Witching Buzz’s A Tribute To…

 

 

Witching Buzz’s A Tribute To… 

As Witching Buzz and Grand Sounds Promotion announce the third installment in their A Tribute To series, we realized we never mentioned the earlier two. And although we now look forward to hearing all those bands pay homage to Sleep on the soon to be released A Cathedral of Smoke: A Tribute to Sleep, we can still dive head first into the renditions of all those wild Ozzy Osbourne songs from the second A Tribute To and everything related to Kyuss from the very first one…

 

The journey of praise started with A Spaceship Landing: A Tribute To Kyuss. And let’s be honest, Stoner HiVe, you, me, would not be here if it had not been for that legendary band. And the cover album before you right now will in no way add anything to that legend. And if you are of the mind that all Kyuss songs are sacred relics and should not be messed with, you might want to keep on walking... 

For everyone else, are you ready for a fuzz-drenched playground where underground bands tear into these classics, keep their ear to the Kyuss beat or reshape them in their own dusty image? Sonic Wolves for instance rip through Thumb with swagger and sharp guitar flair. While Rhino stays close to the original Green Machine and on some level of course therefor does the most homage. Poste942, the main man from the band also responsible for the artwork of the series, give Demon Cleaner an eighties touched tumbling over and over kind of groove. Isaak’s Odyssey version hits every riff out of the park and so does Fuzz Evil and their version of Supa Scoopa and Mighty Scoop. Versions that could one day make the world famous Stoner HiVe posts named The Cover That Could. Grin! But yeah, you will probably have your own favorite after listen to all twenty Kyuss songs done right. And perhaps a new favorite band if the names that riff you wild, where unknown to you before this session… So, open a can, find a cactus and let the desert spin around you… 

Iron Man’s Anthem: A Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne followed last February. It’s only been a bit more than half a year since the Legend gave us his final bow. And on this tribute there are twenty-two bands paying homage to the great and only Oz. And where the Kyuss tribute featured bands I already knew, this one sports some lesser known ones. And that is perhaps another reason why these albums are fun, you might just discover a band and dive into their own work after hearing a fine rendition of a famous song. Even though it might be a different reason than expected, the Kazoo-laced and Elvis-infused madness in second track The Wizard for instance. But that’s of course what Heaven and Hellvis from Scotland is all about. Luckily this is followed by a faithful rendition of N.I.B. by Rainbow Bridge and puts you back on track to enjoy the album. A more stoner and sludge approach to Paranoid by Corruption out of Poland hits the spot right. Poste942 is still roaming around in a cloud of the eighties, but this time more metal and absolutely compelling with their No More Tears version. Will every of the twenty two renditions keep you from immediately turning to the original, absolutely not! But most of them are definitely full of passion and sound like they wanted to do right by the one true king. I guess there’s enough proof here for all that reckless devotion and their love for the way in which the man rattled your bones, made amps explode and bats take a detour whenever and wherever the ominous sounds of Black Sabbath were heard… 

 

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Captain Maoos

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

 

 

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

Santo Rostro
Slog
Red Spektor
Müut
Duvcon
Lord Mountain
Earthbong
Elephant Groove
Kyuss
Seum

 

We were honored to receive a full (unfinished) chapter of the soon to be finished book by Sunil Singh called Sonic Seducer, an infectious read that immediately had me grabbing for my Monster Magnet albums as well as Kyuss. If his Math books are this riveting and cool, I think I might need to get me those, a calculator and run some numbers! As for the week that's just started, we hope to publish a review or two, before Friday. But we're kinda under the weather and have other assingments as well... So, no promise there. But as said, I think we can do one or two... We have to, it's what makes us tick...

The Number One album of 2013

The Number One album of 2013

Before we start the Countdown of 2019 we look back at those past 10 years of Stoner HiVe. We know it is now the eleventh edition of the Countdown. But 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 2013 had 61 lists to tally which of course made the outcome even more valid then when we started back in 2009. That list, deduced out of the lists sent in by 61 heavy music fiends,  started with American Sharks – American Sharks on Number 20. It featured Windhand and their Soma album on Number 3 and the amazing Earth Rocker album by Clutch 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 2013... Well, that’s when we wrote:

“In a last ditch effort, after Clutch held the Number 1 position for days on end, this one surpassed it during the final two days. It now has the Gold Medal firm in its grasp. With eight points more. It is of course the album that was highly anticipated for quite some time. One that was meant to be released earlier; but due to legal issues which arose (thanks to the one that did not partake) after their initial successful reunion run (minus one), they had to change name and lots of bass players that were also there in the very beginning decided to call it quits at that point. For the band that started it all, the band that forever will be known as the godfathers of stoner and the flag carriers of the desert sound was brought to life in 2010 thanks to the vocalist. After which the original drummer joined and plans for the future were brewing at the start of 2011. As mentioned before the project grinded to halt due to multiple legal complications and fans feared the worst. But all good things take time and will always come to pass. For it was definitely worth the wait. The album is a throwback to the good ol’ days; and that lo desert sound that we all love so dearly. But with a more loose, bluesy and perhaps even jazzy sound; you can hear the boys matured and discovered their inner soul and recognized its beauty. The vocalist sounds better than ever, the grooves are there, the riffs are damn fine and the drummer is so magnificent that he alone would have deserved a top spot this year. All that’s left to do is to poor another beer, put on the album and dream away under the starry sky as the fireworks explode above… Peace…”

Some albums wither away with time and some age like fine wine… And we were honored to have Madman Tony Maim revisit the album and scream out his words of wisdom… “Is there an opposite of rose tinted glasses? Shit tinted glasses? Because I remember thinking what is all the fuss about when this came out. Kyuss had imploded and John Garcia had started touring as “Kyuss Lives!” Various lawsuits later they changed their name to Vista Chino and released “Peace”. I thought “meh”. 7 years later I think “woah fuck” what have I missed! Comparisons were inevitable but this is a band who have a past but are also finding their own identity. It’s got a driving groove running through everything which lifts all the songs up. Fuzzed solos are stabbed through the intertwined twin vocals with wild abandon. There is a freedom to the compositions which hint at jams. This is still a great album.”

Vista Chino – Peace

(For the rest of the Top 20 of 2013, that very first one, visit the Countdown So Far post on the blog...)

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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The Doom Chart For April 2018

   

Doom Chart

"It was all about filling the void inside of us and the void that was the desert around us. We played heavy rock musik to fill that void inside of us. Inside our hearts."

 -John Garcia

The void is always present. And a void needs to be filled. That is the law of nature. And as John Garcia, Brant Bjork, Nick Olivieri and Joshua Homme filled the void in their life by creating music in the early 90’s the contributors of the Doom Charts fill their life today with music that is made of the same force of that same universe that the boys of Kyuss used. There is a great power in music. It is driven by electricity that feeds the amplifiers and speakers that harness the power of the riff and sends it right into that void that exists inside all of us.

This is the Doom Charts. A chart made by the people (bloggers, music journalists, podcasters and others) that listen to an enormous amount of new music from the heavy underground every day of the year. And every month the contributers to the Doom Charts reports up to 25 albums that has made an impression on them. When the vote is counted and the magic of mathematics has done it’s thing you get the Doom Charts delivered right here. And hopefully you will discover something new here that will fill some part of that void that you might have inside of you.

~Magnus Tannergren (Into The Void Radio)

Right on! Magnus is right on the money there and we cannot stress enough that we love heavy music and we do this all for that love. And sure, there was one album that dominated all the sent in lists, which ofcourse is self-explanatory. But there were so many more... So check out the Doom Charts and find out which 24 made the final list thanks to all the votes cast by the contributors! And most importanly, enjoy the hell out of each and every one of those albums!

The Doom Chart For March 2018 

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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Ozium Records Bandcamp

Ozium Records

Happy World Kyuss Day !

Happy World Kyuss Day !

A very happy World Kyuss Day from all of us at Stoner HiVe! We've started the day by listening to the Sons Of Kyuss recordings. After which we will move on to Wretch, Blues For The Red Sun, Welcome To Sky Valley and ending with ...And The Circus Leaves Town. Rest assured we will be listening to the Demon Cleaner EP's, Green Machine 7 Inch, Gardenia and all the rest as well... But what should we continue with after the Kyuss / Queens Of The Stone Age split? 

How will you continue on?

Kyuss World

Stoner HiVe

John Garcia – John Garcia

John Garcia – John Garcia

Napalm Records – 2014

Rock, Desert, Stoner

Rated: *****

The man has been talking about doing this for ages. And over the years many many many songs were collected. And only a cool eleven tracks made it to his first official solo album. And we can only say that the honorable Mr. John Garcia has selected eleven gems and that he with his entire group of friends kills it. With help from Harper Hug, Trevor Whatever, Dandy Brown, Mike Neider, Dave Angstrom, Danko Jones, Tom Brayton, Mark Diamond, Nick Oliveri and The Doors legend Robby Krieger he crafted something solid, huge and monumental. One could assume that a collection of songs that has been growing since 1998 lacks coherency or might sound dated somewhere. But shit, this record is simply amazing from the first note to the very last. It has it all. Stoner grooves, rumbling bass, bluesy feels, steamy rock, gritty riffs and crazy guitars. And above all the Garcia voice that sounds better than ever. The only weird thing might be the Black Mastiff cover Rolling Stoned as the second track on this album. But this is probably included because the man loves the song, the band and is producing their next record. Just listen to the wicked His Bullets Energy or the stomping Argleben! (When was this track born? After hearing from his new Dutch friends? More info will come.) But simply put, the album is brilliant and hits you like a desert thunderstorm. One of those moments where the horizon suddenly turns black and the ground shakes violently due to the sonic boom far away. And it ends with Her Bullets Energy a song started, back then in 1998, or perhaps even earlier, and sounds like a future we all hope we deserve. There is peace and tranquility and there’s acceptance and love. And there’s more of all that spread out over that one track than all the other emotions one goes through listening to the rest of the album. To be honest, I am incapable of saying much more… Simply blown away…

(Written by JK)

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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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Number 1

Number 1

“Fiji Gold Beer is by no means a pilsner that deserves that gold label. It is a basic yellow fizzy in appearance, but with a slightly richer color and a pathetically thin head. The aroma is not offensive, but it doesn't conger up a huge desire to drink it, either. The hop profile in the nose is slightly reminiscent of a decent Pilsner, but that's where the similarities end. The least attractive part of this beer is the sweet graininess in its taste. It's out of place, and has the same kind of malt off-flavor you usually find in a first-time home brewer’s beer, before he or she has discovered the complexities of grain and hops and just throws a pre-hopped extract brew together and wonders why it doesn't taste pro. I often describe this flavor as tasting "like a headache," though it's not usually an alcohol or ester issue. The mouth feel is fine. But, that's not enough to carry this beer…”

 

In a last ditch effort, after Clutch held the Number 1 position for days on end, this one surpassed it during the final two days. It now has the Gold Medal firm in its grasp. With eight points more. It is of course the album that was highly anticipated for quite some time. One that was meant to be released earlier; but due to legal issues which arose (thanks to the one that did not partake) after their initial successful reunion run (minus one), they had to change name and lots of bass players that were also there in the very beginning decided to call it quits at that point. For the band that started it all, the band that forever will be known as the godfathers of stoner and the flag carriers of the desert sound was brought to life in 2010 thanks to the vocalist. After which the original drummer joined and plans for the future were brewing at the start of 2011. As mentioned before the project grinded to halt due to multiple legal complications and fans feared the worst. But all good things take time and will always come to pass. For it was definitely worth the wait. The album is a throwback to the good ol’ days; and that lo desert sound that we all love so dearly. But with a more loose, bluesy and perhaps even jazzy sound; you can hear the boys matured and discovered their inner soul and recognized its beauty. The vocalist sounds better than ever, the grooves are there, the riffs are damn fine and the drummer is so magnificent that he alone would have deserved a top spot this year. All that’s left to do is to poor another beer, put on the album and dream away under the starry sky as the fireworks explode above… Peace…

 

Vista Chino – Peace

 

 

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Vista Chino - Peace

Vista Chino - Peace

Napalm Records 2013
Stoner, Desert
Rated: ****

Kyuss fans have been through quite a gauntlet of excitement, suspicion, doubt, confusion, and hope while awaiting the resurrection of the legendary stoner rock icons. After numerous setbacks we finally have what will most likely be the closest we ever get to a Kyuss reunion in Vista Chino and their debut album: Peace. Vista Chino consist of Kyuss alums John Garcia, Brant Bjork and Nick Oliveri, and includes Bruno Fevery filling the gaping hole once occupied by Josh Homme. On Peace, VC conservatively attempt to recreate the Kyuss sound and the results are mostly successful. Dargona Dragona is the band’s first single as well as the most clear Kyuss throwback jam. The rest of the album lacks some the of thunderous guitar riffs and psychedelic musings of, for example “Welcome to Sky Valley” and instead focuses on more laid-back, stoner rock slow-burners akin to what Bjork and Garcia were doing before forming Vista Chino. The obvious highlight of this reunion of stoner immortals is Garcia, who brings his trademark howl front and center and can turn what would be dull affairs such as “As You Wish” or “Adara” into perfect lazy Saturday stoner tunes. The Album’s closer “Acidize –The Gambling Moose” –despite the strange title- gives us the best track off the album andh runs the full Kyuss spectrum of crushing riffage through psych rock mellowness in one, glorious 13 minute epic. If you’re a Kyuss fan especially because of John Garcia’s vocals then Peace is a no brainer, otherwise Peace is a rock-solid stoner metal showcase by a group that knows the sound better than anyone who has done it, ever.

(Written by Matthew McGarity)

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Vista Chino - Dargona Dragona

The new song Dargona Dragona by Vista Chino.
No words; just fuzz out and get freaky.

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Kyuss Lives – Live at Garage, Saarbrucken

Kyuss Lives – Live at Garage, Saarbrucken
Bootleg – 2011-03-07
Stoner
Waardering: ***

Much has been said and written already about the fact that the three members of stonerlegend Kyuss are back together on the stage again under the name Kyuss Lives. The idea arose last year after singer John Garcia had already been touring under the name Garcia Plays Kyuss and was joined on stage during the Hellfest festival in France by bassplayer Nick Oliveri and drummer Brant Bjork. Which prompted an impressive tour and started the idea about a new album. With as a replacement for Josh Homme the Belgian Bruno Fevery. Also a damn fine guitarplayer but one that can never fill Homme’s shoes; who wishes all the best for the guys; and Bruno will only color between the lines already carved out. Maybe he’ll be able to show his stuff more on the new album. But for now we have the liveshows to enjoy. All of which are a feast of recognition and thanks to an over enthousiastic and hungry crowd impressive everywhere.

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