Cryptic Void "Pschomanteum" Review

 I know its a bit late,but I have been busy as hell already this year. I just wanted to say I hope everyone is having a happy new year so far!! Here is the first issue of Cryptic Inscriptions to start off the new year!! 

Cryptic Void "Pschomanteum" Review:

 As far as the United States goes, Texas is the state for grindcore, and promotes a host of kick ass bands. Cryptic Void is definitely one of them. The members themselves are no strangers to the underground scene.  They have all played in numerous grind and death metal acts over the years, and they have paved the way with their previous outfits. I have to state, from start to finish, that I love the sheer intensity of this album.  Even though there are a lot of great blasting grind sections in this, Cryptic Void knows how to throw bits of groove and old school riffs into the mix, balancing everything out, and not leaving the material sounding bland and repetitive. Production is flawless on this album; every nuance is audible and not buried in the mix, with all the instruments and musicians complementing each other well, and not over shadowing each other. The natural drum sound on this album is a definite enjoyment for me.  I don't mind triggers on occasion, but I enjoy hearing the natural sound of the kicks and not the over produced type writer sound that a lot of bands in the underground seem to embrace. Even though this material leans more towards an old school approach, which is definitely not a bad thing, it still feels fresh and still kicks you in the teeth, leaving you wanting even more. My only complaint is how short the album was, but its grindcore, so less is definitely more at times.  I can't wait to hear more and hope these guys continue punishing listener’s ears for years to come. Check them out at their bandcamp page and also on their west coast tour.

http://crypticvoid.bandcamp.com/


January 21st Houston, TX
January 22nd San Antonio, TX
January 23rd Phoenix, AZ
January 24th Los Angeles, CA
January 25th Los Angeles, CA
January 26th Oakland, CA
January 27th Fresno, CA
January 28th Flagstaff, AZ
January 29th Albuquerque, NM
January 30th El Paso, TX
January 31st Austin, TX

Enjoy see you next month!!

Final Inscription 2015

     The final issue for 2015 for Cryptic Inscriptions. I hope everyone has enjoyed the past issues and this one, and I have a busy year planned for 2016,but will attempt to get these up during the year.Enjoy.

                                            Society headed for Collapse:
                             1984, Fahrenheit 451, We and Brave New World

   These four masterpieces, by these great literary masterminds, post the question I think we need to ask ourselves in this day and age.  Are we losing grip of the very freedoms we take for granted? In the age of advancement, where technology is booming, and it seems as man is caging himself in a mechanical prison, we seem to be moving closer to the horrors that these writers were conjuring back when these novels first came out.  All these novels bring this subject to the table under different circumstances. Orwell's "1984" describes a society that is under surveillance by the power know as big brother, Huxley's "Brave New World" describes a society where mankind is reduced to an enslaved, drug-induced culture, where a man called the "savage,"  is more in tune with his own emotions than the advance culture who condemns him.Zamyatin's communist satire "We" about One State, a nation who is willing to believe whatever it's told even if it means sacrificing their own freedom, while finally Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" on the other hand, tells of a society that burns books for their knowledge and power, that they fear will rise question to the propaganda and fear that is being instilled in them. It's almost terrifying to read how spot on these novels are, and how much more truth than fiction these stories profess. The ignorance and fear of man is the greatest threat to his freedom and his well being.  We could be leading ourselves into an age of imprisonment.  I definitely recommend reading all four of these in your lifetime.

Water Torture "Pillbox" LP review

Its been a busy past few months for myself, which always seems to be the case,but here is a new article as always. This article right here is about one of my favorite new bands that's starting to make an impact in the underground. Check them out you won't be disappointed!!

Water Torture "Pillbox" LP

  Buffalo, New York's power violence/noise duo, Water Torture, offers up a debut LP, with crushing low end and decimating interludes of noise chaos in between.  I also like how even though this has noisy appeal, there are catchy riffs and well thought song structures amongst the chaos.  The mix of the noise/ambient interludes with the grind/sludge, make for a great pair, and it also adds build up to the chaos that is ahead. This makes for an impressive debut full length, and I hope the band continues to build on their chaotic sound!!

Last article for 2015 in the works....

Midnight Syndicate "Born of the Night" LP Review

Midnight Syndicate "Born of the Night"

 Ohio based neoclassical/electronica act "Midnight Syndicate's" sophomore release, "Born of the Night," is a must have for fans of horror and halloween soundtrack collections. The band’s ecleptic soundscapes  paint imagery and scenary from the darkest realm, leading the listener into their own bizarre imagination, walking from room to room, facing the horrors that hide behind every door. The recording itself is blend of synthesizers and keyboards, along with different voice narrations and other sounds, that blend to create these sound waves of horror.  "Haunted Nursery" definitely reminds me of something stragiht out of "Rosemary's Baby" while "Nightstalker" marches into the lair of the beast.  The title track sets the scene for a dark graveyard on a cold night while the illumination of the midnight moon sets the stage for unholy. The one thing I admire the most about this group is its ability to make the listener use their imagination as well as enjoy the soundscape. Definitely recommend this for ambient listeners and fans of horror films.

Clive Barker's Books of Blood Volumes 1-6 Review

 Been a busier month than the past,but here is the newest issue of the zine!!! Enjoy...

Clive Barker’s Books of Blood Volumes 1-6

 Over the past 30 years, Clive Barker has been entertaining fans of horror with books,films,comics, and even a line of collectible toys inspired by his literary works.  This collection of short stories, which spans to six different volumes, covers all things in the bizarre, macabre, and horrifying.  Many of these have inspired films like "The Midnight Meat Train", "Books of Blood", "Rawhead Rex", "Lord of Illusions" and "Candyman", while "The Yattering and Jack" was used for an episode of "Tales from the Darkside". The stories draw you in, and with every page, comes a horrifying detail that leads to most of the stories having a dark conclusion.  One  of these works, "Babel’s Children," talks about an elite group of the wise that bases world decisions by racing frogs., Other tales, such as "The Hills Have Cities," describes two neighboring towns that form giants that battle each other to the death. Painting dark and bloody pictures through words is what Barker has always been good at, and as the skin unfolds and the tales begin, all you can do is read with caution....

Been busy as always,but never to busy for the readers. Here is another article about an amazing composition by an amazing composer!!

Gustav Holst - The Planets, Op. 32

 Gutav Holst's epic composition about the solar system and the planets is a remarkable piece that could easily be the opening of soundtracks to science fiction films. The sounds of the horns blasting, along with the string arrangements, lock you in. You feel as though an army of storm troopers or aliens are marching towards each other in battle-(yes I said storm troopers).  This piece can make the listener feel as though they’re getting lost in the endless abyss of the atmosphere, riding past the stars, observing the solar system and its planets in all their beauty. I can sit here and talk all day long about it, but honestly this one you just have to listen to from beginning to end. Anyone who appreciates classical music will admire this extraordinary piece!!

More articles are in the works!! Hope everyone enjoys this one for now...

Lamb "The Gospel According to Biff" Review

 The last month has been extremely busy with touring and other musical endeavors, but I haven't forgotten about posting up the next issue for the zine so here it is!!! Enjoy!!

Lamb "The Gospel According to Biff"  by Christopher Moore

 The lost chapter of one of history’s most intriguing and controversial figures, Jesus Christ, is told by none other than Christopher Moore. After hearing about this, I was intrigued by the plotline and decided to read the story.  After diving into the book, I couldn't put it down!! Although a work of fiction, it strangely makes a lot of sense after reading.  If you know anything, or were raised Catholic like myself, you would know that the Bible touches only on the birth, brief childhood and later/final years of Christ.  This book details the missing chapter told by Jesus's friend known as Biff, who is in my opinion, a character more based on himself. Biff provides the comedy relief, and is the troublesome, “slacker” friend of Christ.  However, as troublesome as he is, Biff stands by Christ till the end of his life. The story touches on their journey to the Far East, to seek wisdom from the three wise men and obtain the knowledge for the mission Christ was sent to achieve.  Moore did a great job researching for this story giving it an almost non- fiction quality.  Will we ever truly know what the mid period of Christ's life was like?  If you read this book, it might give you closure, or just give you an entertaining story to read, either way I recommend checking this book out as well.