From the light beer version of IPAs, this is the oat-infused version, which makes it an American adjunct beer underneath the surface, and it tastes like one, with a thin bitter flavor concealing an inner sweetness.
This is not per se terrible, but it lacks the balance of better entries in this style, which makes it drink more like a regular beer without the complete flavor hammer of lemon-citrus that hipster IPAs normally deliver.
While the oats are not a huge inclusion, they somehow displace the malt and spike the grain, even if this avoids the decomposing roadside squash skunky fruitiness of your average beer, it still falls short of what might have been.
In another reality, the follow-up to Green Day’s pivotal album American Idiot would have been produced by lauded songwriter and 4 Non Blondes vocalist Linda Perry. But in this reality, Perry thinks Armstrong is “a little pussy.”
After an excellent long-overdue first year at Call of the Wild in 2024, last year felt like coming home. So it’s no surprise at all that I’m immensely looking forward to returning to Lincolnshire Showground for one of my favourite weekends. For me, it’s become “my” festival – where others I’ll rotate dictated by other … Continue reading We’ll Be There: Call of the Wild 2026
July 17, 2026 will see the release of Tyrant (USA-MI)‘s third full-length instalment dubbed Emergo. To taste a firs piece of the new music, check out a music video for “Between The Dirt And The Sky” single. Read more…
Der Weg Einer Freiheit will continue supporting their latest long player Innern with another set of headlining shows across Europe later this year. Direct support is coming from UK’s Conjurer. Electronic/ambient artist Brnjsmin will perform as an opening act. Read more…
Following an eight-year break, the Norwegian metal band is Dimmu Borgir back with their new album, “Grand Serpent Rising.” This album is an important milestone for the band, marking their return after more than thirty years in the music scene.
The title symbolizes the Year of the Snake, marking the album’s completion last February. The serpent represents change and growth, showing the band evolving with confidence. While the band is known for taking time on albums, eight years is taking the biscuit. Since their last release, 2018’sEonian they have lost guitarist Galder in 2024 to his previous band. And since then, They have concentrated on “Grand Serpent Rising,” an hour of intense Black Metal with orchestral elements. Co-founders “Silenoz” and “Shagrath” collaborated to create a masterpiece, featuring dynamic choir and string arrangements alongside their signature snarls.
A Return to their roots
Produced by longtime collaborator, Fredrik Nordström, The album harkens back to the 90’s black metal scene with long, ominous passages and spine tingling riffs. The album is diverse with a mixture of different influences as the band seem intent on returning to their roots.
The album starts with the dark intro “Tridentium” and becomes more intense with the heavy track “Ascent.” The band introduces gothic sounds with the acoustic pieces “As Seen in the Unseen” and “Repository of Divine Transmutation.” It then has an eerie feel, like the soundtrack of a HP Lovecraft story, especially in the tracks “Phantom of the Nemesis.”
The band’s dynamics mix between a melancholic symphonies and vocals with a sinister edge. The drums are pulsating, the riffs are maniacal and the vocalists sound like they are in constant sorrow , all set against the backdrop of cascading riffs and devastating keys that evoke a sense of coming of age.
Dimmu Borgir returns with a new sense of purpose on this gothic opus, which feels like a tribute to themsleves.
Swedish progressive metalcore outfit Allt have released “Snowblind”, the first single from their upcoming sophomore album Ataraxia, due out on July 31st via Century Media Records. You can watch the music video below. Read more…
Swedish epic doomers Isole confirmed, that after 14 years bassist Jimmy Mattsson is leaving the ranks. His final show will be at Bulgasal Metal Fest in late July. Read more…
