What do you do when the band you have been a member of since 2013 calls it a day. Well most would go back any other band they have a or forge ahead with a solo career. However what if that band was King Crimson and much of your recognition, though perhaps it's shouldn't be, comes from being a part of that band. Son Of Glen is King Crimson vocalist/guitarist's first solo record since King Crimson ceased to be and it's his most personal to date.
Essentially the soundtrack to his 2024 memoir Jakko muses on his parents, his partner, his music and the human condition, deftly demonstrated by brilliant musical dexterity, lush soundscapes, gorgeous production and a heart to it. Jakko plays nearly all the instruments on this album let's that voice take many routes throughout the songs and binds it all together behind the desk so Son Of Glen feels warm an welcoming.
He has said that after King Crimson ended he wasn't sure about returning to music but credits partner Louise Patricia Crane as his inspiration to start playing and writing his own music again, detailed in This Kiss Never Lies and the title track which reflects his own birth fathers journey of falling for an Irish singer. Son Of Glen as a whole is about relationships whether it's his birth mothers Irish Roots, the changing, at times traumatic relationship with his adoptive father or his own mortality, Jakszyk embraces the darkest of times on this album and creates songs with vivid storytelling and virtuoso playing.
With multi-instrumentalists there's often guests and Jakko has some high profile ones mainly behind the drum kit as bother Gavin Harrison (King Crimson/Porcupine Tree) and Ian Mosley (Marillion) add percussion, Louise Patricia Crane provides additional vocals, Caroline Lavelle has cello and even Jakko's son Django plays bass on two tracks showing that music runs in this family. Son Of Glen realigns Jakko M. Jakszyk's focus towards his own musical endeavours, the Crimson King is dead but Mr Jakszyk is very much alive. 9/10
Perpetual Paradox - Deathwish (Earache) [Spike]
There’s something hugely satisfying about a band that knows how to write modern metal with purpose. Deathwish from UK-based Perpetual Paradox is tight, punchy, and ferociously well-produced. It doesn’t just tick boxes, it chews through them.
Straight out of the gate, you’re hit with a riff assault that blends thrash, metalcore, and the kind of melodic lead work that feels familiar without sounding recycled. Vocally, it straddles the line between scathing and controlled. There's no overcooked theatrics, just a raw edge that complements the tone of the whole record.
The album has a very clean but aggressive sound, with riffs that crunch and drums that punch through hard. There’s a solid groove element underneath much of the faster material, which keeps the head nodding even when the tempo’s charging ahead.
There are moments that slows things down just enough to show off their more atmospheric edge, still heavy, but with space and tension. Then we get a furious closing track that wraps it all up with real impact. The transitions are smooth, never jarring, and there's clearly been thought behind the sequencing.
What struck me most is the confidence here. Perpetual Paradox sound like a band that already knows who they are. Deathwish never feels like a debut in the rough. It’s polished, professional, and loud as hell. If you’re after something fresh but grounded in classic heaviness, this is a no-brainer. 9/10
Serpent Corpse - Retaliate (Transcending Obscurity Records) [Mark Young]
Those pesky rascals at Transcending Obscurity have come round again, and just like your favourite takeaway have knocked on and left you with a delivery by the front door. Now, depending on your tastes you are either going to be delighted or disappointed in the choice of cuisine served up by Canadian outfit Serpent Corpse.
Brazen Serpent starts off heavily garnished with whammy abuse before leading into some old school goodness, and that vibe is present from track 1 to 4. Its combination of some urgent riffing but with a measured drum attack. It motors along without feeling as though it’s too fast, if that makes sense. It’s all about building one set of riffs into the next, each lot having that certain step forward. Going back to that old school approach, it’s like this just stepped out of the 90’s, annoyed and looking for its battle vest.
There’s something hugely satisfying about a band that knows how to write modern metal with purpose. Deathwish from UK-based Perpetual Paradox is tight, punchy, and ferociously well-produced. It doesn’t just tick boxes, it chews through them.
Straight out of the gate, you’re hit with a riff assault that blends thrash, metalcore, and the kind of melodic lead work that feels familiar without sounding recycled. Vocally, it straddles the line between scathing and controlled. There's no overcooked theatrics, just a raw edge that complements the tone of the whole record.
The album has a very clean but aggressive sound, with riffs that crunch and drums that punch through hard. There’s a solid groove element underneath much of the faster material, which keeps the head nodding even when the tempo’s charging ahead.
There are moments that slows things down just enough to show off their more atmospheric edge, still heavy, but with space and tension. Then we get a furious closing track that wraps it all up with real impact. The transitions are smooth, never jarring, and there's clearly been thought behind the sequencing.
What struck me most is the confidence here. Perpetual Paradox sound like a band that already knows who they are. Deathwish never feels like a debut in the rough. It’s polished, professional, and loud as hell. If you’re after something fresh but grounded in classic heaviness, this is a no-brainer. 9/10
Serpent Corpse - Retaliate (Transcending Obscurity Records) [Mark Young]
Those pesky rascals at Transcending Obscurity have come round again, and just like your favourite takeaway have knocked on and left you with a delivery by the front door. Now, depending on your tastes you are either going to be delighted or disappointed in the choice of cuisine served up by Canadian outfit Serpent Corpse.
Brazen Serpent starts off heavily garnished with whammy abuse before leading into some old school goodness, and that vibe is present from track 1 to 4. Its combination of some urgent riffing but with a measured drum attack. It motors along without feeling as though it’s too fast, if that makes sense. It’s all about building one set of riffs into the next, each lot having that certain step forward. Going back to that old school approach, it’s like this just stepped out of the 90’s, annoyed and looking for its battle vest.
With it being an EP, there is less time to make an impact and to be honest Brazen Serpent has all the right parts to it put together in all of the right places but sounding the way it does it might not attract those who love what I suppose is a modern recording sound, which in some cases can be sterile and lifeless. There is a warmth to it and the material works better because of it.
There is a mint melody line in Iron Corpse which serves as the backdrop for a lead break, which in turn is built up in layers of harmony. Its quality and drops into a nifty break that sets up the latter half of the song. The guitar work is tight and angry as well as being inventive and that keeps you on track with it.
Yes, it has a similar build and going out on a limb I’m going to assume that The Undying and Meteor Summon will have something like it but that is fine with me. You don’t need it to reinvent the wheel every time, but you do need it land well.
The Undying has that lolloping gait that runs straight into that classic fast without being overplayed form of assault. There are so many call backs on here, from Death to Slayer and its comforting really. The way they put these together does follow a loose pattern and it seems that they have a need to put in so many parts to each song but not like A slow start B Fast C slower and repeat, it’s a natural thing where the song just flows from one riff to the next.
I’ve said this before about EP’s, generally it’s like putting the best out for display and to some respects represents the most immediate tracks a band has. Its no different here, as Meteor Summon starts on the front foot and keeps going. With it’s runtime approaching a little over 9 minutes, that expanded time gives them chance to go for an epic closing statement. And although it’s an overused description, they have saved the best for last with a track that belies its runtime by constantly mixing its approach to suit. Yes, it has its share of fast moments but in the latter stages it comes into its own, with a brutally effective riff set that pushes it along.
Here there are lead breaks that are there to serve the song, not for technical prowess and it’s the sort of song that will inspire you to have a crack at playing. There is a lot of cool moments in this, and I think that sort of sums the EP up in its entirety. If you dug their debut then you will undoubtedly love this. Serpent Corpse are a band to watch out for, and for fans of death metal they are certainly worth your time. 8/10
Organic Destruction - Prophets Of Cthulhu (Broken Music) [Rich Piva]
Fuzzy stoner rock with some cool, almost Peter Steele type vocals, is what the second record from Hachenburg, Germany’s Organic Destruction, Prophets Of Cthulhu, is all about. There is a bit of some heavy blues and psych going on too within the eight tracks on Prophets Of Cthulhu, creating a very solid heavy and fuzzy record for your enjoyment.
The title track opens like a Clutch song before and kind of stays there until those baritone and super smooth vocals kick in, which is, to me, the secret sauce of Organic Destruction. Type O, but as a stoner band seems too easy, but it is not that too far off from the truth. The chunky Supergroup confirms my statement, and this one is pretty doomy too, so, yeah, Type O. Organic Destruction specializes on the mid-tempo side of things, which is where the bluesy psych instrumental Dark Waters swims strongly, held above the strong current by the great guitar work.
Organic Destruction - Prophets Of Cthulhu (Broken Music) [Rich Piva]
Fuzzy stoner rock with some cool, almost Peter Steele type vocals, is what the second record from Hachenburg, Germany’s Organic Destruction, Prophets Of Cthulhu, is all about. There is a bit of some heavy blues and psych going on too within the eight tracks on Prophets Of Cthulhu, creating a very solid heavy and fuzzy record for your enjoyment.
The title track opens like a Clutch song before and kind of stays there until those baritone and super smooth vocals kick in, which is, to me, the secret sauce of Organic Destruction. Type O, but as a stoner band seems too easy, but it is not that too far off from the truth. The chunky Supergroup confirms my statement, and this one is pretty doomy too, so, yeah, Type O. Organic Destruction specializes on the mid-tempo side of things, which is where the bluesy psych instrumental Dark Waters swims strongly, held above the strong current by the great guitar work.
A straight up stoner/doom riff kicks off Eternity Of Evil, which is some dark psych doomy goodness while Marching The Shores is the slowest track, and reenforces my Type O without the theatrics vibes I get from this record. Dig that fuzzy riff at about the 1:30 mark. My comparison to that green band probably is getting boring, but what can I do with a song like Bite Of The T? The instrumental dark blues of III MARK VIII is pretty cool while the closer, Droned & Confuzzed is one of the stronger tracks on the record and a good way to close on a strong one.
Prophets Of Cthulhu is a good little stoner doom record with some cool riffs, excellent fuzzy guitar work, and an unavoidable comparison to Type O Negative. For me, I am down, because Type O rules, but the record can be a bit one note at times. Overall, a very strong effort for Organic Destruction’s second full length. 7/10
Prophets Of Cthulhu is a good little stoner doom record with some cool riffs, excellent fuzzy guitar work, and an unavoidable comparison to Type O Negative. For me, I am down, because Type O rules, but the record can be a bit one note at times. Overall, a very strong effort for Organic Destruction’s second full length. 7/10
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