Friday, December 30, 2016

Album Review: Gentle Tick - Gentle Tick EP



Ever been walking in the woods, alone, at dusk and can't shake the feeling that you are being watched?  When from out of nowhere a rabbit bounds out of the bushes causing you to chuckle at yourself for being such a pussy.  But before you can finish your thought a pack of blood thirsty jackals pounce from the shadows tearing the rabbit to pieces and descending with it back into the darkness from which they came.

No?!?

Well...  Me neither.  But, I can promise that is has and will happen again, somewhere!  I can also promise that there are things even more insidious lurking in the wilderness than even the aforementioned jackals.

TICKS!!!

And just like our next contestant there is nothing gentle about them!  Despite their name, Gentle Tick supply an uncompassionate blend of catchy, sludgy goodness.  Heavy on the fuzz and light on the pleasantries Gentle Tick provide melodies that plod along at the perfect tempo to have you marching in time to an army of those rapacious bloodsuckers heading into battle, looking for the perfect spot to hide, laying in wait for your delicious, meaty carcass to pass by.  Saturated with vile growls overlaying the thick sludgy rhythms, this album will grab your attention like finding one of those god damn forest dwelling parasites latched onto your nut sack.  Released a little over a year ago, I'm a little late to the party as usual, but this four piece from Kaliningrad, Russia deliver on their first self titled EP.   Angry from start to finish, it's the perfect soundtrack for one of those days where you can't stand the sight of one more soulless sheep passing you on the street.  I'd also be remissed if I failed to mention the killer artwork for this murky trek through the woods.  I'm ashamed to admit to judging a book by it's cover but good artwork always gets me to hit play.

Edit: It's come to my attention that Gentle Tick disbanded back in August.  The brush land insect variety are however still very prevalent.  So stay vigilant.

Facebook | Soundcloud | Bandcamp

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Album Review: The Freeks - "Shattered"



Taste is a funny thing. There is a lot of brouhaha coming from Atlanta that baffles me, which, of course, just showcases my own shortcomings I suppose. It does come at a time when I am able to sort of play Atlanta off of Rome, in an untypical way. I go back and forth between the oldest profession and their precious metals of the southern U.S. and those strange but hep cats from the heart of both the Unholy and Holy Roman Empires, The Freeks, and their newly released "Shattered". I find I favor, and love, the Roman outpourings hands down. Here's an opportunity for you to do the same.

A very cool thing about The Freeks is their stoner history. Band front man, Ruben Romano, was a founding member of both Fu Manchu and Nebula. Whoa. He has again surrounded himself with quality, as shown below:

Ruben Romano - Vocals, Lead Guitar (formerly of Fu Manchu, Nebula)
Bob Lee - Drums (formerly of Claw Hammer, Backbiter, Mike Watt)
Tom Davies - Bass (formerly of Nebula)
Esteban Chavez - Keyboards
Jonathan Hall - Guitar (Angry Samoans, Backbiter)

"Shattered" is their third full LP release, again chock full of incredible concoctions of uniqueness and wonder. The blend of styles and sounds is so profound, so varied, so pregnant, you might find from one moment to the next a sense and a snippet of style and sound from any of a dozen rock genres. The Freeks manage to blend these variances into a cohesive blanket of melodic noise, a fuzz stubble quilt of pure astonishment. There is nothing but magnificence on this album, from song construction and rendition, to a binding melodic sense of destiny. It's more than a garage rock, punk rock, stoner rock amalgam. It manages to deliver something that soars on a level above all that, held aloft by their magnetic underpinnings but propelled forward at breakneck speed on a newly composited sound of pure energy and fun. You'll hear something familiar in each song - a snippet of stoner fuzz, a clang of punk rock riffing, a run of psychedelic mind meld, a retro/blues reminiscence - that will initially and immediately pull you in. Once there you'll likely stay as the mesmerizing concoction of it all is a strong and heady brew of intoxifying wonderment.

bandcamp || facebook || label || website

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Jon's top 10 releases for 2016

 Its not an easy task to sit down and think of a list of your favorite albums released in a calendar year, there's so many and more coming everyday. So I based it off of this year's releases and how many revolutions they got on my turntable or played on my ipod. I know I probably missed something, but oh well. The numbers also don't represent how good I think a band is as opposed to another. And yes I may be partial to the PNW music scene, cuz that's where I live.
So here's my TOP 10 of 2016!

1. WHORES-Gold (noise rock/heavy rock)
I won't deny that I'm a 90's "grunge" or noise rock fan. I like simple heavy riffs around the 3-5 minute mark, and I like it angry. This album is everything I need to get the day going. Pissed and hook laden!
 I got to see them live 12-16-12 and it was sick nasty!

2. SUMAC-what one becomes (Heavy-Heavy-Heavy)
Every once in awhile an album comes along that just levels you. Aaron turner (isis-old man gloom) and company put on a full tonal assault. I love this album, its not the usual type of music that Heavy Planet has on their site, but it is called Heavy Planet and this planet is heavier with Sumac on it. If you can find one get it!  Thrill Jockey or Profound lore.

3. Holy Grove-S/T (heavy rock/stoner)
Hot damn! I caught this Portland based group at Hoverfest a few years back and was blown away by Andrea Vidal's vocals.This is the whole rock package, from the 1st note to the last and the artwork. Go buy this album!  http://holygrove.bandcamp.com/album/holy-grove

4. Mos Generator-Abyssinia (heavy rock/stoner/prog)
What can I say that hasn't been said about Mos Gen, Tony Reed is a living rock wizard and found a way to tap into another level somewhere inside himself in his songwriting, lucky for us he put it onto a record for all of us to hear.  Jono and Sean keep the low end pummeling along for this great ride. Listenable Records or @ http://heavyheadsuperstore.storenvy.com

5. Elephant Tree- S/T  (heavy rock/doom/stoner)
Super impressed with everything about this album, the musicality, the vocals, the art..everything. I believe they are going onto the 2nd pressing, again handled by M.E.R

6. Cough-still they pray (Doom)
Best Electric Wizard album to come out in years! Just kidding, great album and great riffs! (yes I know who produced it). Might I add, Heavy as Hell! Relapse Records

7. Green River Thrillers- distorted diva (noise rock-heavy rock-punk)
This album was the kick in the teeth I needed at the time I was feeling bogged by Doom.



8. Year of the Cobra-in the shadows below (N/W Doom)
Good people, great band and great album! Maybe this should be in the top 5, but I'm going off what I've listened to the most this year so far. Go buy this on STB records and catch them on tour in Europe and the States in 2017.

9. GEEZER-S/T (cosmic stoner blues)
 I picked up their 1st release -Gage (halloween edition) and was really looking forward to this album, it does not fall short of killer. Ripple Music and STB would be glad to hook you up.


10. Domkraft- the end of electricity
I finally got to listen to this album last week and was instantly a fan of the riffs. If Ufomammut and Serial Hawk had a love child Domkraft would be its name. Go get this sweetness from Magnetic Eye Records

Honorable mentions:
The TAD subpop re-releases, a dream come true for me.

Melvins re-releases of Stoner Witch-Houdini-Stag-Third man Records

Infinite Flux vinyl release on DCR records. Such a great album!

Disenchanter vinyl releases of Strange Creations and On through Portals (Doom metal) DHU records. This would be on my top 10 had it not been released on CD the previous year, One of my favorite bands and people. The packaging on these vinyl editions are beautiful.

Mammoth Salmon-Last Vestige of humanity (Heavy Sludgy Stoner) DCR
Paul and his new low enders are fast becoming Sludge Kings. 

Ancient Warlocks 2 STB (Heavy Stoner Rock)
another great album by these fine gents and great artwork as well. 


Mos Generator- the firmament
There's some interesting spins on some Mos classics and a Joy Division cover as well!
https://youtu.be/BWF-SPXfd3A






Sunday, December 18, 2016

Album Review: Buzzzard - "Cold Blood"



Dateline Carbondale, Illinois. Four young rock n roll entrepreneurs have decided to band together and create an album in the stoner blues style. Of course, this is nothing unusual. This happens all the time all over the world with slight variations in style of music and number of band members. But what doesn't happen all the time is a perfect confluence of talent, desire, and ability. It has happened here.

This album is pure stoner blues. There's nothing else there and there doesn't need to be. It's beautiful, magical, and haunting. 7 tracks where guitar, bass, drums, and vocals weave a primal, almost spiritual musical journey. It is keen in scope and massive in conveyance.

Band members are:

Mike Lighty - Guitar/Vocals
Cody Beckman - Drums/Backup Vocals
Ben Bleyer - Bass
Kasey Rogers - Guitar/Backup Vocals



bandcamp || facebook

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Album Review: 1000mods - Repeated Exposure To...





1000mods are Greek gods and I love them.  They bring the heavy so very well, so perfectly that from the first day I heard them I was a fan.  Well now they went and did it, they made the album I knew they could and should.  1000mods released “Repeated Exposure To…”, their third full length album in September and it is one of my favorite albums of the year and of my entire life.  

The album opens with Above179, five minutes and 41 seconds of pay fucking attention.  We are the gods, the kings of nowhere / we are the dogs that live in despair” Dani screams at you with his bass hung at his knees and the rest of the band obliges.  Showing you with every note that these bad asses from Greece are not to be taken lightly.  

The highlight of the album, for me, is the suddenly very personal “The Son”.  It is one of my favorite tracks of the year and as soon as I heard it I fell in love with it.  The perfect blend of beauty and rage.   My father died yesterday and this is the only song I wanted to hear, it is perfect.  For that reason you get every word of it and 1000mods, my brothers, you get a thank you for creating something that means a great deal to me personally.   

People are telling me how
Blank is the world
Freedom is giving me now
The soul that I sold
I am a son of a gun
I'm shooting my life
You're gonna see the one
The one you don't like
Heaven rejects me
And throws me back
I am forgotten
I live in the dark
I'm smoking woods
And I'm sniffing the clouds
I am the name
That nobody shouts
The skin of my mother
Is under my veins
I feel so empty
I got no remains
The voice of my father
Is so long and gone
I am the son of a loaded gun
Happiness is full of lies
I'm killing my dreams
I'm speaking and everything dies
I wake up in screams
Emptiness sparks in the light
Watching you fade
Please don't give up the fight
Follow your fate
Heaven rejects me
And throws me back
I am forgotten
I live in the dark
I'm smoking woods
And I'm sniffing the clouds
I am the name
That nobody shouts
The skin of my mother
Is under my veins
I feel so empty
I got no remains
The voice of my father
Is so long and gone
I am the son
I am a gun
This is one of the best albums of the year, no matter what style of music you favor.  Dani, Giannis, George and Labros have created something that demands and deserves your attention.  I do not know them, but I thank them for what they made and cannot recommend more that each and every one of you get this album and get to experience it for what it is, a glorious, heavy masterpiece.  

Album Review: Cybernetic Witch Cult - "Spaceous Cretaceous"




How about some fun on this cold winter's morn! "Spaceous Cretaceous" had been submitted to Heavy Planet back in May and I have to admit to not listening to it until recently. It was well worth the wait. This selection of 9 delectable fuzz bombs contrives to rock and rumble in the most unique and uncommon of metal musical ways. Cybernetic Witch Cult manage to weave fantastical tales of mighty warriors, fell creatures of searing fire and bloody claw, far-flung planets, beautiful and tragic femme Fatales, futuristic vessels, and treacherous climes all wrapped tightly, intricately in thick layers of bright fuzz and dark fabric aboard expertly engineered cauldrons of deep rumbling nuclear expression.

Make no mistake, the fantastical nature of the lyrical tales only enhance the expertly rendered music. The tone is bluesy and low, the style is melodic and deep, and the riffs, rills, and runs all exhilarating in execution and encounter. Stitching it all together are the singular vocals of front man Alex Wyld whose rendering is pitch perfect for this style of metal with its stone shard edges, deep grain timbre, and range of execution. No yell vocals here, just an exceptional fry of great reach. The instrumentation throughout this album is an infectious, joyous celebration of old school melodies, darkly drenched in indigo tones, but sharply honed in new school power. The riffs are exquisite, the bass massive, and the stickwork virulent, combined with the heretofore mentioned vocals and sui generis lyrics the individual pieces are all of the highest caliber. Blended and woven together the finished product propels the noteworthy factor forward exponentially, which is no mean feat. So, revel in the accomplishments of this three piece band of mighty dragon slayers from Cornwall, England:

Alex Wyld - Vocals, Guitar
Kale Dean - Bass, Vocals
Rogan Collins - Drums

bandcamp || facebook || website



Thursday, December 15, 2016

Top Ten Records of 2016: Pete's choices.

Let's dispatch with the pleasantries shall we, the "2016 has been a crap year" boohooing, and let's just do this thing! The one thing that can be said about 2016 is, as ever, that the music has been fucking awesome!

10. MAKE - Pilgrimage Of Loathing
Pilgrimage Of Loathing is a very challenging record, one that covers the fucked up human race and political/scumbag shittyness to a tee. MAKE come at you with as much bile and anger as they can muster, while still carrying the post-rock abstractness to take you to their higher-plain of serenity. It's a challenging listen, but a vital one.

9. Domadora - The Violent Mystical Sukuma
The best Earthless record not to be done by Earthless, and that's a compliment, as the French psychedelic/stoner/rockers play with their sounds rather than just imitate. Some tracks are short balls to the wall riffathons, others 16 minute instrumental epics. An excellent record.

8. Steinsopp - Steinsopp
The "Stoner's Stoner Record" of 2016! With indecipherable vocals sung through a megaphone from a different galaxy, chugging stoner riffs, and songs sending you tripping into the next track, Steinsopp have pulled of something mightily impressive here.

7. Spaceslug - Lemanis
Muffled heavy stoner doom is as claustraphobic as it is freeing, and it is done perfectly here. Spaceslug are so good at biding their time at being heavy, that you don't realise you're being crushed by their riffs until they're already on top of you, pressuring down onto your wind pipe.

6. Swan Valley Heights - Swan Valley Heights
One of the best stoner-rock records of the year. Since way back in January, this record has hit multiple repeats, and it still crushes to this day. I've found it works really well down the gym too!

5. Son Of A Witch - Thrones In The Sky
Thrones In The Sky was released right back in the early stages of the year, and it's finally seeing a release on vinyl at the beginning of 2017, and it's just what these Brazilians deserve as the record is all kinds of heavy-hazy-doomy-psychedelic perfection.

4. Messa - Belfry
Gorgeous paganistic style doom from these Italians with ambient drone undertones. Belfry is utterly spellbinding, in no part down to the haunting vocals of Sara, which flitters between heavy seventies style hard rock to nothing but delicate vocals gliding along the wind. Beautifully crushing!

3.Domkraft - The End Of Electricity
A late comer in the year's releases, but one that's made such an impact that it demand your attention. Loud, heavy riffs, psychedelic touches, pummelling beats, and did I mention those riffs? Awesome tunes from these Swedes and yet more proof that Magnetic Eye records can barely put a foot wrong!

2. Whores. - Gold
After the release of two excellent EPs, anticipation was very high for their debut record, and the Noise merchants did not disappoint, with a record that is as loud as they could possibly go, with riffs heavier and more relentless than before. Gold proved that Whores. are the real deal.

1. Cough - Still They Pray
Hypnotically heavy and perfectly psyched-out, this record has been ever present on my turntable ever since I found it in my local record store. Cough are a band who are continuously improving and growing with each release, and the doom stampede here is a pleasure to accompany every dark gruesome night.


Until next year, wherever you are on the planet, have a HEAVY one! Pete.

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Album Review: Domkraft - "The End of Electricity"



One day I'll inevitably lose my mind.  And I don't mean wig out slightly, buy a sports car, and head to Cabo with a woman half my age mid life crisis style.  I mean full blown, bat shit, chasing squirrels in my underwear screaming apocalyptic prophecies crazy.  And when it happens......  This is what I envision it will sound like.  Not that there is anything inherently chaotic or madness inducing here.  Quite the opposite.  Domkraft's "The End of Electricity" is a well crafted emotional roller coaster.  While it's the subtle tempo changes that ebb and flow back and forth like crushing waves of doom that tickle my deep seeded chemical imbalances, it's the reverb soaked bellows of bassist/vocalist Martin Wegeland which echo like they are being delivered from atop a desolate mountain, that offer up premonitions of my impending imaginary voices.  The whole album flows so well it could have very easily been one epically long song.  Even the much more even tempered "Drones" fits perfectly.  As "The Rift" and "Meltdown of the Orb" build more and more tension "Drones" drops back a notch, gives you a chance to regroup.  As if to offer a slight glimpse of hope to my quickly dissolving faculties, before diving head first back into fuzzy dissolution, and finishing up the album where it all started with plenty more of the hypnotic sounds that sent you tumbling down this rabbit hole in the first place.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Nuclear Dog's Triple Blast: Geezer, Wasted Theory, Mississippi Bones

The end of the year hurtles toward us at breakneck speed. 2016 has been a signature year in many respects, not the least of which are the numerous new EPs and LPs released by both known and unknown stoner/doom bands, many of them of exceptional quality. I'm sure someone will reflect back and say it wasn't a great year for new music. Poppycock! Get off my lawn! There has been so much great new music this year I will STRUGGLE, mightily, to narrow the releases down to a 'Best Of' list of any reasonable length. But that's a chore for another day. Today's task is simple, and fun. There are three amazing, astounding, outstanding, wonderful new LPs released one each in September, October, and November that I want to share with you. Ladies and Gentlemen, I present:
  • Mississippi Bones - "2600 AD: And Other Astonishing Tales"
  • Wasted Theory - "Defenders of the Riff"
  • Geezer - "Geezer"
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Mississippi Bones - "2600 AD: And Other Astonishing Tales"



Fresh off a banner release in 2015, followed by a 2016 vinyl release that we reviewed recently on HeavyPlanet (Songs for the Rejects, Slackers, and Rabble-Rousers) Mississippi Bones add to their prolificacy by releasing another romp stomp LP with 2600 AD: And Other Astonishing Tales, 12 more songs that rattle and crash with incredible energy, enthusiasm, and elegance.

I will be the first person to point out my own shortcomings when it comes to understanding the mechanics of music. I am simply a fan of what I love, all of which begins with big guitar, and can only be enhanced with melody and great vocals. Mississippi Bones provides those three traits in spades. When I listen through this album I hear elements of Clutch, which makes this music quite exciting to me, but that is only the starting point for what they've created here. Music of this quality, at this rate of production, has to be a product of great musicianship from each member, and with six full members that equates to a product of tremendous content and caliber. Listening to this album is like being involved in a Fight Club brawl. There are a LOT of hard hitting, bruising punches, hammer-like blows to the head, and unseen, unpredictable, razor sharp strikes, all leaving you spent, exhausted, and keenly satisfied. The difference is there is no pain or discomfort involved in listening, just sheer raucous rock n roll pleasure, a fierceness of execution, and a keen sense of joy.

Hailing from Ada, Ohio, Missisippi Bones is comprised of the following members:

Jared Collins - Vocals
Dusty Donley - Guitars
Jason Miller - Drums
Derik Dunson - Guitars and Vocals
Jason Rector - Bass
Heather Collins - Vocals

Mississippi Bones make perfect use of multiple instrumentation on their music, and I count vocals as one of the instruments. The use of three perfectly attuned rock vocalists adds greatly to the depth and quality of their songs. The blending and meshing of guitars as well as harmonizing vocals makes for a super huge sound that envelopes you in sticky sweet warmth, while simultaneously providing crystal sharp individual runs and riffs that weave a heavy quilt of intensity, intrigue, and interest.

Mississippi Bones are not signed to a label, which is perplexing as hell. They are prolific and they are accomplished. I would think there would be huge interest in championing what they have to offer for quality hungry stoner/doom rock fans. The good news is their music is easily accessible and available in this high tech day and age.

bandcamp || facebook

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Wasted Theory - "Defenders of the Riff"



You want rough, tough, edgy, loud, and lewd on your plate of underground fuzz metal? Look no further than Wasted Theory and their new release "Defenders of the Riff". This band is one of hard work, grit in your craw, grit in your hand cleaner, of big bore engines and steel-toed boots, of backyard barbecue over fluid and coal, of well worn jeans and righteous facial hair, of All American ass kickin' in whatever way needs kickin'.

I follow the awesome album cover artist Alex von Wieding, who has created dozens of incredible fantasy pieces for metal bands around the world. He happened to mention how the music behind one of his latest album covers was contagious in effect and humongous in scope. That album was "Defenders of the Riff", which you can tell by the artwork above was a great inspiration to von Wieding's vision for the album cover, an extraordinary work of art for a remarkable collection of rocket-fueled retro blues rock n roll.

Hailing from the great states of Maryland and Delaware, Wasted Theory are:

Larry Jackson, Jr. - Vocals, Lead Guitar
Brendan Burns - Drums
Dave McMahon - Rhythm Guitar
Rob Michael - Bass

Just the song titles alone are enough to get your juices flowing with handles like "Get Loud or Get Fucked", "Belly Fulla Whiskey", and "Throttlecock" to name a few. The music behind those titles are big gauge buckshot blasts of big boulder stoner blues, without a doubt. All of the music on this album is a romping good time, with upbeat tempos driven by mangy riffs, decibel heavy, low tuned rhythm, and one sweet gravelly voiced front-man deftly leading the way. The music gives an aura of rawness, but is thoroughly grounded in melodies that immediately cut to the listener's primal core, carving deeply chiseled niches that will have you constantly playing the songs in your head long after you have had to plug in for a re-charge.

bandcamp || facebook


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Geezer - "Geezer"



If you ever want to study a band that is the absolute epitome of stoner rock then look no further than Geezer. While they don't stand alone in this category, they certainly stand at the top of the hill, a hill that they've worked hard to surmount. There are no tricks, no gimmicks, no shortcuts to their music, just good old fashioned heart and hard work laid over tremedous talent and uncanny ability. This has rendered a deeply beautiful collection of fuzz and grit on their latest release, the self-titled "Geezer", on both the Ripple (digital/CD) and STB Records (vinyl) labels, their fourth overall.

Hailing from Kingston, New York, band members include:

Pat Harrington - Guitar, Vocals
Richie Touseull - Bass
Chris Turco - Drums

There are two huge hallmarks of Geezer's music that immediately pull you in when you first hear them, the huge presence of wire melting FUZZ, which I love, and Harrington's equally fuzzy, gritty vocals. He has a quality that is perfectly suited to this style of heavy metal, full of metal shards and crunching concrete, but also crystal clear and athletic in range, a rarity among vocalists in a genre that too often relies on yelling more than singing.

But the goodies don't stop there. Behind the fuzz, of course, are the guitar and bass of Harrington and Touseull, but not before you are treated to the heart pounding stickwork of Turco to kick it all off and keep the music grounded in primal flow. There is absolutely nothing straightforward about what they do as they explore an exciting and enticing variety of sounds, tempos, emotions, and sensations on their intricately beautiful riffs and eloquent runs. This album ranges from darkly haunting as on "Sun Gods", and sweetly melancholy on "Dust", to jump jiving blues rock boogie on "Superjam Maximus", with mind and soul bending psychedelic carpet rides, such as those featured on "Bi-Polar Vortex" and woven throughout.

bandcamp(Ripple) || facebook || bandcamp























Thursday, December 8, 2016

New Band To Burn One To: Onoskelis

The demo from Stockholm, Sweden's, newest purveyors of psychedelic stoner doom heaviness, Onoskelis, is a mightly impressive listen. The three tracks on show offer a range from energetic stoner driven riffs, to heart pounding doom, all covered over with a cloak of psychedelic haziness that carry similarities with their fellow countrymen Monolord, in all the right areas.

We predict big things for these three dudes in the near future, and when you listen to a track like 'Atlantean Blade' for the umpteenth time, you will wholeheartedly agree! Go listen, download, and bang your head away to now!