song — On a chilly spring day in 2009, Frisco, Texas, I exited my parent’s house, embracing the frigid air in my lungs and rejuvenating my skin as I grabbed my black and yellow Mongoose Mountain bike to head to middle school. The school was a few blocks away, so I can…