A new reissue of “Superunknown,” the best album recorded by grunge godfathers Soundgarden seeks to acknowledge the 20th anniversary of the record’s arrival and to resurrect its reputation among fans when so much as happened in the years since then. Continue reading
While most haters would pass the whole of the heavy metal nation off as a bunch of mindless, testosterone-fueled Neanderthals, a group like Mastodon belies all the old stereotypes. This is a thinking man’s metal band. Continue reading
For all the jokiness inherent in the Melvins’ music, many might think fate has played the ultimate joke on the hardcore/metal pioneers. After all, 20 years is a long time to follow an artistic vision with meager results. But the group proved on Sunday night’s concert in Madison, Wis., that being eclipsed by Nirvana and other grunge grandmasters hasn’t tamed their sonic firepower or their sense of humor. Continue reading
Left behind by the ’90s grunge movement that they helped foster, the Melvins have persevered by staying true to their hardcore roots. The band’s latest disc keeps their flame burning bright. Continue reading
The new documentary about the making of Metallica’s latest album is a backstage pass to dysfunction. For two hours, fans and lay people alike can watch metal’s prevailing band wrestle with allusive creativity, substance abuse, epic ego clashes and talk about their tender-est feelings to unintentionally make one of the most entertaining music movies ever. Continue reading
Soundbytes Music Column 