GOJIRA: THE WAY OF ALL FLESH (PROSTHETIC) **½ There was something uplifting about "From Mars to Sirius," the 2006 U.S. breakthrough album from French metal outfit Gojira. Heavy as it was, the group avoided metal's oppressiveness with soaring riffs and lyrics that revealed its commitment to environmentalism (and a love of sea mammals: "When we play we try to sound like a whale," singer Joe Duplantier told the Tribune in 2006). ...more

November 20, 2008

SERJ TANKIAN: ELECT THE DEAD (SERJICAL STRIKE /REPRISE) *** The voice is unmistakable, and the socio-political slant of the lyrics is present and accounted for. But System of a Down singer Serj Tankian's solo debut is no rehash of his band's signature sound. ...more

January 3, 2008

When Steve Austin talks about his current tour's 'death toll' and suggests 'bringing dead animals' to his show, there's a temptation to take him at face value. ...more

October 5, 2007