BLACK TAXI is a band poised for great things. Their 2012 sophomore effort, We Don’t Know Any Better, was groundbreaking and after relentless touring they’ve proven to be one of the best, most energetic live acts around. Finally the rest of the world seems to be paying attention with the their most recent video for “House On Fire” being featured on MTV’s “Buzzworthy” blog. In the midst of some more touring with a stop at Cambridge’s Tommy Doyle’s on July 5th, guitarist […]
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Metal Monday Volume 128 (6.24.13)
I had the privilege of talking with guitarist Hiran Deraniyagala last year (Read the interview here ) when the seeds for War Of Will were just being planted and after hearing the finished product I can tell you that thrash is alive and well in 2013 thanks to bands like Battlecross. A band that merges new school power metal in the vein of Dragonforce with other modern heavy greats like 3 Inches Of Blood without the gimmicks or hokeyness, Battlecross also offer […]
Rogue Wave, Nightingale Floors: Album Review
Rogue Wave records have in the past always been this sort of comfort food for me. They’re magical and uplifting despite being so dark at times. The beauty of their records is probably that, regardless of the subject matter, one would never be able to tell because of how uplifting and beautiful the music is which has always appealed to me. On the band’s latest record, Nightingale Floors, Rogue Wave again take beauty from the breakdown to limitless new heights. […]
Sponge, Stop The Bleeding: Album Review
If you didn’t think that Detroit’s reigning kings of rawk, Sponge, were still making fresh, relevant music then you should hand in your “rawk fan” badge now. Not only is the band still making new music, but they are making exciting music that is just as potent as their debut Rotting Pinata. Easily one of the only alt-rock bands to come out of the ’90s who still make really interesting, thought-provoking music, Sponge return with new sound on their seventh […]
We Saw It! Filter @ House Of Blues, Boston, 6/15/13
It was Father’s Day Eve as Art Alexakis’ “Summerland” tour rolled through Boston and as Filter band leader Richard Patrick stated in an earlier interview: “Summerland is about bashing the fuck out of you for 30 minutes and then leaving…but leaving on a high note with something like “Take A Picture”” Guitarist Jonny Radtke added ” “Something for old fans, something for new, and everybody enjoys it.” After the 30 minutes of Filter’s set were finished, no truer words were […]
Download, Lingam: Album Review
Can I first thank the demon goddess that 2013 is apparently bringing us a new Skinny Puppy record, a new ohGr recod supposedly (Watch this space for my Nivek Ogre review coming soon where he talks about it), and a new record by cEvin Key’s Download? Anyway, the ego to the super-ego that is Skinny Puppy (The id of course being ohGr), Download float in that middle space superbly crafting these beats that lie uninhibited by vocals. As far as […]
BLACK TAXI, “House On Fire”, The Viewfinder Review
While taxidermy is definitely not the first thing that comes to mind when I think of BLACK TAXI, when it comes to new music from these NYC natives I will gladly take whatever visuals they decide to throw my way. With “House On Fire” they’ve expanded their sound even more on this synth-heavy slow jam that features guitarist Bill Mayo on lead vocals (Don’t worry, vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Ezra Huleatt is definitely present especially when you hear that strong trumpet line towards […]
Metal Monday Volume 127 (6.17.13)
Maybe it’s fitting that Isis is unleashing a remastered vinyl edition of their seminal masterpiece, Celestial, barely two weeks after the release of Palms’ debut which feature three-fifths of the group within its’ ranks. Sure, Aaron Turner can continue with Split Cranium and Old Man Gloom, Aaron Harris can work with Tool’s Danny Carey for the Man Of Steel soundtrack and on Palms (With Bryant Clifford Meyer and Jeff Caxide), and Mike Gallagher can work on more MGR or with […]
Front Line Assembly, “Killing Grounds”: The Singles Bar Review
Is that dubstep I hear in “Killing Grounds”, the first offering from Front Line Assembly’s upcoming ECHOGENETIC album? It kind of sounds like there is but with most everything FLA do, they make it work. Definitely a more electronic and dance-heavy vibe than 2010’s Improvised. Electronic. Device., “Killing Grounds” still has Bill Leeb’s uncanny snarl at the forefront propelled by some killer beats and interesting forays into new genres all within six minutes. ECHOGENETIC is out on July 9th […]
Richard Patrick: The Popblerd Interview!
Have you heard the new Filter record, The Sun Comes Out Tonight, yet? Well, what are you waiting for? Lead vocalist Richard Patrick recently spoke to us via phone to talk about the new album, the upcoming tour, and what the biggest difference is at being in Filter in 2013 versus when the band started in 1993. read on for more: What sets The Sun Comes Out Tonight from other Filter releases? Honestly, it’s our guitar player Johnny Radtke, and […]
Phillip Cope of Kylesa: The Popblerd Interview!
If you haven’t heard Kylesa’s fantastic sixth album, then mainman Phillip Cope is here to tell you why you should check it out as he chatted with Pop!Blerd about their latest disc and upcoming tour via phone recently: Ultraviolet represents the longest gap between studio albums since Time Will Fuse… and Static Tensions, how long did the writing and recording of Ultraviolet actually take? We wrote off an on for about two years and we spent about two months in […]
The Popblerd Halftime Show: Jesse’s Best of 2013 So Far
Half over? Already?!?!?! Time flies when you’re listening to great music I guess and 2013 so far, for me at least, has been pretty spectacular. I’m sure this list will change come December but for now I leave you with the following: 1. Ghost: Infestissamum / Skinny Puppy: Weapon These two albums are in a dead heat for me at the moment. Who will win? No one knows (Well, I guess I do…). Anywho, I listen to a track off of each of these at […]
