Synthesis Weekly Reviews — Yob: “The Great Cessation”

Posted on 04. Aug, 2009 by Author in Album Review, Music

Yob
The Great Cessation
Profound Lore
From the brief tripped-out introduction which segues into Mike Scheidt’s delayed tremolo guitar fury, it becomes quickly apparent that The Great Cessation will become an instant doom metal classic. Perhaps Yob’s most impressive single track since “Catharsis,” “Burning The Altar” imposes its will for nearly 13 minutes with steady, but forceful drum work by Travis Foster and slick low-end assault by Aaron Rieseberg. But the real hero, bandleader and founding member Scheidt, is the one who truly sets the tone. One detuned chord struck two minutes in [...]

Synthesis Weekly Reviews — Wand: “Hard Knox”

Posted on 24. Jul, 2009 by Author in Album Review, Music

Wand
Hard Knox
Ecstatic Peace!
There couldn’t possibly be a soul in the world who doesn’t appreciate honesty at some point in their life. From the skeptical opener “Arriving” to the thoughtful “Soldier Movies (For Larry McMurtry),” Wand, aka James Jackson Toth, emits copious amounts of emotion, confidence and true feelings on Hard Knox. “Chrome” is one of the most outstanding and relative tracks on the record; “Sometimes it is a song that jogs your memory” is a line that sticks with the listener, as Toth’s soulful tone paired with Jexie Lynn’s soothing [...]

Wavves – “Wavves”

Posted on 08. Jul, 2009 by Author in Album Review, Music

Wavves
Wavvves
Fat Possum
Perhaps it is the cool thing right now for hipsters and weirdoes alike to be as unique and different as possible, because lord knows you can buy “punk rock” records and hair dye at the malls. Misguided rebel kid Nathan Williams is responsible for this projecting this piece of filth for a record into your ears. After a noisy headache of an introduction, “Beach Demon” throws sloppy drumming and poser guitar riffs at the listener, with cheesy and amateur sounding layered vocal tracks on top (reminiscent of a terrible [...]

Moss – “Tomb of the Blind Drugged”

Posted on 08. Jul, 2009 by Author in Album Review, Music

Moss
Tomb of the Blind Drugged
Rise Above
Moss is a band known for their painfully trudging, claustrophobic 20-minute occult obsessed dirges. While this may not sound appealing to most, doom/drone metal fans everywhere who crave nothing more than to be actually killed by sub bass frequencies will rejoice over this release. Like an even more drug-wracked, drone-paced version of Electric Wizard that opted to trade the bass guitar in for an organ, Moss drags the listener kicking and screaming into the Tomb of the Blind Drugged. This time around they embrace [...]

Paul van Dyk: “Volume: The Best of Paul van Dyk”

Posted on 08. Jul, 2009 by Author in Album Review, Music

Paul van Dyk
Volume: The Best of Paul van Dyk
Ultra
Few human beings that have had the luxury of being recognized by passionate fans, peers and critics of electronic music have even come close to the notoriety of Paul van Dyk. And with a new “Best of” compilation, van Dyk properly reels the listener in with a remix of “For An Angel,” originally from his 1994 debut, 45 RPM. With this track van Dyk demonstrates several reasons why the genre gained much attention in the 90’s; it’s inspiring electronic music that tapped [...]

Synthesis Weekly Reviews: “Songs About A Sick Boy” by Quieting Syrup

Posted on 01. Jul, 2009 by Author in Album Review, Music

Quieting Syrup
Songs About A Sick Boy
Lovitt
If an individual is so damn sad, then why not just down a handful of pills with a bottle of cheap whiskey on top? Or better yet, follow the true kings of sadness and stab yourself in the gut a bunch of times. Stephen Howard, the main man of Quieting Syrup has mastered the craft of crybaby emo gloom with solo debut Songs About A Sick Boy. “Passwords to a Fort Full of Pills” begins the first chapter of boring and somber tunes that Howard [...]

M. Ward’s Hold Time (Merge Records)

Posted on 24. Feb, 2009 by spencer in Blog, Music

I am just now downloading M. Ward’s Hold Time, his new album on Merge Records. A few of the songs I heard this morning on NPR sound similar in feel and timbre to his earlier material; though I am looking forward to the album revealing its unique little blossoms – those little moments that ingrain themselves and become the soundtrack of random moments-to-moments – I am just really, really, really stoked to hear that familiar husky voice. Listen to it here.

Press release after the jump:
M. Ward’s new album, Hold Time, [...]