Category Archives: Mini-Review

Immortal Onion, Ābhāsa, Slift, The Archetypal Syndicate, Color Wheel, and Je’raf

by Dæv Tremblay

Immortal Onion – XD: Experience Design

Polish nu jazz sensation Immortal Onion just released XD: Experience Design, a follow-up to their outstanding Ocelot of Salvation. The new album sees the trio hone their skills on odd metres, polyrhythms, and complex melodic themes. XD is a full forty minutes long, so there’s plenty to enjoy.

आभास (Ābhāsa) – १ (Eka) (Mystic Timbre)

So, what exactly is this? १ (Eka) is the debut album of mysterious American entity आभास (Ābhāsa), here remastered and re-released. The band is mostly about crafting eerie atmospheres with Eastern music instruments, timbres, and philosophy, … Read more

Yaldabaoth, Syzygy, Y/N, Souphl, Jon Hatamiya, and Cocanha

by Dæv Tremblay

Yaldabaoth – That which Whets the Saccharine Palate (Lycaean Triune)

Here’s a gargantuan Alaskan black metal band: Yaldabaoth. I’ve been waiting over a year for That which Whets the Saccharine Palate to whet my saccharine palate. It was almost released in early 2019, but soon after the announcement it was taken offline and I didn’t hear from it until very recently, when it officially released! Enter, seeker of dissonance, and find what thou seekest!

Syzygy – Xendeavor One

When will we run out of microtonal calembours? Hopefully never! Here’s Xendeavor One, from John Lervold’s electro-xenharmonic project Syzygy. … Read more

Neck of the Woods, Kilter, Anomalia, Çub, Phonon, and Bolt Gun

by Dæv Tremblay

Neck of the Woods – The Annex of Ire (Pelagic)

The Annex of Ire is Vancouver-based progressive death metalcore unit Neck of the Woods‘s upcoming release. The album is a dark new chapter of their career, and it’s a captivating one. On this album, the band merges multiple influences and many genres into a cohesive approach unique to them. At times it’s straight out of a melodeath text book, and others it’s metalcore or progressive death that shines instead. It’s a very rewarding album to listen to from end to end.

Kilter – Axiom (Alter-Nativ)

Jazz and metal have … Read more

Floral, Giorgi Mikadze, Bushi, The Conjuration, Masaa, and Doctor Nerve

by Dæv Tremblay

Floral – Floral

Everybody’s favourite math rock band is back with yet another eponymous release! Floral, the long play, features just over thirty minutes of new material from California’s tap rock sensation. Fans of the band will rejoice to see that the formula has gone unchanged. Enter for emotions and tappy licks!

ႢႨႭႰႢႨ ႫႨႵႠႻႤ (Giorgi Mikadze) – ႵႠႰႧႳႪႨ ႫႨႩႰႳႿႤႫႨ (Kartuli mik’rujemi) / Georgian Microjamz (Rare Noise)

You read that right: Georgian Microjamz is exactly what you think it is! Giorgi Mikadze, the keyboard player in 2017’s album of the century, Mikrojazz!, is back with boundaries-breaking new music. … Read more

Ground Patrol, Amnutseba, Wonderbach, Listo listo listo, Lent, and Baraque à free

by Dæv Tremblay

Ground Patrol – Geophone (Art as Catharsis)

Australian progressive math rock band Ground Patrol are releasing Geophone, their third album, on March 6. I’ve already written about how great the band is, but on this new opus, they outdo themselves with their hypnotizing cyclical polyrhythmic patterns.

Amnutseba – Emanatism (Iron Bonehead)

I’ve discussed the bleak black metal of Amnutseba already, but, since they’re off to releasing their official debut album, Emanatism, let me reiterate. The enigmatic French band gathers influences from all over the place to put together some of the vilest, most repugnant metal out … Read more