Help Wanted!

Help Wanted!

The amount of releases we receive is still expanding like a universe of its own and it is time to face the music once again and see if there might be anyone else out there willing to lend a helping hand. If you dig listening to the heavy genres featured on this little blog and have a few moments to spare in the week maybe you would like to contribute? A new album or EP would be forwarded to you and all you have to do is listen to it and write a few words about it. If possible with a little bit of information about the band, what the music entails and if you dug it. Somewhere between a hundred and fity and two hundred words per mention is all it takes. Interested? Want to know more? Send an email to this adress: Stoner HiVe !

The Lemmings - The March of Provocation

The Lemmings - The March of Provocation

Self released – 1998

Rock, Grunge, Stoner, Punk

Rated: ****

Before Shovelhead became Shovelhead the guys that made up the first version of Shovelhead were going under the moniker The Lemmings. On their only album The March Of Provocation from 1998 the sound is very similar to the later Shovelhead records. Perhaps they sound even more like Mudhoney and The Stooges than after the name change and perhaps they have even more Hendrix influenced guitar outings. Their hard driving, raw, aggressive and rust-colored noise stems form their very own unique blend of psychedelic blues based riff rock. Their dark melodies and hypnotic rhythms are mixed by jam like solo’s and true 60’s and 70’s inspired nomadic string offerings that would definitely turn both of the Jimi/Jimmy heads. The Freehold, New Jersey powertrio produced something timeless and an album that has all the makings of a classic gem later to be rediscovered. So where’s Indiana Jones when you need’em?!

(Written by JK)

Myspace

Roadkillsoda – Oven Sun

Roadkillsoda – Oven Sun

Self-Released – 2013

Stoner, Punk

Rated: **

From Romania comes the disgustingly named four piece Roadkillsoda.  There is a restless spirit at work on ‘Oven Sun’ as riffs writhe and squirm under its glare like multi-legged insects exposed beneath an upturned rock.  The vocals and lyrics are defined by a punkish spirit of pissed off and exhausted concern, creating apathy and a piss poor disposition.  The band is known to rock out with some freewheelin’ solos when the mood strikes them.  Mostly, Roadkillsoda music is characterized by distillery fog grunge seen through the lens of a busted bottle of southern rock.  Ten songs have spilled out on the ground averaging about three and a half minutes apiece.   Sometimes, the band’s convertible picks up a speeding ticket as songs fly in and fly out without much fuss. Before you realize it three songs and not even ten minutes have passed.  We all know the feeling, that speeding convertible is guaranteed to hit a few more fuzzy creatures along the way creating more of their particular brew.  Now, what you want to do is, see, go down to the highway side and peel yourself a pack of songs off the road.

(Written by Lucas)

Homepage

Palmer Generator – (E)Motionless

Palmer Generator – (E)Motionless

Self released – 2013

Rock, Alternative, Progressive, Stoner

Rated: ***

Hailing from the Marche countryside in Italy, the three men from Palmer Generator just released a second effort called (E)Motionless. It is a family affair comprised out of brothers and a son and shows the legacy of a very musical family. The sound on the album feels otherworldly, experimental and has definite dreamlike qualities. It comes across like a weird hybrid of Eastern influenced space out music, with South-American ditties, progressive rock and stoner inspired rhythms and riffs. Some of the vocal parts could use a little work but this is hardly worth mentioning for the mind pictures painted are extraordinary. You can just as easily imagine green rainforests and naked beauties bathing under waterfalls, worn down parts of town where the wind has free reign over all the rubbish and very little souls dare venture or even sacred rituals by masked freaks that try to waken some ancient power. In other words; Palmer Generator has a lot to offer and probably has something for everyone…

(Written by JK)

Bandcamp

Trucker Diablo – Songs of Iron

Trucker Diablo – Songs of Iron

Ripple Music – 2013

Rock, Hard, Pub, Southern

Rated: ****

These Irish bastards (re)released their first album The Devil Rhythm only a year ago and have now produced a damn fine follow-up called Songs of Iron. We are ofcourse referring to the Trucker Diablo freaks. Another fist full of energetic rock that is in debt to those giants that produced the best of pubrock, hardrock and all those other subgenres that have little or no use for bullshit. With some tasty bourbon swilling, tobacco spitting southern influences the guys do their best to come close to bands like AC/DC, Thin Lizzy and even ZZ Top. The crisp and clear production just explodes out of the speakers and almost every song makes you nod your head and smile as you sip your beer. The only thing left to wish for now is a rickety lawn chair, a sleepy dog, a setting sun and BBQ searing steaks nearby. Never thought it possible for rainy Ireland to produce this kind of steamy and sizzling rock…

(Written by JK)

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Polkadot Cadaver – Last Call In Jonestown

Polkadot Cadaver – Last Call In Jonestown

Razor to Wrist – 2013

Rock, Metal

Rated: ***

Dog Fashion Disco exploded in 2007 and from its ashes grew Polkadot Cadaver. And with Last Call In Jonestown the guys have already released their fourth effort. It essentially carries on the former group’s experimental and cultivated weirdness. It’s a tasteful mash up of groove metal with sidesteps towards thrash, industrial, progressive and something artsy incorporating less tasteful themes and disturbing subjects. Dark, twisted and aggressive the album washes over you with brutal riffs and manic drumwork. It’s lunacy translated to a heavy shock and aggravating degree, which paradoxically enough leaves one relieved and refreshed. And with Neil Fallon of Clutch lending his soulful vocals to the Transistors of Mercy track the record calls out to everyone needing a tall glass of schizophrenic rock ‘n roll!

(Written by JK)

Razor to Wrist

Zeppheroin – Howl

Zeppheroin – Howl

Self released – 2013

Rock, Doom, Post, Metal

Rated: ****

Black Insect Laughter produces a sapphire zephyr that brings screaming proclamation and howling dismay from a long forgotten gutter somewhere between madness and hysteria. It is the man behind this beautiful website that pulls the strings on his very own musical outlet that has been dubbed Zeppheroin. Which produces lo-fi doom with furious aggression and a staggering appetite to eat fire in Paradise Alley. Which sounds like the madman bum searching for carnal desire and unsavory lust for unspeakable truths that flusters the mind and boils the blood. Which drags itself through hopeless back streets and corridors filled with wailing despair and the loathsome charm of the failed and the doomed. Which can only truly be appreciated by those that have heard the pure hymn stemming from the gloomy underground and have seen the absolute heart of the riff, the rock and the poetry of life butchered out of their own bodies good to eat for a thousand years…

(Written by JK with a little help from the honorable Ginsberg.)

Bandcamp

Kylesa – Ultraviolet

Kylesa – Ultraviolet

Season of Mist – 2013

Rock, Metal, Sludge

Rated: ****

Ultraviolet is the sixth full-length studio album by Savannah sludge metal formation Kylesa. On it they seem to run through their previously explored avenues and move away through dusty and rubble filled post punk back streets and enigmatic dark and psychedelic cul-de-sacs. The five-piece, double drums, muddy trashers seem to want to skewer the sewers looking for the dirty tones lurking there. And every now and again they pop up through the grating like one of those hit the mole kind of games Sam N Max always play. It makes the record seem a little jumpy and all over the place, which might turn away some but does make for one hell of a scary and exciting ride. In fact it does not so much feels like an acid trip but more like a DMT infused car chase down cartoon filled highways… You should step in and tune out pronto! “Mind if I drive?” “Not if you don’t mind me clawing at the dash and shrieking like a cheerleader…”

(Written by JK)

Homepage

Howl – Bloodlines

Howl – Bloodlines

Relapse – 2013

Metal, Sludge

Rated: ***

On their second album Bloodlines, the branded sludge metal formation Howl moves further away from the muddy dirty sound they produced on their debut Full Of Hell. Released in 2010 the Providence foursome received glowing reviews and comparisons to Kylesa, High On Fire, Mastodon and Baroness. There are still little stints and hints of that sludge and doom history but Howl has opted to go a much faster and direct route towards a burning metal future. The now reborn quintet produce iron strong gritty riffs, occasional blast-beats, incredibly impressive drum-work and incorporate a grimy sandpaper voice to propel this record to an extraordinary velocity. It’s a gallop through streams of lava towards the devils lair which must be situated somewhere down south. Howl promises once again to be a force to be reckoned with very soon. And for some the reckoning will start today…

(Written by JK)

Myspace

Sounds of Zamboni

Sounds of Zamboni

Wanna be the first among many to hear the new sounds from the solo project of Hijos De Mayo’s bassplayer called Sounds of Zamboni? Started after the sad demise of said band he has now put a few demo productions online. Check out his Soundcloud and get groovy to his space kraut drone extravaganza!

Sounds of Zamboni

Geezer – Gage

Geezer – Gage

Self released – 2013

Rock, Stoner, Blues, Psychedelic

Rated: ****

It’s only been a month or two when Geezer released their damn good Handmade Heavy Blues album that forced its way into our hearts and Lucas wrote a glowing review. And now the guys are already unleashing a new four-track EP called Gage upon the world. Recorded in one sitting after finishing the one track promised for The Grip of Delusion compilation soon to be released the songs are definite Geezer material. However they do move away from their classic blues roots and that heavy trucking sound they had on their already mentioned album and edge forward towards a dry heat desert feeling where things drip somewhere in the background and the beer spilled immediately evaporates. It’s all even more laid-back and lazy and speaks to that atavistic side of us all. That side that prospers when things get dangerous and life threatening. So let’s hope the summer becomes just that and we will use Gage as the soundtrack… 

(Written by JK)

Bandcamp

A much better review as written by Lucas on his Paranoid Histophrenic!

Morality Crisis – Boats

Morality Crisis – Boats

Minnesconsin Records – 2013

Metal, Grind, Core, Prog, Sludge

Rated: ***

Do you want to be shell-shocked? Do you want to experience what all the victims of war experience? Do you feel like trying your luck with a roadside bomb and maybe end up in a wheelchair? Try the new record by Morality Crisis called Boats. It’s an intestine turning full frontal assault that will leave you deaf, blind and in a definite crisis. Their punky grind and hardcore tunes are infused with technical breaks and rhythm changes that makes you wonder where their progressive influences stem from. Their noise even has some stomping sludge hidden in their midst and it all is blasted your way sewage boiling vocals and battering riffs. So if you’re up for a dangerous stint through a shit kicking war zone, try out Morality Crisis; it might just save your life…

(Written by JK)

Bandcamp

Mexicoma – Mexicoma

Mexicoma – Mexicoma

Bilocation Records – 2013

Rock, Stoner, Doom

Rated: ****

A few months ago we featured the Supervoid EP by the Swedish six-piece groove attack monster force that is Mexicoma. And the guys have now released a full-sized self-titled album which will not just knock you back into next week but probably skip a few months as well. Cause the first track 5.27 works as a slow building but trampling round one knock out that incorporates fuzzy groove, beastly stoner and hallowed doom. And that’s just the opener. After that the subtle brutality and the brutish subtlety just forces itself upon you. There is no escaping the fact that Mexicoma is one hell of operation. Slow riffs, melodic guitar lines and drums that beat down any note that tries to flee. And then there’s the vocalist with a voice that seems to just explode right out of his chest. Aah yes, Mexicoma. Sweden must surely have a steamy hot desert hidden away somewhere…

(Written by JK)

Bandcamp