Wanna Learn Something?
Then you should read about John Frum is. Seriously. It’s strange. Also, if you don’t know what ‘entheogen’ means, search that real quick because it adds a little something to the album. And, uh, Alestorm will teach you how to be a pirate…so that’s useful…
Reviews:
Alestorm – No Grave but the Sea (Napalm)
John Frum – A Stirring in the Noos (Relapse)
Mish – Entheogen (Birds Robe Records)
Live Review:
Tool at Giant Center in Hershey, PA on May 25, 2017
Alestorm – No Grave But The Sea
John Frum – A Stirring In The Noos
Mish – Entheogen
The Sideshow Podcast 
I may have said this before, but I’m still feeling rather disappointed by the releases so far in 2017. I realize you found something that you gave a 5 to this week, but I’m struggling to find some 5s for me. I recently gave tries to Persefone, Ayreon, and Artificial Brain after doing some research but all 3 have failed to impress me. Persefone is bland, Ayreon is bloated, and Artificial Brain was dubbed the tech death album of the year by some. That could be true about Artificial Brain on one condition: that you like Gorguts. If you like Gorguts, you’ll probably like Artificial Brain. I continue to be disappointed by Gorguts, so I was also disappointed by Artificial Brain. I’m really putting a lot of expectations on the new Mutoid Man album that comes out on Friday. The metal community is counting on you to save metal in 2017, Mutoid Man.
Brian here: I concur that this year has been lackluster so far. Most of the few things we have given 5s to have been our bandcamp picks! Those albums are just as legit as anything else, but the “bigger” releases have been disappointing so far.
I haven’t tried Persefone yet, but it was on a list to get to eventually. I already knew Ayreon and Artificial Brain wouldn’t be my cup of tea, so I haven’t tried. Hopefully things will pick up the second half the year.