Category Archives: Mini-Review

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

Bubblemath, Dalila Kayròs, Extra Life, and Contemplator

by Dæv Tremblay

Bubblemath – Turf Ascension (Cuneiform)


Accolades like “the best prog band in the last decades” should not be overlooked as mere exaggerations. Indeed, they are statements worthy of examination. Bubblemath has been on my radar since their 2017 release Edit Peptide, and reading back at this five-year-old critique, I find nothing more to add for Turf Ascension, so I’ll just paraphrase: it’s complex yet groovy prog. Definitely one of the best prog rock album of the year so far!

Dalila Kayròs – Animàmi (Subsound)


Italian singer Dalila Kayròs has at this point played in so many of my… Read more

Rhizone, Ventifacts, Shamblemaths, and Wood River

by Dæv Tremblay

Rhizone – Metropolis, or, In Search of the Black Water, Act Ⅰ: Timelines

To fully subjugate yourselves into the story Rhizone has created for their musical theatre Metropolis, or In Search of the Black Water, you’ll have to read the script, available with a purchase of the album on Bandcamp, or listen closely to the lyrics during your listening session. This will naturally happen as you hit play on Timelines, as the music often diverges into foreign territory so as to more strongly support the story being told. Timelines is one of the best progressive rock concept … Read more

Seims, Issolei, Rototypical, and Jü

by Dæv Tremblay

Seims – Four

Seims‘s long-awaited new album finally draws near! The aptly titled Four comes out on October 22. As a follow-up to the dazing 3 and its expansion pack 3.1, 4 has a lot of unspoken promises to fill. And, indeed, it does fill them all! Ⅳ is all that made Seims’s previous works work, but better: expansive progressions, top-notch musicianship, memorable melodies, and an ever-present sense of songwriting are all competing for your attention, with the almost daunting presence of a wide array of instruments, which sometimes make it feel like the band is backed by … Read more