Zac's Top Ten of 2013

I don't care much for Bruce Springsteen... however he had some killer tunes, especially The Seeger Sessions. Here are my favorite releases of 2013.

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Preferred EPs:

Katla: I Will Hunt You / Foaming Waters

Surprise, surprise, surprise! More great music from Sweden. This female lead quartet seduced me with their acid blues influenced dark psych. I Will Hunt You and Foaming Waters was released on a special 7" by Who Can You Trust? Records. They only pressed 500 copies, so if you missed out earlier this year you may be S.O.L. Be sure to check Who Can You Trust? Records web-store for this one and a hand-ful of other Heavy Planet favorites.

Stand-out track: Foaming Waters

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The Wans: The Wans EP

My second Preferred EP of 2013 belongs to Nashville Tennessee's The Wans. My love for this trios Tenneessee brethern, All Them Witches, blessed me with an introduction to this "feel good" / get your rocks off EP. Don't miss my favorite track Want You with all its southern swagger and rhythmic wandering.

Stand-out track: Want You

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Favorite Full-Length Releases:

010: Black Sabbath - 13

It's Black Sabbath. Tony's still got it.

Stand-out track: Age Of Reason

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009: Supervoid: Filaments

Sometimes the city of Pittsburgh might be guilty of displaying too much pride. I try to be humble for the most part, but I can proudly proclaim musical victory for this city with Supervoid and their progressive, sludge-tastic release Filaments. Releasing a conceptual, "interstellar road trip" of a metal album earlier this year Supervoid are off to an epic start. My apologizies to lead vocalist Brian for describing his performance on Wake of the Smoke Jumper in my write-up earlier this year as female vocals. That is just how dynamic this man's vocal abilities are though folks.

Stand-out track: Wake of the Smoke Jumper

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008: Cavern: S/T

I warned you. Cavern would rear its ugly head come years end and here we are. This authentic release full of sludgy thrashing has stood the test of time and continually battered my ears senseless. I'll show no remorse if you have yet to lend your ears to this Maryland trio and their RIFF lashing.

Stand-out track: Far Beyond Fields and Evergreens

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007: Summoner: Atlantian

Summoner is the first band to land on my year end list two years in a row. Last year's Pheonix was well rounded and full of stoner and desert rock and haunting, psychedelic fuzz. Atlantian takes the genius that was Pheonix and enhances the formula. Take the Nuclear Dog's words, here you will find "polished psych-edged licks of ingenuity" and "raw-boned riffs". Check out the rest of the review for a better idea of what awaits on Atlantian.

Stand-out track: Under the Crystalline Sky

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006: Clutch: Earth Rocker

Earth Rocker simply kicks ass. An all out attack of blues inspired rock and roll fronted by some of the best vocals, defended by some of the grooviest guitar work, and founded on some of the best rhythmic percussion in the business. "If you're gonna do it, you better take it to the stage."

Stand-out tracks: D.C. Sound Attack!, The Face, The Wolf Man Kindly Requests...

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005: Black Wizard: Young Wisdom

The under-dog of 2013 lands at my number five spot. As I described earlier this year... Black Wizard are "like a sleazier, Nordic version of Guns 'N Roses" that rock blazing guitars accompanied by a rhythmic cavalry. Here new listeners will find raw vocals, blistering RIFFS, and even some spacey Radiohead-esque interludes. If you missed Young Wisdom upon its release back in June, now is the time to familiarize yourself with Adam Grant and company and their debut full-length Young Wisdom.

Stand-out track: Wicked Wanderer

*For those readers that truly dug Black Wizard, please check out Adam's other project Three Wolf Moon.

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004: Anciients: Heart Of Oak

There is so much to say about Heart Of Oak... the excellent progression and transformation of each track, the completely killer blackened-death like vocals, the strike of each drum head or cymbal strike, the intracate and yet groovy RIFFs, the bluesy Gilmour meets Allman picking! What an excellent release! Kenny Cook and the gang have out-done themselves with Heart Of Oak and Anciients first release.

Stand-out tracks: Overthrone, For Lisa

*Kenny is also a part of our number five spot Black Wizard. That is beyond groovy.

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003: Pelican: Forever Becoming

I completely fell in love with this album the moment my eyes graced the album artwork. Could I be considered a Pelican fan-boy. I guess so. But how is that a bad thing? Forever Becoming is simply another phenomenal release by the best instrumental band. Period. Will you always be in the mood for albums of this magnitude? Probably not. Will you always walk away with a new impression or new ideas after experiencing a piece of art so authentic? Most certainly. Pelican rules. Welcome to the show Dallas.

Stand-out track: Perpetual Dawn

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002: All Them Witches: Lightning At The Door

Still full of that vibrant southern soul All Them Witches produce their very own Psyche-a-delta Rock with immense confidence and swagger. Mr. Staebler's drumming genius has only grown in skill and charisma while the infectious RIFFING will keep you coming back for more. If I might take a line from my favorite track Charles William, "I wanna take you home... everyday.".

Stand-out track: Charles William

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001: Kylesa: Ultraviolet

I've really grown with Kylesa in their past three releases. Ultraviolet hit me hard upon first spin and has stuck with me throughout all of 2013. These guys and gal, "display their full mainpulation of sonic frequency" here on Ultraviolet and do it with class in a sub-five-minute dark pop, dream sludge tone. I knew this was my favorite album of 2013 immediately, I don't even think album opener Exhale was half way through its three minute run time when I realized it. The quintet have recorded an album that grows in experimentation as it does with time. New to the sound are some spacey psychedelics and Ms. Pleasants totally lovely clean vocals. Something you may be familiar with... the tribal and unchaining sound of Carl McGinley and Eric Hernandez's dual percussion.

Stand-out tracks: Exhale, We're Taking This

Zac's "Quik Drag": Supervoid-Filaments

Supervoid - Filaments 

Some of the Heavy Planet crew, including myself, had the chance to catch Supervoid live in Pittsburgh at the 31st St Pub this past August. This local five piece got started back in 2012 and have been bludgeoning audiences with what Heavy Planets' very own Tobias Maximus described as a monumental mash-up of Lamb of God meets Mastodon. Having never listened to Supervoid previously, I had no idea what to expect. However, I was reassured by the band's tee shirt propaganda (Baroness, Immortal and Mastodon) that these cats were educated in the heavy and were going to deliver a hefty helping to the minute crowd that particular summer evening. 

Since that ear fuzzing and spine numbing evening, Supervoid have completed their debut release Filaments and given Heavy Planet the chance to preview it. First off, the wait was worth it and second, everything I was engrossed in at the smoke filled 31st St Pub has evolved into an interstellar road trip that you won't mind giving up shotgun, you'll just want to be part of the trip. These five musicians play off one another with such fluidity that the music becomes a cosmic river, rolling through both organic and man-made structures, eroding what was and transforming it into something new. Supervoid employ a sludge-coated trod at the core of their tunes and compliment the lows with a starry ascension. This creates a sort of ebb and flow very similar to the instrumental post-metal genius' Pelican and Red Sparrows, except here listeners are getting lashed with a diverse style of vocals, part Randy Blythe part Jeff Martin (Lo-Pan). Filaments does not simply rely on atmoshpere and ambiance, the group dive into the record like they were late for the party of the century. Coat of Luminous, our album opener, is full of fast strumming, catchy licks, and plenty of chances for everyone to sing a long. Quite a contrast to the space rock inspired, progressive side of Filaments. Stand out track for this listener is Wake of the Smoke Jumper. Implementing some steady bass drum thumps Wake of the Smoke Jumper quickly mutates as the lead vocals appear as an all devouring mouth monster gulping down the very ground before you. Some powerful female vocals (ha ha found out this is actually Brian) soar over-top the gritty male vocals in the chorus and the song recedes back with some cleaner plucking only to be overtaken again in a golden napalm shower. 

Filaments is a dynamic and surprising debut for these Pittsburgh'rs. Fans of progressive sludge titans Mastodon and the film Star Wars will certainly be smitten from the galactic style artwork with thematic gems hidden on the cover, the low n' slow burners and elephantine percussion.  Filaments is available now as a name your price download.  Be sure to get your copy or if you will be in the Pittsburgh area catch the release show with the mighty Orange Goblin at The Rex Theater [October 26th].         

Members: 

Brian - Vocals 

Dave - Guitar 

Greg - Drums 

Joe - Guitar 

John - Bass

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Zac's "Quik Drag": Hungry Brains

Zac's "Quik Drag": Hungry Brains

Hungry Brains: Centre Of The Omniverse

If for some strange reason you missed Hungry Brains single Crooked Eye on last weeks NBTBOT Playlist this Quik Drag will bring your ears up to speed.  Hungry Brains is a UK based progressive metal band with a stoner rock disposition and an excellent taste for cover-art.  Centre Of The Omniverse's Salvador Dali inspired cover piece is one of the best I've seen this year.  Enough pictorial art though, lets get to the sound!  Hybridizing the technicality of Mastodon and the syncopation of Tool, Hungry Brains exercise their rhythym section continuously, making for a groove focused sound.  That groove / art metal character is contrasted by a huge vocal delivery.  Part Dream Theater's James LaBrie and part Dio, Callum's hardened vocal chords add an extra jolt to the sound.  Hungry Brains' are currently preparing the release of The Mule, which should be out sometime this autumn.  In the mean-time check out my favorite jam Dawn Of A New Age above.  If the infectious sludge RIFFS don't convince you then the battery from Hungry Brains bass and percussion certainly will.

Members:

Paul Daly

Callum Armstrong

Orestis Papisback

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Zac's "Quik Drag": Sleestak

Sleestak: Book of Hours 

Sleestak is back! And I must say in a fresh and very experimental way. After dropping the phenomenal Fall of Altrusia in 2011, these Milwaukee natives released a lo-fi collection of space rock ditties, entitled Altrusian Moon in 2012, get yourself over to bandcamp to stream Altrusian Moon if you missed it. Further challenging themselves Sleestak have continued their yearly release with Book of Hours, earlier this year. Further challenging their listeners, Sleestak have taken one step away from their doom and stoner roots to quench the progressive fire blazing in their psyche. With that being said there are still loads distorted RIFF'ing and repetitive grooves. New to the Sleestak arsenal is a very operatic and Phantom of the Opera style ambiance, dark and authentic. Something that I, personally, am missing in Book of Hours is Matt Schmitz's tremendous gritty and vehement vocal delivery. Don't let that keep you away from Book of Hours though. Schmitz's cleans surface with a vibrant Jim Morrison vibe. Sleestak haven't only employed experimental song structures and timing in Book of Hours, they have also departed from their familar lengthy run times for a snappy and poppier form of psychedelic rock, this latest piece runs under the twenty-five minute mark. Be sure to spin my favorite track Lone Wolf, the regular version. This steady blues based track begins with a haunting spoken piece of poetry, which brings to my mind a deranged soul drenched in whiskey entertaining his thoughts of freedom. Lone Wolf takes a sudden turn to experimental region of the netherworld with a smooth transition from blues driven guitar RIFF'ing into an Jethro Tull and Opeth-ian inspired jazz measure. Don't miss it!

Members: 

Dan Bell - Bass 

Marcus Bartell - Drums 

Matt Schmitz - Guitar // Vocals // Keys

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Zac's "Double Dose": Chili Cold Blood / The Devil Rides Out

Chili Cold Blood: And Now The Dawn

Chili Cold Blood aren't new to the pages of Heavy Planet. Introduced as a NBTBOT back in 2010 Chili Cold Blood were then an eight year old Texas blues rock project with over a handful of releases under their belt. Getting a stealth message via email from Chili Cold Blood's own guitar ace, I was informed that the fellas would be releasing their seventh album and celebrating ten years of heavy, southern-fried, blues rock. What can you expect from the Austin, Texas based gang with their upcoming release? Well, all I can share at this time is a killer cut of a raw recording for Drivin' Rain, a single from the unnamed and upcoming album. Like a stoned and completely fuzzed out form of Stevie Ray Vaughan's Texas blues Chili Cold Blood inject a good measure of distorted grunge into Drivin' Rain. The vocals appear as abrasive as the sandpaper RIFFS and the track soon transitions into the Superstitious inspired Chasin' Amy. Check it out below and hit up Chili Cold Blood at facebook or any place you can reach them.

   

 *Great news, after writing this promo up I stumbled onto Chili Cold Blood's bandcamp page where their seventh release, entitled And Now The Dawn, is streaming in its entirety. Be sure to check out the studio recording of Drivin' Rain, now sounding much fuller with a bit of 80's thrash attitude and a steel guitar.

Members: 

Dave Wesselowski - Bass 

Doug Strahan - Guitar // Vocals 

Ethan Shaw - Pedal Steel // Vocals 

Matt Puryear - Drums

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The Devil Rides Out: The Righteous Walk [Single] 

This week's second 'Dose are an Australian four-piece full of blues ignited hell-fire. Welcome The Devil Rides Out and their latest single The Righteous Walk from their Ugly Creatures EP. Normally producing a down-tuned and heavy-as-hell form of stoner doom The Devil Rides Out take a step back and release an eclectic blues track. Boasting a Johnny Cash inspired swagger The Devil Rides Out trample the pavement below their feet with a resolute confidence in this experimental sound. Adding a soulful character the band implement a harmony from the keys, which lie under the tremendous crunch of the rhythym section. Joey K's gravelly and passionate vocal delivery are robust and top off the musical masterpiece flawlessly. Check out the official video below and if you find you need more than a single the entire Ugly Creatures EP is up for grabs at bandcamp now.

 

Members: 

Andrew Ewing - Guitar // Vocals 

Joey K - Vocals 

Nathan Sproule - Drums 

Scott Paterson - Bass

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Zac's "Double Dose": Lilium / Skeletons In The Piano

Lilium: Black, Dear 

Italy is a growing power-house in the down-tuned and ethereal music department. Most notable of the Italians are Ufomammut and their perfected vision of doom, drone, and psychedelic metal through the 2012 dual releases Oro. Here to carry another beacon of the Italian interpretation is Lilium, a band that has a snug-fitting form of post-metal influenced sludge that leaves the listener inseparable from the piece of music they've just experienced. Not so much like the mud caked sludge that needs a pressure wash for removal. Lilium leaves more of a warm, in utero ooze, which although can be wiped away easily, leaves an enduring and psycho-emotional bruise that lingers. 

Now, word in the underground is that Lilium will be releasing their debut record, entitled Black, Dear, through Taxi Driver Store sometime this year. However, the band decided to issue a couple singles along the road to release, starting with the track Solitude last October. Toting some sincere lyrical content behind an eerie intro Solitude packs a post-metal punch through a gravely style of singing in the vein of Isis. The use of synths on this four minute song accentuate the atmosphere immensely surrounding the guitars and rhythym instruments. More recently Lilium released a second single entitled Oak Tree. Like watching an inescapable storm steadily toil over the open sea Oak Tree approaches with a distant and peaceful thunder concealed by a pleasantly picked measure. More so, adding to the peaceful inception, lead singer Filippo's softly whispered and over-dubbed lyrics broadcast a Deftones, Chino Moreno vibe. By the time three minutes of Oak Tree have elapsed the outer walls of the storm have suddenly appeared at your head, pouring sonic waves through your body. Check it out via youtube below and keep posted for the full length release.

Members: 

Daniele - Guitar 

Davide - Synth // Sampler 

Enrico - Drums 

Filippo - Vocals 

Michele - Bass // Vocals 

Stefano - Guitar

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Skeletons In The Piano: Please Don't Die 

This weeks second 'Dose are a full five-piece ensemble (plus two belly-dancers) and call themselves Skeletons In The Piano. Performing one of the most diverse forms of rock 'n roll I've ever heard, Skeletons incorporate haunting lyrics and melodies in a strange operatic circus full of contrasting sounds. As their belly-dancers, Katarra [Peterson] and Tatiana [Morales], hypnotize on looking fans the musical foundation of Skeletons parallel these actions with dense sound waves. The convergence of the guitars, banjo, and violin erupt in an authentic gypsy celebration while lead-man Elijah [Hargrave] conjures his inner Mike Patton. It's not all cheery and psychedelic fun though. Skeletons dig deep with an extra measure of heavy and progressive metal character. Check out The Price Put On You below or pick up a copy of their latest release Please Don't Die at Magnetic Eye Records.

Members: 

Brad Thibodeau - Guitar // Banjo 

Dustin Alexander - Bass // Vocals 

Elijah Hargrave - Vocals // Guitar 

Eric Donovan - Drums 

Jeff Ayers - Violin // Keys 

Katarra Peterson - Dance // Percussion 

Tatiana Morales - Dance

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Zac's "Double Dose": Mind! / Tumbleweed Dealer

Mind! / Stunde Null 

Our first serving of this weeks 'Dose, called Mind!, come from the port city Algeciras in southern Spain. Mind! are a four-piece space rock band that offer an escape, as any port city should. Only this escape isn't taking listeners into the Mediterranean Sea or the depths of the vast Atlantic Ocean. Mind!'s escape glares deep into starry sky's of the boundless universe. I mean, where else would a space rock band focus their gaze? Utilizing multiple keyboards along side other electronic wiz-bangs Mind! add a complexity to otherwise beautifully simple song structures. The quartet have also exploited the signature characteristics from the psychedelic and hard rock genres of the sixties and seventies showing strong influences from the cosmic pioneers Pink Floyd. This influence comes through most evident in midst of Time to Fly, a ten minute galaxy sized track. Mind! introduce Time to Fly with a Santana-esque guitar lick over-lapping a chunky bass-line. This bob and weave technique of the guitar and bass lapses for four minutes, doing well to lure listeners into a trance. Just as the hypnotic numbing fully sets in Time to Fly breaks through the gravitational sphere employing an acoustic guitar back-drop allowing the electric lead to soar through the cosmic plane. Finally, in true Floyd-ian fashion Mind!employ a shared vocal delivery adding an urgency to their celestial journey. Check out Time to Fly and the rest of the release, Stunde Null, at bandcamp where Mind! have a limited edition 12" gatefold vinyl for sale.

Members: 

Matt - Guitar // Vocals // Keyboard 

Pot - Guitar // Vocals // Keyboard // Sinte // Theremin 

Pow - Bass // Vocals 

Serg - Drums // Percussion

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Tumbleweed Dealer: Tumbleweed Dealer 

The need for a desert rock inspired form of instrumental metal has emerged with the blistering heat of a Mojave Desert sunrise from none other than Montreal, Canada. I didn't see that one coming. This weeks second serving, Tumbleweed Dealer, roam and ramble the torrid realm of desert rock via instrumental Earth inspired drone and Pelican post rock attributes. Mr. Seb Painchaud, notoriously known for a death metal and metalcore sound, decided to experiment in the midst of a hazy bender one evening. The outcome couldn't be further from the roots Painchaud is most familiar with. Handling all of the guitar work himself, Painchaud called on Dopethrone's drummer Carl Borman to cover the percussion on his new brainchild. Adopting a western theme Tumbleweed Dealers form of post-rock structured songs are injected with a dose of desert and stoner rock making for an exciting journey through this self-titled, full length release. Implementing a thick and full guitar tone Seb's RIFF focused finger work induce an onset of vertigo that resembles the effects of staring at the desert sun on your back, high on peyote. The bass lines are impregnated with a southwestern twang that can only be a long lost cousin of King's Xs own Doug Pinnick while the clash of Borman's cymbals resonate like a lightning storm. Don't miss my favorite track, the slower side of Tumbleweed Dealer, March of The Dead Cowboys. Meandering with a doom-laden trudge March of The Dead Cowboys turns into a disturbing spaghetti western with the inception of with what sounds like some black metal picking on a mandolin. I imagine this as the background score for a scene out of a classic fifties black and white horror flick in what appears to be an Italian restaurant... serving the undead. Oh yeah, and they're drinking Birra Moretti! Check it out at bandcamp and let me know what you think.

Members: 

Alex "All Ex Ghouls" Goulet - Artwork 

Carl Borman - Drums 

Felix Roberge - Musical Director // Live Bassist 

JB - Recording 

 Seb Painchaud - Guitars // Bass

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Zac's "Double Dose": Brain Pyramid / Colossus

Brain Pyramid: Magic Carpet Ride 

Hailing from Rennes, France this weeks first 'Dose, Brain Pyramid, aren't afraid to compound a pliable blues structure and jazz time signatures in effort to create their own versatile and authentic chronicle in the vast halls of psychedelic and acid rock. Brain Pyramid envisioned a narcotic induced composition and liberated it, choosing the title Magic Carpet Ride. A fitting title indeed. Wasting little time getting your mind's eye operating the trio flick their favorite Zippo and the EP opener Bad Luck is strutting through a discordant jazz based instrumental track with that signature seventies sit-com distorted guitar whurl. Bad Luck is engulfed in a cacophony of rhythmic tidal waves, leaving the guitar submerged in the mix before triumphantly resurfacing. A spoken style of vocals materializes in the midst of the heavy and gnarled chord progression of track two, Stone Woman Blues. This vocal approach is carried throughout Magic Carpet Ride, always buried in the mix and an accoutrement to the bounteous slabs of blues RIFF'ing. The prize of the pack for this listener is Mary Jane Blues, a song driven by a slide acoustic guitar, a whole lot of pluckin' and some old time hand clappin'. The track shines with a south-western sweaty-sheen and character that I admire. The fellas then bounce back to the blues focused grooves with the heavy-weight EP closers Cosmic 1000 Years and Electric Spell. Check them all out at bandcamp where Brain Pyramid are offering the download at a "name your price" cost and a limited edition CD for about $5.00.

Members: 

Baptiste Gautier-Lorenzo - Drums 

Gaston Lainé - Guitar // Vocals 

Maxime Ploteau - Bass

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Colossus: Wake 

Colossus have chosen well. They've not only chosen a name that portrays the immense structure of their sound waves, they have managed to illustrate themselves, absolutely, in a single word. Which is mind-boggling once your ears experience all the sonic-nutrition encapsulated inside this sixty minute opus. Having released a highly praised EP, in Spiritual Myiasis, and citing a broad spectrum of progressively minded metal heads as influences, this trio are now ready to climb to the next step on the heavy metal ladder with their first full length release and take some of the recognition they so deserve. The album is entitled Wake and fans of Meshuggah, The Mars Volta, and Tool will find themselves cozy while this warm and organic form of progressive sludge metal coats their cerebral cortex. Wake finds itself in the midst of a music battle where burly, testosterone fueled sludge metal face off in combat with a tempo-driven, jazz-paced choreography. Utilizing some middle eastern themed chanting Colossus connect the earthy concepts that flow so bounteously throughout Wake to its bionic essence. Even with all of this strange, progressive fusion, Colossus unify their concept producing a stand-out and loaded album. In the end Wake is simply COLOSSUS. Be sure to check out the first single Pillars of Perennity below or order a copy at amazon or iTunes

Members: 

Niklas Eriksson - Guitar // Vocals 

Peter Berg - Bass 

Thomas Norstedt - Drums

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Zac's "Double Dose": Black Wizard / Cosmonauts Train Trip

Black Wizard: Young Wisdom

With a pure metal attitude Black Wizard emerge from the cold and damp wild-woods of Western Canada like a sleazier, Nordic version of Guns 'N Roses. This four-piece are simply looking for a drink, some smoke, and the right outlets to plug their amps into... and I think the 'Planet can provide those necessities. After experiencing some delays over the past two years Black Wizard have recruited Anciients' guitarist and vocalist Kenny Cook to cover the Wiz's axe-duty. With this welcome addition, maestro and main-dude Adam Grant and company pressed forward and are set to release their debut full length Young Wisdom this Friday (28th June 2013). Want a preview? Well, the Double Dose is the place for you then... 

Beginning with a patient ambiance Black Wizard doesn't so much break the ice, but melt it away gradually, leaving your unassuming conscience in a state of unprepared complacency. Young Wisdom's opening track, entitled Spacer, has an initial movement that unwinds much like a peaceful post-rock intro. Storming through the peace a lone guitar blazes followed by the gallop of the rhythmic cavalry, quickly eliminating your supporting structure. Black Wizard's overall sound is strongly influenced by hardened stoner rock but scrounge scraps from the punk plate, which surfaces deep in their sound in the form of raw vocals and blistering RIFFS. H.U.G.H., landing at track four, was released last year as a single, giving a lucky few a sampling of Young Wisdom's genius. Black Wizard lay the RIFFS on thick with a slow jam, southern inspired tempo. Grinding RIFF after RIFF, H.U.G.H. builds into a ferocious dual guitar onslaught. The repercussions includes mind-numbing head-banging and a party sing-a-long as the instruments fall back into a steady, stoner friendly pace. Danger Dances gives Young Wisdom a dynamic turn. Implementing falsetto vocals and a rolling waltz quality Black Wizard create a light reprise in the very midst of the album which, in turn, create a very Radiohead-esque vibe. Black Wizard roam the many facets of the punk and rock terrain, stopping at RIFF-city in Something Sweet and scaling immense cliffs to the plateau of Wicked Wander. 

Like a sucker-punch from the frigid north Black Wizard surprised me (much like Black Cowgirl did last year). This time, I'm glad I didn't sit on the chance to get the promo published! With phenomenal artwork and a solid thirty-five minutes of rugged stoner rock you will not want to miss Black Wizard's Young Wisdom. Stoked or not, get over to bandcamp, because the dudes decided to stream Young Wisdom in her entirety!

Members: 

Adam Grant - Vocals // Guitar 

Eugene "Eug" Parkomenko - Drums 

Evan Joel - Bass 

Kenny "Kendo" Cook - Guitar

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Cosmonauts Train Trip: Dust & A Sunbeam

In a similar vein of Romania's The :Egocentrics, this weeks second dose, Cosmonauts Train Trip, produce a psychedelic breed of [mostly] instrumental rock that will transport listeners on an emotive, hyperspace journey. Cosmonauts Train Trip call this post rock inspired, interstellar vehicle Dust & A Sunbeam. Ignition is engaged with a press of the play button and Lunar Lander, an eight minute mega-track, initiate our maiden voyage. Beginning with a heavily computerized vibration, a sensation of preparation sweeps over us, as a voice speaks over the radio describing the view from Dust & A Sunbeam's cockpit. As the vehicle continues to warm up the solitude and quiet diminishes and a rush of atmosphere suddenly appears with the entrance of the bass, drums and guitar. Now that we've acclimated to this new environment Cosmonauts... have us skippin' galaxies and solar systems. Enjoy two tracks from Dust & A Sunbeam streaming at bandcamp or if you are interested in purchasing a copy for yourself, contact the band direct here.

Members: 

Heiner Asmus - Guitar 

Henri Seel - Bass 

Jonathan Schmidt - Drums

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Zac's "Double Dose": BUMMER / The Ravenna Arsenal

 

BUMMER: Young Ben Franklin EP 

This weeks first 'Dose are new to the pages of Heavy Planet and new to the scene. Bummer, huh? No! The name of the band is BUMMER and please don't let the idea of inexperience fool you, because it could cost you. Why? Simply because these guys are angry. Plain angry. This Kansas City based trio create an aggressive model of "neanderthal" noise rock. Implementing measures of sludge and punk rock BUMMER clarify in ten minutes what it has taken "shrinks" years diagnose and solve regarding anger management problems. Let it out and the issues could be cleared up in a matter of minutes... and that is exactly what you'll get here on Young Ben Franklin EP. Three songs, each running approximately running two and a half minutes. Just enough to break a sweat and forget about whatever it was that pissed you off in the first place. Check out my favorite track Good News and drown in all that thick and juicey bass. Then head over to BUMMER's bandcamp page to download the EP... it's FREE and who the hell doesn't have the need to release some of that tension?

Members: 

Matt Perrin - Guitar // Vocals 

Mike Gustafson - Bass 

Sam Hunter - Drums

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The Ravenna Arsenal: I. 

This weeks second 'Dose are not new to the pages of Heavy Planet. The Ravenna Arsenal were introduced as a NBTBOT a couple years ago and the quartet of progressively minded music melders have caused a whole lot of panic in Eastern Ohio. Having opened for the mighty Karma To Burn and playing gigs with other local Ohio and Pennsylvania bands The Ravenna Arsenal hit the studio to record their debut effort I. I. was released this past February heralding a concoction of experimental stoner rock, a constant evolution of sound. From the moment track two The Wild Dogs of Giza begins listeners will find what sounds like a familar and friendly stoner jam session. The song soon after transitions to some flamboyant classic rockin' and then onto what sounds like a take from Queens of the Stone Age type desert session. The Ravenna Arsenal then go full doom on the very next track The Desert Shows No Mercy. The doom doesn't last too long before they are manipulating The Desert... into a post-rock soundscape. Strange and dis-jointed at times, but I. leaves this listener in utter surprise at each twist and turn. Even the most seasoned music fan won't be ready for the metamorphosis of The Ravenna Arsenal throughout I. As we stretch deeper the musical progression continues to evolve, from the clashing cymbals and machine gun drumming found on Fire Moth to the distorted garage crunch and the rousing poppy hooks on The Pregnant Void. Hell, there are even moments during The Pregnant Void that I hear influences of The Darkness... The bloody Darkness! Strange indeed. Don't miss The Pregnant Void below and if you feel you need to keep on guessing spin the rest of I. at bandcamp.

Members: 

Aaron Shay 

Bill Govan 

Ken Royer 

Mike Shea

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Zac's "Double Dose": HALMOS / Kylesa

 

HALMOS: Exist 

This week's Double Dose covers the vast array of musical genres we love and promote here at Heavy Planet... Doom, check. Psychedelic, check. Sludge, check. And last, but certainly not least, Stoner Rock, check and double check. What could be better? How about the fact that both bands are Georgia based, rich with that southern sludge flowing through their veins. This is stacking up to be one of the mightiest 'Doses the 'Planet has conjured. So, enough of this pussyfootin' shuffle, lets get to the music. 

Reg introduced us to HALMOS last year as a NBTBOT. As newcomers to the game HALMOS had their work cut out for them. Shaping their doom-laden sludge as a duo proved effective, however the dudes wanted the crust of the earth to waiver and shake beneath them, opening the gates to the mantle and giving way to a sea of liquid magma. HALMOS have achieved their desired goal by redefining their very anatomy. Having now added another guitarist and a bass player HALMOS' sound is full, complete. With four-horsemen in saddle HALMOS refined some old stuff, created some new stuff and produced Exist. Still driving each track is a doom-paced march, steadily craving away sea and earth. No folks, we hardly break into a gallop in Exist. Trodding along decimating everything in its path Exist grows with immense distortion and something rare... all four musician's vocals. This could be a stumbling block for some, but HALMOS excel and add a new depth to the southern sludge scene with this characteristic. Be sure to spin my favorite track Outcry below. Packed with intelligent percussion and a tribal flair, Outcry is one of the few tracks that speed things up and implements a dynamic range of vocalization and timing. Lastly, check out the upcoming HALMOS tour dates this summer here and support them by pickin' up a copy Exist at bandcamp.

Members: 

Casey Yarbrough - Guitar // Vocals 

Corey Briley - Guitar // Vocals 

Melanie Maher - Bass // Vocals 

Travis Anderson - Drums // Vocals

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Kylesa: Ultraviolet 

Wake up! Breathe in! Exhale! Initiate dream sequence. Welcome to the conception of Kylesa's latest album, fittingly named Ultraviolet. Wasting absolutely no time in announcing Ultraviolet as their own, Kylesa's first track, Exhale, stomps with that signature percussive heavy sound. For those readers unfamiliar with the Georgia progressive mud-slingers, its time to crawl out from your cave. Kylesa are one of the most dynamic five-pieces to hit the metal scene... the music scene. Period. Ultraviolet is their sixth full length release and follow-up to the totally excellent 2010 release Spiral Shadow. Brandishing a more progressive rock tone with Spiral Shadow, Kylesa began redefining the Georgia-sludge genre that they helped established. Rather than regressing Kylesa have continued to challenge their creative core (and that of their fans) and construct something authentic from the black and white sludge canvas they started with some ten years ago. Kylesa have transitioned to a gray scale, adding magnitudes of depth and texture, with the releases Static Tension and Spiral Shadow. Finally, with the delivery of Ultraviolet Kylesa display their full manipulation of sonic frequency, creating what I would like to call the cosmic technicolor orchestra. Much more psychedelic sounding, huh? That's exactly what I found on Ultraviolet. 

The new dynamics Kylesa has bred into their sound level the playing field, very similar to what Baroness did last year with Yellow & Green. Also similar to Yellow & Green, I discovered as Ultraviolet plays each track becomes a bit more experimental, a bit different from the initial sound we were introduced to, leaving the musicians vulnerable, baring everything. [Please do not take this as a direct comparison to Baroness, I don't mean it to be.]   All this bodes well for a group of musicians who remain flexible and versatile in this chaotic and ever changing landscape. One thing that Kylesa doesn't change is the victorious uproar that two drummers can create. Take one of my favorite tracks Long Gone. Immediately noticeable is the dual drumming and its prominence in the mix. Long Gone meanders gently until the one minute thirty second mark where everything disappears from the mix except the tribal beat from Carl McGinley and Eric Hernandez. The guitars quietly enter again followed by Laura Pleasants' lovely voice, giving Long Gone a dark pop-touch. There is a magnetic force about Laura Pleasants here on Ultraviolet compared to past releases. She has always had that grab you by the balls allure, but now the auditory combination of her raw aggression and elegant beauty produce a mysterious attraction that will pull all music lovers deeper into the Kylesa sphere. Low Tide is another step towards vulnerability for the band. Here influences from eighties shoegaze and pop shine brighter, as well as the overall psychedelic mood. Low Tide create a drowning feeling and Laura enchants with dreamy vocals leaving listeners very comfortable while Phillip Cope encourages with the lyrics, "It's not the end." Vulture's Landing promptly follows up with a more familar Kylesa sound. The bass and percussion grind away at the clock while heavy, southern inspired RIFFS press us forward. Laura's vocals again surface in that same dreamy sense although now in with more foreboding tone. 

In a recent review Coverkiller Nation coined the description Dream Sludge while speaking about Ultraviolet. I like that and think its a fitting description for this new wave release from one of Georgia's finest and most talented. Implementing the right elements from psychedelic, pop, progressive, and shoegaze styles Kylesa have illustrated themselves not only in technicolor and ultraviolet but also infrared and any wave length your nerdy metal-mind can concoct. Pick up your copy now from Seasons of Mist or your favorite retailer.

Members: 

Carl McGinley - Drums 

Chase Rudeseal - Bass 

Eric Hernandez - Drums 

Laura Pleasants - Vocals // Guitar 

Phillip Cope - Vocals // Guitar // Theremin

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