Heavy-hearted in the Midwest since 2011
Reviews of albums, shows, songs and the like.
In 2019 the speed/thrash metal world mourned the retirement of one of the best bands to come out of the California metal scene of the 80s, Slayer. With the passing of songwriter/guitarist Jeff Hanneman in 2013 and the band parting ways permanently with original drummer Dave Lombardo, guitarist Kerry King and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya were […]
Read More Kerry King : From Hell I RisePye Corner Audio opened a whole new world of electronic music for me. It’s one I’ve tried putting a label on ever since I first heard The Black Mills Tapes; then Sleep Games, Stasis, Hollow Earth, and Entangled Routes. It’s the label I’m still attempting to come up with right now listening to Martin Jenkins, […]
Read More Pye Corner Audio : The Endless EchoPale Endless, which consists of Jason(drums) and Lea(bass/keys) Bledsoe, were formally the heavy and atmospheric duo Noise-A-Tron. Distorted bass lines coalesced with feedback walls and drums that would have sounded at home on a Godflesh album. With their evolution from Noise-A-Tron to Pale Endless the band takes on a far more ambient and sinister atmosphere. […]
Read More Pale Endless : Pale EndlessJohn Carpenter, the Master of Horror, hasn’t made a film in 14 years. After 2010 he became mostly interested in playing video games and the dropping occasional hot take about Hollywood(and his own classic films.) It seemed as if he would fade into the sunset with a game controller in one hand and flipping the […]
Read More John Carpenter : Lost Themes IV : NoirThe Black Keys are an American music institution. They’ve been making their own brand of Midwest duo delta blues now for just a little over 20 years, starting with 2002s The Big Come Up. The duo of Dan Auerbach(guitar, vocals) and drummer Patrick Carney(drums) started out recording their albums in a basement with concrete walls, […]
Read More The Black Keys : Ohio PlayersIf ever there was a proper heir to the throne of our beloved David Bowie it would be Annie Clark, aka St. Vincent. From the Texas native’s beginnings as a member of the Polyphonic Spree to a stint in Sufjan Steven’s band to her debut album Marry Me in 2007, Clark has shown a need […]
Read More St. Vincent : All Born ScreamingSOMAFREE INSTITUTE, the heavy synth trio of Andrew Crawshaw(keys), Justin Thomas Kleine(keys), and Tim Call(drums) have been honing their skills as songwriters and musicians for a few years now. Combining the sonic explorations of 70s electronic titans Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze and Vangelis with the more modern sound worlds of Zombi and Sinoia Caves. Over […]
Read More SOMAFREE INSTITUTE : Exit SignalKeith Canisius returns once again as Morph Stereo for another round of hazy, ambient modular cosmic trips. This time with the 3-song EP Here we are. A blend of Krautrock and early 80s experimental electronic music, Canisius blends all of of the vibes of his other musical projects(Rumskib/Astral TV/Shortwave Broadcaster) into one immersive experience as […]
Read More Morph Stereo : Here We AreThe eloquent, hushed sound world of Cynthia Bernard, aka Marine Eyes, is one of mystery and ethereal soundscapes. Combining heavily-effected guitar, subtle synthesizers, and her own layered vocals, Bernard creates records of dream-like beauty and crystalline visions. Her ambient recordings are not unlike stepping into another world, one built from a foundation of longing for […]
Read More Marine Eyes : To BelongOver the last couple of years I’ve started painting. Acrylics, canvas, and my imagination lay out some simple vision that sits in my head waiting to reveal itself through hand, brush, and color palate. The urge to communicate something from heart to head to canvas. This is not to say I find myself particularly good […]
Read More Dawn Chorus and the Infallible Sea : Reveries