Phantom Druid – The Edge of Oblivion / Fuzz Thrower – Fuzz Thrower

 

 

Phantom Druid – The Edge of Oblivion / Fuzz Thrower – Fuzz Thrower
Off The Record Label / PowerWax Records
Stoner, Doom, Metal, Grunge
Rated: **** / ***

How prolific can one man be? If this were a Tour De France competitor, who won all kinds of pre-season races, the world championship and bunches of stages in the Tour and then the yellow jersey, he would or should be tested for performance enhancing drugs. Perhaps we should do the same with the man behind the two projects we are about to mention here. That’s right, a duo of albums in one little shout-out. Cause the honorable Tjeerd De Jong released another album called The Edge Of Oblivion for his one man project Phantom Druid only a month or three ago and now follows that up with a new one man project called Fuzz Thrower, just because he “… couldn't resist recording an album with Jazzmaster, SG, Les Paul, Fuzz pedals, and tube amplifiers…” 

Well that album immediately steers towards a more grunge take on the outsider heaviness he always delivers. And even though the album feels a bit too loose, and like a finger exercise in some places, the overall tone and groove is delicious. There is no denying that here too Mr. De Jong knows exactly how to tap into your stonerrock muscle memory. Thirty minutes of grungy stoner that will of course have leanings towards doom. Cause, well, if you know Mr. De Jong, you know where his tendencies lie. And then there’s the Last American Poet aka Shane Beck who delivers some beautiful spoken word on the final track Soon We Roam, having us relive that inspiring Black Afterglow release they did together. A touch of jazz makes this doom poetry at its best! 

And yes, poetic is once again the new Phantom Druid album The Edge Of Oblivion, where the tempo goes the way of the sloth and the doom metal the way of the zealot. Dark melancholy and twisted anxiety, the skin crawls and the blood bubbles with dread. Over forty minutes of oozing almost primordial doom, traditional in sound, speed and yet so surging and urging you to submerge in the world of the Phantom Druid. There is honor in its delivery and homage to the doom gods of yore, but with every note delivered, you will start to believe in the fact that the Phantom Druid belongs among the pantheon of doom gods… 

(Written by JK)

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You can read much more on Tjeerd de Jong's projects HERE!

Altered Buffalo – Altered Buffalo

 

 

Altered Buffalo – Altered Buffalo
Off The Record – 2022
Rock, Folk, Americana, Psych, Country
Rated: ****

Something different today. But by someone we dig and mentioned quite a few times! I mean, we’ve been following all that Tjeerd De Jong has done in the passed and will continue to follow him for all his future project. We love his work with Stone In Egypt, Doomsday BC, Phantom Druid and Demon Lodge. Currently he’s got a new project going called Horsepower O.D. but back in April he released a self-titled album by another one of his projects called Altered Buffalo. A duo he formed with René van den Belt, who you might know from acts such as True Grit, Black Flowers and Not Dark Yet. All americana, roots and folk-rock outfits. Combine the two and you would expect a dark folk, americana doom album perhaps? But no, they’ve kept it folk and completely americana. Well, with some more country rock approaches and a few psychedelic influences. Darker moments are sparse, but perhaps the end of the lovely You Were The One can be seen as noir. But the ten tracks are mostly here to celebrate the song; and show off the abilities of both players. Sometimes it feels like they’re here to pay homage to Neil Young at other times Gram Parsons seems to have been the biggest inspiration. But at all times, the love for the song, the light melancholy and the melancholy light shines through. Traditional songs that work best when the vocal harmonies twirl and circle each other; when the music feels as fragile as that vague little ray of sunlight that breaks through the clouds…  

(Written by JK)

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Phantom Druid - The Downward Slope

 

 

Phantom Druid - The Downward Slope
Off the Record Label - November 2021
Doom, Stoner
Rated: ****

Like doomsday clockwork, Netherlands outfit Phantom Druid has churned out yet another release of low and slow excellence with "The Downward Slope". Mastermind and formerly solo artist Tjeerd de Jong has brought ex-Asphyx drummer Bob Bagchus into the fold, and the results are some of the project's best yet. Phantom Druid's signature brand of traditional doom is on display across five epic tracks, and Tjeerd's penchant for earth-moving riffs and sinister vocal hooks is in top form.  Opener and highlight track "The Great Deceivers" creeps in to slowly build a ten-ton riff, dragging itself forward while with minimalist drumming highlights the sheer weight of the guitar. Tjeerd's vocals aren't far off from a sobered, deadly serious Ozzy, and the menacing atmosphere is amped up at the halfway point when the tune jumps into a rolling, Cathedral-style chug. A roaming solo finishes it out in style, laying down the welcome mat for epic follow-up "Remission Of Sins". This is anthemic, nodding doom that simply sounds huge, cymbals ringing out amid the gravelly riffs and a shout-along chorus that could easily close out a live show. A slow burn solo tops it off and a blasphemously crunchy chug lumbers the song across the finish line. At nearly the halfway point of the album, it's clear what the listener is in for: ear-splitting, classic doom played by a band whose passion for the genre and megalithic riffs is unmistakable. Strike a match and take the plunge into the depths of Phantom Druid's latest ode to doom, it's a trip not to be missed.

(Written by Shasta Beast)

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Phantom Druid - Stages of Twilight

 

 

Phantom Druid - Stages of Twilight
Off The Record Label - February 2021
Doom, sludge
Rated: ****

Tjeerd de Jong is a one-man Dutch doom machine, spitting out classic, grimy doom as Phantom Druid. "Stages of Twilight" is his second full-length to date, and the doom is as potent as ever. The distinctive buzzsaw guitar tone immediately cuts through in opener "Far Beyond Oblivion", chugging along relentlessly with evil intent. De Jong's Ozzy-inspired vocals seal the deal, and the atmosphere is pure danger and gloom. Buried in the gravelly guitar and low end is also an unnameable weird factor in the vein of Cathedral, elevating the album to even creepier heights. Sounding fuller and somehow even heavier than previous releases, "Stages of Twilight" is a hulking step forward in weight and range. Case in point, the stomp of "Far Beyond Oblivion" is followed by the murky, slow as molasses "The Ultimate Grim". Complete with gothic strings and keening riffs, the track is simply epic. This diversity in de Jong's take on traditional doom is a running theme throughout the album, from the smooth and bluesy interlude "Shadow Tree Cross Roads" to the furious, whiplash-inducing second half of "Third Eye Sacrifice". Finale "Black Clouds, Silver Wings" brings it to a close with a bang, delivering a decidedly up-tempo, rocking number paying tribute to the Prince of Darkness's flashier days. De Jong has yet again raised the bar for what one man can do with doom, forging a woefully heavy sound rooted in the classics while carving it's own dark path.

(Written by Shastabeast)

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Number 13

 

 

Number 13

As we pass Motorpsycho on Number 14 with almost thirty points to reach the next album, we remember bang the re-release of their 2017 album made earlier in the year as well. The Off The Record Label facilitated it and it sold like crazy. Just like the new album that was done by that same awesome Off The Record Label and the band themselves. It jumped to the Number One position of the Doom Charts upon release and it took the art of psychedelic doom to a whole new level. They’ve churned mud into mercury and grime into gold. A conceptual and exceptional piece of art that shines a different kind of light on all the heavy genres we love so dearly; it shows us that heavy riffs, quiet melodies, wild sax and intense synths can work together in perfect harmony to create something so divine yet chaotic. Yes, on lucky Number 13 we find:

REZN - Chaotic Divine

 

 

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Off The Record – Store

Off The Record – Store

A few weeks, which turned into months, turned into half a year… But yes, some time ago I had the pleasure to meet up with Tjeerd De Jong. The man behind the Off The Record label, Off The Record Store, Stone In Egypt, Phantom Druid and many more projects still to come. Oh, and his very own Off The Record Festival! Which is now because of obvious reasons postponed… Yes, the man exhumes music through all his pores. If he is not working to promote the bands of his label, he is busy promoting the bands and their records in his store or working on new music. Sure, he also takes the time to listen to new music as well. Cause he won’t sell stuff he doesn’t like himself. Only a small section of the store is reserved for the better pop records and different sorts of more mainstream rock. Everything else is metal, doom, stoner and all round heaviness! “I’ve had people wander in asking about a certain popular artist. But if they would have just taken a look at the shirts and all the different kind of metal labels; they could have guessed it themselves.” And by sheer coincidence, only a little while later, (Coincidence? Right, this is how the Great Magnet works.), a Dutch middle aged man enters the store and yells: “Do you have Jannes?” “Do I know Jannes? Who is Jannes?” “Yes, do you have music by Jannes?” “Oooh, you mean that horrible Dutch singer, nope, ofcourse not. Try the store down the road.” 

 

There are ‘secret’ projects in the works and there is already a new Phantom Druid record underway. And how about a project with Monolith Deathcult called Demon Lodge who released a seven inch called Breaking The Sound of Death on October 1st. Cause every free moment the man can spare he is working on music for himself. Sometimes they end up becoming Stone In Egypt tracks. But more often than not, they sit on his shelf somewhere, slowly aging and slowly getting that extra twisted bite they need. Until the moment the universe calls out and points out that there is enough ominous energy present now for this record to be released… People who enter the shop with the intend to buy; usually end up going there monthly. Whenever pay-day rolls around, much of it is spent in his shop. And of course a few hours or so of high fidelity talk about what the best records or songs of a band actually are. Best sellers back then were the new Black Rainbows record, the reissues of Dozer, Paradise Lost’s Obsidian, My Dying Bride - The Ghost Of Orion, Katatonia - City Burials, Goden - Beyond Darkness and of course his own Phantom Druid and Stone In Egypt records. Who have their own, highly deserved, honorary shelf. Off The Record is Tjeerd and Tjeerd is always on record about his favorite records. If you are ever in the neighborhood, be sure to visit Off The Record, have a coffee with the Phantom Druid and drink in all that is good and heavy!

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OFF THE RECORD
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8261 JX KAMPEN

 

We are unbelievably stoked, proud and honored to be featured on Phantom Druid's Death & Destiny album! Thanks to Shasta Beast's review! Thank you Phantom Druid! Thank you Tjeerd!

Stone In Egypt – Tectonic Electric

Stone In Egypt – Tectonic Electric

Off The Record – 2019

Rock, Stoner, Metal

Rated: ****

We mentioned Tjeerd de Jong’s other band Phantom Druid a few months ago, but that earthshaking newest release by Stone In Egypt has for some weird and probable insane reason not yet gone up. Tectonic Electric, as the new record is called, is the follow-up to that majestic EP Feed The Void from 2016. It was a much longed for return; cause the band had been laying low for about ten years. Started around 1997 the group has had a multitude of different members but the sound has always stayed in that same vein of heaviness. It’s very dark, earthy, under earthy even, submerged and full of great rumbling bass work. It’s stoner. It’s metal. It’s stoner metal with hints of doom and a splash of sludge. There are vocal parts here and there, but for the most part Tectonic Electric is raw, filthy and gritty ten ton heavy instrumental grooviness. The Stone In Egypt trio has delivered one massive follow-up to their welcomed return and it will surely continue to cause ripples; cause it’s effect is only now beginning to sink in…

(Written by JK)

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