7 Weeks – All Channels Off

7 Weeks – All Channels Off
Buzzville Records – 2010
Rock/Stoner/Grunge/Metal
Waardering: ****

French born 7 Weeks started rockin with the three of them in the year of our lord 2006 and their fine little piece of music called the B(L)ack Days EP saw the light of the the following year. This little ditty did extremely well in their homecountry and it took three years to compose their first fullsize album called All Channels Off. Nowadays they are completed by a fourth member and the sound has matured and they sound like a beast that needs to be unleashed upon the world. With a sort of postgrunge sauce the guys blast through the stonerlandscape and pick up a few metal influence along the way. Think Queens of The Stone Age, Kyuss, Soundgarden and some little stints of Metallica. Maybe they are not opting for the award for originality but that is quickly forgotten en forgiven when the quality and love for the music is this apparent. Just straight up, straight down, full gass rock ’n roll that entertains to the max! ça peut arriver!

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Roadburn

Roadburn

Saturday at 10:00 CET there were once again enough people around the world behind their devilish computer-screens to sell out the sixteenth edition of the Roadburn Festival in about 15 minutes. This time not because the Dutch government is planning to tax ticket-prices next year making every festival twenty or something Euro’s more expensive. No; this was just because the presale started at that exact time. Fifteen minutes. It’s gonna be a grand edition once again! Maybe the last at the chosen location? Cause the venue is about to rip at the seams…

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The Machine – Drie

The Machine – Drie
Elektrohasch – 2010
Rock/Stoner/Psychedelica
Waardering: ****

Without pausing for a moment’s rest the Dutch trio of The Machine who have been steaming through the psychedelic musical landscape since 2006; truck on. The first album Shadow Of The Machine was released in 2007 and Solar Corona made the top albums list of 2009. At that time the gentlemen already professed they would release a third album in 2010. The third album called ‘Drie’ (Dutch for three/third) has now hit the stores and a fourth is in the making for 2011. Spectacular form guys! This is the way to go; back to that seventies mentality. Create, produce; let the good times roll. Especially when the quality of the songwriting is this freakin good. And not just the mentality goes back to the glorious years; so does the music. We can still hear the Jimi and Zeppelin flag flying high and Blue Cheer and Colour Haze being absolute heroes or the three amigos; with this time around a few more nods towards Kyuss. Psychedelic fuzz, whirling jams, tight stoner and acidic riffing. Incredible record; and with such a quality curve the 2011 record will definitely near perfection!

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Fill Bloom – All Things Go By

Fill Bloom – All Things Go By
Self released – 2010
Rock/Stoner
Waardering: **

The five headed monster from Alkmaar, Netherlands is called Fill Bloom and released their demo ep No Kings last year which is now followed by the four songs counting All Things Go By. The numbers are right dead center of everything affiliated with stonerrock. It isn’t really original; but it floats and drives with massive speed on ramshackle drums and nifty riffs. Founded in 2008 by members of Carp. and Trunksleeve the bands sounds mostly like Fu Manchu, Queens of The Stone Age and Soundgarden who are just jamming around for fun. The top quality of those bands is never reached; but they will probably be topshelf on their next full-size album. You can hear that in superb songs like Beauty Seduces!

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Ortega – 1634

Ortega – 1634
Self Released – 2010
Metal/Post/Doom
Waardering: ****

The four gentlemen from Groningen calling them selves Ortega are offering their record 1634 for free as a download. I hope people take a lot of advantage of this; cause it’s a kinghell of a record. Atmospherical pieces and slow dragging riffs are mixed with dreamy waves and a pounding musical storm. Comparisons with greatness like Neurosis or Isis are just and the seaworthy voyage adventure concept of the record tells a truly compelling story. Hottdamn; and only now does the quarter drop. I first discovered Capt. Ortega's logbook in a monastery overlooking the ocean. On The morning of February 13, 1634, Capt. Ortega anchored his ship behind a barrier reef… Enfin, the rest is an insane tale about tiny underwater creatures not even bigger then a thumb and a Tooter which not many people will ever believe… But you know there's something about Capt. Otega's story. That makes me believe it’s true… Let’s hope that our Groningen friends keep enjoying many; many adventures…

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Triggerfinger – All This Dancin Around

Triggerfinger – All This Dancin Around
Excelsior – 2010
Rock/Stoner/Blues
Waardering: *****

On their third studio-album All This Dancin Around, our Belgian Triggerfinger friends show once again that my above-board adoration for the gentlemen is absolutely well founded. The spectacularly tight drum-work of Goossens, the silent bass-strength of Bruystegem and the masterful tones, incredible voice and pure charisma of Block make the record vibrate with intense heat from the first to the last second. Recorded in the Sound City Studios in Los Angeles with the guidance of Greg Gordon (Slayer, Wolfmother) who listened with his mouth wide open to the powerful blues created by the guys; the album is one of absolute world-class level. His justified favorites All Night Long and Baby’s Got A Gun; fire out of the speakers. And the other nine songs are right up there with them. The entire record is even more ingenious and better constructed the their earlier ones. Intense, fierce, dangerous, horny and above all gruesomely good!

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Mini Mansions – Mini Mansions

Mini Mansions – Mini Mansions
Rekords Rekords / Ipecac – 2010
Rock / Pop / Psychedelica
Waardering: ***

One of the two last added (and less appreciated) members of Queens of The Stone age has also founded a little hobby-group; and his is called: Mini Mansions. We are of course referring to Michael Shuman who at one point in time also played with Wires Of Fire and Jubilee. When Qotsa decided to take a break to find some new inspiration; Troy van Leeuwen went on to do his Sweethead thing and Josh Homme started with his fabled Them Crooked Vultures. And of course Shuman knew that idle hands are the devils playthings; so he founded together with two childhood friends his to the Beatles and Beach Boys referring band Mini Mansions. With help from Josh and his Pink Duck studio they recorded their self-titled album and blended the desert psychedelics with that of the sixties. The result is a worthy record that uses all the psychedelic colors of the rainbow to pain its songs with hooks and precision. Suddenly; you start viewing Mr. Shuman from an entirely different angle…

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Shaking Godspeed – Awe

Shaking Godspeed – Awe
Suburban / Quadrofoon – 2010
Rock/Garage/Blues/Stoner/Psychedelica
Waardering: *****

With their five songs counting ep Shaking Godspeed released at the beginning of 2010 we could already feel the earth shaking beneath the rockfirmament. What an incredibly righteous band was the conclusion made by one and all. Now that the band has released their first official full-size album the expectations are pretty damn high. But without any hesitation or doubt the guys deliver. With Paul Dierssen replacing Pieter Holkenborg, who wanted to continue on with his own band Automatic Sam, the threesome bring forth their pure rock taking to their perfect extremes. In the base their blues, garage and jamband related music has been intelligently composed and very excitingly colored in by raw excess and deranged drumfills and bassditties. For ten songs on end the band drags you along on a righteous rock-adventure after which they leave you tired but completely satisfied to catch yer breath. Shaking Godspeed; in awe and full wonderment!

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