RIP Stylus

Behold...The Arctopus

As you may have heard, Stylus Magazine closes its doors today. However, the site's pages will stay up. My final review for Stylus is of Soilwork's new album (I also have a review of Jesu's Lifeline EP and a dual review of Behold...The Arctopus and Byla & Jarboe). This brings me full circle: my first review for Stylus two and a half years ago was of Soilwork's previous record. Since then, my Stylus portfolio has 116 full-length reviews, 19 features and interviews, and 8 Left Hand Path columns. In total, I've reviewed 226 albums for Stylus.

Aetherius Obscuritas - Víziók
Behold...The Arctopus - Canada
Byla & Jarboe - 10:58 (excerpt)

I never thought I'd do half as many. Writing on metal for an indie rock audience has been an uphill battle. I'm proud of some of my work, embarrassed by lots more, and glad for the chance to sharpen my chops. My fellow Left Hand Path writers Stewart Voegtlin and Todd DePalma are working on a new site, so keep your eyes peeled. Looking back at the old Left Hand Path columns is quite a trip.

Up at Metal Injection, I have reviews of Hungarian one-man black metal band Aetherius Obscuritas, deathcore outfit Whitechapel (my review is drawing an amusing amount of ire), and Paths of Possession, the other band of Cannibal Corpse's George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher.

I don't do this enough - big up the work of other writers. Phil Freeman (The Wire, Village Voice, etc.) has a humorous piece on Marduk for The High Hat. Julie Graf has done a nice interview with The Dillinger Escape Plan for Stylus. The tireless Adrien Begrand has two mammoth pieces for PopMatters, on Ulver and former Gathering singer Anneke van Giersbergen, and on The Heavy Metal Box by Rhino. If anyone has the knowledge and stamina to tackle a 4-disc set that purports to cover heavy metal's history, it's Begrand.