Yama – Demo

Yama – Demo
Self released – 2011
Rock/Stoner/Metal/Psychedelica
Waardering: ****

On this last day of the Dutch Courage Month we bring you the four amigos of the new formation hailing from Tilburg and Utrecht called Yama. Although to be honest; the guys have been rocking around since 2008 under another name which was Les Ailes. With former Encircled singer Alex Schenkels the band delivers some grade A stoner rock that’s highly psychedelic often truly metallic and carries its sound into twisted regions; and thanks to the vocals on occasion reminds of 16 Horsepower and WovenHand which is a strong feat whichever way you look at it. Though on other moments names as Baroness and Graveyard come to mind. They have an ear for the massive riffs and use it to carry along solos and steady rhythms. This is some serious groove they got going and I bet their shows will be pure exploding loudness and intense adventures. I for one cannot wait to partake!

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Ten Page Pilot – Circle Lines

Ten Page Pilot – Circle Lines
Beautiful Sunday – 2008
Rock/Stoner/Grunge
Waardering: ****

Our four little Limburgian friends of Ten Page Pilot are on the verge of releasing their first album entitled Into The Eyes Of The Armed. Which means that this is a justified time to look back to their five songs counting EP called Circle Lines from 2008. Here we can hear that the four guys have been playing together for a long time and we can also ascertain that before this band they formed a Nirvana cover band. But still; Ten Page Pilot is more then the sum of these parts. The EP sports five hyper-intelligent stonertracks that grind up against grunge like a dog in heat and reminds of the heaviest work delivered by bands such as The Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana and Soundgarden. A very edgy singer and powerful drummer provide excellent room for flaming riffs and guitar-lines to dance over righteous melodies and give testament to savage talent. Let’s hope we will be able to enjoy that record about those eyes of some gun-toting idiot damn fast!

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Samuel – Sunwheel

Samuel – Sunwheel
Motorwolf – 2001
Rock/Stoner/Psychedelic/Seventies
Waardering: *****

Before these The Hague freaks changed the name into Samuel; the band was known for a very short period as Samuel Power Explosion. But this too was not the original name. Cause before this they were called Sunwheel or by their full moniker: Sunwheel Power Express. Under this name they released a self-titled seven-inch single. But due to the many and disturbing threats the guys received from right wing sympathizing idiots, they decided to change the name into Samuel. Maybe if we give the name of the drummer and a couple of the many bands he participates in more will become clear. We are of course referring to non-other then Motorwolf’s very own Guy Tavares. The man behind bands such as Panty Boy, Godzilla vs. Metalhead, Los Hermanos Rodriguez, White Trash Minstrels, Unit Moebius, Santa Cruz and his most known band Orange Sunshine. With Samuel we take a pure trip back to that psychedelic era of Blue Cheer, Hendrix and Sabbath. It all sounds so genuine, veritable, sincere and stunning; probably due to the enormous amount of authentic amps and other stuff owned by the Motorwolf studio. Absolutely brilliant! It’s a shame the man did not do more with this formation…

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Solarcruiser – Solarcruiser

Solarcruiser – Solarcruiser
Self released – 2010
Stoner
Waardering: ****

Normally nobody in their right mind would travel to the city of Almere; but when Dutch band Solarcruiser is destined to give another show there, it is an absolute recommendation to conquer all your hesitations and do so anyway. Founded in 2007 by two former members of Born Loco they were ready to throw their first four songs counting EP into the world a couple of months ago. It’s full of archetypal full force pushing stoner with a few moments to float here and there. With a very convincing singer Sanel Kadic you are treated to supreme heavy riffing, swampy bass and dirty drums. Freestyle Desert Rock is what the guys like to call it themselves; and that is exactly what it is. Hopefully the Dutch freaks in the south of the land will not be deprived of a show too long; and let’s hope equally as much that the entire world will be treated to full-sized album soon. Solarcruiser; remember that name!

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Greyline – Behind The Masquerade

Greyline – Behind The Masquerade
Black Death Records – 2010
Metal/Sludge/Stoner/Hardcore
Waardering: ****

The Dutch foursome Greyline has been making name for themselves for about ten years now. Founded in 2001 they released a first EP two years later and followed that up with the full-sized album Red Carpet Avenue the next year. Five years after said debut the guys dived into the studio to record a follow-up. Behind The Masquerade is that successor; very different of its predecessor and produced by Philip Cope known from his work on the Red album of Baroness and of course as singer/guitarplayer of Kylesa. Scott Hull (Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Pig Destroyer) pushed a few buttons to do the mastering after that and the result is pretty damn good. For sale on beautiful vinyl and available as a free download Greyline navigates nicely between all the different waves of metal and sludge. Their old hardcore roots only shine through now and again. On all other fronts it’s roughness as a king and with exceptional artistic finds and always incredibly versatile. Yet another reason to go out and buy new record-needles!

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Diggeth – 21st Century Nomad

Diggeth – 21st Century Nomad
Bertus/T35 – 2009
Rock/Metal/ ’n Roll/Stoner/Blues
Waardering: ****

The threesome earned their rockspurs in bands such as Social Disaster, Wicked Mystic, Non Divine and Alimentation. So it’s not so strange that we can hear all that experience on their debut album 21st Century Nomad. The story of Dutch born Diggeth, cause that’s the band we are talking about here, starts in the summer over 2004. A year later they released a three songs counting single called One More Yesterday. After which an international tour began, with crowning achievement the opening slot for a Michael Schenker show. Thanks to the fact that percussionist Roel Bruggink also played the drums for the 2008 Schenker tour. In the early spring though he left the band and got replaced by Roel Hartjes; and with this line-up a tour following Sacred Reich commenced. We should be able to state, and surely hope that Diggeth will be around and rising for a long long time. Cause the album is filled with quite a few true rock-diamonds. Nine metal songs which drive one blues rhythms or groove like stoner; but are always honest, hard, rough, raw and heavy! (And since 2011 Hartjes has been replaced by founding member Benjamin Kip…)

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One Inch Men – RED

One Inch Men – RED
Self released – 2006
Stoner
Waardering: ***

Last feat of arms by the One Inch Men guys from Tilburg is the four songs EP called RED from 2006. The sound once again is more accurate to their live performance and much more metallic as previous EP’s. Plenty of aggression and a suitcase full of energy. So after this the waiting for a full-sized album could commence. But it will always in waiting. For even though the touring continued and the writing too; and even though there were some new recordings done in 2009 those recordings will never be released. One Inch Men gigs are now a thing of the past. Cause the band has decided to call it quits. Gerben and Mario have gone off into another direction and the three remaining members founded a new band called Blaine. And Blain will soon be releasing their first tones. We look forward to what they may bring…

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One Inch Men – Opinionated Prick

One Inch Men – Opinionated Prick
Self released – 2005
Stoner
Waardering: ***

Three years later the stoner threesome called One Inch Men from the wondrous city of Tilburg in the south of Holland had to extra members. And three plus two equals five. So the five of them once again recorded four songs in the Double Noise Studio and this time around the sound got picked up a little. Less pulling on the guitar-layers and drums. The singer also seems to have made quite some progress. Its still stoner rock but we can already detect more metal and Alice In Chains influences here. Still; it does not compare to the awesome live performances the guys deliver. Too bad the next post will contain the bad news…

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One Inch Men – Kill Your Demons

One Inch Men – Kill Your Demons
Self released – 2002
Stoner
Waardering: ***

The Tilburg trio One Inch Men was founded in 2002 and soon delivered their first demo Kill Your Demons. The band named itself after a Kyuss song; so I reckon we can all immediately guess which band inspired them most. The four songs of the demo are all logically in the desert vein of things. Recorded in guitarplayer Gerben’s own Double Noise Studio the collective sounds a bit weak, contrary to their explosives live shows, which are always amazing. Maybe you can also hear here that singer Mario had to put down the guitar and start singing due to accidents at work. On later recordings I reckon he enjoys himself more? And right after or during the recordings the three became five...

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De Staat – Machinery

De Staat – Machinery
Pias – 2011
Rock/Robot/Stoner/Funk
Waardering: ****

Ever since the album Wait For Evolution came out in 2009, frontman Torre Florim and his band De Staat have become a household name. And a lot was expected of course from their second album Machinery soon to be released. Luckily they meet those expectations; but not as explosively as on their first album. But of course; that one had the element of surprise going for it. Again we are treated to groove a la Queens of The Stone Age, breaks we know of Grampall Jookabox but also twisted funk like Beck and the dark tales of Nick Cave. It is a worthy successor to their first record and one that will cement De Staat’s place in the collective mind even more. After this everyone can justly claim that there is a De Staat sound. A whirlwind of eclectic musical styles that always surprises, is highly entertaining and builds you up like a machine before breaking you down again. Loving it!

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Colossa – Born To Make A Sound

Colossa – Born To Make A Sound
Goomah/V2 – 2011
Rock/Stoner
Waardering: ***

With their first full-sized album Born To Make A Sound the three amigo’s of Colossa have delivered a promising record. Promising because the qualities of the guys are overly apparent but are not exploding of these tracks. Which might have been more the case on their first EP released two years ago. Maybe the thought was to honor their inspirations more and that it is this reason they might have gotten lost in the example of an idea. And the examples are many; Triggerfinger, Black Keys, Queens of The Stone Age but also Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. During their best moments you get served some grinding psychedelic rock in debt to the blues which is raw and pure. At other times you hear a band which seems to be lacking the nerve to take risks and safely takes the middle road. Colossa; great name, fine record and enough potential to conquer everyone and everything next time around!

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Hooghwater quits…

Hooghwater quits…

Today we bring you sad news… One of the most interesting and genuine bands hailing from the Netherlands of late had decided to call it quits. Hooghwater is no more. The band was on the verge of entering the studio and producing a follow up to the brilliant record Echos from 2009. But before you do that you have to have everybody looking in the same direction. Difference in view on which creative path to take seems to have caused the rift. Drummer Ries Doms: “Sometimes you have to sit down and compare views. And sometimes this means you come to a conclusion that everybody wants to do something else. But our friendship was never on the line.” (3voor12 Tilburg) Now we will have to wait to see what the other guys will be doing; cause Doms was of course already preparing his fellowship with The Kik. But I reckon all of us would rather see him continue to play with Gingerpig; and of course Hooghwater… Sniff…

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Revisit the Hooghwater EP

Revisit the Echos Album

Colossa – Colossa EP

Colossa – Colossa EP
Self released – 2009
Rock/Stoner
Waardering: ****

Pfew; it’s not just the region of Nijmegen/Arnhem that delivers the best when it comes to rock in the Netherlands. The southern region of Limburg has been making name for itself as well; with bands like Dewolff and Sungrazer. And since 2009 we can also talk about the trio called Colossa. Who have just released their full-sized album called Born To Make A Sound under guidance of producer Guido (there he is again) Aalbers; and will surely be turning heads with it. But let’s revisit their first five songs counting ep of 2009 with which it all started. Five tight songs strongly based on the stoner that Queens of The Stone Age brought to the masses; but with a lot of Masters of Reality lines. Add to this that the singer even reminds of Chris Goss now and again; and you know that you’re in for a good time. Of course; we could say that a lot of it resembles parts of the just names examples a bit too much. But yer a curmudgeon if you don’t dig these tight drums and tasty riffs!

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Barbarella – I Am The Wolf

Barbarella – I Am The Wolf
Self released – 2011
Rock/Stoner
Waardering: -

Quickly after the release of the genuinely great EP Neon City of rock-formation Barbarella hailing from the lovely town of Nijmegen; the guitarplayer Remco Verweij decided to leave the band. Luckily a replacement was found in Jaap Lagerweij of The Mellotones. And with him they trucked on through the land and delivered smashing shows everywhere they came. And now they are busy recording their first full album under guidance of producer Guido Aalbers. Let’s hope it will not be as smooth and poppy as what the good man usually delivers. First taste I Am The Wolf does not give us a feeling of ease. Although Guido has released some pretty good stuff in recent times; but we will get to that a bit later on. So write down on your calendar; late 2011 a new album by Barbarella. On a sidenote; there is also a song that was born out of collaboration with local rapper Biggie Bigs. When The Shit Hits The Fan makes us relive the days of the soundtrack of Judgment Night. And those were the days!

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Barbarella – Neon City

Barbarella – Neon City
Self released – 2008
Rock/Stoner
Waardering: ****

Well; we’re still on that train that keeps circling Nijmegen like a vulture looking for some easy prey; cause this is once again where the four headed Barbarella hails from. But these guys are in no way easy prey. Rocking since 2005 their efforts culminated in their first six-track ep called Neon City in 2008. A damn fine record that mostly refers to Queens of The Stone Age but also likes to pay homage to some old grunge heroes. But these guys don’t just steamroll over you with heavy riffing; they also pull back on the throttle and head for higher ground. The quality of the band becomes even more apparent; cause the Dutch aren’t normally very good in creating space. This is where Barbarella can teach a thing or two. Just like in producing an intense 20-minute listening experience that grates, chafes and drags you along. No fillers. I might have to brush away a tiny tear. Tight stuff; this Barbarella!

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The Attitudes – Demo

The Attitudes – Demo
Self released – 2008
Rock/Punk/’n Roll/Garage
Waardering: ***

It’s starting to get a little one-sided; all those bands hailing from the dusty fields from the Arnhem/Nijmegen region. But the three guys from The Attitudes are just that; and they have been playing together just for the hell of it since 2006. Well; hell of it. They just started jamming once a week. And regarded their other bands, Splatch, Dear Jane and 27 Speedtrap maybe as the more ‘valid’ ones. That is what is called making music for the fun of it; and that it usually leads to damn good live-shows is not a coincidence. On their 2008 demo they recorded three songs that hail influence from garage, punk and rock ’n roll while making references to bands like The Stooges, Radio Birdman, MC5, The Damned and The Ramones. Lovely tight little ditties that never get to basal as usually the case with punk. Pure playing fun; which is the perfect attitude to make music! (Although the gentlemen are stronger when they play as Dear Jane…)

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Wallace Vanborn – Free Blank Shots

Wallace Vanborn – Free Blank Shots
Pias – 2010
Rock/Stoner
Waardering: ****

The first Flemish additions to the Dutch Courage Month are the three amigos of Wallace Vanborn. Founded in 2005 they quickly stormed the gates and only two years later barely missed winning the Humo Rock Rally and were selected to represent Belgium during an international rock competition. Immediately after this, and without a record to promote, just an EP called I Am Hell recorded in 2006, the guys jumped on to a ship or plane and headed out to the United States to tour the promised land for about two weeks. I guess they felt it was time to record an album; which they did soon after. The record fits snugly in the tradition that started a flood of bands after Queens of The Stone Age conquered the world with Songs For The Deaf. It is damn energetic and very accessible stoner; playful, rhythmic extremely strong and with convincing vocals. Danceable, sexy and damn tasty!

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