Weedeater – Goliathan

Weedeater – Goliathan

Seasons of Mist – 2015

Rock, Sludge, Stoner, Metal, Southern, Dixie

Rated: ****

One of the many highlights of Roadburn 2011 was Weedeater. The way they filled the 013 stage with their presence, the way they filled the venue with their sound and the way they incorporated the bass player’s head as part of the drum kit was simply awe-inspiring. The show was part of their amazing Jason… The Dragon tour. Injuries and bad luck plagued the band before that album and continued to play a role after said album. So we had to be patient and wait for news about new work. First we heard that Travis Owen from Whores, Artimus Pyledriver and Zoroaster would replace Keith "Keko" Kirkum on drums for a few short tour stints. And then came the bulletin that he’d replace Keko indefinitely and that they’d be pairing up with Steve Albini again for a new album and we could only rejoice and pray that the drinking, fighting, run-ins with the law, onstage barfing, the loss of a big toe and the enormous amount of booze and drugs would not have dissipated their hard hitting wallop one bit. And it hasn’t. The new record Goliathan is as heavy as they come and as sluggish and methodical as we have come to love. And with the southern or Dixie touches the boys always bring to the backyard barbecue there is a little bit of smoky air in there as well. Smoky air. Hehe. This time around the album is built between two devious bookends that give it this weird ecclesiastical atmosphere. Opening with intense but witty lyrics the mood is set and when their trademark slow swagger starts on the second, the title-track, we hear how wonderful the sound has been captured. Recorded live as if they played in sweaty watering hole. With deep rumbling bass work and thundering drums we are back in the marshes, trying to escape that growling Goliathan chasing after us…

(Written by JK)

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Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

Here we are with another Quick Fire Friday in this foul year of our Lord 2015! The Stoner HiVe Quick Fire Friday segment is a feature of a handful of bands and only a small amount of words to help spread their musical prowess and our melodic belief… Cause we believe like crazies!

Kamensko – Transcend Reality

They’re about to release their first official EP called Transcend Reality. But some of you ofcourse already know them from that demo EP called Creator released last year. We are ofcourse talking about that Norwich outfit Kamensko! And guess what, judging by the snippets that they share on their soundcloud it is going to be a damn fine release! So Take Me To Your Lizard!

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The Black Atlas – Devils

The album Devils by The Black Atlas will be out this summer. Ambient grunge and experimental soundscapes. Rock with a highly imaginative touch. Go check out Moonsong and Black Milk on his Soundcloud and be taken away on a carpet of dreams. Yes, I said that. A carpet of dreams…

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Sugar Skulls & Marigolds – The Coked Out Bunnies EP

The two-piece instrumental stoner sludge metal band consisting of drums and guitar from Denver, Colorado released their first EP The Coked Out Bunnies a year ago. They’re called Sugar Skulls & Marigolds and besides bringing some grade A stoner, sludge and grunge they also have this cinematic quality over them and something grandiose. Sure there’s this raw and punishing edge; but above all they paint wonderful pictures. And these bunnies do it all coked up…

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DoctoR DooM – Relax You’re Dead

On the verge of releasing their new album This Seed We Have Sown, The French quartet DoctoR DooM teases us with a single track called Relax You’re Dead. And since we’re still digging the hell out of their seventies hardrock styled retro album DoomO from 2013. The slightly new version of the second track has us grooving and swinhing like a motherfucker. We wonder though if the two tracks of the seven inch will be featured on the album as well?

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Chest – The Epitome of True Evil

Chest – The Epitome of True Evil

Self released – 2015

Rock, Metal, Occult, Doom, Sludge

Rated: ****

I’ve got a thing for Finland. Love the country and the folk that reside there. There’s only one small problem with the entire country; the liquor is so freakin expensive! And I think I’ve got a thing for Chest. I love their music and the freaks that produce it. On their new album The Epitome of True Evil they definitely evoke some strange feelings. An ancient thirst for blood and a yearning for the kill. Released digitally and on a limited run of cassettes this five track album lures you in with the promise of everything you might be lusting for, before putting the coffin down and the hammers in. The four piece metal outfit from Lahti was founded in 2006 and released their debut back in 2012 called Cursed To Live which was predated by a demo EP in 2011. But both those earlier releases pale in comparison to this new embodiment of Chest. Gone are the bleak and black metal sounds; and all hail the occult, the ogre green, the bronze, the copper, the madrugada blue and the redness of blood. Yes, it’s still doom and sludge and metallic, but with overtones of something sinful, wicked and lovely! As if they have found the philosophers stone and used it to create the perfect tones, rhythms, battering attacks and slow marches...

(Written by JK)

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Lorø – Lorø

Lorø – Lorø

Self released – 2015

Rock, Industrial, Noise, Math, Stoner, Metal, Instrumental

Rated: ***

The Italian trio Lorø was founded in the foul year of our Lord 2013 in a dusty old basement in the little village of Montagnana not far from the Adriatic Sea. There they aimed to produce something that would be able to hold a candle to all those original heroes that came before them. And on their self-titled debut album they almost succeeded. We are greeted by an industrial stomp and repetitive, intense building pound when that first track Pollock starts off. After which it continues through various mathematical and noise archways to something mesmerizing, computerized and wonderful. It is impressive how they manage to distort the entire landscape without becoming too lost in the chaos. We immediately hope they will be able to continue this unholy amalgam of styles for the entirety of the album. Unfortunately they do lose their footing now and again, but during the moments that they stand firm, we stand there with them and gaze in awe at the celestial sky and feel the earth shift below us…

(Written by JK)

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Mojo Waves – All the Right Parts Fit the Wrong Way

Mojo Waves – All the Right Parts Fit the Wrong Way

Macaroni Penguin Music – 2015

Rock, Hard, Garage, Punk, Psych, Stoner

Rated: ****

A few months ago the Finnish trio Mojo Waves released the first single 7x7 for their new album All The Right Parts Fit The Wrong Way. It promised a lot, just like the album title. And holy mother of God, do they deliver! We’ve been following these crazy cats since their first release Introducing Mojo Waves back in 2012. We saw them rise to great heights on the follow-up Enjoy, Don’t Destroy and become extremely deliriously majestic on Lo and Behold! And on the new album their manic music turns into a complete hysterical and frenzied state. They’re still highly in debt to the classic rock of the golden era’s but with a unique view of their own. Vastly energetic and chuck full of adrenaline the boys delve deeper into the speedy and punky parts of their already stampeding music this time around for most of the time. Which fit perfectly with the, as always, high pitched and ecstatic shrieks of singer Arttu. But who is that growling on Heartquake? Who is that dark color that offsets Arttu perfectly on that third track? And then there’s the In Little Pieces track which slows down and shows once again that the Mojo Waves can handle everything and will always remain unpredictable. But we will be ready, to ride with them on all of their big waves… And let’s hope this one never rolls back…

(Written by JK)

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Out of Space – Invaders

Out of Space – Invaders

Self released – 2015

Rock, Stoner, Desert, Space, Psych, Grunge

Rated: ****

We surely need to visit Lyon and many other cities in France very soon. Cause the good rock has been spawning there for a while now. Where that sudden burst of inspiration comes from who knows? Maybe from Out of Space? Invaders, it is the title to the first release by the new French trio Out of Space. Five songs that start off as a heavy trucking, fast blast straight out of the desert. Grade A stoner tune Bloody Road hits you straight between the eyes and it will surely be something you shall not expect when a band is named Out of Space and the release is called Invaders. But don’t worry, there definitely is some space rocking and psychedelic meandering on this album as well. You will have to rock out to three more tracks that maneuver between hard rocking stoner and punky grunge before the true battleship arrives. Final track Desert In Bloom lasts almost sixteen minutes and seduces you with languid riffs, color and voices before it starts whipping you into a frenzy. Like a slow but evidently fast forward movie of a desert that goes to full bloom and then dies again… Grandiose!

(Written by JK)

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Acid Western – Rampage

Acid Western – Rampage

Domino Media Agency – 2015

Rock, Hard, Stoner, Desert

Rated: ***

The three-piece Acid Western hails from Paris, France and has released a second EP called Rampage. So we are not referring to the four-piece Australian version with the same name. No these freaks follow-up on the already luscious sounding EP Of Flesh And Bones from 2011. Rampage is a truly rambunctious version of stone ‘n roll or rock ‘n stoner that has you reliving those fast paced party stomping moments that Queens Of The Stone Age used to deliver. It hits harder and has more drive than that first EP which perhaps took more after the ‘weirder’ QOTSA sounds and had vocals that moved more towards Cobain. This one is pure Six Shooter type ruckus or grooves like de Dutch band De Staat version of QOTSA. But still with enough extra fuzziness and groove to turn even the biggest skeptic into a believer. Yes, there is life after QOTSA and that life is situated in that part of the world where they speak French and know all about decent cheese and wine. And I’m sure Mr. Homme could appreciate it all… “We couldn’t get any closer…”

(Written by JK)

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An Evening With Knives – Blind Man’s Guess (Live)

An Evening With Knives – Blind Man’s Guess (Live)

Their self-titled EP released last year still has heavy rotation over here. But on May 12 An Evening With Knives played a live studio show for a selected crowd of friends and fans. And everyone who was there or watched the live stream on the internet knew right then that they were witnessing something damn freaking great. And all of those lucky souls are hoping that they will releases that live recorded goodness within the foreseeable future. And guess what. A first track named Blind Man’s Guess has now been released via YouTube. Check it out and bring your weapons!  But don't poke Peer in his eye, cause he recently had surgery! Next live date, Friday 29th in Little Devil, Tilburg, Netherlands. Together witth Mannheim and Steak No.8! Gonna be a good and dangerous night!

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See, and what did you learn? Don't run with knives!

Town Portal – The Occident

Town Portal – The Occident

Small Pond Recordings/Subsuburban – 2015

Rock, Math, Instrumental, Prog

Rated: ***

Vacuum Horror and Chronopoly from 2011 and 2012 had us spinning around like whirling dervishes. And the new record The Occident by the Danish trio Town Portal does exactly the same but with a bit more room for contemplation and staring in awe at the beautiful landscape they paint. At times those vistas turn into a labyrinth where you can keep running around in without ever finding the exit; those are the darker and disorienting moments. But then suddenly the air seems to shift, the famous mixtures of silver blue and golden orange light starts to shine and one feels at peace and that harmony descents upon them. Only to be picked up again by ingenious time signatures and jazzy breaks and dropped down back inside the heart of the labyrinth. And there is nothing accidental about this adventure and nothing disturbing, it’s actually a highly enjoyable way get lost or to lose yourself for a perfect amount of time.

(Written by JK)

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Doom Charts for May 2015

Doom Charts

“You are about to experience one of the strangest meetings ever convened — a joining of […] the most unusual people on Earth! Sit quietly in the shadows of this clandestine conference and observe it well! For from it shall soon be born … The DOOM PATROL” – Arnold Drake

Did you manage to check out the May edition of the Doom Charts? The return of a righteous list and one that is delivered by an amazing amount of people who have a damn good finger on the pulse of that stoner and doom undercurrent. (Except that JK dipshit ofcourse!) Did you manage to give all of the albums on the list a go? Did you get stuck on one or more because they were so damn fine? Well, be sure to visit the list if you haven’t and if you have once again. Cause soon, the fourth, the June edition of the Doom Charts will go up… In about a week time…

Who will make the list this time around? And how much will change? Doktor420: "I wonder if we have an unknown favorite. One of those bands like the amazing Shepherd that suddenly bursts upon the scene out of nowhere…"

Soon we will know… Soon…

So, head on over to the Doom Charts and read up on all those amazing albums!

Electric Wizard live at The Roundhouse, London

Electric Wizard live at The Roundhouse, London 

 15th May 2015

In the beginning there was the word and the word was God. He kinda looked around and decided to do some stuff. On the first day he said “Let there be light” and there was light and that was cool. On some other days he did a lot stuff that made the world but on the seventh day he took a rest, got kinda bored and so invented Doom. And lo, he spake unto me and said: "Maim, go ye to that London and observe the mighty force of nature called Electric Wizard.” …. And so I did go to that London and looked for where the legions of the damned gathered, smoking the merry-jew-wanna and soaking strong alcohol and many of the people there did sport beards of plenty with jackets festooned with myriad patches of Satan and I knew I had arrived. Inside the venue I did observe much crowds of sloth and untidiness combined with unkemptness and reckless abandonment of social politeness and lo, I liked what mine eyes beheld. And then, like the prophets foretold, Electric Wizard came on stage and their souls were claimed by the devils imps for the satanic noise could not of come from any of God’s fair creatures. My stomach felt funny as the sheer volume made my bowels move in time to the bass and the drums sounded like the crack of  hell opening up and the guitars roared their defiance to the heavens and the vocals described all manner of atrocities that man has committed and the solos pierced my inner temple of calmness and I wanted to legalise drugs and murder. And it came to pass that I departed the depths of depravity a changed person. I have turned my back on the light and now follow a path of darkness and despair. All hail the Wizard.

(Written by Tony)

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Pictures: Tony Maim & Dave Pettit

The Cover That Could – IV

The Cover That Could – IV

Black Diamond Brigade – Black Diamond

Black Diamond Brigade is a super group in the finest sense of the word. Or should we say was, cause unfortunately the band has only performed live once and have only recorded one song and one video. For it was a super group formed in honor of a Kiss Tribute album. The members were taken from Norwegian metal and punk bands. But also Billy Gould from Faith No More was present. The rest of those Norwegian freaks were vocalist Torgny Amdam from Amulet, Sigurd Wongraven from Satyricon on bass, keys and backup singer. On drums we hear Tarjei Strom from the Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band. But I guess we post this The Cover That Could post in honor of Knut Schreiner of the loved by everyone and praised by even more bands named Euroboys and ofcourse Turbonegro! On the maxi single that was released alongside that tribute album we find two almost identical version of Black Diamond and the video. With so many demigods, Kiss could just as well pack up and go sit in a dark corner somewhere. So all we need to do now is kneel and pray for the return of the Black Diamond Brigade!

Black Diamond Brigade

Hyperwülff – Volume One: Erion Speaks

Hyperwülff – Volume One: Erion Speaks

Taxi Driver Records – 2015

Rock, Metal, Core, Sludge

Rated: ***

They hail from Bologna, Italy but sound like they were spawned right out of the seventh layer of Hell. It is Hyperwülff and with their first album Volume One: Erion Speaks they truly seem to want to bring forth the coming of true evil. Unholy ruckus and other worldly growls. But as soon as you adjust to their crushing and punishing delivery of riffs, rhythms and howls you suddenly discover the beauty that hides among their blackened and charred musical landscape. Cause there are those moments when the oppressive fog dissipates slightly and a little pseudo celestial light shines on the almost ethereal rhythms and near psychedelic pacing. On those moments you align yourself with Hyperwülff and get ready to be sucked along for the ride to meet that age old Golem or some pre-Adamic spirit. But you will not know if they wish to do you harm until it will be too late. Erion speaks, and his breath is a fiery hot steam that will blister you ears and boil your blood. But that might be the perfect ending or an even better beginning…

(Written by JK)

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