Early Mammal - Horror at Pleasure

Early Mammal - Horror at Pleasure

Devouter Records - 2013

Experimental, Rock, Space, Psyche

Rated: **

Okay, I don't know where to start with this one. This album from the three lads of Early Mammal from England is all over the place. You get rock, some stoner sprinkled in there, space rock, some psychedelica thrown in for good measure and there is a lot of experimentation on this album. The music is good to pretty good in some places but it is the vocals that wreck it for me. I am not saying that Rob Herian (guitars/vocals) is a bad singer but he isn't a great singer either. But nobody will be able to tell this because his vocals are drowned out by the music. Half the time I didn't even know he was singing because his voice is pushed all the way into the background making it damn near impossible to hear him at certain times. I hope the vocals take center stage on their next album like they’re supposed to. Cause the members have all played in different bands and are damn good; but due to the production it becomes inaudible.

(Written by Blair)

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Mexicoma – Supervoid

Mexicoma – Supervoid

Self released – 2012

Stoner, Rock

Rated: ****

From Umea, Sweden comes the triple guitar, six-piece stoner groove attack that takes the name of Mexicoma.  These guys have been around for years developing their sound by playing shows and writing tunes behind the Swedish scenes but have only emerged recently with this, their first official, worldwide release on bandcamp.  Be forewarned, Mexicoma will blow your hair back and knock you back into next week.  ‘Supervoid’ is a lean and mean 4-song, twenty-minute offering, showing the band as polished, professional and hooky as all hell.  Opening track “Mortified” is a high-octane, catchy as fish in a barrel smoker that’s been in this reviewer’s head for half a year now.  My warning was not meant in jest.  They also show respect and admiration for their rock and roll forefathers with their cover version of Son House’s (traditional hymn) “John The Revelator” with the band’s smoke-tinged vocalist, Magnus Olsson providing the perfect stoner answer to the blues master’s original.  Fuzz, hooks and tons of muscle await in the Supervoid.

(Written by Lucas)

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Lord Summerisle – Demo

Lord Summerisle – Demo

Self released – 2013

Prog, Space Rock, Stoner, Psychedelic, Math Rock

Rated:  ***

Barcelona trio Lord Summerisle seem to have taken their lessons from the progressive rock greats of the late 60s / early 70s.  Polyrhythms and odd-time signatures convulse in gasping stutters and explode in sun bursts of sound.  The band gets their prog on in a major way on instrumental opening number, “Pare Huarg”.  But Lord Summerisle have riffs as well and aren’t shy about using them.  Laidback quaffs of stonerisms have the listener nodding along amidst the falling debris, whirring blades and heavy machinery of complex structures.  They become the eye of the storm, cows fly by, houses blow apart, cars overturn and the listener can only nod along, eyes closed, smiling.  This is applied chaos, not that pussy theoretical stuff.  Having successfully fused the technical with the melodic and chest beating brutality with the otherworldly detachment of a sky guru these guys would make Hawkwind proud and impress in the court of the crimson king himself.

(Written by Lucas)

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Pothead – Jackpot

Pothead – Jackpot

Janitor – 2013

Rock, Stoner, Groove

Rated: ****

Besides releasing a steady stream of amazing albums for over twenty years; the guys from Pothead have also been holding their very own festival Potstock since the turn of the millenium. They seem to moving ever forward in every direction possible. Not really reinventing but rediscovering and improving themselves with every record. Their latest one is called Jackpot and is exactly that. A hole in one. An ace. And all that without any luck whatsoever involved. With still little hints of their old grunge and punk past the album seems to embrace the airy rock and the groove of giants. Reminding of Masters Of Reality on some moments but mostly sounding typically Pothead and all over the place in tiny and minute ways. They have carved out a nice little corner for themselves and with a new drummer on board the train seems bound for bigger destinations. Some weird synthesizer sequences here and there; a few shimmering solos, rolling riffs and driving drums. And all that in twelve concrete three-minute pop sensible rock songs. B I N G O!

(Written by JK)

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Harvester – The Blind Summit Recordings

Harvester – The Blind Summit Recordings

Self released – 2012

Stoner, Metal, Hard Rock, Punk

Rated: ***

Blazing through six tracks of blistering stoner metal, Galway, Ireland based quartet Harvester combine the sweltering shredding leads of their homeland heroes Thin Lizzy with the sweaty caveman aggression and pounding rhythms of High on Fire.  When the twain meet, The Blind Summit Recordings unleashes enough devastating energy to melt planets and topple intergalactic tyrants.  Flashing lights and thunder cracks abound on these sweat-stained tunes.  Opening track, The Cosmonautical Mile is an incendiary projectile that blasts at breakneck speed flashing skill and daring, it’s an excellent opening showcase that sets the tone for the rest of the EP.  The band was formed in 2011 from bits and pieces of other local bands Rites, Gummidge and Them Martyrs making them something of a Galway supergroup.  The supergroup tag fits as they have super powers to pick up speed for nail-biting stoner leads and shift down for devastating and dark doses of doom.  But as the band name implies, it’s not man’s doom, but the organic doom that a crop feels with the changing seasons and the unflinching progress of the combine.

(Written by Lucas)

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Lowburn - Soaring High

Lowburn - Soaring High

Self released - 2013

Rock, Stoner

Rated: ***

Four old Finnish geezers who want to rock, that seems about right with this band who bring back the riffs and the stoner rock I used to know and love (not a lot of bands can do that these days). On this, Lowburn's first EP, you can hear the sounds of the Palm Desert in the background as the guitars get fuzzier with each song, the drums beat louder with each beat, the bass pounds inside your head like a jackhammer, and the vocals crush your insides with each howl. This is how stoner rock was meant to be. These four lads have all been in rock bands before so they aren't spring chickens by any means and know exactly what the hell they are doing. If you close your eyes real tight you can imagine an outdoor concert in the middle of the valley with cheap beers, cigarettes, chicks in bikinis, and some great weed. You might just have found heaven. This band has a lot of potential with all the skilled crafts in their ranks. Just think if Kyuss/Sleep/Unida/Black Sabbath all had relatives that could play musical instruments, Lowburn would be the result!

(Written by Blair)

Bandcamp

Help found!

Help found!

After posting a Help Wanted notice exactly two weeks ago. A few replies came. And we can now safely and with utter pride say that two of them made the grade. Hell, they not only made the grade they are putting me to shame! And weirdly enough; they’re both from lovely Canada! Soon a descent ‘Team’ box will be up; but here’s a quick introduction to the two new guys who will be providing the righteous and much better reviews from now on!

Here's BLAIR!

Blair Gibson currently lives in Regina, Canada where it is currently -44 degrees and his balls are frozen to a pole as this is typed. He has released two books, a joke book titled “Laff Your Ass Off” in 2001 and released another book about heavy metal band names and how the groups came up with them: From The Minds of Madness: The Origins of Heavy Metal Band Names. He currently lives with his wife Chantelle and they have been together for the past 13 years and have no whiny bratty children as of yet! He loves stoner rock, porn, pizza, Chinese food, and oh yeah, his wife! Blair's motto is “Death always wins in the end!”

Here's LUCAS!

Lucas Klaukien is an unemployed writer living in New Westminster, BC with his opposite sex live-in life partner.  Sadly, to make ends meet he has been forced into outside employment where it is said he makes a very decent living providing non-essential services.  His acrobatic lunges and through the leg returns have earned him the title of Grand Wizard of the West Annacis Island table tennis set.  He also cares about music and the humans who create them.  O’ and comic books. And runs his own excellent blog as well: Paranoid Hitsophrenic!

We welcome them both wholeheartedly and hope they’ll enjoy the hell out of themselves. Check in tomorrow to read their very first reviews for Stoner HiVe... Hooka Hey!

Hell Comes Home

Hell Comes Home

Hell Comes Home is a one-man label effort from Galway, Ireland. Which started out as a subscription club with the subscriber receiving two new splits every month. Which leads to conclude that they released no less than 12 split 7" singles last year all in the vicinity of sludge, doom, hardcore, stoner and metal. Excellent efforts by Thou, Suma, Pyramido, Burning Love, Dopefight and many many many more. And now they have gone the extra mile and made a handcrafted boxset of the entire year. The idea might be very simple, get a bunch of cool bands together, to release a cool and good looking massive collection of splits 7". But to do it well and properly is an art in itself; one that is definitely mastered by the honorable Joel. Hell Comes Home; it not only spins elegantly on your recordplayer and sounds amazing; it looks hella good as well!

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Burrows – Faces In The Hillside

Burrows – Faces In The Hillside

Self released – 2011

Rock, Metal, Sludge, Ambient

Rated: ***

The three sludge fiends of Connecticut born Burrows delivered their first EP two years ago but have once again turned to actively promoting it again. Maybe the reason is the fact that there’s something new on the horizon? Who knows? Their sludge metal levels entire cities filled with giant concrete skyscrapers and their post metal ambient intermissions survey their doing with glee. And one must conclude that the seemingly chaotic loudness stemming from their instruments could easily make a Crowbar, Neurosis, Isis or Entombed fan go crazy. The guttural vocals however are a bit on sour side and weakens the overall aggressive and scary enjoyment one might get from the otherwise damn fine Face In The Hillside.

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Barbara and Los Rotos Del Rock – EP

Barbara and Los Rotos Del Rock – EP

Self released – 2012

Rock, Stoner, Garage, Punk

Rated: ****

Bárbara González is the name of the lovely, dangerous and a bit scary front woman of Chilean garage rock formation Barbara and Los Rotos Del Rock. On their first seven track counting EP they bring forth their South American stonerrock with a feverous punk energy. Gritty and gravelly their fuzzy tunes sound vaguely erotic and scream out for perilous nights filled with truckloads of cheap beer, horrible rum, excellent Pisco and strange cravings for Borgona’s in the middle of the night. It recalls the spirit of age-old rock ‘n roll and testifies to that love with the Spanish cover version of Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones. The follow-up track La Petite Mort shows an awesome ability to provide complete soundtracks for twisted adventures and the closer is one that will either get the blood pumping even faster or have you looking for some herb and paper to finish the night properly.  No bullshit, straight up stoner garage and roll. Perfect for bizarre or sensual escapades in countries where you blood feels to think and the sweat is always dripping…

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Barbara and Los Rotos Del Rock - Masticaré Tu Corazón

Barbara and Los Rotos Del Rock - Masticaré Tu Corazón

Very sweet, sugary and lovely second video by Chilean garage stoner formation Barbara and Los Rotos Del Rock. Inspired by the crazy Zombie rage of late? Check out their first one as well. It accompanies the first track Tú No Sabes Quién Soy of their first EP...

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Stonebringer – Ocean Of The Brave

Stonebringer – Ocean Of The Brave

Self released – 2012

Rock, Metal, Stoner, Progressive

Rated: ****

The four Greeks of Stonebringer impressed in 2011 with their first release entitled Born To Jam On The Streets. And now they’re back to bring their version of stoner metal with an even better five track EP called Ocean Of The Brave. Of which the four first tracks are telling a legendary story of yore. One the ancient Greeks have mastered throughout the ages; and Stonebringer seem to be just as fluent translating it to progressive stoner metal heaviness. Climbing mighty Olympus to cut out their granite ships with which they aim to cross the ocean in search of hope and promise and ultimately meeting Poseidon. Marble riffs and adamantine drums accompany this journey. And the guys impress most with their smooth fluid interludes and their approaching symphonic tempest. It rocks the boat and it shatters the oars. The progressive nod is ever present and on some moments you might wish they stuck with a certain riff a bit longer. But that and the fact that the Steppenwolf cover feels a tad out of place are the only minor points of an otherwise awesome and mythical adventure…

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Mind Vice – Mind Vice

Mind Vice – Mind Vice

Self released – 2013

Rock, Grunge, Stoner, Funk, Sludge

Rated: ****

Hailing from the grunge battleground of Seattle the four guys from Mind Vice have been heralded as the next Soundgarden or a funked out slowed down Nirvana; rest assured there’s a heavy buzz surrounding these guys. And rightfully so. On their full-sized self-titled album they provide heavy blues fuel for the alternative rock minded fiends. Combining rock funk from Primus and Peppers to the wailing sounds of Cornell and some old school rock from the seventies. Smearing it all out over on sludge bordering stoner or open sounding grunge. And then for the most part; not the plastered version of the nineties but one that leans heavily on the example set by older giants and a jamband attitude. Leaving the listener experiencing heavy Jazz Hell on one occasion; slow and Weary Blues the next and above all something highly soulful and equally exciting. It tickles the heart, set the blood on fire and gives hope once more for something magical on the horizon…

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Slide on Venus – Topless

Slide on Venus – Topless

Domino Media Group – 2012

Rock, Pop, Alternative, Stoner, Punk

Rated: ***

French alternative power rock outfit Slide On Venus has released their debut full length after an already entertaining series of three EP’s. Topless as the album is called features the same level of pop sensible alternative rock with that heavy and aggressive edge that some of us have come to love of bands such as Feeder, Biffy Clyro, Foo Fighters and perhaps Lostprophets. Catchy and melodic the four turn out hooks and riffs that sound highly American and have everything present to be featured on their airwaves. Which leaves the conclusion that it sometimes sounds a little too slick, too produced or a little too much of the favorite son in law coming for a Sunday visit. But that does not forgo the fact that there are some definite grade A tracks here that use the mainstream rock to it’s best potential and infuse as much combat ready vocals and rhythms as possible.

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Tongue – All Roads Lead To Me

Tongue – All Roads Lead To Me

Purple Factory – 2013

Rock, Punk, Stoner

Rated: ***

Last year we already mentioned the first EP by Serbian rock out fit Tongue. It was the start of a trilogy and therefor it is only logical that a second should arrive. It is called A Night You’ll Never Remember Vol. 2 – All Roads Lead To Me and is a continuation of that punky new wave garage we heard on their first effort. Combining those genres with tad bit of stoner and a small stint of grunge it evokes the same kind of atmosphere as that first one. But this time around the EP also seems to mirror its title and give a damn fine auricular translation of dazed out Sunday mornings when the hangover has yet to turn lucid. The sounds of loud bars ringing in your ear and vague memories plaguing your brain and aches and pains in your bones that might be due to the dehydration or some accident caused by friends or foes…

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Echoes of Yul – Cold Ground

Echoes of Yul – Cold Ground

Avantgarde Music – 2012

Rock, Metal, Post, Experimental, Drone, Kraut

Rated: ***

Experimental by default and somniferously scary by design. The second album Cold Ground by Polish avant-garde metal outfit Echoes of Yul is all of that but might lack something to experience it more than once. Atmospheric streams of noise blend together with krautrock and stoner doom until a point of no return is reached and the trip turns into a terrorizing drone. Summoning up lost souls and ancient spirits that help transport you to otherworldly visions of despair, death and wasted landscapes. At the same time it invokes a disturbing level of alternative meditation and contemplation. Cold Ground is definitely one hell of a trip. An Ayahuasca nightmare of revealing insights and echoes of former transgressions. Ambient, minimalist and hallucinatory. No drugs needed.

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Nonsun – Good Old Evil

Nonsun – Good Old Evil

Self released – 2012

Metal, Sludge, Drone, Doom

Rated: **

Formed in the Ukraine in 2011 the two guys from Nonsun have delivered their debut album Good Old Evil and with it aim to musicalize the pure evil you can count on and trust to always be around. Crushing doom and sludge that burns your bones and vaporizes your blood. The tracks move slow like gargantuan Goliath’s and ogres looking for fresh meat to pound on.  They search around in dark caves and jump into riff build abysses and drown in rivers of molten lava feedback. Yes; I’m going a bit overboard here; but so is Nonsun on occasion. They deliver a huge amount of incredible ideas and buildups; but rarely take it to its logical conclusion or continuation. Which is a shame cause the opening track alone has enough extraordinary material to explore and delve into; their ideas are many but so are their chosen paths; which do not always lead to the castle at the center of the labyrinth… 

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Supervoid – Endless Planets

Supervoid – Endless Planets

Self released – 2012

Rock, Psychedelic, Stoner, Sludge

Rated: *****

Thanks to the guys from Monobrow the Endless Planets EP of the Supervoid five-some has suddenly and totally kidnapped my heart. Moving through the universe on an eighteen-ton heavy spaceship they incorporate spacerock elements into their stoner and sludge. And thanks to the clean vocals on one end of the spectrum and the slow motion guitarlines they sound as psychedelic and whirling as a batik shirt in a washing machine. Swirling the bass through it all aiming for a fuzz heavy groove to propel them ever forward. And then the brutish and crushing part starts with growling and sepulchral screams functioning as the afterburner to a clean vacuum where the notes sound as weightless as pure light. Before they turn ponderous once more. Eclectic and diverse the void continues. Now all that’s left to do is surf along on their cosmic wind… O’ and figure out who the hell the Piss Children might be…

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Romero – Take The Potion

Romero – Take The Potion

Grindcore Karaoke – 2013

Rock, Metal, Stoner, Doom, Sludge

Rated: *****

The Romero threesome has returned with an amazing new album called Take The Potion. After treating us to the Couch Lock single and the Solitaire EP it is time for a full-sized album. And what an album it is! It’s a kamikaze assault on everything the stoner scene hold dear by way of classic metal and old fashioned doom. They do not sound like anything retro but have the knack to weave the masters of yore ever so slightly into their very own brand of metal sludge. The new Komatsu record might still be a tiny bit heavier, devastating and crushing. The new Romero takes the cake when it comes to putting some air, slow tempos and color into the aural destruction. Blasting vocals that mesmerize and exploding riffs that wash over the impressive drums that make the sweat and blood drip of the ceiling. So take the potion and drink up. Cause we’re not in Kansas anymore!

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Gingerpig - Run

Gingerpig - Run

It's almost here. The new album Hidden From View by Dutch rockers Gingerpig. And it just might be even better than their debut effort The Ways Of The Gingerpig from 2011... Just check out the first single: Run ! Whoohoo!

Help Wanted!

Help Wanted!

Due to the fact that the amount of releases we receive is expanding like a universe of its own it is time to face the music and see if there might be anyone out there willing to lend a helping hand. If you dig listening to the heavy genres featured on this little blog and have a few moments to spare in the week; maybe you would like to contribute? A new album or EP link would be forwarded to you and all you have to do is listen to it and write a few words about it. If possible with a little bit of information about the band, what the music entails and most importantly: if you dug it. Somewhere between a hundred and fity and two hundred words per mention is all it takes. Interested? Want to know more? Send an email to this adress: Stoner HiVe.

Monobrow – Bennington Triangle Blues

Monobrow – Bennington Triangle Blues

Self released – 2012

Rock, Stoner, Psychedelic, Doom, Instrumental

Rated: *****

Back in 2010 these guys already made it to the Number Eight position of the Stoner HiVe top 20 countdown with their first release after only a year of jamming together. And Monobrow deserved it. For their instrumental album was chuck full of heavy riffing and a psychedelic tapestry that can only be found among true freak out free rock fiends. On their second album they display an even superior feel of hitting the right notes at the right time without ever becoming anywhere near clinical. Heavier, darker and more dangerous than it’s predecessor the eight tracks on Bennington Triangle Blues have an even mightier groove and make for one delicious adventure. Excellent divers drumming and gigantic growling basswork offset by tight riffs and amazing guitarlines. And it’s available in beer colored vinyl! Now who wouldn’t want a taste of that?

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Dead – Idiots

Dead – Idiots

We Empty Rooms – 2012

Rock, Sludge, Punk

Rated: ****

Just the two of us, building castles in the sky. For some weird and possibly insane reason the lyrics of that Bill Withers song came to mind when I learned that the Australian born formation Dead is comprised out of only two. Two musical architects that build heavy and lofty palaces in the sky, mirroring those mad creations of MC Escher. Raw, visceral and poignant the seven tracks on their new album Idiots create as much as they destroy. For where the drums seem to want to pound out the foundation the bass rolls over it and crushes and crunches and seems to explode with steaming riffs and compressed freak outs. All accompanied by shouts and screams that demand attention. Not for the feeble or the frail but for the ones that can stand the assault and can easily join in with a fool’s parade…

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Annimal Machine – Annimal Machine

Annimal Machine – Annimal Machine 

Self released – 2013 

Rock, Stoner, Metal 

Rated: ***** 

I have great love for Mexico. Ever since a good friend of mine moved to Mexico a few years back to flee the horrible weather and the economical crises heading this way; my love for the country has grown exponentially. He is now the proud owner of an amazing collection of sexshops across wonderful Mexico. So whenever a release from that side of the pond finds his way here, I can’t help but get even more excited. But in the case of Annimal Machine it is completely justified! Holy freakin crap; these three tracks on their first release hit like ten ton heavy monstertruck on a rampage. There is no escaping the simple fact that this is incredibly awesome. Roaring like a fuzzy mountain lion and trampling like a distorted mammoth herd. It’s ferocious, it’s feral and it machinates to make every fiber in your being jump and turn into blissful euphoria! Get on board the Annimal Machine! 

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Acid Ocean – Acid Ocean

Acid Ocean – Acid Ocean

Self released – 2012

Stoner, Sludge, Metal, Noise

Rated: ***

The underground of Milan, Italy has been teeming with great bands for a long time. But unfortunately they have very few places to play live for where the city has been conquered by the Huns, the Goths and the Vandals in ancient times they are now run over by the Fashionados and their factories, offices and brandnames. They have no time and room in the heart for the authentic Milan and demand boring discos and bland bars to pass the time. But there are still a few who desperately and boldly stand up against this horrible commercialism. Like the guys from Polarbeers and Acid Ocean. And this last metal project has now delivered an exciting two-track seven-inch record that assaults and storms the barricades. Their powerful and aggressive sludge takes hints from stoner, stints from noise and is based on a solid metal foundation. Yes, this distorted metal madness is something those fake plastic freaks will never be able to conquer!

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Caronte – Ascension

Caronte – Ascension

Moonlight Records / Lo-Fi Creatures – 2012

Rock, Doom, Stoner

Rated: ****

Italian foursome Caronte delivered their excellent first EP Ghost Owl back in 2011 and have managed to follow up with an equally impressive full-sized album called Ascension a few months ago. Like a low sounding machine humming with electricity and brimming with a power yet to be unleashed the seven tracks almost seem to explode from a potent and anxious tempo. The riffs and lines grapple and grip together like a cluster of cables and with an endless series of minute twists and turns it excels in a painting an incredibly steady and hazy tapestry. With an occult atmosphere and a thrilling ambience they plow away and extract the universal nod with ease. Add to this an incredible drummer and very distinct sounding vocalist and you can safely assume Caronte is ascending to something great.

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Second Grave – Second Grave

Second Grave – Second Grave

Self released – 2012

Rock, Metal, Doom

Rated: ***

The Boston foursome Second Grave is made up out of members that have long since earned their spurs in bands such as Nodscene, Black Pyramid and Obsidian Halo. And then there’s female guitarist/vocalist Krista van Guilder of Warhorse fame that fronts this project. Together they’ve produced six classic metal tracks that lean heavily towards doom. The wonderful aspect of all these nods towards the past is the fact that even though they sound traditional they never sound stale or retro. It’s highly melodic setup and colorful hooks suit their very own take on dark and treacherous metal; cause for the most part they keep to their own tempo. Not too slow and not too fast. Which is a breath of fresh air and a welcome breeze. Can’t wait to hear what else they found behind that red door…

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Asilo – Geografias Wardance

Asilo – Geografías Wardance

Self released – 2012

Crust, Sludge, Doom

Rated: ***

Asilo hails from the little village of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The four guys deliver their raw and incredibly loud music in a crunching demolition tour de force that almost completely levels your brain. This is definitely not for the feeble or the weak minded. It is as black as tar and just as sticky, it sounds like twisted evil and smells just as icky. It puts the fear in your heart and turns you back to paranoia. It might be droning, hypnotic, heavy and crusty. But above all it comes across as corrupt, depraved and a personality destroyer. So be careful; it might end you…

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