• Classic Album: Cynic – Focus

    January 10, 2014 - By 

    In 1993, Floridia’s Cynic released their debut full length on the heels of their well received demos. After singer/guitarist Paul Masvidal and drummer Sean Reinert’s stint in Death (recording and touring the seminal Human album), anticipations were high in the fertile death metal scene – especially considering Masvidal and Reinert turned down full time positions in the band to concentrate on their own project. Although Cynic’s demos (especially ‘Reflections of a Dying World’) were death metal with thrash sensibilities, it soon became apparent that this Focus would be dramatically different. There were hints – a bass fill here, a breakdown…

  • The Thin Air’s Winter Metal Playlist

    December 24, 2013 - By 

    The Thin Air (Semi)-Alternative Christmas playlist is a great alternative for people who want to celebrate Christmas musically without having to resort to the same tracks played over and over again in supermarkets and shopping centres, some of us would rather spend Christmas back in the forest – preferably on a mountain – sharpening our axes and waiting for society’s inevitable collapse. With regards to this, here are some albums for the Winter. Agalloch – The Mantle  A beautifully grey album from Agalloch (pictured, top), The Mantle needs to be listened to in its entirety in order to fully comprehend the…

  • Transmit: Kasper Rosa, Lantern For A Gale, Vanilla Gloom

    August 12, 2013 - By 

    This gig was brought to you by Transmission; a regular showcase taking shape with some interesting and varied line ups drawing a respectable crowd on a nondescript Wednesday night. Belfast-based three-piece Vanilla Gloom take to the stage and start into their rain-soaked grunge pop to open the evening. A band whose name pretty accurately describes their music, the gloomy yet dreamy tone provides a good counter to the high pitched vocals which come across clearly and strongly, especially when delivered by all three members. Heavily indebted to the sounds of Seattle, with quite a nod to Weezer in the more mid-paced…

  • Lost In Necropolis: Overoth

    June 10, 2013 - By 

    In the second installment of his Lost In Necropolis column, Conchobhar Ó Dochartaigh interviews Belfast death metal band Overoth. Eight years into their tenure, he gets their thoughts on everything from the musical technicality, lyrical themes and the current state of Northern Irish metal. ___ Tell us about the writing for the upcoming album. Recently, songs have been slightly more mid paced, giving a more brooding feel to the songs. Is this a conscious effort to bring more atmosphere to the sound, or has it simply been a natural process? Daniel: It’s been a natural process. The older stuff was…

  • Lost In Necropolis: Nomadic Rituals

    May 15, 2013 - By 

    In the very first of his regular column on all things metal – Lost In Necropolis – Conchobhar Ó Dochartaigh catches up with Belfast-based doom/sludge metal three-piece Nomadic Rituals ahead of the release of their debut album to talk doom, recording and their thoughts on the local metal scene. Tell us about how the band formed. Was there a shared vision or aim in mind? What influences would be a good reference point for those unfamiliar with you? Craig, our vocalist/bassist, asked us if we wanted to form a sludge/doom band, so we organised a jam to see if it…