Wizard Rifle - Here in the Deadlights

With the new addition of a bassist filling the sound of Here in the Deadlights, Portland trio Wizard Rifle seems to finally be on their way to some international recognition. Although not the heaviest, nor the most progressive, nor even the most unique sounding heavy rock group, Wizard Rifle draws their influence from several 70s rock and punk bands, which neatly arranges itself into a thick mesh of sound, founded mostly on the energetic dual singing and playing from drummer Sam Ford and guitarist Max Dameron. If one thing can be said, these guys are seriously tight, bouncing from riff to riff, dynamic to dynamic, with as much ease as such a noisy plethora of sonance will allow. Often compared to King Crimson or Misfits, Here in the Deadlights sounds more like an early Uriah Heep album, sludgy, but playing heavily with volume and movement. Track after track seems to be an epic little escapade in its own right, building up into a crescendo of churning guitar lines and drum riffs, moving inch by careful inch towards the refined heavy rock sound they constantly seem to be searching for.

- Fin Worrall

Agalloch - The Serpent & The Sphere ft. Elliot Quinn

With fellow reviewer Elliot Quinn, I talk about the fifth full-length album from Portland blackened folk outfit Agalloch.

The Body - "To Carry the Seeds of Death within Me"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bTXDLifjTUY Well, here's a video that'll surely give you nightmares. As if their compositions weren't terror-inducing enough, Portland avant-garde, experimental metal duo The Body have enlisted the demented talents of London musician The Haxan Cloak just to make sure their new album I Shall Die Here is even more fucked up than its predecessor, last year's Christs, Redeemers.

"To Carry the Seeds of Death within Me" is a horrific piece by itself - The Haxan Cloak's rumbling bass has certainly enhanced this quality of The Body's music. But  then there's the Richard Rankin-shot visuals that are attached to it, which depict a man staring into a mirror, preparing to perform some kind of invasive procedure on his head, and going on to cut in. Thanks a lot, The Body, Haxan Cloak, and Richard Rankin; I dedicate my loss of sleep and consequent delirium to you.

I Shall Die Here is due out April 1 via RVNG. It is currently streaming on Pitchfork. By the way, we're masochists and loved The Haxan Cloak's Excavation, which dropped last year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFDF8bMJ-NA

Radioactivity - Self-Titled

If you're in the mood for a no-frills power pop project in the Ramones tradition, then look no further than the latest, self-titled effort from Dirtnap Records signee Radioactivity. Being a Jeff Burke project, Radioactivity is expectedly filled to the brim with infectious riffs and hooks and is performed with both a Portland and Texas flare. Happy listening!

Mind Spiders - Inhumanistic

With its reliance on synths and drum machines, its “tight, claustrophobic” recording, and its “Devo-influenced” aesthetic, Inhumanistic--the new album from  Portland punk rock outfit Mind Spiders--certainly lives up to its title. This is without a doubt the group's most understated effort to date, but that being said, Mind Spiders’ attention to melody and its often rollicking performances still inject quite a bit of humanity and fun into this project. Enjoy!

The Howling Wind- "The Mountain View"

Set for release in the middle of July, here's a sludgy, heavy black metal tune from the forthcoming Howling Wind album, "the Mountain View." This LP's title is Of Babalon, and it'll be this Portland groups third full-length album. Look for it on Profound Lore.