Blog

Blue Medusa has released their debut single, Checkmate. The track is the first offering from Alissa White-Gluz’s new project, where she is joined by guitarists Alyssa Day and Dani Sophia. It is a heavy anthem that focuses on the cold mechanics of power and the struggle for identity.

Review

“Checkmate” is a powerful debut that perfectly introduces the Blue Medusa sound. Alissa White-Gluz delivers her signature aggressive vocals over a heavy, technical foundation laid down by guitarists Alyssa Day and Dani Sophia. The chess-themed lyrics provide a solid conceptual edge to the track, making it feel like a calculated anthem rather than just another metal release.

Watch the “Checkmate” music video below.

The post Alissa White-Gluz’s new project Blue Medusa releases “Checkmate” first appeared on FemMetal – Goddesses of Metal.

Aerosmith celebrate more than the half-decade anniversary release of their self-titled debut with Aerosmith (Legendary Edition), a newly expanded, remastered, and remixed package presented in various formats. Featuring previously unreleased tracks, new artwork, photos, liner notes, and the original album both remastered and remixed, this is a gem for any fan who has been with the “Bad Boys from Boston” since their inception.

The original eight tunes of the album are presented first, coming from a 2024 remaster of Aerosmith. Although I am not a big fan of remixes, the remix second piece of this pie (dating from the same time) was headed by Aerosmith co-founders Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, with Grammy Award-nominated producer and mixer Zakk Cervini and Grammy Award-winning producer Steve Berkowitz. With the ex-Toxic Twins onboard, I’ll admit the remix touches seem subtle, with the instruments separated nicely and the vocals especially clear. A tune like “One Way Street,” especially benefits, although I’m not sure the extra sweetening is necessary on “Dream On” (I think I hear strings, and certainly another single-line counter guitar). The horn bleating in the middle of “Mama Kin” kind of kills what has always been one of my favorites from this band.

I have to assume that for most fans, the cream on top of this rich rockin’ cake is its last two pieces; a 10-song live performance capture of the band’s show on March 20, 1973 at Paul’s Mall, a Boston jazz and blues club that operated from 1963 to 1978, and six bonus tracks. I won’t kid you: the Paul Mall stuff sounds a bit raggy, as much from how loose the band is at times to the overall sound quality. Yet it is a fantastic document of the early days of Tyler, Perry, second guitarist Brad Whitford, bassist Tom Hamilton and drummer Joey Kramer.

It’s Kramer who shines brightest on the live material, clearly capturing this particular skin-man in a shining moment. I have seen Aerosmith lots of times through the years, including at a small New Jersey club with a different drummer. Joey Kramer was surely missed, as I feel he is the in-the-pocket glue that has always kept this band together. He and the rest of the original band rock through this live stuff though, uneven sounding though it might be, with an extra helping of sax their wailing cover of “Mother Popcorn (You Got to Have a Mother for Me)” showing what deeper funk this band would someday mine. The crowd really explodes on last tune “Mama Kin,” which does indeed explode here.

The bonus tracks comprise a half dozen of alternate takes plus an instrumental, pretty much harmonica and bass only “Harmonica Bass Jam Jelly,” what is called an Aerojam tune “Joined At The Hip.” This poppy big beat instrumental workout includes parts of a very recognizable walking-up-the-scale riff of “Sweet Emotion,” and is actually one of the better tunes across this massive collection. There’s lots to like about Aerosmith (Legendary Edition), plenty of goodies for “Blue Army” members, as well as causal fans to dig their ears and eyes into across this full celebration of the band’s first flight.

~ Ralph Greco, Jr.

Purchase
Aerosmith (Legendary Edition)  

Tasmanian devils THE ABSOLUTION SEQUENCE have set an August 2026 release date for their highly-anticipated full-length album, Dread Cycle.

Following a string of EPs and singles, the album promises to be the band’s most incendiary work yet. Slated for release via Bleeding Art Collective, with distribution by Blood Blast Distribution, Dread Cycle is set to solidify the band’s position as a premier name in contemporary technical death metal.

THE ABSOLUTION SEQUENCE is prepping fans for what’s to come with the release of the official music video for the album’s first single, “Ghost Mantra.”

The band comments on the song’s lyrical concept: ‘“Ghost Mantra’ is all about being surrounded and taunted by the apparitions of our ancestors, and the sacrifice of the lowly in order to maintain the status quo. What comes with these haunting feelings is the overwhelming presence of guilt, as we watch the poor die horribly and step over their bodies to see out our goals. ‘Ghost Mantra’ is a solemn bow to those who have suffered. A showing of respect and gratitude.”

Watch the video now at this location.

Follow THE ABSOLUTION SEQUENCE on Spotify.

Track-listing:
1) Despotic Ruin (Diet of Worms)
2) Idols of Confraternity
3) Ghost Mantra
4) The Sordid Miasma
5) The Nightlight Sigil
6) Promethean Pilferage
7) A Mire Caked in Nativity
8) Grinding the Sphere
9) The Diary of the Emaciated

Dread Cycle was produced by Chris Themelco and mastered by the world-renowned Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios. The album was written by THE ABSOLUTION SEQUENCE.

Line-up:

Stephen Cusato – Rhythm Guitar/Backing Vocals
Steven Mason – Rhythm Guitar
Alastair Boon – Bass/Backing Vocals
Luke Tucker – Lead Guitar
Nick Machin – Drums
Luke Sanderson – Drums
Shawn Wells – Lead Vocals

BIO:

Emerging from the isolated, unforgiving wilderness of Tasmania, THE ABSOLUTION SEQUENCE has carved out a unique identity within the Australian extreme metal scene. Their sound is a direct reflection of their homeland’s “dark isle” reputation, a place defined by a sinister history and a cold, remote landscape that stands in stark contrast to the Australian mainland.

The band has developed a signature style of Technical Death Metal that balances high-velocity musical prowess with a deeply immersive, atmospheric undertone.  The band has earned a wide array of mainland and international support slots from Nile, Archspire, Thy Art is Murder to Psycroptic, Northlane, Make them Suffer and others.

They also competed in the “GOOD THINGS 2022” Band Competition in Victoria. Their proven consistent success in the Tasmanian Metal scene has garnered them a reputation as a reliable and sought after headlining act.

Source: ClawHammer PR

theabsolutionsequence.bandcamp.com

facebook.com/theabsolutionsequence

instagram.com/theabsolutionsequence