Brandband – Alice, Bob and Blackhole

Brandband – Alice Bob and Blackhole

Self released – 2011

Stoner/Seventies/Hard/Rock/Instrumental

Waardering: ****

The Russian trio that have been making name for themselves under the moniker Brandband have just released their second album called Alice, Bob and Blackhole and was founded in the year of our lord 2006. Though the roots of this endeavor were sown in the middle of the nineties by two of the members who would eventually start Brandband in honor of their nightly jamming. They were already brothers in arms in a completely different band and when that group collapsed the guitarplayer decided to explore the blues direction and the drummer that of the metal. And now completed with a bassplayer the gentlemen are delivering some grade A mainly instrumental seventies hardrock with stoner influences. With less space for vocals, less blues and less driving then their first record Brandband from 2008; but not with less quality and with more psychedelics and with a free spirit akin to the one that was floating around in those magical times we call the seventies. Great freakin music for this early blooming spring!

Myspace

Back from the Wilderness

Back from the Wilderness

Well, and yes have a nice day. I have finally returned from the Wilderness, where I was chased and tormented by huge radioactive Tanchō’s, Dugongs and Pika’s imported from Japan for almost the entire week. When I finally escaped they threw me in a Sanitation Chamber with a truckload of people I could not recognize or communicate with, so I went all to pieces and now I cannot even remember anything or anybody or even who I was. Anyway; that’s why the blog went silent for a week. I could not be reached except by the animals; and they hated me. I never knew why. There was no explanation for it. So what? Who needs reasons for a thing like that? Escape is all that matters – except for the horrible scars, but that is a different question. Today we must deal with The Blog; which require some attention now. Okay. That’s about it, for now. We can wrap this thing up very quickly and get on with the show. Indeed and all that stuff. I will go out in the yard and kill a few mice – and if I fail; the mice will murder me.

Some things never change…

Louder Than You – Louder Than You

Louder Than You – Louder Than You
Self released – 2004
Stoner/Metal/Punk/Doom
Waardering: ****

Founded in the twisted year of 2000 in a dusty little village besides the capital Ljubljana the band was named Pussyfinger and started touring their homecountry Slovenia immediately. Hanging out and jamming in the same worn down railroad ‘Baraka’ shed as the guys from Pinocchio Pinchball aka Carnaval; they soon became friends and after changing their name to Louder Than You decided to tour and record together. And this is audible cause both bands show definite promise and aptitude for what bowing to the almighty riff means. The way the song Born In The River hits you from the get go is pure testament to that fact. Bringing you sweet stoner music resembling that of Kyuss, Orange Goblin and Karma To Burn. And twisting this with some punk soul and breaks that reminds of Therapy? in their best form. Let’s hope these guys get on a bus together with Carnaval and tour Europe like some New Era Merry Pranksters!

Quickmouse


Baraka Myspace

Slaves of Freedom – The Last Stages

Slaves of Freedom – The Last Stages
Self released – 2003
Metal/Trash/Southern/Stoner
Waardering: ***

They were with five; the men of the American Slaves of Freedom. The band that evolved out of the practice-local when they were still called Premonition. Of course all of this would later on lead to bands like The Big Frank, Lagerhead and Mutehound. So you could state that the songs on their in 2003 released album The Last Stages are the first small babysteps. Assuming the baby came crawling out of some dark recess of hell; with a diaper full of filthy idiots, dumb doomed ones and humorless fools. The guys chase ten fast songs with a lot of feeling through yer head; songs that are often brought to you from the very edge of the intestinal tube. But also as a visceral cry for justice; a guttural war cry or a beast howling in the night. The guitar-lines variate just as much between mighty riffs and lazy grooves as the vocals do and the drums plaster every crevice with precision. Yes; sturdy stuff this Slaves of Freedom album.

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Carnaval – 2

Carnaval – 2
Self released – 2009
Stoner
Waardering: *****

The second album called 2 of the Slovenian Carnaval features lovely artwork and is a pure piece of real brilliance. After some fuckin about in bands as Pussyfinger, Louder Than You and changing the name from Pinocchio Pinchball to Carnaval they worked for years on their second album. And this is very audible. Not only has it grown in all musical aspects; the lyrics and vocal-lines are much better and almost sublime. They still provide their own version of archetypal stoner rock derived from the desert brand of Kyuss; but also reminiscent of Nirvana and Queens Of The Stone Age. And all this they do with so much conviction and openness that you could almost imagining them inventing the entire thing. It all comes across as a true ode to the almighty riff and the songs pound into yer head and remain there forever. These guys deserve a much bigger audience. So Walter and his Roadburn gang should poke around in Slovenia and Croatia; cause with bands like for instance Cojones and Carnaval you obtain pure stonergold! These fella’s are golden guys!

Homepage

Baraka

Myspace

Carnaval – 1

Carnaval – 1
Self released – 2010
Stoner
Waardering: ****

When the honorable gentlemen of Slovenian Pinocchio Pinchball decided to change the name into Carnaval they never stopped to think about the fact that the google-abillity of the name might suffer. A distinctive album title might help in that area; that must be the reason they decided to call their first album: 1. You silly bunch of muppets! This also shines through in a lot of other incredible actions attributed to a few or more members of the band. Like refusing to settle up for the in 2006-recorded album; and henceforth releasing it in 2010. Storming into the offices of the Slovenian music organization responsible for music rights and causing a lot of ruckus and trouble. Great stuff from a great band! But it’s not just great silliness and weirdness with these guys; they’re also fantastic musicians. Maybe they loose control here and there on their first album and miss an opportunity or two. But on their second album, logically titled: 2 all this was straightened out. Pure pleasure by these Baraka rockers!

Homepage

Baraka

Myspace

Pinocchio Pinchball – Knez Atula Demo

Pinocchio Pinchball – Knez Atula Demo
Self released – 2004
Stoner
Waardering: ****

The Slovenian amigos of Pinocchio Pinchball have been waging war against the musical climate in their home country and against the record companies who refuse to listen for quite some time now. They themselves organize the amazing generator-festival Baraka Fest just outside Ljubljana and are responsible for a few other underground releases of bands from their region. The three of them released their first demo called Knez Atula in 2004 before recruiting a fourth man in 2006 and renaming their band into Carnaval. The demo shows the guys have been deep into Kyuss for inspiration and tried to make their own Slovenian blend of it. It’s atavistic stoner straight from the Slovenian wasteland. True rock in every sense of the word. A delicious blend of heavy rock and dusty riffing!

Homepage


Baraka


Myspace

Dutch Courage Month

Dutch Courage Month

We have come to the end of the Dutch Courage Month; I thoroughly enjoyed myself and will definitely make this a recurring thing. And since March will be a month of travelling and other crap there will be limited time to post. So I reckon I will try to come up with some other theme for April or May or something. This month we will just continue on with posting some great stuff. You know; the guys that understand that the true heaviness of the riff lives on forever… And since the Carnaval season in the south of Holland has started; I reckon there is some beautiful poetic justice in delivering these awesome gems at this moment of time in the world…

So without further ado: Carnaval (aka Pinocchio Pinchball)

Yama – Demo

Yama – Demo
Self released – 2011
Rock/Stoner/Metal/Psychedelica
Waardering: ****

On this last day of the Dutch Courage Month we bring you the four amigos of the new formation hailing from Tilburg and Utrecht called Yama. Although to be honest; the guys have been rocking around since 2008 under another name which was Les Ailes. With former Encircled singer Alex Schenkels the band delivers some grade A stoner rock that’s highly psychedelic often truly metallic and carries its sound into twisted regions; and thanks to the vocals on occasion reminds of 16 Horsepower and WovenHand which is a strong feat whichever way you look at it. Though on other moments names as Baroness and Graveyard come to mind. They have an ear for the massive riffs and use it to carry along solos and steady rhythms. This is some serious groove they got going and I bet their shows will be pure exploding loudness and intense adventures. I for one cannot wait to partake!

Myspace

Ten Page Pilot – Circle Lines

Ten Page Pilot – Circle Lines
Beautiful Sunday – 2008
Rock/Stoner/Grunge
Waardering: ****

Our four little Limburgian friends of Ten Page Pilot are on the verge of releasing their first album entitled Into The Eyes Of The Armed. Which means that this is a justified time to look back to their five songs counting EP called Circle Lines from 2008. Here we can hear that the four guys have been playing together for a long time and we can also ascertain that before this band they formed a Nirvana cover band. But still; Ten Page Pilot is more then the sum of these parts. The EP sports five hyper-intelligent stonertracks that grind up against grunge like a dog in heat and reminds of the heaviest work delivered by bands such as The Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana and Soundgarden. A very edgy singer and powerful drummer provide excellent room for flaming riffs and guitar-lines to dance over righteous melodies and give testament to savage talent. Let’s hope we will be able to enjoy that record about those eyes of some gun-toting idiot damn fast!

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Samuel – Sunwheel

Samuel – Sunwheel
Motorwolf – 2001
Rock/Stoner/Psychedelic/Seventies
Waardering: *****

Before these The Hague freaks changed the name into Samuel; the band was known for a very short period as Samuel Power Explosion. But this too was not the original name. Cause before this they were called Sunwheel or by their full moniker: Sunwheel Power Express. Under this name they released a self-titled seven-inch single. But due to the many and disturbing threats the guys received from right wing sympathizing idiots, they decided to change the name into Samuel. Maybe if we give the name of the drummer and a couple of the many bands he participates in more will become clear. We are of course referring to non-other then Motorwolf’s very own Guy Tavares. The man behind bands such as Panty Boy, Godzilla vs. Metalhead, Los Hermanos Rodriguez, White Trash Minstrels, Unit Moebius, Santa Cruz and his most known band Orange Sunshine. With Samuel we take a pure trip back to that psychedelic era of Blue Cheer, Hendrix and Sabbath. It all sounds so genuine, veritable, sincere and stunning; probably due to the enormous amount of authentic amps and other stuff owned by the Motorwolf studio. Absolutely brilliant! It’s a shame the man did not do more with this formation…

Motorwolf

Solarcruiser – Solarcruiser

Solarcruiser – Solarcruiser
Self released – 2010
Stoner
Waardering: ****

Normally nobody in their right mind would travel to the city of Almere; but when Dutch band Solarcruiser is destined to give another show there, it is an absolute recommendation to conquer all your hesitations and do so anyway. Founded in 2007 by two former members of Born Loco they were ready to throw their first four songs counting EP into the world a couple of months ago. It’s full of archetypal full force pushing stoner with a few moments to float here and there. With a very convincing singer Sanel Kadic you are treated to supreme heavy riffing, swampy bass and dirty drums. Freestyle Desert Rock is what the guys like to call it themselves; and that is exactly what it is. Hopefully the Dutch freaks in the south of the land will not be deprived of a show too long; and let’s hope equally as much that the entire world will be treated to full-sized album soon. Solarcruiser; remember that name!

Myspace

Greyline – Behind The Masquerade

Greyline – Behind The Masquerade
Black Death Records – 2010
Metal/Sludge/Stoner/Hardcore
Waardering: ****

The Dutch foursome Greyline has been making name for themselves for about ten years now. Founded in 2001 they released a first EP two years later and followed that up with the full-sized album Red Carpet Avenue the next year. Five years after said debut the guys dived into the studio to record a follow-up. Behind The Masquerade is that successor; very different of its predecessor and produced by Philip Cope known from his work on the Red album of Baroness and of course as singer/guitarplayer of Kylesa. Scott Hull (Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Pig Destroyer) pushed a few buttons to do the mastering after that and the result is pretty damn good. For sale on beautiful vinyl and available as a free download Greyline navigates nicely between all the different waves of metal and sludge. Their old hardcore roots only shine through now and again. On all other fronts it’s roughness as a king and with exceptional artistic finds and always incredibly versatile. Yet another reason to go out and buy new record-needles!

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