Shaking Godspeed – Hoera

Shaking Godspeed – Hoera
Suburban – 2012
Rock, Free, Blues, Garage, Psychedelics
Rated: *****

On this last day of Christmas, errr, I mean Dutch Courage Month, we visit the best album that has been released so far this year. Three cheers for Shaking Godspeed and their second full-sized album called Hoera! (Hoera! Hoera! Hoera!) Their self-titled EP blew everyone away in 2010 and their first complete record Awe left everyone wondering in amazement where this greatness originated from and where it might lead. Well, the trio has struck again. This time they decided to mold and compress their musical madness into some kind of pop structure. Their wild and savage sound is brilliantly combined with something bittersweet and lusciously deceiving. It is raw and feral blues mingled with psychedelic and kaleidoscopic garage without becoming too heavy, plump or unmanageable. Progressive free rock like the good Captain used to make. But condensed and with an obvious intent; a resolute to inspire, enchant and ravish like only a pure masterpiece can do. Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

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Hoera!

Cowboys And Aliens – Sandpaper Blues Knockout

Cowboys And Aliens – Sandpaper Blues Knockout
Self released / Dice Industries – 2012
Stoner
Rated: *****

Before we get to the final post of the Dutch Courage Month we will linger a bit longer in beautiful Belgium. For after a period of seven years the magical Cowboys And Aliens finally treat us to four new tunes. The band left us reeling after their fourth full-sized album Language Of Superstars from 2005 when they announced a year later to call it quits. It took four years and a twisted and weird night in a bar filled with insane memories and tall tales to convince each other that the world was still in need of their heavy riffing. So in 2011 they decided to give humanity what it had been longing for all this time. Kyuss-esque, Hermano-type stoner that rolls over you like a freight train on a serious mission. To deliver its rock payload full force and full power into your brainstem and bursting heart. With less wit then before and with a more earnest purpose; the foursome deliver four tracks filled with the promised masterful riffs, thunderous drums and imperial basswork! The Cowboys are back in town!

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The Mooze Men – The Mooze Men

The Mooze Men – The Mooze Men
Self released – 2008
Rock, Speed, Garage, Stoner
Rated: ****

We stay in lovely Belgium today and we get loud and we get fast; and that’s just the way we like it. The Mooze Men delivered their first four-track EP back in 2008 and filled it to the rim with incredibly catchy speedrock, garage and pure unadulterated rock’n roll. Their simple but catchy riffs are tasty as hell and borderline awesome. They honor the tradition like Motörhead and Peter Pan Speedrock did before them; but incorporate a lot more breathing space without taking their feet from the pedal. Add to this their grimy garage feel in the vein of Gluecifer and an American groove we know of bands like Danko Jones and you get happy real fast. Back in those champagne days there were only three mutant Mooze Men, nowadays it’s a quartet and new material is on the horizon. So let’s speed up and drive full throttle towards that blistering hot sun a get a new tank of Mooze Men rock…

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The Minority Print – Down Memory Lane

The Minority Print – Down Memory Lane
Self released – 2012
Rock, Punk, Hard, Metal, Stoner
Rated: ***

From the dark and twisted streets of Sint-Niklaas, Belgium comes a four piece rock outfit that can just as easily write catchy punk tunes as heavy hard rocking anthems. As they have proven with their first EP Beyond All Doubt from 2011 and their new three track Down Memory Lane. And then to think that The Minority Print has only been around since 2010. But the Belgian folk noticed their aptitude fast for they have already played on Marktrock Leuven and even on the Graspop Metal Meeting. They take their cues from the likes of Foo Fighters and Danko Jones; but mix this up with some old school hardrock we know from the eighties, punk we heard in the nineties and a little ageless metal twist. And loaded within their easy and agreeable sound is a set of balls to pull of some splendid guitar-lines and top-notch solos. Not to mention some massive hard-hitting drums interchanged with incredibly airy percussion. Conclusion: this is some tasty energetic rock served in tidy portions. Enjoy your meal!

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Towtruck – Smoke

Towtruck – Smoke
Self released – 2009
Rock, Stoner
Rated: ***

Hellevoetsluis is known for a couple of weird ass punk bands and an incredible spot to do some kitesurfing. But it has also spawned a heavy stoner company you can call whenever you are in trouble called Towtruck. Founded in 2006 and formed by members of a truckload of other rock efforts, the guys immediately got to work on their own material. Their five track EP Smoke was recorded in 2008 and released the following year. The record is mostly filled with mean melodic and rude stoner that reminds of other Dutchies like Celestial Season and 7Zuma7. But also of more groovy stuff like Fu Manchu. Although the middle effort Hoax Pocus is situated more in the old school doom field. Since the release however the drummer and singer left and were replaced by new faces. At the end of 2011 we were informed that new tracks were finished and that they only needed a little studio time to get them on tape. And apparently January 2012 was selected to enter said studio. Let’s hope they’ll be able to release their stuff soon; cause we could use a good tow!

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Wolfpin – Remember

Wolfpin – Remember
Sonic Rendezvous – 2009
Rock, Blues, Retro
Rated: ***

On this sick and twisted Monday morning in the last week of the Dutch Courage Month we visit the grimy bluesrockers from Amsterdamn called Wolfpin. A powertrio featuring Marcel Scherpenzeel, Maarten Witsel and Henk Schutten. Three old blues souls that know where to steal the mustard and what to cook up with it. It’s heavy retro laden blues is filled with pure soulful riffage and seventies groove. It comes across as a tribute to all the masters of old. It recalls tunes we know from Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter and Robin Trower. But also on occasion incorporates a more edgy sound we attribute to Hendrix. Or even a The Wind Cries Mary, Jimi honoring ode. But they are at their best when they forget to honor the giants and simply play their warm and glowing sound. And when the drummer reminds of a time when a percussionist could play free and voluntarily. Passionate blues to start off a week right…

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A Giant A Genius – Demo

A Giant A Genius – Demo
Self released – 2011
Rock, Stoner, Post, Alternative, Metal
Rated: ****

In the sandy hills of Drunen four guys are driven on by their relentless search for that all mighty riff. A Giant A Genius incorporates influences from math and alternative metal into their hypnotizing post rock and stoner sound. Already earning their spurs in bans such as Kill Caress and Ni Hao the four members invoke a mystic and hypnotizing sound without becoming too repetitive. And like Komatsu did before them; A Giant A Genius also incorporates samples into their tracks. Although in this case it only slightly works. But even if the sampling invokes an old but weak sort of Jane Eyre sentiment; the massive groove and liquid riffing makes you float along a much darker and preferably brass, copper and bronze feeling. With hints of Therapy? and something excitingly melodic we can only hope for something more by these guys. Something gigantic; maybe even pure genius…

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Back… Down from the mountains…

Back… Down from the mountains…

Come down from the mountain… And preach your name! Indeed; the first sentence of one of our own songs. And one that had some merit quoting here. Since I am back and down from the mountains. Although I’m not some weirdo who will go off and tell people crazy shit; I only preach about the riffs, the rhythms and the tunes. Those majestically, ballistically delivered, sonic bullets that strike a blow against the empire like a hammer of the gods and that will ring on forever and ever into legend… Hell; I’m just lucky the mountain did not catch me and I did not get crushed under some snowslide. I guess there’s always next year? And now for something more important… On with the last week of the Dutch Courage Month!

Off to catch a mountain...

Off to catch a mountain...

I’m off to catch a mountain. Maybe with a fishingrod or perhaps some weird kind of netting. I've invited loads of purple crazies on small lama's to join me on the hunt. I hope they show up cause it would be a difficult feat catching it on my own. It might turn out that it caught me. I guess something’s never change. But in the end all that mattered, was that you knew that in the way the captain smoked, all would be alright… Seeya in a coupl’a’days!

Horses On Fire – Horses On Fire

Horses On Fire – Horses On Fire
V2 - 2012
Rock, Stoner
Rated: ****

Somewhere in 2008 in an area surrounding Gent, Belgium two guys get together to start jamming and fuck around musically. After bringing in a musical brother and another friend; Horses On Fire is born. Four years later sees the release of their self-titled debut album. With overtones of extreme accessible Queens Of The Stone riffs and grooves mixed with some stadium rock a la Kings Of Leon and a Foo Fighters feeling we are treated to some grade a catchiness. All this is translated to some sort of seventies approach; maybe due to the fact the album was recorded live and analog. It’s catchy heavy rock with a bit of stoner and a caseload of dripping desperation. Played at different tempos and rhythms we get an atmosphere pregnant with dread and danger. Even though there’s that lingering feeling of something easy and smart; like an umbrella cocktail in a dangerous and dirty cul de sac. These guys are on the verge of going big; and not just in Japan.

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Burn The Iris – Sovereign EP

Burn The Iris – Sovereign EP
Self released – 2010
Metal, Post, Sludge, Death
Rated: ****

Sovereign is the first release put out by Dutch metalheads Burn The Iris. The five freaks have been milling around since 2007 and on this first EP they show aptitude and promise. Three drawn out songs that last for about twenty minutes and can easily stand besides the work of bands such as Cult of Luna and Isis. But also influences known from bands like Pelican and Torche can be heard and even a little Mastodon. It’s heavy, droning and pounding rhythm is offset by dreamy guitars and a wicked variation in vocal lines. Especially when and where guest vocalist Tamara Clijsen enters the song; immediately the music takes off and seers over your head. Heavy laden with atmosphere and dark grunts, they know exactly when to switch over to melody and subtlety; only to put all that to shame again with a powerstorm of guitars. Eindhoven Rockcity back on the rise!

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Bombay Show Pig – Baby It’s A Face

Bombay Show Pig – Baby It’s A Face
Self released – 2010
Rock, Stoner, Indie, Noise, Punk, Garage
Rated: ***

2012 will see the release of their first full-sized album. But till that time the EP Baby It’s A Face will have to tie all the Bombay Show Pig fans over. On this second EP the Bombay freaks continue on where they left off with their first EP. With even more stoner queues taken from bands like Queens Of The Stone Age; these five songs are heavy laden with hooks and a truckload of small accents that add greatly to the charm of it all. Highly dynamic and with never a dull moment they tend to lure you into one direction only to throw a curve ball the other way. Leaving you wondering where to go next with their eclectic, electric and synthesized version of stoner pop. This is music for weird nights full of masks and dirty dancing. It’s sizzling. The fat is in the fire. Get high on cocaine…

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