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Rezn: Chaotic Divine

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  Ascending the ranks of the underground scene and finally taking Europe by storm at Netherlands’ 2019 Sonic Whip, Chicago’s heavy psych and doom metal masterminds Rezn unleash a whole new dimension to their sound in a consciousness-expanding odyssey to another realm. Conjuring the heaviness of a cthulu-cult’s madness, and the hypnotic spacyness of a middle-eastern snake-charming trance, Rezn beckons the listener deeper through the unexplored contents of their mind. Lysergic guitar layers channeling Hendrix and space rock pioneers Hawkwind soon give way to crushing riffs of fuzzy, voracious doom.  After a killer set at Club Ghirabaldi in 2019, I had the chance to ask guitarist/vocalist Rob McWilliams what the theme for their next album was going to be. I was given two words: “the desert.” Chaotic Divine delivers, channeling desert-ritual vibes used by shamanic bands like Om to allow the listener to reach an altered state through mantra-like rhythms, most notably on “Gard
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Vanishing Kids: Heavy Dreamer

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Visions, flashbacks, prophecies, divinations of the beyond. Sorcery, art and magic, theatre and poetry—and an elusive line between fantasy and reality—blend together in Madison’s best-kept secret, the Vanishing Kids.       Champions of the Midwest underground, Vanishing Kids are finally on the verge of revealing themselves to the world. And, like any good magicians, Vanishing Kids' spell is immediate, but does not ever truly wear off. Beginning as a progressive and art rock outfit nearly two decades ago, Vanishing Kids have evolved their hypnotic synth-infused sound on countless local stages and beyond, supporting thunderous headliners like Ruby the Hatchet and The Skull. Within the last four years however, the group has taken a heavy twist that is leaving audiences and review communities alike completely stunned. Heavy Dreamer is the heaviest installment from the four-piece psychedelic outfit yet—while still offering the soaring, spacey lucidity of inner flight.
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Wood Chickens: Mall Cop 7"

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Those who have witnessed the Wood Chickens perform their craft knows duly well that these boys are at the ever-ready to raise some good old fashioned Hell. From humble beginnings tearing apart Mickey’s Tavern, Wood Chickens have advanced their home-brewed western-style skater punk, fused with a bluesy, gritty dirt ‘n roll. Mall Cop , the newest single release from Madison’s rambunctious renegades, is nothing short of pure vitriol—and supplies ample evidence of their evolution. At the onset of Mall Cop , it is apparent from the thick, funky bass grooves that stylishly ripe new directions are in bloom, all at the mastery of Griffin Pett (Dumb Vision). Everything clicks into high gear when the rockabilly guitar, delivered by guitarist Alex Wiley (The Minotaurs, Alex Wiley Coyote) begins to coalesce into a high-octane, vintage punk frenzy. Intense rhythm is brought forth with thunderous glory. What follows the steady, succinct vocals of the verse is a completely unpredicta
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Shogun: Infinitet

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     For those who wonder if it is fully possible to have a spiritual experience through music, Milwaukee's budding heavy psychedelic wizards, Shogun, seek to thoroughly disprove the skeptic throughout the course of their first full-length installment, Infinitet. The band then gracefully carry thoughtful-minded listeners to the promised lands of infinite peace. At the heart of Shogun's trance-inducing heaviness is the ancient premise of using repeated segments of music—or riff s—and creating the sense of a mantra , or 'a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation,' by focusing on a pattern (riff) and allowing this awareness of focus to become mindfulness (also used visually with mandalas —see cover art). Infinitet is a concept album—but it is also an experiment in composing evolving music that unfolds prismatically. "Riffs upon riffs, upon more riffs, straight from the cosmic cloud" is the maxim the band uses to describe their sound: and it
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Dumb Vision: Dumb Vision/Trash Knife Split

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Laying down a series of in-your-face, blistering trash-punk riffs and no-holds-barred garage rock, Dumb Vision use their vinyl debut to literally tear it up as they do best. One scorching passage leads to the next, chock full of that vintage-crackling grunge we've come to prize. At first glance, the three songs that comprise the Dumb Vision side created the impression of a Seattle, 1988 Jack Endino Nirvana recording, especially the gritty, lo-fi build-up starting the second track, Creepy Crawler. However, Nirvana is hardly the only wellspring the band draws from: the old-school approach of these songs are also reminiscent of the budding 80s garage-punk scene, more often than not creating a seething, explosive frenzy that simultaneously tips its denim cap to the all-out speedpunk of GG Allin and the bluesy, bass-driven swagger of The Stooges. Also conveniently reflecting its lo-fi approach, the split was recorded in a basement studio in St. Paul, Minnesota by Matt Castore, at
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Proud Parents: Proud Parents LP

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The same infectious spirit that fashioned the height of underground music in Haight Asbhury, Liverpool, Seattle and NYC has cleverly infiltrated Madison, fusing the pop swagger of the British Invasion with the up-tempo punk of the east coast’s Velvet Underground. As soon as the needle drops, the summer of love bursts into view. The self-titled album is complete with top-shelf pop-rock harmonizing: the classic sunny waves of The Beach Boys, The Turtles and The Monkees, with the alt-rock rhythms of indie garage bands (think Sonic Youth meets Edward Sharpe meets Dinosaur Jr.) sweetly blended in a lofty brew that undeniably revives the concept of good vibrations . “Hypnotoad” showcases exactly what to expect from the revamped ‘Parents: rollickin’ clever leads, honey-coated choruses, and catchy interludes all under the rhythmic control of Heather Hussy (drummer/vocals of The Hussy/Heather the Jerk) and bassist Maggie Denman. Rounding out lead guitar duties, Claire Nelson-Lifson and Tyler
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Cave Curse: Future Dust

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I was there, when you lost your mind. With these opening words, Madison's Cave Curse launches an explosive slew of hypnotic, looping, all-encompassing set-to-overdrive layers of synthesizers, coupled with precisely-edged percussive execution in Future Dust, the project’s staggering debut. Hex On You sets the tone for the entire album: experimental, spacey, but nonetheless emotional, gritty, and unrelentingly powerful. Future Dust is centered around the deeper, uncertainty-driven themes of impermanence, existentialism and breaking free—brought to life all the more vibrantly through the energetic medium of electronic darkwave crossed with garage-punk—in the vein of Bauhaus , Lost Sounds , early Nine Inch Nails , Digital Leather and New Order . These often-overlooked genres were previously only alluded to in the songs of already seasoned rock 'n roll musician and synth-wielding frontman Bobby Hussy (Fire Heads, The Hussy, TIT) and pummeling drum aficianado Will Gun
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