Lollipop Magazine

Phil X & The Drills – Right On The Money – Music Stream

September 5, 2020

Phil X stepped in for Richie Sambora in Bon Jovi in 2016. It’s hard not to chant along to “Right, right, right on the money…” A rock anthem to behold.

Alain Johannes – Hallowed Bones – Music Stream

September 3, 2020

“Hallowed Bones” is perhaps the most similar to Eleven’s output in the ’90s, and therefore a fave of mine.

Rumahoy – Harambe The Pirate Gorilla – Music Stream

August 30, 2020

With all the bursting imagery of rousing sea shanty sing-alongs and pirate metal cheers, there’s just no excuse for a boring video.

Thundermother – Driving In Style – Music Stream

August 28, 2020

Swedish high-voltage rockers Thundermother reinvented themselves in 2017. Singer Guernica Mancini simply rules, as the AC/DC riffs pave the way.

Voivod – The End Of Dormancy – Music Stream

August 25, 2020

After jaw-dropping work by Dog Fashion Disco/Polkadot Cadaver, Jim Thirlwells’ Foetus projects, and Tod A.’s Cop Shoot Cop/Firewater, this is rudimentary.

Chris Cornell – Patience – Music Stream

August 19, 2020

“Chris recorded this song in March 2016 at Henson Studios. While he was working on his own album, he was teaching his daughter Toni how to play ‘Patience.'”

Gin Wigmore – Feels Like Me – Music Stream

August 17, 2020

Randy Newman’s bouncy piano work and raspy, optimistic female vocals feel like the first sip of coffee in the morning or a cool breeze coming across the park.

Horseneck – School’s Out – Music Stream

August 16, 2020

The sound is ’70s enough, the vocal snarl is acceptable, and the sing-song “no more pencils” is delightful, but there’s really nothing new brought to the song.

Carach Angren – Operation Compass – Music Stream

July 16, 2020

The double-bass is too far forward, the guitars are an afterthought, and the horror strings don’t take the moonlight until three minutes into this snoozer.

Eddie Spaghetti – Shit’s Fucked – Music Stream

July 12, 2020

The Supersuckers’ Eddie Spaghetti kicks out a “pandemic jam” with the help of Frank Meyer of The Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs.

Mrs. Piss – Knelt – Music Stream

July 1, 2020

“Downer Surrounded by Uppers” is more fist-pumping L7 yowl and Medicine fuzz, “Knelt” is a gorgeous sludge crawl, like Kylsea, or other plodding stoner doom.

Alestorm – Fannybaws – Music Stream

June 13, 2020

While it’s Alestorm on autopilot, “Fannybaws” is fine pirate metal. There’s a ship, beards, yo-ho-ho choruses, a blistering solo, and a midget. No wenches?

Green Day – Dreaming – Music Stream

June 7, 2020

“Dreaming” is probably not the first Blondie song that comes to mind, but the dog looking wistfully out the window during these Stay Home times hits the mark.

Behemoth – A Forest – Music Stream

May 16, 2020

Behemoth release their blackened cover of The Cure’s ’80s classic, “A Forest.” The band scorch the forest, leveling all nuance, and pave it over with thick tar.

Tribulation – Alive & Dead – Music Stream

December 3, 2019

Six and a half minutes of fog and reverb-drenched awe. Calls to mind Fields of the Nephilim’s live Earth Inferno and Tiamat’s breakthrough Wildhoney.

Evanescence – The Chain (from Gears 5) – Music Stream

November 27, 2019

Evanescence return with their first new rock recording in eight years, “The Chain (from Gears 5),” a cover of the Fleetwood Mac classic.

The Casualties – Written In Blood – Music Stream

November 18, 2019

“Fucking Hate You” shows the chaos of the band’s live shows, but the cohesion of a band – new singer notwithstanding – who’ve played for 20+ years together.

Leah – Ancient Winter – Music Stream

November 17, 2019

British Columbia, Canada’s “metal Enya” releases a Christmas/winter-themed album, 8 tracks deep, on November 11th.

The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Revelation – Music Stream

May 19, 2014

The music industry illuminati declared The Brian Jonestown Massacre – and their supposed mad genius frontman Anton Newcombe – to be rock’s great saviors.

Harsh Toke – Light Up and Live – Music Stream

April 29, 2014

“Plug In To The Moon,” from the band’s debut record, reveals that San Diego’s Harsh Toke is really more interested in a cosmic feel-good vibes.

Ihsahn – Das Seelenbreche – Music Stream

April 28, 2014

With last year’s release, there are now more Ihsahn solo records than there were Emperor records, so I think it’s safe to say the former Emperor frontman is committed to this new life of relentless experimentation.