Splinter – Filthy Pleasures

 

 

Splinter – Filthy Pleasures
Robotor Records – 2021
Rock, Garage, Stoner, Punk
Rated: ****

When we learned that the new outfit comprised out of members from Death Alley, Vanderbuyst and Birth Of Joy would be here to stay and were about to release their full-sized debut, we did a little dirty dance and jumped so high we bumped our head on the ceiling. They’re called Splinter, the album is called Filthy Pleasures and it’s one king hell garage rocking, stoner punking, maddening rock’n roll ride! Opening track Robot Hell is an easy going, yet smash ‘n grab attack on the senses, it will ignite your soul and get you ready for everything else that follows. Cause the garage, stoner and punk will morph into melodic hardrock with progressive touches and a seventies flourish as easy as it turns into an all out all night burner. That Hammond, that sweet sounding, heavy pounced Hammond, how it turns all that choppy and hooky hardrock noise into smooth curved jamboree! Cause even though will surely be moving smoothly to all of this whenever you spin the record, you will be sure to go nuts and possibly even insane when you catch them live! Just like the filthy Splinter four themselves!   

(Written by JK)

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Aces High Promotion

Molassess – Through The Hollow

 

Molassess – Through The Hollow
Season of Mist – 2020
Rock, Psych
Rated: ****

After the passing of Selim Lemouchi and thus the demise of The Devil’s Blood it was a long and painful wait to see if Selim’s sister Farida and her very characteristic voice would return to the stage. Without a doubt she was one of the keys to their magical sound. The end of The Devil’s Blood has paradoxically also brought us so much good and we could name so many amazing bands and albums that originated from those members. But we’re not here to do just that but to talk about THE new formation featuring four members of The Devil’s Blood and Rrrags, Astrosoniq, Atlanta, Birth Of Joy, Death Alley, and Donnerwetter... Well, Selim had another formation called Selim Lemouchi and His Enemies and from the album Earth Air Spirit Water Fire comes the final track Molassess. And that’s now the name of this new formation and Through The Hollow is their debut record. A psychedelic spiderweb of rock that would definitely get a nod from Selim himself. We still hear those wonderful sounds from the seventies, the doom and space side of the seventies, the prog approach and the thirst to combine everything into one huge heavy cauldron. But there is definitely less darkness and less occultism in comparison to The Devil’s Blood. And that is a good thing, cause Molassess moves forward, paying tribute to the dark melancholy and to twisted dreams layered with hidden meaning, but always with an eye on the horizon. Formed for Roadburn festival in 2019, it was the start for the slow but determined crawl to Get Out From Under and see the light. Through The Hollow is without any question just that and it’s damn impressive…

(Written by JK)

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Van Records

Helldorado

Helldorado

In two weeks time the crazy train departs once again for trip through Helldorado! The festival that had it’s glorious first edition last year and is now back for more. What a ride that was! And they are upping the scale of this rock ‘n roll freakshow for the second edition! So, what you thought was weird last time around will now be mundane! Ofcourse we’re all just going for the clowns, bearded ladies, knife throwers, wrestling acts and everything bizar! But what a line-up as well!!! Monolord, Greenleaf! Kadavar! Vintage Caravan! Turbonegro! Danko Jones! Zeke! Dewolff! Nick Oliveri! Dwarves! Lucifer! Death Alley! Supersuckers! And quite a few more! Not sure what the side show will be this time around?! It might be you!!! Go grab one of the remaining tickets and join the freakshow!

Helldorado

Not sure what the side show will be this time around?! 

It might be you!!! 

Go grab one of the remaining tickets and join the freakshow!

Helldorado

Death Alley – Superbia

Death Alley – Superbia

Century Media – 2018

Rock, Hard, Punk, Proto, Psych

Rated: *****

We never mentioned the damn righteous Black Magick Boogieland album released by Death Alley in 2015. We did ofcourse mention that awesome live album recorded at Roadburn released last year. It summoned the spirit of The Devils Blood and some of that is still there on the new album Superbia. Which is logical ofcourse, since Oeds Beydals, is still the main axe-slinger. But there is also new blood in the form of drummer Uno Bruniosson (In Solitude/Grave Pleasures) and guitar player Sander Bus (The Blues Junkies). Together with vocalist Douwe Truijens they still bring us grade A psychedelic and proto punk hardrock that is raw and gritty and grinds its way into your soul. No, I said it wrong, they now bring us that tasty good stuff that sounds pure and ancient. And with much more progressive touches and seventies explorations. This is no simple Black Magick Boogieland follow-up, this is taking the Death Alley sound to much higher dimension, mysterious and wild! Awesome and impressive indeed! The groove will give you goosebumps and the songs will become your new soundtrack to every superb night in the gutter!

(Written by JK)

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Death Alley – Live at Roadburn

Death Alley – Live at Roadburn

Suburban Records/Teepee Records – 2017

Rock, Psych, Stoner, Doom,

Rated: *****

This live album contains two things we love. Death Alley and Roadburn. A live recording from their impressive 2016 show on that infamous festival in Tilburg, Netherlands. Where they were joined by Ron van Herpen (Astrosoniq, ex-The Devil’s Blood, currently of ZooN) and Jevin de Groot (ex-Mühr) to deliver a moving and awesome performance. And those four tracks have now been saved for eternity. Having more ex members of The Devil’s Blood on stage ofcourse summoned the spirit of Selim Lemouchi. Which was punctuated by the It’s On track, penned by Lemouchi. And before I start stealing Walter’s words, let me just focus on the recording in hand and on ears. They jump right in with the It’s On track and have it breath life and room into this Death Alley incarnation. Which originally sounds much more concise, speedy and to the point. This time however we are treated to spacious, wild and jam like renditions of the four tracks. Which ends with the amazing twenty-two minutes long Supernatural Predator. Overwhelming, emotional waves of pure musical bliss. It is twenty-two minutes of excellent momentum and high energy, straight and direct from the great magnet. They did not just channel the spirt of Lemouchi, they channeled the spirits of all the music Gods. And this live is recording will rank among the top five of live recordings ever done and is meant for them… The fallen ones. The Gods of yore…

(Written by JK)

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