Komatsu – Manu Armata

Komatsu – Manu Armata

Suburban / Lighttown Fidelity – 2013

Rock, Stoner, Metal, Sludge

Rated: *****

Eindhoven, Netherlands born Komatsu surprised at the end of 2011 with a six tracks counting EP that was boiling over of overwhelming and completely leveling stonerrock interspersed with samples. But not soon after the release singer/guitarist Erik van Schenk-Brill decided to leave the band. Guitar player Stephan Quint who already played in bands such as De Vettige Matjes, Motorbongo and GodsChosenDealer replaces him. Luckily all those changes did not effect the sound in a bad way for it is even more mechanical and destructive than before and without it being reduced by even one decibel makes it all sound more torrid and sweltering. Stomping, dragging and marching rhythms that are bursting with fantastic breaks and changes over which the bass chops away angrily. Riffs that dizzy like air-wielding motorchains and rousing guitar-lines that drag you along towards the abyss. The band are absolute masters in evoking an already legendary boorish and rude atmosphere that paradoxically enough also comes across as intelligent. The typical vocals of guitarist Mo Truijens takes a minute getting used to but fits perfectly in most of the cases. Every now and then it scours a bit too much. But that’s what you should expect with a heavy monstrous force like Komatsu!!!

(Written by JK)

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Stay tuned; cause next week after a trip abroad a way too large interview with bassplayer Martijn of bulldozing stonermetal formation KOMATSU will go online. He speaks loudly but with carefully weighed words. He knows his music and he loves it dearly!

Albums That Burnt Your Soul

Albums That Burnt Your Soul

Black Insect Laughter’s project ‘Albums That Burnt Your Soul.’

Tony from the amazing Black Insect Laughter asked me to deliver a piece for his ‘Albums That Burnt Your Soul’ project. And I gladly participated. Cause that’s the reason we do this thing right? Talk about the music we love? Spread the tunes we cherish? Making new discoveries? And paying homage to all those heroes we love and perhaps lost… Ofcourse I went a bit overboard with my way too long article about my personal soundtrack: Histamin by My Midnight Creeps. Check it out here:  Black Insect Laughter…

My Midnight Creeps - I Fell Into A hole

My Midnight Creeps - I Fell Into A hole

Exactly.

My Midnight Creeps - Don't Let'em Bring You Down

My Midnight Creeps - Don't Let'em Bring You Down

I'll let the song do all of the talking here...

Deuil – Acceptance / Rebuild

Deuil – Acceptance / Rebuild

Self-Released - 2013

Drone, Sludge

Rated: **

Today’s album is comprised of two lengthy tracks of 20 and 10 minutes, respectively.  The first of these, “Acceptance” is a bit all over the place.  From slow, swaying Moss-like doom to blackened face ripping intensity, guttural incantations to indecipherable clips, “Acceptance” lights up various parts of the brain but always in the pursuit of pulverization.  Deuil like to be thorough.  Their name means ‘mourning’ so “Rebuild” sounds like something of a signature track.  It kicks off in a somber mood, traversing ruined terrain full of gutted hopes, smashed bodies and wasted lives, a world shattered during the opening song.  The band spelunk in the caves of post-metal then emerge on a rampage.  At times they’re a whirlwind of teeth and claws, at others their slow riffs churn a relentless gangland beat down of heavy.  With this band, it’s a heaviness that goes way beyond low-end distortion.  The vocals are of the worm-eaten and filth ridden variety, always pushing the brutality.  This Belgian three-piece is sure to give you nightmares.

(Written by Lucas)

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MXRCXL – A Laughing Matter

MXRCXL – A Laughing Matter

Self released – 2013

Rock, Punk, Garage, Metal, Grunge, Industrial

Rated: ***

Four tracks that smell like an industrial warehouse in the Seattle region but actually comes from downtown Rotterdamn, Netherlands. MXRCXL was a one-man operation during his first release Dump back in 2011 but quickly decided to search for three other members. The band is complete now and the four guys produce a grungy, metallic, punk sound most at home in dusty halls and overgrown harbor facilities. The new EP A Laughing Matter is in no way a laughing matter and feels like an angry and anxious call to arms. Where his two track debut featured more dry heat stoner influences this one aims without any hesitation for the intelligent punk side of grunge and incorporates the technological sound that Nine Inch Nails offers without it sounding like anything in that genre.  L7, Mudhoney, Seven Year Bitch; and more of that era have leant definite waves of recognizability. MXRCXL is on his way to become a force to be reckoned with!

(Written by JK)

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Boudain – Boudain EP

Boudain – Boudain EP

Self-Released - 2013

Stoner, Sludge

Rated: ****

Some bands need to stew in the pot a while longer than others, especially when the raw ingredients are so different.  It’s not that Boudain is lazy or couldn’t write enough decent material, it’s just that southerners like to take their time.  Though the Monroe, Louisiana based quartet formed in 2006, this eponymous 6-track EP is their debut recording.  What they serve up is a warbling tremor of stoner sludge, a combination of styles which provides a hearty wallop of fuzz n’ buzz.  Boudain is in many ways a bipolar band, devoting time to both extremes of the stylistic spectrum with equal conviction and ability if not in equal measure.  NOLA sludge largely dominates here before a red-eyed and grinning takeover by stoner blues commences toward the end of the EP.  There are other sources of inspiration on display here as well though.  Sabbathian riffs and song structures rear their cowled heads while around the next corner hardcore elements raise a studded fist.   It can be a tad difficult to reconcile the different sides of the band and listeners are excused if initially believing this to be a split or compilation.  At the end of the day ‘Boudain’ is not a dish, but a buffet!

(Written by Lucas)

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Loading Data – Double Disco Animal Style

Loading Data – Double Disco Animal Style

A Quick One / Deadlight Entertainment – 2013

Rock, Stoner, Robot

Rated: *****

Unfortunately both the Dutch Courage Month and the Rancho De La Luna Month have been postponed due to the excessive amount of new albums and demos landing on our doormat. But The Mad Trist would have been a proud addition to the DCM and this next post is sort of similar to The Mad Trist and would have been a great attachment to the Rancho month. Six years ago the French/American Loading Data showed us their transformed sound that went from strange highly eclectic Nevada style stoner to Palm Desert greatness on Rodeo Ghettoblaster. This time around they went further towards LA with their sound and implored help from Alain Johannes and Nick Oliveri. Hoss Wright (Mondo Generator) and Adam Keller (Rock City Angels) also lend a hand. It leads to a highly recognizable stoner record that grooves, rocks and robots with anti-rhythmic guitar-lines and whimsical drums. A little touch of psychedelic keys, bluesy harmonica and cigar-box strumming added to a truckload of danceable melodies. This exhumes Rancho family from every tiny fiber and longs for blistering sunlight and hot nights. The Mad Trist might be circulating in their vicinity calling out for something they sort of know; but Loading Data give the rat a name!

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The Mad Trist – Animals and Acrobats

The Mad Trist – Animals and Acrobats

PIAS – 2013

Rock, Stoner, Pop

Rated: ***

Back in 2010 Dutch rockers The Mad Trist finally released their debut album Pay The Piper to a very excited local audience. Filled with stonerpop songs that reminded of De Staat and Queens Of The Stone Age it resembled little of the 2005 band I first saw on that early hangover morning on the Bospop Festival; but the sound had improved, matured and gained a little raw edge. And now three years later after the entire rhythm section has skipped town and new animals have filled their vacant spots; the guys are back. And we can very briefly state that the songs and the sound on their new record Animals and Acrobats have indeed improved and matured once again and the switches in vocal duties are excellent. But they seem to have lost something in the process. Most of them have drifted even more towards that middle ground and only few stand boldly against the current. But those, we might add, are damn tasty and groovy. And Like Queens Of The Stone Age always claimed; you gotta be able to dance to it and you gotta be able to lure in the ladies. The Mad Trist has both! Now all they need are some lions, snakes and monkeys…

(Written by JK)

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The Mad Trist - Lack Of Light

The Mad Trist - Lack of Light

And here's the new single by Dutch rockers The Mad Trist featuring the all new rhythm section. Check out their new album Animals & Acrobats and have yourself a sweet ass day at the circus! You gotta see it to believe and you gotta see it fast; before the circus finally leaves town...

The Mad Trist - Pay The Piper

 The Mad Trist - Pay The Piper

The Mad Trist's first single the title track from their first record featuring their old sound with the old guard from their debut album Pay The Piper. Look at those rats go! Give them a name!

Lothorian – Welldweller

Lothorian – Welldweller

Acid Cosmonaut Records – 2013

Rock, Doom, Sludge, Stoner, Metal

Rated: ****

Slow, heavy, dirty, damp and relentless. The gradual progress of weathering away granite with drops of water. Ever so slowly the erosion smoothens the surface and through the combination of many chemical processes intricate cave systems are formed. Transformed from a three-piece to a five man strong formation the Belgian born Lothorian adds sound to those subterranean passages. Their album Welldweller grinds away all resistance with distorted riffs and layer upon layer of crag like guitarlines. Floating through the hollow with gritty screams, grimy vocals and hallowed sighs. Underground rapids on occasion by the crashing drums and stomping basswork. It all festers and bubbles in earth worn recesses where gaseous swamps that survived the onslaught of torrential drips. The atmosphere oozes ancient and beautiful dark and intensely raw nature. With an ever present ominous force dwelling there…

(Written by JK)

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A much better review by Lucas on his Paranoid Hitsophrenic

Geezer – Handmade Heavy Blues

Geezer – Handmade Heavy Blues

Self-Released - 2012

Blues, Hard Rock

Rated: ***

Geezer may get drunk and surly on the porch but they don’t lie and they don’t mince words, their debut album ‘Handmade Heavy Blues’ is just that.  Geezer is so full of bad attitude I doubt they kiss their moms when they see them.  Their lyrics are so filthy I wouldn’t be surprised if most of them came from the inside of bathroom stalls.  So maybe they shouldn’t kiss at all with such a nasty sound emanating from them.  Maybe there’s method to the madness.  Whatever it is, if the goal is to drive folks away then these upstate New Yorkers fail, because the heavy blues sound they produce should have them coming in droves like city folk to the back country woods.  Yes, ‘Handmade Heavy Blues’ will have them squealing like pigs in no time.  Smoke-tinged vocals, orange amped guitars and hard rhythms combine to form a sound like Charley Patton getting into a fist fight with Junior Kimbrough over who gets the last bottle of hooch in an old liquor store.  A Beatles cover here, a Muddy Waters cover there mixed with darker moods like Gideon Smith and all bluesy points in between make this a tough ass blues record for sweaty, burnt out and bruised nights.

(Written by Lucas)

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Liquid Silk – Liquid Silk EP

Liquid Silk – Liquid Silk EP

Self released – 2013

Seventies, Rock, Stoner, Blues, Hard rock

Rating: ***

There is so much going on with Liquid Silk that it's impossible to know where everything starts. These retro rockers from Berlin cite Clutch, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Graveyard as their influences. Lead off track “Autumn” has a nice feel to it. Close your eyes, lean back and just see the leaves change color and fall off trees; but you will be woken up at the 5:30 mark when things get heavy, that's where the Sabbath element kicks in. This is a toe tapping bluesy number to boot and it is easy to see these guys would have fit in well in the seventies hard rock realm, just listen to that voice. “Happy Croco” is a song about an alligator, not usually a topic popular among rock artists but these guys seem to pull it off in this little stoner tune. Things take a depressing turn in “Winter” as it is about ... winter (and winter sucks, but this song didn't.) The closer “The Chase” had its moments but wasn't really an album closer for it ended up making me want more. Nevertheless, you take one cup of seventies hard rock, 1/2 cup straight up rock, a sprinkle of stoner, a teaspoon of blues and a 1/2 cup of hard rock and you get a recipe for great tunes a la Liquid Silk!

(Written by Blair)

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Atomic Thrillride – Chain Reaction

Atomic Thrillride – Chain Reaction

Self released – 2012

Rock, Hard, Blues, Seventies, Stoner

Rated: ****

There’s a certain sort of windswept heat across the great state of Kentucky. And on days when the wind dies down and temperature rises there is no refuge from it and you will have to blow off every arranged little thing and either go belly-to-belly with a good woman, in a soaked bed under a sweaty tin roof and a bottle of good bourbon right next to the bed or have a backyard party with live music. For both occasions one will need some good and genuine music. The three amigos from Atomic Thrillride got together in 2011 and bring forth the medicine you need. On their first album Chain Reaction we hear a cancellation of the future and a mighty groove that has been passed down through the rock ‘n roll ages. Their love for the seventies and all the greatness that stems from it is as equally apparent as their ability to make it all flow like a leaf on a summer Tug Fork River. With their roots firmly in hardrock they implore little bits of punk and stoner and have it all move down the stream gently and weather the occasional rapids smoothly. There is this weird atmosphere across the album that there’s something great a foot and good times are a coming. And after the mesmerizing closing track Wings Of Madness one longs for those steamy and hot days when the wind dies down. Atomic Thrillride; good people listen to good music.

(Written by JK)

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Overlord – Overlord

Overlord – Overlord

Self released – 2012

Rock, Hard, Metal, Blues, Stoner

Rated: ***

Founded in the early months of the year 2011; this UK based classic metal outfit’s first release employs that blues fuel and intoxicating heaviness with such devotion that the outlines of something monstrously great is shimmering at the horizon. Overlord brings gritty rock with an eerie feel. Bordering on the lo-fi production feel of something occult and doomy their slow march turns to diesel powered melancholy and optimus groove like a glorious lost gem of the olden days. These young cats know where the good mustard stems from and have felt themselves obliged to let us taste it too. Melted through that seventies denseness are quick swirls of desert stoner and chunks of progressive rock. Aah yes, four great tracks delivered by youthful open-minded rock loving fiends. A great future might lay in wait and it may be waiting just around the corner; it might indeed!

(Written by JK)

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Egonaut – Mount Egonaut

Egonaut – Mount Egonaut

Transubstans Records - 2013

Hard Rock, Stoner Metal, Bastard Rock

Rated: ****

And from the north shall an Egonaut come crunching, chugging and churning with riffs while rattling the earth with their punishing rhythms.  And the Egonaut shall come a-jive talking laying claim to the title of “Sweden’s most premier rockband”.  While what the phrase ‘most premier’ actually means is debatable what isn’t is this boastful Swedish foursome hold bragging rights to an extremely heavy rock guitar sound that is akin to Load-era Metallica, the band chomping and chopping at their instruments rather than simply playing them.  The self-described bastard rock sound these lads pioneer makes the occasional foray into punkier territory, swinging wild fists as they stroll through the door.  When the band wants to go understated, the organ quietly lends a hand here and there staying low in the mix making only brief appearances in the spotlight.  All told this is a high-energy affair for those who like their rock n roll in their face and with a fistful of attitude.  And the Egonaut rolled on, crushing all in its path...

(Written by Lucas)

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Chilean Fuzz – Chilean Fuzz

Chilean Fuzz – Chilean Fuzz

Self released – 2013

Rock, Stoner, Groove, Fuzz

Rated: ****

Judging from the Chilean Fuzz compilation the beautiful country of Chili seems to be a regular hotbed for mighty grooves. No less than twenty-one bands from this South American country contributed with a song. Ranging from garage and punk towards stoner, psychedelica, hardrock and a bit of doom. Great bands like At Devil Dirt, Barbara & Los Rotos Del Rock, Chinaski, Demonauta, El Cairo and Invitado De Piedra are among them. But perhaps the greatest gift such a compilation can make is the discovery of unknown treasures. Orate, Lisergico, Larrytrazk, Hablame Sucio, Soponcio and Gasa are definitely among them. Personally I’d like to listen to soundtracks and compilations in the car. And this one is excellent for the long winding roads. Especially if you don’t mind a speeding ticket or two…

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Taliban Airways – With Further Ado

Taliban Airways – With Further Ado

Badlands Entertainment – 2013

Stoner, Rock, Political

Rating: ****

I was kind of hesitant to review this album after the last one I did (Early Mammal) left a little bit of a foul taste in my ears (if that makes any sense). But I was pleasantly surprised when I got the chance to listen to the new Taliban Airways album, it is actually pretty good. I'm not very political and I understand the message these guys are trying to convey but thankfully they let the music do most of the talking; fuzzy guitars, thumping bass, thrashing drums and there's even harmonica thrown in there for good measure and I liked it! If you close your eyes real tight these guys do sound a lot like Spiritual Beggars and that isn't a bad thing! “Rebel of Revulsion” is a kick ass track and this is where the album really starts to kick into high gear. “Long Way to the Bottom” is where the harmonica really gets a chance to shine but the “piece de resistance” of the entire album has to be “Studmuffin”. If there were ever a song to get a party started, “Studmuffin” would be it. Yes some of the album steers towards politics (as evident on the album cover) but it's still some good ole stoner rock done right.

(Written by Blair)

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Brujas Del Sol – Moonliner LP

Brujas Del Sol – Moonliner LP

Devouter Records - 2013

Psychedelic, Ambient

Rated: **

Barren pockmarked landscapes with some interesting features floating in an airless void: a description of the moon or Moonliner?  Hypnotic psychedelic drone and ethereal grooves characterize the sound of Columbus, Ohio’s Brujas del Sol, who play astral travel tunes with a monomaniacal bent.  On these six tracks the band likes to find a groove and sink their butts right in it, losing all thought or worldly concern.  Fishing for grooves, the band casts away until something snags and they proceed to reel it in slowly.  There are some finely structured moments on this collection and the band is not above penning the odd straight-forward and might I say, catchy, tune. But what will be left as an overall impression of this album is the psychedelic droniness of their lengthy ambient passages.  Fans of Spacemen 3 and/or The Black Angels will enjoy diving into Brujas del Sol’s world, but be prepared to take a lungful of air with you because the grooves go down, deep down indeed.

(Written by Lucas)

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Indian Handcrafts – Civil Disobedience for Losers

Indian Handcrafts – Civil Disobedience for Losers

Sargent House – 2012

Rock, Sludge, Punk, Stoner, Metal, Core

Rated: *****

Not all musical duo efforts sound like they could not benefit from a third or fourth member. The Canadian twosome Indian Handcrafts (kudos for the great name!) however come across as being a multi handed and multi talented monster with a million heads that all want to boogie down, rock hard and sway to a masterful groove. This power force of heavy rock has a foundation of sun blistered sludge and stoner riffs all plastered across choppy garage drums and a ferocious punk attitude. There is no compromise on their new record Civil Disobedience for Losers; these guys are going all out. Filling slow tempo drums with spacious solos and stampeding again once the speed picks up and stonewalling the listener with salacious screams and howls. Doing more with less and less is once again always more. This is one hell of a highly addictive spacey and edgy retro age stoner punk extravaganza soundtrack for the lost souls and the wild and loud untamable nights!

(Written by JK)

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Bliksem – Face The Evil

Bliksem – Face The Evil

Alone Records – 2013

Metal, Trash

Rated: ****

Aah yes; the lightning. That miraculous power of nature. Bliksem is the Dutch word for Lightning and it is also the name of a Belgian female fronted metal formation. They already surprised with their self titled EP released in 2010 and now we are treated to their first complete effort called: Face The Evil. Eight tight compositions that thunder over you and strike hard like an untamable force.  The raw throat of vocalist Peggy sounds like a breath of fresh air compared to most other female metalgrrls. Not opting for the high notes, the easy way outs or the incomprehensible grunts she grinds, screams, shouts and harshes up her lines without ever losing the feminine touch. And then there are the guitars that rumble and gallop and duel and solo and relentlessly chop away at the gruesome foundation. Lightning has struck again and all that remains are the beautiful golden metal ashes swirling through the blackened sky…

(Written by JK)

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Redcoats – Redcoats

Redcoats – Redcoats

Universal – 2012

Rock, Seventies, Psychedelic

Rated: *****

I was amazed that besides one other person nobody noticed and voted for the full-sized self-titled debut album of the Australian rockers Redcoats for the Stoner HiVe top 20 of 2012. Cause their 2011 EP sporting the amazing Dreamshaker song was completely off the charts amazing and despite the anticipation being incredibly high for their album; they definitely delivered. Was I the only one digging it that much? Maybe it was due to the fact that even in this Internet age the record was difficult to come by outside of Australia? Or maybe everyone did expect an action packed record that would topple Dreamshaker and it’s four accompanying songs? The ten tracks on this release do not best their EP effort; but it shows definite growth and for lack of a better word: maturity. The songs once again recall the ghosts of the great musical giants and it meanders and crashes in a kaleidoscopic psychedelic thundering river. With howls and hunted screams and raw guitars that wail and weave and move like the wind. I wear my colors on my sleeve; and it is Red…

(Written by JK)

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Chivo – Cantankerous Rock

Chivo– Cantankerous Rock

Self-released - 2013

Stoner, Rock, Doom

Rated: ****

can*tan*ker*ous (/kan’taNGkərəs/) – Adjective.  Def:  Bad-tempered, argumentative, uncooperative.  Spanish stoner rockers Chivo have unleashed their second helping of thick-bottomed fuzz and smoke-clouded melody that they call ‘Cantankerous Rock’.  Heavy emphasis on menace creates a downhill power that snowballs through the band’s iconic riffs and plows into the listener through the seething vocals.  Like the very best upstarts in the field of stoner rock Chivo hit on all the right references from the classic forefathers of the genre through to the grunge era and beyond.  Chivo hit on other facets of the stoner rock prism as well taking their confrontational style all the way to the moon and back, proving that they are equally able to get in the face of listeners but also to brood contemplatively in the barren territory of space rock.  Truth be told there’s much aggression on this album but there’s still a laidback feel fans of the genre appreciate, lest smoke-tinged paranoia set in!  Sure, Chivo crush skulls, but they make bongs out of those skulls then pass them around.

(Written by Lucas)

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Godstopper – What Matters

Godstopper – What Matters

Milgram Records - 2013

Sludge, Pop, Experimental

Rated: ****

Sludge pop.  Sounds like a new-unapproved children’s snack but it’s actually how I would describe the sounds generated by Godstopper.  Clean and melodic vocals drag the pop sensibilities kicking and screaming out of each song to meet the filthy and massive sludge riffs which will be their playmate forever and ever… Toronto has always been known as a breeding ground for experimental music and that aesthetic holds true for this quartet from the Big Smoke.  What they can create, they can also destroy or flip upside down at a moment’s notice.  No one’s expectations are safe on this album and the band is not above toying with those expectations. Establishing their sound as sludge riffs with clean vocals then playing poppy riffs with filthy vocals and flipping it back around again to filthy riffs and clean vocals and back again and all within the same song!  Got all that?  Good!  Elements of hardcore, post (whatever), doom and alt rock all share electrons from time to time creating molecules of ungainly and unstable energy.   One never really knows what to expect not only from song to song but even within each song from these mad scientists.  Expect to be floored, expect to be confused but most of all expect to be rocked right out of your tree by Godstopper.

(Written by Lucas)

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Weed Priest – Weed Priest

Weed Priest – Weed Priest

Self released – 2013

Rock, Metal, Doom, Sludge

Rated: ****

Something seems to be a brooding down in Galway Ireland. For after the amazing Hell Comes Home releases and the excellent Harvester; there’s also Weed Priest. A doom trio in every sense of the word. A slow march turning into an even slower procession with a definite occult and august taste. Music for dark castellated abbeys filled with strange incense and drowsy waving candles. The shadows cast are highly narcotic, hypnotizing and asphyxiating. Their 2011 demo already exacted and demanded total submission. Their official self-titled debut album has you selling of your assets and entering their cult. Bow down before these priests and worship the open and clean drums. Pay reverence to the grandiose guitar and adore the roaring chants of your master. Adore their sermon and follow their footstep towards your inevitable release…

(Written by JK)

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