Elder are among the pantheon of stoner/doom bands such as Khemmis, Pallbearer, YOB, and Spirit Adrift who've achieved critical acclaim and risen above and beyond the ranks of their subgenre ilk. Where Elder separate themselves further, however, is the loosening of their stoner/doom ties on their latest album Omens. Elder have always been the proggiest … Continue reading Elder – Omens Review
When you think "black metal," Australia may not be the first place that comes to mind. But like that Snorlax album I reviewed earlier this year, the land Down Under has its fair share of blackened greatness. The latest installment comes from Graveir, a five-piece from Melbourne, with their new album King of the Silent … Continue reading Graveir – King of the Silent World Review
One thing that I've really enjoyed about operating Burnt Coffee HQ is the amount of stellar debuts we've seen come across the desks of our caffeinated enterprise. If it weren't for this site, I may have missed out on several great new bands. The latest comes in the form of a debut single from In … Continue reading The Espresso – a quick review of In Earnest’s debut single “Put Me Under”
Prog and punk may seem like mortal enemies, but there's a London-based three-piece called Serpent Tax who play a mix of the warring styles. Usually my gripe with modern prog is that it's too easy to spot the ripoffs. Serpent Tax doesn't really sound like anyone, so that's a great start. But how exactly do … Continue reading Serpent Tax – Downpour EP Review
Spotlights are part of a legion of bands (see also: Holy Fawn, Niights) who take their shoegaze and post-metal influences beyond the My Bloody Valentine and Deftones aping of their peers to create something they can truly call their own. Their last album Love & Decay made my Top 20 list last year, so naturally … Continue reading Spotlights – We Are All Atomic EP Review
Several years ago I had the pleasure of seeing Crowbar open for Carcass. While I was a much bigger Carcass fan at the time, I was floored by both bands' performances. They're on different ends of the subgenre spectrum, but in the moment the booking made sense. However, the thought didn't occur to me until … Continue reading Beggar – Compelled To Repeat Review
Katie Crutchfield, a.k.a Waxahatchee, brings us a serious Album of the Year contender with her latest project, Saint Cloud. In her most stripped-down work to date, Crutchfield takes influences from folk, country, and Americana to create a refreshing expansion to her sound. The lyrics throughout Saint Cloud offer vivid imagery of open fields, big sky, … Continue reading Waxahatchee – Saint Cloud Review
"Progressive metal" can be a loaded term. On one end, you could be in for some engaging, envelope-pushing music. On the other, you'd be hearing dudes with gauged ears ripping off Meshuggah and Tesseract. While I can't speak to the state of Vancouver band Neck of the Woods' ear piercings, I can say their new … Continue reading Neck of the Woods – The Annex of Ire Review
The fourth full-length album from Best Coast, Always Tomorrow, finally arrives 5 years after their last project, California Nights. While that album did not reach the same heights in the charts as their debut or sophomore efforts, it was, in my opinion, their best album to date. It showed a more developed sound and deeper … Continue reading Best Coast – Always Tomorrow Review
Splid is sort of a pivotal moment for Kvelertak. It's their first album in four years, and first with new singer Ivar Nikolaisen and new drummer Håvard Takle Ohr. Given these circumstances and the fading spotlight the band once had in the early 2010's, this album is a test of whether Kvelertak can still remain … Continue reading Kvelertak – Splid Review
