Back… From Krakow and Warsaw…

Back… From Krakow and Warsaw…

Why yes, ofcourse I located most of the places Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski frequented back in the days when he lived in Krakow and later on in Warsaw. His house in Krakow has been demolished and a government building took its place and in Warsaw he occupied a house that later also featured composer Karol Szymanowski and was owned by Chopin’s sister Isabella. But most of the time I was just getting lost in an intense fog that transported you back in time towards the romantic era. Or stumbled down dark dusty roads towards performances by sound assassins BNNT or experimental free jazz artists such as All Included or the incredible stoner formation Satellite Beaver and the awesome Coogan’s Bluff. Yes; it was a great trip once again and we will surely go back there; if only to make sure we did not really burn down Hydrozagadka or FonoBar. Cause after that amount of Żubrówka; nobody could be sure!!!

Na Zdrowie!

Soon we will continue on with the Stoner HiVe show…

Off… To Krakow and Warsaw…

Off… To Krakow and Warsaw…

"It was in this old, royal, academic city that I turned from a child into a young man. I was taught friendship there, and admiration; there, I experienced the thoughts and indignations typical of a boy of my age." Well; not really boy anymore but definitely as immature! But why Krakow you ask? Because Krakow never could, and still cannot live without music - and music feels best in Krakow, where it is understood best! After which we turn our gaze to Warsaw where Satellite Beaver and Elvis Deluxe will guide us from dusty watering hole to grimy drinking sheds. Where we will heroically send off the days and call for the night to never end. And when the joyous and simple funeral is over we continue full speed; right down the middle of the stream and listen to the chatter in all the different bars; until the very end… And in the morning the sentiment will blaze at you, luminous and terrifying, like a flash of lightning in a serene sky: 

‘Exterminate all the brutes!’

See y'all in a week!

Estoner – The Stump Will Rise

Estoner – The Stump Will Rise

Self released – 2012

Rock, Doom, Stoner, Garage, Psychedelica

Rated: *****

Tallinn, Estonia, a wonderful little town that is both highly modern and equally mediaeval with something or a fairytale quality. Also due to the fact that quite a few boys and girls in the shops wear traditional clothing. I do wonder however where the five amigos of Estoner show their stuff; in Tapper perhaps or Von Krahl? On their first full-sized album The Stump Will Rise they sound big and loud enough for even the most lavish of stages. And they should be travelling all around Europe by now. Founded in 2009 the five have a knack for incorporating tiny bits of classic and symphonic qualities in their otherwise heavy stoner and doom like psychedelica. The mostly ethereal vocals invoke a ghostly layer among the otherwise weighty heaviness. Sedating melodies without over forced changes and majestic quitarwork; equaling fiercely exact drumming and tight concentrated basslines. Estoner sounds like something bigger and better. What a band!

Bandcamp

Dresden/Leningrad – Vader

Dresden/Leningrad – Vader

Self released – 2012

Rock, Doom, Stoner

Rated: ***

Devils, demons and fallen angels soar high above the wastelands as a steady march of an army filled with lost souls move towards their inevitable doom. The Dutch trio Dresden/Leningrad takes its queues from war torn imagery and skeleton emotions. They evoke a charred and bleak atmosphere, which shows no signs of life apart from the occasional human remains still quivering from the apparent horror it suffered. The Dutch vocals and ghostly voices add to this dread and raises an alarm somewhere in the back of the mind that this is unholy, profane and ungodly music that will surely serve as a soundtrack for your descent into hell. There is no hope here; no green light or any kind of joyous feeling. There is only death and evil lurking about. With a steady march of drums and riffs the crusade moves forward, trotting over bloodless remnants and crumbling ruins. The abyss awaits. Beware and be afraid…

Bandcamp

Major Kong – Doom For The Black Sun

Major Kong – Doom For The Black Sun

Self released – 2012

Rock, Doom, Stoner

Rated: ****

Before Major Kong came into existence the guys had already been riffing under the name Fifty Foot Woman, and released one full-sized album and two EP’s. Then came the Orogenisis EP by Major Kong and the darker riffs felt so fresh and tasty that the Woman was discarded for now and the Major had the future. So here we are with their Doom For The Black Sun album which is ofcourse a direct reference to Kyuss noting the definite different course the band will be taking. Pure and unwavering instrumental heaviness that builds on the stoner and blues roots with massive doom and huge jam like qualities. This is a power-trio that celebrates coming into their own with intelligent breaks, incredible basswork, overpowering drums and insane riffs and dangerous guitar freak outs. Sleek and grand, simple and grandiose exchange blows on every track making each and every one of them a gigantic piece of awe inspiring rock! Salute the Major all ye lowly privates!

Bandcamp

Krang and Shooting Guns – Split record

Krang and Shooting Guns – Split record

Psychic Handshake Recordings – 2012

Rock, Psychedelic, Garage

Rated: ***

A two-track split record by two fine Canadian bands hailing from two Sassy towns. First up is Krang from Saskatoon that gives us a psychedelic garage track called Shake Joint and pinballs between floaty space rock and airy seventies freak out. Want to dust of you karma and clean out your chakra’s? Shake Joint is the right kind of boogie to do so. Weaving like a whirl and whirling like a dervish. After which Saskatchewan’s Shooting Guns take over with their track called Sky High And Blind and lead you on a crusade through a charred landscape towards burning red mountains and smoky rubble. Heavy on the riffs and steady on the rhythm. Two completely different tracks one for around midnight and one for in the dead of night. You choose which and when!

Psychic Handshake

Sons of Kings – Emersion

Sons of Kings – Emersion

Self released – 2012

Rock, Ambient, Psychedelica

Rated: ***

I only know a few Finnish words, Kippis and Tiistai are two of them and they have little to no merit mentioning them now. I just did it anyway. The four Finnish guys from Sons of Kings serve us two tracks on their first official release called Emersion. It’s a deep-sea diving expedition into meditative realms and psychedelic ambient soundscapes. And endless dripping faucet slowly wearing away your defense against sweet dreams, weird hallucinations or perhaps even malicious nightmares. Ancient mysteries and hallowed secrets are cautiously revealed and only in part translated into an intelligible tongue; the rest is up for each and every one of their listeners to comprehend themselves. It is an adventure. And one that is never easy but comes with great rewards. Understanding the universe…

Homepage

Slut Machine – From Blind to Blue

Slut Machine – From Blind to Blue

Self released – 2012

Rock, Stoner

Rated: ****

Lyon has a few tough and interesting neighborhoods. Where most of the women you see walking around are either whores or look like retired wrestlers. They smoke their cigarettes in a lusty way smelling of cheap perfume or chew on their cigar stumps airing pungent aromas. I would imagine the five buddies of Slut Machine to come from such a district, for their raw and gritty rock is filled with an euphoric search for destruction. It smells raunchy and has an air of doom and hopelessness around it. It skewers the down tuned stoner sound and incorporates some heavy garage and the occasional choppiness which is usually only provided by punk roots. But most of all, it celebrates all the goodness we know to come from the stoner scene. Four of them started their journey in 2009 and where joined by a fifth in 2012. And now; they’re ready to explore the rest of the world looking for ugly and dangerous areas to rock. There goes the neighborhood!

Bandcamp

Galvano – Two Titans

Galvano – Two Titans

Devouter Records – 2012

Rock, Sludge, Metal, Doom

Rated: ****

A Zen like stated of mind is slowly created by this sludge yin and yang metal album. Albeit one that is all-powerful and ever conquering the maelstrom of thoughts in the head and the heart. One that has little time for hippie or hip but instead focuses on the darker and more honest sides of life. The Two Titans record by Galvano celebrates all the constant battles going on inside a person and in the outside world. Good and Evil, Light and Dark, Humor and Seriousness. And they do that in an ever-trekking metal rhythm or in dark escapades full of atmospheric heaviness. And come to think this racket is produced by a duo; hailing from the outskirts of Gothenburg, Sweden. Founded in the year of 2005 they’ve only now delivered their first official full-sized album; slowly but steadily carving out their own style and their proficiency. Furious vocals and occasional cathedral like grandness aid the intense rumbling riffs and earth shattering drums. This is doomy sludge on the very point of the needle….

Bandcamp

T.H.U.M.B – Primordial Echoes For Modern Bigfoots

T.H.U.M.B – Primordial Echoes For Modern Bigfoots

Go Down Records – 2012

Rock, Stoner, Sludge, Punk

Rated: ****

The Italian trio T.H.U.M.B graced our ears with their 2003 Overloaded Rock ’N’ Roll EP and the 2004 follow up Lunar Flight. Nine heavy eclectic songs that varied not only in style but also in quality. With their first full-sized album Primordial Echoes For Modern Bigfoots they celebrate their tenth year anniversary and keep the variations in music they bombarded us with eight years ago but improve every bit of their ability and storm the gates to claim their rightful place on the stage of heaviness. They show their aptitude in writing, composition and above all daring to not change a winning riff or chug. Sometimes we hear lumbering beasts and animals dragging themselves to their death only to be treated to some folk picnic or a space age soar towards distant planets. Which in turn are molested and destroyed by wrecking ball riffs and tattooed fists. Blazing, almost tornado like drums and hurricane bass. After searching for the right words to really describe this giant I reckon we should go with apocalyptically good. This is what happens when you push the right buttons!

T H U M B

Circassian – Procrastinational

Circassian – Procrastinational

Spinalonga Records – 2012

Rock, Psychedelica, Stoner, Space

Rated: ***

As our Greek friends suffer more and more with each day that passes because of something that does not really exist we listen to some floating and hopeful new age stoner by the four compadres listening to the name Circassian. As we roll over the waves and leave our footprints in the sand, we bop away passed the breakers like a thrown away can. Like a message in a bottle meant for a faraway shore; lifting our spirits up passed forever and forever more. Aah yes, those last lines may sound a bit too out there or dreamy; but that’s what these three tracks do to you. They make you dream and long for better things. And with their Eastern vibe and captivating guitarlines they give it something resonating in righteousness, honest, wise and omniscient. They seem to tap into the old soul of the world. It feels like a meditating soundtrack…

Bandcamp

Lost Again – Lost Again

Lost Again – Lost Again

Self released – 2012

Rock, Stoner, Doom, Grunge

Rated: ***

As some of the few out there checking this blog might know; my love for Budapest is endless. The great city captured my heart long ago and every chance I get to visit it is grabbed with both hands and feet. And now there’s yet another reason to go back. We need to see the guys from Lost Again in action. Their three song demo is high energy doom and very fuzzed out grunge combined with a few psychedelic stoner elements. With an intense groove, wicked basslines and crackling riffs we space out while the music comes crashing over again and again like rolling waves of thunder. Awesome stuff!

Bandcamp

Dryasdust – Demo

Dryasdust – Demo

Self released – 2012

Rock, Stoner, Seventies

Rated: ****

With all those great Swedish releases last month paying homage to the sixties and seventies like Mamont and Graveyard. It is only fitting to see the Fins put in their two dollars as well. And after only a few seconds of the five-song demo by Dryasdust you know those dollars are made of pure gold. They use their power trio dynamic in the best way possible using the mellow moments to make the heavier sounds explode out of your speakers. Their riffs are dark and dangerous on some moments and trampling like a buffalo on a prairie on others which are offset by almost weightless blues and a steadfast bass that knows when to give air and when to clean up the rubble. The same goes for the drums that plasters its fills all over the place and refuses to hit even one skin too much doing so and even less on the moments when the vocalist needs the serene air to wrap around its haunting voice. Aah yes, this is how it’s all meant to be. It’s all happening man. It’s all happening!

Bandcamp

Cojones – Bend to Transcend

Cojones – Bend to Transcend

Self released – 2012

Rock, Stoner, Psychedelica

Rated: *****

Ever since their 2009 album Sunrise I’ve been keeping an eye on the Croatian Cojones freaks. And lo and behold their sophomore effort has finally arrived. And what a monster it is; Bend To Transcend will definitely make my personal top Ten of this year just like their debut record did back in 2009. What stayed were the influences from the Palm Desert scene, Colour Haze, Soundgarden and Monster Magnet. What came were a few more accessible moments we know from the Foo Fighters and a voice that sometimes even resembles the raw Grohl. But apart from all the references mentioned above the albums is chuck full of incredible riffs, psychedelic lines and floating tones. Extraordinary bassloops, lines and rhythms and a drummer that never falters for a moment and hits those chimes like a mad professor trying to cook up a new form of acid. The entire record is one long groove that not only celebrates every beautiful thing stonerrock offers. But also takes cues from grunge, visits the psychedelic seventies and above all seems to transcend every one of those monikers. Just like it is not doing the record enough justice by just naming their influences; for even though they are there: Cojones is balls out a very own breed of musical magic. Like some daytime mojo and moonlit voodoo; it captivates and enchants!

Myspace

Navarone – A Darker Shade of White

Navarone – A Darker Shade of White

Self released – 2012

Rock, Seventies, Blues, Southern

Rated: ****

During the Dutch Courage Month earlier this year we already mentioned Navarone’s first self-titled EP and notified of a full-sized album on the horizon. Well; it’s here and the amount of improvement in regards to that first release is staggering, incredible and a bit scary. That first EP was a watered down rendition of their influences; a middle of the road version of southern alternative rock. But I guess the Devil did show up at the Moon Music Studios and did in fact push them in the right direction. For this time around we are treated to some heavy seventies rock with a definite bluesy and southern feel that can rival the masters. We hear Zeppelin movement and Black Crowes rhythms, Wolfmother heaviness and Deep Purple progressive symphonica. The five grooveheads also add a small tingle of soul, a horn section and some moments reminiscent of Pink Floyd and with it deliver one hell of an eclectic album that always retains its focus. Mixed by Vance Powell (Raconteurs, Kings of Leon, Beck) A Darker Shade of White turns into a true monument of a record. One that will stand the test of time!

Homepage

Navarone - Highland Bull

Navarone - Highland Bull

The video for Highland Bull, the first single of Navarone's full-sized excellent album A Darker Shade Of White.

Cerber – Mammothian

Cerber – Mammothian

Self released – 2012

Rock, Metal, Core, Stoner, Sludge

Rated: ***

From a little city called Olsztyn in Poland comes Cerber, a heavy hitting three piece outfit that just delivered their second EP this year called Mammothian. With relentless movement they stomp out their sludgy metal and stoner hardcore turning it almost industrial on certain fleeting moments.  Founded in 2010 the trio has been improving their craft ever since their first demo From Dust in 2011 and the earlier this year released Mad At The Soul EP. Especially during the instants where they let atmosphere seep through and their pounding slows down we almost hear them grow right then and there and hear a seductive charm emerge. And that’s when the strange ferocious wildness starts again. It almost feels like you’re approaching ‘the edge’ which is ofcourse impossible to explain. They pull back though and the let beast wind down. Leaving the listener fulfilled and with blood strained eyes on a curb somewhere waiting for a ride back home wondering how he got there in the first place. Yes, Cerber knows its speed and knows how to explore the limits. Let’s hope they keep pushing them…

Bandcamp