In an era all but devoid of interesting rock music, it’s up to the likes of Tropical F Storm to carry the mantle of unfiltered rebelion. Beyond the fact my editor won’t let me type out the group’s actual name, its debut LP, A Laughing Death in Meatspace, gave a…

The last The Body and Uniform collaboration felt like a water test. Rhode Island’s prolific sludge metal weirdos and New York’s industrial upstarts proved they could play well together, but it still needed that extra push to rival The Body’s collaborations with Thou, Krieg and most famously Full of…

Folk-punk singer-songwriter Frank Turner knew he was traversing murky waters during the creation of his eighth studio album, No Man’s Land. He began experimenting with writing songs based on historical events and stories. The final product has a robust concept, treading a multitude of paths both musical and lyrical. No…

Sleater-Kinney is an institution. Like Kathleen Hanna’s Bikini Kill before them, Sleater-Kinney became known for both their authenticity as well as their serious musical chops. Both bands carved out a place for themselves in the largely male world of rock and roll. The Center Won’t Hold Sleater-Kinney Mom +…

Shura already carved out her niche in electropop with her 2016 debut, but her sophomore outing truly separates her from her contemporaries in terms of emotional impact. The British artist serves up a unique blend of ’80s synth-pop, ’90s electronica and modern club music on Forevher, Shura explores the phases of…

In the absence of the Fuck Buttons, one half of the experimental electronica duo has made a name for himself as Blanck Mass. Benjamin John Power’s combination of drone, eletro-industrial and intelligent dance music quickly earned him attention beyond his home in Worcester, England. Animated Violence Mild Blanck Mass…

Oh Sees have always been an exercise in Lamarckian evolution. Helmed by guitarist and vocalist John Dwyer, the psychedelic veterans have changed lineups almost as many times as they’ve changed their name—OCS, The Ohsees and Thee Oh Sees. The revolving door of musicians coincides with the band’s transformation from a sloppy,…

Slipknot, “We Are Not Your Kind.” To be fair, no one could expect Slipknot’s sixth album to reach Iowa levels of heavy. Iowa, released in 2001, began with DJ Sid Wilson having a nervous breakdown and ended with frontman Corey Taylor stripping naked and cutting himself with broken glass—a…

Though often lauded as a trailblazing hip-hop producer or an indie folk visionary, Justin Vernon is reluctant to take credit for Bon Iver. His songwriting chops are remarkable, but the ingenuity brought to the table by his collaborators gives his work a distinct flavor. That’s apparent on i, i,…

Tori Kelly, “Inspired by True Events.” With a voice as powerful as singer-songwriter Tori Kelly’s, it only makes sense for it to pour out of the radio so often. She took a few months away from music due to a number of events in her personal life, which reflects…