Review: Ethan McKenna – Embracing Uncertainty


Don’t let yourself be fooled by its simple appearance and instrumentation, because Embracing Uncertainty is certainly the best acoustic music album I’ve heard in a long while!

Dressing the simple acoustic guitar with fancy playing techniques, like percussive playing, tapping, and probably slapping and popping too, Ethan McKenna is able to keep my mind interested through the listen. Moreover, the song structures are hardly conventional (with maybe a few exceptions), and often make use of uncommon time signatures. A good example of that is the second half of the first song, Dark Night of the Read more

Review: 五人一首 (Gonin-Isshu) – 内視鏡世界 (Naishikyo-Sekai)

You know Japan? You remember Japanese metal? (Example 1; Example 2) 五人一首 are not so different.

I would label them as progressive metal, however not a trope-following progressive metal band, more like a progressist metal band that other would more likely categorize as experimental or avant-garde, and they wouldn’t be wrong either. Female-fronted progressist metal bands are quite a gem nowadays, the singers often have to share that spot with secondary vocalists to do the harsh part of the singing, but it’s not the case here, Anoji sings both melodic and harsh … Read more

News: Peculate releases 3-part single!


It’s with a totally immature giggle (French people will understand, although it’s definitely no laughing matter), that I have the honour to report that Peculate released their first single from their upcoming album, and it’s a 3-part epic entitled Bouazizi!

Advertised as very different from their “standard” material, I have to say they didn’t lie! Peculate‘s traditional hectic spazz-djent is now out of the door to give way to what are usually only “influences”. The track, and hence the rest of the album, is much more jazz-based, and sounds much more instrumental-oriented. This might change, … Read more

News: A teaser for Lee Wanner’s new album

Every Man Is An Island is artist and multi-instrumentist Lee Wanner‘s upcoming solo album. Adding so many varied influences to a progressive metal, or djent perhaps, foundation that it’s difficult to categorize his music as such, this is certainly progressive in the literal way of the term.

I’ll be the first to buy that album once it’s available (if my wallet lets me), and I highly suggest you take interest in this man’s greatly interesting music!… Read more