Editor’s Note: Art As Catharsis continues proving why they’re one of the best labels out there. They’re giving 100% of their profits directly to musicians, while also offering a 20% discount off everything with the code “‘lookaftereachother.” Head over to their Bandcamp to support great artists like Bonniesongs. Of all…
Since I passed my 5-year mark with Heavy Blog late last year, I’ve been reflecting on my own philosophies on and experiences with music. Formally reviewing music has been a significant hobby of mine for at least a decade across multiple channels. With this being my third review of a…
After five years with the blog, there are a number of posts I still look back on fondly. My interview with Lachlan R. Dale still ranks among my all-time favorites for a number of reasons. First, and most obvious, was the ability to connect with the man behind two of…
With my current schedule being as tight as it is, there has to be something compelling about a release to warrant one of my verbose, 1,000+ word reviews; the days where I’d publish near daily reviews on Sputnikmusic during college are long since gone. This occasionally results in more of…
By now, you’ve probably seen us rant and rave about the new wave of “post-math rock”; more specifically, the trend of bands blending the traditional bouncy melodies of math rock with post-rock structures, jazz-influenced technicality, and generally progressive and experimental ideas. As I’ve outlined before, Art As Catharsis and Small…
At its core, jazz has always been about innovation and collaboration, which explains why different scenes have popped up over the years. From NOLA big band to West Coast cool jazz, likeminded players have constantly worked to establish and nurture key movements within the genre. Several of these scenes exist…
Sixty years after Ornette Coleman released The Shape of Jazz to Come, contemporary musicians continue to challenge and expand upon the core tenets of the genre. Besides its notable anniversary, I mention Coleman’s breakthrough specifically due to its embodiment of disruption. The reception for his playing style has softened considerably…
Covering music for the blog provides both an avenue for curation as well as a means of tracking stylistic movements in various scenes. We’ve used our platform to chronicle the evolution of dissonant death metal, the new wave of traditional heavy metal, progressive stoner/sludge/doom, and a myriad of other subgenres…
Last we told you about Sydney post-math-rock behemoths SEIMS, it was in the wake of their most recent full-length, 3. That album was an absolute monster of classic math rock chunkiness and propulsion, jazzy technicality, beautiful atmosphere, and catchy-as-all-hell melodies and riffs. We completely loved it. It was easily one…
As with many genres, there are a number of elements that can define a truly great jazz album. While things like melody, technicality and innovation come to mind, something nearly all of my all-time favorite jazz albums have is a captivating first moment to initiate the proceedings, particularly with piano-driven…
