As far as essential metal albums of 2013 goes, A Storm Of Light’s masterful Nations To Flames easily sits at the top of that list. On their latest the “metal alchemists” continue what began with 2008’s And We Wept the Black Ocean Within but go for shorter song structures but a no less dense soundscape overall. From the Ministry meets Sepultura thunder of opener “Fall” through to the ethereal chaos of “The Year Is One” which closes out the album, A […]
Posts tagged "Popblerd"
BLACK TAXI, Chiaroscuro: EP Review
Move over September 10th music releases, a new contender just entered the fray for album of the week. My favorite Brooklyn band, BLACK TAXI, is back with the first of a planned series of EP’s entitled Chiaroscuro and it is guaranteed to astound and stupefy. Chiaroscuro begins with a banger much like BLACK TAXI’s debut did and similarly both “The Runner” off this EP and “Shoeshine” off Things Of That Nature begin with a scorching Bill Mayo guitar lick until Krisana […]
Grandfather, In Human Form: Album Review
Like this weird mix of The Melvins, Fudge Tunnel, and Undertow-era Tool, Brooklyn’s Grandfather tow the ’90’s alt-metal line really well on their latest release, In Human Form. Produced by Fudge Tunnel’s Alex Newport (There’s your connection!), IHF is quite possibly Grandfather’s most solid effort to date. “Spun” begins Grandfather’s sophomore album and is instantly an intriguing mix of cacophonous guitars and pulsating drums. “Organ Thief” furthers the descent and is madness incarnate. Like the sound of your mind unraveling […]
Edgar Wright! Simon Pegg! Nick Frost! The Pop!Blerd Interview!
“A bitter Frost has just descended on Boston” is the headline that director Edgar Wright gives a group of Boston critics late in July after a lengthy conversation about what it was like working behind-the-scenes on his latest film, The World’s End, when a throwaway comment from Nick Frost (“I fuckin’ hate Edgar!” says Frost after Simon Pegg jokingly calls him bitter when talking about being mates and still not seeing each other on set due to the busy workload) […]
The World’s End: Film Review
In the beginning there was Shaun of the Dead which single handedly reignited the zombie flick and introduced audiences not already familiar with the UK’s Spaced to Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Edgar Wright. Then came Hot Fuzz which presented a hyperactive take on the buddy cop genre. Now the boys from across the pond tackle aliens, addiction, and social politics?!?! It’s true! Pegg, Frost, and Wright reunite for the explosive finale to what has been dubbed “Three Flavours Cornetto […]
White Lies, Big TV: Album Review
Ritual, White Lies second album, will always hold a special place in my heart. It got me through some tough times when it was released in January of 2011 and it also pushed me to write for Popblerd because if ever an album deserved to be heard, it was that one. Two plus years later and we’re graced with White Lies’ Big TV, their third album. Honestly, after hearing it through the first time I was worried. It didn’t have the immediacy that […]
New Release Report 8/20/13
We’re picking up a little bit before the Summer ends with some big names and even bigger albums (We also have another contest to mention but more on that later)! Honestly, regardless of the new albums from Blue October, Travis, Jimmy Buffett, or Earl Sweatshirt today, all eyes are looking at John Mayer and Paradise Valley. Personally, I wasn’t a fan of his last one (Born and Raised) but this one seems to be getting praise from everyone. It also […]
Metal Monday Volume Volume 136 (8.19.13)
If Til Lindemann subscribed to the school of Phil Anselmo (Or BMTH’s Oli Sykes) instead of Peter Murphy and Peter Steele (RIP!) then perhaps Rammstein would sound a little more like We Butter The Bread With Butter. If you wished your Rammstein thrashed a little harder (Is that even possible?) then Golkinder, WBTBWB’s third full-length, is definitely for you. Hailing from Germany (the same country of that other band I’ve already mentioned too many times in this piece), WBTBWB is […]
Bloc Party, The Nextwave Sessions, EP Review
There is going to come a time when fans of Bloc Party are going to stop caring. This band has been such a roller coaster of creativity and emotions since their inception and their recent off/on and now off again status might ultimately be the final straw. Regardless of if you loved or hated the polarizing Four (I liked it, actually), it was an interesting “comeback” album that threw some for a loop but still proved that the band had […]
Kenna, “Relations”: The Singles Bar Review
“Relations (An Ode To You & Me)”, the latest single off the highly anticipated next chapter of Kenna’s Land 2 Air Chronicles EP series sounds exactly like the description on the Soundcloud page: David Byrne meets Rick James! It’s a low-key little funk blast that sees Kenna doing his best Talking Heads/Byrne impression and succeeding. If this is an indication of the direction the next EP is going in then expect more ’80’s-inspired jams like this instead of the sonic […]
New Release Report 8/13/13
August is moving right along and the biggest thing this week is singles! One of the Blerd favorites, Kenna, releases a new one entitled “Relations” which we’re all dying to hear but that’s not all! The biggest release this week is actually from two people who weren’t supposed to have releases this week. Due to some leaks both Katy Perry and Lady Gaga went ahead and released their upcoming singles early. Do you like to “Roar” or give “Applause” more? Team […]
Metal Monday Volume 135 (8.12.13)
If the first offering off Pelican’s upcoming Forever Becoming (Due October 15th on Southern Lord) wasn’t to your liking then you might wanna dust off the turntable for the just released Deny The Absolute 7″ from The Mylene Sheath. Featuring the title track (Which will be the second track on FB) and non-album track “The Truce”, this is probably the easiest decision you’ll make all year on a vinyl purchase. First up is “Deny The Absolute” which is easily the […]
