Album Review: Howling Giant - "Black Hole Space Wizard: Part 2"

This!  This.  This is something special.  The attraction was immediate, unstoppable and obviously inspiring as it got me to write my first review of the year and this is September.  People, you need to hear this record.  Howling Giant, the Nashville, Tennessee three piece tickled my fancy with this album and made me write a review.  My fancy so likes their brand of tickle.

As the second release of an expected three EP set, Black Hole Space Wizard: Part 2 is an impressive endeavor.  The tones are perfect.  Roger Mark's bass has thicker fuzz than meat left on the counter upon your return from a cruise around the world, best displayed in the song Pioneer.  Tom Polzine's guitar ranges from the massive crunch of a drill rig burrowing to the earth's core in Circle of Druids all the way to a wind chime on a sun bleached porch during the beautiful The Forest Speaks.  The drumming of Zach Wheeler is outstanding throughout, a true joy to hear as he pushes and pulls the tempo with intrepid style and unrepentant dominance.  The addition of the organ/synth work by Drew Harakal is so tastefully done and understated but yet adds so very much to the overall sound of the record.   Polzine, Marks and Wheeler all contribute to the vocal harmonies which wrap up this gift from outer space with a message of ascension against all odds and evils encountered.

Black Hole Space Wizard: Part 2 is a journey you have to take, not because it is our job or what is expected from us, but because it is what is right.  The album is a heavy, progressive, quantum theory of groove that will take you through the wormhole with a smile on your face for the entire ride.

Absolutely one of my favorites this year and will, without question, be making my year end list.

Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram

WM

NEW BAND TO BURN ONE TO: KUJARA

Hailing from London, Kujara are a three piece delight of conglomerated brilliance. They have brought a big metal pot of thick, viscous rock stew to a bubbling, gurgling roil on their debut, the impressive "Three Days". The bill of materials for their music is an explosive amalgam from nearly every corner of the rock world, combining the best aspects of stoner fuzz delight, deep dark doom, progressive psychedelics, heartstrings of retro/blues rock, a haunting desert atmosphere, tight hooks, memorable melodies, expertly rendered and harmonized vocals, energy beams of blazing and powerful riffage, and through it all, through all that homage and recognition, a bright and exciting sound that is uniquely their own.

As with every new and exciting band that makes its way into the stoner rock milieu, the hope here is that Kujara will return soon enough with more brilliance and fun. Until such time this initial EP of sheer magnificence will certainly carry us along for quite some time.

bandcamp >>|<< facebook >>|<< youtube

QUICK HIT: Cloud - "Indeterminate"

Cloud have been around for a short minute, releasing their first EP on bandcamp back in 2015. "Indeterminate" is their second release. It's savory. It's toothsome. It's intoxicating. I very much hope this Pittsburgh trio thrive and continue to manufacture psychedelic stoner/doom riffage just as they have done here and extend that minute into legend and legacy.

The perception sometimes is that instrumental music has to work that extra bit at developing enough creativity to engage and entertain those who experience their music due to the absence of vocals, and the structure vocals tend to supply in stanza and chorus. If that's the case, then mission accomplished, Cloud. There is no ramp up period on any track as each song manages to immediately connect to an atmosphere of intrigue and a depth of discovery. They do this by expertly and eloquently wielding their instruments of stoner brilliance, cranking up the fuzz factor in addictive riffs of low-tuned ecstasy and psychedelic progressivism.

Cloud have added a cunning deviation in the middle of the song selections by inserting the provocative song "Desert Weed" in which they've recruited the vocal inspiration of Mephistofeles' Gabriel Ravera, whose style, at least on this particular rendition, is a magnificent homage to the metal legend of Ozzy Osbourne.

bandcamp >>|<< facebook >>|<< youtube >>|<< twitter >>|<< spotify

New Band To Burn One To: Blood Mist - "Blood Mist"

Wielding binary guitars of power and force and a vocalist for the ages Blood Mist are unleashed upon the earth as part of  Baltimore's Grimoire Records. Their music is bold, atmospheric, psychedelic, haunting, and memorable, each song unfolding in controlled explosions of intent and effort, enveloping the listener in a thick dark wall-cloud of doom highlighted by violent flashes of potency and brilliance.

bandcamp >><< facebook >><< label facebook >><< label website

Album Review: Cybernetic Witch Cult - Troglodithic Trip

English rockers Cybernetic Witch Cult appear to be cruising comfortably at high speed right now, not only releasing albums in short order, but releasing albums of immense quality and gusto. There is a lot to love on each release and "Troglodithic Trip" is no exception to the rule. In fact it epitomizes the rule.

Band members are:

..Alex - Cosmic Narration & Fuzz dispenser..
..Kale - Undercurrent, Visual Wizardry & Secondary Narration..
..Lewis - Groovaceous Battery..

Right out of the gate the album launches a broadside of hefty stoner fuzz guitar grinding out an almost plodding track of force and focus leading up to perfectly matched scratchbox vocals on "Sagittarius A*". The tempo kicks up a half notch on the following "Astrogalactic Sprites" as the power kicks up tenfold, surrounded in a cold, dark slurry of haunting atmospheric oppression. "Cult of the Druid" is a dark and deep odyssey that plugs into your primal core with melodic runs, searing riffs, and scorching solos of psychedelic marvel.

The journey to this point has been a soul buttressing delight. But it's not over. Not by a long shot.

"Forbidden Fruit" is forceful, memorable, enjoyable, and loud. It's a rapturous hookfest of haunting ferocity. Brutal and bold, "Human" manages to turn a space opera into a low-tuned stoner tour de force, thrilling at every turn, delighting in every expression of instrument and voice.

The album closes out with the best song of the collection, "Tyrannosaurus Hex". It's a mammoth blast of ecstasy and amplification, of indelible melody, of three metal musicians from the warrior isles masterfully wielding their weapons, wreaking unyielding gratification, sparing no acolyte of these dark, fuzzy arts.

"Black magic teleport me,
Into its territory,
Send me back to a distant time.
Cretaceous Tyrant Lizard King
Come forth and hear my summoning.
Tyrannosaurus Hex will save the Earth,
Will save the Earth."

I love it.

bandcamp >><< facebook >><< website >><< youtube

Band Submission: Floodlore-Psychedelic Stoner Progressive Blues From Virginia

Band Name: Floodlore
Genre: Psychedelic Stoner Progressive Blues
Location: Virginia
Brief Bio/Description: Formed in early 2014, Floodlore is a psychedelic stoner blues rock trio from northern Virginia. Their debut self-titled EP was released in October 2015 and featured on ‘Stoned Meadow of Doom,’ the prominent YouTube music channel with over 54,000 fans of psychedelic, stoner, and doom rock (see https://www.youtube.com/user/StonedMeadowOfDoom93).

Their debut full length concept album, “Whit It Was Written,” was released on May 6, 2016 and featured on another prominent YouTube music channel, ‘The Bong Druid of Mammoth Weed Mountain 2’. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_ZFOFtXIW8.

Floodlore’s sound has been compared to a mixture of Captain Beyond, Clutch, Kadavar, and Earthless.

The band is best known for their live show experience where they incorporate psychedelic jams throughout their set. They have performed at numerous venues in the northern Virginia/Washington, D.C. area, including The Velvet Lounge, The Pinch, The Tree House Lounge, and The Grog & Tankard.

Band Members: 
Eric Fowler (Drums)
Zack Guy (Guitar)
Ben Washburn (Bass, Vocals)
Links: YouTube | Facebook | Bandcamp

Band Submission: Estuary Blacks-Progressive Stoner/ Post-Rock From South Wales

Band Name: Estuary Blacks
Genre: Progressive Stoner/ Post-Rock
Location: Gower, South Wales
Brief Bio/Description: We're a 3 piece progressive stoner / post rock band from Swansea, South Wales.We self-released our debut E.P. on December 16th 2015 and are looking for some feedback.
Band Members:
Al-Guitar and Vocals
Dan-Bass
Tom-Drums
Links: Facebook | Bandcamp

Band Submission: The Nebulosity-Progressive/Psychedelic Space Metal From Scotland

Band Name: The Nebulosity
Genre: Progressive/Psychedelic Space Metal
Location: Scotland
Brief Bio/Description: We are the Nebulosity, a four-piece from Falkirk in Central Scotland. We aim to create fresh, heavy and fun music. We were first formed in 2012 and we have been trying to do something different ever since we started.

We like to describe our debut album "c" as "an exploration into the cyclical nature of the world we live in and experience everyday and the ones we live in but don’t”.

We recieved a review from The Metal Review and they described one of our tracks as follows: "There’s one epic track called Rain, in it’s entirety, all 11.53 minutes of it has no flat-spots, crammed with riffs, hooklines, tempo changes and excellent vocal ranges to complement the whole package. The track actually makes me think of what would happen if Rush teamed up with Trouble and Crowbar. There really is a lot of creative flow happening, you have to hear it to believe it."

Band Members:
Alex Urbanczyk - Bass;
Adam Hammond - Drums, Vocals;
Adam Dunbar - Guitar, Vocals;
Alan Costello - Guitar, Vocals
Links: Facebook | Soundcloud | Bandcamp | Twitter | YouTube

Band Submission: Silverleaf-Progressive Stoner Psych From Denmark

Band Name: Silverleaf
Genre: Progressive-Stoner-Psych-Bluesy Rock
Location: Denmark
Brief Bio/Description: Silverleaf is a Danish/ Norwegian power trio formed during the summer of 2014. The band contains musicians from earlier bands Fuzz Manta, Cherry Overdrive and Nicolai Wilhelm Tell & the Tea Company, and each member draws on years of live experience from the Danish and European scenes. The band delivers a genuine package of progressive rock, stoner, psychedelia and blues mixed with a lot of melodic elements. The trio moves smoothly between the delicate airy breeze and the massive dark abyss with a ton of passion as common denominator.
In the fall of 2015 Silverleaf went to Hannover, Germany, and recorded their coming debut album, which will be released on Berlin based Bilocacion Records/Kozmik Artifactz summer 2016.

Band Members:
Morgan Cederborg: Guitar
Lene Kjær Hvillum: Vox & Bass
Morten Albjerg Rasmussen: Drums
Links: YouTube | Facebook

Band Submission: Yurt-Progressive Noise Metal From Dublin, Ireland

Band Name: Yurt
Genre: Progressive Noise / Sonic Attack / Prog Rock / Metal
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Brief Bio/Description: The sonic elders of YURT gathered at the dusk of 2006 with a criteria of conducting experiments in the broader field of progressive noise. On the occasion of winter solstice 2009 , a celebration of voluminous soundwaves entitled EGE ARTEMIS YURTUM was offered up to the legions of sonic guerillas, cerebral oscillators and other assorted hellspawn.

After a subsequent period in cryopreservation, there were rumours of a thaw and some manner of wretched behemoth arising from the miasma of silence. At the 2011 winter solstice, a construct was bestowed upon the terrestrial populus – ARCHIPELAGOG.

Again there was silence – a vacuum suggesting the will to remain a sonic footnote.

Ultimately, gestation is indeterminable in all matters pertaining to the sonic elders of YURT – There was no identifiable trajectory leading up to the announcement of YURT III – MOLLUSKKEPOKK in early 2016. As the sonic elders of YURT would volunteer by way of explanation…

” … while doing nothing is simply sloth, maintaining the facade of doing very little takes a lifetime to master… “.

The sonic elders of YURT have spoken.
Band Members:
Boz Mugabe - Bass, Vocals, electronics
Steven Anderson - Guitar, Vocals, electronics
Andrew Bushe - Drums
Links:  Bandcamp | YouTube | Website | Facebook

Song of the Day-Jukebox Monkey-"Dead Wait"

"Dead Wait" is taken off of the latest 5-song EP from the band called "Vs. Time" released at the beginning of the year. This song is a pulsating, chest-pounding and hair-knuckled track filled with stoner metal riffs, a progressive edge and stellar musicianship with an ending that will blow you away. BOOM! For more information regarding the band, please check out the following links: Facebook | Bandcamp

Song of the Day-Black West-"Betrayer"

"Betrayer" is taken off of the band's latest release "49​/​14: The Last Dream". The song immediately hits you square in the face with a solid punch of ripping sludge-riddled mayhem, it then does a 180 into some very melodic and well-executed progressive dynamics. The vocal really shines throughout the song, a clean and aggressive style that compliments the music very well. It is a sound that lies somewhere between System of a Down and Pantera. For more information, please check out the following links: Facebook | Bandcamp

Song of the Day-Duckhunters-"Dragooning"

"Dragooning" is taken off of the upcoming release "Extinction Road" due out November 28, 2015 on Drop Dead Records. Straight-forward fist-clenching fuzz-driven Stoner Metal, albeit with darker subject matter and a progressive edge. For more information, please check out the following links: Facebook | Bandcamp

Song of the Day-Black Vulpine-"White Witch Woman"

"White Witch Woman" is taken from the band's debut full-length release "Hidden Places" released September 11. 2015 on Moment of Collapse Records. This song starts off with a nice fuzzy guitar riff and gently culminates into a full-blown eargasm filled with a becalming female vocal, doom-laden occult vibe and progressive layering. For more information, please check out the following links: Facebook | Bandcamp

Song of the Day-InTechnicolour-"Lend Me a Crushed Ear"

"Lend Me a Crushed Ear" is taken off of the 3-song EP of the same name coming out soon on Small Pond Recordings. Rising out of the tech/math metal scene is a new band featuring members of Delta Sleep and the Physics House Band. I found that for a relatively unknown band, the band was drawing interest from Decibel Magazine which premiered the song a few days ago. This song elaborates on the former and adds in a more progressive stoner element with crushing riffs, soaring vocal harmonies and ear-grabbing melody. For more information, please check out the following link: Facebook

EP Review: ‘Cold’ by OHHMS

Covered with bruises must be the arms of the quintet that make up OHHMS, from continuous pinching injuries sustained during their first 12 months of existence. All part of the plan, no doubt. Having been picked up by Holy Roar Records after hearing their demo, to releasing their debut EP ‘Bloom’ in 2014, festival appearances at Temples, Arc Tan Gent, Fear and Hevy, plus shows with Conan, Earthmass and Slabdragger, they’ve also found time to record their follow-up EP ‘Cold’.

Describing themselves as "Progressive. Doom. Slow. Noise. Animal. Rights.” ‘Cold’ delivers two meandering beast-like tracks of heavy progressive doom over 30-odd minutes. First up is ‘The Anchor’, which highlights the band’s boundless creativity, opening with a slow atmospheric intro with bold work from vocalist Paul Waller, to an expansive heavy middle section with guitars and drums in unison, through to a fuzzed-out closing in homage to 70’s psychedelia. ‘You can’t sink us’ is the roar, and on this evidence I’m not one to argue.  

Right... onto track 2. ‘Dawn of the Swarm’ picks up from where ‘The Anchor’ ends. From a dream-like Pink Floydian intro, the track builds to an instrumented assault of riffs and vocals, to suddenly disperse leaving you feeling like you’ve been pushed off a cliff... Only to feel saved, bashed about a bit and redeemed before the track ends. Once again OHHMS are bending conventions with their prog-like mentality packaged in a shiny doom wrapper. 

‘Cold' is like a sonic wormhole, you never know where you're going to arrive at next. And that's what’s captivating. OHHMS are on a mission to expand your mind and keep you guessing every step of the way. And their song-craft and creativity will ensure they continue to carve their own path, and separate themselves from their often one-dimensional peers.

Follow the band - Facebook | Bandcamp

Check out ‘Cold’ below:

Quick Hit-Savanah-"Deep Shades"

A rather unique take on the Stoner/Doom genre is set forth by Austrian band Savanah. What sets the band apart from others is the lead singer's interesting vocal prowess. It is a deep and nasally bellow which sometimes suggests Maynard (Tool) and then digs into somewhere between Glenn Danzig (Danzig, Misfits) and David Gahan (Depeche Mode), yep I did say interesting. The musicianship is tight as hell and the riffing is phenomenal. The bass guitar barrels through your chest like an eighteen wheeler and is steadied by a unwavering rhythm. The songs build and become quite hypnotic in the sense that you are being drawn into the music that engulfs you. Favorite track: Deep Shades.

Facebook|Stone Free Records

Quick Hit: Howling Giant

Awaken the Giant

Recorded in one of the band member's bedroom (are you kidding me??) , this monstrous slab of soaring vocal harmonies, spectacular riffing, and an explosive groove crush and destroy everything in it's path. The spine-tingling bass line of "Whale Lord" is forever embedded. This may be one of the best EPs these ears have ever heard. Listen to this loud as fuck!

facebook|bandcamp

New Band To Burn One To: MOUNTAINSIDE

HEAVY PLANET PRESENTS...MOUNTAINSIDE!

"As I curiously gazed at the cover of Mountainside's third release "Solitary, Poor, Nasty, Brutish and Short" , I couldn't even begin to imagine what I would find within. Unbeknownst to me the band has been around since the early 2000's. Five simple words stare back at me and  in someway or another are able to capture the devastation and diversity that this band from Lithuania purveys. From the interesting track listing to the thought provoking song titles it is evident that there is nothing short of ordinary about this band. Thunderous and precise, complex yet simple this album is full of nasty jackhammer riffing, brutish gut punching vocal aggression and unconventional song structures. Also evident is the band's punk/hardcore/thrash influence on the short and jarring track "Stone Into Sand". Sitting here in a solitary state, I try to soak in all of the different styles and influences that comprise such a monolithic band. So to all of the poor bastards like myself that have never heard this amazing band before, the time is now to savor the opportunity!

Beer Pairing: Tröegs Troegenator Double Bock

~facebook|bandcamp~

Album Review: Polvo - Siberia

Polvo were always the masters of the unexpected. There is not one genre to place them in. No other band sounds like them and they never move backwards. Their albums always continue to surprise. Weird musicians being weird can be entertaining, but it’s rare to find a band this weird and passionate about their songs. They write songs that hold a perfect balance of unpredictability and emotion. Siberia is their second album since their hiatus and a better and more focused record than the previous- In Prisms. A band this cerebral would take a record or two to get back in the swing of things. These tracks are smoother, the overall vibe of the album is concise and the vocal melodies are some of the best of their career. 

It opens with “Total Immersion”, a song reminiscent of the Celebrate the New Dark Age record. They are in top form with zany dueling guitar riffs, wild drum patterns, and innovative melodies. Ash Bowie and Dave Brylawski sound the same. Their voices haven’t changed much over the years. This is one of their darker records, although there are some catchy melodies throughout, but the underlying vibe is a heavy dark tone. 

“Blues is Loss” continues with the signature Polvo sound of the 90’s, very progressive, much like the critically acclaimed Exploded Drawing. This is a whole different kind of prog than Rush or Yes, and they’re not exactly like their detuned peers Sonic Youth, who they have been compared to in the past. The band seems to be in their own world musically. One can argue that the music isn’t influenced by anything at all. It’s hard to pick out any specific influences or similarities. So why is this better than the last Polvo record? The next song is one example. 

“Light, Raking” begins with a John Bonham type hard hitting groove that leads into a new wave synth chorus that’s the catchiest song the band’s ever released. But the fact that it’s poppy does not stop them from tripping you out with other-worldly sound effects and complex compositions. None of these songs have simple song structures. It makes you wonder how long do they actually take to write this music. Does it come quick to them? Do they spend years? Bottom line, they have honed in on a sound that only they can execute. 

The highlight of the album for me, is an acoustic track- “Old Maps”. They are not known for recording much with acoustic guitars, but this song is so unique sounding, I’d love to hear acoustic renditions of all their songs. There are some interesting time signature changes with cymbal washes and chimes rolling over the music. It really does sound like they spent more time on this album than the last, or perhaps they had to bang In Prisms out to get their full-on mojo back. In summation, this is one the best Polvo albums in their discography. It will grow in your brain the more times you listen, and it will thrive and get better every listen. Making boring music is not something this band does, whether you get it or not. And if you’ve never heard Polvo, open your mind and see what’s intriguing about them. The reward is worth the curiosity of time invested. And like other bands of this breed of pioneers, a new Polvo album will make you want to go back and revisit their other records in a new light. Perhaps someday, they will achieve the notoriety they deserve in the mainstream. Till the rest of the world catches up, they remain a cult band for listeners with elite record collections and exquisite taste.

The members of Polvo are:

Ash Bowie - Guitar, Vocals

Dave Brylawski - Guitar, Vocals

Steve Popson - Bass

Brian Quast - Drums

(facebook|mergerecords|myspace)