zondag 29 juni 2014

Off the grid again…


Off the grid again…

Sorry my brethren, I gotta go do some stuff. But will be back before the next full moon. And if not; well, if the recent loss of our amigo has taught us anything; it is better to cease every day by the balls… Even if it turns out to be one mad freakin bull that kicks you back in the nuts. Whatever happens after that; you made sure you lived it all to the fullest! And whatever gets your adrenaline rushing; is probably worth doing!

zaterdag 28 juni 2014

Rest In Peace... Riez…


Rest In Peace Riez…

He was one of those good people. He moved through the world with honor and pride. He never complained and wished only good things for everyone he ever came across. He will not be mourned by the entire world; but he made an impact on a lot of people in the heavy rock scene and surely he must have done the same for his other friends and family. And those who have had the pleasure to meet him at a festival somewhere, on the street or behind a screen will testify to the fact that he really was in it all for the good of it. I can only recall good words, good tips, good music and good memories. He was one of those people who can always see the good in the bad. And you can only recognize their spirit and soul as something that is near completion. Who knows, he might have been one of those souls who were already full circle. I will remember him. He was an inspiration and he brought many good tunes to my ear. He was without a doubt a true champion. A rebel with a cause. To do well and to be good. And now that he is gone; we all lost one those high notes that we will never hear again… You will be missed amigo… 





vrijdag 27 juni 2014

Molior Superum – The Inconclusive Portrait


Molior Superum – The Inconclusive Portrait
H42 Records/Self released – 2014
Rock, Stoner, Psych, Seventies, Garage
Rated: ****

As soon as that chased voice starts wailing over the rumbling and crashing drums you’re hooked and the remaining eight minutes are spent in utter head nodding bliss. The boys from Molior Superum return to us with a two track single called The Inconclusive Portrait after releasing their amazing Into The Sun album in 2012. Still claiming their very own version of high energy stoner garage and seventies psychedelica that exhumes something classic; the two tracks continue where their full-sized album left off. It all sounds even fuller and more mature; and where the wildness from Into The Sun could deter some listeners from fully grasping the exquisite quality of the songs. On the new single it serves as a high crested wave to surf from; keeping your head held high and above the water at all times and always making sure it never swallows you whole. But it’s still there and it still highly groovy and has you jumping around looking for some dune boogie to party on. And those two tracks has you lusting for more Molior Superum…

(Written by JK)




ps. The band picture above is taken at the amazing Lake On Fire festival in Waldhausen, Austria. And yes. Everyone should go.

dinsdag 24 juni 2014

Bud Spencer Blues Explosion – BSB3


Bud Spencer Blues Explosion – BSB3
42Records – 2014
Rock, Blues, Garage, Punk, Stoner, Grunge
Rated: *****

We had already heard about these two Italian freaks around 2010. But it were the guys from Polarbeers that really turned us on to them. And ever since their previous album Do It from 2011 they have been in heavy rotation and we have anxiously been awaiting new stuff. That day has finally come for the Bud Spencer Blues Explosion has now released their fourth album called: BSB3! And what a ride it is! The two of them run through a musical field filled with experimentation in the traditional way and which covers all kind of different streams. They wade through rock and blues and dip their toes in stoner and grunge and do all of that with a punky attitude and garage feeling. And even though much of it is seeped with tradition and done with honor; there is also this modern quality. Sounds that sound so universal and catchy it has you hooked before you can say: Miracoli! It starts with the stomping Duel, the addictive Mama, the crazy Hey Man and continues to the heavy Rubik. And it never stops. Even when the slow and natural Troppo  Tardi ends; cause that’s where you put the needle back and let the record spin once again… Bella Zio! Questo è un album sorprendente e sicuramente non a tardive!

(Written by JK)



Radio Moscow – Magical Dirt


Radio Moscow – Magical Dirt
Sonic Rendezvous – 2014
Rock, Psych, Blues
Rated: ****

Their third album from 2011 called The Great Escape of Leslie Magnafuzz made it to the Number 18 position of that year’s Stoner HiVe top 20 countdown. And this year the three amigos return with their fifth release Magical Dirt. Ofcourse we all know that the man behind Radio Moscow is and has always been Parker Griggs cause the man is once again accompanied by two new gunslingers. So just like on the 2012 release 3 & 3 Quarters, a collection of demos recorded by Griggs before Radio Moscow even took hold, the man could be playing every freaking instrument you hear on the album himself once again. But all we can conclude is that the fuzz is flying high once more. Perhaps this albums pays even more tribute to Cream, Hendrix and Blue Cheer. It’s all a bit more bluesy and a bit more trippy; but not as psychedelic as the earlier releases. Well, take that weird remark with a grain of salt or two. Cause the guitars still wail and howl and the solos screech and scream. And the rhythm section seems to be delirious at times or even out of control and stark raving mad. Not sure what kind of grass these fellas been walking on? But the dirt beneath their feet where their favorite kind of mushrooms grow must be magical and insanely brightly colored!

(Written by JK)




Peter Pan Speedrock – Buckle Up and Shove It!


Peter Pan Speedrock – Buckle Up and Shove It!
Suburban/SPV – 2014
Rock, Hard, Punk, Metal
Rated: ****

As the boys are also preparing to release a first effort with their new outlet Four Headed Dog; one could fear that their prime incarnation would suffer. Luckily; this is not the case. On Buckle Up and Shove It! their new album, the boys from Peter Pan Speedrock go for the gusto once again! Written and recorded in their new studio, which they build with their very own hands, the record is chuck full of raw and nasty heavy hitters. And they still do whatever they very well feel like doing and that’s exactly what they’re best at. The only minor difference with earlier releases is perhaps the tempo. A bit more subdued, a bit slower. A bit. A tiny bit. But the speedrock moniker is still called for and if nothing else; the reduced tempo seems to make the band even more of a monster and even heavier. And then there are the cover versions of New Rose (The Damned) and Heart Full Of Soul (The Yardbirds) which are wickedly done and insanely good. The last one featuring guest vocals by Mark Phillips from Demented Are Go. Aah yes, a new Peter Pan Speedrock, time to get loud, hard and angry. And enjoy the hell out of every crazy little thing you do!

(Written by JK)




maandag 23 juni 2014

Funeral Horse – Sinister Rites Of The Master


Funeral Horse – Sinister Rites Of The Master
Artificial Head Records – 2014
Rock, Stoner, Doom, Sludge, Garage
Rated: *****

I am a time traveler from the year 2020. And I shall never reveal who the thirteenth doctor is. It is dangerous knowledge; and almost all knowledge shall be outlawed in the future. And if we want to make sure that all that will come to pass ends up resulting in better things; we shall have to perform Sinister Rites Of The Master. Sorry about that; it got weird for a second perhaps. But that’s what this new album by the three Houston unemployable potheads from Funeral Horse does to ya once it goes on repeat. It will soak your brain and curdle your blood. It will have your limbs twist involuntarily and make your medulla oblongata explode. This album has so much going on and it is all done with this intense macabre hue. The band deals out justice in a world that has gone haywire; they return to the old laws and honor those that were put in place by their master. Whoever that may be. But is their punky doom and sludgy garage build on deep dark riffs and open aired drums one minute and rumbling and rolling the next that turns you on before you can tune out. The husky distorted and twisted voice on top of the damn fine trekking bass does the rest. Add to this the tiny art or perhaps new wave influences, especially on Communist’s Blues, which will have you remember the Wall of Voodoo days turn this incredible ride into something highly addictive and equally breathtaking. This calls for a revolution…

(Written by JK)




vrijdag 20 juni 2014

John Garcia – John Garcia


John Garcia – John Garcia
Napalm Records – 2014
Rock, Desert, Stoner
Rated: *****

The man has been talking about doing this for ages. And over the years many many many songs were collected. And only a cool eleven tracks made it to his first official solo album. And we can only say that the honorable Mr. John Garcia has selected eleven gems and that he with his entire group of friends kills it. With help from Harper Hug, Trevor Whatever, Dandy Brown, Mike Neider, Dave Angstrom, Danko Jones, Tom Brayton, Mark Diamond, Nick Oliveri and The Doors legend Robby Krieger he crafted something solid, huge and monumental. One could assume that a collection of songs that has been growing since 1998 lacks coherency or might sound dated somewhere. But shit, this record is simply amazing from the first note to the very last. It has it all. Stoner grooves, rumbling bass, bluesy feels, steamy rock, gritty riffs and crazy guitars. And above all the Garcia voice that sounds better than ever. The only weird thing might be the Black Mastiff cover Rolling Stoned as the second track on this album. But this is probably included because the man loves the song, the band and is producing their next record. Just listen to the wicked His Bullets Energy or the stomping Argleben! (When was this track born? After hearing from his new Dutch friends? More info will come.) But simply put, the album is brilliant and hits you like a desert thunderstorm. One of those moments where the horizon suddenly turns black and the ground shakes violently due to the sonic boom far away. And it ends with Her Bullets Energy a song started, back then in 1998, or perhaps even earlier, and sounds like a future we all hope we deserve. There is peace and tranquility and there’s acceptance and love. And there’s more of all that spread out over that one track than all the other emotions one goes through listening to the rest of the album. To be honest, I am incapable of saying much more… Simply blown away…

(Written by JK)



vrijdag 13 juni 2014

Monobrow – Big Sky-Black Horse


Monobrow – Big Sky-Black Horse
Self released – 2014
Rock, Instrumental, Stoner, Psych, Doom
Rated: *****

Five years after their first jam session the Ottawa trio Monobrow releases their third full-length album entitled Big Sky-Black Horse. Their first self-titled record was released in 2010 and made it to the eight position of the Stoner HiVe top 20 of that year and the amazing Bennington Triangle Blues was released two years later and was even better. Can the boys top that with Big Sky-Black Horse? Well, they sure as hell made something equally impressive.  More spacious, jazzy and progressive the eight tracks seem to want to level the playing field with instrumental stoner that mixes not only hints of doom and a truckload of psychedelic meandering. It also implores something straight out of the seventies and has all of that topped off with progressive exploration and tiny folky meanderings. Just listen to those final tones of the amazing These Mountains Don’t Want Us Here song. Which is followed by the cosmic rocker Ancient Arctic Wanderer. And with these kind of titles; and this supreme quality playing it is no difficult feat to imagine entire stories drawn out as the songs progress. And then there’s the title track. Just shy of twelve minutes it features everything we just mentioned condensed, compressed and served with absolute free rock precision. Sheer brilliance!

(Written by JK)




donderdag 12 juni 2014

Zeppheroin – Methadone Jesus


Zeppheroin – Methadone Jesus
Self released – 2014
Rock, Punk, Wave, Doom
Rated: ***

On the Ginsberg inspired EP Howl; madman Tony Maim, who works magic on his own Black Insect Laughter blog, introduced me to his musical outlet Zeppheroin. He already had two earlier outputs named Naked Lunch and The Atrocity Exhibition and now hits us with a new full-sized fourth release named Methadone Jesus. A Subutex ridden preacher screeching and blaring as a steady beat with a dark wave atmosphere scorches the sky above. There is no place for hope or anything that even resembles a glint of green light on the horizon. No, this is new wave doom for the dirty, the down and the gloomy and there shall be no refuge in this unholy church of distortion. It rips the needle out of your arm and fingers the little hole while chuckling a mean laugh that sends shivers up your spine. This is not meant for fun, pleasure or relaxation. Escapism? Music for a million screaming junkies? Perhaps. But probably not. It only serves as some obscure function of orientation for a lost soul in a maddening world; like a bat’s squeak… So gather 'round all ye lost souls, we friends, yes?

(Written by JK)


Black Stone Cherry – Magic Mountain


Black Stone Cherry – Magic Mountain
Roadrunner/Warner – 2014
Rock, Southern, Hard
Rated: ***

On their fourth album Magic Mountain the boys from Black Stone Cherry show us once again what we all love about that low swinging, bourbon guzzling, slow blues tinted hard rock we christened Southern Rock so many years ago. Not all of the tracks have the attention grabbing heat that most of those Southern songs have; but when a song like Me And Mary Jane starts blowing its sweetness there’s no escaping the universal head nod. Sure it’s about a love lost long ago or perhaps a vice he’s been loving and smoking for ages? Whatever it may be, it has dueling guitars that rustle, grind, squeak and crackle exactly like guitars should. This is music about showing your guns and gritting your teeth. But on those songs where the boys refuse to do that themselves their spirits loses energy and the tracks peter out… But when Fiesta Del Fuego rolls around the music sure has you wrapped up tight once again. Too bad that on that track the lyrics aren’t up to par with their earlier work. That’s also a big point on certain other songs which have you believe they are opting for a spot on the even more commercial roster; which should never be the goal but a lucky coincidence. C’mon guys, go back to the bbq, grill a steak, guzzle some foul tasting whisky and taste that Kentucky air. And realize you’re meant to make fight music for the brave and the crazies. Forget the rest…

(Written by JK)


donderdag 5 juni 2014

Hössferatu – Hössferatu


Hössferatu – Hössferatu
Self released – 2014
Rock, Doom, Metal, Stoner, Sludge
Rated: ***

Holy gutter rats and other vermin! The opening track Hand Of Madness hits you like drunken punch in the paunch and leaves you jeering and staggering and almost toppling over. It’s a hardcore thrash metal minute and a half and one that leaves you breathless and hoping for respite. Which comes in the form of the rest of the tracks on the self-titled full-sized debut of the mighty Hössferatu. This is dangerous biker blues that drives on the very edge of the needle. And since life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, we cannot get enough of Hössferatu. With an imposing voice the five amigos truck on through burning landscapes full of doom, thunderous stoner and filthy sludge. And like a pair of deviant bookends the album ends with the fast paced Sacred Rice. Which has you skidding broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming: “Wow! What a ride!”

(Written by JK)



Demon Head – Demon Head / Winterland


Demon Head – Demon Head / Winterland
Levitation Records – 2014
Rock, Doom, Proto, Seventies, Psych, Blues
Rated: ****

A seven inch that sounds like Orange Sunshine or Santa Cruz has taken on a new identity once again. But this is not the case. Demon Head hails from Copenhagen, Denmark and sounds as wild, colorful, lucid and acidic as anything Guy Tavares might serve us. The five-piece has a highly occult sounding edge that is as proto as they come and on the two tracks that make up this seven inch; they display a definite feel for ancient lust and dubious mystical atmospheres. Think of Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats, Witchcraft, Pentagram and a steady classic rock band and you get the idea. Based on the blues of yore and with enough Day-Glo guitar colors to psych out even the maddest goat staring biker the two fuzzy, analog and lo-fi tracks are simply mind warping. Fine riffs indeed and with a vocalist that haunts and enchants with its soulful wildness and romantic drama, the music seems to whisper dark secrets in your ear and there is no escaping the fact that these cats are in it for the pure love of it... Demon Head, it gets in your head, heart and blood…

(Written by JK)



Crowbar – Symmetry In Black


Crowbar – Symmetry In Black
Century Media/Universal – 2014
Sludge, Doom, Core, Metal
Rated: ****

Almost together with the release of Down’s Down IV Part II, The Purple EP we are treated to a new Crowbar. Which seems fitting since Kirk Windstein left Down about a year earlier due to the health issues involved. What health issues? Well, due to the many days between rehearsing or playing gigs with Down the man was used to drink. Drink a lot. Drink liquor store owners into mansions. And then they still had to on tour... But thanks to marrying the right woman he has gained focus, wanted to step up his music and his earning and the way he did things. Dropping the bottle and writing and touring for a certain amount of days on end and then back to paying attention to his family. So, no more Down and every bit of musical energy devoted to Crowbar. And this was exactly the other way around for bassist Pat Bruders; who was replaced by madman Jeff Golden who you might know from Goatwhore or Six Feet Under. Both the Windstein drive and the new bass madness seems to work out. For it is highly apparent that they wanted to do something grandiose on their new release Symmetry In Black. Founded no less than twenty-five years ago their tenth release shimmers like pure sludge and doomcore gold. Royal riffs, pulverizing rhythms and a voice that just keeps getting better and better. What better way to celebrate their anniversary than to release something this brilliant and which after one careful listening session already seems to be worth even more than its heavy heavy weight in diamonds…

(Written by JK)


maandag 2 juni 2014

The Dallaz – Dirt Dealer


The Dallaz – Dirt Dealer
Riff-A-Lot Records – 2014
Rock, Hard, Stoner, Garage, Punk, Southern, Blues, Metal
Rated: ****

They hail from Bologna, Italy and sound like a southern American gentlemen that love their fuzz, its grime and its dirt. They are The Dallaz and their first full-sized record has been named Dirt Dealer. And that is exactly what it does. Gritty and grungy, the eleven songs push passed you like a Fu Manchu diamond or a Clutch emerald. And then there’s that punky garage edge that takes control of the reins on occasion to make sure the ball stays in their court. And while you’re enjoying the first four tracks you start to wonder how good these cats might get; and then the wicked music starts… Ridin In My Mind has you on the edge of your seat for the entire 2 minutes and 45 seconds; with intense bass work, masterful guitar, luscious drums and righteous vocals. And you only keep wondering why they did not continue this for at least another 2 minutes and 45 seconds; sweet Jesus this is good. On the other hand they might just know the exact right time formula for mind altering music; cause after that track you’re knee deep in the Dallaz Dirt and feel like they can do no wrong no more. Highly groovy and damn addictive… I’ve never advocated drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they’ve always worked for me, just like these Dallaz Dirt Dealers…

(Written by JK)