Jumping Jack – Cows and Whisky

Jumping Jack – Cows and Whisky
Self released – 2009
Rock, Stoner, Metal
Waardering: ****

Nantes, Bretagne, France. The year is 2005 and a couple of guys find each other in their love for raw and heavy music. But after several attempts to forge something concrete, they decided to call it quits in 2008. Only to start again as a power-trio a year later. The singer, with a new bassist and drummer truck on as Jumping Jack and immediately record an EP called Cows and Whisky. With their love for massive riffage and driving, carrying rhythms they run over us for six songs on end. Singer/guitarist Julian Bells has that lovely raw and dirty edge to his voice, drummer Chris Dabrown beasts himself dizzy and bassist Manu Redhead delivers the much needed balance and makes sure the other guys can still find each other. Greasy, groovy rock with stoner and metal elements crossed with some seventies feeling and honest energetic rock ’n roll. Une whisky à votre santé!

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Ironweed – Your World of Tomorrow

Ironweed – Your World of Tomorrow
Small Stone – 2011
Rock, Stoner, Metal, Grunge, Alternative
Waardering: ****

The New York formation Ironweed have just delivered their sophomore album Your World Of Tomorrow and with it their new orgasmic mix or old skool metal, sludge, grunge and stoner. Where their first record Indian Ladder had the tendency to bob along a little bit to leisurely on that seventies feeling; with this record they seem to want to create their own private niche. On occasion the sound we know from their first album shines through but with much more passion and conviction. In true concept fashion the album tells the tale of a utopian society in a distant future; or is it the dystopian present one? A wonderful tapestry of styles, riffage, tempo changes and different vocal-lines is the result. And everything more furious, more eccentric and distinct. Apparently the changes in line-up have only done good things for their creativity and diversity. Your World Of Tomorrow; outlandish and lovely in all its complexity!

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Treehorn – Hearth

Treehorn – Hearth
Riff Records / Swarm Records / Self released – 2011
Stoner, post, hardcore, sludge
Waardering: ****

Treehorn is made up out of three crazy Italians who have been rocking for at least four years and have now delivered their sophomore album. The first, Anime, was released in 2008 and suffered from an incoherent form of production, was heavy on the hardcore side of things but showed definite promise. Hearth is a step forward on all fronts. You can still hear the hardcore and metal love shine through but it is pushed back and gives room to sludge patterns and a pure stoner formula as used by the greats. They drag you along on their voyage through the bogs and swamps that house the Treehorn. Their sound has that weird magical feeling as if it was all whispered to them by the voice of the old soul of the world; even though they are noisy and extremely hectic, it still sounds pure and simple in all its complexity. But I reckon we all know the deal by now; complexity is the eventual goal of everything. And these guys are definitely on the right track!

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Far Plain – Human Forbidden

Far Plain – Human Forbidden
Self released / New Genesis Ltd. – 2011
Rock, Grunge, Alternative
Waardering: ***

The story surrounding the French band Far Plain starts somewhere around 2006 when two buddies find each other in their musical ambition. With a love for nineties rock and grunge, with power and soul the guys start searching for other kindred spirits. Not long after they recorded their first EP and in 2009 they released their first album called Portea Lucis. And now we are treated to the follow-up called Human Forbidden. The gentlemen stay the course they already plotted and provide us with some heave alternative rock, grunge, nineties rock, and metal infused with even more massive amounts of melodies and vocal-lines. Enough to enjoy when you are a fan of Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Silverchair, Stone Temple Pilots and Black Stone Cherry. But we also hear a few more, less apparent influences floating around like Porno For Pyros, 10,000 Gold Chain, David Hilder, Cracker and Primitive Radio Gods. It’s easy to listen to and easy to enjoy; especially after a few times more… It sticks and it grows!

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A Rancho De La Luna walkthrough, part 3...

Part 3 of the Rancho De La Luna walkthrough with master guide Dave Catching; be sure to start at part 1 though!

A Rancho De La Luna walkthrough, part 2...

Part 2, of the Rancho De La Luna walkthrough with Dave Catching...

A Rancho De La Luna walkthrough...

A lovely three-piece walkthrough of The Rancho De La Luna studio by grandmaster Dave Catching...

June Deville – Swan Songs of The Coyote

June Deville – Swan Songs of The Coyote
Self released – 2011
Rock, Grunge, Stoner, Punk
Waardering: ****

June Deville was founded somewhere in a dusty little shack covered with graffiti and with just an old rusty can of fire to keep one warm in Switzerland in the foul year of our lord 2007; and they haven’t split up yet. And they are that most wondrous of bands; a three piece rock outfit that seems to be able to make more melodic racket than most seven piece metal groups. With a steady bass they are able to weave and wonder across various musical plains without ever getting lost. With tons of enthusiasm, a wicked amount of humor and the tendency to abuse every genre from classic rock, blues, stoner and punk to metal, grunge and glam these guys have provided us with a beautiful second album called Swan Songs of The Coyote. It’s hard hitting and in some moments overwhelming and overpowering; the sheer amount of musical prowess and believe in the good stuff. That earnest love for the riff, the rhythm and pure rock. It’s heavy, it’s gritty and it’s incredibly slick; like a distant growing rumble over a landscape filled with rubble. And with a haunting voice and a master’s eye for lyrics June Deville has most certainly passed the crossroads and already sold their soul. And by the fact I was captivated from the first till the last note; I reckon the Devil gave them a good deal…

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So head on over to their homepage, where you can download their albums for free and make a donation to keep these guys from splitting up. Cause they haven’t split up… Yet…

John Lancaster – Phantom Moon

John Lancaster – Phantom Moon
High Fidelio Recordings – 2011
Rock, Metal, Progressive, Stoner, Alternative
Waardering: ****

The solo debut record Phantom Moon by John Lancaster, former frontman of Chum, member of Guru Lovechild, Earth to Eros, and Semi-Automatic, is filled with the musical top of the bill of the Huntington, West Virginia region of the United States. We hear a Josh Adkins (Abdullah, Erase the Grey), hero Dave Angstrom (Asylum on the Hill, Hermano, Supafuzz), Jude Blevins (Satchell, Hyatari, Skinfork), Bud Carroll (Bud Carroll and the Southern Souls, American Minor), Elwood Francis (Prunella Scales, Abusement Park, Control Freak), Aaron Grubbs (Science for Children), Daniel Johnson (Let the Guilty Hang), Rusty Knight (In Stereo, Earth to Eros), dUg Pinnick (King’s X), Barry Smith (Earth to Eros, Hybrid Zero), and Matt Wolfe (Scrap Iron Pickers, Byzantine). Besides that amazing roll call the album is also filled with heavy melodic rock tunes that float towards alternative rock via one current or towards a heavy progressive waterfall on a next wave. But always on a heavy-laden groove and with an enormous amount of feeling. And on that solid foundation he is able to create majestic songs through powerful riffs, keyboard walls and incredible vocals. Grand, stirring and ambitious without becoming bombastic. Hats off Sir Lancaster! And now let’s hope that he finds his way over the pond together with Asylum On The Hill and Banderas some day… Soon…

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The Locomotive Sound Corporation – The Locomotive Sound Corporation

The Locomotive Sound Corporation – The Locomotive Sound Corporation
Self released – 2011
Rock/Garage
Waardering: ****

The Paris foursome hiding under the moniker The Locomotive Sound Corporation has just released their first EP. The self-titled gem is filled to the rim with mechanical rock that bends like mad without breaking. Again we are treated to a flawless rediscovering of old roots. Think about the new life of emptiness and blues as the White Stripes gave us, but then even more sordid, nasty and frayed. Think about hollow factories filled with Sonic Youth fans who want to feel the lightning in their veins while listening to pure garage. Profound, stirring and ridiculously good. Especially the female voice, which is enchanting, exorcising, manic and raging across the whole; and together with the male vocal-lines, builds up an incredible tension! Whirling!

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Easy Trigger – On And On

Easy Trigger – On And On
Self released – 2011
Rock
Waardering: ***

The once again from the Nijmegen region of Holland hailing Easy Trigger started their rock adventure in the summer of 2009. And only a year later with their fourth live performance ever they won a regional competition. With the grand price of studio time in their pocket they started recording their EP Good To Know. Three easy listenable rock tunes which could be seen as the amusing and uncomplicated brother of Queens of The Stone Age and Foo Fighters. Now there’s the follow-up in the form of their eight songs counting record On And On. An easy digestible rock album that rubs against stoner on occasion but mostly gravitates towards that typical American version of rock. The kind which sees Foo Fighters as the raw representative and always opts for sing-a-longs. The production is on the thin side now and again, but this makes the band sound poppy, punky and very suitable for these light summer days. Besides that many of the riffs grab you by the collar, the melodies make you dance and the different voices show an abundance of possibilities. Wide, grand but also rugged and tight. Maybe just a tad more dirt, sleaze or rawness next time around and then there will be no stopping Easy Trigger from conquering the Dutch rockcrown…

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