Rajith Savanadasa

Rajith writes mostly hardcore punk and heavy metal pieces for PopMatters.com and FasterLouder.com.au but he does like other things - folk music, for instance, some Indie/alternative, perhaps? He is also quite serious about fiction and is hellbent on writing a novel, so keep an eye out for it but don't hold your breath because Rajith also likes to take his time.

Recent

Odawas: The Blue Depths

The beautiful confluence of musical elements, the richly layered production and gorgeous emotive vocals makes this a rewarding experience to those who are wise enough to give The Blue Depths the attention it deserves.

Music

The Bakerton Group: El Rojo

While the songs stand up without the aid of Fallon’s gravelly sermons, they just don’t pack the same wallop. Wait for the new Clutch, it’s just around the corner.

Music

Van Morrison: Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl

Perhaps this burdened generation will find some of the hope they are desperately seeking in this reconstruction of a classic record.

Music

Akimbo: Jersey Shores

A fine example of the fearsome Motörhead-meets-High on Fire groove of these scene veterans.

Rajith Savanadasa

Music

Unearth: The March

As flagbearers of the movement, Unearth exhibit all the unchanging symptoms of a plague that finds metalcore quarantined within its confines.

Rajith Savanadasa

Music

The Bronx: III

This new disc exudes a clean computerized sheen that robs it of its punk bristle.

Rajith Savanadasa

Music

The Capricorns: River, Bear Your Bones

A bit like taking a cruise on a choppy winding rivulet when you could be sailing the great ocean.

Rajith Savanadasa

Music

Helms Alee: Night Terror

With able crew-members formerly serving time in bands like These Arms are Snakes, Lozen and Harkonen, Helms Alee no doubt have able hands manning its deck.

Rajith Savanadasa

Music

Blood, Guts, and Identity Fragmentation

The struggle for ascendancy in the most powerful nation in the world is perfectly embodied in Night of the Living Dead.

Rajith Savanadasa

Film

Deerhunter: Microcastle

With Microcastle, Deerhunter discard the cryptic mystery and hazy ambience of Cryptograms and reveal their winsome heart.

Rajith Savanadasa

Music

The Nightwatchman: Fabled City

The biggest flaw on The Fabled City lies not within the music, but with the brusque seriousness of Morello’s rhetoric and delivery that veers dangerously close to self-parody.

Rajith Savanadasa

Music

Jesu: Why Are We Not Perfect?

Why Are We Not Perfect? continues Justin Broadrick’s ascent, skimming past the bounds of Metal and safely into shoegaze airspace.

Rajith Savanadasa

Music

Zozobra: Bird of Prey

If Zozobra revelled a little more in its apparent dexterity, Bird of Prey may have relaxed and spread its wings a lot wider.

Rajith Savanadasa

Music

Lustmord: Other

Lustmord is like a numinous deity of disquiet.

Rajith Savanadasa

Music

Cult of Luna: Eternal Kingdom

A strong release from a band that has evolved to a stage where it has almost outgrown restrictive genre tags.

Rajith Savanadasa

Music

Pop Ten

'Iron Man 3' Finds Its Hero in Crisis

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Mixed Media

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PM Picks

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The beautiful confluence of musical elements, the richly layered production and gorgeous emotive vocals makes this a rewarding experience to those who are wise enough to give The Blue Depths the attention it deserves.

While the songs stand up without the aid of Fallon’s gravelly sermons, they just don’t pack the same wallop. Wait for the new Clutch, it’s just around the corner.

Perhaps this burdened generation will find some of the hope they are desperately seeking in this reconstruction of a classic record.

A fine example of the fearsome Motörhead-meets-High on Fire groove of these scene veterans.

As flagbearers of the movement, Unearth exhibit all the unchanging symptoms of a plague that finds metalcore quarantined within its confines.

This new disc exudes a clean computerized sheen that robs it of its punk bristle.

A bit like taking a cruise on a choppy winding rivulet when you could be sailing the great ocean.

With able crew-members formerly serving time in bands like These Arms are Snakes, Lozen and Harkonen, Helms Alee no doubt have able hands manning its deck.

An Albatross have once again presented a record of musicality and mayhem, with all its freak shows displayed right alongside precise musical trapeze acts.

The struggle for ascendancy in the most powerful nation in the world is perfectly embodied in Night of the Living Dead.

With Microcastle, Deerhunter discard the cryptic mystery and hazy ambience of Cryptograms and reveal their winsome heart.

The biggest flaw on The Fabled City lies not within the music, but with the brusque seriousness of Morello’s rhetoric and delivery that veers dangerously close to self-parody.

Why Are We Not Perfect? continues Justin Broadrick’s ascent, skimming past the bounds of Metal and safely into shoegaze airspace.

If Zozobra revelled a little more in its apparent dexterity, Bird of Prey may have relaxed and spread its wings a lot wider.

Lustmord is like a numinous deity of disquiet.

A strong release from a band that has evolved to a stage where it has almost outgrown restrictive genre tags.