By 2017’s Thin Black Duke, Oxbow’s brand of sludge rock had blossomed into a grandiose blend of art rock, noise, neoclassical, and jazz. Like their uncompromisingly experimental brethren Swans, the San Francisco noise rockers experienced a resurgence in the autumn of their career, one made all the more remarkable by the pace of their output (the band had only released two other albums since 1996’s Serenade in Red).
Oxbow’s latest, Love’s Holiday, was inspired in part by the births of guitarist Niko Wenner’s two children and the death of his father, but that sentimental connection translates into something far removed from mawkish balladeering. Singer Eugene Robinson imbues the very concept of love with an element of foreboding on the album’s opening track, “Dead Ahead.” “Believe it, heed it/This god of love destroys and creates,” he yelps on the second verse.
Sonically, though, Love’s...
Oxbow’s latest, Love’s Holiday, was inspired in part by the births of guitarist Niko Wenner’s two children and the death of his father, but that sentimental connection translates into something far removed from mawkish balladeering. Singer Eugene Robinson imbues the very concept of love with an element of foreboding on the album’s opening track, “Dead Ahead.” “Believe it, heed it/This god of love destroys and creates,” he yelps on the second verse.
Sonically, though, Love’s...
- 7/17/2023
- by Fred Barrett
- Slant Magazine
Another week, another episode of Aew: Dark which this week features eleven(!) matches which immediately fills me with dread… Anyway, on with the review.
Match #1: Matt Menard & Angelo Parker def. Fuego Del Sol & Leon Ruffin
My Thoughts: A decent opening match and it was great to see Fuego Del Sol back in action on Aew programming, especially here where he teams with Leon Ruffin. A decent start to the show.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5 Match #2: Mei Suruga def. Hyena Hera
My Thoughts: Hyena Hera tried to use her height advantage over Mei Suruga but it was not to be as Suruga went rabid and started biting Hera! The rest of the match was a decent back and forth between the two. Nothing super exciting but good enough.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5 Match #3: Varsity Athletes def. Allen Russell & Kameron Russell
My Thoughts: I’ve said for a few...
Match #1: Matt Menard & Angelo Parker def. Fuego Del Sol & Leon Ruffin
My Thoughts: A decent opening match and it was great to see Fuego Del Sol back in action on Aew programming, especially here where he teams with Leon Ruffin. A decent start to the show.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5 Match #2: Mei Suruga def. Hyena Hera
My Thoughts: Hyena Hera tried to use her height advantage over Mei Suruga but it was not to be as Suruga went rabid and started biting Hera! The rest of the match was a decent back and forth between the two. Nothing super exciting but good enough.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5 Match #3: Varsity Athletes def. Allen Russell & Kameron Russell
My Thoughts: I’ve said for a few...
- 2/16/2023
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Welcome back to another review of Aew Dark: Elevation, this week features more main roster names than usual and another 9-match card! We’ve got Tony Schiavone, Paul Wight, and Matt Menard on commentary, so let’s get into the review.
Match #1: Nick Comoroto def. Hagane Shinno
My Thoughts: Interesting to see Comoroto booked as a monster once again, with Shinno booked as the plucky underdog who could not get the big man down. That’s not to say Shinno didn’t put in the effort but it was like watching a fly trying to beatdown a bulldog! Comoroto spent a bit too much time playing to the crowd but still, this was an Ok start to the show.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5 Match #2: Nyla Rose and Marina Shafir def. Kitty Lafleur and Alice Crowley
My Thoughts: Can you say squash match?! This was the usual Nyla/Shafir...
Match #1: Nick Comoroto def. Hagane Shinno
My Thoughts: Interesting to see Comoroto booked as a monster once again, with Shinno booked as the plucky underdog who could not get the big man down. That’s not to say Shinno didn’t put in the effort but it was like watching a fly trying to beatdown a bulldog! Comoroto spent a bit too much time playing to the crowd but still, this was an Ok start to the show.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5 Match #2: Nyla Rose and Marina Shafir def. Kitty Lafleur and Alice Crowley
My Thoughts: Can you say squash match?! This was the usual Nyla/Shafir...
- 12/7/2022
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
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