Reviews
Album Review: Rebel Wizard – Triumph of Gloom
Altwire Staff
Borrowing elements of thrash, NWOBHM and power metal, Rebel Wizard's Triumph of Gloom is a nihilistic musical cataclysm.
Album Review: Black Star Riders – Heavy Fire
Altwire Staff
Black Star Riders were formed towards the end of 2012 when members of the touring line-up of Thin Lizzy expressed interest in recording new music. Out of respect for deceased front man Phil Lynott, ...
Album Review: Save Ferris – Chequered Past [EP]
Altwire Staff
A lot has happened since Save Ferris last released a body of new material. Their last album Modified was released the best part of two decades ago and since then the hype that made ...
Album Review: Dune Rats – The Kids Will Know It’s Bullshit
Altwire Staff
Dune Rats parade their pop-punk street cred over an energetic 31 minutes of 2-3 minute songs that never wear out their welcome. The Kids Will Know It's Bullshit is a direct thread to my 12-year-old self who first heard "Anarchy in the U.K." and questioned authority.
Album Review: Horseneck – Heavy Trip
Altwire Staff
What do you get when you blend Refused-like Screaming, the heavy riffs of Red Fang and the sweet grooves Queens of the Stone Age? You sprinkle a little Unida and a pinch of Clutch ...
Album Review: The Ominous Circle – Appalling Ascension
Altwire Staff
I could beat my chest in with my fist while listening to this album, and did so on repeat while waiting for the full Appalling Ascension to arrive in my inbox for review. The ...
Starset – Vessels (2016): A Mesmerizing Followup
Altwire Staff
By masterfully combining the musical styles of Rock, Symphonic and Electronica, mixed with an underlying Science-themed story, Columbus, Ohio’s Starset emerged on the music scene in 2014 with the release of Starset’s excellent first album, ...
Album Review: Lorna Shore – Flesh Coffin
Altwire Staff
Fans of Deathcore may be familiar with the New Jersey quartet Lorna Shore. Their three extended plays proceeded by the well-received debut full length album Psalms have garnered them a steady fan base and ...
Album Review: Mirrors For Psychic Warfare [Self-Titled]
Altwire Staff
Experimental noise meets doom metal at its darkest. Mirrors For Psychic Warfare is is more draining, both intellectually and emotionally, than nearly any album I can recall. This album is a must-listen.
Album Review: Aenaon – Hypnosophy
Altwire Staff
An avant-garde fusion of progressive black metal and jazz. A very solid pickup, Hypnosophy is not an album for black metal purists and rigidly-defined genre warriors.
Toro Y Moi: Chaz Bundick meets the Mattson 2
Altwire Staff
Chaz Bundick, more commonly known as Toro y Moi, is back with the help of the Mattson 2. For his second release of 2016, he has teamed up with the Matson 2 and the ...
AltWire Concert Review: Evanescence – Dallas, TX 10/28/16
Amanda Gail
Dallas’ Southside Ballroom was the host of the debut show for Evanescence, 2016. The tour comes just before the Christmas release of a complete vinyl box set for the band, featuring music written before ...
Kitshickers – III.O: A Mind-Blowing Experience
Altwire Staff
I stumbled over Kitshickers from Luxembourg early in the year, exploring pre-orders from bands and artists. I found the PledgeMusic mission for Kitshickers, and I just couldn’t ignore a band that would give proceeds ...
AltWire Concert Review – Rob Thomas 09/24/16
Amanda Gail
Allen, Texas, and I’m brought face to face with the tour manager for Rob Thomas. “Two songs”, he says, referring to the amount I’m allowed to shoot. I’m one song shy of standard concert ...
AltWire Concert Review – Counting Crows 09/24/16
Amanda Gail
Que the smoke as the house lights dim to black. Silhouettes make their way across stage to their assigned spots, and my heart races. No matter what event I’m at, this is always my ...
Album Review: Balance and Composure
Altwire Staff
For their third album Light We Made, Balance and Composure went with the ideology of “don’t make the same record twice.” The boys from Doylestown, Pennsylvania return with another record worth giving spin just from hearing ...
AltWire Concert Review: Def Leppard – Dallas, TX – August 24th, 2016
Amanda Gail
August, Texas, outdoor venue. Only one thing could bring me out of my air-conditioned comfort on a dog day summer Monday night- Def Leppard. The teenage girl in me was in full spirit as ...
Album Review: blackbear, cashmere noose
Altwire Staff
I’d just like to start this review off by saying what the hell Frank Ocean. Words cannot describe how upset I am that Boys Don’t Cry didn’t come out on Friday. It seems like ...
Chris Isaak – The Man In Red – An AltWire Concert Review
Amanda Gail
Speeding into the Winstar Casino & Global Event Center like a (slightly lost) bat out of hell, I stumbled through valet at 8:47pm, for a 9pm show. Thirteen minutes and counting to hit Will ...
Altwire Review: DJ Shadow – The Mountain Will Fall
Altwire Staff
DJ Shadow made history 20 years ago with Endtroducing… a one of a kind instrumental hip-hop album composed entirely of samples. And while his later works never quite hit the same heights as that ...
