Hibagon – Hibagọn VS Monsters...

Hibagon – Hibagọn VS Monsters...

Self released – 2012

Rock, Stoner, Sludge, Garage

Rated: ****

An Italian two piece band wonderfully named after the fabled Yeti version of Japan: Hibagon. And they will surely take the cake this year for most outrageous album title: Hibagọn VS Monsters Spewed from Time’s Stomach to Clutch the Universe in a Mortal Slime. The duo started out in the early months of 2011 and recorded their seven-track release at the end of that year. No keys, no bass, no vocals or a trumpet, didgeridoo or whatever other instrument one can think of; just a wailing guitar blasting out thunderous riffs and pounding drums stampeding like a mad elephant herd. With some playful funky and blues influences they produce a massive earth shaking sound. Ever changing time signatures and excellent progressions give this EP that extra boost that propels it to sheer greatness. For surely; all of those brilliant ideas could easily be turned into an entirely new song. Roaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar!

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Vintage Cucumber – Tom Mit De Bon Style

Vintage Cucumber – Tom Mit De Bon Style

Self released – 2012

Rock, Art, Instrumental, Psychedelic

Rated: **

It reeks, it stinks, it produces vaporous toxins and is probably detrimental to your health; those old almost liquefied cucumbers in your fridge or cellar. You should get rid of them. Unless they are of true vintage quality? Like the crazy one man band aptly named; why would I otherwise write about liquefied cucumbers: Vintage Cucumber. The good man has put out three releases this year of which Schadenfreude is the most weird and disturbing; containing sixteen tracks of a maximum of fifteen seconds. Then there’s that other one called Mc Goyl Style, four instrumental low-end psychedelic tracks that definitely have some merit. But we’re here to talk about Tom Mit De Bon Style. Nine tracks that are similar to Mc Goyl but with a definite worldly and trippy feel to them. As if the acidic cucumber liquid had some other qualities too. On some moments you feel like yer stuck on a magical merry-go-round filled with wooden dancing creatures that cheer and laugh and invite you to dance naked with them under the stars. At other times the rabbit hole turns into a black and bleak seemingly endless nightmarish tunnel. But luckily there’s always a faint glimmer of light on the horizon. Not for the feeble or weary. Failure to prepare is preparing to fail…

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Gniyrg Gnaarg – The Acolytes Feel Sleepy

Gniyrg Gnaarg – The Acolytes Feel Sleepy

Self released – 2012

Rock, Stoner, Doom, Metal

Rated: ****

Some of you might know these three Helsinki freaks from their From Mother Sun EP from 2010. Well, Gniyrg Gnaarg, the trio comprised of two Fins and a Spaniard is back with a second effort called The Acolytes Feel Sleepy. A twisted tale of ancient haiku toting monks, giant slugs and cheerful prophets. A post rock and metal influenced doom EP that also borrows some stoner elements, grunge and psychedelica. Dark and malignant tunes reminiscent of Sabbath one moment and a lighter version of Sleep the next. But always referring to those early days of the slow genre and always evoking a mystical air. Three songs droning on for about twenty minutes with excellent chiming drums and a high haunting voice. And where their first EP suffered a bit from the bleak compositions; this one rings on and on and enchants like a twisted Zen legend…

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Snake Thursday – Cruise Mode

Snake Thursday – Cruise Mode

Self released – 2012

Rock, Stoner, Hard, Punk

Rated: ****

Another effort hailing from the lovely country of Poland. The Snake Thursday trio was founded in 2007 comes from Poznań and plays a steady mix of stoner and hardrock with some punky influences. They released their first EP in 2009 and has now delivered a follow-up called Cruise Mode. This is high desert stoner like the masters of old used to make. Relentless grinding fuzzy riffs and a pounding rhythm. Only on occasion exchanged for something more subtle and gentle. The interweaving melodies help you glide through the musical landscape and all of this combined, leads to a definite possibility of severe neck problems and dangerous swerving in your car. For this is meant for gunning muscle cars on an endless stretch of highway. Absolutely smokin!

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Spartakiev – Ignite

Spartakiev – Ignite
Self released – 2012
Rock, Stoner
Rated: ****

With a new vocalist in its midst and a coming change on bass there is much movement surrounding Dutch foursome Spartakiev. But they still managed to find the time and the energy to release a second recording. On their sophomore release Ignite they let go of most of their jazzy influences and seem to focus on melodic rock with the heavy undertone. We still hear some of their progressive structuring and seventies groove; but most of that has been exchanged for gentle stoner, high desert atmospheres and a bit of psychedelic blues. The biggest difference however is definitely found in the new voice. Where the old singer had a bit of a squeaky whisper thing going on; Wessel Vonk has a clean, rounded and agreeable tongue. It does change the feel of the band considerably. The first self-titled EP felt like a gritty and raw band on the move; Ignite feels like a congenial quartet that has arrived at its destination. A romantic city of sound you’ve visit many times before but for some reason never full explored; and now you do…

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Maeth – Horse Funeral

Maeth – Horse Funeral 

Self released – 2012 

Rock, Psychedelica, Doom, Sludge, Stoner, Progressive 

Rated: ***** 

I suspect the four guys from Maeth to have stakes in a glue factory here or there; with an EP named Horse Funeral?! Ho ho ho! Sorry, early morning here and a big fight with the missus. But let’s not dwell on the crap and get right down to the good stuff: their music. Heavy psychedelic stuff that makes your head weave and float as if you had just munched on few Hawaiians. Their mostly instrumental sound uses heavy riffs and intricate guitar solo’s and layers to make your drift and bop on a seemingly endless current of high psychedelic waves. And ofcourse the excellent surf has to crash into the rocks now and again. And it does that with feverous fury and with a definite feel for dramatics and surprise. After which you find yourself on a deserted island full of insect noises and languid breezing guitar sounds. There’s that tribalistic Hawaiian quality again. But that too ofcourse; cannot last forever. All in all, the mystical journey these guys take you on is extremely impressive; and that was a definite understatement! 

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Mudbath – Red Desert Orgy

Mudbath – Red Desert Orgy 

Self released – 2012 

Rock, Doom, Sludge, Core, Metal 

Rated: **** 

Looking for some doom tainted heavy burdened, slow trotting sludge? Take a look in the town of Avignon in the south of France. They do not only host a spectacular festival for street artists; they also house one of the heaviest bands from Europe to emerge of late: Mudbath. The drums dragging the steady march forward like a dying animal and a bass that seems to devour the listener whole. Screams, shrieks and roars that make your soul howl out in fear and guitars that among the crushing riffs and dirty layers seem to provide the only small glimmer of light at the horizon. The Red Desert Orgy EP is bleak, dark and twisted with just that tiny tingle of hope that makes it all bearable. In fact; it makes you want to enjoy that steamy, muddy and vaporous earthquake over and over. 

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Denizen – Whispering Wild Stories

Denizen – Whispering Wild Stories
Self released – 2012
Rock, Stoner, Core
Rated: ***

First off; I’m loving the title of this record: Whispering Wild Stories. Aah yes, this longs for something furiously epic. And the four French dudes of Denizen start off frantic and profound! With a heavy punk attitude they scream through their songs with a relentless fierceness. They seem to be experts in combining aggressive hardcore riffs with a seventies groove and a stoner atmosphere. The onslaught of riffs is impressive to say the least and the bass traversing underneath even more. But the pace never slackens and the rampage seems to go on and on with a vocalist on a mission to obliterate even the last bit of your eardrums. And then we get to the Cream cover Sunshine Of Your Love; which seems to bring out the best in everyone present. The singer become a bit more melodic; the riff obviously slows down a bit and the drummer gets mighty viscose. Which leads to the conclusion that Whispering Wild Stories is one king hell of a one trick aggressive pony ride; but the real gem is the cover version. But that doesn’t necessarily harm this third release by the furious French…

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Rainbow Teeth – Rainbow Teeth

Rainbow Teeth – Rainbow Teeth

Self released – 2012 

Rock, Experimental 

Rated: ** 

Are you looking to get weird? Strange? And perhaps even dangerously unstable? Give a listen to the self-titled debut album of Rainbow Teeth. It will not only turn yer head upside down; it will surely give you shivers of joy, anger or plain and utter madness. It takes you on a rollercoaster ride through almost all branches of music although it lingers mostly on experimental indie rock. Maybe it should even be called post experimental indie freak out or something just as bizarre. It is often too much to take in and seems to want to break all the ‘rules’ ever thought off like a new kind of Zappa-esque approach. But unlike the big Moustache; these guys seem to lose themselves a bit too much in trying to be grotesque and peculiar. And if that is the aim; they take the rainbow colored cake and eat it too with a truckload of sprinkles on top. But if the aim was to make weird music they miss the oars to keep their kaleidoscopic boat afloat; it slowly seems to sink below their insane and chaotic brainwaves… But every now and again we can all use a dip in the ocean… 

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Spine Chilling Breeze – Milky Way

Spine Chilling Breeze – Milky Way
Self released – 2012
Rock, Stoner, Metal
Rated: ****

As we mentioned back in March, the Greek quartet Spine Chilling Breeze was set to release their debut album this year after being formed in the middle of 2011. That’s some fast and true work ethic and definite good and promising effort. We continue down that dusty trail that they started us on with their promo. High desert stoner infused with a mostly low desert attitude and some nineties metal. Add a dash of grunge and a splash of samples and you have a Greek interpretation of that Palm Desert sound. And with expert bass work and soulful riffing they come close in producing that dry heat feeling that their obvious influences started and mastered. But just like a high noon desert the mirage shimmers a bit too much to keep everything easily visible and the vocals distort it further. Leaving us with a tasty but tiny oasis; that can still improve and grow to provide even more next summer…

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Le Scimmie – Habanero

Le Scimmie – Habanero

Self released – 2012

Rock, Stoner, Doom, Noise, Garage 

Rated: One song 

After the impressive debut album Dromomania of the Italian duo Le Scimmie the boys seem to continue full speed in addressing new material. Releasing a track called Habanero that is just as raw and gritty as their complete album but with a definite progression in structure. If this is a promise for what a possible new album from these guys might sound like I for one can hardly wait to hear it. Go check out Habanero and judge for yerself! 

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Satellite Beaver – The Last Bow

Satellite Beaver – The Last Bow
Self released – 2012
Rock, Stoner, Grunge, Doom
Rated: ***

The stoner scene in Poland has been blossoming the past years and the second release by Satellite Beaver is yet another proof of the righteousness of it all. The Last Bow EP goes straight to the core of all that is heavy, the four tracks walls over you like a booze fueled steamroller. With a huge, fat and massive sound they crash into mountains and blast them from within. Nineties alternative rock and metal are combined with stoner and a heavy fuzzed out sound creating layer upon layers of skull crushing head banging madness. Adding fleeting moments of sludge, doom and hard rock all of the songs are strong in their own right. The only sad thin is the fact that it is over in a heartbeat. This is one hell of an appetizer!

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Tongue – Who Fired The Workers Of Happiness Factory

Tongue – Who Fired The Workers Of Happiness Factory
Purple Factory Records – 2012
Rock, Stoner, Punk, Wave, Garage
Rated: ***

Tongue, a three-piece from Serbia has recently released their first EP Who Fired The Workers Of Happiness Factory. Although the members have been toying around with other bands for much longer. Such as Jaibo, Straight Mickey and the Boyz, 36 Daggers and Euforia. But the reason Tongue was founded back in 2010 was the demise of frontman Bizic Vladimir’s hardcore punk band Let’s Grow. Started as a solo project is quickly developed into more since it plucked members right out of its own musical history; reminding the artist that this band also sort of existed as WishingWell around 2003-05. Anyway, Who Fired The Workers Of Happiness Factory is the first of a trilogy of EP’s to arrive this year. Combining a weird kind of new wave, punk, garage and grunge with stoner. And angst, anger and madness with earnest believe. Intriguing debut that rattles around in your head without you even knowing it…

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Trippy Wicked and The Cosmic Children of The Knight – Going Home

Trippy Wicked & The Cosmic Children of The Knight – Going Home
Superhot Records – 2012
Rock, Stoner, Metal, Doom, Grunge
Rated: ****

Knebworth, home to some legendary gigs and festivals. But also home to a trio going by the insane moniker Trippy Wicked & The Cosmic Children of The Knight. Aah yes, we’re in for some wild times! It must even be crazier then that other band two of the members belong to: Stubb. That also shines through in the fact that the guys produced a concept album with music from all hard rocking affiliated genres. Instead of telling tales of death, demise and doom these guys do things differently and tell of a mad adventure: one weird and twisted night from the moment one decides to go home and actually getting home. After a recent interview with Bob Mould it immediately made me think of the Hüsker Dü album Zen Guerrilla. Not in a sonic sense ofcourse; for we are treated to some grade a grooves here with metallic overtones, progressive structuring and heavy hitting stoner. It’s extremely diverse, psychedelic and tricky. Cause the beauty is evident from the get-go; the apparent brilliance takes a while to sink in. My ears are still ringing from Going Home…

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Perro Loco – Vol. 35

Perro Loco – Vol. 35
Self released – 2012
Rock, Stoner
Rated: ***

Santiago, Chile is home to all kinds of weird and dangerous animals; but perhaps Perro Loco might be the wildest of the bunch. Three amigos formed this band at the tail end of 2008 and with the definite goal to produce some mad music for crazy times. Featuring members of Icarus Gasoline, Chocopanda Gore and Overdrunk. With heroes such as Black Sabbath, Corrosion of Conformity, Mötorhead and Kyuss and ofcourse the occasional alcoholic beverage you know you are in for some true pub stoner. Their first EP entitled Vol .35° packs three dynamic and macho tracks that carry within it that demented dangerous edge. This is straight to the point, drive it home and party hard, groove based heavy stoner rock. Not as diverse, spacious and magical as Icarus Gasoline perhaps, but definitely much more aggressive, ferocious and savage. De noche, todos los perros son loco!

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Broken Betty – Original Features

Broken Betty – Original Features
Nasiono Records – 2012
Rock, Stoner, Psychedelica, Hard, Space, Metal
Rated: ****

The Polish trio Broken Betty has always openly shown the musical colors they fly by. Never hiding their influences or their heroes. On their third release, a three track EP called Original Features, they return to a heavy fuzzed out grunge and punk sound without ever losing sight of the stoner roots they love so dearly. But we’re only referring to the first two explosive tracks here; for their closing song is one king hell of a battleship. Twelve minutes of space rock, post metal, desert doom and hard rock extravaganza. It’s a mad mad ride that sometimes leaves you wondering if it can get any better. High rising guitars, lethargic rhythms and mystical chants exchange blows with fuzzy riffs, serious pounding and wonderful vocals. Sure we dig the aggressive side of Betty; but once you get a taste of her luscious lips that spell out sweet and ancient lust with one long kiss. You’ll be unable to find the courage to fight her. She exhumes hard rocking opium. One taste is all it takes to make you dream…

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Eggnogg – Louis

Eggnogg – Louis
Palaver records – 2012
Rock, Stoner, Doom, Grunge, Funk
Rated: ****

The Brooklyn trio Eggnogg released their second album Moments In Vacuum only a year ago and are now preparing to follow it up with a third album called You’re All Invited. But before they do just that they are coming out with an EP just like they did after their 2009 debut album The Three. Their new four track little ditty is called Louis and features stripped down; naked and slow mystical songs that border on sludge and doom but leans heavily on an old funky soul. The first track seems to be an indecisive heavy colossus looking in every direction possible without feeling the need to choose. The second explores a funky left field with seriously ill basswork and weird samples. After this we return to another sandy gem of pure heavy funk expertly done. Closing track The Once-ler is dark, moody and returns to the atmosphere explored on the first tune of the EP. Closing off an impressive chapter in the Eggnogg history. Soon another part of their story will be here to indulge us…

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Mojo Waves – Enjoy, Don’t Destroy

Mojo Waves – Enjoy, Don’t Destroy
Self released – 2012
Rock, Free, Seventies, Psychedelica, Garage
Rated: *****

After the Finnish trio Mojo Waves introduced themselves with their impressive first EP called Introducing Mojo Waves all the way back in March of 2012 they immediately got to work on the follow-up. And in July of that same crazy year Enjoy, Don’t Destroy was released. Another three-song collection featuring the same wild and twisted sounds that we’ve come to love in those few dangerous months that came before. And I doubt the guys changed much in the way they work or did much different stuff then what they did three months before; but they suddenly sound much more mature and their production skills have risen to incredible heights. The shrieks and wails are still there, and so are the majestic grooves, heavy rock out’s and stampeding thunderous sounds. But this time those aspects are introduced into a definite structured song. Organized wild and savage rock that rolls over in massive waves of pure enchanting Mojo. Double U, O Double U! WOW!

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Mojo Waves – Introducing Mojo Waves

Mojo Waves – Introducing Mojo Waves
Self released – 2012
Rock, Free, Garage, Psychedelica, Seventies
Rated: ****

The drums start off with this crazy and hazy ringing and then the guitar starts thundering over it like a mad stampede until it slows down to a groovy drag and the singer explodes like a high energy, high pitched crazy Jack White creature shrieking and howling at the moon. Introducing Mojo Waves is the first three song EP from the Finnish trio logically called Mojo Waves. The guys had been playing together in various projects for about three years before the Mojo Waves were officially formed in 2011. And this is clearly audible; the unpredictable and slightly insane qualities are offset by four instruments that know how to work together and merge into one wicked psychedelic river of condensed noise. This is some impressive stuff. Ultimate free rock: fun, entertaining and a bit weird. And that’s just how we like it!

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Redcoats - Raven

Redcoats - Raven

The hottest album to arrive this year for sure. The full-sized debut album of Australia’s  rock ’n roll magicians: Redcoats. Who amazed everyone with their self-titled EP last year and that one song that will ring on forever and ever into legend: Dreamshaker. Check out their new single: Raven!

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Shit The Cow – Volume/Cow

Shit The Cow – Volume/Cow
Self released – 2012
Rock, Garage, Punk, Stoner
Rated: ****

For a band that reminds of Hellacopters, Wall of Voodoo, Dandy Warhols, Danko Jones, Queens of The Stone Age, Velvet Underground, Joy Division and many more they’ve got a eerie distinct and consistent sound. And even though the band got started many a year ago and restarted as a duo in 2005, they’ve only recently released their first official EP. The four tracks on their first EP Volume/Cow all sound like Shit The Cow; a Swedish multi-colored and multi-layered quilt of rock. They combine all kinds of alternative rock sounds and even some new wave punk and industrial to distill their very own blend. And the trio excels in making it catchy, very accessible and even sound familiar without every turning into a copycat. For a fleeting moment you feel the songs become stale and old very quickly; but then you start recognizing it for its genius quality. It nestles in your brain and hooks you like some all to familiar novocaine...

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Hangman’s Chair – Hope Dope Rope

Hangman’s Chair – Hope Dope Rope 

Bones Brigade Records – 2012 

Rock, Stoner, Doom, Sludge, Metal 

Rated: **** 

Hangman’s Chair started after Es La Guerilla disbanded in 2005 and the four French freaks have now delivered their third full-sized studio album under the new moniker. With the ever so cheery title Hope Dope Rope we are once again treated to a heavy mixture of doom, sludge and metal. The melodic guitar parts are the only lifting elements on the entire record that carries a suffocating atmosphere. For the most part it is a steady melancholic march towards the inevitable cliff. Extremely tight riffs and beats on repeat till the exact right moment. Vocals that sound weary, aggressive, clean, desperate and hopeless. Their musical craftsmanship overly apparent and their ability to invoke a certain state of mind and feeling is simply impressive. The new Hangman’s Chair is something all must undergo; but be sure to first burn every chair in the house and lock away all those ropes laying around… 

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Hogg – .

Hogg – .

Self released – 2012

Rock, Stoner

Rated: ****

The ancient and incredible country of Greece has been going through some hard times lately. Suffering as one of the first countries from a world wide economic shift that is doomed to inflict pain everywhere. Humans are becoming obsolete in most ‘industrial’ areas; so something different has to be found to keep us busy and make sure we don’t rise up. They shall prevail ofcourse; and Greece will come out on top. I am sure of that much; they just need to stomp on those Golden Dawn idiots. And to do that we have the perfect soundtrack. The album is called ‘.’ and features ten songs heavily inspired by Kyuss, Fu Manchu and Orange Goblin. And the four guys responsible for this electrifying record is Hogg, who have been around since 2009 and opened up for Therapy? and those Greek legends: Nightstalker. Hogg follows shortly in their dusty trail and fills the shimmering air with righteous riffs and high desert guitar-lines. Wicked drums and an incredibly groovy bass covered by aggressive and noble vocals. “The time approaches where we’ll see who’ll be the last man standing. Our heavy riffs accompany the outcome so outstanding.” Outstanding indeed!

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