vrijdag 24 januari 2025

Volume - Joy Of Navigation (a trip through the eternal unknown)

 

 

Volume - Joy Of Navigation (a trip through the eternal unknown)
Kozmik Artifactz / Golden Robot – 2024
Rock, Stoner, Desert, Space
Rated: *****

Almost instantly, the illusions will start. Shifting gear on you like some quicksilver mind-altering odyssey. There’s something absolutely freeing about listening to the new Volume album. It will pilot you into the unknown and once you get locked into that state you know you will have to take it all the way. For that is the pure and beautiful Joy Of Navigation. And that by sheer coincidence, cough cough, is the title of the album. Recorded in the legendary Rancho De La Luna studio under guidance of the maestro himself: Dave Catching. Who of course had to also deliver a few synth and Moog touches, because when the energy flows the right way, you can’t help yourself. And that makes the Volume outfit even more star-studded, founded by Patrick Brink, for a small moment in time member of Fu Manchu taking guitar and vocals. Ed Mundell from Monster Magnet on lead guitar. Mike Amster from Mondo Generator, Nebula and Blaak Heat Shujaa on Drums. Abraham William Parker on bass and loads of other instruments. Star-studded and the lift off of opener Mercury Pull will have you zooming around the stars in no time. Over nine minutes filled to the brim with freak out psychedelic rock, punked up acid and something entirely proto. Sixties love, seventies blend, mantric and liberating. Throw out your arms, go wild! You’re gonna wanna take this trip all the way. Title tack Joy Of Navigation grounds you, goes wilder still and offers up more of a garage and punk take on the freak rock they are delivering throughout. But there’s still that stoner trucking, desert rocking that keeps you zooming. Heavy Sunshine opens entirely like a radical lift off, aiming for something explosive and a different planet all together, but then they just keep it going and keep you coming. That slow rising anticipation almost become unbearable. A cover version of The Golden Age by Swedish Union Carbide Productions goes into the laidback flow of the desert even more, the rootsy energy it contains and their version sounds like it could be added to the Orquesta Del Desierto live set without any problem. Spacebaby has a definite Monster Magnet touch, subdued monolithic and with so much of raw freedom coursing through all those guitar lines it will drive you crazy. It’s entirely liberating listening to Joy Of Navigation, its full Volume, it’s planet Volume and the living is good!


(Written by JK)




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Kadavar - I Just Want To Be A Sound

 

Kadavar - I Just Want To Be A Sound

 

The first single for the new Kadavar album coming in a few months. It's out! And it's called I Just Want To Be A Sound. Which seem to be going for more psychedelic pop overture take on what they want to do, perhaps that MGMT reminiscent glide and build. Kadavar is always changing and evolving and this is their next step...

"This is where our journey as four truly began. With this riff, Lupus planted the seeds for the rest of the album. How do you honor with words the world a few guitar notes can open up? That question kept us busy longer than I’d like to admit. Then one day, I remembered Simon’s answer when I asked why he avoided social media: ‘I just want to be a sound.’ And that was it—just be a sound. The lyrics celebrate what we’ve always defined us as a band: freedom, joy, and love for what we do." - Love Tiger


Go see them live on tour with SLOMOSA!

 


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dinsdag 21 januari 2025

Plasticdrop – Life, Death and Miracles

 

 

Plasticdrop – Life, Death and Miracles
Argonauta Records – 2025
Stonerpop, Alternative, Rock
Rated: ****

Italian trio Plasticdrop are about to release their debut full-sized album Life, Death and Miracles. It will be let loose upon the world through Argonauta Records on Friday January 31st. But Stoner HiVe has the honor to do a FULL ALBUM PREMIERE two days before the release. So be sure to check in on Wednesday the 29th! Cause Life, Death and Miracles is filled to the brim with highly infectious, super danceable stoner pop and alternative rock. A bit of pop punk, power rock and a whole lot of fun loving attitude. But if you can’t hold on till then, they’ve released the three singles that make up the album title over on their bandcamp site. It’s got as much gleaned from Foo Fighters as Nirvana, from Greenday or Bad Brains and then put it all in the mix with the sounds from the infectious stoner deluge that happened after 2002. Which means, highly energetic rock that inspires you to shout along and jump around. Great bass work, compliments powerful drumming and the axe-work can slay as easily as it shows its melodic side. And you can state the same thing about the vocals. Paolo Pani has a great voice, especially when he uses his sharp edge. And then there are those moments of harmony, simply lovely. Plasticdrop is an absolute pleasure to listen to… So, mark your calender… Cause it will be our absolute pleasure to premiere Plasticdrop’s Life, Death and Miracles to  you on Wednesday the 29th! Bella zio!


(Written by JK)




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maandag 20 januari 2025

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

 

 

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

Manic Street Preachers
High Desert Queen
Plasticdrop
Acid Magus
Brant Bjork Trio
Pentagram
Warlung
Lorquin’s Admiral
Mouth
Tumbleweed Dealer

And I wish you the best of weeks once again! It’s Monday, my start of the week. Lots of work to be done. So, not sure how many updates we can get out. But there will be some! And if not, there is always that list above for you to check out, the posts from last week and the playlist below. As you can see from the list, the new Manic Street Preachers album has been on heavy rotation, not really heavy underground material of course, but we’ve got an interview with them coming up. And the rest of that list is made up out of last year and new year material! And all awesome!


The Spotify Playlist for...

Stoner HiVe's Weekly Top 10 Most Listened

Week 4


zondag 19 januari 2025

FULL ALBUM PREMIERE - Caprahed – Empire

 

 

FULL ALBUM PREMIERE

Caprahed – Empire


Welcome to the first FULL ALBUM PREMIERE of 2025! It’s a one song, made up out of four parts, lo-fi, doom punk narrative called EMPIRE! Delivered by one man project Caprahed. Which is an entirely solo project by Phil Howlett (Lucifer's Fall, Solemn Ceremony, Zlórtcht & Rote Mare) who aims to mix Doom, Metal, Punk, Alternative & Progressive styles. Indeed, and he’s right! For there is a lot of classic doom spliced with all sorts of alternative avenues, touching base with progressive wanderings and all brought to you in this poetic punk style here. The on track, comprised out of I. Phase IV, II. Masters And Slaves, III. The Rebellion & IV. Until The End continues the story started on that first Caprahed release. Here, the enslaved population starts to fight back against the EMPIRE… Strap yourselves in and grow fierce as you experience the Caprahed fable of EMPIRE!




PR Wire:

Caprahed - Empire
Esoteric, progressive doom from Adelaide, Australia
New album “Empire” out January 20th
Genres - Doom metal, punk, alternative, primitive prog

Caprahed was formed in 2022 in Adelaide, Australia as an entirely solo project by Phil Howlett (Lucifer’s Fall, Solemn Ceremony, Zlórtcht, Rote Mare & Devils Victim (coming soon!)) as a vehicle for recording anything and everything a little bit different or strange that doesn’t fit in with the other more traditional projects mentioned. The first self-released self-titled Caprahed came out in 2023 and was a mix of Doom, Punk and more alternative influences. The second album and current release (January 2025) titled EMPIRE is a single 30 minute track which could be described as a mix of Doom, Punk, Alternative and a kind of primitive Prog. The usual more traditional doom influences plus something like Sonic Youth, Voivod and maybe even King Gizzard.
The artwork for Empire is by long term collaborator Sean WiskinCaprahed the band is based entirely upon the coming of goatmen from a parallel universe who use a machine of six pillars and a crystal humanoid skull to generate a portal through to our world, the power being generated through the draining and enslavement of the collective mind of humanity. The debut album began the story and the second album focuses on humanity’s fight back against the EMPIRE.
Caprahed is a purely studio project with the only current long term intention being to release further material.


Caprahed - Empire

Album out January 20th, 2025
Self-released (CD, Digital)
Adelaide, Australia
FFO: Cathedral, Sonic Youth, Voivod, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Recorded by Phil Howlett
Artwork by Sean Wiskin

Caprahed is Phill Howlett

Tracklist:
Empire (30:26)

Four Song Version (Parts I-IV):
I. Phase IV (6:28)
II. Masters And Slaves (10:12)
III. The Rebellion (8:50)
IV. Until The End (5:11)


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High Desert Queen – Palm Reader

 

 

High Desert Queen – Palm Reader
Magnetic Eye Records – 2024
Rock, Stoner, Desert, Metal
Rated: *****

How can we justify to ourselves not mentioning one of our absolute favorite albums from 2024 on Stoner HiVe. It flies high on our Personal Top 20 and turned out to be one out of two albums on that Personal Top 20 that we did not write about when said album was released. Well, we’re here to remedy that fact. And yes, there will probably also be a Duel review in the near future…

But right here, right now, are a few words about High Desert Queen and why we love their Palm Reader album so hard. First off, there’s the diversity, their devious choices of dynamics, their obvious restraint in going for the riff till they drop options. And don’t get me wrong, the riffs are there, huge and ten-fold. But always in supreme service of the song, the structure and the delivery. Opener Ancient Aliens for instance, with its stoner trucking groove, the bass heavy breakdown towards the third part and the guitar solo that’s goes off into the stratosphere. The main riff returns and points out the simple fact how thunderous it always was. It was always that bulldozer. But because of the excellent vocals by Ryan Garney that early part feels like a pusher that adds layer after layer to its foundation, and not like the all-leveling, all-freeing riff you can feel powering through your veins at the very end. Death Perception, continues with a more bluesy touch and a wonderful guest spot by Emma Näslund of Gaupa. It has thunder doom riffage once the middle part rolls around, but before it we are treated to a lot of subdued and bluesy guitar work, all so, Emma can shine. And where the riff and the punch sits obvious and loud on Head Honcho, there so much extra in the way of building up the anticipation that comes so easily to them. The vocal hook being the song title, the round going twice before the breakdown takes things into more of a slam dance territory. Which is another eagerness that builds up while listening to the album, you will want to catch these crazies live. Desperately. And then the breakdown goes deeper, slower and rustling with melancholy before they once again go back to the colossal side of heavy. Head Honcho, might be the perfect articulated promise. No need for experimentation, stick to your guns, make ’em shine and aim for nothing but headshots.

If there’s one song that has the Karl Daniel Lidén, responsible for the mixing and mastering, signature over it, it might be title track Palm Reader. The swirling guitar work, the whirling drums, that pounding groove, there are definite moments where its surely easy to imagine the Swedish touch. And you can see the crowd go wild as the chorus hits. Time Waster stays in more broken hard rock boogie territory, a bit of funk, a whole lot of vocal prowess and an axe wielding maniac serving up string poetry with every note played. And hear that drummer and bassist rumble in the distance. All chops and class there! And then we’re hit by the Tuesday Night Blues, soft melodic melancholy surfing on top of a current of jazz and blues, as Garney offers up his spoken word, his graceful bourbon bottom memories about a fateful dreary night. And they end their album with Solar Rain. Fuzz-heavy, straddling the line between heaviness and transcendence, the paradoxical touch between the melancholy drizzle that continues from the Tuesday Night Blues song into Solar Rain, slowly becomes this warm tempest. A psychedelic monsoon showering you with grit, power and a shove that turns into the biggest push of the album. The intensity doubling, tripling and finally thrusting you into the deep end…

And as you fly, you realize, Palm Reader is not just a continuation of High Desert Queen's upward trajectory—it's a statement. This album is a monster, full of swagger, grit, and raw emotion, of knowing your forte, your riffing strengths and sneakily build upon that, layer by layer… It came out in May 2024 and has sneakily become one of my favorite records of the year, listening to it, more and more and more…


(Written by JK)




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vrijdag 17 januari 2025

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

 

 

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

Welcome to the first Stoner HiVe Quick Fire Friday of 2025! That definitely has a ring to it! And we’re happy to get the fire started quickly in January this year! Soon, there’s also the Doom Charts Peroration for December going live today. So, there’s a lot of music to contend with. But that’s what we love right?! You can never have enough of it! So, here are some quick words about some great releases. We know, they deserve more, but there’s so much good and heavy stuff, and we just simply cannot ever do it all justice. So here it is… Another Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday! And it burns hot like molten lava!


Icarus Burns – Minotaur

Here’s the first drop of scorching lava! This four-piece from Berlin released their new single Minotaur exactly a week ago! It’s Icarus Burns and they deliver their mythical psych and prog in instrumental metal style. It’s the first single to set the scene for their debut album to arrive on February 10th. Incredibly thick bass sounds, wild guitar tones, thrilling riffs and drums captured to perfection. And then those shifts in structure and composition, furious! See, it burn! It burns! Icarus Burns!




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Slumlord Radio – Snakebit


Another single released about a week ago, it’s Slumlord Radio and their Snakebit track. Starting off with a QOTSA vibe, thanks to the little opening background choir, it quickly turns more gritty, punk and into an action packed hard rocker. Although the background choir returns at the end, turning it back again, and turning you on again, and having you push the play button again. Perfect for getting your revved up to visit your local dive bar! Shirley is waiting! Again!




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Dakû - Endless

Their debut Post Apocalyptic Atmospheric Black Metal EP Endless was released yesterday! It’s the Polish two piece Dakû. With VladO doing the instruments and vocals and Mati on Drums, these five tracks are crushing, brain shattering, yet retain melodies that flow through the remnants of your grey matter like icy water. Nothing like their other band MüuT and their amazing Make Me Do It album, but still… Endless proves once again they are brilliant artists!




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Da Beumb Project – Fairly Consistent

Bass and drum duo Da Beumb Project hails from Montréal, Québec, Canada and are about to release a new album called: Closer, Warmer. First single, Heck Yes, out since December 16 is a righteous calling card. Fast paced punk, all sludged and grunged up, and not a huge time commitment, since it only lasts one minute and forty-five seconds. You want a video for this? Heck Yes!




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Sha-La-Lees – O, Oblivian!

Been following these cats ever since the best drummer from the Netherlands joined their ranks in 2021. New album Hex is coming out January 24th, this is the first single O,Oblivian! O, and they’re called the Sha-La-Lees. O, and the drummer is Ries Doms. Once from The Spades, Hooghwater, Vanderbuyst, Reaching Forward and more. O, and the rest of the band is made up out of Belgian rock royalties, from bands like The Sore Losers and El Guapo Stuntteam. Garage and proto punk! O, and very addictive!




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Kova – Firça

The Turkish four piece Kova is made up out of musicians from various stoner doom and heavy psych bands, residing in Ankara. They came together in a studio and recorded a four-hour, fully improvised session. The first single Firça was released a week ago and delivers some spicy instrumental doom noise. Savage and wild, the psychedelic paintbrush used does not paint happy little trees but serious deliriums…




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Stonerhenge – Solaris

Belarus is not an easy country to reside in at this moment in time. Perhaps it never was. But the three piece Stonerhenge have their music to escape into. Solaris takes you on a progressive stoner metal adventure. Based on the book by Polish author Stanisław Herman Lem, they translate the mystique and strangeness of the story perfectly, with their shifting colors and compositions. Stonerhenge’s Solaris deserves to be explored.




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Fish Basket - Cartboard Racer

The Cartboard Racer single was released in 2023 but will feature proudly on the new album coming out today through on Interstellar Smoke Records. It’s a new Fish Basket record and delivers their progressive instrumental madness in fine form! And look at that fun video!




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dinsdag 14 januari 2025

Planet Desert Rock Weekend

 


Planet Desert Rock Weekend

January 30 - February 2, 2025

Las Vegas. Sin City. And soon, for four nights straight you can experience all those rock ‘n roll vices and virtues in one fell swoop! From January 30th to February 2nd, it’s Planet Desert Rock Weekend with its majestic line-up! Organized by the honorable John Gist from Vegas Rock Revolution, this edition has it all! Look at all that rock ‘n roll gold! If getting groovy with all these bands is bad, I don’t wanna be good! Planet Desert Rock Weekend, it’s out of this world!


Thursday January 30th

Unida
Mr Bison
Sons Of Arrakis
Samavayo

Friday January 31st
Fireball Ministry
JIRM
Valley Of The Sun
Fire Down Below
Godzillionaire

Saturday February 1st
Mos Generator
Sergeant Thunderhoof
The Watchers
Solace
Omega Sun
Green Desert Water

February 2nd
Duel
Bonehawk
Luna Sol
Iota, slc
Jason Walker’s Badmotorfinger- A tribute to the classic Soundgarden to kick off the show.


And there are still a handful of tickets available!

GET THEM HERE

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maandag 13 januari 2025

Hungry Like Rakovitz - Pious

 

 

Hungry Like Rakovitz - Pious
Shove Records/Flames Don't Judge/Helldog Records - 2025
Sludge, Metal
Rated: ****

Hungry Like Rakovitz from Italy have been waving the grindcore/sludge/hardcore flag for many, many years. Their first full length came out way back in 2009 and since then they went on to release a split with O, two ep's and two more full lengths, always balancing somewhere on the verge of the above mentioned styles. 'Pious' is their latest lp and the first one since 2016's 'Nevermind the Light' (bar a mediocre ep titled 'Vile' in 2020).

The first thing that comes to mind when listening to 'Pious' is that it's still an ear-shattering slab of relentless aggression. A dark assault bound to rip your flesh apart and tear your insides out with the sole purpose of grilling them at a cosy neighbourhood BBQ party. Quite befitting to the person after whom the band was named (Daniel Rakowitz - google the name and be disgusted by the lunatic actions that led him to be involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital where he - as far as I know - still resides).

Anyway - in case you didn't get the point yet - this is heavy and brutal music for everyone with a sturdy backbone and a heart that's been tested and given the green light to undergo the madness. But, unlike earlier releases, the grindcore has taken a bit of a backseat. This is mainly extremely heavy and highly technical sludge with a math metal edge, a basic groove you rarely hear in grindcore and vocals that range from hardcore shouts to black metal screams.

The best example of HLR's obvious growth is given straight away. Opener 'We Don't Write Love Songs' makes an obvious statement and bursts out off the gate with all guns blazing, ready to take you down with one single bullet. 'We March to the Off Beat of Our Drums' is another standout track with a groove that wanders off into Crowbar territory, while 'Permanent Damnation' (by far the longest track clocking in at over 5 minutes) makes Eyehategod look like a bunch of school kids sharing lunch on a sunny playground. For the rest it's mayhem, havoc, violence and destruction, delivered in random order by a band that's been around for a while and has gotten so tight it's about time to loosen your studded collar a bit and give those neck muscles some well-deserved exercise. Released on January 1st 2025, this is the first big blow of 2025 and a very promising start to the new year.


(Written by Ronny Dijksterhuis)




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Doom Charts Top 100 Albums of 2024

 

 

Doom Charts Top 100 Albums of 2024


It has arrived!

The Doom Charts Top 100, expertly tallied by Remi VL and voted for throughout the year by all those crazy Contributors!

100 amazing albums from the Heavy Underground, (out of a total list of 2083 albums) and I can honestly say, once again, that I love'm all... Perhaps one or two a bit less and a heap a bit more... Cause the albums that are listed as 101 to 200 are stunning as well! Insane, the amount and the quality!

They're all freaking stunning pieces of art!  🤘

Congratulations to Psychlona for taking the top spot... 

Read our thoughts on their Warped Vision album.

Or read that weird little chat we had with Psychlona founder Phil Hey.

Started the Top 100 rundown with Lucifer's Lucifer V album!

You doing that as well? Or using the Spotify or Tidal playlist?

Lucifer, the right kind of spark to get all that heavy underground fire a burning!


And get lit on the entire Top 100!

Doom Charts Top 100 Albums of 2024

The Doom Charts for December 2024

 


DOOM CHARTS

DECEMBER 2024

 

“I’ll have what the Doom Charts having.”

~ Probably misheard quote from When Harry Met Sally…

 

Happy New Year to one and all! May 2025 bring you all you need! And may the Doom Charts continue to feed your needs in Heavy Underground music. Cause that’s what we hope to do, every month again. And in a week or two we shall put up the Top 100 for 2024. The Doom Charts way of looking back at the entire year that has come and gone. But first we have December to enjoy! Which will always be a weird month. Less albums are released in that month. And there is a lot of looking back and making lists about the music released in the year almost finished. And there are a few Contributors off on holiday, taking a break or too busy with that year-end-stuff. Which makes December a volatile month; but o’ so lovely! For there were still 190 albums that received votes and below you can visit the Top 40 of that list. And those 40 are all there for a reason! Their need to produce the good stuff that will feed all of our needs!  

Mustard, meal... You get the deal... Due to the Stoner HiVe Top 20 Countdown, New Year and loads of other stuff we have forgotten to post about the December 2024 Doom Charts. But since we are a bit autistic in that respect, we still want to get the word out about those 40 albums before we get the word out about the 100 Best Albums of 2024 according to the Doom Charts... So here, it is, the December 2024 Doom Charts!

 

Welcome to Doom Charts, representing some of the finest bloggers, journalists, radio, podcasters and reviewers from the heavy underground around the globe.  Each month, our critics submit their picks for the best new doom, sludge, metal, stoner, psychedelic and heavy rock albums.  The results are compiled and tabulated into the chart below.  This is a one-stop shop for the best new albums in the world…



 

The Doom Charts for December 2024

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

 

 

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


Lorquin’s Admiral
Kryptograf
Kaiser
Kintsugi Empire
Vessel
Ocultum
Grey Mountain
Lucifer
MaidaVale
The Clamps

Good morning everyone! This is that first Top 10 Most Listened Last Week list for 2025. We shall continue do inform you through a few quick lines what has been on our ears the most. We will refrain from posting links to the bands on FB for a while; you know the reason. But of course with links on the  little old blog. And I’m sure you can find those awesome bands and albums on your own anyway. The Spotify Playlist will continue, featuring all albums or songs available there at this time. Cause some aren’t out yet. The new supergroup Lorquin’s Admiral and their debut for instance. Wow! Or the new Kryptograf, so hot! And Kaiser, ai ai ai! 2025 is starting off with a bang! Get ready for those. And check out the others on the list. They all deserve your attention! Have a great week!



The Spotify Playlist for...

Stoner HiVe's Weekly Top 10 Most Listened

Week 3

vrijdag 10 januari 2025

DeWolff – Muscle Shoals

 

 

DeWolff – Muscle Shoals
Mascot – 2024
Rock, Roots
Rated:  

Formed in The Netherlands in the year two thousand and seven, DeWolff have been cranking out tunes as a collective for almost two decades. They say time flies when you’re having fun and boy do DeWolff have fun! The brothers Pablo and Luka van de Poel and Robin Piso have traveled the world playing venues and festivals alike. They have played with tons of musicians across the world. The band has recorded in different countries, provinces, and states across the globe. Which brings us to the small yet historical town of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, USA. Three Dutchmen walk into an Alabama studio, sounds like the setup to a bad joke your Uncle Joe might would tell at a family gathering right? No, this is not the case. The reason of course, as I mentioned, is the historic significance of Muscle Shoals. Specifically, the musical significance of the town and the famous studios within. DeWolff found themselves with a chance to record in FAME Studios and the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, both of which produced legendary acts of R&B and Soul, as well as Rock ‘n’ Roll and Southern Rock, respectively. When that opportunity came, DeWolff seized the moment.

Which brings us to the album Muscle Shoals. Even those that are familiar with or have heard of the band DeWolff may not realize this is their tenth studio album. However, there is no burnout or lack of inspiration from this group, and you need only listen to Muscle Shoals as proof. DeWolff have their own personality, it’s an irresistible feel-good atmosphere projected throughout the entire album, and you can’t help but feel its energy. The retro vibes are strong, not only in the compositions and production, but also in the songwriting. We have the rockin’ tunes of ‘Natural Woman’, ‘Truce’, and ‘Ophelia’ that achieve a 70’s sound with the vocal harmonies and the ever-present keys that are staples of DeWolff’s music. They aren’t afraid to add claps, saxophone, or backing vocals to the mix, and the songs are all the better for these additions. We have the groovin’ tracks of ‘Out on the Town’, ‘Hard to Make a Buck’, and ‘Fools & Horses’ which are full of stories and perhaps even life lessons. The influences of old school rock and soul that have shaped DeWolff are evident as they shine on Muscle Shoals, and the chemistry of the band is undeniable. The brothers have similar voices, and the back-and-forth vocals on ‘Hard to Make a Buck’ and ‘Fools & Horses’ are really special, a true highlight of the album. We have the lovin’ songs, I put them in the same category as they are all related to love, though I’d like to point out the three different stages of a relationship. You have the upbeat beginning of ‘In Love’ with a walking bass line and splendid percussion, while the backup vocals echo the fresh new excitement of affection. ‘Let’s Stay Together’ is more of a reflection of the past, longing for that initial connection that has somewhat faded over time. The track is more of a somber affair, with an orchestral sound to the organ. Then we come to the end of this trio of songs with ‘Ships in The Night’, I feel it can be interpreted in two different ways. Either the love is rekindled or the realization hits that like ships in the night, separate paths can only align for a short time.

There are four other tracks that I didn’t mention, though I hope you go out and check the album out yourself and see what all my rambling and praise is about. After enjoying their previous album, last year’s ‘Love, Death & In Between’ as much as I did, I wasn’t expecting a new album so soon, nor was I expecting such a great album. DeWolff has so many components that I enjoy. Organs, vocal harmonies, and a retro sound, just to name a few. There’s plenty to love on Muscle Shoals, and if you love Blues, Soul, and Classic Rock, you’ll enjoy this latest outing.


(Written by Jon McGough)




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Review for Live at Royal Theatre Carré with Metropole Orchestra

Review for Tascam Tapes

Review for Thrust

Review for Roux-Ga-Roux

Review for Grand Southern Electric

Review for Orchards / Lupine

Review for Strange Fruits and Undiscovered Plants

Review for Dewolff