donderdag 3 november 2016

Sergio CH – Aurora


Sergio CH – Aurora
Piramide Records/South American Sludge Records – 2016
Rock, Drone, Atmospheric, Sludge, Stoner, Space, Experimental, Folk
Rated: ***

Sergio Chotsourian we ofcourse know from a little band called Los Natas. But the good man is also the owner of his own label and naturally releases solo records. His second one is titled Aurora and is even more atmospheric and mantra like in comparison to everything he did with Los Natas. It’s experimental and spacious nature gives new meaning to the label ‘free rock’ as his other band wanted to be labelled. Especially on opening track Aurora. Afterwards we get a more acoustic treatment that feels similar to what the man did on his debut album 1974. But on that record he got a little help from his friends. This time around only Milagros Arrom pitches in with some guitars and metallophone. In all it leads to a sunny, natural record that enchants with its broad vistas and transcendental progressions. With it, he might have exorcised his demons. And hey, and you might even get a glimpse of the endless light…

(Written by JK)




woensdag 2 november 2016

Kapitan Korsakov – Physical Violence Is The Least Of My Priorities


Kapitan Korsakov – Physical Violence Is The Least Of My Priorities
KKK Records – 2016
Rock, Noise, Grunge, Stoner, Punk
Rated: ****

Enlisting Steve Albini to record and mix your third album shows you’re serious. Without any doubt. And even if you weren’t sure when you were enjoying the debut effort Well Hunger back in 2009 or the follow-up Stuff & Such in 2012; you will damn well be after the last tones of the new album Physical Violence Is The Least Of My Priorities die down. Kapitan Korsakov is deadly serious! Sounding even noisier than before the band has definitely took a turn towards the ruckus we know from Raketkanon, the other band of frontman Pieter-Paul Devos. On the other hand there is also more room for melodic explorations and something you might call penmanship. The writing of songs and the translation of pure emotion into sound. As said before it is noisy and growly and wild and awe-inspiring. But above all it is overwhelming in every aspect yet warmer and more human than ever before. And I will definitely drink to that!

(Written by JK)


Long Live The Goat – Melt


Long Live The Goat – Melt
Self released – 2016
Rock, Stoner, Grunge, Doom
Rated: ***

Looking for a quick fix of beast? A fine morning shot of stoner and doom? Check out the new EP by Long Live The Goat. Two fine tracks with a tasty groove and scrumptious guitar work. Yes, the two tracks on Melt are something every one of us out there needs on those hangover mornings or dark autumn nights. They combine their rock with some doom and stoner and manage to give it all an epic treatment. Especially the second track Lowest Of The Low feels like a beautifully ballistically delivered piece of gold. It might almost feel like it’s over the top, but it isn’t and in fact pushes that one song forward and into legend. The chugging, the ringing, it feels righteous and powerful. As if it has come down to us through the ages, straight from the Gods themselves. Long Live The Goat and may it reign supreme forever!

(Written by JK)




Red Fang – Only Ghosts


Red Fang – Only Ghosts
Relapse/Warner – 2016
Rock, Hard, Stoner, Metal, Sludge
Rated: ****

Just as all of you out there we’ve had a crush on Red Fang ever since coming in contact with the boys back in 2011. Murder The Mountains, which ended at Number 5 of the Stoner HiVe Top 20 Countdown of that year, is still on heavy rotation over here and as background music between sets at every festival we attend. And ofcourse, Whales And Leeches was just as swell but ended up at Number 7 of the Stoner HiVe Top 20 Countdown of 2013. Not counting singles or EP’s we had to wait till 2016 for the new record: Only Ghosts. Which meant we had to wait quite some time for those awesome heavy metal trucking tracks, excellent for guzzling a massive load of beers to. So, putting on Only Ghosts, cracking open a beer almost felt like a religious experience. That first listening session as well, feeling much more diverse and ambitious, in respect to their earlier albums. But after listening to it some more, we kept searching for those stand out tracks, the ones that immediately kick you in the nuts and end up on everyone’s year end tracklist. And we could not find them. Does this mean the album is weak or not as interesting as the earlier ones? Hell no, we only suspect the album to be a grower and just like every crush everywhere, it has developed into a relationship. And those things always mean hard work. So let’s just crack open another six-pack, take off in the vehicle towards a weekend in the countryside jam-packed with stoner, sludge, metal and sweet lovin!

(Written by JK)




RavenEye – Nova


RavenEye – Nova
Frontiers – 2016
Rock, Hard, Blues, Stoner
Rated: ***

Okay, so what did you think when you heard RavenEye’s debut EP Breaking Out last year? I for one was definitely interested in what they would do next. And so, with their full-sized record Nova we can now find out. It’s without a doubt a wondrous riff explosion, one filled to the absolute brim with riff upon riff, without ever giving a second thought about showing off their obvious technical prowess. We can hear their love for Led Zeppelin and all the trucking road warrior bands like Grand Funk Railroad, Mountain or Humble Pie. There is also some Soundgarden or better yet Audioslave hiding in there. But enough with the name calling, it’s just plain good bluesy hardrock with a southern tingle one moment and a more stonerrock approach the next. And when you have a vocalist/guitarist that has worked with Joe Satriani, Johnny Winter and Jeff Back and the band has already toured with Slash, Deep Purple and Blues Pills, you can count on a power trio that will bring the goodness. Every time again!

(Written by JK)



dinsdag 1 november 2016

Stoner HiVe's Top 10 Artists listened to last month


Stoner HiVe's
Top 10 Artists listened to last month:

Red Fang (56)
Ten East (39)
Cojones (36)

Mother Mooch – Nocturnes


Mother Mooch – Nocturnes

Some more good news this Halloween! The awesome Nocturnes album by the righteous HiVe Mind freaks Mother Mooch has been released on vinyl! We’ve been playing the digital version religiously, you can bet your ass the vinyl will spin until the grooves are as huge as the grand canyon.

You can order the album here:




Did you check out the HiVe Mind video?

Choco – Voodoo



Choco – Voodoo 

Not sure if you guys took the time to check out Choco back when the damn fine Killing Time album was released. But the new video VOODOO will surely have you spooked all Halloween and should lure you towards their record like the reek of blood will for zombies! 





Ninehorn – Extended Play


Ninehorn – Extended Play
Self released – 2016
Rock, Desert, Stoner, Grunge
Rated: ****

More of the stoner oriented rock that became the mold after 2002. Still, it is a nearly perfect romp through the golden age of everything that the scene stands for.

(Written by C)



dinsdag 25 oktober 2016

Grenadeers – Chasing The Stereotype


Grenadeers – Chasing The Stereotype
Self released – 2016
Rock, Desert, Stoner, Pop
Rated: ****

A guest spot for Alain Johannes on the fourth track The Herd and the entire EP Chasing The Stereotype is mixed by the good man as well. Okay, you’ve got my attention! We are talking about a new six-piece outfit from The Netherlands called Grenadeers. And on their first six songs strong EP Chasing The Stereotype we get a hefty dose of stonerpop and robotic desert rock in the vein of Queens Of The Stone Age and the European bands that popped up after they all heard the magic that comes from the Palm Desert and the Rancho De La Luna studio. It also moves decidedly towards one of the other bands Alain Johannes was or is part of, Arthur Channel. Especially in the way they explore big vistas and grand gestures, which is definitely the big plus of the six tracks on this EP. And for those explorations they use no less than three guitarist. Which makes them sound big in almost every way. And after having the EP on repeat for a day or two we can only state that even though Grenadeers might not be as raw or gritty as you would love them to be. It is every bit as robotic and danceable. Which makes it just as easy to fall in love with!

(Written by JK)

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