Psychlona – Palo Verde

 

 

Psychlona – Palo Verde
Psycho Waxx – 2022
Rock, Stoner, Desert, Psych, Space
Rated: *****

For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream. One of the most anticipated albums of 2022, for me personally, is the new Psychlona album Palo Verde. The official release is tomorrow, and we’ve been rocking it for about a month now. And Psychlona will be rocking Psycho Las Vegas this weekend… I don’t think I need to tell you why it is one of my most anticipated albums, but I’m going to do it anyway. Their 2020 album Venus Skytrip was one of my absolute favorites of that year and still spins regularly. I also still think Blast Off is unrivalled as album opener. So, when the Palo Verde promo came in, there was nothing that could hold me back from immediately pushing the play button. Well, there was one thing holding me back. The level of anticipation and the legendary status Psychlona has already reached in my heart. Well, this can only lead to disappointment and disaster. Right? But I believe in Psychlona. I believe in their sound and how they make the cosmic and the galactic, sound so grounded and so earthy. And spoiler alert, on Palo Verde they manage to do that even more. And they have managed to attain this ability in the space of only three albums. Mojo Rising from 2018 was good, Venus Skytrip from 2020 legendary and Palo Verde is here to justify their status and to make a believer out of everyone… 

But before you hear me rave any more about believing, let’s try and say something about the new album Palo Verde! We already mentioned that spacey sound a few sentences earlier, well on Palo Verde, they use that space rock touch to make every sound they produce sound soaring and extremely cosmic. And at the same time give it this impressionistic, magical realistic touch. And that is not just because the cover art moves in that direction and might put those thoughts in your mind. No, no, Psychlona turn themselves more and more into the Van Gogh‘s of stonerrock. Painting shimmering compositions of truly celestial heavy rock. Turn your ear to third track Rainbird for instance, a glowing, euphoria filled composition of pure ecstasy. Slow moving, laidback, the ‘it’s all happening-groove’, before finally building to a higher platform to dive from, and dive hard into a maelstrom of colorful muddy rock n roll. The starry night comes out to dazzle you on every track, but on the sixth track Jetplane they even announce it with the vocals: “Out come the stars.” And the effects on the vocals might be one part to help you see that starry night, and to hear all the colors vibrate, but musically, Psychlona has managed to convey the power of nature, of a very warm sound, with a color palette and style all of their own. Their musical paintings seem to bridge all limitations, transcending boundaries and sparking your imagination. For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream. And with Psychlona I see them… 

I believe there’s fire inside the soul of the Psychlona four. And with that fire they have to burn, they have to move forward at a cosmic speed. What is in, will out. Of course, opening track Gasoline, obviously has that forward motion, that burning the road below you, kind of motion. And that’s without any doubt in my mind the other characteristic to the Psychlona sound. The way to convey movement, flow, and speed. Second track 1975 might be a travelling through a time warp, but will still propel you onwards once you hit that landmark date. And you will feel so alive! That wailing guitar, spiraling full of style and slowly waning and then the return of the drums and bass at two thirds of the track, euphoria once again! And we could state this about every track on the album, but perhaps the cover art says it all as well. The leaves of the tree, with their swirling motion, their fantastic colors. Hallucinatory, magical, and inspiring, Palo Verde by Psychlona is an album that will have you see all the stars in the sky, it is destined for greatness… I fear for their ears!  

(Written by JK)

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Samán – II. Montaña Roja

 

 

Samán – II. Montaña Roja
Self released / Sylphorium Records / Vestigio Records – 2022
Rock, Stoner, Metal, Psych, Doom
Rated: *****

There’s evening redness in the west. The mountains the color of blood. In a dream I once had, I walked among those stones, till I saw the sun rise and the mountains shine in that morning light. Stumbling forward through the rocks, the next valley was nothing but a gateway into a savage land, where death danced upon the graves of many and many were dancing, claiming they would never die. When the July edition of the Doom Charts arrived; I did not die, but was saddened to see that one of the albums I loved so much and which feels so inspiring did not get high enough to receive a blurb. And as you already know from the title of this post, I’m referring to Samán’s new album II. Montaña Roja. The fourpiece hails from Bogota, Colombia and bring you an almost hour-long journey of stoner metal, which is either touched by doom and grunts or soaring with psychedelic warmth and atmospheric affection. I believe they’re named after one of the biggest trees in South America, the Colombian four give you an extremely natural flowing album that moves through all the different heavy landscapes effortlessly, seamlessly, and organically. For even though the album is oozing stoner metal and heavy trucking riffs, there are so many atmospheric and psychedelic elements in play to create the II. Montaña Roja universe, you often forget you just heard some intense grunts and doom-tinged stoner metal. Opener Montaña Roja Pt. 1 for instance, has some heavy riffs during the middle part, but for most of its five minutes, it sets its windswept scene with languid, dry guitars and rising rhythms. Following track El Sueño has the same build up, but a much heavier and thicker center part, thundering drums building up to a righteous storm, accompanied by breezing vocals that turn into a harsh blizzard of guttural knives, slashing away the reverie that was there. And that’s how Samán seems to roll for the entirety of the album, painting huge atmospheric soundscapes, where you can carefree enjoy the dreams and the virtuosity displayed, until you’re brutally, yet so full of smiles, jogged awake by the intensity that follows. You can feel the blood running warm, you can smell the sweat it took to create this… And judging from story the record tells, there might also have been a few tears… Samán’s II. Montaña Roja is an album you simply must hear… It is a starkly beautiful masterpiece…

(Written by JK)

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King Buffalo – Regenerator

 

 

King Buffalo – Regenerator
Self released / Stickman Records – 2022
Rock, Prog, Stoner, Psych
Rated: *****

“I wish I was a dying man, then I could say, at the end of life, what will it be like, to start all over again…” It’s weird how certain tiny moments in a certain song can remind you of a totally different one. And how it, for some even weirder reason, might seem fitting. That opening tone, from opening track Regenerator of the much-anticipated album with the same name, reminds me of Funeral Moon by The Brigade. And with a title like Regenerator, and the fact that it is the final album of a trilogy of albums started in 2021, it all feels like the there is a new and brighter dawn approaching… 

We’ve been listening to the new King Buffalo album for a few weeks now, after which we saw them live at the Krach Am Bach festival and like so many of you all out there; we’ve been smitten with what they do for quite some time. Longing To Be The Mountain, Dead Star were both stunning albums and we mentioned them on the HiVe. The Burden Of Restlessness however dwarfed it all in my opinion, it immediately became my favorite album of 2021, and we said so in our review at the time. We were pretty late in mentioning follow-up Acheron, but that too immediately sparked so much inside me, and it became almost unbearable to know that there would be a third album coming to complete their trilogy… Unbearable because we did not know how long that wait would be…

 
The three albums are all chapters of the same story, and Regenerator brings conclusion, reshapes the motifs of Acheron into more light and more prog and harkens back to the themes of The Burden Of Restlessness; but there is no rehashing of ideas and there’s so much difference in depth and width, that all three have their own character and play their own lead in this intense story. And the seven tracks on Regenerator have their own stages and sections, all done with so much detail to the arrangements, the sounds, and the atmosphere that one might even forget for about those sparse yet wonderful vocals. With his very own distinct voice, Sean McVay has quickly become one of my favorite vocalists. You can feel how arduous it has been to write what he wrote and that this great result might still be something he lies awake about on many a night. But where the lyrics and vocals have their own spotlight, King Buffalo is and will probably always be more about the tightrope dance between heavy psych, hard prog and atmospheric rock. That majestic balancing act between claustrophobic, tight, pressurized and all those wide-open spaces, giving air and on this album: almost angelic light…

And dare I say, once again, that it is track four, a 3-minute-long Interlude and the following fifth track Mammoth that tells you all or most of what King Buffalo is about on this final album of the three. The daring, floating vocals during the interlude, the slow singing strings, turning the sound inwards, before blossoming and opening like a flower in the first morning sunlight. And that prolonged silence on CD, closing out the vinyl A side, the fact that you will have to put on side B, to hear that immediate slow marching Mammoth, both in bass, guitar tone and drums, is so perfectly done. A minute detail perhaps, but one that speaks volumes of the King Buffalo craftmanship. And to have the bass do that first fill instead of the guitar on Mammoth, feels effortlessly brilliant. Those soaring pastoral choir like vocals making the Mammoth take flight and touch the heavens, incredibly moving and giving so much comfort…

And that’s probably the biggest thing to take away from Regenerator, comfort, relief, reassurance; that yes, we suffered, and perhaps not all is well and not all will be well. But in some form and to some extent, we will be well... You, me, and the King Buffalo three…

(Written by JK)

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Somnus Throne – Nemesis Lately

 

Somnus Throne – Nemesis Lately
Heavy Psych Sounds – 2022
Rock, Stoner, Metal, Doom, Grunge, Sludge
Rated: ****

It’s been out since early June and it’s been rocking house, car and neighborhood since that time! We’re talking about the new album Nemesis Lately by LA trio Somnus Throne. Which obviously made the June Doom Charts where the honorable Rich Piva already stated: “Serious Melvins vibes come across with Nemesis Lately and you hit a lot of the key demographics here, including some heavy grunge (Snake Eyes), doomy goodness (Lacquer Bones), trippy stoner jams (Rubber Trap), and some serious heavy psych (L-Dopatryptamine) all coming together to create a memorable and exciting tripped out release for Heavy Psych Sounds.” And we could not agree more. And since the good man already mentioned quite a few tracks in passing, let’s take a look at one he did not yet mention. But before we do, we should just state the obvious, that opener Snake Eyes, with its hard trucking, its heavy motoring and sludge grunge has the most brilliant of universal nods at its ending. And even though it yells about quaaludes and sedatives, it will surely get your blood pumping and your energy level through the roof. Okay man, let’s let the dice decide… And by chance, Dice And Scarecrow it is, slow doom, steady marching, grungy and spacy vocals, riding on top of that grating and slow pattern of heavy distorted riffs and chance was made sound, and we beheld its glory, and it lay among us, full of chaos and full of whim. After which the kool-aid definitely got even more spiked, and thus the following three tracks are even more heady, full of kaleidoscopic undercurrents, reshaping all of your perspectives, to get you high and get you off. And judging, from those final three tracks, Somnus Throne could just as easily turn into a doom version of The Grateful Dead, touring the world and getting everybody’s freak on. It’s all doom happening man…

(Written by JK)

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O’ and the band lovingly provided a few codes a while ago, and some might still be alive:

by7g-xgwx
w25n-e3hp
sm6v-7sq2
pby7-v4gc
rd2a-garx

Volt Ritual – Volt Ritual

 

 

Volt Ritual – Volt Ritual
Self released – 2022
Rock, Stoner, Doom, Metal
Rated: ***

Formed in 2020, the Polish trio Volt Ritual sound as much as Fu Manchu as Black Sabbath. And on their self-titled debut album we’re getting seven tracks of their heavy sound as they embark on their quest for the ultimate riff. Indeed, their stoner scurries and slitters through the metal alleys like proto rats. But ever so often they’re caught out by the sun and then the sound changes more into the punk, surf and desert approach of those Fu motherfuzzers. But overall, the DIY production leads to a muddy and swampy sound, giving the riffs an extra layer of heavy and the bass an extra deep layer of low. Sure, the vocals could use some work here and there, but sometimes the understated, less than confident approach does work. Take for example the fourth track War In The Sun, the for the most part choppy diction, feels like an important science fiction story is being told and it works. Or as if a rumor about war on a distant world needs to be told in secret. The same can be said for the Droga track; which also gives us the most sundried tones to ever come out of Poland. What a wonderful track! In it's entirety, the album is an almost thirty-three-minute debut; and it lets everyone know that there’s electricity in the air over in Poland… And Volt Ritual is ready to capture it and turn it into delicious fuzz…

(Written by JK)

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Stoner HiVe’s Top 10 Most Listened Albums Last Week…

 

 

Stoner HiVe’s
Top 10 Most Listened Albums Last Week…


King Buffalo
Boris
Druids
Brant Bjork
Samán
Obiat
Psychlona
Somnus Throne
Volt Ritual
Leonard

 

As mentioned before, we've got two to three more weeks ahead of us that are totally hectic and completely full. So, even though we've got a few more mentions ready to go... We're not sure how much and when we can put it all online... But all those albums we mentioned so far deserve to be spun over and over and over anyway! So, get crackin! Enjoy your week!

Obiat – Indian Ocean

 

 

Obiat – Indian Ocean
Self released – 2022
Rock, Metal, Sludge, Prog, Post, Psych, Doom
Rated: *****

In my mind there are all tides. All the ebbs and all the flows. Huge shadows from massive swells and booming sounds from crashing waves. In my mind there’s an ocean. Resounding and reverberating, remaking all that ever was. And in my mind I hear Obiat. Playing their surging sludge and pulsating prog, their highly dynamic and rippling approach to metal, post-rock, and psych. Once again we dive into the fourth track Nothing Above to hear a perfect example of that rippling; that slow wash like a great expanse of calm water. The extra vocals on Nothing Above provided by Sofia DeVille, the saxophone by Tomasz Bachorz and a trombone by Marta Rakowska, immediately give away that the four from Obiat are not afraid to go all out, to experiment and to let the music flow and follow its natural course. Gracious and warm, that one track shows off everything Obiat has in store when it comes to painting pictures and setting scenes. And it’s what this entire album is about; one gigantic and colorful mural filled with intricate details and dark crevices to escape into, to explore, and to discover. And where that fourth tracks shows off the inner workings of Obiat, following fifth track Sea Burial shows off their heavier side, the steady riffing, the sturdy drums, and the sailing vocals by Sean Cooper. Still showing restraint and control, the end build up does not go for explosive, but for massive and grandiose. Which makes for a majestic transition into the wonderful keywork on that sixth track Ad Meliora, a track that does become more volatile as the composition progresses. All that extra FX adding so much depth and dimension to the song. Which is probably the biggest growth displayed in regard to the earlier releases, there’s just so much more to every song, minute details, thick and luscious sounds, wonderful production and the new vocalist, making this new Indian Ocean record rise to towering heights. For Obiat, an ever-revolving project, that still has founding member Raf Reutt in its midst, to return with a new album after thirteen years, and to do that with such conviction, power, and a lust to give so much, is dazzling, daring, and audacious. Just like ending such a record as Indian Ocean with Lightness Of Existence, which sounds like flickering sun sparks on the water…

(Written by JK)

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Eternal Sun Temple – Vol I.

 

 

Eternal Sun Temple – Vol I.
Self released – 2022
Rock, Stoner, Doom, Metal, Psych, Occult, Sludge
Rated: ****

We had a couple Vol I. or Volume 1. records on repeat the last few weeks. Two of those already made the July Doom Charts and we are now of course referring to the one Mel Lie has been loving so very much. Indeed, she worships the Eternal Sun Temple and soon everyone will be doing the same thing. For the seven psychedelic doom metal tracks on Eternal Sun Temple’s debut album Vol I. have this occult edge and mystic vibe; and will undoubtedly lure you into their midst. Before splitting you in two with a track such as Decimation, which starts out slow, pounding you relentlessly into submission and then giving it some extra juice before exploding into a fast-paced motoring riff-extravaganza in the middle; and then grinding slowly down to a halt. It shows that Luca Frizza and his two companions know how to riff away as well as get you into a hallucination state by way of drone and doom. They hail from San Fransisco, Argentina but aim to move their Eternal Sun Temple to Europe, where droves of doom worshipping lunatics await them to bring offerings and give them the joy of seeing the eternal nod in unison and in hordes…

(Written by JK)

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O’ and one or two of these codes might still be alive!

36gg-hrdn  
5yu3-5sxe  
bt5m-7da3  

Doomed for Ukraine

 

Doomed for Ukraine

As the war rages on in Eastern Europe, as Ukraine gets decimated and destroyed, the world keeps turning. A bit slower and with a mad eye on the ones that started the war, but still. It’s not like the war has awoken the rest of the world or has spurred any of them into action. Action once again comes from the ones suffering and from the ones that can not stand silent while those suffer needlessly. War never changes and I fear, mankind will never change…

But still, for those heavy rock loving fiends, the ones that doom in safety across the globe; a small token of aid can be provided by buying the STOP WAR IN UKRAINE compilation on Bandcamp if you are an avid heavy music listener or you can provide an extra track for that compilation if you are an artist. So far, 169 bands and artists have already provided a track for the STOP WAR IN UKRAINE compilation. A compilation started by Eugene Voron from Path Of Doom Radio. 

Eugene says: “In my country, there is a strong and well-known doom metal scene. Bands like Stoned Jesus, 1914, and more recently Noyde and Mental Torment have made great contributions to the genre. I’ve always been a huge fan of music. My journey began with Black Sabbath and Dio. More recently, I began listening to online radio, but I wasn’t satisfied with the selection and felt I could do something to highlight the music and bands I loved.” In 2017, Eugene founded Path of Doom Radio, which broadcast daily from evening till midnight.  The station and accompanying website shines a spotlight on eclectic, international doom and stoner metal. It also promotes the Ukrainian scene as well as female fronted doom bands - the latter with an annual vote, which attracted hundreds of contributor groups and thousands of voters. However, in early 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, and Path of Doom fell temporarily silent. Unable to broadcast to the world, Eugene instead called upon the scene to help young children suffering from war with humanitarian aid via bandcamp sales. Over 100 international bands heard the call - including Panheist, Iron Void, and Paralyzed, and more add their names each week.

“Bright, interesting representatives of the scene from all over the world have joined this compilation and I’m grateful to all of them,” says Eugene. “I urge any fans of Doom and stoner to come listen, pay what you can, and help my people and its families get through this terrible conflict.”

Bands from all over the world have provided a track and from all the heavy genres you can think off. I will not list all 169, but when you see certain names you already know that for every penny you might pay you will not just aid the suffering, you will get incredible music in return: Just look at these: Everest Queen, Professor Electric, Vandhali, Praÿ, Subsun, Black Capricorn, Obiat, Les Nadie, The Swell Fellas, Yo No Se, King Potenaz, Iron & Stone, Carson, Indica Blues, Swörn, Samavayo, Brut Oss, Paralyzed, Hippie Death Cult and The Dry Mouths.

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Druids – Shadow Work

 

 

Druids – Shadow Work
Pelagic Records – 2022
Metal, Doom, Prog, Sludge
Rated: *****

We’ve been listening to it for months, but we still feel like we are very late to the party. Cause Shadow Work has suddenly and totally been really clicking over here. So, we donned out our hooded cloaks, started marching in circles around a giant stone, and humming some doom magic to invoke the maelstrom sounds of Druids! For it was at the Krach Am Bach festival that a certain melody suddenly reminded us of something. And before we knew what was happening, we were transported deep into the Druids universe and chanting out loud: “I tried to heal myself, From what I use to be, I tried to free myself, From who I've always been.” Sure, the other festival goers, took a second glance, some might even have known what song I was shouting, others probably wondered why I was singing a totally different song than the one performed on stage. Either way, suddenly that fourth album track Hide had me snared and trapped and I felt wonderful. But don’t get me wrong, the lead-up, the build up towards that fourth track is already brilliantly done. Opening it all with the elemental, fleeting, yet totally inhabiting Aether, awaking all the inner shadows within you. And then immediately, with those awesome vocals on second track Path To R. A track that slowly builds, progresses, and uses all sorts of atmospheric elements to eventually come to that whirling frenzy of noise, shouts, and howls. Slow grooving Ide’s Koan, has a guitar cruising on top of that massive bassline, before we come to a finale worth of apocalyptic pyrotechnics. Crushing you slowly but decidedly with a roof of noise, bringing it all in, bringing it all down. Would I have gone for the fade out? Or perhaps explode it all in one final break? Not sure, either way, the air provided with those drums on the following masterpiece Hide, the meandering bass underneath, a guitar slowly revving up in the back and the vocals leading up to that perfect chorus. So much tension blown straight out the window, so much release, yet still retaining some mystic elements and a way forward. It seems that Druids have found that magical element needed to make the following four tracks of Shadow Work as golden as the four starting points. Progressive doom metal alchemy: it’s what the Druids do…  

(Written by JK)

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Stoner HiVe’s Top 10 Most Listened Albums Last Week…

 

 

Stoner HiVe’s
Top 10 Most Listened Albums Last Week…

King Buffalo
Torpedo Torpedo
Volt Ritual
Iron & Stone
Astronoid
Brant Bjork
Man In The Woods
Abraham
Blues Weiser
Cormano

Yes, we know, this little list always goes up on Monday… But due to the Krach Am Bach Festival and other assignments we could not get it up before now… And the next three weeks will be extremely hectic, so, updates might be a little sparse…

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

 

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

Before we head off to Krach Am Bach Festival in Beelen, Germany, we wanted to do a very quick Quick Fire Friday round! And we know… All those releases, singles, ep’s, albums, they are worth way more of our time! But you know how it is… There is so much out there, so much good and heavy stuff, and we just simply cannot ever do it all justice. So here it is. Another Stoner HiVe Quick Fire Friday! And it burns hot like molten lava!

 

Lammping – Desert On The Keel

The Toronto Lammping four are back! A new album is on the horizon! But for now, and since June actually, we have Desert On The Keel, the first of a series of stand-alone singles they're putting out this summer! Giving us once again that The Beta Band feel, turned stoner, turned psych and the most majestic sideways head nod you will experience!  

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Iron & Stone – Mountain & Waters

Five piece Iron & Stone from Hildesheim, Germany released their new four track EP Mountain & Waters back in June and everyone should check it out, if you haven’t already. It is the first EP in a series of three and since you can’t stop what’s coming, you need to dive into the mountain and climb the waters. Good, honest, heavy stonerrock and fuzz with a punk spirit! Indeed, low desert punks from the heart of Germany!

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 Auerbode – Auerbode

Auerbode is a doomgaze project by Tannhauser Orchestra frontman Erick de Deyn. Doomgaze, staring into the abyss until the abyss winks at you. But before you think this is going to be some dark and twisted music, let me set you straight. The self-titled fivetrack debut is actually pretty, light, uplifting, post-rock, post-metal, music with a serious undercurrent and equally significant themes. It’s good and it’s out on the Murphy Albums label… Cause you know… Whatever can go wrong…

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Harry Cloud – You’ll Never Fix This

A new EP by the master of weird, insane and bonkers music and art is back! Harry Cloud never went anywhere, but with four track You’ll Never Fix This, he’s tried and fix some of his old compositions. Indeed, the four tracks were all recorded in earlier years and were never in need of any fixing, but hey, the bizarre rock is now everybody’s kit and kitten caboodle to grab through Kitten Robot Records. And you can also just watch the video’s and be sure to have a nightmare or two…

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Grevens Tid – Upplands Väsby

Grevens Tid is a middle-aged hard rock band that sings eerie songs in Swedish. We were formed out of covid boredom in 2020 and try to sound a bit like a mix between the Sad Wings of Destiny album and an 18-wheeler in snow smoke between Kiruna and far away. Well, what more is there to say? Well, let’s state that we dig that seventies hard rock vibe on their first single Upplands Väsby. And well, the song, which is a tribute to "Sweden´s Birmingham" features Gunnar "Mic" Michaeli of Europe - born and raised in Upplands Väsby! And well, let’s see what else they will release… On their debut album Folkhemskt, which will be out… Hopefully soon…

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 Teen Mortgage – Valley

Valley, the final track of the Teen Mortgage EP Smoked, which we mentioned back in December 2021, has gotten a video treatment. And since we love Teen Mortgage and the King Pizza Records label on which it was released, we reckoned we should mention the video… Punk, surf, stoner, garage, noise and enough metal to start seeing things double!

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