Lacing – Without

Lacing – Without

Elder Magick Records / Handstand Records – 2019

Rock, Grunge, Alternative, Shoegaze, Noise

Rated: ****

The four that form Lacing have been producing music for a few years now. And their first full-sized album Bummer from 2017 was lauded by many. Now they return with a follow-up entitled Without. Which follows nicely in the melancholic and shoegaze footprint that Bummer was. And where the debut already moved into more noisy and grungy area’s;  Without strolls along those borders even more. And crossing borders is what this album is all about. The four keep touching on those different ‘styles’ without ever committing to one, making the entire record a completely different kind of escapade. Energetic and heavy one moment and languid and draining the next. Add to this the seriousness of the lyrical content, spawned by the abusive childhood vocalist Joseph Davenport unfortunately had, but which therefor also taps into existential fears, angers and troubles; and it becomes a cathartic experience. They manage to discolor the long shades their music cast and turn it all into this almost ethereal fade of gray…

(Written by JK)

Bandcamp

Facebook

Airbourne – Boneshaker

Airbourne – Boneshaker

Spinefarm – 2019

Rock, Hardrock, Pubrock

Rated: ****

We mentioned it before when we mentioned Airbourne. We had a great interview with Joel and Ryan many years ago which almost made them travel south because Rhino Bucket was playing my hometown. That was many many moons ago and to this day Airbourne still sounds like that day and still sounds like everything great about Aussie Pub Rock and still sounds like,  yes, ACDC… But they reference the band themselves, cause it is the best way to explain what kind of music they make. Cause The Angels, Rose Tattoo and Billy Thorpe are just not that well known outside the big continent island… Are the boys approaching perfection with their fifth studio album Boneshaker? Hell no, and that’s just the way we like it. Ten tracks filled to the absolute max with pure and unadulterated hardrock. It is once again highly energetic, thanks to those ballsy riffs, stampeding drums and scream along choruses. And all that in only half an hour! A few brilliant moments with anthems like Burnout The Nitro or Sex To go and a very warm, live sounding sound. Sweet stuff! And come on, there are always those late night drives or parties that are dying down that could use a big kick in the balls! And what better way to do that then to soundtrack the night away with Airbourne…

(Written by JK)

Homepage

Facebook

Megalith Levitation – Acid Doom Rites

Megalith Levitation – Acid Doom Rites

Addicted Label – 2019

 Doom, Sludge, Heavy Pysch

Rated: ****

Playing music that affects the heart as well as the head, Megalith Levitation mix up an alchemists brew of doom/stoner and heavy psych. Drones and riffs are cranked out at volume with a healthy abuse of fuzz boxes. With song passages and atmospheric interludes that have the cosmic feel that untested drugs can invoke, when the Sleep type riffs start to explode and morph into fucked up Spaceman 3 loops of trance inducing psychosis, you know you are on to a winner. Layered, distorted vocals are reverb drenched and put pretty low down in the mix, adding to the sense of strangeness that runs through the songs. This a is a fully formed statement of intent from a band that can truly claim to be forging ahead in the psych doom/stoner world. This is bong music of the highest order. Space is deep.

This is bong music of the highest order.

Space is deep.

(Written by Tony)

Bandcamp

Facebook

Colfax Speed Queen - Dirty Mirror

Colfax Speed Queen - Dirty Mirror

Self released - 2019

Garage rock, punk, surf

Rated: *****

Tearing out of the gate like a bat out of hell’s own basement party, Denver rockers Colfax Speed Queen bring the heat with a raucous mix of heavy garage rock, horror punk, and surf on their third LP Dirty Mirror. Built on a backbone of nonstop, rapid-fire drumming, the guitars buzz and crunch alongside eerie 80s synth to hammer home the band’s trademark frenetic, punkish energy and sly humor. Opening with the grinding and groovy “Buy It”, complemented by manic drum fills, the vocals are immediately shown to be one of Colfax Speed Queen’s key strengths. Reminiscent of All Them Witches in their deep resonance but with an added sneer, they spit venom with lines on commercialism and a quest to find some tasty hot sauce. The wry everyday humor runs throughout the album, a shining example of which is closer “Party’s Full”. After a tense and ominous buildup, hilarious and all too real tragedy strikes as the pursuit of some weekend lovin’ is thwarted by the bouncer’s cries of “party’s full, you can’t come in!” Alongside the excellent vocals, the guitars and synth sprint forward with relentless energy and more than a few curveballs, from the head bobbing bass and post punk feel of “Fuel Good”, to the growling surf riffs and squeals of instrumental “Spooky” and the whimsical ballad “Dreamers”. Another highlight, “667” is a driving instrumental of horror punk keys and pounding drums that demands to be played and terribly danced to in the sweatiest of bars. “Dirty Mirror” is a grimy, fun-loving shot of adrenaline that skillfully blends rock, punk, and surf into a sound that’ll have you grabbing the nearest cheap beer and joining the quest for a good time.

(Written by Kyle / Shastabeast)

Bandcamp

SoundCloud

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

The Whirlings – Earthshine

The Whirlings – Earthshine

Self-Released – 2019 (October 18th)

Doom, Post-Metal, Psych

Rated: ****

Italia: A 'vecchio amico' to half-a-century of mind-expanding sounds once again proffers the sweet fruits if its musical vines with Earthshine, the third release of L'Aquila band, The Whirlings. Earthshine captures the music of a band who have evolved through Psychedelia and Metal, honing a dramatic and all-encapsulating amalgam of Heavy Doom, Post-Metal and Dark Hallucinations that sweep, cajole, chastise and purify their way through the five pieces on offer. "Vacuum" opens with the delicate promise of warm reverb, drizzling into an electro - krautrock groover that has shades of Nina Hagen, winding down to a teeth-rattling doom closure. The groove continues unabated with 'Reverence', a funk rhythm underpinning smooth synths and gentle guitar echoes that gather momentum and tension to a crushing conclusion. The fluidity and dynamics of The Whirlings sound is most amply demonstrated on the closing epic, "Lost In Without": a brutal, beautiful and bold demonstration of a band at their zenith, ultimately creating a work that easily stands shoulder-to-shoulder with counterparts Ufomammut - Stunning!

(Written by Reek of STOOM)

Bandcamp

Facebook

Stoner HiVe’s Top 5 artists listened to last week…

Stoner HiVe’s

Top 5 artists listened to last week…

Desert Sessions Vol 11  / 12

Ancient Cities

Jangar

Dead Sun Rising

Kadavar

Just a quick Top 5, cause we are in a very annoying hurry… And hey, the new edition of the Doom Charts is around the corner… So, we shall be getting some righteous kicks in a few days!

Grim Earth - Stash of The Damned

Grim Earth - Stash of The Damned

Self released - 2019

Sludge, Doom, Stoner

Rated: ****

Stash of The Damned, the latest EP from Washington sludgers Grim Earth, is the musical equivalent of being buried alive and coughed back up. But you’re gonna enjoy it, dammit. The four-piece cut a bloody swathe over three tracks of doomed out sludge, caking Sabbathian riffs in grimy feedback and thick, murky noise. Between the thunderous hoofsteps of opener “Haunter”, the thrashy riffs and ear-shredding guitar whine of the second track (whose title one can only ponder in horror), and the low end roll of “Ruins”, Grim Earth offer no respite. A backbone of stoned, doomy riffs sets the foundation for waves of muddy distortion, which turn from sluggish to manically uptempo and back again. Case in point, after some manic thrashing, the final riff of “Ruins” kicks in with roughly the speed and weight of an elephant in a swamp. And that elephant ate all his elephant friends. Over all of this the screamed vocals serve as their own wall of gnarly distortion, topping off a perfectly filthy EP that promises great noise to come from these west coast madmen.

(Written by Kyle)

Bandcamp

Facebook

John J Presley – As The Night Draws In

John J Presley – As The Night Draws In

AWAL/BMG/Nica Recordings – 2019

Rock, Blues, Stoner, Dark, Doom, Noise, Fuzz

Rated: *****

When you notice the drummer from Phe buying a record from an artist who’s name rings a bell but for some reason you cannot immediately place, you’d better run to the store and check it out. And so we did! John J Presley is the name and even though the family name holds gravitas, the music on his debut album As The Night Draws In has even more weight, depth and darkness to it all. His story telling blues; is atavistic, poetic, dramatic and wild. The music meandering through the stoner landscape, the heavy rock scene and the doomy influences remind you of so much and so little altogether. It is different and yet it feels like a long lost heavy diamond by artists like Nick Cave, Mark Lanegan or David Eugene Edwards. There is so much brooding under the surface and even though there’s always that pregnant tension on every track; it also dissipates when the following arrives. At which point it starts again; either with loads of distortion, a massive amount of fuzz or some earth shattering noise. So incredibly soulful, so heavy and so loud, this is one hell of an debut album! An absolute must hear, for everyone out there...

(Written by JK)

Bandcamp

Facebook

Homepage

BMG

Awal

Antarticus - The Frozen Horror

Antarticus - The Frozen Horror

Stoneburner Records - 2019

Doom, Stoner, Progressive

Rated: *****

From the great white of the Yukon, the three daring warriors of Antarticus brave icy peril to deliver a slab of epic and crushing progressive stoner doom with EP The Frozen Horror. Telling a mesmerizing three-part tale of subzero danger, the trio are armed with 80s synths, Sabbath worship, and loads of atmosphere, with each track chronicling a different chapter both lyrically and musically. The excellent retro D&D cover is a good indicator of things to come, as the title track opens with laser beam synths before diving into low and slow Sabbathian doom and churning High on Fire-inspired riffs. Respite from the aural assault is given only by an eerie synth interlude, immersing the listener in the snowy pursuit by some unnamed terror. No “Refuge” is to be found in the standout second track, however, which is a treasure trove of metallic riffs that build up nearly overwhelming tension amid Fu Manchu-styled vocals. After a madman drum fill, a truly evil riff snakes in before lead weighted doom takes over. The track is downright smothered in atmosphere, and is a chilling joy to listen to. Emerging from meager shelter to complete the journey, closing number “Thaw” is a nine and a half minute epic of headnodding crunch and wild drums that follows the daring warriors to world’s end. Minimal, eerie guitars hint at danger, and the journey comes to a morbid end with lumbering low end and haunting shrieks. The Frozen Horror is an extremely impressive accomplishment of an EP, as Antarticus use musicianship and storytelling to play off one another and create an epic, menacing experience that’s as bone-crushing as it is captivating.

(Written by Kyle)

Bandcamp

Facebook

Nightstalker - Great Hallucinations

Nightstalker - Great Hallucinations

Heavy Psych Sounds Records - 2019

Stoner Rock, Psych

Rated: ****

Stalwarts and leaders of the Greek heavy scene for over two decades, Nightstalker return with their sixth LP Great Hallucinations and prove once again their well-earned reputation. Invoking hazy vocal hooks, mastery of groove, and a combination of warm tone and thick crunch, the quartet provide an unquestionably professional album of classic, psych-tinged stoner rock from start to finish. Over constantly tight, driving drumming, the riffs bounce with grainy fuzz and booming low end, perfectly mixed with catchy Ozzy-esque vocals. Starting with the adrenaline rush of rocking opener “Black Cloud”, Nightstalker show impressive range with the slower, at times delicate “Sweet Knife” followed by the standout slinking, sexy groove of “Sad Side of the City”, the riffs punctuated by thunderous stop-start bass before morphing into soaring guitar. And oh, that bass. Clear and full in the mix, the toe-tapping bass lines bring heaps of groove perfectly in sync with the fluid drumming, which moves between subdued cymbal play and lightning fast fills across the eight tracks. “Hole in the Mirror”, another album highlight, pulls from the best of the previous tracks with a warm, shimmering intro into molten guitar, eventually shifting from languid psych to rolling low end crunch. Showing off the songwriting skills developed over their decades-long tenure, Nightstalker deliver a hip-shaking masterclass in psychedelic stoner rock with Great Hallucinations, laying down groove upon fuzzy groove with style to spare.

(Written by Kyle)

Bandcamp

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Youtube

Heavy Psych Sounds

Stoner HiVe’s Top 5 artists listened to last week…

Stoner HiVe’s

Top 5 artists listened to last week…

Mutant Scum

Mammuten

Sons of Alpha Centauri

Dope Default

Cosmos

We haven’t done the list of most listened to artists during the past week for a while. We just never got to it. Or were swamped with other stuff on the Monday… So, here it is, a simple and quick Top 5 of Most Listened to Artists the past week. And guess what, Reek of STOOM has been talking about his musical week on the Doomed & Stoned. So check out the A Week of STOOM segment on Doomed & Stoned and check out the Five awesome releases above… And then you’ll have all the music you can handle on a Monday!

Psychotropic Swamp - Coitus Interruptus

Psychotropic Swamp - Coitus Interruptus

Self released - 2019

Blues, Rock, Psych

Rated: ****

From Barcelona, Spain, quartet Psychotropic Swamp make no effort to hide their love of the classic blues on debut LP Coitus Interruptus, and that passion elevates their music beyond any risk of run-of-the-mill retro posturing. Stripped down but never dull, the band flow through nine songs of bluesy groove, taking inspiration from the classics of old while adding touches of Hispanic guitar and Floydian atmospherics. Made clear from the start, however, is that this is a guitar-driven record, and the onslaught of bluesy licks and emotive solos leaves no doubt as to axeman’s credentials. Flowing easily between the lysergic, floating buildup in opener “Coitus”, the ZZ Top-inspired groovy riffing of catchy rocker “Nothing”, and the Santana stylings of “Going down”, the guitar is both soulful and driving, switching between moods with ease. Particular highlights are “Judgement day” with its western rhythm straight out of a dusty old cowboy flick, and “Glass dome”, a languid and truly beautiful cut with haunting, echoing guitar that goes straight for the gut. To top it all off is solo after solo after solo, always complementing the song while being just flashy enough, of which “Mothership” is an especially fiery example. Not to be completely overshadowed by the guitar, however, the rhythm section serves up consistently tight, smooth grooves with in-the-pocket drumming while the vocals easily match and amplify the instrumentation’s various moods. Coitus Interruptus is both a loyal and innovative take on the classic blues rock of the 70s, and the warm, familiar sound is an old friend with a few pleasant surprises up their sleeve.

(Written by Kyle)

Bandcamp

Facebook

Instagram

Lingua Ignota – Caligula

Lingua Ignota – Caligula

Sargent House/Profound Lore – 2019

Industrial, Noise, Doom, Darkwave

Rated: ***

I was sort of amazed at the limited amount of attention Caligula by Lingua Ignota was receiving from the neighboring blogs and sites. On the other hand it was only logical. For when I heard a colleague compare her and her new album’s sound to Anna Von Hausswolff rolled up in barbwire and dropped from a few flights of stairs, I Immediately understood, this isn’t for everybody. But then again, the sweet and lovely lady behind the Lingua Ignota moniker has never been catering to every soul around the globe. She is known for her dark, desperate, beautiful and chilling poetry. Other names my colleague dropped were Kate Bush mixed with Amanda Palmer; and I could not agree more. She can sing absolutely gorgeous and also use her voice as a paint remover that not only strips the walls perfectly clean but also makes your ears bleed. Harrowing and painful! An impressive piece of art that can definitely not be qualified as easy or background, this can only be digested pure, raw and with full attention. Even though it might cause you horrific nightmares…

(Written by JK)

Bandcamp

Facebook

Profound Lore

Sargent House

Howling Giant – The Space Between Worlds

Howling Giant – The Space Between Worlds

Blues Funeral Recordings – 2019

Stoner Rock, Progressive, Psych

Rated: ****

A true sci-fi epic, Howling Giant’s 'first' LP The Space Between Worlds is a concept album that sees its three intrepid heroes soaring through the cosmos, crossing dimensions, and meeting face-shredding doomsday machines while masterfully wielding their weapons of choice. I first encountered the Nashville, Tennessee trio at a local bare-bones brewery show, and was immediately blown away by their ambitious stoned prog sound as they flew through epic, complex pieces while still managing to be a fun and energetic live act. After a series of excellent EPs, the boys have graced us with a proper full-length, and it more than meets expectations. Howling Giant bring their signature progressive, soaring-yet-crunchy sound to bear, balancing epic and at times serene guitarwork with crunching stoner riffs, thundering low end, and the always impressive lightning fast drum work. A strong point for the band, the catchy shared vocals shine through as well and add a layer of melancholy alongside the imaginative storytelling. From the swirling keys and madman drumming of opener “Comet Rider”, the trio grab your attention and refuse to let go or be pigeon holed. Tracks shift from the piercing, winding riffs of “Nomad”, to the pastoral acoustic strumming on “Ghosts in The Well”, and the metallic, driving thunder of the finale of “Ice Castle”. Standout track “Cybermancer and the Doomsday Express” is a true epic that blends earworm, at times punky vocals with a head-nodding groove and epic sci-fi solo. As they so aptly put from their computer-plugged brains on the Doomsday Express, “it’s better to explore than fade away”, and Howling Giant live that credo, pushing the progressive boundaries of stoner rock and having a damn good time doing it.

(Written by Kyle)

Bandcamp

Facebook

Blues Funeral Recordings

Mutant Scum – Mutant Scum

Mutant Scum – Mutant Scum

Handstand Records – 2019

Rock, Punk, Metal, Stoner, Sludge, Core

Rated: ****

Smelly, filthy and absolute gore. That was just the impression we had before going into the self-titled Mutant Scum release. Then came the rumbling, the rolling drums, taking us deep underground into the sewage where they dwell. Sure, this is noisy and punky and hardcore-ish… But there is so much based on hardrock rhythms that you immediately feel that stoner and sludgy under current. After which come the metallic noises, the heavy metal as we all fell in love with back in the eighties. Never once sticking to just one of those genres; the Mutant Scum are one contaminated melting cesspool of influences. Are we fan of the growls, howls and screams; not particularly, but they do fit well with this kind of gritty and guttural putrescence. And then comes ‘Scabpicker’… If there ever was a song that reminds you of good old Karma To Burn this will be it… There are many high points, but ‘Cesium-137’ is certainly one of them! So let’s sum it up: rock, metal, stoner, sludge, punk, hardcore and a whole lot of attitude!

(Written by JK)

Homepage

Bandcamp

Facebook

Handstand Records

Ethereal Riffian – Legends

Ethereal Riffian – Legends

Robustfellow Prods. – 2019

Stoner Rock, Doom, Psych

Rated: ****

Ethereal Riffian’s latest LP, Legends, is a Sabbath-worshipping, full throttle rocker, and signals a shift from the lumbering doom of the Kiev, Ukraine fourpiece’s previous outings. The middle eastern effects and meditative quality of Ethereal Riffian’s past music remains, but for the most part the name of the game is riffs, riffs, and more riffs. Starting things off with a deceptively delicate but creepy intro of guitar and keys on “Sage’s Alchemy”, there’s an undercurrent of tension to the mysticism. It quickly gives way to the Sabbathy bounce and crash of “Born Again”, and the riff fest begins. On top of the razor guitar tone, a mix of clean and altered vocals soar and sneer, bringing an anthemic quality to the album that makes Legends sound absolutely massive. Guitar heroics abound as well, and Rage Against the Machine-inspired effects and wah turn the title track and standout cut “Moonflower” into barnburners. The album truly shines, however, when Ethereal Riffian’s mystical (see excellent bonus track “Yeti’s Hide”) and more rocking sensibilities are combined, such as the tribal drums and eerie, weaving guitar on “Moonflower” leading into a start-stop guitar attack, or the shamanic vocals of “Ethereal Path” and the chimes placed amid shredding solos toward the song’s end. Across its ten tracks, Legends is an impressive melting pot that is as cerebral as it is fist-pumping, and leaves the possibilities wide open for whatever path Ethereal Riffian take next.

(Written by Kyle)

Bandcamp

Facebook

RobustFellow

Doomed & Stoned in England – The Lost Tribes

Doomed & Stoned in England – The Lost Tribes

Following up on the monstrous collection that was Doomed and Stoned in England, the Hive’s very own Reek of STOOM graces us with yet more English heavy with Doomed and Stoned in England: The Lost Tribes, out October 1st! He’s dug up even more excellent music from the edges of the underground, and this latest Doomed and Stoned comp spans the country, from the shores of Brighton to Liverpool, and across the Irish Sea to Banbridge. Including exclusive music from LITMUS and new releases from Cold in Berlin, Gévaudan, Under, and Gryflet, across 40 killer bands Reek maps a journey that flows through our favorite sounds, ebbing between intensities and genres. GURT kick things off with a bang as only they can, followed by more doom and gloom that morphs to the stoner rock of Orphan Gears and Trevor’s Head, before settling into the trippy space vibes of Earthling Society and LITMUS. While still keeping it weird, Under ratchets up the intensity, and the sludge onslaught continues through Voidlurker. Pulling back on the throttle but darkening the mood, Hundred Year Old Man ushers in some epic doom with Gevaudan and The Hyenda Kill, building up to the absolutely crushing sludge of A Horse Called War and Drore. Respite comes in the psychedelic grooves of Gryflet and The Green Ray, however, before a fittingly grand end to it all in the form of two long cuts. At almost 19 minutes, DOEM’s “The Nail” is the definition of low and slow, a sledgehammer that makes the sprawling psyched-out payoff of Stubb’s “Burning Moon” that much sweeter of an end to the journey. The newest Doomed and Stoned reaches across the extremes of England’s underground, and you’re lying if you don’t come away with at least a handful of new favorites.

(Written by Kyle)

Doomed & Stoned in England – The Lost Tribes

(A map, guiding you across the isle to all The Lost Tribes locations...)

Big Scenic Nowhere – Dying on the Mountain

Big Scenic Nowhere – Dying on the Mountain

Blues Funeral Recordings – 2019

Stoner, Psych, Prog

Rated: ****

Just when you thought the days of the Supergroup were over, along comes one with a veritable Honor Roll of legend and influence - indeed, the musicians at work here not only shaped the Stoner movement and all that followed, they also inspired a generation to think outside the confines of the Metal genre and re-discover that 70's spirit of experimentation. Dying On The Mountain follows a similar vein of exploration that Elder tapped into... An excursion without any preconceived thought to the members' past outings. Weighing in at just over the 20 minute mark,  the title track flows with the easy energy of a band who are both familiar and comfortable with each other's styles: That instantly - recognizable Nick Oliveri bassline rumbling and tumbling through mescaline-like distortions of Bob Balch & Gary Arce's guitars, puncturing the drifting backdrops of Per Wiberg and Tony Reed's keyboard wizardry. Dying On The Mountain's three parts move from slo-burn Psychedelia, through lush choral sections into an ultimate Heavy assault at the finale. Second track, "Towards The Sun" heralds back to the members' Glories of Old - Heavy, trippy, slightly dark in places, it thunders along with a relentless doomed rhythm that captures the soul. Big Scenic Nowhere have done what few 'Supergroups' have done before - created a work that is intelligent, exciting and as full of the same Stoner spirit from its practitioners as they had at the beginning. It's good to have you back folks... It's been a long, strange trip...

(Written by Reek of STOOM)

(Also featuring Mario Lalli, Bill Stinson, Jim Monroe, Thomas Jäger, Lisa Alley and Ian Graham. During those sessions Alain Johannes also joined in and on January 31st a new album shall be released through Heavy Psych Sounds entitled: Vision Beyond Horizon. Go hear the first single 'The Glim'.)

Facebook

Blues Funeral Recordings

Problem With Dragons - Ascendant

Problem With Dragons - Ascendant

Global Zero Records - 2019

Sludge, Doom, Progressive

Rated: ****

It’s unclear exactly what the titular problem is, but by the sounds of it I pity the Smaug that Problem With Dragons takes issue with. Bringing to bear shared vocals, absolutely filthy guitar tones, and sledgehammer drumming on their third album Ascendant, the Easthampton, Massachusetts trio are armed to the teeth with a mix of sludge, doom, and progressive rock touches that crushes in both its weight and mood. Built on the foundation of relentless kit-smashing drums, the riffs are thick and caked in dirty tone, reminiscent of Vokonis or a slower High on Fire in their circular, winding patterns. The vocals are less straightforward, however, and see the band members sharing vocal duties that range between throaty growls and sustained cries a la Mastodon or Conan, adding a depth of haunting emotion to the sludgy instrumentation. This all combines to create a signature sound that shifts across the LP’s ten tracks between the straight-ahead buzzsaw riffs of opener “The Omicron”, hooky rocker “The Reptilian Eye”, and Alice in Chains/High on Fire hybrid “The Ascendant”. Problem With Dragons’ third release is a sludgy, doomed behemoth of an album, wielding crushing weight and dynamic vocal performances to fell foul beasts and puny eardrums alike.

(Written by Kyle)

Bandcamp

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Apple Music

Global Zero Records

Monomyth – Orbis Quadrantis

Monomyth – Orbis Quadrantis

Suburban – 2019

Rock, Space, Kraut, Psych

Rated: *****

It came like a thunderclap back in 2016 when the Monomyth five released a statement that their cosmic epic of heroism in three parts was finished. But luckily the crazies decided there was still enough to discover in the world of rocking trance, psychedelic storms and everything beautiful about space and kraut rock. Cause the new Orbis Quadrantis is in many ways another majestic and wide-spun piece of gold. This time however they go about it more cautious, more defined as if they wanted to execute everything with extreme precision. As the layers amass and the sound quadruples you can still hear every little minute detail. And above all; Monomyth remains highly hypnotic, mystical and transcendent…

(Written by JK)

Homepage

Bandcamp

Facebook

Suburban

(The blurb as it was written for the Doom Charts, where Monomyth new record reached the 19th position. Check out the other releases on the list as well... They're all freakin good!)

The Doom Chart for September 2019

Doom Chart

    “Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.” ~ Frank Zappa

This month the Doom Charts theme is progression. Not in a literal sense, but as Mr. Zappa says above, deviation from the norm. Norm being popular music and trends that we see getting attention in mainstream culture. The Doom Charts aren’t here to compete with the billboards, in fact we are just music nuts who generally deviate from the herd to form our own tastes regardless of what others may think. I think the running tally of bands scoring in the top 25 are proof of that and even the bands on here themselves are progressing as bands and not settling on putting out the same record year over year. That is why we love the heavy music community so much. We’re all here for the music and marching to the beat of our own drum or, better put, our favorite band’s drums…

Sir Bucky delivered those intro goods this month and he was right on the money once again. Although one might ofcourse conclude that because the Doom Charts are growing and the crazy herd is getting bigger, the choices become more obvious to those in the know. And you should count yourself luck in that case. You already know. And you already know there is even more out there… Cause yes, it’s a given, if you wallow like a lovely pig in the niche of some fly infested mudbath where only a few dare to venture, you will know more about that little pool of despair than everybody else. So you will know the even more obscure yet possibly better albums. So, feast your ears on the ones you do not yet know, dry out the mud in the blazing sun while listening to all those albums that made the Doom Charts this month… And if you know them all, even better… You will have time to go on discovering even more!

Cause, exactly 287 albums received votes this month from the contributors and the Top 25 of those are posted... No less than Nine of my picks made the final 25 this time around... That actually never happens... But I'm extremely glad to see Howling Giant, Goatess, Vokonis, The Black Wizards, Horseburner, Saturna, Mars Red Sky, Monomyth & Planet of the 8s made the list... And shit, I'm just as excited for all the others... Gonna have those on the playlist first, cause there are even a few I did not get a chance to hear yet... Damn, I love those Doom Charts! Especially when they bring that unknown musical magic to my doorstep!

Welcome to Doom Charts, representing some of the finest bloggers, journalists, radio, podcasters and album reviewers from the heavy underground around the globe.  Each month, our critics submit their picks for the best new doom, sludge metal, stoner-psychedelic and heavy rock albums.  The results are compiled and tabulated into the chart below.  This is a one-stop shop for the best new albums in the world…

The Doom Chart for September 2019

Tentacula – Tentaculove

Tentacula – Tentaculove

StoneFree Records – 2019

Doom, Surf, Garage, Psych

Rated: ****

Joining the ranks of what’s become a new wave of heavy from Austria, the Linz-based five-piece Tentacula bring their own unique and captivating new spin on doom with their debut EP Tentaculove. Two elements of the band’s sound stand out immediately – the guitar tone’s surf reverb, and vocalist Penny Slick Perry’s deep, operatic wails. A genre rarely associated with the low and slow doom we know and love, the surf rock tones add an unexpected but very welcome layer to Tentacula’s sound, creating occultish vibes and a middle eastern flavor that complement their weighted garage doom perfectly. Lead track “It’s only a dream” showcases this unique sound right out of the gate, and is soon elevated when the striking vocals takeover to amp up the spooky vibes. Additional male backing vocals that wouldn’t be out of place in a stormy sea shanty join the proceedings as well, adding to an atmosphere of danger. Building naturally from the mix of sounds in “It’s only a dream”, Tentacula put their expansive bag of tricks on display across the five remaining tracks, ranging from the crushing low end doom of “Liquid Thunder” (a personal favorite) to the black metal leanings of “Stoked” and the aptly-titled surfy fun of closer “Weirdo”. Across it all, Penny’s voice creeps and soars with attitude to spare, fully capable of leading a ritual from your most tentacled of nightmares. Going far beyond pure novelty, Tentacula have crafted a complex debut of surf-toned heavy that plays with a number of influences, and succeed in highlighting and mixing them to spawn Dick Dale’s unholy doom child.

(Written by Kyle)

Bandcamp

Facebook

Instagram

StoneFree Records

Casual Burn – Mean Thing

Casual Burn – Mean Thing

Handstand Records – 2019

Rock, Punk, Noise, Surf, Garage, Post

Rated: ****

Surf’s up today! Upon returning from a damn great surf holiday in Portugal we found a couple of vinyl albums waiting for us. Some we had expected, some we did not. Casual Burn’s debut vinyl release Mean Thing was one of them. Main man Will Cole from Handstand Records had taken it upon himself to send that one over in great form. And what a treat it is! With just enough surfey undertones it transported me right back to the surf and skate adventures of Ericeira Portugal. It’s garage and it’s punk and it has an eighties almost wave like vibe that will have you bopping your head within seconds. There is this highly lovable and ramshackle aspect to it all, especially on the moments when they go berserk and freak out. Fuzzy and wild! Raw and gritty! O’ and those vocals… Monet Maloof sounds casual yet intense, psychotic yet aloof, and for some strange and possible weird reason it whirls around in your head until it can’t get out anymore! Damn! This is one mean addictive thing!

(Written by JK)

Bandcamp

Facebook

Handstand Records

Wallace Vanborn – From A To Yellow

Wallace Vanborn – From A To Yellow

We love Wallace Vanborn. We loved them before they went to Rancho De La Luna to record  The Orb We Absorb with the help from Chris Goss. And we loved them even more after that! And we are on the very of falling in love with their manager as well. Just take a look at the new video for the first single From A To Yellow taken from the upcoming fourth album A Scalp For The Tribe. Yes. It’s him. The legendary Iven Deduytschaver… Hugs and kisses!

Soundcloud

Facebook

Back from Portugal

Back from Portugal

And there we are again... Back from surfing along the coast of Portugal. Stopping off at all the beaches near Ericeira and Peniche... Making friends with the awesome Waterlost guys... Catching some of the pro's at work during their 2019 EDP Billabong Pro Ericeira... (See video below) Congratulations Samuel Pupo! It was good! All good! Or almost... No shark bites; but my left foot does look like a pin cushion thanks to a sea urchin that was having a bad day... 

We hope we are back just in time to cast our vote for the new Doom Charts, which will be out again soon. We will have to work through an amazing amount of emails and messages; but hope to do some HiVing real soon… Cause thanks to Tony, Reek of STOOM & Kyle there are already a bunch of reviews waiting to be put up!  It’s always intensely bittersweet, leaving all that sun, heat and water behind…We hope to return there again soon!

Let’s get ready to rumble…