The Outlaws of Zen – Don’t Bother Getting Up, We'll Let Ourselves In

The Outlaws of Zen – Don’t Bother Getting Up, We'll Let Ourselves In

Self released – 2012

Rock, Seventies, Blues, Hard, Stoner, Southern, Metal

Rated: ****

When the earlier band of the drummer and axe-man dissolved; the two amigos decided to start their very own incarnation. They yanked a bassist away from some dark and dusty hole and found a vocalist lying around in the vicinity as well. Soon the four started bouncing of each other and the wall and a high-energy wave of creativity surged through their bones. It was the great magnet speaking to them and prodding them into righteous action; founding The Outlaws Of Zen. A true pirate ship filled with treasure chests looted from all the great bands they ever came across. We got some heavy rock inspired by the seventies which pays homage to the riff and blues melodies of that era while incorporating some twinge of the nineties and a distinct southern atmosphere. Little parts of dry heat stoner and classic metal give all this that extra boost towards pure excellence. Apart from a slightly flat production at times this five song EP shows very well what these Auburn, Michigan residents are capable off: Zen And The Art of Masterful Heavy Riffing! Pure and with the right attitude!

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Baroness – Yellow & Green

Baroness – Yellow & Green

Relapse records – 2012

Rock, Alternative, Stoner, Metal

Rated: ****

On our voyage down south we were treated less to the ancient roars and cavemen riffs we had been expecting of the new Baroness record Yellow & Green. Instead of the colorful Neanderthal musical drawings we had been expecting we were treated to wonderful kaleidoscopic and airy compositions that fit perfectly with the traversing landscape. With every record the guys become ever more accessible to a much wider audience; and where genre companions Mastodon largely tries to do the same thing; Baroness never wavers, does it with grace and succeeds. Solid tight rock songs on the first part called Yellow with instantly recognizable choruses. And thanks to the gripping guitar work we taste some true melodic riffs and solo’s without it ever becoming tedious. On the second part Green we traverse with the guys through the psychedelic landscape. Less thrilling perhaps but with ever so often a true musical pearl or a compelling new level in their music. Real song songs from the men with beards!

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Back… From the Wild…

Back… From the Wild…

I have returned from the wilderness where I survived the trek across Collet de Contraix, Coll de Valleta Seca and many drinking bouts with a cook named Pépé, his albino Golden Retriever Coco and a gigantic marmot who insisted on being called Alonzo. Though I could have sworn his name was Bertrand. He is famous for his ability to eat copious amounts of tuna and hypnotize with his languid brown yellowish eyes. He’s one of those beasts that gives you a head job under the knees or chin and tries to coax you outside for a smoke. But I proudly refused even if it meant losing another hand of poker to him. In the end he just shrugged at us and went out by himself into the cold and still sunless dawn. The almost purple madrugada. Pépé told me it drove Coco crazy to see the big marmot wagging his tail and purring like a cat. But to me Coco looked like one of those Zen’d out dogs. One that sleeps for most of the day and not even blinks when the birds land on his back or the flies nestle on his nose. I thought much about those weird and twisted nights as the trek through the wild continued. Especially on those moments when the wind died down and the heat became almost unbearable. And that at around 9800 feet. No sleep whatsoever and many miles every day through that beautiful unpredictable landscape. It was a grand adventure and one that should have lasted even longer. But alas, all good things must come to an end. So now, as the weather in my home country finally changes for the better we get back to the work for that is what we have to deal with. But ever so often I start smiling; usually right before my thoughts drift back to those mountains and the crazy folk we met along the way… Gracias!

So soon we will be able to continue on with the Stoner HiVe show…