Royal Thunder – CVI

Royal Thunder – CVI

Rough Trade / Relapse – 2012

Rock, Hard, Metal, Psychedelica

Rated: ****

Atlanta has become the epicenter of hard adventurous music thanks to frontrunners such as Mastodon and Kylesa. This hotbed in Georgia seems to breed an unending stream of good bands. And even though there is a definite amount of mutual points of contact between them there is absolutely no uniform quality. Royal Thunder is yet another outfit that goes its own way with a hybrid version of Neurosis and Heart. The promise that was made with their 2009 EP is redeemed with their full-sized album CVI. Strongest ace in the cards is without a doubt their singer and bassplayer Mlny Parsonz, who sounds like a sexy banshee, the result of a wild one night stand between Ann Wilson and Robert Plant. Charming during the sober passages and a true powerhouse once the registers go up and all the stops get pulled. Her vocals lift the mostly elongated compositions to a higher level and that’s one hell of a feat with music that already offers so much. And thanks to a very organic sound CVI is also a definite relief between the otherwise clinical produced metal of the times. Perhaps one of the best debut albums released this year?

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The Gentlemen Bastards – The Gentlemen Bastards

The Gentlemen Bastards – The Gentlemen Bastards

Self released – 2012

Rock, Southern, Hard

Rated: ***

Here we are in Huntsville, Alabama where a spirit similar to that of the Ozarks roams free. Perhaps they eat a little less squirrel and they may only have a handful of methlabs. But it’s libertarian at its core. The typical independent, don’t mess with me kind of Americans that the Heartland is proud of. With a dash more of appreciation for their European roots and the characteristics of a border town community. For if you take the One down to Fayetteville you pass into Tennessee after only twenty miles. This breeds a very distinct kind of American; one that does not care about conventions and one that is proud it is able to make due with whatever is available. The Gentlemen Bastards show this ability on their self-titled debut album. They take the southern rock they grew up with; incorporate a little of that British Isle rock ‘n roll (which might be due to the Canadian drummer and the Icelandic bassplayer) and some heavy stuff they know the guys from Soundgarden of Clutch would dig. Polish it off a bit and soak for three weeks in a bath of beer and bourbon. Let it leak out above a smoky bbq and the dry airy drums start to shine. The steady truckin bass starts to simmer and the guitar begins to bleed classic riffs and unrestrained lines that would shake the foundation of any dusty watering hole. Add to this the fact the guys know how to construct a song and an off-center high pitched vocalist that absolutely convinces and you have a tasty recipe that honors the old guard and incorporates the new. A tasty regional dish of squirrel pot pie with some imported vegetables. And for those of you who never tasted squirrel: it’s simply delicious!

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Ogressa – Warts And All

Ogressa – Warts And All

Dali's Llama Records – 2011

Rock, Stoner, Desert, Doom, Metal, Punk

Rated: *****

Released in 2011 the Ogressa album Warts And All seemed to have passed by most of us without noticing it. Which is weird for it features many legends of the scene. Main songwriter and guitarist is Zach Huskey (Dali’s Llama), lead vocals are handles by Trent Ramseyer (Whores of Tijuana). On drums we hear Ian Dye (Ape Has Killed Ape) and main bass monster is Mike Jacobson (Hot Beat Pussy Fiend). Guesting on bass on a few tracks is Scott Reeder and Joe Dillon (Dali’s Llama) on guitar. And that isn’t the only freakin surprise; for the sheer awesomeness of all the tracks takes you soul by storm and makes it twitch and tweak and vibrate on a completely differen pitch. This is exactly how we all want all of our records to sound like. Heavy, downtuned, low an dirty with a massive groove and incredible tasty vocals. Riffs that make your fingers melt with anxiety and pounding rhythms that make your ankles weak with lust. There hasn’t been a release like this for many a year; and there probably never will. For the only band that could top this was Kyuss…

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Melmak – Cosmic Pain

Melmak – Cosmic Pain

Self released – 2012

Metal, Sludge, Doom, Death, Core

Rated: **

I dug Alf. There was nothing wrong with that silly little rascal. I can still hear the theme song in my head. So when the Spanish freaks that named their band after Alf’s home planet contacted me, my interested was peeked. Lo-Fi production gives Cosmic Pain as the record is called a grey and grimy feel. It turns it into something obscure, dangerous and otherworldly. The duo merges all the bleakness of death metal, hardcore, sludge and doom to an invocation of something evil. A massive universe of noise and pummeling explodes and haunting growls and screams make your bones ache and blood freeze. There’s definitely something wicked brooding on Melmak…

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Strings of Atlas – So Far From Home

Strings of Atlas – So Far From Home

Self released – 2012

Rock, Stoner, Alternative, Psychedelic

Rated: ****

Somewhere in the windswept outback of El Paso, Texas back in 2006 a lone cowboy starts wandering around trying to sell his tunes, making a buck playing and finding likeminded souls to jam with. And he did find them. About a year ago the three amigos started jamming and formed a rock outfit called Strings Of Atlas. Main man behind it though is lone cowboy, singer and axe-man Atlas Cage. With enough blues to last a lifetime the man excels in painting pictures both bleak, full of anguish but still retaining that small glimmer of hope. Their record So Far From Home is filled with a mighty groove and their desert rock thunders over you like a gigantic herd of stampeding buffalo’s. But that passes and then the dust slowly settles but fast enough so the dirt never suffocates. Leaving you with a soulful seventies rock rendition of something funky and something intensely groovy. Angry riffs, wailing wah’s and fuzzy chords. Highly diverse compositions and with enough nods in the right direction. (Kinks, Kravitz, Monster Magnet) Aaah yes, there’s still time to repent. Our souls shall be saved; as long as we keep spinning Atlas…

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Wheelfall – Interzone

Wheelfall – Interzone

Sunruin Records – 2012

Rock, Stoner, Metal, Sludge, Desert

Rated: *****

One of the albums waiting on my desk has been Wheelfall’s new record Interzone. And since we all remember their great debut from 2010, From The Blazing Sky At Dusk. Which came in at the Fifteenth place of that year's Stoner HiVe Top 20. It was with great pain that I had to wait to give this record its deserved spin. But it has been spinning ever since. The four French freaks have delivered yet another amazing musical endeavor. Infused with the Sci-fi theme they introduced to us on their debut they continue to produce massive songs with the ability to captivate and hypnotize. Aggressive metal and sludge interchanged with stoner, grunge and desert goodness. Gritty vocals and muddy riffs, thunderous drums and an ever chugging rhythm. The buildup on this album is amazing, not just in the songs themselves or the song lengths, but the entire record. Culminating in the twenty-two minute long title track epic ender. This gigantic dome of a record leaves you breathless and in awe…

Sunruin Records

Methadone Skies – Enter The Void

Methadone Skies – Enter The Void

Self released – 2012

Rock, Stoner, Psychedelic, Progressive, Instrumental

Rated: ****

Life has turned into a mad rollercoaster ride once again with loads of travelling and an unbearable amount of deadlines. Hence the recent slowness on the HiVe. And in a few weeks I shall depart for Poland to check out the Warsaw and Krakau scene. But when one hears the musical magic that Methadone Skies produces; you almost want to change the destination to Timisoara, Rumania. Four guys that embrace the heavy side of jamming. Founded in the year of our lord 2009 as a trio they soon recorded their first album called Explosions Of The Sun. But now the fella’s take you on an hour-long voyage through the endless space called Enter The Void. Massive atmospheric riffage and psychedelic progression. A pummeling drummer that also knows when to restrain and a bass that shows which route to take to the next destination, giving air and room for the guitars to explode, duel, graze, slide and stomp. One hell of an impressive ride!

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Torre Florim - Firestarter

Torre Florim – Firestarter

One of the Dutch masters of cover versions is ofcourse De Staat. Our lovely friends have already carved out a nice place in Dutch rock history for themselves. And now the grandmaster of that band, Torre Florim, has done it again with his very own interpretation of the Prodigy’s song Firestarter. Amazing!

Lords of Bastard – Cuddles

Lords of Bastard – Cuddles

Bang Mountain Records – 2012

Rock, Stoner, Sludge, Grunge, Noise

Rated: ****

The nowadays four Scottish freaks from Lords of Bastard have released their sophomore album called Cuddles and aptly describe it as ‘haunting gibberish’. But instead of it being unintelligible rock’n roll chatter; it’s actually an only seemingly chaotic journey to places where no man has gone before. And through that endless void, apart from all the rocks, debris and asteroids, we travel with them in heart and sound and after time make sense of it all. For this is a trip best not taken alone. This is new age sludge mixed with a bit of heavy grunge, noise and stoner; but with an ever-present twist. They propel their chucking riffs, hacking rhythms and viscose vocals with otherworldly keys and with an equally eerie atmosphere all around. And the apparent whimsical nature of the songs only lasts for a turn or two after which the new empire becomes visible. The Lords have built a new cathedral!

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Lords of Bastard - Eggs Any Style

Lords of Bastard - Eggs Any Style

Look at this masterful piece of art and understand and know and feel how to interpret that magic that the Lords of Bastard do. They do not only discover new worlds; they colonize and build new empires. Wait till you hear their cathedral!

Left Lane Cruiser & James Leg – Painkillers

Left Lane Cruiser & James Leg – Painkillers

Sonic Rendezvous – 2012

Rock, Blues, Soul, Garage, Punk, Roll

Rated: ****

The American duo of Left Lane Cruiser has always been an absolute guarantee for punked-up-blues. And on their new album Painkillers kindred spirit James Leg of the Black Diamond Heavies and the 66-year old harmonica phenomenon Shah aid them and turns their already impressive craft into shiny ramshackle art. Add to this the fact that the producer Jim Diamond (ex-Dirtbombs) also plays along on Bob Segers Come To Poppa and it’s a full swing gritty house party. And the rest of this album filled with cover versions is just as tasty. With wailing slideguitar by Freddie J IV and keys by organ devourer Leg. Besides steamy tributes to Junior Kimbrough and Hound Dog Taylor we find charming revisions of Taj Mahal’s Chevrolet and Jimi Hendrix’ If 6 Was 9; which gets a totally new twist thanks to Leg’s deformed rasping voice. When The Levee Breaks owes more to Led Zeppelin than to Memphis Minnie; powerful Bonham-backbeat included thanks to drummer Brenn Beck. The Stones jewel Sway closes this wonderful package off with both singers at their absolute best These kind of painkillers turn the blues into happy and cheerful moments!

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Sunriot – Sunriot

Sunriot – Sunriot

Self released – 2012

Rock, Stoner, Kraut, Space, Psychedelica

Rated: ***

Sunriot is an Italian trio that seems to live by that Desert Sessions adagio; that things should be thought off on the spot, recorded immediately and not ever played again. Well; maybe they casually forget about that last part since they do perform live. But when listening to their three songs counting self-titled EP recorded in one nightly session the feeling of being part of some magical journey is a precious constant. With some heavy kraut and space rock influences the three amici ride out a nightly desert storm like some otherworldly shaman. Conjuring up the most twisted riffs, mystical guitar lines and gliding fills over spinning everlasting rhythms and an ancient cadence. Want to soar like an eagle? Swim with the dolphins? Roar like a mountain lion? Scream like an obeah medicine man on way too much ayahuasca? Sunriot will instate a dream in which you will!

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Ghostsonics – Dead Horse Blues

Ghostsonics – Dead Horse Blues

Self released – 2008

Rock, Stoner

Rated: ****

The four friends that make up Ghostsonics live in the town of Järvenpää in the south of Finland. Their first and only EP thus far is called Dead Horse Blues and was released in 2008. A pure stoner pop diamond in the vein of all the Dutch releases that came after Queens of The Stone Age took the world by storm with their Songs For The Deaf release in 2002. Which leads to conclude that the band sounds like QOTSA, De Staat, Automatic Sam, The Mad Trist and many many more. And even though their sound is less than original, it is highly contagious and served up with sheer perfection. Four poppy stoner tracks with a head, a tail and a wicked dancing body in between. And since the guys entered the studio back in April 2011 we can only hope that new songs will be released soon. C’mon guys, what’s happening? Make our bones twitch, jig and shuffle with some more Ghostsonics tunes… Kippis!

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