zaterdag 23 juni 2012

Gone… To the Pyrenees…


Gone… To the Pyrenees…


As explained before: work, travelling and other drinking obligations took up most of June. Impairing my actions for Stoner HiVe to a great extent; causing the posts to wear down to a small trickle. But now it will grow even worse. For I am off to explore the wilderness of the Pyrenees and fight with bearcats and dangerous gerbils that are reportedly armed with knives and billy clubs. It will surely be a scrapple for the ages and one future legends might even tell off. And when the dust settles and the beasts lay dead around me I will drink copious amounts of dubious wine and play my mandolin and ride my donkey Gregorius from village to village and sing and sing and sing. And local villagers and the patrons will swear and chase me out of town with a varied assortment of rakes and I will run and run and run. Aah yes; it’s gonna be a good holiday once again. I am sure of that much. But if I will be successful in taming the wild animals is a totally different question. And one that duly needs answering… Adios!


See you guys in four weeks!


Polarbeers: “Musica o morte!”


Polarbeers: “Musica o morte!”



In the year of our Lord 2007, somewhere on the outskirts of Milan, Italy, three friends decide to start making music. And from those first moments on, their intention was to become the best hardcore punk band the city had ever known. But unfortunately the line-up problems started very quickly and due to this and a shift in interests they drifted towards psychedelica and stoner with an intense pop sensibility. Founder and the only original member left: ‘Fox’ talks about the tumultuous history of the Polarbeers.

“Man, we sort of stopped existing several times. There have been so many different drummers, guitarists and bassplayers that it’s hard keeping count. But with bassist Stefano Trulla from Flight Solitude, guitarist Giulia Paggiarin and drummer Minus Mora from Back At The Garage / Trust No One we found our first reasonably stable line-up. Those were the four that recorded the Everywhere But Home EP. After which Giulia quit for personal reasons. The three of us continued on and recorded the second EP called Tetris. But after that Stefano also decided to leave the nest…”

Paulo Siepi

This time however it took a little while longer before the band was back on a righteous track. Fox found release with his old grunge band Insect Kin and drummer Minus with his other bands. Only after Fox had recovered from surgery on his vocal chords did they decide that the Polarbeers should stomp on and they started seeking a new bassplayer. After a few other scurvy rats they found the definitive replacement early 2012 in the form of Paulo Siepi. “Paul has the same mentality as us. The only thing that counts is music. He even sort of quit his job for it.” “I was work as a it-specialist for a fairly big company,” Paul starts, “but had to travel a lot every day and work long hours. I started to not have any fun in life anymore. So I thought, fuck it. I quit. And now I have a much more relaxed job, which gives me a lot of free time for music. We will see where the wind takes us.”


Heartache

But that’s how all three of the gentlemen think about life. It is music or nothing. “You know,” Fox starts confessing, “music has kept me going when I was going through a very difficult period. Huge troubles of the heart my friend. That might sound hopelessly dramatic or silly. But for a few months I did absolutely nothing but wake up, grab my guitar, play a little, go get something to eat and drink, play some more, sleep and wake up. If I hadn’t had my guitar I would have probably ended up in the gutter. So I sort of feel obligated to the music, I want to do something back for my salvation.”

“I won’t go as far as Fox here,” Minus explains, “I’m a realist and know that it is almost impossible to make a living in Italy by playing music. Especially with our kind of music. But thanks to the music and especially punk music I became who I am. It gives you a better mentality about life. You appreciate the good things of life much more and see much easier what it is really about. And that is definitely not all the rubbish the politicians keep uttering.” “Exactly,” Fox adds, “Minus is an optimistic realist and I am a romantic fool. But music is the only think in the current day and age that makes me feel anything. I feel very apathetic about all the other things the other people are concerned about. The world is a wicked and corrupt place that has started to revolve about all kinds of things that should not really matter. And Italy might even be an exponent of that. That’s why we escape through our music. It is music or death.” Paul: “Musica o morte!”

And soon the guys will enter the studio to record their first full-sized album. Let’s keep an eye on these freaks!


vrijdag 22 juni 2012

Dead Empire – Rust


Dead Empire – Rust
Self released – 2011
Rock, Alternative, Grunge, Southern, Metal, Stoner
Rated: ****


Five English muppets that know how to rock hard and put on a kick-ass show. But can they translate their feverous energy to an album? Sure as freakin hell Dead Empire can! On their first effort from 2011 called Rust; they come across as a crossbreed between their major influences. We cite a Kyuss, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains and something probably even more melodic. They have that nineties alternative rock and metal sound covered in a southern sauce with little sprinkles of stoner on top. An impressive vocalist screams his lungs out with a tasty raw edge while still carrying the tone over expert riffs and carrying drums. Heavy guitars and groovy bass do the rest of the work. This is pure passion and pleasure for music at work. Now let’s go see if they can translate this magnificent record back to the stage again!?

MAKE – Trephine


MAKE – Trephine
Devouter Records – 2012
Metal, Sludge, Doom, Drone, Ambient
Rated: ****


Like a steady Sisyphus trek up the hill the Trephine album by MAKE keeps climbing and climbing only to roll over you and starting over again. Like a massive boulder it crushes and leaves you trembling like an earthquake. The three amigos from North Carolina have fused together a concept album in the very true sense of the word. Not only does it conceptualize an idea it also does itself the most justice when heard in its entirety. That way the gliding meadow like scores come to you as a welcome resting point between the otherwise jagged canyons, deep fissures and spiked mountain ranges. Excellent riffs and guitar signatures weaving across steady basswork that either excels in slow effortless control or finishing the loop with the right amount of extra notes making those meadows even more pleasurable. Gigantic cymbals and massive drums achieving excellence in both leisurable slowness and ferocious anger. On Trephine we hear the first moments of a possible ascent into greatness…

donderdag 21 juni 2012

Bastards of The Skies – Split LP with Catatomic


Bastards of The Skies – Split LP with Catatomic
Speaks Volumes Records – 2012
Metal, Sludge
Rated: ****


Bastards Of The Skies is a sludge metal beast if there ever was one and it has been on the rampage since 2006. Hailing from the dark and muddy grounds of Blackburn in the UK the quartet makes bands such as Kylesa, Conan, Crowbar and High On Fire freak out on envy. Their monstrous riffs weave forth an expert tapestry of simple but stomping sludge structuring and acidic metal hooks. Their first four songs are like one big gigantic volcanic groove that sloshes and burns and bleaks and intoxicates. Full frontal rage delivered by full force drums, maddening basswork and fiery guitars. And then before the two bonus tracks delivered by Catatomic are up we are treated to the cover ‘Don’t Let It Bring You Down’. Which not only turns the Neil Young classic into an early nineties alternative metal gem filled with all sorts of doomy references. It also shows that these freaks are capable of so much more. It sure as hell leaves one wanting more; and more is just a corner or two away. Be prepared for Tarnation hitting the stores later this year…



woensdag 20 juni 2012

CAPA – Shallow Towers


CAPA – Shallow Towers
Ivory Antler Records – 2012
Metal, Black, Post, Sludge
Rated: **


This Philadelphian collective is lead by multi-instrumentalist Brandon Scott Braun and features somewhere around ten other artists. And just like the amount of players the stakes and their goals are also high. For CAPA is on the move to complete a trilogy which started with a first EP called The Road Is A Grey Tape in 2011. Shallow Towers in the second addition and storms at you in a furious effort filled with insane desperation and guttural vocals that will melt your ears right off. Which is immediately the biggest drawback to this otherwise excellent piece of black metal post sludge extravaganza. For even though the screams pierce your mind they still become stale and exasperating after a while. Even so; the nihilistic atmosphere still draws you in with its bleak tones and charcoal pitch. Do you see the dark smoke rising and blacken the future sky?


dinsdag 19 juni 2012

Shogun Assassins – Blue Liquid, Black Sounds, Red Display


Shogun Assassins – Blue Liquid, Black Sounds, Red Display
Psychenhagen Records – 2012
Rock, Blues, Pyschedelica, Garage
Rated: ****


Three friends who had been playing together in a truckload of bands over the years decided to team up and form a trio on their own. We write the year of our Lord 2008 and the location is Copenhagen, Denmark. The name of the band: Shogun Assassins. They released their first EP called Cavemen in 2010 and now storms at us swords drawn with their second EP featuring the ominous title: Blue Liquid, Black Sounds, Red Display. A heavy seventies inspired blues-rock ditty that excels in combining the free rock spirit and all its jazzy components and the gritty sounds of psychedelic garage with a hefty clean finish. Produced by Danish guru Johan Lei Gellett known from Baby Woodrose, Kira and The Good The Bad. And mastered by Alex Saltz who you might know from Roky Erickson, The Hives and The Raconteurs. The three songs transport you head first to a time of fluid liquid projections and free festivals full of beatniks. This is classic old school heaviness without ever sounding retro. Magnificent!



maandag 18 juni 2012

Single Mothers – Indian Pussy


Single Mothers – Indian Pussy
WhiteW0rm – 2012
Rock, Doom, Drone, Avant-Garde
Rated: ***


Stately artistic sludge bordering on insanity and avant-garde dadaistic drone that drags you into their own colorful tar pit and smothers you with their bizarre mushroomed psychedelica. Ooh yes, this is something that will definitely turn your head. Whether it will be on or off after the Single Mothers have done their deed is suspect to say the least. On their full-sized effort Indian Pussy the Los Angeles / Georgia duo explore every weird avenue they pass along the way. Not every street necessarily leads to beauty but even in dirty cul de sac’s like Drowning there’s enough eerie sound to enjoy. But on the dusty alleys and bright light boulevards like Coyote and White Lightning Sun we are treated to an expert cross breed monster of Primus and Melvins origin. Well; only if the two of them had been tripping together for a week or two somewhere on the outskirts of some dangerous high mountain range. And now, less than five minutes later. We return to that first step down towards an alternative reality…



vrijdag 15 juni 2012

The Shit – Dingleberry Fields Forever


The Shit – Dingleberry Fields Forever
Subversiv Records – 2012
Rock, Sleaze, Garage, Stoner
Rated: ****


It’s The Shit! By a magical and lovely coincidence I had known about these guys for a while and had been looking for their stuff which was about to be released a few weeks ago; when suddenly out of thin air Roberto materialized and prophesized it’s release. Handing out the album, pictures and spirits to all that all had been craving for a hefty dose or their infectious rock ‘n roll. He didn’t even advertise his other own truly amazing company! But come next February I know what I’ll be buying my girl! But let’s get back to them tunes! It’s The Shit! And The Shit is definitely The Shit! They come from Switzerland and had been scurrying around for enough money to travel to the Palm Desert and record their official debut album in the magical Rancho De La Luna. Which they did and then Dave Catching and Edmund Monsef turned their dirty and fun rock ‘n roll into a high noon desert all star shootout! Featuring desert warlords Gene Trautmann, Chris Goss, Brian O’Conner and Pierre Omer and Delaney Davidson. Together they take the three-chord progression to a higher level and help it explode into a single burst of high and sweaty energy! The Shit is surely hitting the fan!



woensdag 6 juni 2012

Dust Storm Warning – Dust Storm Warning


Dust Storm Warning – Dust Storm Warning
Acid Cosmonaut Records – 2012
Rock, Stoner, Psychedelica
Rated: ****


The Italian Dust Storm Warning was formed in 2010 and delivered their first self-titled EP at the end of summer in the year 2011. Which was met with great reviews, loads of cheers and comparisons to Clutch, Fu Manchu, Truckfighters and Kyuss. After which a new singer came into the picture and the mighty work was started for their debut album. Their self-titled full-sized album has now been released and keeps trucking down that same desert highway they were on a year before. This time around though the sound is richer, more diverse and there is room for some slow psychedelic maneuvering. And especially during those slower grooves, which emit that sandy heat that warms the cold winter bones, does their ability become apparent. Not that those fast paced fuzzed out heavy hitters don’t convince; they are just less distinct. The combination between the two culminates to sheer perfection in the track Rise. A rare beautiful gem of heavy riffs and atmospheric notes that will travel fat into the distant future… Beware; a storm approaches!



vrijdag 1 juni 2012

Boyjazz – Unlimited Nights & Weekends


Boyjazz – Unlimited Nights & Weekends
For Once Records – 2012
Rock, Classic, Metal, Hard, Glam, Garage
Rated: ***


It all started when two guys met at University somewhere in the summer of 2002. Two years later their first record appeared filled with drum machine beats and sleazy garage hair metal-esque funness. The album was called In The City Tonight and reminds of Eagles of Death Metal and Kiss and Sabbath, T-Rex, Grand Funk, Ted Nugent, Ween and the cheekiness of The Darkness. They called themselves Boyjazz and soon figured that translating their music to a stage would require a full-fledged band. They found three outer freaks and started touring. Come 2006 saw them entering the studio to record a follow-up; which due to label problems got shelved. Until now! For it has been released in a very limited edition of 500 pieces and takes you down to the party they started in 1980, errr 2002; but with a richer and fuller sound. It’s highly entertaining amusing rock ‘n roll that deals with glam, metal, classic, hardrock, punk, stoner, garage and all with a very own distinct wit and comic attitude. Pop open a beer can and fire up the barbecue! It’s party time!




Rancho De La Luna Month – Postponed


Rancho De La Luna Month – Postponed



Due to circumstances beyond my control; I will have to postpone the second edition of the Rancho De La Luna Month. Normally I would have started on the first of June; with a huge rant or ode about the magical place… But I fear it will have to be moved to August or September. June is filled with a heavy workload and way too much travelling. This will impair my actions on Stoner HiVe hugely; I suspect the posts for June to dwindle to a small trickle and the Rancho De La Luna Month deserves more than that. So for now; we will just continue on with some regular posts and hope that those will sooth all you savage beasts out there… And otherwise a few bottles of Patron Tequila might do the trick?