Jake Küssmaul
Jake is a musician and writer from the hamlet of Hawthorne, NY. Despite having mild cerebral palsy, he continues to break barriers, developing solid connections and lasting friendships with bands around the world.
Album Review: HIPPOTRAKTOR – Stasis
Album Reviews
May 25, 2024
Album Review: HIPPOTRAKTOR – Stasis
Mechelen, Belgium post-metal quintet Hippotraktor has experienced tremendous growth since being rounded out by guitarist Sander Rom and percussionist Stefan…
UFOMAMMUT’s Hidden – A Sonic Odyssey Through Cosmic Shadows
Album Reviews
May 17, 2024
UFOMAMMUT’s Hidden – A Sonic Odyssey Through Cosmic Shadows
In their nearly two-and-a-half decades together, Ufomammut’s creative palette has progressively evolved to combine distorted, sludgy riffs, and droning, psychedelic…
SATANIC NORTH – Satanic North: A Frostbitten Hymn to Blackened Ferocity
Album Reviews
April 19, 2024
SATANIC NORTH – Satanic North: A Frostbitten Hymn to Blackened Ferocity
These days, black metal has splintered into many sub and fusion genres, but Finland’s Satanic North have offered a refreshing…
Album Review: CLEMENS WIJERS – Parasite Twin
Album Reviews
July 16, 2019
Album Review: CLEMENS WIJERS – Parasite Twin
Clemens “Ardek” Wijers is best known as the keyboardist for Netherlands metal trio Carach Angren. Given the success of his…
Album Review: GROW RICH – Senen Lempuyangan
Notes From Underground
June 9, 2018
Album Review: GROW RICH – Senen Lempuyangan
Grow Rich is a one-man project catalyzed by Abdur Rahim Latada in late 2016. Hailing from Jakarta, Indonesia, Latada, nicknamed…
Album Review: Psykup – Ctrl + Alt + Fuck
Notes From Underground
October 9, 2017
Album Review: Psykup – Ctrl + Alt + Fuck
Psykup may prove an intriguing band in the slightest. Whether their intention is to amuse or challenge is one thing.…
Album Review: IGORRR – Savage Sinusoid
Album Reviews
August 28, 2017
Album Review: IGORRR – Savage Sinusoid
Since 2003, Gautier Serre has crafted an experimental music identity comprising myriad nuanced influences. His primary project is Igorrr, which…
Album Review: BILL + PHIL – Songs of Darkness and Despair
Album Reviews
July 8, 2017
Album Review: BILL + PHIL – Songs of Darkness and Despair
Early 2017 brought an indelible collaboration comprising two distinct mediums: horror and heavy metal. The first is represented by acclaimed…
Album Review: SUPERJOINT – Caught Up in the Gears of Application
Album Reviews
May 27, 2017
Album Review: SUPERJOINT – Caught Up in the Gears of Application
Superjoint Ritual, led by vocalist Phil Anselmo, has maintained a steady track of credibility on the grounds of post-Pantera endeavors.…
Album Review: WOE – Hope Attrition
Notes From Underground
May 1, 2017
Album Review: WOE – Hope Attrition
Black metallers Woe have undergone a steadily successful transformation since their inception in 2007. Originally hailing from New Jersey as…
Album Review: ORANSSI PAZUZU – Kosmonument
Notes From Underground
April 28, 2017
Album Review: ORANSSI PAZUZU – Kosmonument
In the extreme music realm, Finland’s Oranssi Pazuzu breathes a vibrant, multi-spectrum color palette onto an otherwise rough-hewn foundation. Based…
Album Review: DEAD ANIMAL ASSEMBLY PLANT – OFH: Prime Cuts EP
Notes From Underground
April 8, 2017
Album Review: DEAD ANIMAL ASSEMBLY PLANT – OFH: Prime Cuts EP
Dead Animal Assembly Plant is a horror theatre-inspired collaboration of prominent industrial rock musicians. Expanding as an open collective, the…
Album Review: GRIDFAILURE – Hostile Alchemy
Notes From Underground
March 30, 2017
Album Review: GRIDFAILURE – Hostile Alchemy
Gridfailure is the one-man tenure of New York alternative musician and Earsplit co-owner Dave Brenner. It is Brenner’s first electronic…
Album Review: MESHIAAK – Alliance of Thieves
Album Reviews
August 13, 2016
Album Review: MESHIAAK – Alliance of Thieves
Alliance of Thieves demonstrates that top-tier musicianship is only one asset of a supergroup. Meshiaak also exhibits strong writing abilities…
Album Review: BORIS with MERZBOW – Gensho
Album Reviews
April 29, 2016
Album Review: BORIS with MERZBOW – Gensho
Japanese trio Boris and noise musician Merzbow never cease to amaze with their longstanding collaborative stronghold. Both artists have been…
Album Review: BORKNAGAR – Winter Thrice
Album Reviews
March 7, 2016
Album Review: BORKNAGAR – Winter Thrice
Winter Thrice deserves its own footnote in the evolution of black metal. Considering Borknagar’s legacy, it is a milestone to…
Interview: Doris Yeh of CHTHONIC
Interviews
February 22, 2016
Interview: Doris Yeh of CHTHONIC
In the midst of a hefty touring schedule, CHTHONIC bassist Doris Yeh set aside some time to answer some questions…
Album Review: BARONESS – Purple
Album Reviews
January 29, 2016
Album Review: BARONESS – Purple
Purple is a milestone of sincerity in today’s rock industry. The incredibly warm reception it has received since its release…
Album Review: NOVALLO – Novallo II
Album Reviews
January 2, 2016
Album Review: NOVALLO – Novallo II
Novallo II is the band’s ambitious venture in solidifying their blend of prog metal for a wide audience.
Album Review: SWALLOW THE SUN – Songs from the North I, II & III
Album Reviews
December 14, 2015
Album Review: SWALLOW THE SUN – Songs from the North I, II & III
Finnish death metal sextet, Swallow the Sun, release their much-anticipated follow-up, Songs from the North I-III. It is a very…