The Common Cold are not instrumental math rock for the weak: It’s volcanic, turbulent, and the most pummeling orgy of guitar noodlings you’ve ever heard.
Fairweather’s better than most emo punk bands – as are most of Equal Vision’s recent signings – and Alaska proves it yet again. Put together by J. Robbins.
The VIIth Coming is full of heavy guitar riffs sure to satisfy the doom punters, but I don’t remember the earlier stuff being quite this, well, groovy.
The indulgent repetition owes to ’70s blues metal and prog. Ironic genres are presented as higher art, but are in reality embraced by couch-surfing stoners.
I can’t believe how annoyed I am with Sheavy’s crippling debt to Black Sabbath, especially Steve Hennessey’s uncommon vocal similarity to Ozzy Osbourne.
The tempos are generally on the slow side, the emotional tone one of contemplation. There’s none of the screaming that passes for emotion in modern rock music.
Fast rocker punk with a Stooges quote, a Motörhead rip, and a non-pop presentation that works great. Imagine a hardcore band in ’83 playing sped-up Nuge riffs.