donderdag 31 januari 2013

Hoffmann’s Kaleidoscope – Expiation of the Psychedelic Hunters Vol. I


Hoffmann’s Kaleidoscope – Expiation of the Psychedelic Hunters Vol. I
Vincebus Eruptum / Perkele.It / ExLab – 2012
Rock, Psychedelic
Rated: ****

A few quick words about this massive collection of psychedelic awesomeness brought to you by Italian/English heavy rock magazine Vincebus Eruptum, Italian webzine Perkele.It and the friendly artists of Exlab. We normally pay little attention to compilation due to the fact that we are of opinion that most albums should be heard in its entirety. Which is a false assumption and very contradictory to the fact that I listen to loads of soundtracks and think some of them are absolutely brilliant. And this one called Hoffmann’s Kaleidoscope is as well!  No less than twelve Italian psychedelic freaks have delivered a track to this compilation, which ranges from weird garage to trippy folk and acid doom. It swirls, it twirls, it weaves and it hunts. It dances and it floats and it bangs. It paints in a Day-Glo and leaves you dreaming of more! The absolute cream of the Italian kaleidoscopic underground!




Pombagira – Maleficia Lamiah


Pombagira – Maleficia Lamiah
Black Axis / Infektion – 2013
Rock, Doom, Progressive, Folk, Kraut
Rated: ***

English duo Pombagira is about to return with their fifth album called Maleficia Lamiah. And the journey and the progress that begun on their first is continued; moving ever so slowly away from the traditional doom towards a more psychedelic and earthy atmosphere. It is still dark and it is as heavy as heavy can get. But one can vibe the lighter tone and background to Maleficia. Drawing even more energy from the masters that inspired them they forge ever forward towards a krautrock and drone future; on which they already lightly touch this time around. A first hit of this record makes you wonder and a second one makes you dream. Feel the earth shift and the universe dance as the two aural landscapes pass through your mind…



Still not done with 2012 ?



Still not done with 2012 ?

Still not done with 2012? Want to know more about all the great releases that year? Visit this amazing website of a true and pure music fan. For this little weirdo rants, reviews and makes lists of everything his ears touch on. And he does it a feverous love for everything heavy!



Or alternatively; head on over to Black Insect Laughter. The man has made one king hell of a compilation of heavy music called Hymns Of Despair From The Underground. Contacting each and every band and taking his time to make a track progression that would make even the most accomplished DJ turn green. Free for the taking and absolute brilliance for your ears!




woensdag 30 januari 2013

Void of Sleep – Tales Between Reality and Madness


Void of Sleep – Tales Between Reality and Madness
Aural Music – 2013
Rock, Stoner, Doom, Core, Grunge, Seventies, Space
Rated: *****

Void of Sleep is yet another bunch of Italian freaks. But these guys take the cake, eat it and space out an amazing collection of heavy songs. Cause these guys are not afraid to try any and everything and hate the limitations a certain niche can bring. Which makes them move like caged tigers and confined leopards, anxious and ready to escape and pound on whatever they may find in their way. That is why they weave their moments of stoner expertly with something definitely more heavy that is influenced by the seventies. But also incorporate nineties alternative, some aggressive core and airy instances that float like free birds of paradise. By the time the third track The Great Escape Of The Giant Stone Man rolls around you are knee deep into obsession and run with the free man towards an unknown horizon. But a hopeful horizon it is!


Throne – Avoid The Light


Throne – Avoid The Light
Moonlight Records – 2012
Doom, Sludge, Southern, Stoner, Core, Metal
Rated: ***

A bleak white sunlight rises over a dark and black landscape ridden with corpses filled with diseases and putrefied flesh everywhere. Acid rains, venomous smoke and pure evil fills the blackened skies. Such is the musical picture painted by the Italian fivesome Throne on their first album Avoid The Light. With guttural grunts and crashing drums we are swept along on impressive riffs and guitarlines. Overall the cadence seems to move like a train with a one-way ticket to a destroyed town. But sometimes it turns into the destroyer. Leaving you breathless and weary from the assault. These guys are machiavelling themselves into the kingdom of heavy music. It won’t be long before they ascent the throne themselves!

dinsdag 29 januari 2013

King Bong – Space Shanties


King Bong – Space Shanties
Moonlight Records – 2012
Rock, Stoner, Instrumental, Doom
Rated: ***

When Moonlight Records sent over the new King Bong record my heart started racing. For their earlier albums Alice In Stonerland and How I Learned To Stop Worrying About The Bong had received heavy rotation when they were released. This time around the Italians treat us to their version of Space Shanties and instrumentalize their humorous take on various important titles and themes. And even though they seem to lose themselves on occasion and let the tracks meander and almost spin out of control and crash like a meteor shower; the Italian trio once again improvises the hell out of everything psychedelic floating through their brain. Imagine and you will boldly go where no man has sung a shanty before…

Low Man – Low Man


Low Man – Low Man
Self released – 2012
Rock, Punk, Stoner
Rated: ****

Pittsburgh, one of those cities that is criminally overlooked by anyone not born in the United States. But we can safely say that a similar fate will not be bestowed upon the four that form Low Man. Cause on their self-titled EP they display an animalistic, raw and gritty sound that swaggers full force and full speed through your veins. And it has that perfect paradox of music that sounds simple and concrete but actually contains so many extra subtleties it dizzies and bewilders. It’s punky, it’s visceral and it exhumes a dry heat floating on choppy riffs and psyched out guitar-lines. Variation is key and the guys know exactly when to start twisting things up just as you are starting to sink deep into the Low Man sound. Beware of God’s Lonely Man though; it might make yer speakers crackle, pop and die a loud sounding but slow and horrible death...




vrijdag 25 januari 2013

Komatsu is coming!


Komatsu is coming!

Are you ready? Cause Komatsu is coming! And they’re going to hit even harder this time around! The eleven tracks on their new album Manu Armata border on stomping metal and grinding stoner; and with an every wielding impressive aggressiveness. Are you ready? You’ve got one more month to get your act together and prepare for the monstrous Komatsu assault!!! Trust me, it is truly and positively a shock and awe! Komatsu is coming!







Electric Taurus – Veneralia


Electric Taurus – Veneralia
Moonlight Records – 2012
Rock, Sixties, Seventies, Psychedelica, Stoner, Doom
Rated: *****

Formed somewhere in the dark corners of 2010 on the outskirts of Dublin, Ireland the three amigos of Electric Taurus honed their skills in secrecy. Hardened by member changes and the rough weather the guys delivered their first album late 2012 called Veneralia. With their soulful take on all that goodness that came out of the heavy seventies the guys have mastered the art of sounding both dirty and extremely warm spirited. They maximize their fuzzy outpour on excellent hardy blues tracks that seem to melt into both doom influenced greatness and stoner griminess. But above all the entire album has the feel of a gigantic psychedelic celebration of all those magical sounds of yore we all love without ever losing the feel of a truly inspired and concise album. Get electrified by this legendary charging bull!




woensdag 23 januari 2013

Deville – Hydra


Deville – Hydra
Small Stone – 2013
Rock, Stoner, Metal, Sludge
Rated: *****

Ye gods, these five star albums are just hitting from every angle at the beginning of this New Year like someone hit a gigantic bee’s nest full of heavy greatness. This time around we are treated to the third full-sized album by the Swedish Deville. Hydra is filled with grandiose metal tracks that have that sludge feel but move towards stoner and alternative rock just as easy. Their songs are sleazy and groovy hard-hitting masterpieces that show their skin first and slowly divulge every bit of their true colors. Catchy soulful tracks that are warm to the touch and hot to the ear. Stirring every fiber in your soul with their ever rolling drums and the tasty melodies; expertly drawn out by massive riffs and razor-sharp solos. And let’s not forget to mention the great vocals of Andreas Bengtsson; that hauls you along on every one of them hottdamn musical mountains!


dinsdag 22 januari 2013

Palm Desert – Rotten Village Sessions


Palm Desert – Rotten Village Sessions
Self released – 2012
Stoner
Rated: *****

As deadline approaches for a handful of articles the Stoner HiVe show once again has to take a backseat. But not before we at least give mention to the album that has been spinning for a few weeks now. Cause for their fourth album entitled Rotten Village Sessions the Polish freaks of Palm Desert are truly doing honor to their chosen band name. This is stoner like it was made back in the days when the Joshua Tree still had its generator parties. There is no doubt that everyone hearing these nine tracks will give them the universal nod. Dense riffs, manic driving rhythms and a mighty groove accompanied by excellent vocals. And enough psychedelic textures to make even the coldest winter night feel like your experiencing the same trip you had on a hot summer day in the blistering desert. Awesome!




donderdag 17 januari 2013

Green Shade – Bright Interlude


Green Shade – Bright Interlude
Self released – 2012
Rock, Stoner, Seventies, Psychedelica
Rated: ****

Ever since discovering the Croatian coast, islands, its wines and the great food the country has captured my heart. And then Cojones came and showed that there were also amazing bands scouring in the towns hiding and developing their craft. Well; there’s a next great band on the horizon. They’re called Green Shade and hail from the city of Vinkovci. On their first four track EP entitled Bright Interlude recorded during their apparently boring summer of 2012 the guys produce seminal stoner riffs and rhythms and use impressive lines and touching vocals to weave their psychedelic tapestry. They masterfully slow down to a lumbering giant dragging its firewood across the earth before suddenly speeding up to a running funky groove. It faintly reminds of Cream goodness and of stone bicycles and whirling storms outside a sheltering forest. If it takes a slow boring summer to produce these kind of fine tracks; here’s hoping that every summer will become boring for these fellas!

No website available.



Gods Monkey heads off into the studio…


Gods Monkey heads off into the studio…

Gimme your cash says the monkey! Well; Gods Monkey is heading back into the studio. But this time around they are looking to do it even better. And seeing as this social media thing is usually used for all the wrong reasons let’s consider a right one. How? What? Why? Well; the guys from Gods Monkey could use your help. Why not pre-order the album before it has even been recorded? Just transfer € 20,- to account number 1334.569.169 in regard of C.Dobbelsteen, Geldrop, Netherlands. That buys you the album! And not only the album; no no no. You would also receive within fourteen days the one and only original limited Gods Monkey Mask. And if you wear this mask and take a crazy, absurd or kinky photo and send it to them; it shall be used for the cover or inside sleeve of the new record. Which means you will not only be the first to receive the album once it has finished; you will also be staring at your own crazy monkeyface! So; how about it? Feel like putting your money where your monkey is?! Send them your cash or contact them via this email: GODSMONKEY





Sorrow’s Path – The Rough Path Of Nihilism


Sorrow’s Path – The Rough Path Of Nihilism
Rock It Up Records – 2010
Metal, Prog, Sympho, Power, Doom
Rated: ***

The Greek metalheads of Sorrow’s Path are about to release a new album and we therefor quickly and briefly revisit their 2010 album The Rough Path of Nihilism. Their interpretation of classic metal takes hints from the progressive and symphonic side of things. Combine that with some true to the word power metal and pieces of doom and its easy to see where these guys are taking their theatrical feel of heavy music. It has a tragic and huge historic feel inspired by the impressive drums, cutting riffs and weaving guitarlines. The vocals are, like with almost every other metal formation that leans on huge gestures: one to get used to. Let’s see what kind of inspiring stuff they come up with on their new record.



woensdag 16 januari 2013

Moghul – Dead Empires


Moghul – Dead Empires
Devizes Records / Infektion – 2012
Rock, Metal, Doom, Sludge
Rated: *****

These four freaks started only a year ago and have already shared the stage with bands such as Conan, Slab and Alunah. And not only that; but Moghul has also already finished recording their first release. Dead Empires is a two tracks counting heavy ambient doom metal extravaganza that is released in a limited edition of green and black vinyl. The two tracks are carved out with three vocalists, two guitars, one bass and a drummer and excels in painting a bleak and elemental picture. This is crashing water, incinerating fire and devastating wind. And just as you feel the earth shattering around you the weight is lifted and an intense groove sweeps you away to have you participate in some ancient ritualistic dance macabre. Colossal riffs and a dragging animal tempo executed with sheer perfection. These cats know the deal; they have build their very own empire to their personal august taste made of emerald waste and flickering on forever like dusty copper and dirty bronze…



The Dry Mouths – Moons True Delay Length Wah Foo Era


The Dry Mouths – Moons True Delay Length Wah Foo Era
Self released – 2012
Rock, Alternative, Grunge, Metal, Post
Rated: ***


Four friends from the Spanish town of Almeria founded The Dry Mouths in the year of our lord 2006. In 2010 they released their debut effort called Lost Bow Case Eckard and 2012 saw the release of their sophomore album weirdly entitled: Moons True Delay Length Wah Foo Era. The album starts with a full throttle guitar assault that recalls the nineties alternative rock glory with a metal twist. This quickly dissipates into something more melodic yet obscurely structured; with intelligent turns and technical breaks. Slowly but surely the album starts to make its mark and leaves you breathless in the sheer possibilities these four guys tick off; without ever delving in too deep. It leaves you with a broad horizon of alternative rock and experimental metal that shakes the intestines. On some moments it sounds like a grungier and simpler version of Tool and on others they come across as a heavier and paradoxically melodic Seattle born formation. We can’t wait to hear their third record set to be released later this year!

Wiht – The Harrowing of The North


Wiht – The Harrowing of The North
Devouter Records – 2013
Rock, Metal, Post, Doom
Rated:***

Yes, you are right. Wiht called it quits in March of 2012 and yes, The Harrowing Of The North was released a year before that. But somewhere lurking on the shelves was one more track that needed to be heard and therefore Devouter Records took it upon themselves to re-release the album only a year later with that extra track. So apart from the 33 minutes of fuzzed out, instrumental, psychedelic and epic musical legend of those two songs everyone can now enjoy an extra nine minutes of heavy conceptualization. Highly dynamic, progressive and simply scorching. Still; a damn shame these guys put down their guitars…


dinsdag 15 januari 2013

Sideburn – IV Monument


Sideburn – IV Monument
Transubstans – 2012
Rock, Hard, Stoner, Seventies
Rated: *****

The fourth release by Sweden facial hair sporting amigo’s Sideburn is a definite monument and is therefor extremely aptly titled: IV Monument. It pays homage tot the heavy seventies and all that goodness that stems from honest hardrock. Taking small hints from doom and more from progrock the riffs opt for huge and wide and plains filled with stampeding buffalo’s. And so are the structures and the impressive vocals and its lines. They erected something classic here; these four freaky Swedes. Something that can measure up besides Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath; and hold its own. It has that pure heaviness that still allows itself to visit something folky and something psychedelic and weaves and wanders and bombards with drumfills and then lets up to produce nothing but a steady rhytm and then lets the guitars shine with masterful lines and intricate solos. Aah yes, this monumental record is yet another five star release. And one we should have discovered in 2012!!!



The Black Widow's Project – Heavy Heart


The Black Widow's Project – Heavy Heart
Shitstem Records/Domino Media – 2012
Rock, Hard, Seventies, Stoner
Rated: *****

Formed in Geneva in 2010, The Black Widow’s Project is one of those bands that strikes a chord in the heart of the most reckless and the insane from that first subdued riff. Their second album Heavy Heart is full frontal assault that hauls you along on a deranged and maniacal roller coaster ride. It is a wild ride that moves through the seventies and the blues inspired stuff just as easily as through hardrock, grunge, doom and stoner. And if that sounds like these freaks are all over the place; then you are right! But they do it with grace and an amazing aptitude that borders on sheer poetic perfection. They seem to be able to pull off anything that anyone could imagine and you can hear elements of all the great bands and genres hidden in their tracks. These crazy Swiss motherfuckers have delivered one hottdamn amazing album and should go on tour with Feuerzeug; cause the two of them would burn down every freakin venue in the whole damn world!



Shineski – Leave You In The Dark


Shineski – Leave You In The Dark
Tentacled/Domino Media – 2012
Rock, Power, Stoner, Grunge
Rated: ***

Shineski was formed somewhere in the east of France around 2006 and quickly became a powerrock quartet to be reckoned with. They released their debut effort in 2008 and followed that up with the powerful sophomore record The Wild Lane in 2010. At the end of 2012 they found it fit to release a five songs counting EP entitled: Leave You In The Dark. It is filled with robust rock songs that have that pop sensibility of the later grunge era and nineties alternative. On that heavy and strong foundation they build their castle and use lofty decorations of stoner tapestry and tiny industrial lightbulbs to decorate. The draft throughout this release is one that bombards the senses and reminds of Foo Fighters, Queens of The Stone Age, Bush, Nine Inch Nails and Biffy Clyro. The structures are rocksolid, the rhythms are forceful, the riffs are tight and the vocals are damn right awesome. But for some weird and possible insane reason they do not seem to stick like The Wild Lane tracks did. Even though these are more complete and have everything a song needs to become the soundtrack to a certain moment in time…



woensdag 9 januari 2013

Gozu – The Fury Of A Patient Man


Gozu – The Fury Of A Patient Man
Small Stone Records – 2013
Rock, Stoner
Rated: *****

Gozu has the honor of releasing the first full metal stoner blast into 2013 and the first five star mention of this year. Their new album The Fury Of A Patient Man is a DMT cannon shot into the New Year. And while yer drinking your beer as you soar to the sky you pump your fist and headbang yourself into a hallucinogenic coma. Without losing their tongue and cheek mentality they moved forward and perfect the sound they carried on their much loved record Locust Season. This time they move a tad away from the Queens Of The Stone Age, Soundgarden and Kyuss influences just enough to make their song structures sound heavier and meant for the future. They still retain that amazing air of accessibility but do not fear experimentation and exploration. As we can judge by certain rhythm changes, breaks and ofcourse the twenty-three minute long closer The Ceaseless Thunder Of Surf. And any band that pays tribute to Traci Lords deserves a full chest tattoo of her snatch and their smiling heads! Gozu; the first album that will surely make the top 20 of 2013!


Traumahelikopter – Traumahelikopter


Traumahelikopter – Traumahelikopter
Excelsior/V2 – 2012
Rock, Garage, Fuzz
Rated: ****

Hailing from the communistic and punk capital of the Netherlands, these guys have been touring mercilessly (together with Shaking Godspeed) the past years and still found the time to record their debut album a few months ago. They did this within a week and it must be the only way to capture the intense energy level that Traumahelikopter brings to the stage. Two guitars that grind, scream, riff and howl accompanied by a very stripped down drum-set that gives a simple beat and only steadies the two string-slinging amigos. Cause the raging guitars and the simple hedonistic lyrics are the real vocal-points of this trio. They have an air of sixties psychedelic garage surrounding them and spit back at the start of the punk-era. It might be simplistic; but sometimes that’s all you need. Explosive rock and roll that burns your soul and sets your heart alight!




dinsdag 8 januari 2013

Dapunksportif – Fast Changing World


Dapunksportif – Fast Changing World
Self released – 2012
Rock, Alternative, Stoner
Rated: ****

Their third album Fast Changing World was released a month or two ago and whirl winded around their home country Portugal before finally moving outward and gripping the rest of the world. We are talking about Dapunksportif, a heavy rock outfit that makes easy accessible stoner rock with the catchiness of Queens Of The Stone Age and the fun no nonsense approach we know of Danko Jones. A tasty groove and an ever-present driving rhythm are their mighty core. It’s choppy; it’s direct and highly entertaining! It’s a duo that employs drummers for the kind of sound they are looking for. This time they took it to the extreme and found a different one for almost every damn song. Which could make an album unstable and wobbly, but in this case it just adds to the dynamic and propels the record ever forward and ever faster. They pour their pure DNA of rock into intense riffs, incredible basswork and explosive drums. Rock hard with Dapunksportif!



On with the show…


On with the show…

As of today we continue on with the normal show of trying to get the word out on all those great releases out there. If you have a tip or request or you are part of a band do not hesitate to contact us. You can do that in the shoutbox or via this emailadress.  And if there are still old ideas that have not been handled floating around; please do mention them again. And for all the bands that have already been entering the mailbox; I will start dealing with all of them as of tomorrow. First off there’s HjS’s request and then a day long meeting with a bunch of silly freaks that run the best hottdamn music magazine in the Netherlands…


maandag 7 januari 2013

And so it ends...


My personal top 20 of 2012

And so it ends… The final post about the Stoner HiVe top 20 albums of 2012. After this we continue on with the regular show and tell principle. Thanks again everyone for sending in your list and I hope that each and everyone of you and maybe even a few more will find the time and energy to send in again when December 2013 rolls around! Since 56 of you lovely freaks out there voted for and comprised this honorable list and with that showed me quite a few albums I did not know of. The ones that usually ended up at your personal number 15 or something. I feel it is only just to show my personal top 20. There are a few albums in that there have little to do with the genre; but I did not feel like substituting them for a stoner affiliated album; cause they’re damn good! And all of them shift position every now and again and there were at least sixty albums more that I dug to some massive degree; but hey it’s a list making thing and we do the best we can at the moment in time selected. Whatever that may mean…


1. Crobot – Legend of The Spaceborn Killer
2. Carnaval – Tennis, Football, Basketball
3. Shaking Godspeed – Hoera
4. Cojones – Bend To Transcend
5. Santa Cruz – Down On My Knees
6. Mamont – Passing Through The Mastery Door
7. Redcoats – Redcoats
8. Royal Thunder – CVI
9. The Cult – Choice of Weapon
10. Wo Fat - The Black Code
11. Molior Superum – Into The Sun
12. Mammoth Mammoth – Hell’s Likely
13. My Sleeping Karma – Soma
14. Jack White – Blunderbuss
15. Bob Mould – Silver Age
16. Wheelfall – Interzone
17. Creature With The Atom Brain – Birds Fly Low
18. High Duchess - Wanderlust
19. Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball
20. Navarone – A Darker Shade Of White


vrijdag 4 januari 2013

The Red Lantern


The Red Lantern

Like we did last year let’s name the ones holding the Red Lantern; the ones that received one point and one point only; the ones that got voted for only once and on the 20th position of a sent in list. Cause not everyone was able to list exactly twenty albums. Or only felt twelve of them made the grade this year. Or maybe because there were so many great releases this year or maybe it was because it escaped most of everyone’s attention or maybe they are on the fringe of this thing we call rock in honor of the pure heaviness of the riff… Whatever the reason, they still got one point in this 2012 edition of the Stoner HiVe countdown…


Metz - Metz

Sport - Aus der Asche, aus dem Staub

The Smashing Pumpkins – Oceania

Tindersticks – The Something Rain

Eagle Claw - Timing Of The Void


donderdag 3 januari 2013

Onwards and Upwards in 2013



Onwards and Upwards in 2013

And a happy new year to each and everyone out there! As you guys might have noticed; the last two days (and posts) were unfortunately done from a location that was ‘Internet challenged’. My apologies for that; but it could not be helped. All in all, the list had some definite surprises; especially on the location of some of the bands apparently. Like Mr. Anonymous stated with his remark: ‘Fuck off this list.’ 56 of you freaks out there sent in the their lists naming exactly  344 different bands and artists. It has been a steady grower going from 18 lists to 37 to 48 and now 56. And of course I hope to receive even more upcoming year; making the list more and more valid with each passing year. So to start these last few posts about the countdown off and seeing as only four of my personal list made the top 20. I wanted to share my own list with all of you as well. But before I do that. Here are the 30 below the Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 albums of 2012. Ranging from Number 21, Gandhi’s Gunn with exactly one point less than Major Kong to Number 50 Witch Mountain which has 31 points less than Major Kong


Gandhi’s Gunn - The Longer The Beard The Harder The Sound
Baroness - Yellow & Green
Stoned Jesus - Seven Thunders Roar
Saint Vitus - Lillie: F-65
Devin Townsend – Epicloud
Mos Generator – Nomads
Arc of Ascent - The Higher Key
From Beyond - One Year
Dopelord - Magick Rites
Pale Divine - Painted Windows Black
Mark Lanegan - Blues Funeral
Grand Magus - The Hunt
Cojones – Bend To Transcend
El Caco - Hatred, love and diagrams
Baby Woodrose - Third eye surgery
Snail – Terminus
Ancestors - In Dreams And Time
Hour of 13 – 333
Motorpsycho and Ståle Storløkken - The Death Defying Unicorn
Wheelfall – Interzone
Cortez – Cortez
Christian Mistress – Possession
Captain Crimson – Dancing Madly Backwards
Swans - The Seer
Pallbearer - Sorrow and Extinction
Skånska Mord - Paths To Charon
Conan – Monnos
Obelyskkh -White Lightnin'
Alunah - White Hoarhound
Witch Mountain - Cauldron Of The Wild

dinsdag 1 januari 2013

Number 1


Number 1

“Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:6

I guess there’s only one way and one place to end this list truly righteous and beautifully poetic. For it is the year of Sweden and of a lust for that vintage feeling of musical magic. So it is fitting that these guys that sparked so many of the bands we listen to ended up on the Number One position. For they themselves honor the music that inspired them and most of the other great releases this year. With twenty points more than Kadavar they pay homage to the heavy and darkened sounds of yore and exhume a dusty brown air of nostalgia but never one that is stale or forlorn. In fact their vintage atmosphere has a loud and modern feeling to it. Which is something they might have to thank their new members for. It is mystical music that speaks of ancient legends and conjures up visions of true artists fighting their way out of kaleidoscopic straightjackets of their own making. And cast away they dare to take flight in a new fashion that takes some getting used to. But once the buttons are buttoned; it is snug and fits like a glove!


Witchcraft – Legend