Written by: The Adminstrator
It's been a while since we've published a mini-review 'round these parts. But today, as I exist in the dull yet painful aftermath of some fairly intrusive dental surgery, I'm ready to listen to the same song on repeat until I miraculously spawn a writeup that encompasses all my thoughts and feelings. That, dear reader, is how this process works. Anyways! On to Ainor's delightful "City Lights," today's track in question. If you're unfamiliar, Ainor is a bit of a musical anomaly and enigma, with projects seemingly spanning the musical spectrum. With "City Lights," a single released on June 2nd, we're treated to an overtly alt-rockin' aesthetic, the likes of which I am personally very fond. Upon hearing a rough mix of "City Lights," my initial reaction was, and I quote: "Really enjoyable! Very nostalgic vibe without feeling antiquated." Completed mix in hand, and some time and multiple listens later, I can confirm that this assessment has held up quite well. In some respects, the track recalls the early 2000's alternative radio rock of my childhood in the best of ways. It's the kind of song I would hunt down and subsequently transfer to my 512Mb Transcend T.Sonic 310 MP3 Player (in red, obviously). The vocals across the first half are emotive and just a tad cloudy, soaring yet tinged with a nice angsty patina. The chorus is catchy, a really singalong. The midsection, however, feels like a more grown-up take on the genre's implicit sense of youth, with some nice drum presence and a whispered and dramatic build into some comparatively raspy and aggressive vocals that sit beneath the choruses' triumphant return. It makes for a pretty damn energetic and climatic moment. For a four minute track, this thing breezes by, with the runtime broken into engaging segments in a fairly seamless fashion. Highly listenable stuff. While I'm a fan of the Ainor ethos in general, should we get more stuff of this ilk, I'll be first in line to check it out! Ainor - City Lights was released June 2nd. Find it here!
Ainor can be found:
Bandcamp
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Written by: The Administrator
Horizon-gazers: assemble! Since the resurgence of this column a few weeks back, ON THE HORIZON has unintentionally been focused on doom and doom-adjacent releases. Today's entry shakes up the status quo. Let's get a little more grisly, shall we? The (forthcoming) debut album from Albuquerque's Magna Moriendi has been a long time coming. This one-man death metal project dropped a raw and raucous 3-track self-titled EP a while back, which I thought was quite impressive. Since 2020, nothing more emerged from the Magna Moriendi camp. But good things, as they say, come to those who wait. Into The Murk will be released on May 31st, and lead single "Moment of Apparitions" hit the ground running this past Wednesday. This is a damn strong track, and if it's any indication of what Magna Moriendi has been cooking up, I think we're in for a pretty delectable death metal debut. "Moment of Apparitions" takes a slightly less blistering approach than the 2020 EP. The track is a little longer than anything that came before, and while the riffage carries itself with a similar urgency, the more mire-inflicted implications of the album title and artwork are apparent in the general foreboding atmosphere. There's a rolling churn throughout that is just nauseating enough, and the riff that squirms across the current is an oddly invasive earworm. There's a solo that adds a nice level of unpredictability, and a thick low end keeps everything anchored. The vocals have seen some polish, albeit in a very comparative sense--they are still notably brutal and exceptionally muscular, but fit a little more comfortably in the overall mix. "Moment of Apparitions" represents a level up for Magna Moriendi. I've had this one on repeat today, and I'm psyched to hear what the remainder of this album has in store. May 31st. Mark yer calendars accordingly. In the meantime, check out "Moment of Apparitions" below! DR. COLOSSUS feat. Chris Penney - Can't Sleep, Clowns Will Eat Me - Alice Cooper cover (Mini-Review)4/6/2024
In a continuing attempt to cover more music that would all-too-oft slip through the very large cracks, we slumbering scribes are making an effort to publish short reviews at a greater frequency, thereby shining our very small spotlight on more cool shit. Here's a mini-review of a cover track worth checking out.
Written by: The Administrator
If you're unfamiliar with Australia's wonky and wonderful Dr. Colossus, here's an elevator pitch: stoner rock overtly inspired by The Simpsons. Their excellent 2021 album I'm a Stupid Moron With an Ugly Face and A Big Butt and my Butt Smells and I Like to Kiss My Own Butt easily made my list of favorite albums of that year, and standout track "Pickabar" in particular remains in constant rotation. I love Dr. Colossus' riffcraft and hooky songwriting, I love their goofy commitment to homage, and, it should also be noted, I love the source of inspiration to a degree that everyone around me may very well consider obnoxious. In short, Dr. Colossus are a band seemingly built for my particular set of interests, and I thus follow their movements with great interest. Their latest single, "Can't Sleep, Clowns Will Eat Me," is a cover of a largely underappreciated Alice Cooper track that, in and of itself, is a Simpsons reference. Originally appearing on the Japanese edition of Brutal Planet, and then the limited special edition of Dragontown, it's not exactly a well-distributed classic. It is, however, a fun lil' banger with a simple driving riff, a catchy chorus, and some classically Cooper sing-along lines. Dr. Colossus present a faithful recreation with very little deviation, down to the nice solo towards the rear. This adherence to source material certainly isn't a bad thing--the original track is a solid rock tune and funny as hell, chock full o' the kind of batshit lyrical content that only Alice Cooper can realistically get away with. The reference to Bart in his spooky clown bed aside, this is inherently silly stuff. Night is rhymed with...night. There is mention of the titular clown's "big old floppy shoes." And the second verse contains the following, managing to wrap Ronald MacDonald into the whole affair: "And if you think this isn't real / I'll show you wounds that never heal / to them I'm just a happy meal." To me, this is poetry. This was a smart track to cover, and the result is a highly enjoyable listen. The cover doesn't add new material to the tune, but it reinvigorates and gives it a well-deserved resurrection. While I am excited for a new Dr. Colossus album, these random standalones over the past few years have been pretty damn enjoyable. 'Nuff said! Check out "Can't Sleep, Clowns Will Eat Me" below.  Written by: Crypt Tender
Another edition of ON THE HORIZON? The fact that this oft-forgotten segment is experiencing a sudden limelight indicates that A. there is a lot of good music in the pipeline, and B. we inhabitants of the Sleeping Village have tapped into a mystic pool of motivation, becoming, I can only imagine, annoyingly prolific in the process. We have a strict policy that any crypt-related items are sent directly to me, the illustrious and revered Crypt Tender [break for polite applause, sounds of fearful admiration]. As such, the entities that oversee the promo pit have gifted me this release announcement and accompanying lead single from heavy metal doomsters Crypt Sermon. I haven't yet had the pleasure of drinking deep of the forthcoming The Stygian Rose, out June 14th from Dark Descent Records, but I have played "Heavy Is The Crown of Bone" no fewer than ten times since receiving. Which, if we're being honest, makes me a bit of an expert on the matter. 
Written by: The Administrator
Welcome back, dear readers, to another track premiere! Pull up a chair, take off your boots. Get comfortable. Forget your worries. Stay a while. If the name Negative Bliss sounds familiar, it may be because we slumbering scribes refuse to shut up about them. Indeed, we're doing everything in our power to make sure you know what's up at all times. I reviewed their debut single a few weeks back, and now, after firmly establishing myself as a fanboy, we're honored to premiere their second single ahead of its release this Friday, March 29th. Entitled "The Good Life," this track demonstrates the band's right-out-of-the-gate willingness to show a different side, a different sound. As they are so new on the scene, a formal introduction feels in order. According to the band: "Negative Bliss formed when Jon--a drummer who had not played music in many years--put out an open call to find musicians and find a way back into music. A father of two small children, he hoped to find people with a similar passion for heavy music, a desire for camaraderie, and a shared understanding of middle-aged parenthood. He succeeded, and Negative Bliss was born. Formed in January 2023, the members of Negative Bliss quickly became close friends, and a tightly knit musical unit." And here we are. Let's cut to the chase, shall we? Give "The Good Life" a listen below, and, as always, we'll meet you on the other side!  Written by: The Administrator
Two editions of ON THE HORIZON within the span of a few months, let alone the same damn calendar year, is unheard of. Unprecedented, even. In any case, here we horizongazers are once more, getting hyped to sink our teeth into a yet-to-be-released album. Listening to the available single on near-obsessive repeat. Awaiting that promo with bated breath. As of today, March 27th, there is currently one single available from GREENLEAF's forthcoming The Head & The Habit, and I have enjoyed it, erm, quite substantially. Which is to say I am responsible for at least 10? 15? of the views on the music video hosted on Magnetic Eye Record's youtube. It's a bangin' lead single, and the video is a helluva fun ride to boot. "Breathe, Breathe Out" does exactly what a lead single should do: build ample anticipation. 
Written by: The Administrator
With just a few tracks released to date, the first of which dropped July of 2022, Tooth & Dagger's rollout has been quite prolonged. Including today's song in question, this alt-metal band out of Birmingham will have released three singles by the end of 2024. Whether or not this is all culminating in a debut album remains to be seen, but in the meantime, they've given us some quality. Some bangers, dare I say. Your milage may vary dependent on tolerance for alt-metal in general, but I personally quite enjoy the genre's inherently orotund sense of emotive and sonic excess. Tooth & Dagger are thunderous and slick. Their output thusfar has been decently eclectic, evoking the radio-ready overblown emotion of 2000's-era modern metal, the bouncy hookiness of nu-metal, and the oversized physicality of groove metal. This latest single, "A.T.T.A.S," draws from similar inspiration, but also feels more massive. More pissed off. More angsty. In all respects, "A.T.T.A.S" hits hard. The slamming riff that effectively buries the calm-before-the-storm intro means business, and the guitar throughout seems intent on creating headbangable pockets. Speaking of pockets, the vocals move quite seamlessly between harsh to clean and back again. The cleans in particular lean heavily into an adolescent sneer--and this I mean in the best possible sense. There's an authenticity to the aesthetic, a warm nostalgia amidst the modern sheen. No question about it: "A.T.T.A.S" is a banger through and through, and here at the Sleeping Village, we celebrate bangers. Check it out below!
Tooth and Dagger can be found:
Linktree
In a continuing attempt to cover more music that would all-too-oft slip through the very large cracks, we slumbering scribes are making an effort to publish short reviews at a greater frequency, thereby shining our very small spotlight on more cool shit. Here's a mini-review of a fun and rockin' single I've had on repeat as of late!
Written by: The Administrator
Well, here I am, preliminarily getting hyped for the (hopefully?!) forthcoming sophomore album from Vexing Hex, one of my personal favorite Wise Blood Records affiliates. After re-releasing the excellent Haunt (see our review here!) as well as the spooky standalone single "Red Harvest" in 2020, these Illinoisan occult rockers have been pretty damn quiet. Needless to say, I was very excited to see the name pop back up on the ol' timeline, and even more excited to see that there was a shiny new single awaiting on Bandcamp. "Into the Night" is a great track, and has comfortably occupied rotation here at the Sleeping Village since release. A perfect candidate, methinks, for a pre-weekend mini-review. Let's dive in! In one convenient package, "Into the Night" delivers all of the elements that made Vexing Hex initially stand out in a crowded field. Much like Ghost, they sit comfortably in the goth/psych rock arena while embracing a fundamental pop stickiness. As such, "Into The Night" occupies a notably enjoyable space--aesthetically macabre, yet notably upbeat and cheery. The chorus is catchy as all hell, a true earworm and a borderline radio-friendly singalong if only it were released in another era. The spooky gothic vibes are overt and tantalizingly campy. The guitar is bouncy and exciting, and a sly psychedelic current runs through the whole affair. There's little embellishments that add to the general fun--take, as a prime example, the little chimes or the subtly celebratory horns that sneak in at the tail end of the track. All told, this is a highly entertaining and highly replayable tune. Yeah, I'm sold. "Into The Night" achieves all that an advance single should. If this serves as a harbinger for things to come on Vexing Hex's next album, we're inevitably in for something good. Vexing Hex - "Into the Night" was released March 8th, 2024. Find it here!
In a continuing attempt to cover more music that would all-too-oft slip through the very large cracks, we slumbering scribes are making an effort to publish the little one-off reviews that were previously (and arbitrarily) deemed too short for publication. Here's a mini-review of a debut death metal single.
Written by: The Administrator
It is always an honor to be present at a band's genesis. Here we sit, witnessing the birth of death metal quartet Slaughtersun's very first single. Despite the debut status, "Fall of the Firmament" feels like the product of an experienced crew, which only stands to reason given the roster. Both founder Ben Karas of Windfaerer and Cody McCorry play in prog rock band Thank You Scientist, while Jason Quinones of Tombstoner and Justin Hillman of Cranial Damage provide cred of the more overtly brutal variety. Slaughtersun plays energetic and otherwise adrenalized death metal. On "Fall of the Firmament," the drums are lively and driven. The riffs are barreling in an off-kilter sense, belligerent by means of crisp ferocity if not crushing heft. The solo lends a little squirmy electric energy. The aggressive and snarling vocals hit a nice balance--they are coated in the requisite grit and rubble, but the lyrics remain largely decipherable. The urgent delivery is interrupted for a brief moment wherein a filtered spoken word piles on the old-school melodrama, which was initially a little jarring but upon revisitation fits the mood quite well. After a quick foray into more mid-paced waters, the track closes out with some borderline vertigo-inducing aggression. All told? "Fall of the Firmament" serves as a strong introduction to a band that is undoubtably worth keeping an eye on this year. Give 'ema follow! Slaughtersun - Fall of the Firmament was released Dec. 29, 2023. Find it here!
Slaughtersun can be found:
Official website This year, in an attempt to cover more music that would all-too-oft slip through the very large cracks, we're trying something new and novel around these parts. Namely, we're gonna actually publish the little one-off reviews that were previously (and arbitrarily) deemed too short for publication. In that spirit, here's a mini-review of a dreamy single worth checking out.  Written by: The Administrator If there's a single constant here at ye olde Sleeping Village, it is that I will inevitably devour anything that spawns from the creative universe of Richmond's own Jason Roberts. Besides being the mastermind behind Breaths--a band that I enjoy quite a bit, as evidenced by our multiple track premieres over the years--Jason has since started a new band with a pitch that is frankly tantalizing: "somei blend shoegaze and dream pop elements with doom and sludge metal in a way that is accessible and refreshing." I'm pleased to report that said concoction of genres is, indeed, as accessible and refreshing as promised. somei have two tracks available, with today's single in question being my favorite of the two by an admittedly narrow margin. "barbarella (melt away)" brings some doomy yet unconfrontational weight in the riff department alongside a now-trademark vocal levity, both of which serve to cast a dreamy haze--or perhaps glow--over the track as a whole. Whereas most bands that dabble in the realm of doom and sludge tend to feel intrinsically earthbound, somei leans into the ethereal, evoking the feeling of floating through cloudy skies in a hot air balloon. Outside of overtly shoegaze-y projects such a Slowdive, the closest point of comparison I have might be something like Hum, if they traded a certain sense of grounded stoicism for a more blatantly delicate tone. Despite the gentle vocal delivery, there's a uniquely somber vibe at play, like I'm sipping the nectar of melancholia. In terms of the track itself, the chorus is hooky as hell, and the track ramps up the heavy riffage towards the end for an outro that leans into the heft. While not typically one who watches music videos, the video for this particular track does reflect that doleful tone quite well through striking use of purples and yellows. I highly recommend watching/listening, the video truly does elevate the experience. While I do wish somei had more tracks available at this point, I'll certainly be giving this track (and its companion b-side, the excellent "Shaken") some quality time in rotation. Find it on bandcamp here! |
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