Greenstone – Rise of Rysy

 

 

Greenstone – Rise of Rysy
Self released – 2023
Instrumental, Stoner, Metal
Rated: ***

We mentioned their very first release, the three track Triglaw from 2019 but then kind of lost track of these fellow countrymen. We’re talking about the Greenstone trio from Arnhem, Netherlands. But they are back now with another five-track released called Rise Of Rysy. On it they continue their journey through the instrumental, stoner and metal landscape. Darker and denser than their earlier EP, the five tracks still retain that masterful groove and a bit of those psychedelic touches. Cosmic noises, reminding of krautrock attitudes propel in the background, giving rhythms a salutary amount of thrust, especially on second track Peripheral Gaze. Opener Psychosomatic Disorder was much too doom for that, although the playfulness when it comes to rhythm changes gave that composition propulsion as well, slowly building it all up to become this gigantic mountain. Imminent Darkness seems to combine the two main ingredients used for those earlier tracks, adds some colorful snippets and some highly infectious bass work. Which continues in Hambone Maiximus, bass work extraordinaire and that wailing guitar that just glides and slides across that solid foundation, leaving the new drummer Chris Ariëns to provide a very quiet background touch, until he finally gets to let some of his energy out as well, in that explosive galactical end section. Final track Soundscapes For The Deaf might be the most in line with their earlier release, spacey, psychedelic meandering combined with that seminal grinding sound and stomping beat like a Moloch’s dancing ground. And just like that Rise Of Rysy ends with sounds of approaching danger, and a bit of a deep dive through and extrapolation of how chaos might resonate through dark and musty caves…

(Written by JK)

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War Honey – Sweeter Than The Average Fudge

 

 

War Honey – Sweeter Than The Average Fudge
Handstand Records – 2023
Indie, Rock, Alternative, Dream Pop, Slowcore
Rated: ****

We mentioned their Shard To Shatter four track release from 2020, when it was released on vinyl through Handstand Records in 2022 and we also mentioned their other four track called Last Woman Left At The Market released in 2022. Which means, we are eighty percent done with writing something about Sweeter Than The Average Fudge, War Honey’s new release, which is a compilation of those two EP’s and the singles also released in the past two years. I Don’t Blame The Rats ends this ten-track edition and Skinless sits in on number eight. Vocalist Gabrielle Dana has the ability to turn the operatic tone on and off, and when she forgoes the huge gestures, she sweetly and softly sings bitter suggestions into your ear. Skinless therefor becomes this Florence Welch, jazzy, slow moving chamber music that is as enchanting as it is unnerving. I Don’t Blame The Rats adds to this with a new level of intimacy and stronger concentrations of release, but it also alienates, making you feel like you are losing grip and that those rats in the attic will not meander by, but stop and stare at you or gnaw at your feet. And then there are all those dreamy sequences, coloring it all sugar, even though the overall feeling is that War Honey are experts in delivering Dream Pop Noir. Darker that all that sweetness that drips from you fingers…

(Written by JK)

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Queen Marsa – I Am The Land

 

 

Queen Marsa – I Am The Land
Discos Macarras Records / Metalway Records / Runaway Records – 2023
Metal, Classic, Hardrock, Stoner
Rated: ****

There are moments when their classic metal sound drifts over to that of the LA scene, when it was in full swing, but for the most part Mallorca five-piece Queen Marsa delivers hardrock and metal of the very knock heads, bump fists and big muscle kind! Especially on their new eight track release called I Am The Land. Which means it continues in the vein of their debut self-titled EP from 2020, but not entirely so. For even though those five tracks already showed Queen Marsa in all its glory, the new I Am The Land release, gives you a Queen that has grown up to be a righteous ruler. Benevolent in paying homage to their roots, they have traded a lot of their seventies grooving from that earlier release to do more eighties rocking. More fire and more fury, and more traditional metal love. I cannot help but envision an old dusty biker bar, where the stage is sheltered by chicken wire, the bourbon is cheap, and the smoke can be cut with a knife. And right there beyond all the shouts and mayhem from the patrons is Queen Marsa, just rocking out, undisturbed by all the chaos in front of the stage. The stomping build up towards the end of second track Made Of Lovers, with that magnificent guitar work that closes it off, will surely result in many beers flying through the air. But you won’t need to frequent dive bars of dusty watering holes, cause with a bit of sleaze and a lot of swagger, Queen Marsa will surely rock every stage around the land. Cause well, it’s obvious, they stated themselves: I Am The Land!

(Written by JK)

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King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – PetroDragonic Apocalypse

 

 

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – PetroDragonic Apocalypse
KGLW/Virgin – 2023
Trash, Metal
Rated: ***

Ever since the album came out in June, I’ve been trying to figure out if the new King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard is really good, as good as Infest The Rats’ Nest or just another fun little release by KGLW. Well, we’re still not sure. We are sure that PetroDragonic Apocalypse; Or Dawn Of Eternal Night: An Annihilation Of Planet Earth And The Beginning Of Merciless Damnation is one of the longest album titles I ever came across and is definitely the longest and weirdest KGLW decided to use. And they’ve already had some weird and long ones before. The album contains their second exercise in trash metal and roughs you up just like Infest The Rats’ Nest did back in 2019. But where that album still lives on in memory, and even on the old vinyl player from time to time, the tracks on this new one never seem to become very memorable for me. It is good, wholesome even, and talks about a lot of issues plaguing humankind, besides dragons of course, but the compositions just blast on without a lot of extra touches. The moments where a bit of prog and psych do come into play, are those few instances you think, aah, now we’re getting somewhere. And then we’re off to the thrash races again, where the gatling energy seems only destined to poke a massive amount of holes in you. Which of course fits the subject, but never seems to fully nourish the heavy rocking soul. Which might be a weird conclusion to make, given the sheer amount of love and giddiness the album received from all my fellow Doom Charts Contributors. I mean, it even ended up on Number 8th of the June Edition. Die hard KGLW fans will surely be using the album as a soundtrack for the end of times, but personally, I’ll just wait for better times, or better music to herald the apocalypse…

(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…

Ruff Majik
Omega Sun
Queen Marsa
Acid Magus
Solar Sons
I Am Low
Garden of Ash
Malterra
Mother Tongues
Thunder Horse

Radiant Knife - Pressure

 

 

Radiant Knife - Pressure
Self-released - July 2023
Sludge, prog, doom, math, avant-garde
Rated: *****

Louisana is a state chock-full of filthy sludge acts, but one of its best kept secrets is Lafayette's proggy, avant-garde weirdos Radiant Knife. The duo deal in sludgy heft, to be sure, but there's far more to their sound than just bashing your skull in. Mathy, labyrinthine riffs lurch and spiral through nine dense tracks on their latest LP "PRESSURE", masterfully walking the tightrope between dizzying technicality and catchy, head-banging hooks. From the opening noise-rock frenzy of "Slumber", the album grabs the listener and drags them into the waiting maelstrom. Rapid-fire drums are always on display, particularly in the driving "Ghost Samurai", but never sacrifice impact for showiness, and the sparse vocals are perfectly placed when they do arise, whether as cavernous cries or guttural bursts. A bit of Red Fang rears its head in the intricate riffage of and singing of "Give Yourself Away", which is never unwelcome, but Radiant Knife one-up even those sludge titans in the following highlight track "Sunsets From Space". A deluge of rolling, razor-sharp guitarwork is unleashed, culminating in a massive wall of sound that's as epic and out-there as the name implies. Straight brutality is never far behind, though, as displayed in the subsequent harsh, grating grind of "Mortals", making the transition to the catchy standout "His Capa Was Detated" all the sweeter. From the onset, the climbing riff promises nothing but the best, and the duo deliver as the album reaches its peak of hooks, instrumentation, and sonic violence all in one track. "PRESSURE" is a monumental piece of heavy that's equal parts brainy and crushing, and Radiant Knife pull off that difficult combo like they were born for it.

(Written by Kyle SB / Shastabeast)

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Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

 

 

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

Another Quick Fire Friday round today! All thanks to the amount of singles and videos coming in lately and the fact we had to get the Peroration Post ready for the Doom Charts. Loads of reviews are almost done. But can’t completely find the time to finish them… But for the Quick Fire Friday craziness we only use a small amount of words to get the good word out! The good word about something heavy and something cool! Check it out below… And we know… There is so much out there, so much good and heavy stuff, and we just simply cannot ever do it all justice. But here it is… Another Stoner HiVe Quick Fire Friday! And it burns hot like molten lava!

Pipe Dreamer – Past The Point Of No Return

Their debut album No Solace For The Soulless was released in January 2021 and reviewed on the HiVe in February. And on September 18th they will send out the first single Past The Point Of No Return for their upcoming EP The Past Is Just A Memory. Which will be ‘a reflection of the many aspects of loss and the feelings left behind. It’s a cathartic piece of sonic art that will resonate with those missing someone in their lives.’ Cathartic, that’s how we ended our review of their debut record. And that’s how this blackened, post metal and sludge single will work as well… Especially on repeat…

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Prosthetic Bung - Mr. Neckofthewoods

Prosthetic Bung, straight out of Toronto, Canada! A two-piece consisting of Steff & Zach who do this weird, chaotic, stream of consciousness noise experiment. Indeed, five highly improvised tracks, recorded in a cloud of smoke and what possibly might be a fit of mental derangement. And since releasing Mr. Neckofthewoods they have already released a new selection of improvisational craziness called Schallplatten der Unergründlich Büngüs. So, better check’m all out, before they release a next one!

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Bloodthorne – El Presidente

They’re about to release their new album entitled Cosmic Passengers, and El Presidente is the lead single of that album. We are talking about doom, stoner trio Bloodthorne from Bristol, Tennessee, USA. Stoner metal with a definite doom trod, a penchant for bluesy guitar work and a Southern touch. These seven and a half minutes of riffs and that later forward pushing metal holds a lot of promise for the rest of the album.. Can’t wait for September to arrive!

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Halcyon Bluefish - Promised Land

Featuring Andrew Paine from Ethyl Ehter and Filthy Hippies and on this track South African hero Desmond Kannemeyer it’s Promised Land by the Halcyon Bluefish duo. New wave, dark wave, gothic touched, vaporous and spellbinding. That Mongrel Records definitely knows how to pick out the crazy good ones…

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Wolf Prayer – Oblivion

Are you ready to float off with the fuzzy dream rockers Wolf Prayer? Check out Oblivion, the second single from the Spell Of The Crimson Eye album. Cosmic, hypnotizing and groovy! And that luscious incredibly soulful seventies key-work later on, yowzah!

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Earthblood - Primal Fury

And then there’s the Earthblood three to bring it all back down to earth with an explosive bang! Primal Fury is the lead single for the Primal Fury EP to be released on Inverse Records, September 22nd. Furious sludge and doom metal, delivered at runaway train speed and running over all that stand in its way. Zang!

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Hippie Death Cult – Better Days

We all love a good cult! Well, all and only the rocking kinds! Like Hippie Death Cult! And they will release their new album Helichrysum on Heavy Psych Sounds on October 20th! But the second single Better Days is out now and takes it all back towards those haze days, sixties and seventies rock, but with a doom touch and a glowing psychedelic soul heart. Loving it! Buzzing over here!

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Today we celebrate the 10-year anniversary for Lay Bare Recordings!

 

 

Today we celebrate the 10-year anniversary for Lay Bare Recordings!

Congratulations to Désirée Hanssen, the lady in charge of Lay Bare Recordings! Ten years ago, she started the label and has since helped spread awesome music throughout the world! And to my little world, my little room filled with vinyl… I don’t own all the 52 releases she delivered so far, but quite a few. But the ones I do have are all highly cherished and were delivered in impeccable form! So, yes, 52 releases appeared in that decade and there is more to come… Very soon even! Congratulations Désirée Hanssen and keep doing that Lay Bare thing you do!!
 

Spinning Ruff Majik's Tårn
Released on Lay Bare Recordings in 2019


Below is the very cool PR stuff we received from Warren and his Plug Music Agency…

In a world dominated by digital streams and fleeting trends, independent Dutch record label Lay Bare Recordings stands as a steadfast champion of authentic music experiences. As they proudly celebrate their 10th anniversary, the label has achieved an impressive milestone of 52 album releases, showcasing an unwavering commitment to musical diversity and quality.

Founded in 2013, Lay Bare Recordings has carved a distinctive niche in the music industry by focusing on the artistry of vinyl releases across a vast spectrum of genres from the rock and metal world, from the low and slow to the hard and heavy, Lay Bare Recordings has solidified its reputation as a champion of diversity and musical excellence.

Over the past decade, the label has curated a collection that transcends mere sonic creations. Each album, meticulously crafted and pressed on high-quality vinyl, becomes a tangible embodiment of the artists' vision. The label recognizes the significance of preserving the analog warmth and intimate connection that only vinyl can offer, and they have consistently upheld this tradition throughout their journey.

"Today, 10 years later and working on the 52nd release, I still feel truly humbled to continue releasing such great music from bands all over the world. This can only happen by the support of you, the music aficionados, music fans from everywhere." says Désirée Hanssen, the founder of Lay Bare Recordings.

The label's 52 album releases span an impressive range of genres, showcasing the label's dedication to promoting artistic diversity. With each release, Lay Bare Recordings has not only celebrated the musicians' creativity but has also offered music enthusiasts a chance to experience music as a multisensory journey, combining stunning album artwork, meticulously designed packaging, and the tactile pleasure of spinning vinyl.

To commemorate their 10th anniversary in style, Lay Bare Recordings have launched a "Killer Classics Sale" that promises to enthrall music enthusiasts. With discounted prices on select vinyl releases. In addition to the Killer Classics Sale, Lay Bare Recordings is excited to offer exclusive pre-orders for upcoming releases. This unique opportunity allows fans to secure their copies of eagerly anticipated albums before they hit the shelves.

KILLER CLASSICS SALE IS ON!

TREASURES FROM THE VAULT & RELICS FROM THE PAST

Killer classics for €15, €10, or less! A celebration offer especially for vinyl lovers for a limited time. Hurry up the stock is limited! ORDER NOW

EXCLUSIVE PRE-ORDERS

As the party goes on Lay Bare is thrilled to launch the pre-orders for Mojo & the Kitchen Brothers - Flaming Tiger Lizard EP and debut full length Mojo's Heavy Cream.

"Mojo & the Kitchen Brothers is a 5-headed omnium gatherum of eclectically inspired music freaks from Belgium cooking up a late 60’s early 70’s mix of heavy progrock soaked in psychedelia. Catchy tunes, proggy riffs, deafening drums, roaring basslines and spacy, triple-guitar jams take you on a journey through the limbo between past and present."

Dive into the captivating world of sound crafted by this dynamic Belgian group, and seize the opportunity to pre-order their albums 'Flaming Tiger Lizard EP' and 'Mojo's Heavy Cream' individually or as an attractively priced bundle.

Pre-Order Flaming Tiger Lizard

Pre-Order Mojo’s Heavy Cream

As the label looks toward the next decade, their unwavering dedication to the soulful spirit of music remains their guiding principle. The label's commitment to nurturing artistic innovation and fostering a genuine connection between musicians and listeners continues to drive their endeavors, ensuring that the timeless allure of vinyl will thrive for generations to come.

For more information about Lay Bare Recordings and their 10th-anniversary celebrations, please visit their official website at www.laybarerecordings.com

Watch this space for news about the upcoming releases from Sister May, Ghorot, RRRags, Bismut, Modder & Severant. 

 

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Acid Magus - Hope Is Heavy

 

 

Acid Magus - Hope Is Heavy
Mongrel Records – 2023
Rock, Stoner, Prog, Metal, Doom
Rated: *****

I hope the band won’t freak out about me focusing on one little aspect of one song. And I hope it won’t freak anyone out too much, for me once again going into some personal history. Again. But yes, I know, Hope Is Heavy. And the new Acid Magus album is damn heavy and incredibly interesting. Focused and intense, for almost one whole hour. But I wanted to mention the fact that the third track Caligulater took me back to somewhere around 1995. The peak of the drum ‘n bass era, for me at least, (which has been making a comeback recently) and seeing in one cool night all the top DJ’s pull their weight on a bill. Aphrodite, DJ Krush, Ganja Kru, Roni Size, and all doing so splendidly, and turning the venue into one sweaty pool of buzzing energy. But outside of the main halls, in a hallway, near the fire exits, there was this little Belgian or French band, (unfortunately can’t remember the name or anything), playing the hits of the great DJ’s which were throwing down in the main hall, but… with guitar, drums, bass and rocking hard. The way they made Super Sharp Shooter from Ganga Kru sound, was insanely good and still stands tall as one of the amazing musical moments in my life. And here it comes, Caligulater has the same vibe. Not only took me back to that era but had me bouncing of the walls and buzzing with energy that needed to be danced out. That growling guitar tone, only momentarily and for mere seconds giving you a jolt of electricity, and then those drums kick in. The classic drum ‘n bass rhythm, which is only there for a minute, with a break in the middle before the soaring vocalized middle part start. But then returns for two more rounds of dance offs. It sets that one track so apart from everything else out there and the rest of the record, I could not help but single it out. Even though, those other six tracks demand every bit of your attention as well. The slower, doom opening of Demon Behemoth, grandiose in gestures and wide in arc, highly atmospheric and immediately offering up impressive vocals. Progeneration, equal in setting the scene and mood, offering up an entire universe of expansiveness and psychedelic swirls. Or what about the soon to be released single and video Dead Weight, featuring Johni Holiday from Ruff Majik. Turning all that expansiveness from earlier tracks, inwards, making it dense, grittier, and totally infectious, until of course they once again throw a curveball and open up the entire composition, heralding the coming of Angelic illumination that inevitably gets thwarted by a doom trod down the ever-darkening stairs, where a choir awaits to signal a return to the beginning. Two more tracks, the longest ones await all you heavy rock lovers. Cathedrals in their own right, Trillion Tonne Sun and the download bonus track Curse of the Wyrd Syster. The dirge, the progression, and the way they deepen both aspects, while giving way to structured pieces of melodic bodies of openness, simply stunning. With Hope Is Heavy, Acid Magus produced an album, meant for the ages. And I have high hopes it will end topside on many year-end-lists.

(Written by JK)

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Omega Sun – Roadkill

 

Omega Sun – Roadkill
No Profit Recordings – 2023
Stoner, Fuzz, Doom
Rated: *****

We love Slovenia. Been there a couple of times. Climbed Triglav. Actually, saw it pop up on my Facebook as a memory today, coincidence, hell no! Danced with the mayor of Bovec at his famous potato festival. Visited Ljubljana, hang out, over at Metalkova, with the magnificent gentlemen of Carnaval and Jegulja. And then recently we saw all the broadcasts about all the horrible flooding and disasters. After which we also read that the good boys from Omega Sun decided to donate the proceeds from everything they sold on their Bandcamp site to help with the charities that deal with those affected by the floods. Which makes us feel even more ashamed about the fact that we only ever mentioned their 2013 Rehearsal Demo and have since been grooving incredibly hard to their 2017 album Opium For The Masses without so much as a peep about that damn fine album on  the HiVe. But after hitting that play button on the promo for their brand-new Roadkill album that will arrive on September 8th, we cannot let them down again. For the six tracks on the new Roadkill album are pure, unadulterated, atavistic stonerrock, sundried guitar tones and fuzzed out doom. This will take you back to the days of the legends and those parties smack dab in the middle of Palm Desert. And even though, for the most part, the rhythms and the overall speed is slower than that of Kyuss, the psychedelic edge we know from that legendary band is there and so is the voice of bassist and vocalist Igor Kukanja. Indeed, the vocals will remind you of John Garcia from time to time, or quite a lot of times. So, yes, there are definite sound offs to Kyuss, but that’s never a bad thing and in the case of Omega Sun, it is something that just comes naturally. Head on over to the Omega Sun bandcamp site, cause the opener of the album and first single The One, can already be heard and gives you the right kind of ear for what to expect for the entire album. Although, the following track Black Dust, makes all that desert sounding ruckus from The One dirtier and ominous, yet also elegant and full of grace. That first section of The One, slower, more determined to deliver the punch straight to the gut. Those vocals, expertly gliding, sliding across those highly defined guitar lines and that guitar slowly staring to take center stage as the song continues. Not so much building or creating tension, but so wonderfully free, flowing, fluent and it feels like the composition was meant to be a dance in honor of a deranged orchestra of wild nature and tempestuous control. Its essence seems to swirl and spiral, through an uproar of elegance and down tuned madness. And those two sides of the coin are audible on every one of the Roadkill tracks. Sheer excellence, and if there is anything not entirely perfect about all of them, it might only be that the master volume seems a tad low. But that yin and yang, something rough and something velvet, they have going on, will soothe you, the savage beast and all those that love stonerrock, desertrock and doom. Thet third Survive track is yet another perfect example of this. And then they end the Roadkill album with Doomer, the second single, soon to be released. Which, as you might expect, takes the maelstrom down towards the bottom of the bottomless pit, letting go of almost everything smooth and velvet they had going on before this. But then there is that guitar solo, coming to the rescue, lifting the composition back towards a bit of light and towards the beginning of the point of no return. Roadkill is one hell of an album and will surely floor you…

(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…

Demons My Friends
Earth Altar / Sun Below
Queen Marsa
Kadabra
Domkraft
Greenstone
Karambolage
Omega Sun
Weird Tales
Viral Tyrant

Viral Tyrant – Vultures Like You

 

 

Viral Tyrant – Vultures Like You
Ripple Music – 2023
Doom, Sludge, Metal, Black, Thrash
Rated: ****

The four named Viral Tyrant hail from Portland, Oregon and immediately got signed by Ripple Music. Which means their debut album Vultures Like You must be quality stuff! Another testament to that fact is the name of Rob Wrong, from Witch Mountain and The Skull listed as producer and that the album has been mastered by Tad Doyle from TAD. Getting legends like that on board for your debut record, well, you’ve got to have something special going on. And they do! As the ominous, slow classic doom start opener The Felling Of The Doom Tree turns into something more vicious and dirtier, you feel it surging through your bones, the certain knowledge you will be treated to something different, wild, and wonderful. Feral, fierce, and frantic the track takes on different colors as the nine and a half minutes maraud through your neighborhood. The Felling Of The Doom Tree will keep tickling all your classic metal feelers; and constantly taking that energy, making it harsher and edgier before loosening the reigns again.  But be warned! They never slacken for long… And you might just get your head cut off by the razor sharp, barbarian axe swinging riffs that will surely follow! Viral Tyrant delivers some severe sludge, doom, and thrash! All blackened, twisted and almost burned to charcoal, but actually scorched to the exact amount to make Vultures Like You dive on that sun blistered corpse as if it was the most delicious feast you ever set eyes on…

(Written by JK)

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Sun Below - Methuselah Star

 

Sun Below - Methuselah Star

Methuselah Star is the second single from the upcoming split album Inter Terra Solis by Sun BeloW and Earth Altar, which will be released on September 15th through Black Throne Productions. And ever since we got the promo (the right one, grin, inside joke between me and Curtis), we’ve had it on heavy rotation! The first single from this album was Part A: The Descent, by Earth Altar and was premiered back in May on The Obelisk. Methuselah Star sees the doom rise to cosmic levels and turn into an ever-expansive universe of heaviness. Sludgy when needed it merges everything you love from Sabbath with that of Sleep. Exactly, you read that right! And yes, this is one hell of a legendary track! And so is the rest of this amazing split album!

The band shares: "We are super excited to begin to reveal hidden truths from the distant bellows of space with the release of “Methuselah Star”.  Appearing on the record as an interlude, but more fully realized in this single version, the track is meant to elicit the ebb and flow of an ageless star hurtling through space, melding psychedelic grooves with a thunderous sabbathian midsection, giving way to a calm ethereal finish. Our collective subconscious was able to tap into the deep unknown of the universe to conjure forth this heavy mass of stoner doom which we hope all will enjoy."

About Inter Terra Solis

The progressive space rock/doom metal hybrid Earth Altar and heavy stoner/doom power trio Sun BeloW unleash a riff-heavy journey across time and the cosmos on their upcoming doubly split album, Inter Terra Solis. Having sculpted an epic ride of distorted guitar, vocals and trippy lyrics, the bands explore the labyrinth of the human psyche and the unpredictability of the universe within a ponderous palette of crushing doom and stoner-tinged mystery. Inter Terra Solis is due out on September 15th via Black Throne Productions. Pre-orders are available HERE.

First on the split, Earth Altar is the interplay between the complex, diverse drum style of Jon MacIsaac and the unique, ethereal bass guitar playing of Spencer Trout. Earth Altar seeks to leave these mundane bonds and ascend through the heavy and the other-worldly. Mixing stoner rock, doom metal, space rock, and psych rock with progressive song structures, cosmic musings, and world-wide influences; Earth Altar sounds uniquely themselves.

We begin our journey with “The Descent.” Reminiscent of Dante’s infamous journey, the odyssey begins here. While an opening to the underworld, it is not quite the underworld as we know it. It is not a manifestation of divine justice, but a literal world beneath our feet. The air, initially stifling, comes to grow fresher as we go deeper and further. The purpose of the journey, though obscured, is beginning to reveal itself.

“The Garden Of Earthly Delights” takes the listener through caverns of ethereal light and diverse flora and fauna. All life here is familiar, yet odd like a dream. We press on, “In The Growing Light Of Anthelion,” the light being as warm as the sun, but not as bright. Wrapping with “Transmutation (The Alchemist’s Dream)” the story bears the fruits of the struggles of our journey, the base thrill and pleasure, the acquisition of knowledge of so few before.

Closing out the album with three immense tracks, Sun BeloW is a heavy stoner/doom power trio playing a signature brand of self-described “Sativa rock”: a combination of fuzz, volume, and heavy grooves. Sun BeloW seek to spread their infectious, rollicking sound to the masses and their mission remains to create riff heavy rock fused with the sonic weight of crushing doom. The current lineup of Jason Craig (guitars/vocals), Liam “Acid Goblin” Gray (bass) and Will Adams (drums) blend these elements into long burning jams that worship at the altar of tone, riffs, and smoke.

Sun BeloW starts their cosmic journey with an instrumental, “Red Giant.” The Sun, looming silent yet ominously over Earth, represents a constant reminder of the finite nature of our delicate cosmic existence. “Methuselah Star” - in the distant bellows of space, an ancient star burns luminously. Rivaling the universe itself in terms of age, the origin of its creation remains clouded in uncertainty. Wrapping with “Gravity Tide”, Sun BeloW explores the delicate cosmic balance of the Earth, Moon and Sun. The nature of our being is fragile, we live in the shadow of an unpredictable universe of which we understand little, and can impact even less.

As above, so below, the duality of the underworld and the cosmos, the microcosm and the macrocosm is thoroughly traversed through the lyrical themes and tones of each band. While Earth Altar and Sun BeloW tackle a different aspect of our reality and nature, each is intimately tied with the other.

EARTH ALTAR Online:

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SUN BELOW Online:

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Black Throne Productions

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

 

 

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

Earth Altar / Sun Below
Anuseye
Danko Jones
Mondo Generator
Demons My Friends
Saint Karloff
Acid Magus
Viral Tyrant
Black Drop
Malterra

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

 

 

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

We felt a little jolt, some electricity, fire in the blood last weekend! Not sure why that was, but perhaps because of all that Quick Fire action! So, we decided not to wait too long and hit you all again with another blazing dosage of Heay Underground action! Another Quick Fire Friday, featuring singles, EP’s and albums, some older, some newer; and with just a handful of words to get your interest peaked and the blood pumping!  And we know… There is so much out there, so much good and heavy stuff, and we just simply cannot ever do it all justice. But here it is… Another Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday! And it burns hot like molten lava!

Trounce - The Goose and The Swan

Roadburn! The legendary festival in Tilburg, Netherlands. Been there so many times, I lost count. And we unfortunately missed it the last few years, which always pains my heart. Which means we missed Trounce and their gigantic earth shattering set there. But luckily the entire set was recorded and will be released soon as their debut album "The Seven Crowns + Live at Roadburn" somewhere in October on Hummus Records. Alternative metal to the extreme and extremely alternative, blast beats, noise, doom and soaring melodic moments. Check it out through the first single and live video from Roadburn called: The Goose and The Swan...

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Hummus Records

Bear, Man Dangerous - American War

From Seattle, Washington comes the mysterious Bear, Man Dangerous project. American War is the new shoegaze, post punk single that slowly, like leaves falling down, spirals towards a doom future. Which seems entirely fitting giving the subject matter at hand. The noisy, messy, clouded composition eventually burning away and falling down like Icarus…  

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Kita - Tyhjiö

Progressive blackened doom and death sludge, from somewhere in what must be the radioactive wastelands of Finland. Cause this is insanely, swallowing, and festerously heavy! This is Kita and the first single Tyhjiö for their upcoming album with the same name, out soon on No Profit Recordings. Bleak, Finnish language guttural vocals, on top of filthy metal that growls and howls and tears the universe a new hole, a hole shaped like a huge, ugly, frightening mouth which actually turns out to be the all-devouring void of non-existence. Not meant for the feeble minds…

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No Profit Recordings

Demons My Friends - Ghosts of You

Out on Gravitoyd Music, September 8th, it’s the new album Demons Seem To Gather by Demons My Friends. Ghosts of You is the first video and single for that upcoming album, and that smashing single has been out since yesterday! Grunge doom, with psychedelic stoner touches and something very addictive. It’s those soaring melodies we expect, or that alternative nineties take of the genres we mentioned above. And yes, we heard the rest of album as well, and we can safely state, this album will become a household favorite over here and probably everywhere in the Heavy Underground!

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Nepal Napalm – A Hate Supreme

Murcia, Spain is apparently home to Caribbean influenced, doom metal band that borrows as much from jazz as it does from sludge. We’re talking about Nepal Napalm and their debut full-sized album A Hate Supreme. This shit goes further than most dare, cause these guys dare to seek the edge and dance along it like a crazed jive colonel ready to explode. Recorded mostly live in one sitting, it burns through the energy and inspiration that seems border on that of that fabled John Coltrane album. And that title track, wowzah! This is the kind of experimentation that can lead to the discovery of a fabled elixir or a precious metal… Errr, Nepal Napalm makes precious metal!

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Redeye Caravan – The Circus

Back in 2020, we mentioned Redeye Caravan’s Nostrum Remedium. And now the Greek dark country, gothic Americana band is back with a new EP called: Snake Oil Lullabies. Love the title! And The Circus is the lead single and lyric video for that release. Freaking inspiring, darkness surrounds their account of the ‘show’. You feel the shadows dance around you as the ringmaster makes his gestures, and welcomes you. Not all four songs are as dangerous as The Circus, and that’s a good thing, otherwise you would not be able to sleep tonight. Under the full moon…

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Maven Hill - Magnetic

Out since October 2022, Magnetic, by French fourpiece Maven Hill! Of course Thierry “Pumpkin-T“ François mentioned it on a Peroration Post for the Doom Charts. But otherwise, the album has flown under many a radar, so it seems. Highly undeserved, cause the ten alternative rock tracks bend the ear towards metal, jazzy prog influences and funk breaks as easily as it goes full throttle on danceable energy. There’s something very Magnetic about this release!

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Red Eyed Hyena – Tried & True

We end this Quick Fire Friday with a an absolute bang! Formed in 2015, Red Eyed Hyena is a stoner band with blues and doom influences from Ivano-Frankivsk in Ukraine, and it’s damn good. The four know how to lay down a steady groove and will surely have you nodding along, and slowing down whenever the guitar flourishes deserve the spotlight, and you will listen breathlessly. You will soon feel like a cowboy (once on a bulldozer), riding around the prairie (or through a little frontier town) and watching the endless horizon slowly pass by. A cactus, and another cactus, a roadrunner, a hyena and a Weedeater cover? Sweet! Well, God Luck and Good Speed to Red Eyed Hyena!

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