Category Archives: Mini-Review

Kali – Riot

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

You really can’t go wrong when you combine musicians from bands such as Marena Whitcher’s Shady Midnight Orchestra, Sha’s Feckel, and Sekhmet! The result of this heavenmade match is Kali, and their debut album, Riot. Diving straight into that hot new trend of playing polyrhythmic post-rock-influenced modern jazz, they lose no time and open up the ball with “Trope”, a ten-minute slow burner that immediately shows their colours. I’d put Riot somewhere between the more math rock Schnellertollermeier and the jazzier Ikarus, although all three play in a similar field.

The album is generally … Read more

Norma, Nytt Land, Perú, Hyper Lightning Hydra, Antagoniste, Lost Talk, Owane, Louis de Mieulle & Matt Garstka, and Yamantaka//Sonic Titan

by Dæv Tremblay

Norma – Se voisit olla sä

Finland’s Norma is an all-female psychedelic rock group, and it’s recently released Se voisit olla sä, a stunning album. By carefully balancing progressive rock influences and pop, Norma is able to create memorable songs and catchy tunes. The frontwoman’s gorgeous voice, in the beautiful Finnish language, is often backed by stacked vocal harmonies, which further adds depth to the record. It’s a fun and easy listen!

Nytt Land – Oðal

From Russia, the Nytt Land quartet brings us dark and ritualistic folk music with metal influences. I say influences, because there is no, … Read more

Aseitas – Aseitas

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

Aseitas is a progressive death metal band from Portland that just released its debut, self-titled full-length album. Aseitas is just shy of an hour long, and it nicely portrays the dissonant and somewhat atmospheric compositions of the band. Through some sickening tones, we hear an album the main focus of which is not to be a vehicle to showcase the levels of musicianship attainable by each member of the band. Indeed, the riffs are, for the most part, not very technical or impressive. Instead, the carefully-chosen series of notes therein grip you and abduct you into … Read more

Protoplasma – –

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

What a surprise I had, when sifting through the zeuhl tag on bandcamp, when I stumbled upon this Magyar brutal prog gem. Protoplasma keeps it mysterious: we don’t know who is in the band or how many they are, only that they’re from Budapest! Maybe I should organize a field trip, someday, to make some detective work… They hardly play zeuhl music, their sound is closer to experimental, noise rock, and avant-prog, but I certainly won’t mind the indirect reference.

– (Kötőjel, I guess?) is just over thirty minutes, but it’s filled to the … Read more

Inhumankind – Self-Extinction

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

The Spanish duo of Pablo Selnik and Àlex Reviriego, Inhumankind, was one of the surprises of the Spring. It would seem indeed rather bare to have a flute and double bass duo alone play songs inspired by black metal! Fortunately, the two musicians are joined by three competent singers: the harmonized vocals of Celeste Alías and Marta Valero, and the growls of Eric Baule. At first, I didn’t expect much — many projects claiming to bridge classical music and metal have come and gone without any memorable release —, but Inhumankind are able to keep … Read more