Dan Slessor

Contributions

Nothing More’s ‘The Stories We Tell Ourselves’ has more hooks, more layers, more feeling

Nothing More The Stories We Tell Ourselves ROCKS LIKE: 30 Seconds To Mars, Sights & Sounds, Incubus WHAT'S DIFFERENT: Somewhat ironically, the watchword for The Stories We Tell Ourselves is “more:” more hooks, more layers, more feeling—more  everything. While the divisive nü-metal influences remain, the diversity of mood, tone and instrumentation makes for a deeper, […]

The Contortionist focus on exploration and atmosphere in 'Clairvoyant'

The Contortionist Clairvoyant FILE UNDER: Progressive rock ROCKS LIKE: Coheed And Cambria, Good Tiger, Periphery WHAT'S DIFFERENT: After maintaining the trend of emphasizing the “progressive” aspect over the “metal” of their early releases, on the Contortionist’s fourth full-length, the latter has exited the scene. Gone are the screaming and the polyrhythmic bludgeon. Instead, the focus […]

Dead Cross full-throttle chaotic punk on self-titled album

Dead Cross Dead Cross FILE UNDER: Manic punk ROCKS LIKE: Melvins, Trash Talk, OFF! WHAT'S DIFFERENT: When collaborating in Fantômas, ex-Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo and Faith No More vocalist Mike Patton proved themselves masters of the gloriously eclectic and deranged. Joined by Retox’s Justin Pearson and Michael Crain, Dead Cross is a more straightforward beast, […]

Mallory Knox stay true with strong choruses, introduce edgy atmosphere

Mallory Knox Wired FILE UNDER: Anthemic rock ROCKS LIKE: Paramore / Twin Atlantic / Jimmy Eat World WHAT'S DIFFERENT: Having established themselves with two solid full-lengths, this time out Mallory Knox get in your face—and stay there. With an edgier, more urgent feel predominating the album, the swaggering “Better Off Without You” fits perfectly alongside […]

Wovenwar up the aggression on 'Honor Is Dead,' gear up to tour as a four-piece

[Photo by Ty Watkins] With Wovenwar’s sophomore release, Honor Is Dead, the metalcore unit have seriously upped the aggressive ante. With a far more in-your-face sound and vocalist Shane Blay injecting some serious screaming amidst the towering choruses, it will surely initiate frantic moshing across the land. With guitarist Phil Sgrosso announcing his departure before […]

In Flames have no interest in recreating the past with 12th studio album

Not many bands find themselves in the press cycle for their 12th full-length, but In Flames’ consistency and staying power has long put legions of their metal brethren to shame. True to form, rife with rich, uplifting melodies and a rousing, cinematic feel, Battles maintains the high standard the quintet hold themselves to while also […]

Amity Affliction frontman opens up about descent into depression, addiction in new interview

There are few records that paint a more vivid picture of a descent into depression and alcoholism than the Amity Affliction’s This Could Be Heartbreak. Having tracked the record in the throes of this deterioration, vocalist Joel Birch did not understand how catastrophic this was until hearing the completed record back. Listening to lines such […]

The Used rework 12 of their songs, create magic with 'Live And Acoustic At The Palace' (review)

The Used Live And Acoustic At The Palace Dipping into every phase of their 15-year career, there is genuine magic in the way the Used reworked and reimagined 12 of their songs for one night at LA’s ornate Palace Theatre. Whether stripping the songs down to the most sparse arrangements or rebuilding them with strings […]

Graf Orlock drop suitably deranged movie-inspired album 'Crime Traveler'

Graf Orlock Crime Traveler Los Angeles’ Graf Orlock specialize in writing savage music born in the ’cores (hard-, grind-) with lyrics based on overblown Hollywood action movies. With Crime Traveler, they haven’t deviated from their blistering sonic niche, but this time the lyrics hinge around an unreleased movie written, directed and starring the band. The […]
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