Stoner HiVe

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Skunk Rider – Smoke Serpent

Self released – 2015

Rock, Stoner, Punk

Rated: ***

They hail from the grunge capital of the world and have indeed a no-nonsense-we-make-punky-rock-attitude. But because the love the herb, judging from their name and the name of the album; they turn their grungy take on punk into something stonerrefic. We are talking about the three-piece from Seattle going under the moniker Skunk Rider and debut record Smoke Serpent. Which looks definitely magnificent in your hands and at the right moment, when the lights flickers and bounces of the cover you can almost see that big green dragon come alive. And that’s exactly what the music does to you as well. At certain moments you just groove along and bop your head and think majestic things about Skunk Rider. But then there are those moments when the singer takes center stage, and you start imagining you’re listening to one of the first badly recorded Mudhoney basement tapes or a drunken demo by an eighties metal band. It seems like he tries to sound like something he once heard, but not like himself. The best vocal moments are the end ‘woo’ in the otherwise damn fine Medical Savior track and the weird almost funkdafied Kansas City Gloryhole. But almost everywhere you see a Jay And Silent Bob trying to sing or intentionally raping some Whitney Houston song. It is a shame, cause it distracts so much from the otherwise definitely truckin music!

(Written by JK)

Vhöl – Deeper Than Sky

Profound Lore Records – 2015

Metal, Black, Death, Punk, Core, Experimental

Rated: ***

We all love Yob and all the dark, gloom, doom and awesomeness they produce. So when vocalist and guitarist Mike Scheidt starts hobbying around again with his prog power buddies from Hammers Of Misfortune and doom metal freaks Agalloch, we pay attention. Cause with the Vhöl vehicle and the new release Deeper Than Sky it sounds there’s definite more fun to be had and the reigns are slackened. Even though they burst out of the gates with the cutting power metal opener The Desolate Damned and Scheidt’s growling voice from the grave. But after this we are treated to something much lighter and almost buoyant. Take the long weaving title track for instance or the 3AM track, where we can definitely hear trash, speed, hardcore and punk going for the gusto. And even though I’m usually not very keen on black and death metal screeches, the way it is used in Lightless Sun is definitely commendable. As is their search for new ground in the combination of punk, hardcore and all the metal scenes mentioned before. Although we are unsure where to fit the instrumental piano ditty Paino? Comedic intermission?

(Written by JK)

donderdag 12 november 2015

Mxrcxl – In Alarm

Self released – 2015

Metal, Rock, Alt, Grunge, Punk

Rated: ****

On the A Laughing Matter EP back in 2013 the four guys from Mxrcxl produced a grungy, metallic, punk sound most at home in dusty industrial halls and lusciously overgrown harbor facilities. Now, two years and a whole lot of shows later they return with a full-sized album titled: In Alarm. A continuation of their earlier sound on many a level, but so much better on every level! What growth! They combine every bit of alternative metal and alternative rock to such an amazing degree it’s insane. Among the definite influences one could name, we hear Therapy?, Faith No More, Nine Inch Nails, Jane’s Addiction and Melvins. But that doesn’t do any justice to the band itself, cause it’s so much more than an adding up of influences. They’ve turned into masters of seemingly controlled chaos, they turn their punky aggression into something that always immediately seems to capture your imagination and catches you off guard with its catchiness. Cause for some reason you reckon that this musical violence should not be this addictive. But it is. Alarmingly so. Just listen to those basslines pounce and weave and groove and wreck as the drums follow or leave the exact amount of room for the synths to excel! And then there’s the alarmingly angst ridden voice of lead mogul Marcel Janssen himself and his rumbling guitar sound. Both so excellently pronounced and striking. And with Okko Kokke from Mannheim on alt sax on the final track Happy Shooting, we have a righteous send off into the dark and twisted night. Why only four stars after so much praise and love you ask? I simply cannot get my head around the Roy Orbison cover You Got It. It raises so many questions and puts every fiber in your being on alert… Wait? Is that perhaps the goal? (You Got It!) But even then, it sort of falls out of bounce with the tight emotional rollercoaster that is Mxrcxl! Buy the ticket… Take the ride…

(Written by JK)

JC Autobody – Witches

Young Tobacco – 2015

Blues, Rock

Rated: ****

Hmmmm, The release Witches by JC Autobody from Indiana is not the kind of recording I would normally receive from our fearless leader JK. I'm not saying that's bad. I do get tired of the same old drone sometimes. But this release is more reminiscent of IAMX meets Jack White meets a Nine Inch Nails backing track at times with some psych rolled in. All bands I like and appreciate but would not expect at the HiVe. Maybe we are expanding our taste? Having said that, let's get on with it! The song writing is familiar and catchy and does have an old school feel at times. On the other hand the producing seems polished for such a record. The blues guitar playing is awesome. This is the highlight of the record. I wish the lead dude Newby would release some further credits on the bandcamp site. If that's him on the lead guitar he rocks the shit out of the record. I really appreciated and enjoyed that craftsmanship. Much of the playing on the record is reminiscent of some old blues masters but with those other elements that remind me of the aforementioned acts. Witches is a 3 song ep but one can get a bonus track with download from bandcamp. JC Autobody and Mr. Newby seem to me like a really good crossover artist. Is it stoner, psych, doom or blues, I don't fuckin know! It seems anything rock or heavy that's new, and isn't commercial is thrown into a category like stoner rock. All I know is I like good music, and therefor enjoyed Witches. Apologies to Mr. Newby for the mini rant during your review. I've been somewhat disgruntled lately… Nice work!!

(Written by Charlie Tooth)

Mxrcxl - Shit for Brains

MXRCXL - Shit For Brains

New Mxrcxl video "Shit for Brains" of the forthcoming debut album "In Alarm"

woensdag 11 november 2015

Haoma – Haoma

Anville Eater Records – 22015

Doom, Heavy Psych

Rated: ***

Hey! Hey, what have we got here from Sweden? Answer? The doom duo Haoma, and they have just released their self-titled album on Anville Eater Records. These fellas know how to rock the drone right from the get-go. The first cut Stone Obelisk/99942 Apophis really caught my attention when I heard samples of that insane dude from the TV show Ancient Aliens come over the speakers. It was awesome. Their second tune Astrospliff also rocks hard but way more subtle; any cloud hanger should be able to latch onto it for sure. So far, so good. I’m really diggin' these guys. Let's see, hmm, next up is Grey Species. Wow, Grey Species is short but tripped out and scary. Ok here we go man; the final cut called Concrete Shaman. I enjoyed this one as well. The beginning of the song reminded me a bit of Weedeater, with the exception of a way different vocal styling. Overall I would give these guys the thumbs up. The album was well produced and solid...

(Written by Charlie Tooth)

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The Shrine – Rare Breed

Century Media – 2015

Rock, Punk, Hard, Stoner

Rated: ***

The Shrine operates somewhere on the cutting line between Black Flag and Black Sabbath. It’s punky and hardcore edge definitely goes big the way of the skateboard rock. While the druggy and heavy side has you thinking about laying down and shooting up. But we must concede, it’s the throbbing, the hard stomping, the barrel gunning edge of the Rare Breed album that convinces the most. Cause this is, without any doubt, a punk album. Stiffy, balls out, party hard punk! And yes, they do incorporate some stoner and hard rock along the way, but that’s not what this album is all about. It’s about enjoying a way too high ramp for your ability while being way to high and flattening your nose while trying to go down, laughing hard about all the blood and then jump on the board again. And on those tracks that display their hefty stoner side the best; they still retain that violent side. The Shrine is definitely a rare breed, one of those monsters created only once, and not even considered for mass production. A high-powered mutant…

(Written by JK)

vrijdag 6 november 2015

Craneium – Explore The Void

Self released – 22015

Rock, Stoner, Fuzz, Classic

Rate: ****

Explore The Void, released digitally for your approval by Craneium. These heavy rockers hail from Turku, Finland, their business is fuzz and business is good! Although, these guys are more than just a one trick pony. The cut Ceasing To Exist has some real, real nice clean bluesy guitar. I guess it's just one of my pet peeves; I like a good heavy record, but if you can mix in some other influences and styles, I'm hooked. Let's just say these guys have got me on the line and are reeling me in. Then there are tracks such as Imperial Duster, it has that more classic feel and lies somewhere between Sabbath, Monster Magnet and Maiden or even Priest. The guitarist has a good feel for classic but at the same time can catch you off guard by throwing in an influence that is not expected. That's what makes a band stand out and original. The rhythm section is also on point along with the vocalists being somewhat familiar but not too familiar as to say they sound just like someone else. They have three vocalists! As the album plays on I like it more and more. One of the vocalists even explores more of a punk style on Holy Oath. I could go on and on with the review. Explore The Void by Craneium is a great find for any music fan. Hey record companies!! These fellas are in search of a label to release Explore The Void on vinyl. I know of a couple labels that may want to jump on this. You know who you are. Listen to all nine tracks and you may agree.

(Written by Charlie Tooth)

Pauw – Macrocosm Microcosm

Caroline – 2015

Rock, Psych

Rated: ***

Look at the print on their blouses come alive and all those gigantic flying creature in the air. What’s happening? Did the mescaline kick in? I remembered being in a barnyard in the outskirt of the Twente region of the Netherlands. Watching four young cats do something wonderful on their instruments. Pauw, (Dutch for Peacock) is able to produce some fine old fashioned psychedelic rock. As if we are transported to The Matrix club in San Francisco in the late sixties where these guys would have fit in nicely. Between slots by Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead and Moby Grape. Yes, on their debut album Macrocosm Microcosm the boys definitely know how to paint those kandy-kolored-kaleidoscopic pictures. And with songs like Shambhala and Visions they will surely also be able to get the rest of the rock loving world’s attention. Perhaps a little bit too sweet most of the time, but then again, Love was the operative word at that place and time in the world, whatever it meant. So, for better or worse, Pauw tries to re-ignite that spark. That universal sense of knowing that we are right…

(Written by JK)

Monster Magnet – Cobras and Fire (The Mastermind Redux)

Napalm – 2015

Rock, Stoner

Rated: ****

The highly entertaining project of re-imagining once previous released albums is something Monster Magnet could continue for a pretty damn long time. Although I’m not sure some of their earliest works could get any better. Tony wrote a glowing review of Milking The Stars, the redux album of their last studio effort Last Patrol. Which, without any doubt, was a damn fine new psychedelic variation of an already great record. And now they do the same with Cobras And Fire, a fresh version of The Mastermind album from 2010. And on it we are once again treated to novel arrangements, different lyrics, upgraded bonus tracks and a cover version of the Temptations song Ball Of Confusion. And we can definitely state we love the record and we love the fact Wyndorf and his mates keep enjoying messing around with their material this much. Cause we dig the new psychedelics and we dig their more staccato imagining of the tracks. But perhaps this one isn’t as amazing as the original or the Milking The Stars album. But then again, the cycling between those four records has you on the edge of your seat and enjoying every moment. So who’s complaining? I sure ain’t!

(Written by JK)

Graveyard – Innocence & Decadence

Nuclear Blast – 2015

Rock, Hard, Seventies, Stoner

Rated: ****

Everybody out there will surely still be in love with their 2011 album Hisingen Blues. And ever since that album the boys from Sweden can do no wrong. Although some of us, the undying Graveyard lovers, did think Lights Out did lose some of its raw and gritty edge in comparison to Hisingen Blues. But now they return with Innocence & Decadence, and even though one could concede it’s a new version of what they did before. It is a damn good version. Thick seventies grooves, heavy hooks and that growling voice of Joakim Nilsson that can just as easily turn into that bone-chilling screech. And they can just as easily pull back on the throttle and hit just as hard with a ballad like Too Much Is Not Enough. So yes, Graveyard is in great form, better than on Lights Out and almost as good as on Hisingen Blues. But from now on, let’s stop comparing their releases to the genre-transcending album of a decade and take everything on its own classic merit. Cause Innocence & Decadence is damn freakin good and something we can listen to until the end of time…

(Written by JK)