Go to New Noise for my intriguing interview with Brooklyn harpist Marilu Donovan and vocalist/violinist Adam Markiewicz, who are touring incessantly and wowing crowds across the world with their one-of-a-kind music project, LEYA.
Harpist/Violinist Duo LEYA Out to ‘Conquer the World’
Posted in Interviews with tags Leya on 05/13/2025 by Kurt OrzeckWildernesses’ ‘Four Hour Drive’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Reviews with tags Wildernesses on 05/12/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
With breathy vocals, driving melodies and highly listenable production, one immediately wants to hop another ride with newcomers Wildernesses as soon as their six-minute maiden tune, “Four Hour Drive,” sticks its landing. Read my short review of the tune on Treble.
Preoccupations’ ‘Ill at Ease’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Preoccupations on 05/12/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
Calgary post-punks Preoccupations couldn’t sound more comfortable in their own skin on their ironically titled fifth album, which seamlessly alternates between joyful and haunting moods. Read my FLOOD review.
NOLA’s BRAT Promise a ‘Deranged’ Set in Boise Tonight With Nekrogoblikon
Posted in Interviews with tags BRAT on 05/11/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
Mayhem in the tallest order is slated for tonight at Boise’s Treefort Music Hall, which is still (as Outkast would say) “so fresh and so clean” after opening a couple of years ago. It’ll be something of a miracle if the venue is still standing, and if the Hall’s top-of-the-line acoustics are still intact, at the end of the night. On tap for the shambolic shenanigans are self-described “barbiegrind/bimboviolence” combo BRAT, blackened-deathcore demons Ov Sulfur, technical death/thrash metal vets Revocation and irreverent melodic death-metal monsters Nekrogoblikon.
The Bad Penny had the good fortune and distinct pleasure of catching up with BRAT, who graciously granted us some of their time after the bill’s performance last night in Seattle, to talk about some of what they have up their collective sleeve for tonight’s destined-to-be-unhinged show. Expect to hear ample selections from BRAT’s latest full-length, Social Grace, which they released early last year through discerning metal label Prosthetic Records–and a slamming cover of Heart’s “Barracuda” that’ll blow your socks out through your eyeballs.
Continue readingIn Search of Soul: Caliban Venture ‘To Hell and Back’ on 13th LP
Posted in Interviews with tags Caliban on 05/10/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
Founding guitarist Marc Görtz keeps it real in discussing the band’s creative missteps and how facing the criticism of fans head on allowed Caliban to return from the brink bigger and better than ever. Read my feature on the German metalcore band via Knotfest.com.
Mclusky’s ‘World Is Still Here and So Are We’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Mclusky on 05/10/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
With age comes wisdom, perspective—and, in the case of the iconoclastic vocalist/guitarist Andy “Falco” Falkous—a practically equal balance between focusing on what’s at stake and the absurdity of what the West has become. Read my review of The World Is Still Here and So Are We, the latest record by his band Mclusky, on Treble.
Hiking, Skiing and Doom Metal: A Conversation with Sweden’s Cavern Deep
Posted in Interviews with tags Cavern Deep on 05/09/2025 by Kurt OrzeckRead my lengthy New Noise interview with bassist/vocalist Max Malmer of Swedish doom-metal luminaries Cavern Deep in commemoration of their new LP, Part III – The Bodiless, released today. He touched base with me from a tiny town north of the Arctic Circle and a destination for those who venture to see the northern lights, where he was on a hiking expedition.
Sleigh Bells Get Deep About Cats and Dogs on Riotous ‘Bunky Becky Birthday Boy’
Posted in Interviews with tags Sleigh Bells on 05/08/2025 by Kurt OrzeckNew Noise invited the duo of Alexis Krauss and Derek Miller to take part in a question and answer session about animals shortly after learning that their new album, Bunky Becky Birthday Boy, revolves heavily around at least one animal. More specifically, Sleigh Bells came up with the title track by combining the nicknames of Krauss’ belated dog, Riz (“Bunky Becky”), and her son, Wilder (“Birthday Boy”). Sure enough, Krauss and Miller hollered back almost immediately.
Neal Morgan Shares ‘Huge Love’ of Animals on New LP
Posted in Interviews with tags Neal Morgan on 05/08/2025 by Kurt OrzeckIt’s no mistake that PAW is the first true foray into pop for Neal Morgan, who is best-versed in drumming and has collaborated with tastemakers like Joanna Newsom, Bill Callahan, and Fleet Foxes. Read our recent conversation for New Noise in which he elucidates his unique experiences rescuing animals.
Exclusive Premiere: Cocaine Culture’s ‘Cocaine Culture’
Posted in Exclusives, Interviews with tags Cocaine Culture on 05/07/2025 by Kurt OrzeckThe expression “bold debut” gets thrown around an awful lot, but debut records don’t come much boldererer than Cocaine Culture’s self-titled LP. Due Friday on Horror Pain Gore Death Productions, the tempestuous record is all wrath and fury, leaving nothing standing in its wake. The Bad Penny has the unique privilege of bringing you the record in full today, in streaming form.
In celebration of the stream, we touched base with the band to discuss their filthy foray into full-length-dom.
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