So, I’ve been busy with a few things. But as of this past weekend, I have a bit more breathing room in front of me. Which means it’s time to take a deep breath and begin The Road to Rio!
Also catching up on Patreon updating, complete with WIPs.
http://Patreon.com/GlamRockGorilla
What a time to be alive. Summoner has flown straight through the sun and have returned with their latest release, Beyond the Realm of Light. Ever since the first time I heard the Riff Cannon roaring, it has been a pleasure to watch these guys evolve and develop their signature style of doomed, sludgy rock and roll.
“New Sun” kicks things off with a mean, lean overture of Summoner and where they have come from. “The Huntress” demonstrates the confidence the quartet have gained while refusing to get comfortable, implementing songwriting nuance not heard in recent memory. The title track is a particular delight for me, personally, as it sounds like the progeny of what I believe to be Finland’s two greatest exports: Moonsorrow and Reverend Bizarre. The song sails smoothly through traditional Doom Metal dirging and ethereal, blackened atmospheres – with Chris Johnson’s raw wailing keeping everything together – and creates a journey all fans of modern metal should take.
Don’t let these Boston boys fool you, though: Summoner can still kick out the jams like no others. Not ones to wallow in moodiness, the latter half of this roller coaster of an album promptly drives you down hard and fast with “The Emptiness”. And don’t be fooled by the sleepy start to “Skies of the Unknown”, which turns out to be the sleeper hit of the album.
As we venture “Into Oblivion” with the same unrelenting energy as we started this album, it is safe to say that Summoner are at their creative strongest. Beyond the Realm of Light is a ray of sunshine that only burns brighter with each listen.
I gotta be frank with y’all. (Don’t worry, you can still be Garth.) I had an entirely different piece written for Burlington, Vermont’s Ghastly Sound. I gave their self-titled EP a listen, and another listen, and a few more before I thought I had them all figured out. Then I finally did my homework to find out that not only are they a trio, but a trio with no guitar in the equation. And yet, GS is far from lacking.
A short and sweet sample of (hopefully) more to come, their self-titled EP combines raw wailing vocals with thick walls of not-guitar riffs, preventing an anemic fate of similar acts. Give the fantastic four tracks a listen for yourself on Spotify, Bandcamp, and everywhere else the good word is shared.
2016 didn’t really go the way most of us would’ve liked, did it? Maybe it didn’t go our way before, maybe it won’t after. But that doesn’t mean we stop moving forward, right?
If you don’t follow our social media, you may be unaware of Kelsey’s current situation. She’s in better condition and spirits now, but it’s still what’s ailing her (and the comic). We would like to thank all of our fans and readers for their patience and support during these times.
For now, let’s join each other’s company and appreciate who and what we have. Help one another be better and do better. We’ll see you on the other side!
Can you recall the most important holiday of all?
Thank you readers, fans, and Patrons new & old for another great year!
Had a great time cosplaying (for the first time ever) as Tad at this year’s ComiKaze. To sweeten the pot, I also caught up with Tom!
