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. 

 

Lay Bare Recordings

Lay Bare Recordings Facebook

Lay Bare Recordings Instagram 

Lay Bare Recordings Bandcamp

The Number One album of 2017

The Number One album of 2017

We are approaching the deadline for your lists for the Top 20 Countdown of 2019. That deadline is early December 13… So, if you want to contribute, send them now, send them HERE! But before we start the Countdown of 2019 we look back at those past 10 years of Stoner HiVe. Indeed, we celebrate 10 years. 10 years of heavy riffs, romps and stomps! 10 years of heavy magic! That all started back in 2009 when the blog started, just so we would have a vehicle to count down the best 20 albums of 2009. The edition of 2017 had 76 lists to tally, a first decline in sent in lists since 2009, but it still made the outcome more valid then when we started back in 2009. That list, deduced out of the lists sent in by 76 heavy music fiends,  started with no less than three albums on Number 20! Those three were: Royal Thunder – Wick, Radio Moscow – New Beginnings & The Devil And The Almighty Blues – II. It featured Ufomammut and their 8 album on Number 3 and the amazing Rust album by Monolord on Number 2. For the entire Top 20 of 2017, visit the Countdown So Far post on Stoner HiVe… But what album ended up on the Number One position back in 2017... Well, that’s when we wrote:

“We have arrived at the Number One spot. The Gold Medal. The Stoner HiVe Top 20 Countdown that started on December 13th ends today, on the First of January of 2018. We jump another seventy points from Monolord and their amazing Rust album on Number Two to reach the top position. An album by a band that has made the Number One position every year they released an album. (Well, since 2011) So, they must be doing something absolutely right for all you lovely freaks out there. You gals and guys voted this album to be the best one released this year. As you did back in 2011 and in 2015. Well. There is no need to beat around the bush here, we all know what is coming. The Boston trio released another thrilling album that kept us spinning the record until the needle ran through the groove. Their mixture of psychedelic rock, heavy stoner and epic metal has you soaring through all the marvelous dreams they evoke. The progressive nature of the music they create has them searching for new boundaries every time again. Hence, guest spots were filled during the making of this album and the trio became a quartet or even a quintet. Adding extra guitar, keys and pedal steel to the sound, and adding vibrancy and lushness to a sound that already seemed to have everything. It is riff-awesome, tasty melodic, soulful and catchy metal. But above all, the tectonic tension arcs that we know this band to deliver have evolved into something other worldly. It seems to reflect something completely different and perhaps upside down. So yes, there can be only one, and now,  right before everyone around the globe has celebrating the coming of 2018 we present to you the Number One Spot, The Gold Medal according to all the lovely freaks that voted... Here it is... “

Yes, it is the third time we revisit an Elder album. But is it really revisiting when it is only two years old and you still play it regularly enough? And is it, looking back at all three, as good as  Dead Roots Stirring or Lore? That will probably be just a matter of taste? Or perhaps it will take another few years before we can really say which made the bigger splash, had the largest impact or had the most musical mojo. Personally, I have Lore and Dead Roots Stirring both on such a high pedestal that Reflections falls a tiny bit short of competing with those two. Perhaps because the leap forward was there, but not as big as when Lore came out? It merely cemented their position as one of the interesting bands out there…

Elder - Reflections of a Floating World

(For the rest of the Top 20 of 2017, visit the Countdown So Far post on the blog...)

The Number One album of 2016

The Number One album of 2016

We are approaching the deadline for your lists for the Top 20 Countdown of 2019. That deadline is early December 13… So, if you want to contribute, send them now to our EMAIL! But before we start the Countdown of 2019 we look back at those past 10 years of Stoner HiVe. Indeed, we celebrate 10 years. 10 years of heavy riffs, romps and stomps! 10 years of heavy magic! That all started back in 2009 when the blog started, just so we would have a vehicle to count down the best 20 albums of 2009. The edition of 2016 had 76 lists to tally, a first decline in sent in lists since 2009, but it still made the outcome more valid then when we started back in 2009. That list, deduced out of the lists sent in by 76 heavy music fiends,  started with The Re-Stoned – Reptiles on Number 20. It featured Asteroid and their III album on Number 3 and the amazing Repeated Exposure To… album by 1000Mods on Number 2. For the entire Top 20 of 2016, visit the Countdown So Far post on Stoner HiVe… But what album ended up on the Number One position back in 2016... Well, that’s when we wrote:

“There can be only one. A 1000Mods stood firm on Second Place. But to reach our Gold Medalist, the Numero Uno, the one true legendary album of 2016, we almost have to double the amount of points of the 1000Mods album Repeated Exposure To… Incredible! And something I had not expected. Not because of some form of doubt about this album or this band. Cause they were ofcourse also present on the Countdown before, on Number 9 back in 2014 and Number 14 in 2012. But because there were so many great albums released this year. I reckoned the field would have been much closer together. I, have to say, to some shame perhaps, that I had not recognized the status and amazing beauty of this album. In former years I knew, as everyone probably did, that Elder would win. Or Wo Fat or even Electric Wizard. But while I kept listening to this album over and over and enjoying every freaking riff and moment of it. I had not recognized it’s true quality. I do now. And it will continue to be pure energy for me from this moment on. Righteous fuel. And I need fuel. I am a serious consumer. And I am a firm believer, that on some nights, when the moon is full, and the animals are on the prowl, a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles with the right kind of music very loud on the radio… And yes, this album will make it run even faster and even further…”

And we are very honored that Madman Tony Maim wanted to revisit this album as well and give us his thoughts on how the albums has fared in the past few years… “Saying goodbye to Small Stone Records after 10 years this was to be their first recordings for Napalm Records. This still qualifies as one of the best hard rock albums released in 2016. Everything worked - the crisp production, the lineup changes, the aggressive attack on display, Everything. I still cannot fault this album. Stop reading this and play it at once!”

Greenleaf – Rise Above The Meadow

(For the rest of the Top 20 of 2016, visit the Countdown So Far post on the blog...)

The Number One album of 2015

The Number One album of 2015

Before we start the Countdown of 2019 we look back at those past 10 years of Stoner HiVe. Indeed, we celebrate 10 years. 10 years of heavy riffs, romps and stomps! 10 years of heavy magic! That all started back in 2009 when the blog started, just so we would have a vehicle to count down the best 20 albums of 2009. The edition of 2015 had 72 lists to tally, the first year that the amount of lists did not climb since that first edition back in 2009.  But the list, deduced out of the lists sent in by 72 heavy music fiends,  started with Witchskull – The Vast Electric Dark on Number 20. It featured Glowsun and their Beyond The Wall Of Time album on Number 3 and the amazing The Night Creeper album by Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats on Number 2. For the entire Top 20, visit the Countdown So Far post on Stoner HiVe… But what album ended up on the Number One position back in 2015... Well, that’s when we wrote:

“The jump from Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats as runner-up in the Stoner HiVe top 20 countdown of 2015 is no less that thirty-seven points. The absolute Gold medal this year goes to a trio that was already predicted to steal the prize back in February. And who already took first place back in 2011 with their Dead Roots Stirring album. They managed to turn the musical year upside down and uprooting the expected slow start of the year. They ran away with the Doom Charts those first months and came in second place in the overall Doom Charts. Where yours truly wrote: “Stupefying all of us. Or at least most of us. They came out swinging with an album at the very beginning of this year that perhaps even bested that awe-inspiring performance on Roadburn 2013. The Boston trio released their album unto the world in February and all of us kept spinning that record until the needle ran through the groove. Their mixture of psychedelic rock, heavy stoner and epic metal will have you climbing to incredible heights in the dreams they evoke. There is no escaping and once you’re in, there is really no way out until those final mythical fading moments... For the album is one gigantic tension arc. It will make you forget all about time and place and experience something that only the true wise men know. It won’t teach, but simply show…”  The stuff of legends, a contribution that will live on forever in the pantheon of rock. A perfect record, a pure ballistically delivered album, a blow against the empire, a rigging singular beautiful strike, a hammer of the gods that will sound on for eternity…”

And is Lore still that good? Still as amazing as Dead Roots Stirring? Yes it is! Where Dead Roots Stirring stated to the world that Elder was here for good, it was Lore that conquered everyone’s heart. It’s powerful, bold and yet delicate as well. It’s orgastic and takes their heavy psych into an even more progressive future. Some of those circular riffs, rhythms and romps feel even more like sacred and slippery mercury as time progresses. Four years have passed since Lore and there aren’t that many albums that can truly touch the level of craftmanship this one possesses. Are there? 

Elder – Lore

(For the rest of the Top 20 of 2015, visit the Countdown So Far post on the blog...)