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CD Review: AUTOLATRY Of The Land

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Autolatry is a Progressive Black Metal band from eastern Connecticut. Readers who like to make the trek over to MetalSucks may have heard of the band before from this edition of Freeloader earlier this year. I fondly remember meeting guitarist Dave Kaminsky back in 2008 when I called on his old band, Yildun, to offer some promotional services. While the collaboration never really came to fruition, I sensed in Dave an authentic and earnest drive to make original and inspired heavy metal. (more…)

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NO HAWAII Continue The Pattern of Awesome Bands From Gothenburg

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by James Zalucky

From the streets of one of Metal's most legendary cities, a young band has begun to perk-up the ears of the European Metal underground. No Hawaii emerged out of Gothenburg, Sweden in 2007 with their debut EP, Bruce Lee in Your Brain. They have since played live shows across western and central Europe and released their first full-length album, Snake My Charms, in the summer of 2010. No Hawaii will be touring Europe this month in support of their debut. Possible US dates have not yet been determined.

No Hawaii remains relatively unknown here in the states, but with all the buzz surrounding them, maybe that will begin to change. I was only introduced to their music a couple days ago and was interested to hear what Gothenburg is producing these days. I was also intrigued by their…um…"curious" name. Maybe they're being confusing on purpose so people would remember the name? If there's some sort of connotation or inside joke behind the name, it's been totally lost on me, but oh well, onto the music! (more…)

Underground Pitch

Protean Collective: Enlighten and Conquer

by James Zalucky

Sometimes it's hard to separate awesome underground bands from crappy ones. Contributor James Zalucky is willing to take one for the team and go through our massive collection of demos from unsigned artists and every now and then, pick one he likes and pitch you on why you should like them. Here is the third installment:

Protean Collective

Protean Collective is a progressive metal/hard rock band from Boston, MA. While their music roams through intricate arrangements and thoughtful modes of expression, the band maintains a raw, aggressive attack on the senses. With expressions both “cerebral and emotive”, the band’s unique sound brings the unity of the two concepts into sharp relief. Their influences include bands like Porcupine Tree, Soundgarden, Meshuggah, Pain of Salvation, Rush, Queens of the Stone Age, Mastodon, Tool, King Crimson, and Opeth. Hell, with taste like that, how can you go wrong? (more…)

Underground Pitch

Revolutionary Smut: How Much is that Shotgun in the Window?

by James Zalucky

Sometimes it's hard to separate awesome underground bands from crappy ones. Contributor James Zalucky is willing to take one for the team and go through our massive collection of demos from unsigned artists and every now and then, pick one he likes and pitch you on why you should like them. Here is the second installment:

Revolutionary Smut

Revolutionary Smut is a blend of Metalcore, Punk, and elements of old-school Screamo. The band started out as a wildly energetic, noise-infused hardcore punk band and after a few years of playing shows, gaining a loyal following, and a few line-up changes, the band expanded their sound- keeping its raw edge, guttural screams, and obnoxious energy intact. Their influences include bands like Trap Them, Converge, Hum, Page 99, Age Sixteen, Everytime I Die, Acacia Strain and many others.

Why You Should Care

If you're looking for a band who combines stylistic elements from all facets of hard music, then this is a band to get excited about. Whether you're into Punk, Hardcore, Noise-rock, or Metal, you can find something to like in Revolutionary Smut. They can use speed while staying in control, they can use breakdowns without exhausting them, and they can use melody without losing any of their aggression. One of the great things about Revolutionary Smut is their versatility. Their various influences give them the opportunity to play with a variety of bands. I recently saw them perform at a Punk festival where they were very well received, even though they didn't exactly fit into any typical Punk label (Perhaps that's why). After playing tons of shows over the past four years, they've shared the stage with bands like DRI, Sham 69, Star Fucking Hipsters, The Breathing Process, Gang Green, The Fad, and The Misfits.

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Underground Pitch

TERRELLA: Science, Technology, and Sea Monsters!

Sometimes it's hard to separate awesome underground bands from crappy ones. Contributor James Zalucky is willing to take one for the team and go through our massive collection of demos from unsigned artists and every now and then, pick one he likes and pitch you on why you should like them. Here is the first installment:

Terrella

Terrella is a heavy art-rock band from Eastern Connecticut. Drawing on influences both heavy and progressive: they take interwoven guitar and piano arrangements, with layers of female and male vocals, all on top of a heavy metal rhythm section. Their influences include bands like Cult of Luna, Queens of the Stone Age, Katatonia, Tool, and Isis; along with heavier acts like Opeth, Dimmu Borgir, and System of a Down. Terrella approaches music by keeping the intensity and energy of metal, while using melody and progressive arrangements to go beyond its borders.

Why You Should Care

While being an experimental band, Terrella strives to make every song compelling and memorable. This is saying a lot, considering many art-rock bands seem to alienate an audience rather than engage them. I've seen the band live several times and have witnessed their tight musicianship and charismatic stage presence. Each member shows a solid command of his or her instrument, and adds something unique to the band's sound. When I knew that they were going to use both female and male vocals, I felt a little apprehensive. Any metal fan knows how cliche' the mix had become in recent years, but when I first saw them live, I realized I had nothing to worry about. They manage the mix of male/female vocals very well, aided of course by the talent of both vocalists. Their sound is at once dark, dramatic, complex, and yet still very accessible. If you like smart, progressive rock but still want all the ferocious energy of a metal band, then you need to hear Terrella. (more…)