Album Retrospectives

Cryptic Rock devotes time to reflect on legendary music albums from yesteryear. For special anniversaries we provide intelligent articles with historical perspective about the importance of your favorite albums.

Alice in Chains Celebrates 30 Years of Facelift

Jeannie BlueJeannie BlueAugust 21, 2020

While the Grunge movement had set down its roots in the mid-1980s, it would not be until 1991 that the ‘Seattle sound’ would become commercially viable thanks to releases such as Nirvana’s Nevermind, Stone Temple Pilots’ Core, Soundgarden’s Badmotorfinger, and Pearl Jam’s Ten. So in ... Read More

Avenged Sevenfold’s Nightmare 10 Years Later

Jeannie BlueJeannie BlueJuly 27, 2020

When the world lost insanely talented drummer James “The Rev” Sullivan in December 2009, fans were left to wonder about the fate of Avenged Sevenfold. Riding high off their 2007 self-titled release, the quintet were sitting pretty atop the Rock-n-Roll charts and it could have ... Read More

Poison – Flesh & Blood 30 Years Later

Jeannie BlueJeannie BlueJune 21, 2020

The top of the charts in June 1990 were owned by the likes of New Kids On The Block, Elton John, Roxette, Wilson Phillips, and Luciano Pavarotti. It was certainly not the most fertile breeding ground for a Glam band like Poison to come along, ... Read More

Papa Roach Celebrates 20 Years of Infest

Jeannie BlueJeannie BlueApril 25, 2020

The year is 2000—insert Conan O’Brien caterwauling “In the year 2000” right here. The Billboard charts were being dominated by the likes of Destiny’s Child, *NSYNC, Britney Spears, OutKast, and Eminem. Patchwork jeans and velour tracksuits were hot (no joke!), along with Von Dutch trucker ... Read More

The Lightning Seeds – Cloudcuckooland Turns 30

ALfie Vera MellaALfie Vera MellaJanuary 29, 2020

Even before starting this proper band of his, Ian Broudie—the musical genius behind The Lightning Seeds—was already a luminary in the English Alternative music scene. Born on August 4, 1958, in Liverpool, England, Broudie was a member of the short-lived but influential groups Big in ... Read More

Siouxsie & the Banshees – The Rapture 25 Years Later

ALfie Vera MellaALfie Vera MellaJanuary 16, 2020

Unarguably, Siouxsie & the Banshees was one of the pioneering purveyors of Post-Punk Gothic/New Wave music, along with The Cure (“The Hanging Garden”), Gene Loves Jezebel (“Psychological Problems”), The Bølshøi (“Looking for a Life to Lose”), Clan of Xymox (“Blind Hearts”), and many others. This ... Read More

Album Retrospectives

Alice in Chains Celebrates 30 Years of Facelift

Avenged Sevenfold’s Nightmare 10 Years Later

Poison – Flesh & Blood 30 Years Later

Papa Roach Celebrates 20 Years of Infest

The Lightning Seeds – Cloudcuckooland Turns 30

Siouxsie & the Banshees – The Rapture 25 Years Later

Alice in Chains Celebrates 30 Years of Facelift

Avenged Sevenfold’s Nightmare 10 Years Later

Poison – Flesh & Blood 30 Years Later

Papa Roach Celebrates 20 Years of Infest

The Lightning Seeds – Cloudcuckooland Turns 30

Siouxsie & the Banshees – The Rapture 25 Years Later

This Week In Horror – Happy Birthday to Me (1981)

This Week in Horror Movie History – The Horror Show (1989)

This Week In Horror Movie History – Gothic (1987)

Developing Artist Showcase – Black Hibiscus

Developing Artist Showcase – Return to Dust

Developing Artist Showcase – Niina Soleil

Interview – Madeleine McGraw & Violet McGraw

Interview – Maria Canals-Barrera

Interview – Aaron Stainthorpe of High Parasite & My Dying Bride

Poppy – Negative Spaces (Album Review)

Doro – Rock ‘n’ Roll Christmas Party (EP Review)

Empire of the Ants (Blu-ray Review)