Category Archives: Mini-Review

Sweet Heart, Open Ear: July

by Bishop Martin

The Wind in the Trees – Architects of Light

As a jumping-off point for this review, I would like to share a personal anecdote: I was raised by the Internet, and a family that loves music. If you also grew up online as a kid who loves music, the Kind of Guy you are (in relation to music) could change from week to week. One week, you’re Guy Who Listens to Radiohead. The next week, you’re listening to Godspeed You! Black Emperor for the first time, and now you’re Guy Who Just Listened to Godspeed You! Black Emperor for the … Read more

Imperial Triumphant, The Callous Daoboys, Schleu, and Jakub Tirco

by Dæv Tremblay

Imperial Triumphant – Spirit of Ecstasy (Century Media)



Alright, we have to talk about the new Imperial Triumphant. That album is truly something else. Not only does it take avant-garde black metal by storm, comparing favourably to the likes of Thantifaxath, but it does so with style and passion, shining the spotlight on many legendary musicians in the process (including Denis Bélanger, singer of Voïvod)! The music is dirty, oppressive, decadent, jumping from one filthy backstreet to another, and occasionally peeping through the window of an ivory tower to hear some fancy jazz being played at a banquet or … Read more

Cassels, The Dali Thundering Concept, Hoofless, and Voïvod

by Dæv Tremblay

Cassels – A Gut Feeling (God Unknown)


One of the first heavy-hitters of the year is noise rock band Cassels’s newest ≮-tagged release: A Gut Feeling. After last year’s Black Country, New Road domination, I feel this year Cassels have given us a title worthy of the very best of 2022 in its category. A Gut Feeling is full of repeating riffs and songs with exploratory structures and progressions, with a rather unique delivery, between speaking and singing, that’s sure to make them stand out. It’s one of the strong noise rock releases this year!

The Dali Thundering

… Read more

Licho, Deadeye, Pyrithe, and Balungan

by Dæv Tremblay

Licho – Ciuciubabka (Pagan)


Born from members of bands such as Koniec pola, -S-, Wędrowcy-Tułacze-Zbiegi, and Gruzja, Licho has quite the pedigree! With this project, however, the members steer away from black metal and into a very unique and dark psychedelic post-punk aesthetic. The result is simply astounding. Guitars full of effects, hypnotic rhythms, Sprechgesang-ish vocal delivery, and droning harmonies will conspire to suck you into a dark vortex. This album got a lot of spins from me, and I hope you too!

Deadeye – Deadeye (Dox)

Hammond, guitar, and drums. You know the drill. This is going to be… Read more

Ode and Elegy, Hikes & Into It. Over It, Simulacrum, and Delvoid

by Dæv Tremblay

Ode and Elegy – Ode and Elegy



Odes are for the living; elegies are for the dead. What is the right word, then, for someone, or something, that we know will die? Perhaps… both.

Ode and Elegy reached me in a most humble manner. They sent a short email with their album and very few information. I listened to it, and was immediately submerged. With a little bit of research, I was able to find out that this is in fact a new name for the Pax Cecilia, a band that had an immense influence on me—as well as … Read more