Though it’s tempting to claim we’ve reached the pinnacle of genre splicing and experimentation, the inherent nature of music makes this process inevitable and ongoing. Music will only become more innovative as more bands create and contort existing genres. Naturally, styles once considered experimental will eventually become staple genres, only…
Like it or not, Code Orange’s Forever (2017) is one of the most influential albums of recent years. The record’s unprecedented mixture of hardcore, industrial and ’90s alt rock was bolstered by an impressive marketing campaign, garnered a Grammy nomination and drew seemingly universal praise from everywhere but here. Within…
Every year, I grow more impressed by the breadth of new ideas introduced into the world of black metal. I’ve long held the belief that the “blackened” prefix manifests in more unique ways than any other metal subgenre. Even the lightest introduction of black metal aesthetics can significantly alter the…
Collaborations are the ultimate musical wild card, offering up either a pleasant surprise or unfulfilled potential. Fortunately for us, both Justin Broadrick (Godflesh and Jesu) and Kevin Martin (The Bug) have made it their mission to form some of the most intriguing super-duos over the past decade. Broadrick has worked…
I’ve always gravitated towards multi-instrumentalists with an array of sonic interests. Artists who extract unique ideas from a kernel of creativity always tend to mix flavors with each side project. A great example is the collective work of Kevin Hufnagel and Colin Marston (who just released another excellent Dysrhythmia album),…
There’s a fine line between consistency and stagnation, especially with a sophomore album. Whether an artist offers too much of the same or does a complete about-face, both approaches can easily turn off early listeners. After such a strong debut like last year’s Mental Wounds Not Healing, it’s a relief…
It’s the last thing on a Friday so we’re here to ruin your weekend with this debut from Jamie Christ (Sectioned) and his new multimedia project – CHRISTWVRKS. We have the privilege of showcasing the first music released under this banner, as well as the terrifying, mania-inducing music video for…
Part of the inherent joy and frustration of being a music writer lies in attempting to describe sound to a reader while simultaneously diving deep into the musical memory bank to find appropriate reference points. You like (x band)? Here’s (y band), who sound a lot like (x band)! You’ve…
Industrial sounds are busy shaking up hardcore at the moment but, as far as the mainstream incarnation of the genre goes, industrial metal appears to be largely done and dusted. The pounding, mechanical sounds that once dominated alternative music during the ’90s and early 2000s have left little mark on…
As you might recall, Heavy Blog is ten years old this year. As such, we’re setting off on an adventure, each quarter exploring a different “Year 9”. After looking at ’79, we’re now at ’89, and oh boy was ’89 A Year. It’s the year in which the Soviet Block…
