Komatsu – New Horizon

Komatsu – New Horizon

Argonauta – 2018

Metal, Sludge, Stoner

Rated: ****

We’ve been spinning this cracker for a while now and we’ve been digging the Komatsu sound ever since they came out swinging back in 2010. Oh yes, ladies and gentlemen, the Komatsu crazies have already been building their own stoner and sludge metal legacy for eight years now. Albums like Manu Armata from 2013 and Recipe For Murder One from 2016 were well received and with those notches on their belt they toured Europe alongside John Garcia and Nick Oliveri. And they also played pre-shows for Brant Bjork, Alfredo Hernandez’s Avon, and Josh Homme’s Queens Of The Stone Age. So, they’ve managed to play for most of the Kyuss members. Lucky bastards! Currently returning from touring South America for a second time, they’ve steamrolled through every one of the venues they played at and I’m pretty sure the Brasilian crowd has been digging the hell out of it! Cause the New Horizon record adds even more depth to the supermassive sludge machine that is Komatsu. With the ever-present gargantuan groove, intense riffs and fierce tones their stoner and sludge gets a hefty dose of atmospheric elements. Adding not just depth but a lot of width to their compositions. Ominous on some moments and almost spacey at others. The ten songs drag you along towards an endless Komatsu horizon. There’s simply no way around the fact that Komatsu has produced a record that will leave every metal lover breathless…

(Written by JK)

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Avon – Mad Marco

Avon – Mad Marco

Ozium Records – 2017

Rock, Stoner

Rated: ****

We've seen the different Kyuss members surface here, there or everywhere. But Alfredo Hernández was probably one of the more elusive ones. He did wild stints and wonderful things with loads of different projects. But nothing could really be called as his very own outlet; which might be a drummers curse. Brave Black Sea almost filled that spot; but was shortlived. Or was it? But immediately after came Avon. Featuring James Childs (Airbus, Lakota) and Charles Pasarell (Waxy, Lakota) with whom he already played on a couple of Vic Du Monte records. Is it an Alfredo project or a true three-piece if ever there was one. Well, they will soon release their new record Dave's Dungeon through Heavy Psych Sounds. So, the band is definitely on a roll! And their 2016 released record Mad Marco was a definite bullseye shot. And guess what, the righteous Ozium Records label took it upon themselves to spread the word even wider. A limited edition re-release with one extra track for those who missed out the first time around. A blue instead of a red cover; but with every dusty desert track still proudly rocking its majestic heritage. Seminal stoner that borders on the atavistic, but with enough psychedelic touches and pop sensible hooks to make you bop and nod. The groove runs deep and riffs flow like a cool breeze through the hot air. They are the best of the best and that is clearly audible on all the twelve tracks. The ending bonus track called Voidtronix is dreamy, atmospheric and has you on edge for the duration; waiting for a release. Waiting...  But it is Mad Marco! And Mad Marco does whatever the hell he wants!

(Written by JK)

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Stoner HiVe's Top 5 artists listened to last week...

Stoner HiVe's

Top 5 artists listened to last week...

After a month of only posts about the Stoner HiVe Top 20 Countdown and all sorts of amazing albums from 2017 we are already one week into the new year. And of course we've been checking out some amazing new stuff. So, before we get cracking on all the new 2018 albums already out and soon to be released. We shall try to focus most of the remaining January months on the back catalogue that all deserves attention. And as we aim to do so, we listened some damn fine stuff.  What about the new cats from Eindhoven, that picked up the torch that Peter Pan Speedrock dropped when they quit. It's White Boy Wasted with their debut record The Dirty South Special out on Lighttown Fidelity. Speedrock, punk, hardcore and metal all mixed into a fastball of pure but filthy rock! Gypsy Sun Revival. Psychedelic rock that is both bluesy and spacey and will make you dream of the good times! Nasoni Records doing good stuff again! Mother Mars will captivate you with their interplanetary trip through the bluesy wastelands. On Lunar Highlands released through Pepper Shaker Records is big on fuzz, groove and Sabbathian doom. The re-release of Avon's Mad Marco album by Ozium Records will soon be mentioned, but for everyone who missed out the first time it was released, get it now. It's wild, wonderful and has an bonus track! And there is Stoned Therapists, who sound like they are continuing Queens Of The Stone Age songs we all know in a different way. Their self-released, self-titled album comes across as a different take on the Palm Desert, Rancho De La Luna songs. And we thank Frazer Jones and his magical Desert Psychlist for pointing us into their direction! So, onwards and upwards in 2018 and with already five damn fine record notches on our belt! Check'm out! Check'm all out!

Number 19

Number 19

After going into the space of old with Re-Stoned on Number 20 we now climb only one point to find a stoner machine. A sludge monster. A beast that has been growing into something gigantic since its birth back in 2010. Slowly capturing the imagination of everyone in the world. Not to mention almost every Kyuss member ever. Cause they can proudly claim to have shared a stage with John Garcia, Nick Oliveri, Josh Homme and Alfredo Hernandez. Touring with John one year and Nick the next. Who also plays on the new record by the freaking way. Opening up for the new Hernandez band Avon a few months and Queens Of The Stone Age a few years ago. But even if that is quite something, the new album is the real reason we are here. There is no holding back on this one, they go all out and seem to have found their sludge rock, stoner metal forte. Bigger, badder and bolder! The growth and simple brilliance displayed on this record is stunning and will leave you breathless. Yes, we are talking about those freaks from my hometown and their new recipe. So, enough about me! So, how’s about… ?

Komatsu – Recipe For Murder One

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Brave Black Sea – Fragments

Brave Black Sea – Fragments
V2 – 2014
Rock, Stoner, Desert
Rated: ****

 

My obsession with everything even remotely affiliated with the Rancho De La Luna studio and all the music coming from the Coachella Valley and Palm Desert borders on the insane. Most of the time news about new projects and recordings or possible collaborations reach me early. Therefor the report that Brave Black Sea was formed arrived somewhere in 2013. It then slipped my mind and suddenly their debut album Fragments slapped me in my face. Formed by the Sloburners Damon Garrison and Chris Hale who quickly enlisted the help from old friend and Slo-Burn band buddy Alfredo Hernandez to ‘finish what they started’ back in the late nineties. They got a hold of touring expert Clint Cunningham to fulfill the bass duties and off they went. Back towards the history they made and the future they want to reach. No need to re-invent themselves, just turn on the generators and let that desert heat blow its dusty rock all around you. Highly repetitive riffs and pounding drums lead the way while Damon’s vocals remind of something grungy and raw. Like a perfect mixture of Nirvana, Soundgarden, Slo-Burn, Across The River, Kyuss and an Orquesta Del Desierto feeling. Indeed, seminal desert rock, uncompromising and sandy…

 

(And just so you know, all you lovely Dutch and Belgian freaks; they’re playing in Wortel on 21/06 together with the new Eindhoven rockcity sensation: Wolfskop! Which we will mention tomorrow!)

 

(Written by JK)

 

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