I've used the word "eclectic" in both of the previous intros, I'm using it right now (he's eclectic), and you'd better believe I'm going to use it in the main body of this article. We return once more to examine the most recently completed stretch of Devin Townsend's musical career: the 2010s.

We here at Metal Storm pride ourselves on our thousands of metal reviews and interviews and article; metal is our collective soul and passion, which is why we bother with this junk. That being said, we'd be lying if we stuck to our trve-kvlt guns and claimed that metal is the only thing we ever listen to. Whether we want to admit it or not, we do check out some other stuff from time to time; some of us are more poptimistic than others, but there's a whole world out there aside from Satan-worshiping black metal and dragon-slaying power metal.

Remember the days when a genre ruled the airwaves? When the scent of peroxide hairspray was inescapable or the angst-filled chugs of nu metal were everywhere? Is it possible that another genre could become the modern version of this?

Is independent, unsigned, and underground metal what you seek? Weary traveller of the metal world, rest a while here. Clandestine Cuts are the best demos and EPs from these bands, the heart and soul of metal music. These musicians are slaves to their passions, and their blood keeps the metal machine alive and turning. Support them with a simple listen, and discover the future. This issue features music from Succubus Seducers, Katla, Senkhara, Crisis Sigil, Mábura and Finsternis.

It's been a while. Though my first festival-less summer in a very long time, it seems like some events are coming back this autumn. I managed to catch two of those (and hopefully nothing else).