Duskhead – The Messenger

 

Duskhead – The Messenger
Self-released – 2025
Rock, Hard, Stoner, Southern
Rated: ***

The fabled Roadburn Festival is just around the corner. And so is the Roadburn Offroad part of the festival, held at different venues, nooks and crannies of lovely Tilburg. One of those spots is Little Devil, which will welcome the travelers as of Tuesday. But the live music will start on Thursday, April 17th with Mantra Machine and Duskhead. For Duskhead it will be a special night, cause its their first gig in a long time and the presentation of their new four track EP, The Messenger. And we are here to tell you that it’s a night you should not miss and an EP worth every second of your attention. It’s the follow-up to their Thousand Eyes EP from 2014. That’s right, eleven years ago! But of course, the members rock(ed) out in other bands and those bands took precedence. Back then. It might also have caused two of them to depart Duskhead and guitarist Elmer Meijers from The Grand Astoria to join the ranks. The two Tank86 crazies are still there and since that band has gone on an indefinite hiatus, they can now concentrate on Duskhead as a trio. Four songs that move and sway through the stoner rocking landscape, implore a southern touch and a lot of spirit. Bluesy and catchy, for the most part their hardrock has a minor punk influence here and there but always marries a sharp edge with melodicism and powerful with dynamics. And that gives you fifteen minutes of damn exciting, good ol’ rock ‘n roll!

(Written by JK)

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Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

 

 

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

We felt a little jolt, some electricity, fire in the blood last weekend! Not sure why that was, but perhaps because of all that Quick Fire action! So, we decided not to wait too long and hit you all again with another blazing dosage of Heay Underground action! Another Quick Fire Friday, featuring singles, EP’s and albums, some older, some newer; and with just a handful of words to get your interest peaked and the blood pumping!  And we know… There is so much out there, so much good and heavy stuff, and we just simply cannot ever do it all justice. But here it is… Another Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday! And it burns hot like molten lava!

Trounce - The Goose and The Swan

Roadburn! The legendary festival in Tilburg, Netherlands. Been there so many times, I lost count. And we unfortunately missed it the last few years, which always pains my heart. Which means we missed Trounce and their gigantic earth shattering set there. But luckily the entire set was recorded and will be released soon as their debut album "The Seven Crowns + Live at Roadburn" somewhere in October on Hummus Records. Alternative metal to the extreme and extremely alternative, blast beats, noise, doom and soaring melodic moments. Check it out through the first single and live video from Roadburn called: The Goose and The Swan...

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Bear, Man Dangerous - American War

From Seattle, Washington comes the mysterious Bear, Man Dangerous project. American War is the new shoegaze, post punk single that slowly, like leaves falling down, spirals towards a doom future. Which seems entirely fitting giving the subject matter at hand. The noisy, messy, clouded composition eventually burning away and falling down like Icarus…  

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Kita - Tyhjiö

Progressive blackened doom and death sludge, from somewhere in what must be the radioactive wastelands of Finland. Cause this is insanely, swallowing, and festerously heavy! This is Kita and the first single Tyhjiö for their upcoming album with the same name, out soon on No Profit Recordings. Bleak, Finnish language guttural vocals, on top of filthy metal that growls and howls and tears the universe a new hole, a hole shaped like a huge, ugly, frightening mouth which actually turns out to be the all-devouring void of non-existence. Not meant for the feeble minds…

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Demons My Friends - Ghosts of You

Out on Gravitoyd Music, September 8th, it’s the new album Demons Seem To Gather by Demons My Friends. Ghosts of You is the first video and single for that upcoming album, and that smashing single has been out since yesterday! Grunge doom, with psychedelic stoner touches and something very addictive. It’s those soaring melodies we expect, or that alternative nineties take of the genres we mentioned above. And yes, we heard the rest of album as well, and we can safely state, this album will become a household favorite over here and probably everywhere in the Heavy Underground!

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Nepal Napalm – A Hate Supreme

Murcia, Spain is apparently home to Caribbean influenced, doom metal band that borrows as much from jazz as it does from sludge. We’re talking about Nepal Napalm and their debut full-sized album A Hate Supreme. This shit goes further than most dare, cause these guys dare to seek the edge and dance along it like a crazed jive colonel ready to explode. Recorded mostly live in one sitting, it burns through the energy and inspiration that seems border on that of that fabled John Coltrane album. And that title track, wowzah! This is the kind of experimentation that can lead to the discovery of a fabled elixir or a precious metal… Errr, Nepal Napalm makes precious metal!

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Redeye Caravan – The Circus

Back in 2020, we mentioned Redeye Caravan’s Nostrum Remedium. And now the Greek dark country, gothic Americana band is back with a new EP called: Snake Oil Lullabies. Love the title! And The Circus is the lead single and lyric video for that release. Freaking inspiring, darkness surrounds their account of the ‘show’. You feel the shadows dance around you as the ringmaster makes his gestures, and welcomes you. Not all four songs are as dangerous as The Circus, and that’s a good thing, otherwise you would not be able to sleep tonight. Under the full moon…

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Maven Hill - Magnetic

Out since October 2022, Magnetic, by French fourpiece Maven Hill! Of course Thierry “Pumpkin-T“ François mentioned it on a Peroration Post for the Doom Charts. But otherwise, the album has flown under many a radar, so it seems. Highly undeserved, cause the ten alternative rock tracks bend the ear towards metal, jazzy prog influences and funk breaks as easily as it goes full throttle on danceable energy. There’s something very Magnetic about this release!

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Red Eyed Hyena – Tried & True

We end this Quick Fire Friday with a an absolute bang! Formed in 2015, Red Eyed Hyena is a stoner band with blues and doom influences from Ivano-Frankivsk in Ukraine, and it’s damn good. The four know how to lay down a steady groove and will surely have you nodding along, and slowing down whenever the guitar flourishes deserve the spotlight, and you will listen breathlessly. You will soon feel like a cowboy (once on a bulldozer), riding around the prairie (or through a little frontier town) and watching the endless horizon slowly pass by. A cactus, and another cactus, a roadrunner, a hyena and a Weedeater cover? Sweet! Well, God Luck and Good Speed to Red Eyed Hyena!

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Suns Of The Tundra – Murmuration

 

 

Suns Of The Tundra – Murmuration
No Profit Recordings / Bad Elephant Music – 2021 / 2019
Rock, Prog, Psych, Post
Rated: *****

Should we mention the history of this band? The beginnings under the name Peach? The bassist that used to be a part of that line-up and then joined Tool? The fact that three of the four are also part of The Osiris Club and it’s amazing The Green Chapel + Live At Roadburn release earlier this year? Or should we just start going overboard again with the accolades for their 2019 album Mumuration? Well, we are referring to the English foursome Suns Of The Tundra and the vinyl re-release of said album. An album so fine it will surely tune you in and turn you on once again. And it doesn’t matter if you have been listening to this album since November 2019 or if you are now coming to grips with it, it is one crazy good record. Seven tracks and forty-two minutes long, it will bring you all your need from progressive rock. It touches on postrock here and there, gives a few metallic spur kicks and meanders through the psychedelic landscape like the very best of the prog rock greats. Going into record with opening title-track; the whole composition, the rhythms, that bass, the vocals, all serve as the perfect and irresistible lure to pull you deeper into the album. After that the push and pull of every track will either propel you forward or drive you inwards. Often grandiose, the sound and concept remains highly accessible, but complex and carefully constructed. Suns Of The Tundra’s Murmuration is hyper melodic, inventive and extremely gifted, and when the Survive Just Fine track twists, turns, swoops and swirls across your mind; you will surely see the pure beauty in its shape-shifting sound…

(Written by JK)

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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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Ghost – Prequelle

Ghost – Prequelle

Caroline/Spinefarm/Loma Vista – 2018

Rock, Metal, Pop, Theatrical, Occult

Rated: ***

As we return to the fold after the Graspop Metal Meeting Festival, we went back to one of the mentions we wrote before we left but had not posted yet. The few words below are still how I feel about the album, but the live show has become a different sort of thing. It’s not that fun anymore when you started out making fun of the band; but now the band parodies itself. Ghost on Roadburn was weird, the way they looked did not match up with the sound. And every show afterwards, the steadily grew better into their pop musical future. Until the decline started. On Graspop the new Cardinal Copia character has turned into more of an Inspector Clouseau, who makes lame jokes and sings horribly. Which might be due to the new mask and getting used to it or something. But still. We now not just hope for something a bit more Satanic next time around, we hope for a new Pope! And quickly! 

As you all might know, we’ve been following Ghost since we were confronted with them on Roadburn 2011 and we predicted the Popestar album back in 2013. Since then much has changed in the Ghost realm. But not for their music! Of course, everyone now knows (thanks to lawsuits and a few journalists who wouldn’t play the game) who is behind the Ghost project and that it is basically a one-man project. And that he longs to translate his love for the seventies approach that Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult had into whatever pop song magic Abba was able to tap into. We have been hearing Ghost do this on every album; and every one of those records has worked well. To a bigger or lesser degree. Well, Prequelle is no different. And therein perhaps lies the rub, the more of the same feeling and the lack of real progress. Or perhaps not, for when a track like Witch Image comes along, you cannot stand idly by. You will have to chant along and smile your lovely evil smile! There are few more of those damn catchy moments, but perhaps not quite enough. And yes, there it is, It’s A Sin! It was only logical that this would be recorded. Logical. Expected. Perhaps we would should start an incantation hymn for something a bit more Satanic next time around…

(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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Roadburn – 2015

Roadburn – 2015

The hangover grows every year. Not because of the copious amounts of drink. Or because a day or two had to be missed this time around. No. It’s because we love Roadburn so dearly and all its folk roaming around. It becomes harder with every passing year to continue on in this less successful version of the world. It will not happen again. This missing of days I mean. Because we already have to miss Roadburn for the entire year. On the other hand. There is one tiny problem, which we should address for the sake of things. It has been growing for a while now. And that is the simple fact that we hippies dig all of the bands that play at Roadburn. So how can one choose between Wovenhand, Monolord, Anthroproph, Scott H. Biram or Moloch? How can one choose between Eyehategod, Kandodo and Helms Alee? See. We can’t. So we try not to. And end up missing one or the other or part of it. Not because we arrive late. But because the venue or stage is full and way to crowded to push through. All of us want to see it all and all of us are fans of Helms Alee. So they could have easily filled the Patronaat stage and Monolord could easily have filled the main stage. But, then again, it is a small price to pay to feel a part of this thing called Roadburn. There were too many highlights to name them all. So let’s just name my favorite two. Which were on Friday. Finally seeing Helms Ale live. And in company of Steve Brooks from Torche/Floor. Who drinks his whisky and coke like a slow master. A crowded little Stage01 filled with smoke by a wretched machine that was soon yelled into submission by drummer and vocalist Hozoji Margullis. The drum work and grandiose guitar coloring whooped the crowd into a frenzy.  And earlier in the day we saw Spidergawd put on great show and move us with their massive groove. So now we wait. Till next year. And hope and pray that we will come to grips with whatever choice we made. Cause it eventually always is… The right one… Like Roadburn… The right one…

See ya’ll next year!

Photo's by Paul Verhagen.

Roadburn – 2013 – Afterburner

Roadburn – 2013 – Afterburner

Among the blackened remains from the past three Roadburn days there was little beauty to be found at the final Afterburner day. Three intense and beautiful days destroyed much of the possibility of anything good happening during those final moments. And the program did not have too much to offer. When bands such as Sigh envelop the main stage in their chuckle and giggle rituals and a railroad collision such as local band Nihill playing their first ever live gig is booked for the Green Room stage one does wonder a bit. When in the end Spiritual Beggars who delivered an amazing album with Earth Blues falters and stumbles and is unable to keep your attention one should just give up. But we did not and ended up eating one of the best steaks in a very long time. And with our bellies filled we were back in time to see Electric Moon bring back those famous Roadburn smiles. Those worn and slow moving heads bopping like a giant school of fish shifting to disturb all oncoming predators. Ofcourse we saw the same movement and glee earlier on when Pallbearer stepped in for the cancelled Diagonal and during the very open set of Golden Void. Zodiac and Switchblade closed the final moments of this beautiful Roadburn edition. Although next year one might have a more critical eye towards the Afterburner program cause I fear a better one could have easily been realized for half the coin… Still; it’s Roadburn. It’s the final frontier. That last wave that has been rolling across the globe ever since heavy rock came into existence and a generation decided to put their clothes back on and do away with the peace signs. In our Roadburn hearts we are all still the same hippies. And we can’t wait for next year’s love-in… Thanks to Walter for keeping the fire burning…

Roadburn – 2013 – Saturday

Roadburn – 2013 – Saturday

And lo and behold the sun was there and did its job. As we traversed the streets of Tilburg to visit recordstore Sounds there was no possibility to not feel the warmth in your heart and bones. Even though the temperature only barely made it above ten degrees. John Baizley was there doing an acoustic set and the store was filled with giddy Roadburn folk looking to score some black magic. The Ocean supplied us a little while later with a flawless set. And Monomyth destroyed what little of our membranes we had left. Wo Fat disappointed a bit. Maybe due to the fact that expectations were too high or because the little Stage01 (Batcave) was too packed with people and the sound could not lift. Jess and The Ancients Ones had the same problem in the Green Room. With a vocalist that could not reach the level everyone expected. It did give enough time to make it over to the incredible Patronaat for the best show of Roadburn: Elder. Incredible! Stirring! Legendary! They simply ruined the rest of the night. For there was no way Godflesh, My Brother The Wind, The Cosmic Dead, Asphyx and Endless Boogie could ever top that… Let’s see if there’s something still smoldering on the afterburner today…

Roadburn – 2013 – Friday

Roadburn – 2013 – Friday

A little rain never hurt anyone. And with the knowledge that the sun would be doing its thing for sure on Saturday the little drizzle Friday morning felt exactly right. With a small beer we planned the day ahead and soon after headed to Patronaat for Kadavar. We’ve been digging their albums but have not been blown away by them. On stage is an entirely different deal. From start to finish one massive seventies whirlwind storm. With a genuine ‘Animal’ on drums and an electric voice. Impressive. And judging from the reactions in the audience; everyone agreed. The main stage seemed a bit too big for the sound of Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats. But after the first song the band improved considerably. Even so, Hexvessel could not be missed. And a good decision it was. Then came Les Discrets. Insanely skilled and incredibly humble. A few minutes of the old geezers from The Pretty Things. And then Electric Wizard. Close your eyes and drift away or be hypnotized by their background images and miss half of the music. And just as expected a gigantic line outside to get into the Patronaat for Goat. Well; we’ll go slaughter one ourselves and eat some greasy kebab or just drink a few more pints. And on record store day Saturday the program will prove to be even more difficult and awesome… On to Tilburg!!!

Photo's by JJ. Koczan from The Obelisk

Roadburn - 2013 - Thursday

Roadburn 2013

The  only real problem every year at Roadburn is the simple fact that there is so much or should we say nearly everything to consume. Making it impossible to catch it all. And sometimes one might decide to leave a damn good show to see what the other band or artist is doing. Patronaat, the venue across the 013, which was added last year has improved even more and is a definite plus for the festival. Highlights on the Thursday were Blues Pills, Royal Thunder, John Baizley together with Nate Hall and Katie Jones, Intronaut, The Midnight Ghost Train and ofcourse High On Fire. Monsieur Pike and friends might not have been the tightest this night but they still blew everyone away... Beer gut and all!

Photos by Susanne A. Maathuis

Roadburn - 2011

Roadburn - 2011

Every year Roadburn manages to improve the atmosphere or at least be just as fun as the former edition. And with the amount beards and beer the four days of 2011 were no exception. Luckily no volcanoes or other earthly violence disrupted the pleasure. Except maybe the moving of Earth from Main Stage to the Midi Theater. Which caused an enormous queue and therefor had to be missed. But thanks to many other legends the festival once again almost achieved perfection.

On day one we saw David Eugene Edwards and his Wovenhand provoke and disconcert the audience, his presumed spawn of Satan were in awe of the mimicry and act he put on. And was Atomic Bitchwax by far the best that the first day offered. And of course we could laugh our asses of by the awful parody that is Ghost; nothing more then a damn ugly Pope. Second day brought us the Vampyr soundtrack wonderfully performed by Year Of No Light but without the teeth everyone was waiting for. Or was that a different movie? The much anticipated reunion of Beaver was kinda messy and therefor disappointed. Circle With The Pharaoh Overlord could of course by made up out of two bands; as they had a massive amount of guitars on stage. Or was that the LSD talkin? C.O.C. fun, Jesse Sykes lovely, Menace Ruine would be better of playing to a couple of dustbins, a dead cat and some weird passed out guy and last but not least Voivod in Midi was exhilarating!

Third day started off with free vinyl and a very good show by Gingerpig in Cul De Sac. Woe those who were not there! And continued with the amazing Black Math Horseman and its absurd good drummer. Ofcourse one then remains where they are to see White Hills and the red hot pants before wandering towards Main Stage where you will have tons of fun with Weedeater. Will the bass-player still have a headache after being used as part of the drum kit?

Ufomammut was also very amazing and enthralling in the Midi Theater, and we had perfect timing to get into the theater. As long as one does not go stand in line with the rest of the family and just passes the queue to slide in somewhere in front. Hey, the bouncer with the clicker said it would be the only way to see the show and he gave the nod. Otherwise we would never have done that. Honestly. Really.

No Afterburner, no glory. So we start off slowly with Spindrift and get blown away by Dragontears. Black Mountain gets the entire venue singing along. (With Happy Birthday, not one of their own songs. Sniff.) With an amazing set for a not sold out afterburner they surely cemented their position as top of the whole shebang. And Samsara Blues Experiment turns out to be the perfect ending to yet another successful Roadburn. And of course you see a few more bands along the way; and all of them were doing pretty great. Except of course the two mentioned before. Oh and who cares right; its one big family. And everyone can fuck up now and again. Naam? Ghost? Ich nicht weisse? Jamais! The countdown till Roadburn 2012 has commenced…

Roadburn

Roadburn

One more day left, thirty hours and counting till Roadburn… The blood is boiling and the skin is itching… Sold out in 15 minutes once again and it will surely also be one gigantic awesome trip once more; as it is every year. With so many great bands in the line-up it will be impossible to catch them all. And should the choice become too difficult; then we can always just sit in the sun with a beer or two and relax for a moment. Be sure to catch the Gingerpig gig in Cul De Sac though on Saturday at 13:30… It will be testament to pure free rock!

Roadburn

Gingerpig

Roadburn

Roadburn

Saturday at 10:00 CET there were once again enough people around the world behind their devilish computer-screens to sell out the sixteenth edition of the Roadburn Festival in about 15 minutes. This time not because the Dutch government is planning to tax ticket-prices next year making every festival twenty or something Euro’s more expensive. No; this was just because the presale started at that exact time. Fifteen minutes. It’s gonna be a grand edition once again! Maybe the last at the chosen location? Cause the venue is about to rip at the seams…

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Roadburn 2010

ROADBURN

Plagued by a vulcano with issues; the festival was once again an incredible feast and convinced everyone once again. Roadburn was a fantastic trip and even though some favorites had to miss the party; the other great ones did their stuff to make the festival once again come close to perfection. Goatsnake showed us what a reunion should be like; tight, pure and devastating. Brant Bjork is still singing around in my head and with Karma To Burn we were treated to two unbelievable parties. Tequila! The peak of the big feast of recognition was ofcourse during Garcia Plays Kyuss; during which honorable John was on occasion almost inaudible due to the fact that the entire audience was screaming along with the lyrics! The countdown for Roadburn 2011 has started…

Roadburn

Seeya on the flipside!