donderdag 27 november 2014

The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 of 2014


(The inside of one of the best albums of 1992. So what's the best of 2014?)

The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 of 2014

This is the first reminder to get the attention of all of you lovely freaks out there. On December the 12th we start once again with the countdown of the Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums of 2014! But to do so we need your help. We need to know what albums made your head spin, blood boil and your bones jump with pure euphoria! So please, my lovely fellow freaks, send your lists to our email. The rules: vote for any amount of albums or EP’s released in 2014. (And at the end of December 2013.) If you dug only one; name that one. If you dug 78; name all of them! It doesn’t matter how much, one, five, 10, 13, 20 or 41. We just want to know which albums made you go crazy!

Every year we hope that more of you find the time and energy to send in your list. The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 list has been a steady grower going from 18 lists to 37 to 48 and on to 56 and then last year: 61 lists. So should we set our goal high and hope for the big 100? Or just hope to make it last years mark again? Either way it would be grand; just so that this Countdown becomes more and more valid with each passing year…

The deadline to send in your list closes on December the 12th… So there’s still enough time to get crackin… Go on… If not for yourself or me; do it for all the rest of the lovely freaks out there… Scurrying in the HiVe… 

Send your lists HERE

woensdag 26 november 2014

Blue Snaggletooth – Beyond Thule


Blue Snaggletooth – Beyond Thule
Self released – 2014
Rock, Hard, Stoner, Metal, Proto
Rated: *****

"Blue Snaggletooth is the informal name of a rare Kenner action figure from 1978. Released as part of the Sears ’Star Wars Cantina Adventure Set’ the Snaggletooth figure was intended to represent the character Zutton. However, the only reference used for the figure was a partial black and white photograph of the character. As a result, the Snaggletooth figure included wore a uniform erroneously painted blue, had long legs, and wore boots and gloves. All versions of Snaggletooth from 1979 onward, including later Sears releases of the cantina set, were corrected to the proper red color, with bare feet and hands and shorter legs. The value of the error Blue figure ranges anywhere from $200-300.” And soon the limited vinyl of the absolute diamond that is the sophomore record Beyond Thule by the American quartet Blue Snaggletooth will go for prices way beyond that. For their proto-metal, classic hardrock and trucking stoner mixture is exactly the kind of drink that sends a wavering alcoholic off the wagon and into the gutter. Where he will finally once again experience all those amazing adventures he once was all too familiar with. Battling Reptiles and Serpents just before daybreak and sharing coke with a Silver Goddess as the sun started to rise. And then when the hump becomes too big; he will lay his ass down somewhere, it doesn’t matter where, and become that Sleeping Mountain for a three day stupor. Only to be awakened once more by that beast inside, floundering in a bog of fear, insecurity and mounting frustration. But only for a second; until he puts on Beyond Thule once more; and heading chuckling happily out on the prowl once again. And only wondering if everyone could see the satyr inside of him…

(Written by JK)




Half Gramme Of Soma – Marche Au Noir


Half Gramme Of Soma – Marche Au Noir
Self released – 2014
Rock, Stoner, Grunge, Hard, Metal
Rated: ****

“There is always soma, delicious soma, half a gramme for a half-holiday, a gramme for a week-end, two grammes for a trip to the gorgeous East, three for a dark eternity on the moon!” And the Athens quintet going under the name Half Gramme Of Soma deliver not just a half holiday; but a true heavy trip to the other side of the moon. After the first two tracks you are sweating with anxiety and the riffs mash around in your head as the battering drums and the screaming vocals whip you higher and higher. "By this time the soma had begun to work. Eyes shone, cheeks were flushed, the inner light of universal benevolence broke out on every face in happy, friendly smiles.” And those happy smiles are made up out of the frenzy that has broken out in your heart as Hitch Hike and Cage present you rumbling basses and swampy stoner. And then Zero ends. The bonus tracks that starts acoustic and stays subdued compared to the first four tracks. And you don’t want to end it this way. You need more! So you just flip back to that first track for: "You do look glum! What you need is a gramme of soma!" Addiction lies in wait…

(Written by JK)



vrijdag 21 november 2014

High Fighter – The Goat Ritual


High Fighter – The Goat Ritual
Enorm Music – 2014
Rock, Metal, Core, Stoner, Sludge
Rated: ***

The debut EP The Goat Ritual by High Fighter is by no account meant for the feeble, the weak and the weary. It is an all-out stampede on the senses and it will devour you whole if you’re not careful. It is a new band formed in the summer of 2014 by members of Buffalo Hump and A Million Miles. And those of you who know of those bands will immediately recognize the guttural screams and grizzly howls of Mona Miluski who has no hindrance with switching on her clean voice when the songs calls for it. The most impressive part however is the no holds barred drumming and the metallic riffs that just keep whirling around like a mad dervish. The five tracks pounce on you like an animal lying in wait to murder. Not because it is hungry but for the pure lustful act of killing. So be prepared to fight!

(Written by JK)




The Cover That Could – II


The Cover That Could – II

China Drum – Wuthering Heights

In lee of their triumphant return to the stage as of 2013 and the release of a new seven inch next week it feels only right to pay homage to this great cover done by China Drum. Founded around 1989 the band released three albums and a handful of EP’s and singles. But unfortunately the band never garnered the attention they deserved and they disbanded in 2000. Their punk spirit and aggressive energy trades places with their melodic and alternative rock side within almost every song. It sported the singing drummer Adam Lee who went on to become frontman and new drummers came. One of them was ofcourse the Dutch drummer Jan Willem Alkema who came from Compulsion after the Goosefair recordings and who went on to bang with Driven To Collision. Their debut full-sized album from 1996 is called Goosefair and is perhaps their best one. Although Self Made Maniac from 1998 brought forth the truly amazing 60 Seconds track. (It’s still on almost every playlist I manufacture.) But for the listeners who were there when Goosefair came out the wait wasn’t over. Cause at the end of the disc you had to wait twelve minutes before the secret track to commence. Overdriven distorted feedback starts their version of the Kate Bush song Wuthering Heights. It is perhaps the most famous song of this criminally underappreciated band. But Great Magnet willing, the new incarnation will match what the band was all about, and manage to help everyone (re) discover China Drum…

Ps. Did you know it made the 15th position of the BBC top 50 covers of all time selection?




donderdag 20 november 2014

Fubear – Hopeless


Fubear – Hopeless
Inverse Records – 2014
Rock, Stoner, Grunge
Rated: ****

Finland. It is one of those great great countries. Clean and not completely filled to the rim with assholes and idiots. And they know what is more important in life. Finland has space and has a certain spirit. One that is laidback or rather careful. Fubear seems to let go of that latter aspect. They hurl themselves into the fray with their new five track EP Hopeless. Sporting influences from Alice In Chains, The Cult and something highly desert sounding they stomp on the terra as if there would be no tomorrow. Live today, die today. And then there is their age old metal side, which shines through in certain moments. The best thing about the five songs are the eclectic nature of the tracks and the diverse structuring and the only sad part is that there are only five songs and some of them do not last long enough. It is impressive the way they fill their songs to the absolute rim with ideas and changes without having them become muddled and still keep the spirit of each track alive. Just listen to those first three songs, different each and heavy all. The fourth song Oceans explores their warm seventies styled rock with post elements and then we are treated to the secret track: Play Fucking Ice Hockey. Wild, raw and wonderful! Next time I take the Karhunkierros I’ll surely be blasting Fubear out of an old eighties stereo to keep the bears at bay. Kippis!

(Written by JK)



Robot Death Monkey – Full Dunham


Robot Death Monkey – Full Dunham
Self released – 2014
Rock, Stoner, Sludge, Metal, Punk
Rated: ****

And New Zealand will never be the same again. All the Jager is gone and so are all bean green tank tops and larger than life candlesticks. And none of the Kiwi’s asked, knew where we could find Tipp-Ex or small wooden figurines shaped like a turtle but not actually a turtle. We all know what this means. Gary Dunham is roaming free and at large around the islands. That sonumbitch. Save the children and keep the sheep inside at all times. Lock up the beer and hide the bourbon. And shit, this also means that the Newcastle/Edinburgh formation going under the name Robot Death Monkey misses their number one fan. But there are many more and their army is growing by the day. Which is only just, for their stoner and sludgy metal is full of gritty punk spirit and grimy fun filth. And that’s besides the damn fine drumming and the awesome guitars. So find yourself a nice little cranny to hold up in, open a bottle of something or the other and put on Robot Death Monkey, and go Full Dunham! It will sooth even the most savage beast… In the end...

(Written by JK)





Having a luck dragon with you is the only way to rock! And the Robot Death Monkey knows this!

Robot Death Monkey - Gary Dunham



Robot Death Monkey - Gary Dunham 

No words needed. And the Robot Death Monkey knows this!

Robot Death Monkey - Dragon Clit


Robot Death Monkey - Dragon Clit

It's the Robot Death Monkey. And they play guitar in the wild!

General Midnight - Moon


General Midnight - Moon

First single Moon taken from their self-titled debut album. From Seattle to the South-Californian Desert; from the arctic wastelands of Scandinavia to the innercity blue hour, General Midnight is a Dutch band that plays rock music which varies from dark grunge to fuzzy desert-rock. They will give you a deja-vu you have never experienced before! 

woensdag 19 november 2014

General Midnight – General Midnight


General Midnight – General Midnight
Nick’s Cave Records – 2014
Rock, Noir, Stoner, Grunge
Rated: ****

Hailing from Nijmegen, Netherlands this officially a three-piece but live a five-piece formation has a distinct Norwegian or Swedish feel to them. It is General Midnight and they sound like a stoner and grunge version of Ricochets, Navigators or The Brigade; which are all from Norway; especially on the first single Moon. Which might not be completely exemplary for the rest of their debut self-titled album. Since they move over to the Californian desert on their next track Cannon Fodder. And soon we find ourselves comparing them to a Queens Of The Stone Age, Masters of Reality or perhaps our Belgian friends Creature With The Atom Brain. But whoever they might sound like next; we don’t care anymore. We are hooked. These guys are meticulous in their build-ups and tear-downs; they are experts in creating a brooding atmosphere and celebrating that dark hour before the moon rises. And just listen to all those layers and that howling guitar. They can go low and heavy, gritty and grimy but almost always aim for that darker and more melodic edge. That edge that shimmers on those cold and dirty nights. When the clocks strikes twelve; and the moon hardly shines, there’s the General asking for a quarter and a dime.  And like a pure pleasure seeker and whisky tweaker he will whisper the truth and give you the déjà vu of a lifetime…

(Written by JK)




An Evening With Knives – An Evening With Knives


An Evening With Knives – An Evening With Knives
Self released – 2014
Rock, Metal, Sludge, Doom, Stoner Post
Rated: ***

Hailing from that same town as Komatsu; An Evening With Knives produce heavy ruckus that could be seen as an offspring of that band. Heavy, dirge like sludge and stoner metal are the main vein. And they use samples. But through those arteries race post-rock blood cells and substances that are highly volatile. Another reason might be the fact that Komatsu-frontman Mo Truijens produced the EP. And ofcourse guitarist Marco Gelissen filled in for Stephan Quint when the man was hospitalized. O' and the band opened for them on their last show in their hometown before they left on their European tour with Uncle John. There, that’s enough about that connection. But another background check showed drummer Ivo Jonkers being part of Hijos De Mayo and Red King Rising. (One of the first bands of Selim Lemouchi from Devil's Blood.) But let’s dive headfirst back into those two mountainous tracks. Huge in sound, color and atmosphere the three manage to keep you captivated and on edge for the entire time. There is something lurking down there in those deep and dark waters. And it is dangerous and armed with knives…

(Written by JK)

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dinsdag 18 november 2014

Pocket Size Sthlm – Exposed Undercurrents


Pocket Size Sthlm – Exposed Undercurrents
Self released – 2014
Rock, Prog, Experimental, Art, Jazz, Psych
Rated: ***

The new album Exposed Undercurrents by the Swedish musical mercenary squad Pocket Size Sthlm is not just a little psychedelic ditty one can enjoy on a lazy afternoon. No, this experimental jazz infused adventure desires your full attention. The man behind this endeavor is Peter Pedersen who has enlisted the aid of a multitude of artists from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean to help him surf these newly found undercurrents. It is a slippery ride that feels forced on a few moments but generally comes across like that tightrope acrobatic you once knew that loved his drink and drank his vodka like he was on a mission. Which is a dangerous mix that will sooner or later lead you to cross the wrong wire at the wrong time. And on some of those days you will be lucky and only break a finger or two and make a fool of yourself. But luck is a very thin wire between survival and disaster, and not many people can keep their balance. Peter and his band of brothers seem to be experts in surviving. They maneuver themselves into musical Cul-de-sacs where you think there is no way left to go. But they then manage to either find tight little hole to squeeze through or just turn around and stampede the way they came in from. This is high art and not to be taken lightly. This is a festive and highly fluid way to arrest a certain undercurrent of life. Not to hold it fixed for future generations but to expose it now for entire world to see. Or at least the lucky few who knew and who will understand…

(Written by JK)




Space Guerrilla – Boundless


Space Guerrilla – Boundless
Self released – 2014
Rock, Stoner, Space, Instrumental
Rated: ****

It is the story of many a stonerrock outfit. Guys get together to jam in a dusty little cellar somewhere and record a few tracks and send them out into the world. More often than not they have merit and you are glad they did, sometimes you wish they hadn’t and on a few occasions you wish they had more or will come through with more soon. The release Boundless by the Brazilian trio Space Guerrilla is one of those occasions. The five instrumental tracks on this record are highly spacious stonerrock and infectious wide ranged psychedelic meanderings. Accompanied by soundclips that are pushed back in the mix to invoke a sense of mystery; the songs take on this otherworldly atmosphere. They soon have you envisioning endless starry nights and vibrating comets hailing the coming of something good. The drums crashing and thundering one moment and tribalistic and meandering the next. Guitars that wail, howl and slide but also riff and rock where needed and a bass that flows and follows and sets the course for the infinite space. Simply magnificent!

(Written by JK)



Ocean Chief & Snailking at Club Undergången, 29th of November!


Ocean Chief & Snailking at Club Undergången, 29th of November!

If you’re in Stockholm on the 29th of November; swing by Club Undergången to have a night of stoner, doom and sludge! The mighty Ocean Chief and the thunderous Snailking will do their best to make your knees go weak and your head explode! Club Undergången where the darkness is revered!




donderdag 13 november 2014

John Garcia with STEAK and Komatsu – Live at W2



John Garcia with STEAK and Komatsu – Live at W2

On a reasonably cold Tuesday evening in November in an almost sold out W2 venue in Den Bosch, Netherlands desert rock legend John Garcia takes the stage. The man who rose from the sandy wastelands of the Palm Desert to stand at the very beginning of the music genre that unfortunately received the moniker stonerrock. Together with his hombres he formed Kyuss and with their four albums at the beginning of the nineties they laid the foundation for all those bands that came after and who also revere the low end tunes. But still, the band would never have received this godlike status if it hadn’t been for the true and powerful voice of Mr. John Garcia.



After the end of Kyuss, the man released amazing albums with Unida, Slo Burn, Hermano and Vista Chino before finally putting out a solo record. That self-titled release from this year is the reason he embarked on this European tour. But before we are able to enjoy the mighty voice tonight there are two bands that deliver a pre-show warm up. And those aren’t ones to miss or mess around with. Hailing from the United Kingdom it is STEAK that opens up tonight and show us immediately that it is all about the fuzz, the groove and the majestic riffs this evening. Mad wildebeest drummer Sammy Forway pounds his skins like crazy, undeterred by the problems with his kit and the sound. They truck on relentlessly and the songs from the Slab City album released earlier this year, which features Garcia on one track, fills the venue with dry sandy tones and a yearning audience. Even though the band doesn’t seem to be in the best state of mind on this sixth night of the tour. (Probably due to the hangover manufactured the night before.) They do sound like a marauding gang of motorcycle nuts on route to a generator party in the wastelands. And they make sure the audience is already riled up when the Dutch sludge force Komatsu walks on stage...




Thanks to that one flirt on Speedfest last year. A solid friendship between Garcia and Komatsu was formed. So when Waxy dropped out for the tour the man immediately asked the guys if they would want to join him. Jumping at the opportunity, they lost one of their own. Cause its four guys that walk on stage tonight. Drummer Miriam Bekkers has unfortunately left the group because family life, running a bar and touring for a month aren’t easily combined. But the guys seem to be in their element on this home game. Tight, raw and vicious they propel their songs into the venue and new guy drummer Jelle Tommeleyn from the Belgian band Miava, shows through his technical prowess, he has mastered the Komatsu material in an incredible short period of time. The way he builds layer upon layer on songs like Komatsu and the new WTF! is admirable. New instrumental intro Rose Of Jericho and pounding track Lockdown seem to be great new weapons in their arsenal. And together with the Against All Odds track might be found on the new album to be recorded after the tour. The only thing that always grinds and pains with Komatsu are the vocals. Tonight is no different. But thanks to the massive riffs and the ever growing ingenious melody lines it seems that those chafing vocals are part of the Komatsu creed. Namely: to demolish every venue whole. The reception is warm for the guys. Cause even though the biggest part of the venue is here for the main act, there is a big enough Komatsu contingent to show support before they truck on through Europe with uncle John…


As always with our favorite uncle, it is the musicians that arrive first and start playing. Guitarist Ehren Groban (War Drum), bassist Mike Pygmie (You Know Who) and drummer Greg Saenz (You Know Who, The Dwarves) play the intro before we get loud to hail the arrival of Garcia. It is immediately apparent that the singer has become more and more comfortable with the fact that he is the center of attention and focal point. With all his earlier projects the man hardly spoke to the audience. But this time around he has to, it is his name on the bill and the tour through Europe is to promote his solo effort. Ofcourse he lets us know that he is not that proficient in small talk and that he is just here to sing, but he wants to reassure the audience that they have not come in vain: songs from his entire catalogue will be played. As if he wants to apologize for the fact that he will also play new songs. Which is ridiculous ofcourse since the new album is filled with killer songs who are live even better; as we will soon find out…



Amazing versions of One Inch Man, Tangy Zizzle, Gloria Lewis and an unparalleled version of El Rodeo follow. Which shows a singer that is absolutely determined to deliver those songs as good as he possibly can and which tells us he finds them just as important if not more important than his new work. Even more so when the Slo Burn song July howls itself through the venue. From the new record we hear an impressive Blvd, Flowers, 500 Miles and My Mind, all tight and enthralling. But unfortunately the Garcia performance is also plagued by technical difficulties. At three quarters of the show, the during solo track Argleben and Slo Burn song Pilot The Dune the guitar troubles destroy the groove and state of mind of the audience. The running around of roadies and the guitar player cannot camouflage the fact that the band aren’t comfortable enough with each other yet to start improvising. So soon the music stops and after a third time the guitar sound fails Garcia walks off stage. After many checks and hiccups a new cable from guitar to pedals seems to be the solution. Wouldn’t you decide to switch cables sooner? 



The band wants revenge. And that hangs in the air when Garcia comes back and performs All These Walls. An absolute stunning live song that has the crowd on their toes and ready to pounce. And when Supa Scoopa And The Mighty Scoop and Green Machine finally come around we all change into a stampeding herd of buffalo or crazy dancing coyotes. But even though the end is truly majestic, it cannot hide the fact that the show never became as legendary as the prestige of Garcia himself. The powerful voice of the phenomenal singer has only grown with the passing of time. But the technical difficulties and complete stops of the show provide us with an unsatisfied feeling. The almost effect. Cause afterward you realize all too well what could have happened if things has just been a little different…


dinsdag 11 november 2014

DeepSpacePilots – Per Ardu Ad Astra


DeepSpacePilots – Per Ardu Ad Astra
Interstellar Dust – 2014
Rock, Space, Psych, Doom, Ambient
Rated: ***

The new deep space adventure Per Ardu Ad Astra is over before you know it. And this is not just because it, unlike your other usual space rock albums, does not last as long. Which is doesn’t, for the main part of the adventure only lasts for about twenty-five minutes. Which is refreshing. But it is mostly because you would want it to go on much longer. You catch your breath and think; where did we go? Why did it end here? Is there any more beyond this desolation? For yes, the DeepSpacePilots take you on a grand tour of the universe for twenty-five minutes and then leave you drifting through the horrible void for another fifteen. It is this Chicago based three-piece third release and truly aims for the great big distance. They produce this otherworldly groove that slowly builds on pounding drums and whirling guitars. Floating vocals add to the ghostly atmosphere and that is just the intro song Cult Of Ark. After which the tour the force really takes off. Their reworking of the rare Pink Floyd track One In A Million is inspiring and captivating. There is no struggle here; these musical astronauts know their heading and we can only follow in their wake. Let’s hope their next voyage lasts even longer!

(Written by JK)



The Cover That Could – I


The Cover That Could – I

Karma To Burn – Twenty Four Hours

There is not much left of that old Karma To Burn spirit. Sure, the new incarnation sounds damn good. But it is not the same without Oswald and Mullins. And just think back to 1997 to that very first album by this legendary instrumental stonerrock-formation, it surprised friend and foe. Not just because of the amazing quality of the songs. But more because we were suddenly also treated to a singer. And ever since that moment the fans have been divided in two camps. Those who love that first album to death and believe it to be the best they ever released and those who dismiss that first one and think it should never have seen the light of day. Whatever side you are on, there is a cover version on the record, which might as well be judged as better than the original. Which is in part thanks to the last minutes added vocalist (ordered by the record company) Jason ‘J.J.’ Jarosz. The original song describes the endless and hopeless darkness that is beyond any form of depression. So many things to fight for; yet without any real meaning. Cause everything slips away anyway. Perfect bass lines that provide the melody and thus become the fantastic toy for the mighty Rich Mullins… Karma To Burn’s version of the Joy Division song Twenty Four Hours is better than the original!





The Cover That Could


The Cover That Could

I am a sucker for cover versions. Covers done right add something to the original and on some occasions even make it better. Most often it just makes it sound different or interesting. Sometimes it’s just entertaining. And there are those versions that completely destroy the song. But still, for some reason I am always drawn to them. To hear what an artist comes up with when it is their interpretation. Well. On Stoner HiVe we will occasionally pay a little tribute to one of those versions. Once every so often it will enthrall, amaze or make you fall in love with the song all over again. And sometimes, it will make you laugh or puke…

Polarbeers – 1MV


Polarbeers – 1MV

Looking for one minute of complete and utter chaos? Punky ruckus and fun in a fun bus? Check out the new video for the 1MV song by the Italian Polarbeers!




woensdag 5 november 2014

Crobot – Something Supernatural


Crobot – Something Supernatural
Wind-Up Records/Nuclear Blast – 2014
Rock, Seventies
Rated: *****

These cats released their first album Legend Of The Spaceborne Killer to much of my anticipation back in 2012. But Crobot pulled it again due to the fact of new members entering the band. The line-up changed, the sound changed. Well, A bit. A tiny bit. And if that was possible at all; only for the better! Which resulted in the release of the teasing self-titled EP in the beginning of this year and now finally, the official through record company channels released Something Supernatural album. And it truly is supernatural. Produced by Machine (Clutch, Lamb of God) their huge sound becomes even more mountainous. Elegantly elevated to the level colossal. With an enormous amount of groove their seventies styled rock is funky fuzz and deliciously distorted where needed. But above all it is their sliding rhythms and thrown tempos that just mesmerize and hypnotize. On top ofcourse of the amazing songwriting quality, tight riffs, guitarlines, thrashing drums and a vocalist that wails, howls and screams like there is a Chupacabra biting his ass. Holy hell man, Crobot, it’s all happening. The way Legend Of The Spaceborne Killer has grown and still opens the album with an utterly massive bang. Wow. Crobot. Something grungy, something funky, something seventies and even something stoner, shit man, Something Supernatural. This is energetic, raw and wild music for wild times and we all deserve to have them at least once a week!

(Written by JK)





Crobot - Nowhere to Hide


Crobot - Nowhere to Hide

Second single Nowhere to Hide from the amazing Something Supernatural album by the mighty Crobot.

Crobot - Legend of the Spaceborne Killer


Crobot - Legend of the Spaceborne Killer (LIVE) 

The re-envisionig of the amazing opening track Legend Of The Spaceborn Killer for their new album Something Supernatural by the mighty Crobot. And we all ofcourse already know it from their 2012 album Legend Of The Spaceborne Killer which was one of the, if not the, best album of that year...

Lotus Ash – The Word of God


Lotus Ash – The Word of God
Self released – 2014
Metal, Doom, Sludge, Rock
Rated: ****

It is the underlying droning quality that drags you in. It becomes uncomfortable on many occasions and it is hugely impressive.

(Written by C)