The Stoner HiVe Top 20 countdown of 2015

The Stoner HiVe Top 20 countdown of 2015

Not sure which bands released their album this year? At a loss at which album you dug the most? Well, here is a small selection of bands that released an album this year. Rest assured, there are more, a whole lot more, and the selection below does not reflect any preference. Cause to be honest, one of our own favorites, Glowsun, is not on the list below. It is just a quick run down of a tiny selection of groups that released an album in this foul year of our Lord 2015. So be sure to see if your favorites are amont them. And be free to add to this list in the comment section…

And don’t forget, vote for your favorite albums before December 12th on our EMAIL!!

   1886    

   24Moons    

   4 Cienegas    

   6-33    

   88 Mile Trip    

   Abrahma    

   Acid King    

   Acid Mothers Temple & Anthroprophh    

   Acid Western    

   Adelitas Way    

   Adrenechrome    

   Against the Grain    

   Ahab    

   All Them Witches    

   Aloha Mr Hand    

   Altareth    

   Ampacity    

   Amplifier    

   Andromeda    

   Angry Host    

   Ape Cave    

   Ape Skull    

   Arenna    

   Arrakis    

   Arrowhead    

   Astroseer    

   Atomic Bitchwax    

   Atomic Mold    

   Atris    

   Aver    

   Averysadstory    

   Axis Orbit    

   Aye Mammoth    

   Band of Spice    

   Bandersnatch    

   Bandito    

   Bantoriak    

   Barbarian Fist    

   Barbears    

   Bardo Pond    

   Bastard Lord    

   Battle Hag    

   Battling Giants    

Bedowyn
Bedroom Rehab Corporation 

   Beerwolf    

   Beggars    

   Beggars on Highway    

   Behold! The Monolith    

   Belfast 6 Pack    

   Belzebong    

   Bersaerk    

   Bevar Sea    

   Big Bad    

   Big Red Panda    

   Biggus Riffus    

   Bison Machine    

   Black .44    

   Black Belt    

   Black Book Lodge    

   Black Box Revelation    

   Black Mastiff    

   Black Medicine    

   Black Moon Circle    

   Black Overdrive    

   Black Pussy    

   Black Rainbows    

   Black Smoke Dragon    

   Black Space Riders    

   Black Voodoo Train    

   Black Vulpine    

   Black Witch    

   Blackout    

   Blacktooth Caravan    

   Blank Tapes    

   Bliksem    

   Blood Diamond    

   Bloudan    

   Blown Out    

   Boar    

   Body    

   Body & Thou    

   Bonafide    

   Bong    

   Bonsai    

   Bourbon    

   Brain Pyramid    

   Breechloader    

   Bretus    

   Bright Light Social Hour    

   Brothers Of The Head    

   Brothers Of The Sonic Cloth    

   Brume    

   Buffalo Trio    

   Bukowski    

   Bully    

   Burn Thee Insects    

   Burning Saviours    

   Böse    

   Cain & Abel 90210    

   Cairo Knife Fight    

   Callisto    

   Camel Heavy    

   Captain Crimson    

   Carousel    

   Caustic Casanova    

   Cellar Dogs    

   Celophys    

   Chaosmic    

   Cherry Choke    

   Chest    

   Chiefs    

   Chip Z'Nuff    

   Chrome Over Brass    

   Chron Goblin    

   Church    

   Churchill    

   Circle    

   Clutch    

   Clyde    

   Coat    

   Coliseum    

   Comacozer    

   Conan    

   Conjurer    

   Consecration    

   Corroded Realms    

   Cosmic Nod    

   Cosmic Wheels    

   Craneium    

   Crawls    

   Crown    

   Cult of Dom Keller    

   Cunning Mantrap    

   Curse Of The North    

   Cybernetic Witch Cult    

   Cyclovoltators    

   Dallas Frasca    

   Danko Jones    

   Dark Buddha Rising    

   Datura4    

   De Staat    

   Dead Quiet    

   Dead Shed Jokers    

   Deaf Proof    

   Deaf Rhino    

   Death & The Miser    

   Death Valley Athletic Club    

   Decasia    

   Deep Space Destructors    

   Deepshow    

   Demon Eye    

   Demon Head    

   Demon Incarnate    

   Demon Lung    

   Demon's Eye    

   Desert Storm    

   Devil And The Almighty Blues    

   Devil City Angels    

   Deville    

   Diabolical Kids    

   Diemonds    

   Disenchanter    

   Doctor Doom    

   Dollar Llama    

   Don Fernando    

   Doomraiser    

   Dopegoat    

   Dopethrone    

   Dorthia Cottrell    

   Dreadnought    

   Drenge    

   Drive By Wire    

   Dronegoat    

   Dry Mouths    

   Dunderbeist    

   Dune Pilot    

   Duo Zeit    

   Dustrider    

   Dö    

   Eagles of Death Metal    

   Early Mammal    

   Ecstatic Vision    

   Egonaut    

   Elder    

   Electric Magma    

   Electric Moon    

   Electric Priestess    

   Electric Valley    

   Empire Of Doom    

   Eternal Tapestry    

   Evil Invaders    

   Evra    

   Experiencia del paso por el averno    

   Faith No More    

   Fatmate    

   Firelord    

   Fister    

   Fizzt    

   Flesh of The Stars    

   Fluidage    

   Fog Cult    

   FOGG    

   Foo Fighters    

   Forgotten Gods    

   Fought Upon Earth    

   Fra Verdens Ende    

   Freedom Hawk    

   Funeral Horse    

   Funeral Mantra    

   Fusskalt    

   Fuzz    

   Fuzziebar    

   Fuzzil    

   Galactic Superlords    

   Gareeda    

   Gay Paris    

   Gentlemans Pistols    

   Ghost    

   Ginger Faye Bakers    

   Gingerpig    

   Gloria Lewis    

   Goatsnake    

   God Damn    

   Godsleep    

   Golden Void    

   Gorgantherron    

   Gorilla Monsoon    

   Goya    

   Grand Astoria    

   Grand Delusion    

   Grand Massive    

   Grass    

   Graveyard    

   Greenbeard    

   Grim Van Doom    

   Grime    

   Grimmage    

   Grind Horizon    

   Growler    

   Grusom    

   Gryflet    

   Guadalupe Plata    

   Hair Of The Dog    

   Hangmans Chair    

   Haoma    

   Hardcore Superstar    

   Harlot    

   Haunted By Humans    

   Heavier Than God    

   Heaviside    

   Heavy Relic    

   Heliodome    

   Hell Camino    

   Helmut    

   Hercules Propaganda    

   Het Universumpje    

   Hey Colossus    

   Hickey Underworld    

   High On Fire    

   Hogjaw    

   Holy Mount    

   Holy Serpent    

   Honeybee Jackson    

   Horisont    

   Horse Lung    

   Howling Giant    

   Human Sprawl    

   Huminoita    

   Hummune    

   Hunno    

   Huntress    

   Hyne    

   I Am The Liquor    

   I Am The Sun    

   I, Captain    

   Idus De Marzo    

   Iknausea    

   Imperial State Electric    

   Indian Handcrafts    

   Insano Vision    

   Intronaut    

   Iron Jawed Guru    

   Iron Void    

   Ironrat    

   Ivory Elephant    

   J.D. Overdrive    

   Jahoomha    

   Jaw Horse    

   JEFF the Brotherhood    

   Jody Seabody & The Whirls    

   Joe Madman & The Sidewalkers    

   John Carpenter    

   John Coffey    

   John Lancaster    

   Jonbar Hinge    

   Judd Madden    

   Just Me & The Devil    

   Kabbalah    

   Kadavar    

   Kahless Clone    

   Kamchatka    

   Karmageddon    

   Kayleth    

   Khemmis    

   Killer Boogie    

   King Giant    

   King Mammoth    

   Kingcrow    

   Kingkeporkak    

   Kings Of Cavalier    

   Kirkbinsinek    

   Klone    

   Knife Ritual    

   Kosmic Halo    

   Kozmotron    

   Kult Of The Wizard    

   Kylesa    

   La Mancha Negra    

   Lacertilia    

   Lamprey    

   Laserdrift    

   Leather Nun America    

   Leeches Of Lore    

   Leeds Point    

   Letchwurth    

   Libido Fuzz    

   Lightsabres    

   Limb    

   Linie    

   Lizard Queen    

   Local H    

   Locrian    

   Loop    

   Lord Dying    

   Lord Loud    

   Lord Montague    

   Lords of Beacon House    

   LORØ    

   Los Antiguos    

   Loviatar    

   Low Torque    

   Lowburn    

   Lucid AfterLife    

   Lucifer    

   Lucifer Jones    

   Lujuria-T    

   Lumberjack    

   Luna Sol    

   LVTVM    

   Maat Lander    

   Mad Mad Ones    

   Magic Circle    

   Magic Jove    

   Magister Templi    

   Magnetic Spacemen    

   Magoozler    

   Mais Valia    

   Male Gaze    

   Mambonegro    

   Mammatus    

   Mammoth Mammoth    

   Mammoth Storm    

   Mancub    

   Mandrake's Monster    

   Mangostone    

   Maquinarios    

   Mara    

   Mark Lanegan    

   Masters of Disguise    

   Matagusanos    

   Mathusalem    

   Megaritual    

   Melvins    

   Midnight Ghost Train    

   Midriff    

   Mirror Queen    

   Mississippi Bones    

   Misty Grey    

   Mobius    

   Mofokiller    

   Mojave Green    

   Mojo Waves    

   Mondo Drag    

   Moneva Mai    

   Monocle Stache    

   Monocluster    

   Monolord    

   Monster Coyote    

   Monster Magnet    

   Moon Curse    

   Moon Duo    

   Moonbow    

   Moosataur    

   Mord'A'Stigmata    

   Morton Railroad    

   Moth    

   Mother Mooch    

   Mother Of Matter    

   Mother Witch and Dead Water Ghosts    

   Motherslug    

   Motor Sister    

   Motorgoat    

   Motorhead    

   Mount Hush    

   Mountainwolf    

   Murder Of Reality    

   Mustasch    

   Mutoid Man    

   My Dying Bride    

   My Home On Tree    

   Myrrors    

   Narrenschiff    

   Naxatras    

   Niah    

   Niche    

   Nitroseed    

   No Mute    

   O.D.R.A    

   Obese    

   Obrero    

   Obsidian Sea    

   Oceans of Titan    

   Old Man Lizard    

   Omar    

   Omega Soul    

   Omertà    

   One Year Delay    

   One-Eyed Witch    

   Open Air    

   Orchid    

   Organ    

   Out of Space    

   Oxen    

   Ozone Mama    

   Ozric Tentacles    

   Padre Lobo    

   Palace In Thunderland    

   Palm Desert    

   Pantanum    

   Parasol Caravan    

   Parlor Mob    

   Pastor    

   Pathos    

   Pauw    

   Pauwels    

   Pelican    

   Pharaoh Overlord    

   Philiac    

   PINS    

   Pist    

   Plainride    

   Plastic Gods    

   Polanski    

   Pombagira    

   Ponamero Sundown    

   Poseidotica    

   Powder For Pigeons    

   Powerhitter    

   Prophets of Saturn    

   Psychedelic Witchcraft    

   Psychic Dose    

   Quaoar    

   Raedon Kong    

   Raketkanon    

   Requiem    

   Reverend Snow    

   Reverie    

   Riff Action Family    

   Rifflord    

   Rise Of The Wood    

   Risin Sabotage    

   Robot Death Monkey    

   Rootworkers    

   Rosetta    

   Rosy Finch    

   Rotor    

   Rough Twist    

   Roundtable    

   Routes of Neptune    

   Royal Southern Brotherhood    

   Royal Thunder    

   Ruby The Hatchet    

   Rukh    

   Sabel    

   Sacri Monti    

   Sagan    

   Sahara Surfers    

   Saint Earth    

   Santa Cruz    

   Sardonis    

   Sarlacc    

   Satan's Satyrs    

   Sativa Root    

   Satori Junk    

   Saturnalia Temple    

   Saturndust    

   Savanah    

   Saviours    

   Scott Weiland and The Wildabouts    

   SCR    

   Screaming Eagles    

   Seedy Jeezus    

   Sendelica    

   Sendelica & Da Captain Trips    

   Senior Fellows    

   Sergeant Thunderhoof    

   Sexwitch    

   Seymour Sachs    

   Sha-La-Lee's    

   Shawn James & The Shapeshifters    

   Shellfin    

   Shepherd    

   Shiva The Destructor    

   Shotgun Valium    

   Shroud Eater    

   Sideburn    

   Silent Monolith    

   Silent Snare    

   Singapore Sling    

   Six Organs Of Admittance    

   Skraeckoedlan    

   Skullboogey    

   Sleep Guard    

   Sleeping Widow    

   Slowbot    

   Smoking Barrels & Bullet Ant    

   Snail    

   Snowy Dunes    

   Sons Of Huns    

   Sorcerer    

   Soundcrawler    

   Space Bong    

   Space Paranoids    

   Space Probe Taurus    

   Space Wax    

   Spacemetal    

   Spartakiev    

   Speedtrap    

   Spelljammer    

   Spider Kitten    

   Spidergawd    

   Spiral    

   Spirale    

   Stone Deaf    

   Stone Fox    

   Stone Maze    

   Stonebringer    

   Stoned Jesus    

   Sumokem    

   Sun And Sail Club    

   Sun Rider    

   Sungrinder    

   Super Heavy Black Number    

   Super Witch    

   Superchief    

   Sweat Lodge    

   Sweaty Mammoth    

   Sweet Cobra    

   Sweethead    

   Sykopath Condor    

   T55    

   Taken By the Sun    

   Tank86    

   Tao Te Kin    

   Tarot    

   Teacher    

   Teenage Time Killers    

   Teepee Creeper    

   Tekilahell    

   Ten Commandos    

   Ten Foot Wizards    

   Teratorn    

   The Angry Host    

   The Black Wizards    

   The Corals    

   The Dead Nobodies    

   The Death Of Gagarin    

   The Demiurge Mythos    

   The Grizzled Mighty    

   The Heavy Eyes    

   The Machine    

   The Moose    

   The Moth    

   The Shooters    

   The Shrine    

   The Stone Foxes    

   The Stones of Arkham    

   The Sword    

   The Wizards    

   Thee Oh Sees    

   Therapy    

   These Hands Conspire    

   These Mountains Are Ghosts    

   Thorr-Axe    

   Three Eyes Left    

   ThunderWhip    

   Tidal Yield    

   Tombstones    

   Top Dead Celebrity    

   Torche    

   Town Portal    

   Tracer    

   Transport League    

   Triumphs    

   Troll    

   Tropical Doom    

   Tru-Burn    

   Truls Morck    

   Tsar Bompa    

   Tugboat    

   Tuna de Tierra    

   Turbowolf    

   Turzi    

   Tusk    

   Tzantas    

   Ufomammut    

   Ultima Radio    

   Undercover Rabbis    

   Undersmile    

   Unhold    

   Valkyrie    

   Van Cleef Continental    

   Vanilla Fudge    

   Venus Sleeps    

   Verdena    

   Veuve    

   Viaje A Ixtlan    

   Vic Du Monte's Persona Non Grata    

   Vidunder    

   Viking    

   Vintage Caravan    

   Von Hertzen Brothers    

   Waft    

   Waingro    

   Walls    

   Wand    

   Warchief    

   Watertank    

   We Hunt Buffalo    

   Wednesday 13    

   Weedeater    

   Weedpecker    

   Welcome The Howling Tones    

   Wet Cactus    

   Wet Radio    

   Wheelfall    

   White Dwarf    

   White Hills    

   Whooom    

   Wildeornes    

   Wilderness    

   Wildlights    

   Wilson    

   Windhand    

   Wino & Conny Ochs    

   Wired Mind    

   Witchhelm    

   Witchskull    

   Witchsorrow    

   With the Dead    

   Wizard Cult    

   Wizard Eye    

   Wo Fat    

   Wolf Counsel    

   Wolfmother    

   Wolfram    

   Wolvespirit    

   Wonder Vincent    

   Wooden Nomad    

   Wucan    

   Year Of The Goat    

   Yeti    

   Young Wolves    

   Your Highness    

   Yuri Gagarin    

   Zamora    

   ZIRAKZIGIL    

   Zone Six    

   ZQKMGDZ    

Charlie Tooth talks to Bedroom Rehab Corporation

Bedroom Rehab Corporation – Interview

I've recently received the latest release from Bedroom Rehab Corporation titled Fortunate Some for review and JK mentioned an earlier release named Red Over Red. I was very impressed with both releases and asked them for an interview, which they kindly accepted. Here's how it went down with Adam and Meghan of Bedroom Rehab Corporation.

S.H.- Hey Adam, first thing I'd like to get off my head is what's in the name of the band? Is there any meaning to Bedroom Rehab Corporation?

Adam: “Honestly, it's just a random three words we came up with while trying to sort the name out. But the thing I will tell you is that we're very easy to find on the internet because of that name.”

S.H.- What's each of your backgrounds, musically? Where do the influences come from?

Meghan: “I am self taught, started playing when I was 15 and grew up playing in your typical basement/garage rock bands. I think most of my influences growing up came from local bands – I was blessed to grow up in a very thriving and diverse local scene in the 90’s. We had everything from rock, punk, indie, hardcore, metal to ska – I listened to everything and went to whatever show I could get to as a kid. I can honestly say I have been influenced by many genres of music and I think it’s definitely helped me to be open as a player.”

Adam: “I got a bass because in middle school a couple of kids were starting a band and they needed a bass player, it just sort of stuck. As with a lot of things in middle school that band didn't pan out. I didn't get into playing music until I was in my early 20's. I played for an emo band that never left the garage and a punk band after that. but I've always been more than a casual fan. My dad listened to a lot of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Judas Priest and things like that so I've always been into heavy music. A lot of grunge in the first half of the 90's and a lot of hardcore in the later part of the 90's and early 2000's. The doom thing is a pretty recent development in my musical repertoire. I've been reverting back to my past Sabbath Worship and grunge sensibilities with the BRC stuff. Big fuzzed out riffs and hooky choruses are both things that I've been programmed to want to to put in songs.”

S.H.- How are your live shows; being just the two of you? Is there looping of any kind, or is the record pretty true to the live experience? Any challenges?

Adam: “Looping is something I've contemplated but never quite gotten used to doing in a live setting. I have to do enough "tap dancing" with my pedals and I'm also tied to a mic for a lot of the time so looping would be just one more thing I had to focus on rather then just rocking out. I've been told that we have a pretty energetic live show and I would like to do all I can to keep it that way. Some of the noise parts in the songs may be either slightly less noisy or may not have a backing bass line like they do on the records but we do still put out a great deal of volume and manage to keep things sounding full. We build the songs to be played live and tend to beef them up in places for studio purposes so I don't think we're ever lacking in sound looking for a way to replicate the studio because of that fact. I also like the sort of random violence of unplanned live noise. In the studio I do a lot of thinking about the effects I'm using to create noise and may just let things run and freakout for a while and layer other strings of sounds on top. Live is more about a spur of the moment assault on your eardrums.”

S.H.- How did both of you meet regarding the band?

Adam: “We met through playing gigs in New London, Meg was playing in a rock 'n' roll sort of rockabilly band and I was playing in a punk band and we got to hanging out and we realized we had a lot in common musically that we weren't doing in our other bands. We also thought it would be a cool thing to have a bass and drum band in town as no one else had really tried to accomplish that as of yet.”

S.H.- Since my editor has the filthiest of minds I have to ask. Is there a deeper relationship outside of the music thing? Any extracurricular?

Adam: “No, we are not together, we both have significant others.” 

S.H.- Meghan, what would you say is a drummer that influences your playing style, if at all?

Meghan: “Well in addition to many local players here in our area, there’s definitely a few more known drummers that I think helped mold my style…  Abe Cunningham (Deftones) and Matt Cameron (Soundgarden) are huge influences. Travis "T-Boogie" Owen (Weedeater) also needs to be mentioned here as one of my all time favorite drummers - completely blows my mind every time I see him play… Just amazing.”

S.H.- Nice! You too Adam, any bassist or vocalist you can say: "that's the reason I do what I do".

Adam: “I'm not really a bassists bassist. I'm more interested in using sounds and since I play bass that's what I use to try and create them. I would say some of my biggest influences sonically are Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine and Jason Simon of Dead Meadow (both guitar players). I like huge swathes of sound and both of those guys are great at creating them so I try to apply those concepts to bass and BRC's songs. As far as vocalists go I think the Eddie Vedders, Chris Cornells and Layne Staleys of the world were my main influences, especially early on. Matt Pike's pitched growl and and the full on caustic shrieks of Black Metal vocalists are some of the styles I started to pick up as BRC got heavier.”

S.H.- I noticed reviews on your site. I always shy away from them when doing my reviews. I want to be fresh and not swayed. So after I finished I read a couple. I noticed a lot of reviewers really liked the song: When All You've Got Is A Hammer. My favorite happened to be: The Serpent, The Smiler. Maybe it's because I am a musician as well as a reviewer. What do you feel is your strongest song on the record?

Adam: “I think that ‘The Serpent The Smiler’ is the most interesting and fully realized song on the record. It's got a lot going on and I think it all flows together really well. It encapsulates everything we've done as a band thus far. I do think that ‘When All You've Got Is A Hammer’ is probably the most anthemic thing we've written thus far. I think our ability to bring a hooky chorus to a doom song is huge and I'm glad it wasn't passed over. I'm just overjoyed with the way the entire record came out and I think all four songs are a huge step forward for us. They take everything we experimented with on Red Over Red and meld it together and sharpen it to a much finer point.”

S.H.- What are your touring plans if any?

Adam: “Nothing at the time. We have a long weekend to Philly and Baltimore in January but that's the furthest out we've got planned. We do play a lot of stuff in the New England and NY areas so you never quite know where you'll find us. We like to keep busy and we are trying to expand our reach so you never know. keep track of us all over the internet to find out where we'll be playing next.”

Thank you to Adam and Meghan for taking the time out and answering a couple of questions.

(Written by Charlie Tooth)

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Doom Chart for December 2015

Doom Chart

 “Listen to them. Children of the night. What music they make”

Bela Lugosi, Dracula (1931)

Welcome to Doom Charts, representing some of the finest bloggers, radio and podcasters and album reviewers from the doom-stoner underground around the globe. Each month, our critics submit their picks for the best new doom-sludge metal and stoner-psychedelic rock albums.  The results are compiled and tabulated into the chart below. This is a one-stop shop for the best new albums in the world.

As we enter the final month of this foul year of our Lord 2015, we are ofcourse already contemplating our year lists. But before we get to those bastards, we are treated to the monthly Doom Charts! Are you as keep to learn which albums made it this month as me? I long to see how Witchskull, the surprise of last month, is fairing. And I wonder ofcourse what the big surprises are this month! So head on over to the Doom Chart and find out for yourself! 

Spoiler alert for Number 13

They’re still on it! Those German Freaks! Back in September they had the Number One spot and now they’re still rockin hard on Number 13. Or as Madman Tony Maim said: “No song wastes space and you are head nodding from start to finish. Huge guitar tones, heavy riffs, driving rhythms and melodic vocals combined with magnificent solos awash with fuzz give me all I require to have my day brightened up into something worthwhile and when it all ends I want to play again instantly.” Yes. It’s Kadavar!

Doom Chart for December 2015

The Stoner HiVe top 20 Countdown of 2015

The Stoner HiVe top 20 Countdown of 2015

This is the first reminder to get the attention of all of you lovely freaks out there. On December the 12th we once again start The Stoner HiVe top 20 countdown of the best albums of 2015! But to do so we need your help! We need to know what albums made your head spin, blood boil and your bones jump with pure euphoria! So please, my lovely fellow freaks, send your lists to our email. The rules: vote for any amount of albums or EP’s released in 2015. (And at the end of December 2014.) If you dug only one; name that one. If you dug 78; name all of them! It doesn’t matter how much, one, five, 10, 13, 20 or 41. We just want to know which albums made you go crazy!

Every year we hope that more of you find the time and energy to send in your list. The Ultimate Stoner HiVe top 20 list has been a steady grower going from 18 lists to 37 to 48 and on to 56 and  61; and then last year: 86 lists. So should we set our goal high and hope to reach the big 100 this year? Or just hope to make that great amount of last year again? Either way it would be grand; just so that this Countdown becomes more and more valid with each passing year…

The deadline to send in your list closes on December the 12th… So there’s still enough time to get crackin… Go on… If not for yourself or me; do it for all the rest of the lovely freaks out there… Scurrying in the HiVe…

Send your lists HERE

Mayhem & Watain – Live at Union Transfer, Philadelphia

Mayhem & Watain – Live at Union Transfer, Philadelphia, 23-11-15

My adventure with Watain and Mayhem live At Union Transfer, Philly

So how did I end up at Union transfer on a Monday night viewing some of the darkest purveyors of the black metal scene? The short answer is I have an 18 year old son. My son and I have headed out to other venues together before that were suited more to my taste as well as his. Rob Zombie, Judas Priest and Slayer just to name a few. Even in my younger days I wasn't that deep into the black metal scene. I mean I was listening to the songs Countess Bathory and Black Metal by Venom, but that was the extent of it. So after having tickets on hand for what seemed like a couple months the day had finally arrived and I have to be honest. I didn't want to go. Work was tough that day and I had a splitting headache. But I took an Advil, a short nap and shower, sucked it up and headed out. 20 minutes later we arrive at Union Transfer. There's a lot in the back where we park and you can hear the double bass coming from the venue. Around front a self-proclaimed homeless dude begs for change for coffee. I throw him a buck. I know what you are thinking, but I don't care what he buys with that buck. If it fills his belly or eases his pain is all the same to me. Proceeding we enter the doors and I'm pleasantly surprised. Union Transfer is a well set up venue (at least for the size crowd in attendance). They have an area for merch, good sound, cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen at a place like this, a separate bar in the back which is nice being this was an all-ages show. In short, Union Transfer is a real nice venue. Ok, so I throw in the ear plugs and enter the second set of doors to witness Watain already into their set. 

Remember I don't know the songs but these guys are crushing it. I mean it's a real scene. The smell of death is in the air, well maybe that's the fog machine. But that's how Watain make you feel. It's all very dark and macabre with skulls and impaled pigs heads. Their stage show is tight knit, as well as the playing. They look the part for sure and I actually really enjoyed them. With their departure after a short incense ritual by the singer comes the headliners Mayhem. I can't be sure but I believe there may have been less people in the club for Mayhem. They were also extremely good, but there is an odd dynamic on stage amongst the various members of the group. As the show went on I actually enjoyed this fact. Here is what I mean. Watain was dressed very similar and seemed like one unit on stage, whereas mayhem was almost like two different bands with fill in members. One guitarist is in shirt and some kind of slacks, bassist is in a ratty t and jeans. The vocalist is in full make up and costume style garb and then to the left the second guitarist is dressed like the grim reaper.

 

Very different from the previous act, after about two songs in I start to get the feeling that the bassist runs the show. I turn to my son and ask if the bassist is an original member. He states that he believes the bassist is the only original Member. If that's true it shows. He's comfortable and insane. For me he was the high light of the show. At one point he grabbed the mic and started spouting something about the people on the side stage of which I was one. It was great. But to be fair the whole band was killer. I knew no songs and still loved the Mayhem show. The playing and show was on point. Would I buy the records for either band? Maybe not. But that's only because these two bands are something to be experienced, not just listened to at home in my opinion. The crowd was awesome as well. There was plenty of skanking, moshing, crowd surfing and diving to go around. Great venue, killer acts, great crowd!!! And if they ever return I will be there. If lucky, I can scam an interview next time. After writing the words above I did a bit of research on Mayhem. The extent of which was reading the biography on their Wikipedia page. Wow. Hollywood couldn't write the shit that the band had been through and dealt with. And to confirm my son was correct that the bassist known as Necrobutcher is the sole original member left…

(Written by Charlie Tooth)

An Evening With Knives on tour

An Evening With Knives on tour

The Eindhoven, Netherlands formation An Evening With Knives is doing little tour of their home country. With a extra special location for their hometown gig… 

“We're excited to announce a very special show. On January 9 we will be heading the coolest underground location in town: Stroomhuis in Eindhoven. The former Philips power-house matches perfectly with our dark, heavy and atmospheric sound. We will be supported by Belgian stonerrock band Huracán and the RMFTM DJ's. Do not miss it…”

But I’m sure a lot of you cats can’t wait that long to see them live! So here are the chances to catch these freaks live before January 9 in Eindhoven.

        Dec 18    Tam Tam    Deurne, Netherlands       

              Dec 19    Bastille    Schoonhoven, Netherlands      

Dec 26    De Bosuil    Weert, Netherlands

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Clouds Taste Satanic – Your Doom Has Come

Clouds Taste Satanic – Your Doom Has Come

Self released – 2015

Rock, Doom, Metal

Rated: ****

We were absolutely smitten with the first Clouds Taste Satanic release To Sleep Beyond The Earth. That first record was not only brought to us in proper and extraordinary vinyl fashion, its heavy instrumental march was pure evil excellence. And now, the Brooklyn doomers return with Your Doom Has Come. And yes, it’s exactly as ominous as the title suggests. The four piece satanic stoners have done it again. With a portentous pounce, a first massive smash that lingers and slowly fades for twenty seconds until the riff begins, the Clouds drift in and spell doom and destruction. With a much more oppressive atmosphere they do turn hypnotizing once again, but this time around, the influences they take from repetitive stoner and sludgy tempos dispel any notion that you are dealing with deadly smoke here. Instead you get caught up in something much more rock oriented and almost catchy, for the lack of a better word. Cause they turn up the tempo on many occasion and seek out those age-old and proves strong structures. There is no doubt about it, the new Clouds Taste Satanic album is still menacing, but with much more of a leering grin than truly malevolent like on their debut. But hey, even pure evil relaxes with a beer once in a while…

(Written by JK)

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The Progerians – The Fabulous Progerians

The Progerians – The Fabulous Progerians

Self released – 2015

Rock, Core, Sludge, Metal, Punk, Noise

Rated: ****

Scurrying around the underground of Brussels are The Progerians. Plagued with a rare mutation in the aging gene this trio has been working hard to get their music out there. And now after a couple of singles and EP’s they released their debut full-sized album The Fabulous Progerians celebrating their fabulousness and six year existence. Cause yes, they are definitely that. On eleven scolding tracks they deliver a hefty combination of hardcore and sludge. It’s heavy, and mostly fast paced delivery will spark a flame in the chord of the most restless. But it’s on the moments when they slow down, give air or immerse themselves in melody when they convince the most. Just listen to the stomping Stellar or the mighty Out Of The Abyss. The Progerians are here, in all their maddening beauty, and sludgecore fabulousness!

(Written by JK)

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Dunst – Archimedes Waffen

Dunst – Archimedes Waffen

World In Sound – 2015

Rock, Psych, Instrumental

Rated: ****

Originally recorded in 2011, released in 2013 and now re-released, the Archimedes Waffen by German quartet Dunst celebrates all the psychedelic guitar goodness we all love so dearly. Not counting the intro and outro we are treated to seven jam-like compositions that weave a lovely heavy psychedelic rock tapestry full of ancient colors and hypnotic melodies. With almost ambient pauses here and there you soon feel completely immersed in the Dunst world. And you feel absolutely no need to awake from the dreamlike state these guys create. It is or should we say was, their second instrumental rock album, after which they apparently disbanded. Or does the re-release mean they are back together and looking to find their footing again? We can only hope so…

(Written by JK)

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