Libido Fuzz – Kaleido Lumo Age

Libido Fuzz – Kaleido Lumo Age

Pink Tank Records – 2015

Rock, Stoner, Psych, Seventies

Rated: ****

Hail to Bordeaux! For their incredible wines and for giving us: Libido Fuzz! Cause on their first full-sized album Kaleido Lumo Age they bring the dune boogie riding high on that lovely seventies wave. Ooh yes, we’re talking about a track called Raw Animal. A track that grooves so hard it has you dancing outside of your pants. Ooh yes, Mr. Fancy Pants. This is bellbottom music for the bellbottom lovers. But let’s not forget about the six other damn fine tracks that all transport us to that glorious seventies era without looking to copy any of those legendary bands from that golden age. No no no, the Libido Fuzz want to space out and fuzz through all those seventies rock sounds in a modern fashion. It has you proto stonering and going all psychedelic before the end of the album without feeling old or worn. They know how to slow down and whirl around and know when to speed up and freak you out. The Libido Fuzz and their Kaleido Lumo Age is so good it will make you see things… Can you see all the colors we hear?

(Written by JK)

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Howling Giant – Howling Giant EP

Howling Giant – Howling Giant EP

Self released – 2015

Rock, Stoner, Desert, Psych, Garage, Doom

Rated: ****

Even though Nashville, Tennessee is usually known for a completely different kind of music. They do produce some damn fine ruckus as well and loads of garage and stoner albums have been mastered or recorded there in recent times. But sometimes, the music is born right there and then. In someone’s bedroom filled with stinky sport socks, weird posters, books, comics, records and dubious crusty towels. As is the case with Howling Giant. Three compadres that delivered their first self-titled EP a couple of months ago. Three self-proclaimed nerds with a penchant for space travel, doomed seafarers and a sentient android hell-bent for a camel killing death crusade. Now here are some guys we can relate to for sure! Especially since besides those cheat sheet lyrics they bring out the big guns when they turn to riffing, tempos and rhythms. And let’s not forget about those damn fine three piece vocals as well. Howling, haunting and stirring! Nice touches of organ in first song Husk and third song Doug and as battleships go last track on the EP entitled Camel Crusher is a righteous one. A big motherfucker that starts its brooding tempo and has you on the edge of your seat for what’s about to happen. And it all seems to happening right there and then. This is a trio we need to keep track off; cause they seem to be destined for huge things!

(Written by JK)

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Luna Sol – Blood Moon

Luna Sol – Blood Moon

Slush Fund Recordings – 2015

Rock, Stoner

Rated: *****

"Someone dropped a bag of devils off at my doorstep, and they took the shape of a Luna Sol album. I am thrilled that I was able to contribute to this mayhem." That’s Dandy Brown for ya. Known for his work with Hermano, Orquesta Del Desierto and that damn fine solo album he released last year. And before they track the new Hermano album this summer in Colorado the man delivers some crunchy bass work and vocals for Death Mountain the second track on Luna Sol’s first full-sized album Blood Moon. Which also features John Garcia on the song December, Nick Oliveri on Pretty Rotten and Dizzy Reed from Guns N’ Roses on Your War. Besides ofcourse his other longtime Kentucky compadres Jason Groves and Greg Martin. Whose compadres you ask? Well, we’re ofcourse talking about hero Dave Angstrom! Who went up to the Asylum On The Hill and came down a high mountain on a dark and twisted ride gunning the motor until the final second and the very last note. Joined by Denverlites Shanda Kolberg (The Swanks), Shannon Fahnestock (The Swindlers) and Pat Gill (The Feds, ’76 Pinto), they never ease up on the curves and they never swerve but take wide turns whenever they feel like it. All the different vocals fit perfectly together and make the heavy harmonies taste like lead and gasoline. There’s something dark and brooding about this record. Which might be due, once again, thanks to the weird mountain folklore and scary stories his backyard is steeped in. You can almost smell the blood dripping of the hooks, riffs and growling guitars. Dirty power chords and bourbon soaked drums. It’s steamy and with every track that passes you feel the shadows come alive around you… And that’s before the final track In The Shadows starts, which will make you shiver, give you goosebumps and afraid to turn off the lights…

(Written by JK)

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Zodiac – Sonic Child

Zodiac – Sonic Child

Napalm – 2014

Rock, Classic, Hard, Psych, Seventies

Rated: ***

Album number three for the German formation Zodiac. It’s called Sonic Child and gives us honest and groovy blues rock filled with seventies throwbacks, psychedelic touches and pure hardrock gold. On the other hand, the more psychedelic parts and groovy blues are the moments when the Zodiac shines. Cause the simple hardrock moments seem to falter a bit in intensity and belief, as if the boys felt they needed to throw something like that in the mix without really feeling it. Making it all seem a bit to clean and sterile. So let’s not dwell on that aspect and simply enjoy the bluesy psychedelics and the funky traces. It’s what makes up their most passionate offerings and turns every sceptic into a believer. Like a child, open and without any concern about anything else you let the music drip into you and make it something completely different. Something for yourself and uniquely your own.

(Written by JK)

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Tank86 – Obey

Tank86 – Obey

Rising Magma Records – 2015

Metal, Instrumental, Sludge, Stoner

Rated: *****

Relentless and harsh, that’s how the new album Obey by Dutch sludge formation Tank86 starts. It’s the track called Vault that pierces your brain and has your heart almost beating outside of your chest. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Vault, and it pummels your instincts and your senses and leaves you wasted on the floor hoping the rest of the album does not demand more of you. But it does! And you must obey! The tracks are so vastly outnumbering you on every front that it takes a while before you can come to grips with its totality and tonality. But when you do, suddenly, out of nowhere the sun begins to shine and the melodies and almost classic sound guitars take you off the ground and lift your spirit. And then when you are finally up there, beyond the clouds, you hear it, like an eerie trumpet call over a lost battlefield. Delivered by none other than the honorable El Pastuso from !Pendejo! you start to shiver and quake as Conquistador delivers his magic. Oh yes, there is no denying it. Obey is nothing but a masterpiece and Tank86 is commander.

(Written by JK)

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Temnee – Astrodiving

Temnee – Astrodiving

Self released – 2015

Rock, Stoner, Psych, Instrumental, Metal, Space

Rated: ***

This Russian duo released their debut EP Astrodiving almost a year ago without grabbing the amount of attention it definitely deserves. Cause Temnee delivers some classic space themed instrumental stoner and psychedelic rock. With soaring guitars and hefty basslines they aim for the event horizon of some dark star far away. Letting their tunes whirl around before finally disappearing into the unknown void. This is heavy. Heavy and a real treat of a trip. We are uncertain of the state of Temnee and what is going on with the drummer. And we might be uncertain of the destination this Astrodiving adventure is taking us on. Rest assured, the gravitational pull after first track Nowhereland becomes so great as to make escape impossible. But we don’t mind; cause the trip alone is worth every bit of our time and energy. Can you see the heart of the dark star?

(Written by JK)

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We Almost Killed The Cabin Crew – Boola Boola

We Almost Killed The Cabin Crew – Boola Boola

Festering Chunks – 2015

Rock, Stoner, Desert

Rated: ****

From the south of the south of the Netherlands comes a new stoner outfit named We Almost Killed The Cabin Crew. Quite a name, quite a lovely name in fact. And the four amigos have delivered their first five track EP called Boola Boola in righteous fashion. Mastered by Pieter Kloos from Void Studio and known for his work with Peter Pan Speedrock, 7zuma7, Motorpsycho and The Devils Blood, the five tracks hit you like a freight train. Founded in the foul year of our lord 2013, the boys sound like they’ve been playing this kind of ruckus for ages. Groovy riffs, growling heat and dry drumming has you envisioning the Californian desert without any trouble. And then there’s that bluesy edge on certain songs like for instance Thorn In My Side. Where the high pitched vocals will surely have you screeching along, o yeah, baby baby please. Final track To A Woman continues this bluesy atmosphere and we wonder which evil woman we should thank for the inspiration. I guess drama, loss and pain always provides true inspiration. But even though it might turn blue it always remains warm to touch and sandy in taste. We Almost Killed The Cabin Crew, this is one airplane everyone should get on. Cause even though there might be no more Reckless Pilots, there’s also no autopilot. So higher than a jet plane, pass it around. My drinks on empty, need another round…

(Written by JK)

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Mother Engine – Absturz

Mother Engine – Absturz

Gebrüder Schall – 2015

Rock, Stoner, Space, Psych, Instrumental

Rated: ****

They have returned from the space bound wilderness in true form. The three legendary crazies from Mother Engine. Yes, you know them. Those guys who performed one of the best sets on the Stoned From The Underground festival of 2013. What? They weren’t on the bill? We know. They set themselves up on the campsite and blew the fuckin house down and all the tents into the air. Their first album Muttermaschine had only been released a few months earlier and the few in attendance were in complete shock and awe. What a tour de force and what a showing! And now the brethren return with their new album Absturz. And if they aren’t booked for STFU, (like they were last year) they should do their stuff on the campsite once again. Cause this time around their tunes have become even more laidback, sunbaked and spacious. Don’t mistake that remark for what it is. There is still some ruckus on it and the much needed explosions, but the slow builds and the fast blow outs are so neatly executed that you can drift along and bop and bop and bibbidi-bobbidi-boo. Ooh yes, you know you do. This is so groovy and so naturally flowing you soon feel in touch with everything. (Even if you might be stranded on an alien planet somewhere.) And then there are those vocal touches on the otherwise instrumental records in Relief and Sonne; making the sun shine even brighter. Absturz by Mother Engine is no crash and burn. It is an explosion of kaleidoscopic colors that will last a lifetime!

(Written by JK)

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Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

Why, it's a new Quick Fire Friday segment rolling out in front of you! The Stoner HiVe Quick Fire Friday section is a feature of a handful of bands and only a small amount of words to help spread their musical prowess and our melodic belief…  And we do believe!

The Loranes – She Ain´t You

Since Rock´N Roll is not rocket science it only needed three guys, one jam and some drinks to start The Loranes in October 2014. Mammut (Fuzz-Sound Bassplayer, Ex-Kadavar), Elias (1953er Drumsetter) and Pat (Singer and Guitarist) verify that with their Blues-Garage-Rock´N Roll Songs. And since it is about time to hit us with their debut album they now treat us to a seven inch. Just hear their contagious energy and fun on their first single: She Ain’t You. Nope, she isn't. But she dances just as sexy!

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Blind Idiot God – Before Ever After

Did you know the reformation of Blind Idiot God has finally led to a new album? Why yes! The band formed in 1982 has now released their fourth album Before Ever After. As chaotic and noise loving as ever it takes their crusade for mathematical clamor to its natural conclusion. This is not a fairytale but a push for something holy. A new work to learn from and a definitive promise for some new elemental. O’ and did we mention it will be released in a luscious triple-gatefold artwork by Seldon Hunt on Invisible Music? Time to finally discover the alchemic process to make gold…

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Prehistoric Pigs – Shut Up, It’s Raining Yolks

We still can’t get enough of the split these Italian freaks delivered with Electric Taurus last year. But the Prehistoric Pigs never sit still. So, onwards and upwards towards a new album in 2015. Feast your ears on the first song released for said upcoming record. Just shut up and listen. Just Shut Up, It’s Raining Yolks. Hallelujah!

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Längfinger – Mangas Coloradas

Single Mangas Coloradas by Långfinger is the A-side, taken from the 7" single with the same name which was released at the end of March. It was Recorded during a windy weekend in December 2013 at Orkesterfabriken, Orust, Sweden, with the Asp mobile unit. Recorded and engineered by Alexander Asp. But that’s just technical detail and otherwise stuff we do not necessarily need to pay attention to. No, we just need to listen, saddle up our horses and head on out! Music for the steppe and desert landscapes and fast horses, heading off towards the horizon. For glory and gold!

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Fruit Of The Original Sin – The Black Lodge

Fruit Of The Original Sin – The Black Lodge

Self released – 2015

Rock, Grunge, Industrial, Alternative, Prog, Punk, Stoner

Rated: ****

“Harry, I have no idea where this will lead us, but I have a definite feeling it will be a place both wonderful and strange.” Beneath The Surface saw it’s released in 2010. A damn fine sophomore record by Fruit Of The Original Sin. But now that 2015 rolls around, the third album by the Fruits aims for that deadly spot between the eyes. There’s a crosshair on your head and with The Black Lodge the Fruits are bound to make a splatter! Holy hell, what growth and what power. They near perfection to such an amazing degree that the attempt in itself becomes perfect. Opener Kali puts the stomp on ya and has you screaming along with the infectious vocals. Which is another aspect of the band that has grown considerably. Where the vocals on their former album sometimes stumbled and faltered, this time around, their soar high and get you all riled up! There’s so much going on in that first track alone that you almost dread the continuation. But then Anxiety starts with its industrial bass and you know that this is going to be one hell of ride. For the diversity continues to expand for the duration of the album. Fuzzed out guitars, thumping or crackling basses and a mad drum beast at the ruckus helm!  “Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it. Don't wait for it. Just let it happen. It could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or the new album by Fruit Of The Original Sin.”

(Written by JK)

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Fruit of the Original Sin - Anxiety

Fruit of the Original Sin - Anxiety

First single Anxiety, from the new album The Black Lodge by Dutch/German formation Fruit of The Original Sin.

Fruit of the Original Sin - Sophia

Fruit of the Original Sin - Sophia 

Second single Sophia, from the new album The Black Lodge by Dutch/German formation Fruit of The Original Sin.

Powered Wig Machine – Supa-Collider

Powered Wig Machine – Supa-Collider

Battleground Records – 2015

Rock, Stoner, Desert, Blues

Rated: ****

Southern Arizona’s Powered Wig Machine released their well-received damn fine Supa-Collider album one year ago around March 2014. Listening to the record for a years’ worth only made our eagerness to see a vinyl release grow and grow. So we are extremely pleased to finally get our grubby hands on said release via Battleground Records. Featuring the Highish Noon bonus track. Ooh yes, ofcourse we’ve been grooving and rolling through their dusty stoner and bluesy desert rock for over a year. So we know what we’re going to be enjoying. But looking at the cover artwork, finally in its justified form, and then opening and enjoying first the comic style drawings before emerging oneself in the lyrical world of the Powered Wig Machine has the anticipation soaring and has you chuckling your giddiness out loud. You take out the translucent green with black and orange splatter, look at the details and put the needle down. The stomp and grind of At The Helm Of Hades kicks in and sends you off on a Supa-Collider adventure. That sound, that crackle and richness. That’s how we love it! And it ends with bonus kick in the nuts Highish Noon, ‘slow in the sack, quick on the gun’! Catchy as hell, with enough room for a desert to live in and solo work that makes you go berserk. It looks like a bright Powered Wig Machine future has begun!!

(Written by JK)

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Roadburn – 2015

Roadburn – 2015

The hangover grows every year. Not because of the copious amounts of drink. Or because a day or two had to be missed this time around. No. It’s because we love Roadburn so dearly and all its folk roaming around. It becomes harder with every passing year to continue on in this less successful version of the world. It will not happen again. This missing of days I mean. Because we already have to miss Roadburn for the entire year. On the other hand. There is one tiny problem, which we should address for the sake of things. It has been growing for a while now. And that is the simple fact that we hippies dig all of the bands that play at Roadburn. So how can one choose between Wovenhand, Monolord, Anthroproph, Scott H. Biram or Moloch? How can one choose between Eyehategod, Kandodo and Helms Alee? See. We can’t. So we try not to. And end up missing one or the other or part of it. Not because we arrive late. But because the venue or stage is full and way to crowded to push through. All of us want to see it all and all of us are fans of Helms Alee. So they could have easily filled the Patronaat stage and Monolord could easily have filled the main stage. But, then again, it is a small price to pay to feel a part of this thing called Roadburn. There were too many highlights to name them all. So let’s just name my favorite two. Which were on Friday. Finally seeing Helms Ale live. And in company of Steve Brooks from Torche/Floor. Who drinks his whisky and coke like a slow master. A crowded little Stage01 filled with smoke by a wretched machine that was soon yelled into submission by drummer and vocalist Hozoji Margullis. The drum work and grandiose guitar coloring whooped the crowd into a frenzy.  And earlier in the day we saw Spidergawd put on great show and move us with their massive groove. So now we wait. Till next year. And hope and pray that we will come to grips with whatever choice we made. Cause it eventually always is… The right one… Like Roadburn… The right one…

See ya’ll next year!

Photo's by Paul Verhagen.

Doom Chart for April 2015

Doom Chart

“You are about to experience one of the strangest meetings ever convened — a joining of […] the most unusual people on Earth! Sit quietly in the shadows of this clandestine conference and observe it well! For from it shall soon be born … The DOOM PATROL” – Arnold Drake

They have returned! With a vengeance and an amazing amount of good people with great taste! (Except that one dipshit...) The second edition, the April edition, of the Doom Chart are now online! 

Welcome to the Doom Chart, representing some of the finest sites, podcasts and bands in the stoner and doom metal underground! Each participant lists their favorite new stoner / sludge / doom albums and the results are compiled into the chart below. This is a one-stop shop for the best new albums in the world. EVERY MONTH!

 

So, head on over to the Doom Chart and read up on all those amazing albums!

Number 5

At Number 5 we find Acid King! “After a 10 year absence, Acid King return with probably their most expansive offering yet. Like riding a motorbike on Quaaludes, it has an acid-drenched feeling that things are slowly slipping out of control while the heaviness just helps to propel the trip along nicely.” As written by Madman Tony Maim in his review at the end of February… But who is Number One in April? Check it out here!

Doom Chart for April 2015

Paaspop Festival 2015

Paaspop Festival 2015

Holy hell, what a ride! Took us fifteen minutes to reach the end, or the beginning, depending on how you view it, of the waiting cue for the parking meadows. It then took two hours to get the car parked! But the cows were a nice touch! It then took another hour in line for the campsite and five minutes to pitch the tent while it was getting dark. Hurrying to catch acts like Truckfighters and Blues Pills. But the rest of the festival went down without a hitch and was as brilliant as ever! With excellent performances by Therapy?, Shaking Godspeed, The Deaf, Rival Sons, Peter Pan Speedrock, John Coffey, Monomyth, dEUS, Black Marble Selection and Vanderbuyst! And that’s just the tip of the iceberg and Paaspop is not just about all those amazing artists. It’s an experience! Filled with crazy acts and insane theater! Lovely little bars, vaudeville strip lounges and weird little nooks and crannies where you can curl up like a chimp in a zoo cage and drink until you’re sober! Paaspop Festival 2015, it was amazing!

And tomorrow we’re off to Roadburn!!!

 

Pictures taken by Dave van Hout

Sativa Root – Dark Days

Sativa Root – Dark Days

Self released – 2015

Rock, Doom, Sludge, Psych, Metal, Instrumental.

Rated: ****

Spring might be up on us, but the storms are nowhere near ready to die down. Every day the clouds hide the sun and give us dark dark days. Which brings forth excellent moments to envelop us in the new two-track ep Dark Days by Salzburg’s very own Sativa Root. Their instrumental doom rock has enough psychedelic and sludgy edges to drown everyone that is stuck on the bottom of the well. There’s this calm smolder emanating the tracks. Thick and lofty and mysteriously evil. The two tracks soon have you nodding a long and especially La Bestia has you growling and chanting along with vocals that aren’t there, slowly roiling into a hazy trance. Two tracks, there’s only two tracks and we can never get enough of Sativa Root… How are we going to survive? Down here, at the bottom of the well…

(Written by JK)

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