Book Reviews

Thoughtful reviews of new autobiographies, graphic novels, and more. Cryptic Rock Magazine covers all music and film related book releases out there.

Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave (Book Review)

Day HeathDay HeathFebruary 7, 2022

Nostalgia can be a powerful thing, and nostalgia for some eras can be stronger than others. For example, it feels like 1980s nostalgia has lasted longer than the actual decade. Sure, there will be the odd bit of media that tries to capture 1960s doo-wop, ... Read More

My Life in Dire Straits (Book Review)

Day HeathDay HeathNovember 12, 2021

Through Diversion Books, John Illsey will reveal how his life was in dire straits. Who thought it was that bad? Being the bassist and founding member of- oh, right. It is not quite that grim. The title is just being punny. Released on November 9, ... Read More

Guillermo Del Toro: The Iconic Filmmaker and his Work (Book Review)

Day HeathDay HeathOctober 27, 2021

Guillermo Del Toro likely needs little introduction nowadays. Longtime Horror fans will know him as the guy behind 1993’s Cronos. While action fans might be keener on 2002’s Blade II or 2004’s Hellboy. Those into drama will have likely been taken by 2006’s Pan’s Labyrinth ... Read More

Motörhead: The Rise of the Loudest Band in the World (Graphic Novel Review)

Day HeathDay HeathOctober 15, 2021

Comic book biographies are not something new. Some have even reached iconic status, like Maus by Art Spiegelman or Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. But there has been a rise in the bio-graphic novel genre in the past few years. The likes of Einstein, Zora Neale ... Read More

The Conjuring: The Lover (Graphic Novel Review)

Day HeathDay HeathAugust 9, 2021

Remember the 2013 Horror film The Conjuring? It did well for itself, getting a sequel, The Conjuring 2, in 2016. Then it got a third film in 2021 with The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, and a spin-off series about Annabelle the Doll, ... Read More

Ska Boom! An American Ska and Reggae Oral History (Book Review)

Day HeathDay HeathAugust 9, 2021

Ska was rather popular for a while. Jamaica created it in the 1960s, forming the First Wave with the likes of Prince Buster before it caught on in the UK. This would become Ska’s Second Wave, one that introduced the likes of Madness and The ... Read More

Book Reviews

Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave (Book Review)

My Life in Dire Straits (Book Review)

Guillermo Del Toro: The Iconic Filmmaker and his Work (Book Review)

Motörhead: The Rise of the Loudest Band in the World (Graphic Novel Review)

The Conjuring: The Lover (Graphic Novel Review)

Ska Boom! An American Ska and Reggae Oral History (Book Review)

Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave (Book Review)

My Life in Dire Straits (Book Review)

Guillermo Del Toro: The Iconic Filmmaker and his Work (Book Review)

Motörhead: The Rise of the Loudest Band in the World (Graphic Novel Review)

The Conjuring: The Lover (Graphic Novel Review)

Ska Boom! An American Ska and Reggae Oral History (Book Review)

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)