Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – Blood & Fire

Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – Blood & Fire
Black Records / No Death - 2010
Rock/Punk
Waardering: *****

Out of sight, out of mind. Something very true uttered about a lovely band called Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster. At one point they jumped into my eye thanks to their record The Royal Society recorded in 2004 with the help of none-other then Chris Goss in the incredible Rancho De La Luna studio in Palm Desert. Not their best record to that date though. Their new and third official album Blood & Fire is! A perfect hit and a rock ’n roll battering ram, which cannot mean anything else, but a glorious return to the front and a well-deserved breakthrough for the band. With pounding drums, swirling guitars and riffs that can blues the hell out of you but also sting you in the gut the band launch their attack. Add to this: a singer named Guy McKnight who conquered some of his drug-demons and sounds like a manic and savage wild man out to get even. And the result is a gothic, psychotic, rock noir, and punk album with an everlasting mystical atmosphere, which comes close to perfection. Woohaa!

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We're back...

After a two-week bacchanal on some deserted island we have returned from the wilderness. After being hunted by the island resident who envisioned us as the fulfillment of some weird and ancient prophecy; we could only barely escape by jumping on a mirror and beads laden ship heading for the cultured coast. With most of our hair and toenails still present we have now returned… And we are ready for action!

Holiday

Downtime... Holiday time... A truckload of Rum... You get the idea... Seeya in two weeks...

Mondo Generator – Dog Food

Mondo Generator – Dog Food
Impedance – 2010
Rock/Punk
Waardering: ****

Nick Oliveri will always remain that highly unpredictable (often naked) bass-player who was a member of Kyuss and an important part of Queens of The Stone Age. But besides that he had his own projects of which Mondo Generator has always been his first love. Ideas and songs of that project were also used for Queens of The Stone Age as if it was his very own Desert Sessions. And now; in a prelude to the upcoming album Time To Destroy, we are treated to the EP Dog Food. Mostly filled with cover versions of songs by Iggy Pop, Turbonegro, Roky Erickson, Ramones and Kyuss. Most of which are featured in his notorious Death Acoustic style. Half or complete acoustic versions of hardrock songs signed with his own chaotic and screaming signature. The most important given of the entire EP is that on the track Dog Food we can hear The Fresh Prince of Darkness of The Dwarves, Happy Tom from Turbonegro, Michelle Madde of Tourettes and most alluring of all, giving hope for future generations, Dave Grohl as drummer! Who know what the future may bring… Who knows…?

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KOMATSU

Members of Borehole, Repomen, The Good’s and SQY created a new monster!

Be afraid; be very afraid!!

KOMATSU !!!

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Zeus – 07

Zeus – 07
SixxKiller / Freebird – 2007
Rock/Stoner/Grunge
Waardering: ****

The guys from Zeus delivered their second album in the year of our Lord 2007. The aptly named 07 was recorded after an adventure in CBGB’s New York and a truckload of performances throughout the homecountry. The follow-up to the strong 2005 album Bad Signs was a logical one and continued down the same path. Sublime heavy rock that leans on grunge and stoner. This time however much more convincing and incorporating influences from stonerpop, doom, metal and funk. And great progression and one that made the listener long for a third record as well. Unfortunately the bassplayer decided to move to Switzerland in 2008 and it took a year to find a replacement. So when they started work on their third record a bit of the fire had disappeared and due to the busy schedules of all involved they decided to take a long break. Let’s hope they shall return; cause there is always a spot for an incredible band like this in the Lowlands…

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Zeus – Bad Signs

Zeus – Bad Signs
SixxKiller / Suburban – 2005
Rock/Stoner/Grunge
Waardering: ***

Everyone in the Netherlands knows Jeroen van Koningsbrugge as one half of comic duo Draadstaal, a comedic guest in many shows, improvisational funnyman with the Lama’s, de Citroen salesman, strange actor or from his comedic interjections in ‘game’ show Ik Hou Van Holland (I Love Holland). Lesser known are his exploits with stonerrockband Zeus. The four freaks produced the record Bad Signs in 2005, which can easily be referred to as a hefty grunge record with a large dose of stoner. Think off Soundgarden, Alice In Chains and Stone Temple Pilots camping out in the desert for a week or two. Unwielding riffs, grimy bass and powerful drums with the majestic and raw voice of Van Koningsbrugge. It’s just that the compositions aren’t as powerful as the large influences named earlier. The tension arcs are just not wound too tightly for that. But hey; the guess had only been playing together for two years…

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Dirty Sweet – American Spiritual

Dirty Sweet – American Spiritual
Acetate / Sonic Rendevous
Rock/Hard/Blues/Seventies/Southern
Waardering: ****

When their first record Of Monarchs And Beggars was released I had the pleasure of seeing the guys play in a small venue called The Rambler in Eindhoven. Dirty Sweet showed us what a perfect mix of southern rock, seventies and muddy blues should sound like. On their new album American Spiritual we are once again treated to much of all that; but now with much more conviction and a sound that is much more their own and maybe a bit cleaner. Ofcourse we can still hear the Black Crowes, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones and Lynyrd Skynyrd influences. But their damn strong compositions and arrangements sound refined, rub against rootsrock and can justly be called the Dirty Sweet sound. Add to this the extraordinary fine voice of singer Ryan Koonts and you got a recipe for a great record. One that deserves to get a lot of spins; just like the charismatic band deserves to become damn freaking big. Get it on!

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Serena Maneesh – Abyss in B Minor

Serena Maneesh – Abyss in B Minor
V2/4AD – 2010
Rock/Shoegaze/Krautrock/New Wave
Waardering: ****

Upon return from Oslo I can now say for certain that it is in fact heaven on earth. Not only because of the fact that the first rays of the summer sun made the Oslo women discard most layer of clothing. Mostly because it is the musical Mecca; due to the fact it has an incredible amount of stages; music cafes, underground bars, hundreds of festival, authentic record stores and sinister drinking halls for the raw sailors, whores and lost souls. To prove the fact we have Serena Maneesh’s second album Abyss in B Minor. Recorded in a cave outside Oslo the album sports a truckload of guest musicians, friend Sufjan Stevens and producers Nick Terry (Primal Scream) and René Tinner (Can) and sounds like a hypnotic ode to the shoegaze. Thousand and one layers, distorted by noise and hard distinguishable hooks and riffs; could lead to an almost unlistenable pulp. But this is not the case with Serena Maneesh; they make sure this form of music has… errr… Form… And in that respect they can easily hold a candle to My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless. The album has enough dark moments to propel feelings of unease and claustrophobia; ethereal lines of space and light and without losing complete sight of the pure pop-song. Breathtakingly beautiful and mysterious!

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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…

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Seeya on the flipside!

Biggus Diccus – Twelve Inches of Love

Biggus Diccus – Twelve Inches of Love
Unsigned/Tuition – 2010
Rock/Stoner/Metal/Parody
Waardering: ***

Unfortunately; not much information can be found about the Irish Biggus Dickus. Well, that makes it easy and fast so we can hit the bar and drink our fill. But let’s sum up what we do know. Everyone knows the Monty Python Biggus Diccus sketch of course. Well, this album called Twelve Inches of Love is the musical stoner variation on that sketch. Biggus Diccus is an Irish rockband with musical influences and aspirations sought in bands like Queens of The Stone Age, Black Sabbath and high quality lyrics found in acts like Turbonegro, Bad News and all that leads to an experience resembling a good old Spinal Tap scene. Its is all done very nicely; but with most parody acts you have had your fill after one, though very enjoyable, listening turn. Which is the case with Biggus Diccus; let’s hope that Declan Murray (the main man behind this thing, singer/songwriter and man behind The Unseen Guest and The Four In Hand) refrains from naming his next band after a seemingly dead Parrot…

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Voice of The Seven Thunders – Voice of The Seven Thunders

Voice of The Seven Thunders – Voice of The Seven Thunders
Tchantinler recordings / Twisted Nerve – 2010
Rock/Folk/Blues/Psychedelic/Acid/Freak
Waardering: ****

Voice of The Seven Thunders is the new name under which English Rick Tomlinsen’s magical freak and fruts is sent out into the big wide world. Apparently Voice of The Seven Woods was no longer the right word for the musical content; and he surely has a point there. The new record is even more prone to experimentation and definitely less folk oriented. It’s electrified! It rocks and it shaves! It reminds of Popol Vuh and Amon Düül II; who decided to delve even more into the Arabic, Egyptian and Indian musical influences which are used by bands like Woven Hand. Other worldly influences are also constantly lurking around the corner. Like a true sound-artist he sculpts his intriguing structures, which grab you by the neck-hairs and drag you with them through the seventies and never drown in artsy fartsy posturing. And whether the songs drag themselves along like dead animals or run like coyote’s on speed; it all sounds damn tasty!!

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