Lamassu – Made of Dust

 

 

Lamassu – Made of Dust
Self-released – 2023
Rock, Grunge, Stoner, Alternative, Doom
Rated: ****

“Exploring themes of death, loneliness, greed, failure, and redemption, ‘Made of Dust’ is sonically vast; from deep, heavy riffs, to moments of quiet introspection and soaring vocal harmonies, all complimented with brooding and thoughtful lyricism.” When a band knows so perfectly how to describe their own album, you know it’s been a labor of love, of commitment and of absolute necessity. For that is exactly what Made Of Dust, the new Lamassu album sounds like. The Melbourne, Australian four deliver their new full-sized album with a zealous energy and intent. And show once again that the lockdown period wasn’t all bad at all. In fact, going through the eleven track Made Of Dust record shows that some turned their imposed solidarity into an echo paradise. Mostly written during the pandemic, the band shot ideas and rough demos back and forth before committing to finalizing them after the lockdown ended. The result are nine dense and dirty tracks and two interludes that feel like they are used to bite back into what came before. In all you get 1 hour and 8 minutes full of intense grunge, stonerrock, alternative rock and all with this doom inspired toning. Heavy on all fronts. Listening to the album, you can’t forgo the definite influences of both Soundgarden and Jerry Cantrell, in phrasing, color and rhythm choices. Never turning them into anything other than Lamassu however, it’s simply there and offers that more insight into how the band grew together as they worked on these songs. It is kind of easy to single out third track Shit Town, Misery as a favorite, but that would miss the excellent lead up to this relatively faster track. For even though opening track Battle Cry makes the Lamassu intentions known from the start, there is a bit of a wavering delivery … or so it might feel. But as you will find as Washed Away commences, this seems deliberate to make that second track and its returning guitar lines, feel so intricate, dense, and swirling. Which, by the end of that track will feel like you are slowly syphoned off into a maelstrom. The punch and pounce delivery of Shit Town, Misery is therefor extra powerful and mammoth, but also feels like a lifeline towards an unsafe shore. Where you will not be able to sit and rest for long, cause the rest of the album is filled with more genius songs that even though they are mostly in the same tempo, feel exciting and dangerous. And yes, part of that is without any doubt, the voice of Chris Fisher, that serves as the great connector. Well, together with the overall sound, which is dark, compact, sorrowful, and introspective. The most surprising part of the album is perhaps the fact that this more than an hour long heavy and intense record, has me returning to it over and over again, longing to submerge myself in this world of dust…

(Written by JK)

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Pyre Fyre - Pyre Fyre

 

 

Pyre Fyre - Pyre Fyre
Self-released - June 2023
Rock, Punk, Psych, Blues, Stoner
Rated: ****

After winning ears with a handful of singles and the excellent double "Rinky Dink City/ Slow Cookin'", New Jersey fuzz rock trio Pyre Fyre climb the mountain and grace us with their self-titled debut LP. DIY lo-fi and scuzzy riffs are the name of the game, but this is no straight-ahead punk operation. Pyre Fyre are working with a grab bag of heavy influences and a dash of avant-garde nuance, and across seven tracks meld it all into a chameleon of an album that retains an essential frenetic energy throughout. Wasting no time in lighting the fuse, the gang open with a short rush of punky surf rock in "Hypnotized", showcasing throaty wildman vocals and an ability to absolutely crush with dense fuzz. Gears then quickly switch to a more stoner-doom angle with following track "Flood Zone" that's all mid-tempo lurch and crash, with a jagged riff led by tumbling drums and meaty distortion. Undaunted, Pyre Fyre flip the script and proceed to shed their skin once again on third and highlight cut "Wyld Ryde". A whyte hot boogie with driving drums, "Wyld Ryde" is an adrenaline shot of upbeat retro groove, and it's no stretch of the imagination to picture it as a future favorite with live audiences. Without spoiling the rest of the album, Pyre Fyre manage to mix in some Soundgarden riffage, abrasive Melvins bludgeoning, and even some low and slow blues to round out their seven tracks of singular heavy rock. In less capable hands such a mix of sounds could spell trouble for a band, but these Jersey boys criss-cross between styles with ease, all the while staying united by a well-fuzzed and relentless train-off-the-tracks energy that is unmistakably Pyre Fyre.

(Written by Kyle SB / Shastabeast)

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We Kill Cowboys - Pink Codeine

 

 

We Kill Cowboys - Pink Codeine

Out since early June, that wild single and video Pink Codeine by psychedelic punk rockers We Kill Cowboys. We got lucky when we got to premiere their Earth Demon video back in April, thanks to Mongrel Records. And this one is pure psychedelic punk fire! Incredibly catchy, and with a definite groove. Check out this Pink Codeine!  

Get ready to embrace a mind-altering journey into the realm of Psychedelic Punk Rock as We Kill Cowboys unveils their new single and accompanying music video. With their signature blend of raw energy, psychedelic aesthetics, and rebellious spirit, this boundary-pushing band is poised to ignite a revolution in the South African heavy music scene.

The track, Pink Codeine is a sonic explosion that transports listeners to a heightened state of consciousness. Seamlessly merging searing guitar riffs, pulsating rhythms, and ethereal vocals, the single encapsulates the essence of the band's unique sound. We Kill Cowboys has built a reputation for their high-octane live performances, captivating audiences with their electrifying stage presence and infectious energy. With their new single and music video, they continue to push the boundaries of creativity and deliver a sonic punch that resonates deep within the soul.

Commenting on the release lead vocalist Alex Muller expressed, “It was inspired by my struggles with addiction years back. Thinking about the psychological dance that you go through, more so than the physical addiction of a substance. Then it also ties into my thoughts around the ego and the true self and being able to wake up to what your truth really is.” “This song is more of an observation, a sharing of life experience. I think anyone could relate to it and let it speak to them in the way it needs to for that individual… I guess the message is that it’s never too late to wake up to stop hiding from yourself.” She adds.

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Royal Thunder – Rebuilding The Mountain

 

 

Royal Thunder – Rebuilding The Mountain
Spinefarm Records – 2023
Rock, Stoner, Seventies, Psych, Hard, Prog
Rated: *****

We never neglected to mention a new release by Royal Thunder. Which is perfectly logical, since we absolutely adore their sound and love almost everything they put out. (They even reached the Number Eight spot of the Stoner HiVe Top 20 Countdown of 2012 according to your votes with CVI and Number Twenty with Wick in 2017.) And their brand-new album Rebuilding The Mountain cements that devotion even further. The Royal Thunder comes in three-form nowadays, drummer Evan Diprima who left on good terms back in 2018, returned a few years later because he could not live without the band, just like the rest of us. But guitar player Will Fiore has left. So, Diprima, together with guitarist Josh Weaver and bassist and highly recognizable vocalist Mlny Parsonz, went forth to rebuild their sound by creating their new ten track album Rebuilding The Mountain. It’s their fourth official full-sized album and it’s a way for them to not only rebuild the band but rebuild their life as well. All three of them suffered from seeing their life spiral out of control and fall apart, in their own various ways. But the three have found each other and what they can do together again, and these forty minutes of pristine heavy rock is a testament to that fact. Royal Thunder means earthshattering power, lightning strikes of wild energy and a pure untamable life force. But it also means grace, elegance, and poise. And the way the three manage to use all these aspects in a perfectly balanced way, is what makes Royal Thunder so very special. That, and of course that amazing voice of Mlny Parsonz. A throat grabbing, raw, bluesy, electrifying, and soulful voice that manages to convey whatever emotion it wants as well as making concrete walls extend outwards with pure force. Mlny Parsonz, seems to be able to do it all and does it with a distinct and very own color in her voice. Even though a lot was written during the pandemic, sending each other part by part, it was recorded live in the studio. The forty minutes speed by, even though most of the record is delivered in a mid-tempo romp. Simply due to the fact that all tracks have this special something to them, that gives them their own identity, while keeping the entire record going in the same color and character. Drag Me opens the ball, with the slow build up at first, a gradual build up follows and then moves to a faster later half, showing off a lot of what they distill during the course of the following tracks. The way this opener works towards the climax, so poised and nuanced, is brilliance put to music. It’s the first of ten tracks, all of which have this uncanny ability to make you feel like you are disappearing into them, lyrics filled with wonderment, desire, pain, and lost calls for help. Live To Live, opening with beautiful almost serene guitar work, followed by an amazing solo by Weaver later on, and what sounds like a ventilator slowly dispelling the air around the notes. And once again, that voice, steering ever more towards this crystal clear and restrained vocalization as the track goes on and winds down. Showing off she does not scare away from using that more fragile side of hers now. Which is another thing the other two seems to excel at, this time around as well; for the grace and elegance portrait by both drums and guitar; often shows this more daring less is more approach. Where earlier songs used to display the more is more attitude. And this is more Royal Thunder whatever way you choose to look at it. We had to wait six years for this and perhaps they all had to go through all that hardship and tribulation they had to go through, perhaps showing once again that sometimes pain and strife is needed to get those diamonds out, that those trials pressurize into amazing art. Rebuilding The Mountain, sounds like a trio that is committed to reaching the summit…    

(Written by JK)

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Wick - review

Crooked Doors - review

CVI - review

Najing - Nerocolore

 

 

Najing – Nerocolore

The first single and video for their debut album Najing. It’s Najing from Italy and the three piece is releasing said debut album through Argonauta Records. And spoiler alert, for those who follow the Doom Charts, you might want to check out the site this Friday. Grin! But it isn't Friday yet, so let's check out the video below!

The trio marries their instrumental post rock, with doom, metal and psychedelic touches and turn their sound into a dark cavern, where moments of fluid quiet and watery stillness are disrupted by heavy landslides and cave ins. Najing, thundering, loud and wild... before the calm...

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Bandcamp Codes - Nepaal – Protoaeolianism

 

Bandcamp Codes 

Nepaal – Protoaeolianism

Psychedelic Source Records is the perfect source for finding all that heavy psychedelic stuff, the weird freak out and the kraut that goes the way of garage. We love the label and the collective that has been rocking out under the name Nepaal ! Or as our very own Reek of STOOM stated:

“Immense, radiating Psychedelia brimming with Hawks/Kanaan/OSC influences through three extebded lysergic explosions!”

And today we are honored to hand out a handful of codes for their Protoaeolianism album! Turning all that psych and kraut into one wild space rock adventure! Once played, you will be traveling every way through time and space and you will find yourself returning over and over again to the beginning of the end and the end of the beginning and the other way around…

Codes:

jc4k-c626
6ssu-xgxk
z4hd-j3j8
zecc-6s92
y6hc-y4gh
3zc4-bmrv
wtj4-wzw9
pkgh-cglt
83kh-wbvb
tdzp-cwzw
hksy-b94s
h3q3-x9jd
hd8l-jt9c

REDEEM HERE

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Stoner HiVe’s Top 10 Most Listened Artists Last Week…

 

 

Stoner HiVe’s
Top 10 Most Listened Artists Last Week…

Hypnosaur
Lamassu
Queens Of The Stone Age
Delco Detention
Royal Thunder
Love Your Witch
Burning Birds
Tier
Dead Shaman
Godless Descent

Another week in the books, another week where we once again had to come to grips with live after Festivals… I love Festivals so much, it always pains we when the end. Even the massive ones like Pinkpop. Luckily, there are more on the horizon! Ho ho ho!

Bandcamp Codes - Faerie Ring – Weary Traveler

 

 

Bandcamp Codes

Faerie Ring – Weary Traveler

The new Faerie Ring album Weary Traveler was released in April on the cool King Volume Records and wicked Wiseblood Records. And we managed to write a few words of praise about it early May. You can read that HERE. But we can give the gist right here with only a few words, it’s good, it’s a quest, for something righteous in the way of metal. The classic kind and the album should become a classic! For it is timeless and memorable… And why do we sing theses praises again today… We’ve got a few codes to hand out! Ten codes for the lucky ten… Grab one and give some love to Faerie Ring!

Codes:

ndub-vsyr
5j5m-gd2l
bg79-ulwj
w2wu-ejdy
pmjv-uysr
8b9r-juhd
2d2w-gpqc
7943-38by
v3sl-hnlf
9vq4-vava

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Wiseblood Records

Hypnosaur – Doomsday

 

 

Hypnosaur – Doomsday
Revenge Of The Bat Records – 2022
Rock, Stoner, Punk, Seventies, Nineties
Rated: ****

I love being completely surprised by a band and an album when you put the needle on the vinyl for the very first spin. And we were thoroughly startled by our first moments of the Doomsday record. We had not expected Hypnosaur to come bursting out of the gates like a Ghost inspired, you know, imploring as much Abba as Blue Oyster Cult influences into your heavy music as possible, kind of band. But title track Doomsday is just that, grand gestures, giant orchestration, and gigantic hooks. Infusing that early Ghost sound, with what Ghost turned to themselves as well lately, namely the very best eighties rock and metal had to offer. And then those little guitar fills and drum parts, flourishes with all the bells (even literally) and whistles. What an opening track! Founded in Warsaw around 2017, Hypnosaur is made up out of four highly accomplished musicians, so it seems, especially since they then follow the opening track with this fast driving, high energy, stonerrock and nineties alternative track called The Hole. Showing these two sides of Hypnosaur this fast, opens up the entire record for even more poppy punk songs like On The Run (Bang Bang) or catchy radio friendly, highly melodic rock in Desert Tornado and something slow and psychedelic called Follow / Shadow. Heart of Stone seems inspired by the roads The Cult or Velvet Revolver might choose for a song. Final tenth track Huisuke is an instrumental, danceable, keys driven rock track that once again showcases the variety these four cats can excel at. But after learning they already earned their rock spurs with bands like Jane Doe, Saint Hex, Toxxxik Flash and The Assblasters it becomes obvious that the Hypnosaur four will have no trouble pulling off whatever rock route they choose. One does come to the conclusion after having the Doomsday album on repeat for a week or two, that those tracks that remind you of that Ghost sound, do sound best. And therefore, title track Doomsday and They Come Out At Night will definitely be our favorites. But ever so often you need some filthy, fast paced rock, and then you can turn to Godfucker and speed your car towards the horizon… On our way to some future Doomsday!

(Written by JK)

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Froglord – Sons Of Froglord

 

 

Froglord – Sons Of Froglord
Self released – 2023
Rock, Stoner, Metal, Blues
Rated: ***

I am doomed to remember which year it actually was, not because my memory is necessarily shot or because time has been speeding up or because all time seems to have been morphing into one long period of weirdness, but because it feels like it was around that moment in history when time had stopped and the world stopped turning and we all thought this would be a watershed moment and society would never be the same afterwards. Indeed, ’twas during the pandemic when the Froglord came to me. Demanded my obedience and my aid in saving as much frogs as possible. We complied and since we can do little else, we just wrote a few lines about the Froglord’s 2021 album Save The Frogs. It was a one Frog operation, but ever since that time and the end of the pandemic, and releasing some more music, the Froglord has managed to surround himself with a few more amphibian freaks and turned his project into a quartet and his following into one big slimy bunch of crazies. The amount of releases on his bandcamp site is actually staggering and now, on July 7th it will house yet another full-sized album called Sons Of Froglord. No less than eleven swampy, dank, foggy, bluesy, and intensely groovy stonerrock tracks. Southern touches, metal moments, a bit of doom, a bit of psych and all inspired by that seventies era of rock. Indeed, Sons Of Froglord sports everything a heavy rock fiend could possibly need, and all done like they were jumping through the marshes. Indeed, Frogs that have come from the bayou, and in fact the final track is a Creedence Clearwater Revival cover of the Born On The Bayou track. And done in a very hot way!  We’re glad we helped save some frogs, cause if even one of them is now a member, we aided in a tiny and very minuscule way in the best Froglord album to date!

(Written by JK)

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Evert Snyman - Temporary Secretary

 

 

Evert Snyman - Temporary Secretary

It’s the first single for the upcoming covers album All Killer Filler by South African multi-instrumentalist Evert Snyman. The album will be out on July 28th through Mongrel Records. And yes, it’s that Paul McCartney song and yes, it will definitely make you want to hear the other tracks as soon as they come out! Different and catchy, ballsy and addictive!

South African Rock Musician and Multi-Instrumentalist Evert Snyman Unveils First Single from Highly Anticipated Covers Album All Killer Filler

Renowned South African rock musician and multi-instrumentalist, Evert Snyman, is set to captivate audiences once again with the release of his first single from an upcoming covers album All Killer Filler. The album features an array of tracks carefully selected from some of Evert Snyman's all-time favorite bands and musicians, offering a fresh and dynamic take on the songs.

As a respected figure in the South African music scene, Evert Snyman has consistently pushed the boundaries of rock music with his extraordinary talent and eclectic taste. With a diverse musical background, Snyman has established himself as a master of multiple instruments, seamlessly blending various genres and infusing his own unique style into every performance.

The forthcoming covers album showcases his ability to reimagine and breathe new life into beloved songs. Drawing inspiration from an impressive repertoire of influential musicians, the album promises to delight fans both old and new. Each track has been thoughtfully chosen to pay homage to the artists who have shaped Evert Snyman’s musical journey, while simultaneously showcasing his own creative evolution. Listeners can expect to be enthralled by his dynamic interpretations of iconic songs from artists such as Paul McCartney, Pixies, The Stooges, Mark Lanegan, Tom Waits and Smashing Pumpkins. With each cover, Evert injects his own distinctive style, seamlessly blending his technical prowess with raw emotion.

The debut single Temporary Secretary, originally done by Paul McCartney, is a testament to his creative vision and meticulous attention to detail. With its infectious energy and innovative reinterpretation, Temporary Secretary sets the stage for an album that promises to be a remarkable addition to Evert Snyman's discography.

Track Listing
1. Search and Destroy (The Stooges)
2. Temporary Secretary (Paul McCartney)
3. I Just Wanna Get Along (The Breeders)
4. Zero (Smashing Pumpkins)
5. Beetlebum (Blur)
6. I Will (The Beatles)
7. Escape – The Piña Colada Song (Rupert Holmes)
8. Freedom Rock (Frank Black)
9. The Colour and The Shape (Foo Fighters)
10. Planet Of Sound (Pixies)
11. When Your Number Isn’t Up (Mark Lanegan)
12. Jesus Gonna Be Here (Tom Waits) 

About Evert Snyman:

Based in Johannesburg, Evert Snyman has launched and collaborated on various projects, cementing himself as a versatile multi-instrumentalist. Perhaps the most well-known as the guitarist and singer of Pollinator. Evert’s powerful vocals range from angst-ridden screams to crystal clear melodies that cut through filthy guitars, caveman drums accompanied by the occasional oversaturated keyboard.
He records and produces all his own music from his studio Pariah by himself and also with his band The Aviary (as well as countless other musicians). Snyman has put out 3 albums, the Aviary (2019) Hot Mess (2021) and Pruning In The Dark (2022) released by Mongrel Records.  Evert Snyman also produces other artists, more recently he has worked with Kenny Hughes, Van Kose. He has also worked with Caution Boy, Ruff Majik and The Tazers. Evert has performed or been involved with many bands such as Bombaby, Battlecock, Black Pimp'n Jesus, Mad God, Gay Thing, Swandy, The Deaf Commission, Swandy, Dragon Invasion and Pink Noise to name a few.  He shows no sign of slowing down and he is already working on his next album.

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The Stone Eye – T.G.R.

 

 

The Stone Eye – T.G.R.

The Stone Eye released their damn fine Fata Morgana album back in April through Electric Talon Records. Filled to the brim with fuzzy proggy sludge and funky stonerrock, they’ve now put out a new video for the fourth single of this album and the second track featured on that album called T.G.R. Quirky, crazy, weird and a bit insane indeed! Or perhaps, ‘very strange’…

Grab a beer, throw up your legs, and let out a sigh of relief. A new era is born; or at least, something like that. Philadelphia’s premier fuzz-filled rockers are ushering in 2023 with new music throughout the year, and have arrived at their second single, Not My Circus. Formed in 2014 by some buddies in High School with a shared love for music and endless amounts of ambition (sometimes to the point of absurdity), The Stone Eye is a band that prides itself in tackling multiple genres within one cohesive package; usually topped off with thunderous rhythm, loud guitars, and haunting vocals. It was not always this way though, and that's a part of the appeal. Throughout the band's long history, musical evolution and experimentation has been at the forefront of each member's mind. What happens if you cross pop-sensibilities with traditional metal? Or maybe throw some funk in there for the ladies? Perhaps this song needs a hand pan? Why not! With every new release, The Stone Eye is providing new perspectives on tried genres, and that's... well, cool. These upcoming releases are absolutely no exception to that now established mantra, so strap on in, grab that beer we were talking about earlier, and enjoy the ride. T.G.R. is the final single & music video for the band's latest twelve track album entitled Fata Morgana, which was released April 28th, 2023 release. Fata Morgana and the aforementioned single are available through Electric Talon Records on the CD, Cassette, and Digital mediums.

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Delco Detention – Come Get It!

 

 

Delco Detention – Come Get It!
Self released – 2023
Rock, Hard, Stoner
Rated: ***

Happy release day to Delco Detention! Happy 52nd birthday to the man behind the drums, and dad to the now 12-year-old guitar slinging maniac Tyler Pomerantz, Adam Pomerantz. Recorded in their basement once again, Come Get It! is the fourth album for their Delco Detention project. All songs written by the then 11-year-old Tyler and recorded by him, his dad and whatever big wig from the Heavy Underground they could persuade to sing, trade licks, or play bass. This time however one should pay extra attention to the fourth track, Digital Zombie with none other than George Loving providing some excellent bass lines. Cause George Loving, my dear friends, is the 11-year-old bandmate of the Let There Be Rock School band Tyler Pomerantz is also in. Besides that little dude you also get to hear Jessi Maule of Chokesetter, Jared Collins of Mississippi Bones, Mike Descoteaux, Kevin McNamara & Mike DiDonato, Justin Kerbel of Ransom Child, Dave Wessell of Ickarus Gin and Isaiah Mitchell of Earthless. And honoring the band that propelled this project to fame with a proper bang, they included a Clutch cover. And, that ninth track I Have The Body Of John Wilkes Booth, is done with definite love for the band, the original and with those gritty, gnarly vocals by Jessi Maule makes it all sound rock solid. Which you can easily say about the entire album, all nine tracks. One could state that the album misses that one banger, that From The Basement had with Joy Of Homeschooling. And perhaps the production seems a bit thinner in comparison to that first album. But hey, opening with a kick ass track like Domagoj Simek Told Me Quitters Never Smoke (feat. Jared Collins & Mike Descoteaux) and hearing Isaiah Mitchell of Earthless solo his way straight to the stars on Earthless Delco makes this album already worthwhile on its very own terms. So, I guess you just should go out and get it… Today… I mean, it will not only be a righteous rocking gift for yourself...

(Written by JK)

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Tier – Dawner

 

 

Tier – Dawner
Self-released – 2022
Rock, Hard, Stoner, Seventies, Blues, Southern
Rated: ****

There I was on the final day of the 2023, Freak Valley Festival. A blistering hot sun above, a cool beer in my hand, waiting for the next band to begin. Suddenly a tug at my shirt, my Doom Charts Contributors shirt, provided by Doktor420. A dude, who as it turns out, I am connected to on the internet, had promised a friend’s band that he would give a CD to a possible journalist, blogger or record company dude if he could find one on the Festival. Well, I turned out to be the lucky bastard to receive the final copy of the Dawner album by German three-piece TIER. A band that had been promoted by Mel Lie to the Doom Charts Contributors early May of 2023, right before I went on holiday. It therefor did not register as well, but a tug on the shirt and a cool little chat with a dude on the festival, sure did. Dawner was recorded in 2022, but the band only recently made it available on bandcamp and then went out to try and get some attention for it. And we can only state with a certain aplomb that Dawner deserves to be heard by many. Starting off the seven-track album with a proper anthem, Hang ‘Em Up, sports this bluesy, southern, americana, seventies and severely groovy vibe. It’s a prelude to all that great, mostly mid-tempo hardrock, where you can just feel that high riding, fun finding energy the three must have had during the writing and recording of this little nugget. Second track Sober, cements that attitude and energy before we get treated to something that feels even more swampy and almost derailed. Indeed, third track Queen of The Bayou, has these highly melodic moments, these soulful episodes, and these granular parts; all expertly colored in with blues and southern touches and then made steaming hot by excellent guitar work and a wild solo included. But underneath, is the narrative by a bass that sounds as cool as can be, velvet smooth, yet also intensely choppy. Dis-a-pear is this fun, boozy rough little rocker, with a refrain that will surely be yelled along with by everyone during a TIER live gig. And that bass work, once again, pristine! Even more Americana, Southern and Western touches can be heard on their fifth track Bad Blood. Bluesy by default, Bad Blood, never follows the tracks of the purists, in fact it implores so much dosed beauty, the fire that you will feel simmering in your belly will have to wait till the final minutes before it finally gets to explode. Much rougher and gruffer is their ode to the Hashtrain. Definitely four and a half minutes of fun ruckus, (they of course should have somehow cut out seven seconds) which still retains that blues and soul you were treated to on the first five tracks. Coo-coo-ca-choo! Even more soulful and bluesy perhaps is the final track Execution Song. Ghostly good guitar work, invoking spirits of yore, harmonies that seem to have been travelling through time and all so perfectly executed that it never sound dated. In fact, the entire Dawner album is not just steeped in tradition, it invigorates it and proves there will always be a new morning this kind of good and heavy rock!  

(Written by JK)

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Rival Sons – Darkfighter

 

Rival Sons – Darkfighter
Atlantic / Warner – 2023
Rock, Hard, Blues, Seventies
Rated: ****

The eight tracks on the new Rival Sons album Darkfighter will be followed up this year with another release called Lightbringer. The duo of records are the result of all the hard work the band put in during the pandemic. In fact, they’re the first albums they wrote outside of the studio, sending pieces back and forth and writing about all they experienced and saw while the world was spiraling through the lockdowns and twisting through all the cultural division in their home country. They’ve always been on our radar but some reason we only ever mentioned their 2016 album Hollow Bones. Al lot of atrabilious and melancholy songs about loss and darkness, wolves at the door and death calling. Only a couple of more hopeful songs are allowed to shine their light on Darkfighter. But really shining, are the compositions, the guitar work and of course, as always the case with vocalist Jay Buchanan, the vocals. Recorded by Dave Cobb in Nashville, Rival Sons manages to glow most whenever their hardrock is allowed to go off into whatever territory they want. The slower, still soulful, tracks lack a bit of urgency and sparkle. Bright Light for instance just sort of meanders on, perfect for a moment of rest but, when you know there are also tracks like closing track Darkside on the album, you will surely be listening to that side more. With acoustic parts, the beastly groove that offsets it, turning every dynamic rabbit out of every rocking magic hat, Darkside is one of the highlights on an amazing album. And even though there is darkness and melancholy here, you can feel the positive message that seems to be surging underneath and when that final Darkside tracks slowly dies away, it will leave you with a feeling of hope and gratitude. Thank you Rival Sons.

(Written by JK)

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Stoner HiVe’s Top 10 Most Listened Artists Last Week…

 

 

Stoner HiVe’s
Top 10 Most Listened Artists Last Week…

My Sleeping Karma
Seedy Jeezus
Besvärjelsen
Foo Fighters
Extreme
Mothman and The Thunderbirds
Phe
The Ocean
Vinnum Sabbathi
Alain Johannes

This list should have gone up on Monday ofcourse, but we were too busy getting the Pinkpop report written. And since we also forgot to publish this list the week before, the above ten artists are in fact the list we listened to the most the past two weeks. But we reckon, proper HiVe work and updates will be on the agenda again soon!

Ethyl Ether - Vacant

 

 

Ethyl Ether - Vacant

Cape Town based psychedelic shoegaze outfit Ethyl Ether has unleashed an enthralling music video for their mesmerizing single Vacant, taken from their highly acclaimed new album Violent Entertainment, out now on Mongrel Records. The captivating video serves as a visual feast, perfectly capturing the ethereal essence and sonic landscape of the band's latest opus.

With their unmistakable blend of swirling guitars, dreamy atmospheres, and enchanting vocals, Ethyl Ether continues to push boundaries and captivate listeners with their innovative sound.

The release of the music video comes on the heels of Ethyl Ether's highly successful album Violent Entertainment, which has received accolades from both fans and critics alike including a 10/10 review from media giants Classic Rock Magazine. The record has been praised for its innovative songwriting, captivating melodies, and the band's ability to seamlessly merge elements of psychedelia and shoegaze into a cohesive and unique sonic tapestry.

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Rest In Peace – Steffen Weigand

 

 

Rest In Peace – Steffen Weigand

We are blessed to have seen the honorable Mr. Weigand in action many times. His mighty groove for My Sleeping Karma propelled all of their songs into the realm of transcendental meditation. The heavy rock kind of meditation. The way he incorporated that progressive side of his into this ever fluid and velvet flow, made the sound sprout entire forests of heavy happiness in one’s mind. I will start at the beginning today, when those first seeds for their very own style of inspired woodlands were sown by listening to Vapor Trail’s Abyssal Plain demo from 2005 first and taking the ride all the way to the amazing My Sleeping Karma album Atma from 2022. And I am sure there will be tears… The energy he spread on, and off stage was that of white light karma, good, honest, and happy. Listening to Moksha will therefore be as difficult as it will be fulfilling. As will, their final one… My thoughts and prayers go out to all his loved ones, his family, his brothers from My Sleeping Karma and all the heavy rock fans around the world that loved his music…

Here's to you Steffen Weigand, thank you for all those majestic experiences and all your amazing music…

Freak Valley Festival

 

Freak Valley Festival

There and back again…

Between a few hills somewhere in a rural part of Germany, there lives a festival. Not a nasty, dirty, wet festival, where too many people are crammed on a piece of asphalt and the waiting lines for food and drink are so immense it deters you from going to the bar, nor an empty field where crickets can be heard between the songs of whatever local band is playing on stage: it was Freak Valley Festival, and that means good people, all of them weird friends and great impressive music…

It had red kites circling the camping area looking for an easy prey among the tents and campervans, a passed-out Freak perhaps still buzzing from last night’s set, but also too tired and too hot to move out of the sun and the birds’ crosshairs. Those spread wings did offer a moment of respite from the blistering sun, that miniscule momentary shadow giving you just another bit of energy to spend during whatever day you found yourself wondering the festival grounds. It had smiling security guards as you passed the entry gates and all sorts of food courts on those first meters towards the stage. A better setup than most festivals and with vendors who looked pleased to help you, meet you and remembered your name the following day. One stage where all the bands played in succession, never go pass their time limit, except the one of course. You know the amazing and wild The Great Machine has to do that. It’s in their DNA. Especially if the crowd is demanding they play there 1 minute thirty seconds long song BITCH. Which always turns into a freak’s paradise. And every set of every day started with the honorable Volker Fröhmer welcoming all his friends in front of the stage. Should we mention all the highlights? Which means we should probably just do a roll call of all the bands. But I was there first and foremost for Besvärjelsen, and they were indeed better than I could have hoped. An amazing set, with a fill-in bass player, that had the crowd going wild, and will live on in my memory forever. And will surely never pass up an opportunity to see them again. Thanks for the show! Same goes for King Buffalo, saw them many times now, but they always get me, almost have me teared up, always has me about to lift off during that end rise of Mammoth. And to have that one followed by Earthless, was indeed out of this earth and heavenly! The few freaks that we not on a different plane of existence after those two sets were surely still having fun on the campsite. And they will have to live with that fact forever… But I sincerely do hope they got their kicks somewhere else. For there were many more bands delivering their excellence.   

Thanks to all the Freaks that came out and the organization who manages to put this wild and beautiful shindig on every year. Thanks to Linda from Scorched Oak for finding us in the crowd again, to Joe Hannes for pushing Tier back into my peripheral vision and to all the quick meets with everyone else. Especially the much too cool Roman and Alberto from Vinnum Sabbathi again, monsieur Damien Regnauld and Xavier Bataillon, the always shining JJ Koczan and to Paloma Heat for running the weirdest and probably the best PR campaign a band can do… And now, we’re back home, trying to make our way again through the less successful version of life. But luckily there will be another Freak Valley Festival next year. ‘Thank goodness!” I exclaim with a smile and a giddy heart full of freak love…