Slow Order – Hidden Voices

Slow Order – Hidden Voices

Self released – 2014

Rock, Stoner, Instrumental, Metal, Doom

Rated: ***

Well. These Italian cats have been playing music for a while now. But with this power trio line-up they’ve managed to stay together long enough to release a new album after the damn fine debut Pyramid Toward Oblivion back in 2011 which had a different composition as now. Slow Order is in no way slow and there seems to be little order to their madness and chaos either. The instrumental goodness displayed on Hidden Voices has this haunting atmosphere with a southern touch underneath the obvious stoner and doom metal. Which seems to fit well with Halloween approaching. The best thing about the record however is the fact that is slowly turns more dark and hideously disturbing without you ever noticing it. As if the biker menace that was turned loose in the beginning has turned into some undead army ready to drive their bikes straight through your suburban neighborhood murdering all the old bitties and families they happen to come across on their way. With no quarter asked and none given. But hey, it’s the validity of the evil riffs, the absolute smashing drums and pummeling bass! Listen closely and you will find all of the hidden voices or imagine them like some hazy waking dream; like the little Tyler Durdens they are…

(Written by JK)

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Von Durden – III

Von Durden – III

VVEGA records/PIAS

Rock, Pop, Electro, Stoner

Rated: ***

Von Durden is still made up out of five crazy Belgians nowadays. It’s always good to check since they changed shaped a color a lot with their first release Death Discotheque from 2010 and Dandy Animals from 2012. But wait, two left and two new members came. Fabrice Giacinto from Romano Nervoso and Marie Delsaux aka Gladys have joined this fun lovin bunch of freaks. Well, on their third album aptly named III they still dance and rock out like they did on that second album. Moving further away from Queens of The Stone Age towards a sound that De Staat captured on Machinery and even more on I_Con. This is made to move and sway to and once every so often to jump around to. But also to dance, motherfucker. It’s a party. But that’s not really doing the album enough justice; cause there are more layers. And those layers are crazy with catchy meanderings and trickster trappings. And then on the occasion you want it the most there is this raw little edge; and always, yes always, feverous energy and frantic enthusiasm! Always on the very edge of exploding! 'Three minutes. This is it. Ground zero. Do you want to say a few words to mark the occasion?'

(Written by JK)

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Von Durden - Dead Queen

Von Durden - Dead Queen

The video to the official first single Dead Queen taken from the third album III by Belgian freaky fun bunch Von Durden.

Komatsu heads out on tour with… John Garcia!

Komatsu heads out on tour with… John Garcia!

The news has been out now. For a while now. But still. The steamroller that is Komatsu is heading out on a thirty something date tour through Europe with John Garcia. And not only Mr. Garcia; they’re also joined by STEAK. I guess that one off performace at Speedfest last year of the Slo Burn song July has really cemented their friendship. Go see them play on any of the many dates and hear the massive Manu Armata record live; and for all the Lowlands freaks, you can go see them off this Sunday; when they play Altstadt in Eindhoven together with An Evening With Knives. Ofcourse, a lot of times good news comes with bad news. Drummer Miriam has decided to leave the band. Her place will be taken by the Miava drummer Jelle Tommeleyn. Let’s hope Miriam will have all the luck in the world with all her future endeavours and let’s hope Komatsu finds love in the all the wrong thirthy something places… 

05.11.  NOR - OSLO, VULKAN ARENA

06.11.  SWE - STOCKHOLM, DEBASER

07.11.  SWE - GOTHENBURG, STICKY FINGER

08.11.  GER - ROSTOCK, MAU CLUB

09.11.  GER - BERLIN, LIDO

11.11.  NLD - ‘s HERTOGENBOSCH, W2

12.11.  BEL  - ANTWERP, TRIX

13.11.  GER - BREMEN, ALADIN

14.11.  GER - KÖLN, WERKSTATT

15.11.  GER - BOCHUM, MATRIX

17.11.  GER - MÜNCHEN, STROM

18.11.  CHE - LUZERN, SCHÜÜR

19.11.  CHE - DÜDINGEN, BAD BONN

20.11.  ITA  - BOLOGNA, LOCOMOTIVE CLUB

21.11.  ITA  - ROMA, INIT CLUB

22.11.  ITA  - MEZZAGO [MB], ZOOM

26.11. ESP - BARCELONA, BIKINI

27.11. ESP - MADRID, SALA ARENA

28.11. ESP - BILBAO, KAFE ANTZOKI

29.11. FRA - NANTES, FERRAILLEUR

02.12. FRA - PARIS, GLAZART

03-12. ENG - SOUTHAMPTON, THE TALKING HEADS

04-12. ENG - MANCHESTER, ACADEMY

05.12. ENG - SHEFFIELD, CORPORATION

06.12. ENG - LONDON, ISLINGTON ACADEMY

08.12. GER - OSNABRÜCK, BASTARD CLUB

09.12. GER - FRANKFURT, ZOOM

10.12. AUT - VIENNA, VIPER ROOM

11.12. GER - DRESDEN, BEATPOL

12.12. GER - JENA, F-HAUS

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Scott Walker & Sunn 0)) – Soused

Scott Walker & Sunn 0)) – Soused

Beggars/4AD – 2014

Rock, Pop, Ambient, Noise, Drone, Doom

Rated: ***

What a possibly brilliant or 'highly unlikely' combination or perhaps even completely logical. The honorable Mr. Scott Walker and the drone metal masters of Sunn 0)). We love Walker for his meanderings on the edge, his walk on the fringes of rock. But to combine that heavy abstract side with the slow dragging monotonous drone of Sunn 0)) seems like an even wilder and more dangerous endeavor than Metallica and Lou Reed. But we are in luck. It is not as horrible as Lulu turned out to be. In fact, there are moments when the match becomes a heavenly blend of extraordinary weirdness. And whether you’d like it or not; you will get sucked into their ominous and dark universe. A world filled with fear and loathing, with black hearts and oppressive atmospheres. You are not just being Soused into submission but truly walloped. And still this beating is well dosed and you imagine yourself being able to take a tiny bit more before you would have died from the pain and exhaustion. And then there are those miniature inflaming sparks of identity, the ones that whip you into an unholy frenzy. It will leave you hearing bells…

(Written by JK)

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Scott Walker & Sunn 0)) - Brando

Scott Walker & Sunn O))) - Brando 

First track taken from the album Soused by the damn fine combination of Scott walker and Sunn 0)) ! Film by Gisèle Vienne.

L’Ira Del Baccano – Terra 42

L’Ira Del Baccano – Terra 42

Subsound records – 2014

Rock, Space, Psych, Stoner, Doom, Instrumental

Rated: ****

Their first and only full-sized release to date is a live recorded album from 2008 called Si Non Sedes Is…Live. This time around however the four crazy Italians that make up L’Ira Del Baccano decided to dive head first into a studio and explore their limits there. And one the crackling release Terra 42; there are no limits. This is space rock extravaganza with overtones of psychedelic meanderings, stoner thunderings some tasty doomy proddings. And all of it is done with extreme instrumental prejudice. These cats know what they are doing, and they are doing it right. The first three part track is based on The Infinite Improbability Drive from The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy. And the name could not have been chosen better. It is jam-packed with the most improbable of moves and switches that follow the most logical paths and reasonable routes; all the while having you on the edge of your seat. And after those first impressive thirty-two minutes as you want to say goodbye and thank them for all the fish; you are hit with another two-part whirlwind called Sussurri…Nel Bosco di Diana and another fiery explosive song named Volcano X 13. So you are sure to be enormously entertained, especially if you dare to take the dive with them and listen to the entire record with only sips of cheap port for a miniature refuge, leaving your mind on the end of its tether and almost grasping the knowledge that these guys know where the number 42 stands for…

(Written by JK)

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Most played album from 2013?

Most played album from 2013?

As the end of the year approaches fast. Only two months away man; we wonder which of the albums from 2013 has been spinning the most on your recordplayer or in your car or where and whenever you enjoy the good stuff? Check out the Countdown So Far post from 2013 to see the top 20 of last year. And do you still remember what you all voted to become number ONE?!

Let us know... Here or on Facebook....

Weed Is Weed – Blunt Force Trauma

Weed Is Weed – Blunt Force Trauma

Ripple Music Records – 2014

Rock, Metal, Stoner, Southern, Weed

Rated: ***

Is this the Cypress Hill of stonerrock?

(Written by C)

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Shaman’s Harvest – Smokin’ Hearts & Broken Guns

Shaman’s Harvest – Smokin’ Hearts & Broken Guns

Mascot – 2014

Rock, Hard, Southern

Rated: ***

Smokin’ Hearts & Broken Guns is the fifth album of Shaman’s Harvest. An American hard rock formation from Jefferson City, Missouri that does not shine away from using southern influences as much as the modern pop approach. And don’t be put off by that first track Dangerous, cause that sounds a bit like the band we all love to hate. And ofcourse you can also dismiss the acoustic stuff if you wish. And also don’t start appreciating the band because the vocalist got diagsnosed and treated for throat cancer while recording the album. Instead, dig their tracks of the craft is displays and the hunger buried in the melodies and the impressive guitar work. Especially on tracks like Blood In The Water or Country As Fuck. Sure, this band is gonna be big in America and will have a hard time outside of the border. But they will not care one bit. And nor should they; cause Smokin’ Hearts & Broken Guns is one hell of a ringer!

(Written by JK)

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White Dynomite – White Dynomite

White Dynomite – White Dynomite

Ripple Music Records – 2014

Rock, Punk, Garage, Stoner

Rated: ***

Sleazy but soulful motor-punk for the party kids!

(Written by C)

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Whales and Aurora – Whales and Aurora EP

Whales and Aurora – Whales and Aurora EP

Red Sound Records – 2014

Rock, Post, Psych, Sludge

Rated: ***

Surprisingly heavy like a beached whale or a lsd infused night watching the borealis.

(Written by C)

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Black State Highway – Black State Highway

Black State Highway – Black State Highway

Cherry Red – 2014

Rock, Hard, Classic

Rated: ***

How many bands from Latvia can you name? Vocalist Liva Steinberga must have thought something along those lines when she decided to move to England to try her luck in rock. Latvia apparently is not the most promising of nations when one wants to earn a living with music. So somewhere around Brighton she got together with a few other freaks. One from Sweden, another from Scotland and the drummer from England. Together they formed a band whose names and deeds who be retold throughout history, the knights of the… Oh shit, sorry about, flashback to a movie there. No the youth named themselves Black State Highway and their aim is clearly to produce classic golden hard rock albums. Great penmanship that get its colors from a throbbing bass, perfect drums and guitars that are loud and screamy. Just as the singer; cause Liva can damn well give you a heart attack with her screeches and screams. This is one hell of a highway!

(Written by JK)

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Anguish – Mountain

Anguish – Mountain

Dark Descent Records – 2014

Metal, Doom

Rated: ***

Upssala, Sweden. Home of the doom metal quartet Anguish. Who released a true monumental doom album back in 2012 called Through the Archdemon’s Head. And now the follow-up is about to be set free upon the world. It is called Mountain and it definitely sounds huge. After a slow and atmospheric intro the music kicks in with powerful and grandiose gestures. And this goes on for the remaining seven tracks. With aggressive and taunting vocals; they slowly turn a bit more occult as the music plows on up towards the top of the mountain. Slowly the trek becomes windswept and cold as the rain hammers down and only lightning illuminates the way. The guitar colors turn icy and the drums become like the every growing thunder. And there is no refuge on the top either. There is only the void and the snow that pierces the soul…

(Written by JK)

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Poste 942 – Extended Play

Poste 942 – Extended Play

Beer Beer Boar Prod/Self released – 2014

Rock, Punk, Metal, Grunge, Stoner

Rated: ***

Not far from the crazy town of Marseille, France is a little village called Tourves. With only a handful of inhabitants they must be looking towards the bigger neighbors for work and entertainment. And even though they will surely dismiss this fact and probably even spit on such an assumption. It is clear that the guys from Poste 942 have a lot of that rough punk spirit that is ever prevalent in the underground of Marseille. On their debut EP simply called Extended Play they hit us with five sucker punch shots. Heavy in spirit and hard hitting like a punk street fighter on the rebound. But they also retain that countryside spirit. A don’t mess with us attitude that only resides in the mountains and on the lowlands where everyone owns a hunting rifle and a mean dog. This is bad ass beer soaked rock for long bbq nights. For bikers and men with muscle cars and pick-up trucks. You can just see them sitting around the kitchen table with liter pints of beer in hand and the foam dripping of their chin. Plotting their next move and not even caring about the dogs barking outside. Nobody would dare enter their yard… Attention! Chien méchant!

(Written by JK)

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Clouds Taste Satanic – To Sleep Beyond The Earth

Clouds Taste Satanic – To Sleep Beyond The Earth

Kinda Like Music/Self released – 2014

Doom, Metal, Rock, Stoner, Instrumental

Rated: ****

They hail from the dark and twisted streets of New York and have managed to produce a tone heavy instrumental march that rivals those legendary doom records of yore. We are talking about the enigmatic Clouds Taste Satanic. They have been playing together for two years and it is their debut release under this moniker and with it they firmly stamp their name on the foul tasting vaporous doom we all love to sample till we fall down in a delirious slumber. The album called To Sleep Beyond The Earth is comprised out of two, two-part tracks that both last over twenty-two minutes. And both of them seem to combine to some degree the bands the album-title achieves to hint at. It is distorted and it brings forth the memories of Dopesmoker. But it is the obvious difference that brings light to the artists behind the composition and highlights the fact that they evoke a completely different atmosphere. Lighter to some degree and with more air to breathe. Although we must concede; once a church bell is rung; things can only get evil and dangerous. Which it does! This nouveau quartet heralds the coming of something malevolent. It is on its way.  Something not of this world and before time. And it will be here before the end of day…

(Written by JK)

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Ps. And the vinyl is release is a true work of art. Limited to 300 copies, pressed on burgundy/plum (purple) marbled 150-gram vinyl. Gatefold sleeve.

Prehistoric Pigs & Electric Taurus – Split

Prehistoric Pigs & Electric Taurus – Split

Go Down Records – 2014

Rock, Stoner, Psych, Doom, Blues

Rated: *****

The split-hoofed beasts are running wild. Whether they’d be Prehistoric or Electric they don’t care. They look you square in the eye before they charge at you and trample you whole. The split released on Go Down Records featuring the Irish three-piece Electric Taurus and the Italian trio Prehistoric Pigs is a match made in fuzzed out heaven. It starts off with a rumbling track by the Dublin Taurus who implored the exciting vocals from Barbara "Babz" Allen of Irish blues rock titans Crafty Fuzz for this output. It roars with prehistoric thunder and it perfects all that goodness they displayed on their 2012 album Veneralia. The 16-minute track is simply of epic proportions and demonstrates once again that the boys have a firm grasp on legendary songwriting craftsmanship. This track is filled to the rim with psychedelic layers, mind altering guitars, massive bass work and expert drumming. And let’s hope they will implore the help of Babz more often in the future; what a combination! And then there are the pigs! Who are simply electric and let us know that they too have improved since their debut Wormhole Generation from 2012. The seminal stoner we were treated to back then is now completed with something much more honest, laidback, spacey and gigantic. Especially on the explosions during the first track The Perfection of Wisdom. Their second one 79360 Sila-Numam, goes for the psychedelic gusto with absolute stomping bangs, bursts and blasts. Amazing split by the creatures who are no longer equal to us men… They are better!

(Written by JK)

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The Good Hand – Atman

The Good Hand – Atman

Minstrel Music – 2014

Rock, Psych, Prog, Seventies

Rated: ****

Their self-titled debut album from 2011 has for some weird and possibly diabolical reason completely escaped my attention. But luckily the new one called Atman has not. We are talking about the trio hailing from towns bordering the lakes of the Netherlands called The Good Hand. They play earthy and windy rock music that energizes and sooths the spirit. They move somewhere in the vicinity of bands like Motorpsycho and Black Mountain but also towards the great ones from the seventies. But above all they also pronounce loudly to the world that they are The Good Hand and they want to shake your bones. Musically divers and with exotic elements like tuba and bouzouki they warm the soul and tickle your heart. They do this to with the lyrics that are highly philosophical and might even evoke some thoughts and pondering on the listeners’ part. It is the glue that holds this album together. For here and there they seem to take a musical side step that sometimes feels awkward but those moments are offset with flashes of brilliance and bliss. And perhaps the instants that seem like a stumble are actually the acrobatic stunts we will love later on; on this magical album…

(Written by JK)

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ZOE – Raise The Veil

ZOE – Raise The Veil

LX/Brennus Music – 2014

Rock, Speed, Stoner, Hard

Rated: *****

Even though the first two efforts, Make It Burning (2006) and Dirty Little Sister (2009) by the French quartet ZOE were already high spirited mean ass rock ’n roll records of a true rambunctious nature. It is with their new effort Raise The Veil that the guys raise the bar. A band that started back in the nineties and only delivers three albums has to be one of those bands that hones their craft before putting their music out into the world. And even though ZOE does not take that adagio to heart; unconsciously they must have done just that. Raise The Veil is the first album recorded in a proper studio, the Glowsun studio, and mastered by an outsider, Göran Finnberg, who has worked on In Flames, Glowsun, Opeth, Meshuggah and many more. It has turned this album in something much more cohesive, without losing any of the famed ZOE spirit and wild antics. And then there is the songwriting and lyrical content; which have improved to such a degree that we fear the boys have managed to look behind the curtain indeed and sampled from the great and secret treasure hidden there. For the drums manage to give more air to the riffs and the guitars dare to leave more room as well. Which gives the bass some space to excel. From that you can conclude that we are finally able to enjoy this dirty little ZOE on every level imaginable. We still hear a little Fu Manchu, Dozer, Motörhead, Monster Magnet, Queens Of The Stone Age and straight up hard rock. But above all we hear ZOE capture the true essence of rock ‘n roll! So join in on this Slam Dance Union as ZOE takes the building!

(Written by JK)

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Trysth – Soulchambers

Trysth – Soulchambers

Serpent Eve Records – 2014

Metal, Sludge, Atmospheric

Rated: ***

Sadness, decay and forlorn emotions drip all over the first release by Bulgarian metallers Trysth. Soulchambers has six tracks that are completely metal and massively sludge but most importantly atmospheric and dark. They manage to walk this desolate and forsaken tightrope between unsoiled post rock elements and heavy snarling destruction to an impressive degree. Soulchambers as the title might already hint at sounds like an introspective journey towards self-knowledge; understanding of the id, the ego and the superego that all seem simultaneously engaged in conflict and thus creates a great seat of anxiety and angst. But don’t worry, the guys don’t go all Freudian on your ass. They instead search the metallic landscape for destructive basslines, mincing riffs, bleak guitar colors and towering drums to impose and batter the inward expedition into your soul. And have you mourn together with your own melancholy and grief…

(Written by JK)

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Monomyth – Further

Monomyth – Further

Suburban – 2014

Rock, Psych, Kraut, Drone, Stoner, Instrumental

Rated: ****

I fell head over heels in love with their first self-titled album released in 2013. On their new record, Further, the boys from Monomyth move beyond the open arena they created on their first release. This one means to point out that there are no walls, corners or arenas at all. This one aims for the entire universe and leaves you wondering if even that might exist. Slowly, but surely they build and build and build with layers upon layers until finally things have to go boom. It is an explosion of psychedelic, post, kraut and stoner rock ideas without trying to finish anything with the most obvious solution. This is pure adventure and musical adrenaline. But one that needs to be enjoyed over and over before you can grasp its true meaning. It shimmers and it shines and it lures you further and further away from the things you know and understand. But this is good, this is how we like it, and this is music that will touch you on a much deeper level. Further down and further up. And all across the universe…

(Written by JK)

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The Hyle – Demo

The Hyle – Demo

Self released – 2014

Rock, Doom

Rated: ***

The mysterious band hailing from Denmark who goes by the name of The Hyle has released its first two track four part nameless demo. Faceless they move through the woods looking for the cosmic harmony that Robert Fludd talked about and with a maddening zeal they search for the divine monochord. This occult and esoteric approach to their doom rings through as the hollow voices spirit you away through the fog. For almost thirty minutes you are in another world. One that is darker and full of terror. This is doom as doom is meant ot be. The slow steady march around a bubbling cauldron or towards a fire pit full of bodies and blood. And the vocals offset the evil sounding lo-fi trek towards the inevitable end to such a perfect degree that the music becomes hallowed and sacred. So poor yourself some ruby red wine in a chalice, put your hooded habit on and join in on the march. It is your destiny…

(Written by JK)

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Mojave Lords – Sweet Little Down & Out

Mojave Lords – Sweet Little Down & Out

Let the thing speak for itself. Mojave Lords with Sweet Little Down & Out from the album Unfuckwithable. Recorded in and around Rancho De La Luna…

Mojave Lords – Unfuckwithable

Mojave Lords – Unfuckwithable

Last Hurrah Records – 2014

Rock, Stoner, Desert,

Rated: ****

So where did I put that snake leather jacket? I need to buy some smokes. Only one pack left. It’s steamy hot outside. The air feels thick with desire. Wild things are on the move. And there’s something brooding in my heart. And it’s only this rock ’n roll that is keeping me breathing. That’s how it starts, this Sweet Little Down and Out on the first album Unfuckwithable from the Mojave Lords. The who? No, the Mojave Lords! Comprised out of Dave Catching and Bingo Richey. You know, the man, the cook and the overlord of Rancho De La Luna. And Bingo; he’s a troubadour, a hobo and his neighbor. And on one of those black nights in the desert they got together to put this awesome music to tape. With a little help from Brian O’Connor, Chris Goss, Joey Castillo, Danny Frankel, Sven Altmetz and Barrett Martin. Straight out of the desert we ofcourse hear some tingling Queens Of The Stone Age atmosphere and some dune boogie we’ve come to love from the Eagles of Death Metal. But they distinctly move off into something darker and menacing. Like one of those fabled sex addicted luscious beauties carrying rum in one hand and tequila in the other; and you’re invited to have a gulp of everything she’s offering... Yes, the Mojave Lords are inviting, damn sexy, riddled with temptation and they make you wanna dance like something wild at heart…

(Written by JK)

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Fu Manchu – Live at the O2, Islington, London

Fu Manchu – Live at the O2, Islington, London

24th September 2014

Looking like grizzled viking surfers, Fu Manchu hit the stage with an almighty rendition of “Eatin’ Dust” and immediately showed their intent of bringing the desert sounds to grey London. The sound was immense, with a skilfully balanced PA split for the guitars meaning that rarest of rare events – I could hear every member of the band perfectly. A trio of new songs from “Gigantoid” followed and proved that their songwriting is as strong as ever as they slotted in like old friends. The guys were on fire and really seemed to be enjoying themselves. Going back as far as “In Search Of”  (1996) to the new album gave the set a really powerful flow which just rocked. Heads nodding, fists pumping and drinks raised to the roof showed how much people were enjoying this. Relentless playing, razor sharp solos, laconic vocals and steamroller riffs gave this night a special feel. This was me first time in seeing these guys and I will now make sure to see them again when they hit these shores.

(Written by Tony)

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