Quick Hit: CORTEZ - "THE DEPTHS BELOW"

Veteran Boston rockers Cortez have advanced their long, high caliber legacy with a new, full length LP, their third album since inception back in 2006. This latest album by the quintet is a testament to their longevity as it provides some of the best tracks they've yet produced, music of the highest stoner metal caliber offered up over the past 11 years.

"The Depths Below" run a distinctive gamut of loud party fun, melodramatic psychedelics, hard, heavy, slabs of towering stoner metal resolve, and even a frolicking, hip-hop inspired romp of a hard rock bent. The melodies are intelligent and magical, providing sharp, indelible hooks, while the vocals are of a quality rarely experienced from within the hordes of underground rock bands. Riffs of twin guitars are piled high and loud, bringing steel wool fibered fuzz of rarefied magnificence. The rhythm sector is never overshadowed, displaying clear, unyielding stickwork of immense cleverness and ferocity as well as bass guitar of thick, gargantuan reverberations of primal explosion.

I had the privilege of reviewing Cortez on their eponymous sophomore release back in 2012, cutting my teeth on music easy to both enjoy and attest to. Five years later I get to do so again, an opportunity as satisfying as is their music to which I immensely enjoy.

While going over their discography I came across a single track they had released early in 2016, a cover of one of the premier rock bands of the 70s, Deep Purple. Cortez' rendition is a brilliant emission of a brilliant, but unheralded classic. I include it here for the sake of fun.



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Album Review: Revival by Gozu

Damn, sometimes you just fall in love and fall hard.  It happens, it’s a beautiful thing.  You never expect it and are never looking for it in that moment and then all of the sudden twelve tons of love fall off the dump truck right on top of yours truly.  

Boston’s own Gozu is that twelve ton dump truck and their third release Revival is all the love you can handle.  How could that not be the case with a band named for a face-licking cow head in a low budget, absurdist yakuza movie?  Well actually, I am glad you asked.

What we are dealing with here is eight songs that were properly assembled to interconnect and create what is the finest military-grade, ass shaking machine the western hemisphere has had the privilege to develop.  Revival is a triumph of style, rockandroll, and diesel engineering.    

First things first, Mark Gaffney’s vocals set the tone to the entire album.  His delivery is fearless and he fits in each and every song with a precision that was probably reverse engineered with technology from alien spacecraft.  It is that good that I question whether he really is one of us.  Could this man who plays guitar and sings over these heavy riffs be from beyond?  My research is inconclusive at this point.  Listen to the fifth track Oldie and you be the judge.  

The guitar work by Doug Sherman throughout the album is why we like what we like.  Heavy, driving and when combined with the bombastic rhythm section of Joe Grotto on bass and Mike Hubbard on drums creates an unconscious reflexive motion of the head forward and backwards in a subtle to violent fashion in men and significant lateral swaying of the lower torso region in women.  It’s science as you can see with the tracks Nature Boy, Big Casino, By Mennen, and in the anthem named for my doppelgänger, Lorenzo Llamas.  

Their first album on the beloved Ripple Music label will be released on June 10^th and will be on my list of favorites for the year.   

With or without face licking, you are gonna love it. 

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- WM

[this review contains 1 umlaut]  

Song of the Day-Whitey-"Deadbeat the Slug"

"Deadbeat the Slug" is taken off of the band's new release "A Paler Shade of Whitey". This song is a healthy dose of heavy down-home blues with quirky rhythms and a grimy twist of sludge just to keep things interesting. For more information, please check out the following links: Bandcamp

Song of the Day-Birnam Wood-"Wizards Bleed"

"Wizards Bleed" is taken off of the latest EP "Warlord". With it's iconic build-up, the song eventually delves into a heavy and groovy vibe. A bit psychedelic, a bit terrifying and a whole lot of mother fuckin' riffage! No disappointment here. For more information, please check out the following links: Facebook | Bandcamp

Sunday Smoke: Leather Lung - "Reap What You Sow"

Some things need to be experienced without distraction. Isn't that what Kyuss instructed? If you're gonna smoke yourself stupid, the perfect sidecar is the grimiest, steadiest stoner-sludge within arm's reach. But more important is to isolate the experience with decent headphones. After all, do you really want your mom coming downstairs, interrupting your session to complain about that racket?

Speaking of your mom, she looks great on the cover of Leather Lung's Reap What You Sow. Four New Englanders, five smokey cruisers, and twenty-seven minutes are all you need to make today lazy, hazy, and stickier than your stepdad's backseat. And it's okay if you don't wanna share.

A familiar stoner fuzz permeates the album, immediately evident on Burning Out. The opener rips with riffs and heavy hits, repeatedly parting the basement haze with fuzz licks that lift us into another atmosphere. Mike's vocal is little else but shards and splinters, spit hot and angry. But these rueful reflections can hardly pull you away from a Sunday sit down with your shadiest pals. The quick follow-up Green Bitch is stoner-punk sneer with a staggering gait, set off by Ben's potholed path. As we struggle for balance, Zach's blistering licks steady our hand. But these lungs are filling up and these eyes have grown heavy, bro.

An all-out embrace of loser-dom follows on the album's back end. Stone by Stone bruises behind heady buzz and riffs accumulate upon themselves. In short, the thickness is gonna coat your throat before lulling you with a cool, indian-circle sense of comfort. Don't get too cozy, though... "Third eye opens, two eyes close"? We're smoked silly and burnt into oblivion. Jesse's bass plucks introduce Moth to the Flame, offering a complete vocal tandem that juxtaposes itself. As a sandstorm develops, Leather Lung lift the tempo and swallow everything in sight. The slow to a sludgy stumble is as sticky as it is heavy. The transition to the closing Repack/Relight is swampy and strangely cathartic, snagging spacey elements to aggravate the swell. Screeches offer a bit of unease, but a slow strip of excess counters buzz-backed thumps as we ultimately, finally fall to a knee.

Leather Lung see no need to justify the fog. The bake is why you wake, so fuck the nickel and dime façade. Start to finish, Reap What You Sow sifts for stems and seeds, enveloping listeners with a viscous hybrid of low-slung, low-freuqency Acapulco Gold. Heshers generally have no shortage of free time. But rarely do they make such good use of it as with these five nugs.

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Heavy Planet's Reader Takeover

Welcome to our first official post of "Heavy Planet's Reader Takeover". This is a post in which one of our readers submits some of their favorite band's in hopes that they can get a little more well-deserved attention. These next four band's come from John Fadden. John is the vocalist for one hell of a killer band out of Boston called Ichabod. If you have yet to to hear this band, do yourself a solid and check them out sometime. Now...on to John's picks.

"Hey this is John from the band Ichabod. I'd like the readers to enjoy some of the amazing up and coming talent we have had the privilege of sharing stage time with leading up to the half-way point of 2014. Any song available by any of these bands is a guaranteed homerun."

Bedroom Rehab Corporation

2 words: Awe Inspiring.
Adam [bass/vocals] & Meghan [drums] have an undeniable chemistry and put on a live show that rivals any 5pc. dual gtr. riff fest on the planet. Adam's brooding stage presence compliments Meghan's bombastic and passionate drumming perfectly. Their songs are heavy on hooks, flawless execution, & fuzz. They are a lethal duo who I assume won't be a band that goes unrecognized nationally for very much longer.



Bandcamp|Facebook

Set

Visually ominous & nothing short of a full-scale auditory assault SET brings together elements of 70's/80's occult rock, an at times not so subtle mixture of hardcore from all corners of the US [Boston, NY, LA, & DC]...well don't ask me how they do it so seamlessly, but they do...... and top it all off with a crusty/DIY style presentation which is unmistakably genuine. Not too mention that just like Bdrm Rehab Corp. this group is as friendly and personable off stage as they are a gang of denim vested, bearded warriors on it.



Bandcamp|Facebook

Side Effects May Include [S.E.M.I.]

This 4pc outfit from NH falls more into the experimental/progressive metal category than the rest of this playlist but they deliver their stony goods as well as anyone. Obvious comparisons to Faith No More/Mr. Bungle aside, these guys are as animated physically as they are musically. I'd suggest the track "Wakizashi"



Bandcamp|Facebook

Four Speed Fury

Lastly, we have Massachusetts' own FOUR SPEED FURY. The band features original Ichabod vocalist and founding member Ken Mackay. The band formed in late 2013 and have already crafted a set of songs that are custom made for live performance and they surprised and delighted the audience last month as the opening act for Swedish riffmeister's Deville in Worcester, MA. alongside the before mentioned Bedroom Rehab Corporation and us[Ichabod]. Ken's unmistakable trademark vocals that brought Ichabod's multi-dimensional musical constructs one step beyond their own sonic event horizon have once again become realized and shine for all who listen. We cannot and could not be any happier for Ken and the rest of 4SF.

Learn how to place music on itunes at ReverbNation.com

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Thanks John for the awesome bands! If you would like to takeover the pages of Heavy Planet for the day you can do so by going HERE.

Album Review: Moosataur S/T

The members of Moosataur enjoy drinking beer. And jamming. When they first got together they didn't set out to play any specific style, they just let muse and the booze be their guide. From these sessions came a punk album, but guitarist John Mckusick, kept pumping out metal solos that didn't fit with the feel of the punk album. Why was he playing these solos?

John didn't know, but the solos were recorded. Not sure what to do with the metal material, they kept the recordings on the proverbial shelf, until Ira Jones (bass) got a message. It wasn't a real message, just an idea, an urge, to draw a Minotaur. With the head of a Moose. Jon saw the drawing and uttered one word. 

Moosataur.

After this vision and the band set about making an album in its image. John delved into ancient texts found in his local library to learn more about the Moosataur. He discovered this about the beast. "There is very little information on the internet so I had to refer to the ancient texts. Now what we know of the creature today is believed that he is Canadian. I just couldn’t accept that so I had to dig a little deeper and discovered the Älgfroden, a species of beast in Norse Mythology with these same characteristics. What I have come to understand is that even though Älgfrode was mostly a peaceful species, when their tribes were threatened they could become extremely protective and capable of great force and violence due to their size. The vikings grew to fear them so they had come together and made the plan to capture the beast. They then brought it to and released it in the Northern Americas years before any civilization where he roamed aimlessly, the last of his kind. I believe what we have now is the ghost of the beast, Still capable of great terror. I believe great supernatural abilities have been bestowed upon the Moosataur due the the extremely painful fate it had been dealt. He stalks the night!

Perhaps the spirit of the Moosataur compelled John to play those riffs. Perhaps its spirit willed Ira to draw that strange combination of man and moose. Whatever it was that gave them the idea they couldn't shake it. They brought in a professional to draw the Moosatuar album cover. They dusted off those solos Jon stored away. They began to stretch their punkish jams, adding a dose of psychedelia, and some old school grunge. 

And now the album is complete. They are ready to share the story of the Moosataur with us. Start with the tune below, but be sure to check out the entire album. It's a an old school concept record. Telling a story that's never been told. 

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Nuclear Dog's Atomic Split: Summoner - "Atlantian" / Lint - 'Existence"

2013 has been a major year for new releases and the accompanying anticipation of many of them. There has been a noticeable number of known, favorite bands bestowing upon their admirers new fuzz fodder on which to chomp and chew, and it has been glorious. In addition, there has been a significant amount of 4 star albums seemingly coming out of the blue,  from previously unknown, as yet to be discovered sources, and it, too, has been phenomenal.  I am having the rock and roll time of my life, an experience I'm sure I share with fuzzheads the world over. I think back to the wild oats period of my life in which purchasing an album that had 2 or 3 quality songs from a total of 8 or 9 made it a worthy investment. A record that might have all its tracks of high sonic quality was quite rare. The underground world of fuzz and furor we presently inhabit provides us with a different experience. I marvel at the current state of fuzz/doom/psych/retro rock in which bands are releasing albums filled entirely with superior quality jams (Hey!, if I'm going back to my wild oats, I'm using this archaic term), and that's the case whether established artists are releasing their 4th, 5th, 6th album or up and comers are releasing debut or follow up albums.  Today we showcase one band that gained notoriety with their debut album and have recently released their much anticipated follow up, and we showcase another band that is releasing its second album as well, but perhaps with a lot less notoriety and expectation. Listen for yourself and let me know what you think, as I certainly and inevitably let you know my thoughts below. Ladies and Gentlemen, Summoner and Lint.
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SUMMONER - "ATLANTIAN"

Early 2012 saw the release of an album that became one of the most sought after of the year, as newly named Stoner band Summoner, previously playing under the moniker Riff Cannon, released the surprising and stunning "Phoenix", an album of significant accomplishment in all its phases. This Boston foursome managed to accomplish something not many bands can match by delivering a veritable treasure trove of Stoner wonderment. Now with the follow on album, "Atlantian", members Chris Johnson (bass/vocals), AJ Peters (guitar), Joe Richner (guitar), and Scott Smith (drums) manage to once again accomplish the exceptional in their approach to melodic mayhem, effortlessly gliding through the metalsphere propelled by energetic tracks bursting with gleaming, polished psych-edged licks of ingenuity, tightly interwining anabolic, raw-boned riffs, and diesel powered rock thunder. These guys have stepped up their heavy game and it shows. This is the kind of album that slowly burrows its way through your subconscious, growing in appreciation with each light fantastic trip through its interstellar experiences. Summoner have established a signature sound through the release of these first two albums, and have demonstrated a willingness to put forth maximum and meticulous effort in mastering the melodies chosen for each song in the tracklist. Heaviness in bass and drums is matched perfectly with deep, fuzzy riffs, blended with clean, colorful psychedelic interludes, and married well with ethereal, haunting vocals, creating a sound that's at once familiar in style, but fresh in its respective presentation.

There is no weakness of melody on the album, as it delivers solid, enjoyable music from stem to stern. Favorite tracks include the opener "Gatekeeper", a paragon of Stoner music "Horns of War", and the measured, powerful "Under the Crystalline Sky". But all tracks on "Atlantian" are superb.









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LINT - "EXISTENCE"

Hailing from Wollongong, New South Wales in the land of  Oz come the threesome Lint, a band who know how to throw down elegant, ferocious licks around finely crafted melodies that seamlessly flow in steady state fuzz, imparting a trance like experience to those willing to partake of the 7 conscious bending tracks of their second release, "Existence". Their music seems to borrow themes and snippets of sound and style from many rock subgenres, but never dwell long enough on any one to detract from the album's fresh, dynamic sound, which develops and coalesces into a vibrant, vibrating, voyage of acute indulgence and deep musical gratification.

The threesome of Brad on vocals and guitar, CJ on vocals and bass, and Dave on drums claim influences from genres as varied as grunge, sludge, and psychedelica, and while they don't name Colour Haze as a direct influence I would say they are perhaps unintended disciples of the German juggernaut. The music is moody, damp, cloying, and as mentally invasive as a Centaurian slug released by Khan Noonian Singh. Once it's in, it's there to wreak some havoc, scramble some brain wave patterns and infuse deep, dark, delusional designs of rhythm and pleasure. The songs are predominantly instrumental, but the vocals are well placed within the well written and expertly executed melodies of booming riffs, power thumping bass, and deadly drumwork.

Favorite songs are the melancholy mad dash of "Red Static" and the psychedelic power surge of "The Follower", but, just as it's Atomic Split predecessor, it's an album filled entirely of white hot tunes.







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In Case You Missed It: Rozamov - Of Gods and Flesh

If you're a regular here at Heavy Planet, you've no doubt already heard about Rozamov.  For starters, these Bostonians were featured as our "New Band to Burn One to" just over a year ago.  Then the band were cool enough to let us host the exclusive preview of the first track from their latest EP, Of Gods and Flesh prior to its release back in early July.  And…well…we figured now would be as good a time as any to remind all of you that the rest of this EP is just as sick and kick ass as you were led to believe by that little appetizer.  So if you haven't done so already, go ahead and queue that shit up and come along with us as we get obliterated one more time with Rozamov.    

Of Gods and Flesh opens with the blistering, aural devastation of "Famine" (the track we previewed back in June).  Beginning as an exercise in hardcore metal at breakneck speed, the song eventually settles into a pace we're much more familiar with around these parts, as the riffs from guitarists Matt Iacovelli and Liz Walshak slog into slow, sludgy, doom territory.  Moving along, Rozamov keep the pace sluggish and heavy on "Empty Sky" thanks to the ponderous rhythm section of bassist Tom Corino and drummer Will Hendrix, but be warned, occasional bouts of blast beats and blasphemy always seem to lurk around the corner.  

"Shadow of the Vulture" sounds as ominous as that title might imply with its discordant guitar and vocal work (credited to Iacovelli, Walshak, and Corino) that alternates from abrasive rasp to threatening cry and then combines both to create an undeniably torturous howl.  Cymbals wash over an agonized guitar solo and both do their best to drown out the pleading, but its too little to late and before you realize it, Rozamov have entered into the rumbling death march of the EP's title track.  At this point, you'll be all but pissing yourself while adorning an absurd smile.  

Of Gods and Flesh is rife with this type of chaotic sludge-core...a sound that brings me back to the days of old school Crowbar.  In fact, with equal parts hardcore intensity, languorous groove and harrowing hopelessness, perhaps its best if I sum it up using a phrase often attributed to that legendary band.  "None fucking heavier."  Can you dig that?  Yeah, you know you can.  Believe me people…you don't want to miss this one.    

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Exclusive Song Stream: Rozamov Announce New EP Details and July Tour Dates

Boston sludge metal quartet Rozamov have announced July 2nd as the release date for their second EP Of Gods and Flesh. The EP will be self-released digitally and on CD through Bandcamp before the band embarks on a tour of the Northeast and Midwest (dates below). Of Gods and Flesh was recorded and mixed by AJ Peters (Batillus, Summoner, Olde Growth) at Q Division Studios in Somerville. Pre-Orders are now available for physical and digital formats with a vinyl release planned for later in the year.

Rozamov was born in the fall of 2011 by guitarists Matt Iacovelli and Liz Walshak, bassist Tom Corino and drummer Will Hendrix. The band recorded their debut self-titled EP at Black Coffee Sound with producer Clay Neely (Black Pyramid, Elder, Vaporizer) in February of 2012. The EP was self-released in March 2012 for free download, which created a buzz in the doom and sludge blogosphere.

Tour Dates:

July 11th- Brooklyn, NY @ The Acheron w/ Jucifer & Vaporizer

July 12th- Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie w/ Sunburster & Vaporizer

July 13th- Silver Spring, MD @ Joe’s Record Paradise w/ Akris, Wall of Sleep

July 14th- Frederick MD @ Lallo’s w/ Akris & TBA

July 15th- Columbus, OH @ The Summit w/ Ves & Torgor

July 16th – Louisville, KY @ Magbar w/ Great Floods, Crippled Tongue & Empira Vultura

July 17th- Rockford, IL @ Disastr House w/ Porno Horse, Hot Mess & Evidence of Arachnids

July 18th- Chicago, IL @ Grandbar w/ TBA

July 19th- Appleton, WI @ TBA

July 20th- Cleveland, OH @ Now That’s Class w/ Venomin James

Now, prepare to have your eardrums caved-in as we debut the lead track "Famine" from the soon to be released EP "Of Gods and Flesh" by Rozamov exclusively right here on Heavy Planet! Blast this shit!!

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Nuclear Dog's Atomic Split: Gozu - "The Fury of a Patient Man" / Spectral Haze - "Spectral Haze"

Today, dear and beloved followers of the doom, I will introduce to you two fine collections of metal music that fit nicely into the type of music we like to play, to hear, to enjoy, and to experience at Heavy Planet. The music of both bands in today's Atomic Split feature is quite refreshing in its originality and uniqueness, set apart from anything that might be mundanely classified as strictly stoner, doom, or psychedelic. One of the more exciting bands that make Small Stone Records home is Gozu; popular, powerful, and well established with earlier releases that have garnered a mighty following in the underground arena, and now releasing a new album that is brimming with, at the very least, anticipation and excitement. A relatively unknown act hailing from Norway without much history upon which to draw, Spectral Haze are relying here strictly upon the strength of their music. Today we review both and see how they each fare. So, without further adieu . . .

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GOZU - "THE FURY OF A PATIENT MAN"

Gozu have enjoyed a level of success to this point in their career, due entirely upon their superb brand of stoner/doom music, garnering attention both with their initial 7 track EP release in 2008 and the release of their 2010 LP "Locust Season" on the Small Stone Records label by playing music that is deep, rich, and unique in much of its melodic makeup. The masterful riffs are ever present, blending a wonderfully rich texture of distortion and heft with a modicum of head snapping  funk. A unique and wonderful feature of Gozu's sound are the vocals, which are vibrant and athletic, combining with well crafted melodies that are always intelligent as well as pleasing. With such a high level of accomplishment for their EP and for the "Locust Season" LP there is no denying the anticipation accompanying the 2013 release of their second LP for Small Stone Records.

Gozu's band members, hailing from Boston, are listed as:

Marc Gaffney - vocals / guitar

Barry Spillberg - drums

Doug Sherman - guitar

Joe Grotto - bass

When you listen to "The Fury of a Patient Man" for the first time, as a fan of Gozu and their past music, you will instantly and immediately be filled with a sense of . . . not quite relief, really, but of satisfaction, because you will recognize what you know without yet knowing it, which is exactly what you want as a devotee of a band and their past accomplishments, music that is at once familiar and fresh. Familiarity is evident immediately, and freshness soon follows as song by song unfolds with Gozu's signature sound and quintessence. 

Gozu not only continue cranking out their muscular and deft brand of metal, but follow their previously established method of styling their songs after pop culture icons. One of the most notable on the new LP is the song "Charles Bronson Pinchot", a quick and melodic tank ride that combines adept and muscular riffs with Gaffney's spellbinding vocals. The song turns out to be brilliantly titled as it combines the sinewy fury of Charles Bronson with the more cultured overtones of Bronson Pinchot. 

"Snake Plissken" makes an appearance in the penultimate song showcasing a more direct vocal delivery combined with hairy, heavy guitar licks in a cage match delivery of blow upon blow of sound and fury.

Drawing upon their EP from 2008 Gozu have included "Traci Lords" on "The Fury of a Patient Man", and we can only guess as to why. The song is quality, as is all the music on any of their three releases, and certainly worthy here of inclusion among the nine original offerings.

Gozu have not disappointed in releasing their second full length album as "The Fury of a Patient Man" is stellar in delivery in every way and deserves aught but positives and superlatives for the work within it. This is a significant album, not only for Gozu, for Small Stone Records, for the stoner and doom genres, but for metal music in general because it conveys quality throughout, in every angle and plane, whether relishing the superb guitar work, marveling at the gifted clarion vocals, or basking in the melodic construction of each song. It is quite simply a landmark album.

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SPECTRAL HAZE - "SPECTRAL HAZE"

I am not able to tell you much about Spectral Haze. I don't even know who the band members are. They hail from Oslo and they have a 4 song EP available on bandcamp.com or soundcloud.com. And that's all you need to know outside of what you will learn when you listen to these four 'little' tracks.

The music is a psychedelic romp through fuzz and distortion, led inexorably onward by eerie, screaming vocals that startle and haunt, but never get in the way of the beautifully crafted and delivered guitar riffs that mesmerize you through to the very core of your rock n' roll soul. 

The songs tend to quietly build in tempo and power eventually reaching an amplitude of magnificent levels that paves the way for payoff as the guitars carry out a melodic hook of exquisite delivery and caliber before abating back to the haunted environment of the opening, which is a near perfect description of "Kali Magick (Stepping Outside of Time).

The gradual climb to climax on "Kashf (Gaining Familiarity With Things Unseen Behind the Veils) is delivered with more fuzz and distortion than the previous track, and is a slower power climb to the all out delivery of overdriven amplification. 

Each song on this EP is a slow and satisfying power trip through a psychedelic landscape of vibrating strings and haunting melodies surrounding guitar hooks of exquisite delivery.

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New Band To Burn One To: ICHABOD

HEAVY PLANET presents... ICHABOD!

BAND BIO:

After 10+ years of blazing trails in the psych/sludge/doom/metal scene, Boston rockers Ichabod had finally reached a plateau.

Hoping to continue their personal and musical ascents, the band began to experiment with new tunings, sounds, symbolism, and structures in their songwriting. As with most change, there came growing pains-original singer Ken MacKay and the band decided to gracefully part ways due to variance over the direction much of the new material was taking.

After four acclaimed studio albums (Living Through the End, Let the Bad Times Roll, Reaching Empyrean, and 2012), it appeared as if the sojourn was over.

Remaining members Greg Delaria(bass), Dave Iverson(guitar), and Phil MacKay(drums) did not want to see the fruits of their labor go to waste however. The band had recorded a 40+ minute composition that is a conceptual piece, a salutation to the prog-rock masterpieces of the seventies and more modern epics like Monster Magnet’s Tab, Sleep’s Jerusalem, and Iceburn’s Hephaestus. The musical movements are meant to mimic the movement of a mighty river, specifically the one to which the moniker was dedicated.

Ichabod had also penned another full length’s worth of original songs which were an artistic extension of all their preceding material. They did not want Merrimack and the untitled collection to go unheard, so decided to employ the talents of longtime friend John Fadden on vocals and complete the catalogue before decommissioning.

Ichabod saw the time of flux as opportune for adding to their sonic assault; guitarist and friend Jay Adam was recruited as a second guitar player to ensure the wall of sound would be complete.

Once Fadden and Adam came aboard, the new energy in the rehearsal room was palpable. The brilliant historical/metaphorical lyrics John scribed for Merrimack and the words and melodies he was imparting with the newest material, along with Iverson and Adams' duel guitar mugging, caused an enthusiasm in the band that altered the plan to record their swan song(s) and fade into the sunset.

Ichabod is once again playing shows and actively documenting the newest music with a newfound vigor and earnestness. Both Merrimack and Dreamscapes from Dead Space are being recorded/produced by Glenn Smith at Amps Vs. Ohms studios in Cambridge, MA and should be released within the year by Rootsucker Records.

The glory hath definitely not yet departed from Ichabod, nay, you could say it has begun anew.

“And she named the child Ichabod-Where is the glory? The glory - That is, the glorious type and assurance of God's presence, the ark, which is often called God's glory, which they could glory in above all other nations.” -1 Samuel 4:21

Ichabod:

Dave Iverson-guitar
Greg Dellaria-bass
John Fadden-vocals
Jason Adam-guitar
Phil Mackay-drums



THOUGHTS:

"Fresh off of this year's Stoner Hands of Doom festival comes the pulverizing sounds of Boston-based band Ichabod. Although the band isn't really "new", the band has added a few members and a new sound. Featuring the powerful and passionate vocals of John Fadden, this band is about to unleash their latest cacophony "Dreamscapes From Dead Space" for the world to hear. Combining a heavy dose of muddied sludge, massive jaw-dropping riffs, soothing psychedelic overtones and an uppercut of Boston hardcore this band is sure to gain your respect. Mark your calendars because September 25th is the date when you will discover your next favorite band."

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New Band To Burn One To: ROZAMOV

Heavy Planet presents today's "New Band To Burn One To"...ROZAMOV!

Band Bio:

In late 2011 Matt, Tom, Liz and Will came together to form Rozamov. The goal of the band is to be a collective creative outlet for its members. Join us as we venture into the depths of all things heavy.

Rozamov is:

Matt Iacovelli- Guitar/Vox
Tom Corino- Bass/Vox
Liz Walshak- Guitar/Art/Vox
Will Hendrix- Drums



Thoughts:

"Using depth, atmosphere and a bit of psychedelics, Boston-based band Rozamov drops a ten pound sledgehammer of repeated blows to your skull. Along with a yelling vocal snarl and a hardcore attitude, the band changes tempos on a whim going from a tranquil yet crushing doom-laden barrage of power on EP opener "Cryostasis" to the heavy riff-driven surge of upbeat "Lexington is Burning". Filled with angst and animosity is the crazed insanity of  EP closer "Woman of Fire/Red Giant" a true conglomeration of what the band is all about, which is playing heavy as hell music and enjoying every damn minute of it!"

This EP is currently available as "name your price" on Bandcamp. Get it now! Also, kudos to Liz who provides the amazing artwork for the band as well.

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New Band To Burn One To (Evening Buzz): MOONS

MOONS is today's "NEW BAND TO BURN ON TO"  Evening Buzz...

Bio:

Moons formed in Boston in 2010 when a bunch of metal and hardcore kids got together and started stargazing. Their debut 12" Stasis (out now, available at Bandcamp) is a crunchy, fuzzed-out space voyage, drawing inspiration from Hum, Failure, and Helmet as much as it does from Isis, Pelican, and deadbluesky. Moons will be in and out of the galaxy supporting Stasis.

"Huge plundering riffs guide your way through the stars as the rhythm section of Boston-based band Moons blasts through a force field of unchartered territory. Combining jagged crunchy guitar with atmospheric heaviness, and adding a bit of punk, listening to Moons is like gazing at the stars while getting your ass kicked! Are you ready to take the trip? Listen now!"

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New Band To Burn One To-Never Got Caught

Today's "New Band To Burn One To" Never Got Caught is an American rock band composed of vocalist and guitarist Bryan "Uzi" Hinkley and drummer Bill Hinkley of the Boston hardcore punk band TREE and bassist Paul Dallaire.

The musical style of the band has been referred to as "Blues, jazz, metal, classic rock, punk, and a flair for the experimental all go into the blender to form the seductive, intoxicating, devastating cocktail that is Never Got Caught."

The band' newest release is called "Creepshow" and the band just finished up a few tour dates with Clutch/Doomriders/and Lionize (Read review). Clutch's Neil Fallon lends his vocals to the song "Slippin' Out". See video below:



You guys will totally dig this band. Check'em out!

MySpace
Official Website
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New Band To Burn One To-Koala

The "New Band To Burn One To" today is the Boston, MA based experimental band Koala. They just released their debut EP on March 1st. They've been playing together for about a year now and are preparing to record their first LP in April. The LP will have approximately 7-8 songs. You can check them out on their MySpace page and download the EP for free while you are there.



If you are into bands like Explosions In The Sky, Godspeed You Black Emperor, etc. then you will like this.