Written by: The Administrator

​In the course of reviewing music, I've increasingly tried to exercise a degree of thoughtfulness when comparing an artist to another artist. Namedropping for the sake of it is practice that often feels a little presumptuous, especially when specific influences are an unknown. Besides, if I'm resorting to comparing artists because there is nothing else to say, the review is probably... a little empty. As such, I try to keep direct comparisons A. positive, and B. firmly within the context of my own listening experience. If a guitar tone or an approach to songwriting fondly reminds me of something, and if that association benefits the overall review, it might merit mention.

Of course, this whole philosophy opens up a bit when an artist specifically mentions influences. Am I in Trouble?, a new project from friend of the Sleeping Village and Negative Bliss guitarist/vocalist Steve Wiener, makes these inspirations public. In fact, here's a convenient playlist. If you are a nerd like myself, and interested in digesting music in the overt context of the creative elements that led to its creation, said playlist makes for a pretty damn enjoyable listening experience.

Anyways! "On to "Red," today's track in question. 

Written by: The Administrator 

The promo email for NODINE's Amateur Land was unexpected but far from unwelcome. The artist behind black metal outfit Ainor switched gears and now makes rap/trap/experimental hip hop under a new moniker, released via Syrup Moose Records? In the world of artistic development, that's an exciting switchup. My interest? Considerably piqued.

While the genre tags may imply a shiny polish, this isn't clean stuff from a production standpoint--it feels like the rap equivalent of a classically homegrown bedroom black metal project. That, my friends, is by no means a bad thing. Amateur Land feels homegrown in the best sense, providing an eclectic spread that feels tangible and human and raw. There's some trap, some borderline rage-fueled horrorcore, some minimalistic boom bap, and requisite let-me-get-a-braggadocious-one-in-real-quick freestyles. Every track brings something new to the formula, giving the whole affair a very exploratory feel, almost like NODINE is attempting to map complex terrain via the light of glowstick. In a world where artists are all-too-oft trapped in a trademark aesthetic, I find significant value in a deliberately eclectic collection of sights and sounds. It can make for a jarring listening experience, but consider: being jarred is good.

Written by: The Administrator

Those of you with frighteningly impeccable memory may remember another mini-review from a while back discussing Cartoon Head's first foray into self-described "doom ska." I really enjoyed "Wrong!" in all of its oddity, and have anxiously awaited another Cartoon Head release in a similar vein. What we got wasn't a duplicate of those gloriously strange sights and sounds, but the result is wholly intriguing and chaotic nonetheless. In the band's own words: "It's a cover of a Ghost song and we fucked it right up for you."

"Square Hammer" is a classic unto itself, and a straight cover simply wouldn't work. Enter Cartoon Head's off-kilter approach. There's a poppy yet carnivalesque sense of panic and glee that drapes over the whole (very brief) affair. That instantly recognizable riff has been given the fun house treatment, drenched in a glitzy sleaze. The verses are sped up to a borderline comical degree, the vocals are just a little maniacal, and the noise-afflicted chorus feels like it has been dragged through the sewer. The track also just ends midway with the kind of abruptness that makes you wonder if you accidentally hit pause. There is no leadout, no reflection. It's a genuinely funny choice, and one that fits Cartoon Head pattern of operating outside expectation.
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The whole track feels less like an homage to Ghost and more like a medieval satire, a jester clowning with a crude effigy of a king. And if all this sounds like a negative, please know that I absolutely adore the Cartoon Head approach to absurdity. This track is an exciting exercise in pulling the rug out from under the listener, and that is a rare trait indeed. Given the implicit good humor and self-awareness that Ghost have utilized over their run, this feels like a very appropriate way to cover their music. If you want a faithful rendition of "Square Hammer," this ain't it. If you like weird music, check it out below.

Cartoon Head - Square Hammer was released May 5th, 2023 via Hvng Man Records. Find it here!

Cartoon Head can be found:
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Written by: The Administrator

Do you enjoy jarring music? If so, yer in luck: Hymn, today's band/self-reported "aging idiots" in question, are the absolute living embodiment. This release is a clanging and boisterous romp, a chaotic and jolting free fall through a gallery of outwardly weird punk, acidic skramz, and a homegrown variety of post-hardcore that perches on the experimental edge.

Over a seven track stretch, Hymn demonstrate an eclectic menace and intensity, presented in a lo-fi rough-n-ready form that feels designed for the frantic mess of a cramped live environment. I’m reminded fondly of drunken and impromptu 3AM noise rock shows that plagued my college years. Very few things have managed to capture that particular brand of sonic, social, and emotion disorientation.