Tom Breihan

It’s been six years since Balance And Composure released their last record, the Slowheart 7″, and it’s been nearly four years since the expansive Pennsylvania rockers wrapped up their farewell tour. At the time, the band members weren’t quite sure if they were calling it quits or not,  » Read More

The member of the London trio Girl Ray were teenagers when they came out with their 2017 debut Earl Grey, a sparkling revival of twee-pop aesthetics. On their 2019 sophomore album Girl, Girl Ray expanded their sound, taking in influence from R&B and disco.  » Read More

On her 2021 album Big Time, the great Angel Olsen used the lens of classic country music to explore some recent earthshaking events in her own life. Later this week, Olsen will release Forever Means, a new EP of songs from the Big Time sessions —  » Read More

After releasing the excellent 2018 debut album Constant Image, Flasher went quiet for a while. When they returned last year, things were different. They’d pared down to a duo, and they’d become bicoastal, with former Priests bassist Taylor Mulitz moving to California and his bandmate Emma Baker remaining in Washington,  » Read More

For many years, the great Norwegian destroyers Kvelertak have combined seething underground metal ferocity with fists-up classic rock hooks. Kvelertak are a huge deal in their homeland, and they’ve got a sterling reputation among sick-riff appreciators the world over. A few years ago years ago, Kvelertak pulled off something very difficult. The band’s longtime singer Erlend Hjelvik had left the band.  » Read More

’80s thrash legends and collegiate marching bands feel like an odd pairing. To the best of my knowledge, for instance, Slayer have never encouraged anyone to figure out a halftime-show arrangement of “South Of Heaven.” But Metallica have long been an ingrained part of college-sports culture, so maybe it makes sense for the band to host their own marching-band competition.  » Read More

Detroit country-rockers Bonny Doon have been building an audience on a DIY level for years, and now they’re getting ready to release Let There Be Music, their first new album since they backed up Waxahatchee on her Saint Cloud LP. Bonny Doon have already shared the album tracks “  » Read More

Hellfest, the gigantic French rock festival, is happening in June, and it’s set to feature headliners KISS, Mötley Crüe, Iron Maiden, and Slipknot. It’ll also have controversial performers like the Pantera reunion and Johnny Depp’s band Hollywood Vampires. The fest will not, however, feature the great French post-hardcore band Birds In Row,  » Read More

In The Number Ones, I’m reviewing every single #1 single in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, starting with the chart’s beginning, in 1958, and working my way up into the present.  » Read More