Music
SLUG Magazine’s collection of reviews covering the latest and greatest of Utah-based music, covering all varieties of genre, style and type.
Local Reviews: IX Zealot
Prepare yourself for IX Zealot’s Articles of Ophidian Faith. It provides three tracks of damn good, scary-as-immortal-sin audio distortion that will help you open a door to your very own black hole. Combining elements of doom, death and black metal, each track is over nine (seemingly endless) minutes of sonic darkness that brim forth from the massive abysmal depths of metaldom. … read more
Local Review: Drew Danburry – Goodnight Dannii
Drew Danburry can do no wrong. It’s been a few months since his release Goodnight Gary, and now we are blessed with its companion piece, Goodnight Dannii, an album recorded in five different cities: Provo, San Francisco, Chico, Fargo, and Huntington Beach. … read more
Local Reviews: Daniel Day Trio
Listening to Champions is almost as good as seeing DDT live, and that’s saying a lot (Dave Bowen slays on the upright bass). Drummer Day has been around for a while (Iceburn, Cosm), and local guitar guru Gentry Densley even contributes to four tracks on this album. With the exception of two original tracks, Champions is a cross section of brilliant lounge covers. … read more
Local Reviews: Birthquake!
In many instances of math rock, the progressions can feel forced. The beauty of that music is its subtle tension. There’s a comfort to the cascading riffs and staccato rhythms. These guys feel utterly at home in their musical space, which is fitting, as the three members are brothers. … read more
Local Reviews: Bears on Parade/Everywhere
Although I don’t find the music incredibly interesting, I love this split on principle. Insert a Plug into a Socket is a DIY, hand-dubbed, tape-only release with typewritten j-cards and a rattlecan colored cassette shell. Now don’t get me wrong—these bands are excellent at what they do, but there’s only so much of this drifty, ambien(t) music I can take before I nod off into a content slumber. … read more
Local Reviews: Shift & Shadows
Shift & Shadows are another local band that can’t quite decide who they are musically. Self-described as “indie funk rock” on their Facebook page, their music is at times both funky and rock oriented, while vocally and lyrically they are severely malnourished. … read more
Local Reviews: Riverhead
I’ve known guitarist Michael Burgess for years, but if I had not looked at the band name, I’d never have guessed this gorgeous, fantastically dark pop album was a local product. Synthy trip-hop tracks like “Revolver” and “Protection” worm their way into your head and stay there for days. … read more
Local Reviews: Odetta
I was tuned in to this cut by a DJ friend and I am not quite sure I can ever look back upon inferior DJs. There is something about raw talent that just speaks volumes through the increase of volume when listening Cut & Paste Vol. 1 & 2. … read more
Local Reviews: NSPS
This six song, six music video, limited Record Store Day release is a thing of its own. With ups and downs and spring-de-loop noises topped with vocals that linger between talking and trying to sing, it’s an accomplishment to simply get through the album. … read more
Local Reviews: Mantra Monsta
This release starts off strong with a song that sort of sounds like a noise interpretation of Devendra Banhart’s “Fall,” but it quickly degrades into an unintelligible mess. For the most part, it sounds like something one would record with friends after getting drunk and playing instruments you are completely unfamiliar with. … read more