Speedfest 8 - Sampler

Speedfest 8 - Sampler

Peter Pan Speedrock’s very own houseparty is on to it’s eighth edition! The first seven were a roaring and wild succes! And the eight one, that will be held on the 23rd of November in their hometown of Eindhoven, Netherlands will surely top them all! Just check out the line-up at their homepage and buy them freakin tickets… Speedfest, be there or rip yer arm off and beat yourself with it till you see the light…

And such a great festival deserves a sampler. So here's some pure and tasty audio adrenaline shots to go with your beer and tequila!

Tracklist:

1. Bullet – Back On The Road

2. Buzzcocks – Orgasm Addict

3. Anti-Nowhere League – Never Drink Alone

4. Valient Thorr – Immaculate Consumption

5. Hatebreed – Lay It All To Waste

6. Tech-9 – I’ll Never Drink Again

7. Honky - WFO

8. Guana Batz – Tiny Minds

9. Sha La Lee’s – Sonny (Live at AFF Gent)

10. The Monsters – Ce Soire

11. P.O.X. – Fuhrer Blues

12. Agnostic Front – Blitzkrieg Bop

13. Wildmen – Three Men Army

14. Spiders – Nothing Like You

15. Bliksem – The Life On Which I Feed

16. Monster Truck – The Lion

17. Komatsu – Beat You To The Punch

18. Scorpion Child – The Secret Spot

19. Vista Chino – Carnation

20. Orchid – Mouths of Madness

21. Urban Voodoo Machine – Last Dance of The Silver Wolfe

22. Peter Pan Speedrock – Ghostriders In The Sky

Speedfest 8 - Sampler - LINK

Bloody Hammers – Spiritual Relics

Bloody Hammers – Spiritual Relics

Soulseller records – 2013

Rock, Hard, Psych, Doom, Seventies

Rated: ***

The new album Spiritual Relics by Bloody Hammers starts off with a nice, dusty and gritty riff that reminds of something from way back. After which the What’s Haunting You track develops nicely into the obscure, hardrock and psychedelic venue with that occult little twist we know from their first effort. Infectious, groovy and warm. After which they gothic up and slow down and aim for some ancient knowledge. Their biggest feat is probably the way they sound so big and mystical by way of tiny little touches of organs and excellent timed vocal lines. But don’t fear, or do, cause the evil ingenious riffs are there and so is the heavy dangerous pounding sound of the drums. Pure haunting enjoyment that gives Ghost a run for their Black Pete and Saint Nicholas money…

(Written by JK)

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Obelyskkh – Hymn To Pan

Obelyskkh – Hymn To Pan

Exile on Mainstream – 2013

Rock, Sludge, Doom, Metal

Rated: ***

The German outfit Obelyskkh is imploring some folky and pagan imagery on their new and third album Hymn to Pan. And they do this with such boorish intensity that you are dragged along violently and only dropped on the occasional forest clearing to catch a little air. Which is probably thanks to Andreas Naucke and Brad Boatright who mixed and mastered the album leaving more room to breathe. Together with the heavy burrowing, psychedelic brushstrokes and disturbing samples this is one hell of a steady march through the evil weald. And even though the swirling melodies, bellicose riffs and vocal punches tear through your every fiber. You will still leave this experience feeling tranquil, warm and in touch with nature. All thanks to Pan…

(Written by JK)

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Picaporters - Elefantes

Picaporters - Elefantes

Self Released 2013

Blues, Stoner, Doom

Rated: ****

Picaporters, which translates to “Doorknobs”, is a power trio from Argentina trudging the hard worn stoner rock path blazed by fellow countrymen Los Natas and several others. Their debut album “Elefantes” quickly lays out the cards brought to the table with the colossal “Hijo De Gaia”. Crushing, down-tuned, stoner blues riffs perform a balancing act with softer, spoken word dynamics until a flurry of Hendrix-inspired, torrential solo blasting sends the track off the deep end. Those same loud/soft tendencies resurface quite often during the rest of the session and lend the album as a whole an honest and powerful emotional bent. “Idea RAM” is where we see the Picaporters engage in some straightforward rock sensibilities and help shake off any bong resin that may have caked your ears in the early tracks! While stoner rock and doom run thick, psychedelic licks are never too far around the corner and as the set progresses the tracks become significantly more Lysergic. “Lluvia de Metal” is a about as ballad-ish as we get with heartfelt vocal beltings and soulful, melodic guitar soloing. The following “..de Metal” tracks follow a similar blueprint and are heavy but in a much different sense than the sludge trudge. The most important thing to note about Elefantes is that while the usual calling cards of the heavy rock, stoner, doom, and blues are certainly in order here, the entire set is infused with enough mood and soul to keep things interesting. One could say it’s a 2013 version of Cuidad de Brahmin.

(Written by Matthew McGarity)

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Mudfest – III

Mudfest - III

It’s time to head south and drown ourselves in mud this weekend. For it’s time for the third edition of Mudfest! Once again held in Perron55 in Venlo, Netherlands the two-day festival features a truckload of heavy goodness. Starting with three bands on the free of charge night on Friday; and continuing the next day with no less than eleven formations for only twenty-five Euros. Stonerfront Nijmegen, Downfall of Gaia and Abrahma open on Friday. And the Saturday features: Acid Deathtrip, Wangunst, Rorcal, Mantra Machine, Pilgrim, Throw Me In The Crater, Pendejo, Gigatron2000, Atlantis, Windhand and Toner Low. Holy freakin hell; what a line-up. So let’s all head over to Venlo and drink good beer among good people!

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Clagg – Gather Your Beasts

Clagg – Gather Your Beasts

Self released – 2013

Rock, Metal, Doom, Sludge, Black

Rated: ***

Intensely black, dark and bleak. The new album Gather Your Beasts by Melbourne quintet Clagg is devoid of all color and preaches despair, anger and doom. But the rich variation of their blackness turns the five compositions on this fourth album into a radiating rainbow of massive brutishness. Low swinging sludge and a black metal doom groove set off on a procession towards the inevitable abyss. With bile boiling riffs and guttural vocals that liquefy the entrails; Clagg barrage our sensitive souls with obliterating heaviness. And thanks to some little guitar meandering that suddenly turns everything into a bright almost holy grey; the listener is able to survive the onslaught. Gripping, neck tight and strangling. Clagg.

(Written by JK)

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The Rising Sun Experience – Beyond The Oblivious Abyss

The Rising Sun Experience – Beyond The Oblivious Abyss

Self released / Monster Rock Booking – 2013

Rock, Seventies, Psych, Prog, Hard, Stoner

Rated: ***

Heavy psychedelic progressive rock music hailing from Lisbon, Portugal that pays its dues to the great seventies. Well, that about says everything about the new album Beyond The Oblivious Abyss by the six piece The Rising Sun Experience. The records starts with a blazing rocker that has something of a funky edge and continues on with two tracks that are more spacey and stonerish. After which the epic five part Wasted Dreams Of Red Flowers starts. A true phantasmagorian ecology story that evokes memories of great progressive and symphonic albums while still retaining something heavy and masterfully switches between atmospheric ambience and hard rocking. And just listen to those wails and cries that close off the album…

(Written by JK)

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Damned Pilots – Spaced Out

Damned Pilots – Spaced Out

Radioactive Records – 2013

Rock, Stoner, Doom, Space

Rated: ***

Damned Pilots are four freaks from Trieste, Italy and possibly currently residing in Haarlem, Netherlands. On their debut EP Spaced Out they bring us four of their own tracks and two covers. Believe Me Now originally by Electric Light Orchestra opens the EP and Sleeping In The Fire originally by W.A.S.P is the fifth song. But the guys convince the most with the three middle tracks. Heavy explosions of stoner that have bits of doom interspersed and some spacey elements. With a late sixties attitude that celebrates all the possibilities, the open doors and the open mind these three move through different energy currents and are just as content with dreamlike psychedelics as growling aggression. Damn these pilots; can’t wait to hear what their next destinations might be…

(Written by JK)

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The Great Went – The Great Went

The Great Went – The Great Went

Self released – 2013

Rock, Prog, Post, Instrumental

Rated: ***

Hailing from Minneapolis, MN, the three piece that goes by the name The Great Went was formed in 2009 and released their debut album We’ve Met Before two years later. After which a new drummer joined the band and the guys forged ahead to release their self-titled sophomore record a few months ago. Their instrumental progressive postrock excels in slow meanderings and leisurely build ups that only explode when necessary and can easily retain your focus. With fascinating heavy delay on the bass and a highly open signature on the drums the guitar gets all the room to vent frustrations and dwell on the good moments. In time; the album takes on the identity of a good friend that brings good beer and helps you blow of steam and remember the good times. That’s how it goes. That’s how it went.

(Written by JK)

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American Sharks – American Sharks

American Sharks – American Sharks

The End Records – 2013

Rock, Punk, Stoner

Rated: ****

Interested in diving deeper into the punkside of that Palm Desert stoner? Want even more fun than the boys from Red Fang are able to handle? And you want all of that even more twisted and insane than the craziest Valient Thorr offerings? Check out American Sharks! These Texan nutcases give you a time traveling, warp speed overdrive adventure full or mischief and demented monkey business. And all of that in high energy fast fat fuzzed out punk rock that takes that laid-back attitude from stoner and the thick karate kick riffs as well. And that’s the only shame; cause it is all so freaking good. A damn fine wild and speedy vocalist, absolute smash-grab-and-stomp drums and a filthy rumbling bass. But the boys forgo the option to let the melodies, rhythms and riffs get their chance to develop further and they have every song end around the two-minute mark. Just imagine what these freaks could do if they would do away with all limitations!

(Written by JK)

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American Sharks - Overdrive

American Sharks - Overdrive

Cojones - Rocker

Cojones - Rocker

The amazing Croatian foursome Cojones has put a new song called Rocker on Soundcloud. Will there be more to come? And will it be soon? We can only hope!

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Merlin – Merlin

Merlin – Merlin

Self released – 2013

Rock, Doom, Atmos, Psych

Rated: ***

I remember it. Those dark and dangerous nights, trekking through the wasteland as the rain fell down in a heavy gray curtain. Up on the mountain a small cabin could be seen that had just a small glint of light and a weak puff of smoke coming from the chimney. Inside, the fire was spreading unearthly shadows across a vast array of books, scriptures and parchments. The four heroes were on route to the magician to ask for guidance and aid. Merlin awaited their arrival. And with the self-titled full-sized album the Kansas City foursome makes their entrance. Heavy atmospheric doom and psychedelic soundscapes paint the canvas dark blue and riddled with lightning strikes. It is a trip; a legendary quest of yore. And the only way to even try and grasp it’s meaning; is to undertake it. So gear up, saddle up and head out…

(Written by JK)

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Doctor Smoke – Demo

Doctor Smoke – Demo

Self Released – 2013

Doom, Retro, Stoner

Rated: ***

Is there a band that better captures the vibe of Halloween season than Pentagram? Possibly no. Obscure, cultish lyrics, syrupy Sabbath charged riffing, and of course those patented Bobby Liebling vocals. Well, tis the season for a new band that worships at the altar of Pentagram, and Doctor Smoke – hailing from Ohio USA- deliver the goods in spades. Vocalist/guitarist Matt Tluchowski is a black belt in Pentagram vocal stylings, always cool and never going over the top with it. However the real highlight on this demo is the riffs, nothing groundbreaking obviously, but the two opening tracks swing and groove in such a satisfying, irresistible manner you’ll swear you were at some degenerate, doped-up garage party circa 1974. The ensuing cuts are also solid with “The Seeker” starting off on a Pentagram “Petrified” type front, before uprooting itself into a barreling stomp back into the same delicious stoner groove found earlier. Of course, the sermon ends with an ode to Doctor Smoke’s patriarch of this flavor of rock in the form of solid cover of “Sign of the Wolf”.  This is highly recommended to retro doom enthusiasts and anyone who fancy’s the days of yore when dark, groovy, doom put a malicious smile on your face. 

(Written by Matthew McGarity)

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Trippy Wicked and The Cosmic Children of The Knight – Underground

Trippy Wicked and The Cosmic Children of The Knight – Underground

Superhot records – 2013

Rock, Doom, Sludge, Stoner

Rated: ****

We already loved their 2012 EP Going Home that turned towards the heavy light with eagerness bordering on the insane. But with their new release Underground they push the envelope and pull out all the stops and go afterburner style towards that alpha omega horizon. Cause Trippy Wicked And The Cosmic Children Of The Knight on their new 30-minute release is louder, fatter and thick. With a dark nebula atmosphere the lyrics are loosely sci-fi themed and outed by a vocalist that has grown considerably in conviction, intensity and ability. With magnificent basswork the tracks ramble forth and seem to expand ever faster. And thanks to the huge riffs and the very open and concise drumming leaving every room for the groove and the ambience to grow the Underground mini-album becomes that grand adventure everyone is looking for. Exquisite!

(Written by JK)

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White Orange – Onawa

White Orange – Onawa

Made In China Records – 2013

Rock, Stoner, Psych, Seventies,

Rated: *****

The three new White Orange tracks on this twenty-five minute long EP called Onawa continue where their self-titled debut left off. Their heavy seventies inspired rock that dances and twists with the Palm Desert stoner we know the boys admire, spins and twirls until there’s nothing left but that fuzzy aftertaste. You know what we mean; the one you get after chewing those shrooms until there’s no sap left. And then. Zang. Fiendish intensity, strange glow and vibrations; distorted superstitions and twisted visions. Kazoo’s imitating carnival parades and sounds that bring back memories of something that might not have even happened. Was there really a guy and girl butt-naked on stage or did the beercan-armor throw me off? No wait. That was a Red Fang show; and even though Adam Pike from the Fang family plays bass here. They’re distinctly different bands. The Fang is a band from the beer soaked avenues and White Orange was born in the clouds. Tune in. And freak out!

(Written by JK)

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White Orange – White Orange

White Orange – White Orange

Self released – 2011

Rock,

Rated: ****

Their love for the Palm Desert scene and Brant Bjork becomes apparent fast and we always dig people wearing their colors on their sleeve. And with their other band Black Pussy the boys from White Orange even dedicated the On Blonde album to the maestro himself. With the endeavor they call White Orange they released their self-titled debut in 2011 and produce a more psychedelic take on everything we love from Kyuss and Queens of The Stone Age. The gritty distorted fuzz is every present and soaks you through to the bone as the space age tour the force takes you from one meaty riff to the next. Lush, vibrant and with so many kandy-kolored adventures the record will keep you tripping for days. One small point that could be considered as criticism by the ignorant. Dustin Hill’s vocals fit in perfectly with the music and the mix is excellently done. But the excessive use of that one effect might throw people and even makes Dusty sound like Mr. Homme on those occasions. Which probably wasn’t the intended result. Although it might just be the Hawaiian mushrooms talking here. The trees are alive! The trees are alive and look like Sigourney Weaver! 

(Written by JK)

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Wicked Inquisition – Silence Thereafter

Wicked Inquisition – Silence Thereafter

Self released – 2013

Rock, Seventies, Stoner, Doom

Rated: ****

The Minnesota foursome Wicked Inquisition knows exactly where the good mustard is stored. Back in the seventies! On their four-track EP Silence Thereafter they give us an amazing spoonful of proto metal, mixed with some legendary doom and classic seventies rock. Thick, dark and with that vintage obscure sound three mid-paced tracks full of attitude and atmosphere transport us to that golden era of heavy rock. And then there’s that instrumental interlude that mellows the soul and let’s the blood cool down before closing with Radius of Fear. Another brilliant gem that excels in contrasting riffs, that move from trucking to stomping from spacey to murky and achieves almost perfection in the tranquil doom genre. We can’t wait to hear a complete Wicked Inquisition album!

(Written by JK)

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Bedroom Rehab Corporation – Red Over Red

Bedroom Rehab Corporation – Red Over Red

Caught In The Bite Music / Telegraph Record Company / Self released – 2013

Rock, Stoner, Psych, Garage

Rated: ***

I used to have such nice dreams. But when you start waking up in a bedroom filled with broken bottles, a gigantic array or incredulous objects, a dubious stench and suspicious looking substances everywhere you know it’s time to get help. And then when you’re about to be declared healthy and safe again you learn about a duo that produces amazing hypnotic doom and gloom riffing with sludgy shoe-gaze soundscapes. And all that with nothing more but a bass and a drum. Which will surely send you back spiraling down again. And yes, the Red Over Red album by Bedroom Rehab Corporation feels like a sweaty nightmare that still entices and lures with lustful pleasures and bloody giddiness. The two gather influences from grunge, metal, stoner, blues and psychedelica. And melt it all together with some kick and stomp or crunchy weirdness. It might miss something, but it has almost twice as much with only as bass and a drum…

(Written by JK)

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High On Fire – Slave The HiVe

High On Fire – Slave The HiVe

How nice! Monsier Pike and the rest of the buddies from High On Fire confess their undying love and absolute need for the Stoner HiVe with their new single Slave The HiVe. Yes, we know. We’re all slave to the HiVe! Ooh wait, or do they want to enslave us? Well too late amigo's with these plowing tempos and gritty riffs we were already at your disposal and every bidding...

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Red Fang – Whales and Leeches

Red Fang – Whales and Leeches

Relapse – 2013

Rock, Stoner, Sludge, Metal

Rated: ****

Our favorite fun bunch and liquor lovers have performed quite a tour de force with their first two albums and pushing themselves into the spotlight with fun video’s and trampling and dancing upon every soul that refused to take them seriously. But with their third album Whales And Leeches, Red Fang are here to state that they do in fact mean business! The avid listener already recognized their musical prowess on their debut from 2009 and even more on the follow-up Murder The Mountains from 2011. Rough, gritty and swampy stoner, metal and punkrock that still maintained a tonnage of melody. Whales And Leeches goes the way of the sumo. Heavier, fatter, darker and much sludgier. Single Blood Like Cream is probably the most accessible effort on the album and with an opener like DOEN that sucks you in with roaring thunder riffs it’s easy to see the boys wanted to make a statement. We might seem like beer guzzling ever-partying alley cats; but we can damn well play and when you’re not careful we’ll leave a scratch or bite yer freakin neck off!

(Written by JK)

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Plague Mask – The Frailty of Human Existence

Plague Mask – The Frailty of Human Existence

Self Released – 2013

Stoner, Sludge, Doom

Rated: ****

On their debut EP, Plague Mask wheel in a nice pallet of psychedelic sludge for us all to feast on. Since the demise of the mighty Ramesses, there remains a gaping hole in the black/psych/sludge realm and with The Frailty of Human Existence, this quartet is nicely giving hope to that most bleak and fucked-up of sub-sub-genres. Kevin Cole’s tortured, desperate vocals lend itself perfectly to the tunes he’s fronting. Opener “Sink and Drown” serves as a perfect opening salvo with a moody bass intro that quickly gives way to a full-on assault of dirty riffs, dirty vocals, a nice palate cleansing solo, and back to more dirt. And more or less the formula holds true for the rest of the session. Brief respites into psychedelia are welcome in the face of such suffocating noise after all. Perhaps the most interesting part of PM’s debut is its hardcore punk level of efficiency. Usually these sorts of bands start off with a sound that sprawls itself out for several minutes per track, bucking around until they sink their teeth into a worthy groove. Plague Mask find their bearings surprisingly quickly in these 4 brief tracks and the collection is all the stronger for it.

(Written by McG)

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Corvuss – Demo

Corvuss – Demo

Self released / Hypaethral Records – 2013

Rock, Metal, Doom

Rated: ***

Hailing from the largest city of Canada the five amigo’s that are about to release their first album via Hypaethral Records have found it fit to send a few songs out into the world via various websites. The two tracks that are listenable via Soundcloud are a definite promise of some growling heavy blues inspired doom metal which will reach our ears around December. We’re talking about Corvuss. A band assembled by guitarist/producer Greg Dawson (Cunter, Grift, BWC Studios). He enlisted the help of drummer Ryan Aubin (Sons of Otis), bassist Cory McCallum (Five Knuckle Chuckle), guitarist Chris Hughes (Moneen) and vocalist Doug McLarty (Jaww). Together they formed band whose names and deeds will be retold throughout history. And on the upcoming album Roads That Lead Nowhere we will be treated to more from their straight to the core and efficient doom metal. No unnecessary excess melodies or meandering; just pure heaviness!

(Written by JK)

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Culto – Culto

Culto – Culto

Frekete! Agency / Self released – 2013

Rock, Drone, Ambient, Metal, Noise

Rated: **

Culto is a metallic drone duo based in Vasto, Italy. Their first two track self-titled album lasts for thirty minutes and brings the listener to the very edge of reason. The noisy ambient drone performed by the pair is the sound that a man has in his head when his mind is at the end of its tether. It’s dark and twisted and leaves even the hardened listener in a state of perpetual anxiety. Culto heralds the beginning of the end and they do it with such a malignant continuity that very few will be able to grasp it’s meaning and even less will be able to hold on. But that’s what Culto is all about. They don’t want to save the masses; they want to save the chosen few…

(Written by JK)

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Nastrom – Nastrom

Nastrom – Nastrom

PMK records – 2013

Rock, Doom, Industrial, Kraut

Rated: **

The one-man band project Nastrom hails from Serbia and has just released a first self-titled EP via PMK records. The man behind this undertaking is Stevan Lenhart who plays in Pamba and Defaced But Beautiful. On the demo released a few months ago we heard two krautrock tracks that are highly repetitive and equally industrial. With some whispered vocals those two songs were only barely able to keep your attention. The three added tracks continue on with its very own approach to minimal doom; but with more diverse and interesting compositions that also benefit from a richer sound. The man itself refers to his music as avant-garde and darkwave; which are both very accurate. I would imagine this being performed in empty warehouses where other artists are painting, spraying and sculpting. Underground art which isn’t black or white; but a smokey form of grey…

(Written by JK)

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The Outlaws of Zen – Death In The Afternoon

The Outlaws of Zen – Death In The Afternoon

Self released – 2013

Rock, Blues, Hard, Stoner, Southern

Rated: ****

With a title referring to an ominous bullfighting Hemmingway book or an equally dangerous cocktail the guys from The Outlaws of Zen have sent another EP out into the world. After the damn fine 2012 EP Don’t Bother Getting Up, We'll Let Ourselves In the scruffy gruffness is back and ready for action. And they’ve turned even more biker pirates on us. They thunder down the road with a southern groove and pure heavy metal honor. Cause the noble integrity that shines through in the six heavy tracks radiates like pure gold. For honor to the Outlaws of Zen, no matter how dishonest they might be before the hangover arrives, is as real a thing as water, wine or bourbon. There is honor among pickpockets and honor among whores. It is simply that the standards differ, and the standards with The Outlaws are high. They may loot and pillage; but only from the ones who’ve done wrong. In their eyes. So, act right, and get yourself some of this hardrocking, blues inspired, musical moonshine that will only kill the corrupt and dishonest; but will give the righteous and the weird that positive fuzz buzz…

(Written by JK)

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So Stressed – Attracted To Open Mouths

So Stressed – Attracted To Open Mouths

Music Ruins Lives / Self released – 2013

Rock, Noise, Core, Punk, Sludge

Rated: ***

Self released in 2012 the So Stressed boys garnered the attention of the Music Ruins Lives guys which wanted to put the album Attracted To Open Mouths to record. The reason why isn’t immediately evident when the intro and the first track A Fisherman’s Feast have come and gone. For even though the manic and crazy atmosphere saves both songs; they aren’t the attention grabbers one hopes for when a noisecore group such as So Stressed comes around. Luckily any bad taste that might have been left from that first sip is quickly washed away with the third heavy and fast hitting track Little TV. It blasts and growls and levels the playing field. After which the rest of the album howls like a caged tiger. Growling and jumping and scratching at the bars. It’s high-energy anxiety and psychotic speedy meandering. And with the sludgy noise breakcore closer The Astronomical Horse it leaves the listener on a high note… And a bit stressed out…

(Written by JK)

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Maeth – Oceans Into Ashes

Maeth – Oceans Into Ashes

Self released – 2013

Rock, Sludge, Metal, Stoner, Prog, Psych, Post

Rated: *****

Last year the four Minnesota guys from Maeth surprised with an intense and extremely impressive EP called Horse Funeral. And now we are treated to their full-sized debut: Oceans Into Ashes. Which is probably another contender for the Stoner HiVe top 20 list of 2013. They’ve stayed in touch with that earthy, natural and mystical sound we heard on their first release but take it to an even higher level of mania. This is pure passion. This is how edgy people get when bad weather is about to hit the islands. A delicate and explosive balance between wild and cautious. For it is an awesome and astonishing adventure; a musical saga that wants to explore every nook and cranny of and island filled with creatures that experienced a different evolutionary route. The tales told by the guitarlines and blaring riffs, the brilliant drumwork that pounds out history and a bass that throbs and glows and functions as the very edge of this enigmatic atoll are simply incredible and highly emotive. This is what we call a maethsterpiece…

(Written by JK)

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Mountain High – Mountain High

Mountain High – Mountain High

Self released – 2013

Rock, Doom, Stoner, Instrumental

Rated: ***

It’s damn easy to get high on a mountain. The clean air, the view that offers an endless variation of possibilities and that sense of hope that comes with a majestic horizon. And on their first demo the Philadelphia trio seem to want to capture that exact feeling. Mountain High produces a low swinging and tumbling ruckus that could just as easily accompany a dusty legendary trek through the desert as well as the conquering of the imperial heights. Their riffs develop like glacial movement and gradually turn into a shattering rockslide. Accompanied by that all enveloping thundering roar of drums that sound like those giant boulders crashing down on the river below. The three tracks on this demo are thick and heavy and make one king hell of a splash… Can’t wait to hear it this winter when the avalanche is right on my tail…

(Written by JK)

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Nixa - Nixa

Nixa - Nixa

Self Released – 2013

Sludge, Doom

Rated: ****

The first thing you need to know about Nixa is that whatever garden-variety sludge you've been sipping on today is about to morph into thin pool of hard rock inferiority. These things happen when sludge this dirty, this heavy, this loud is introduced into the consciousness. Hailing from Miami, FL, the quartet dial in with two tracks that while totaling only 11 minutes find plenty of time to set the tone and leave the listener awestruck. That tone as you may guess is located somewhere between the deepest Everglade swamp and upper portion of the Earth’s mantle, in terms of heaviness that is. The vocals are gruffly shouted in an early Isis manner which suites the group just fine.  Brief respites in the heaviosity seem to be just a way for the listener to catch his/her breath, and for that I’m thankful because when Nixa are at full-blast there is little else you can do, including breathing. In other words, Doom heads arise; you have a new prodigy to worship.

(Written by Matthew McGarity)

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You can check some t-shirt designs at Bigcartel

An earlier review by JK

Reignwolf - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)

Check this cat out! And remember his name... Reignwolf...

Paranoid Hitsophrenic - Super Doom Charts - September

Paranoid Hitsophrenic - Super Doom Charts - September

It’s that time of the month once again. Mr. Charley’s at the door demanding payment. The bottles of whisky on the floor are truly empty. No more cigarettes and you can hear the wolves howling outside. And even the loud sounds down in your belly are getting vicious and dangerous. The end of the month! The fat is in the fire! So it’s time to check out what has changed in the Super Doom Chart that is spreading like an ugly disease. Check it out on Lucas’s Paranoid Hitsophrenic. It’s where he makes sure, along with all the valuable contributors, everyone stays on top of everything hot ‘n heavy! Check out them guitar melting riffs man!

Fura – Fura

Fura – Fura

Self released – 2013

Rock, Post, Instrumental, Math

Rated: ***

Now that Catalunya is on the verge of breaking with the rest of Spain there is a need for a musical battle cry. For notes and melodies that incite riot and cause the blood to boil and call out to storm the gates and for the new flag to be waved. And even though the music of Fura is proud and full of restless calm it shall not be played during the revolution. For their self-titled full-sized album preaches peace and tranquil slumber with only the occasional nervous twitch. It constructs cathedrals of sound that causes your head to bow in submission. It paints pictures of landscapes filled with mountains and inspires the imagination to grow bold. Impressive structures rise up as the drums and rhythms drive the songs in highly different energies. And the guitar does the rest. It stripes with ease; it colors something serene or just brushes something wild. Fura battles with these ideas; and only nudges the listener in a certain direction. The rest if up to you.

(Written by JK)

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