Sometimes--and I'm sure you'll agree, dear reader--one just needs some rock n' roll that captures the spirit of the good ol' days. As one who (admittedly) wasn't alive during said days, I'm here to say that Cincinnati's Brass Owl offers a genre-melding approximation of the best parts. From classic rock, to acid jazz, grunge, to fun-lovin' improvisational jammery, Brian Tarter (vocals/guitar) and Lonnie Buckley (drums) deliver the goods.

Brass Owl's debut will be hitting the street on April 10th, so you've still got some time to daydream about the possible implications of the aforementioned confluence of sounds. It's damn good, but rather than tantalize further, we slumbering scribes offer up this interview to tide ye over.

​We'd like to thank Brian Tartar of Brass Owl for taking the time and energy to chat! As always, we're deeply honored that cool bands are willing to sit down and churn our such thoughtful answers. Read on! ​

Interview by: Scribe Nathaniel

Our very own Scribe Nathaniel--the Sleeping Village's resident lover of all things abrasive and chaotic--was lucky enough to chat with the one and only Jon "Eva05" Chang. Known for his vocal chops in such groups as Gridlink, Discordance Axis, Hayaino Daisuke, and No One Knows What The Dead Think, among others, Mr. Chang has left a significant mark on the evolution of grindcore and affiliated scenes. If the spirit of grind permits the notion of legends, you're pretty much lookin' at one.

Needless to say, we slumbering scribes were quite excited by the prospect of this interview, and offer our collective thanks for A. making stellar music and B. willingly engaging in ​Scribe Nathaniel's interrogation. Let's get to it, shall we?  Without further ado:

Wraith's excellent Absolute Power officially hits the streets today, and...and I'm not sure what to say about it that hasn't already been said. Thus, in a stunning display of self-plagiarism, please let me remind you that: "Absolute Power is--besides a successful sophomore release--a killer slab of bombastic, aggressive, and otherwise heartfelt heavy metal. It's a certified headbanger, and remains one of the most fun releases I've had the pleasure of reviewing this year."

Needless to say, this particular Villager was quite excited to chat with the thrashers in question. Our eternal thanks to Wraith for A. being the ass-kickers they are, and B. willingly subjecting themselves to our interrogation. Let's get to it, shall we?

We groggy-eyed scribes never did get around to writing a review for Bright Curse's latest, the undeniably impressive Time of the Healer. But if you take that to imply we didn't think it was a damn fine collection o’ tunes, you're dead wrong. Drinking deep from the well of 70's psychedelic and prog rock, Bright Curse nonetheless feels fresh--avoiding, gracefully, the stagnant waters in which so many of their peers flounder. Weaving intriguing instrumentation with a decidedly blues-ridden ambiance, Time of the Healer marks a strong step forward, and another feather in Ripple's cap.

Needless to say, we were tickled pink to chat with the outfit in question. Big thanks to Romain of Bright Curse for taking the time!
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Alright, dear readers. This is it. So sorry we had to be the bearer of bad news...

...but in the end, will our vague affiliation with the harbinger of humanity's collective devastation even matter? I think not, and I hope you've ready to face the otherworldly visage of your impending demise. Advent Varic plays a unique brand of progressive blackened stoner metal, and Parts I and II of their Tumulus saga are both incredibly solid track in their own right, but, more importantly, Captain Graves and Co. are here to annihilate.

We slumbering Villagers would like to thank the Captain for taking the time to speak with us and answer our questions. And for better or worse, we wish him all the best.