Welcome To Heavy Planet!

If you are looking for new Stoner Rock, Doom, Heavy Psych or Sludge Metal bands, then you have come to the right place. Heavy Planet has been providing free promotion to independent and unsigned bands since 2008. Find your next favorite band at Heavy Planet. Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, January 31, 2011

New Band To Burn One To-Generation of Swine

The "New Band To Burn One To" today is Generation of Swine.



























Bio:

Formed late 2009 in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK by Dan Rooker ,Jim Crick and ex member Dunc Britchford.

Early freeform sonic experiments have twisted into a Psychedelic/Garage mishmash following the introduction of members Jason Sparkes, Suze Lynne and Chris Langeland.

Only gigging lightly a debut album YDEFKHTSP (YOU DON'T EVEN FUCKING KNOW HOW TO SPELL PSYCHADELLICK) was finally released in November this past year. Local airplay spearheaded by BBC introducing has helped secure a recording deal offer (as yet untaken) and the band are planning to record the next LP around the new year.
 
Taking their name from a Hunter S. Thompson book called Gonzo Papers, Vol. 2: Generation of Swine: Tales of Shame and Degradation in the '80s , Generation of Swine is a Psychedelic/Garage Rock band from Bury St Edmunds, UK. The band's influences range anywhere from The Velvet Underground to the Jesus & Mary Chain. The band plays a highly contagious brand of 60's influenced psychedelic rock mixed with the edginess of 90's Garage Rock. Passionate, dark and brooding are a few words that can describe the band's sound. With thoughtful lyrics and a burning desire, Generation of Swine are a band to watch out for.  The band has a few albums available on Bandcamp at a name your price option. Check'em out now!




MySpace|Facebook|Reverb Nation|Last.fm|Bandcamp

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Sunday Sludge-The Melvins

Welcome to the first installment of "Sunday Sludge". This feature will showcase influential as well as up-and-coming and unsigned bands in this sub-genre of metal.

For those of you that may not be familiar with the Sludge Metal genre, here is a description via Wikipedia:

"Sludge metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal that melds elements of doom metal and hardcore punk, and sometimes incorporates influences from southern rock, stoner rock, and grunge. Sludge metal is typically abrasive; often featuring shouted vocals, heavily distorted instruments and sharply contrasting tempos. While the style was anticipated by the Melvins from Washington, many of its earliest pioneers were from the state of Louisiana."
















Well since this is the inaugural article why don't we start with the aforementioned Melvins. The first time I ever heard the Melvins was on their album from 1993 called "Houdini". At that time I was totally into the grunge scene listening to heavier groove based bands such as Soundgarden, Gruntruck, Tad, and Skin Yard to name a few. After hearing the band, I naturally had to hear more of their previous recordings. Back then you couldn't just go online and find what you were looking for, so fortunately for me I worked as a store manager at a very "uncool" record store. I asked the buyers if they could get me a copy of the 1991 album called "Bullgod". Unfortunately, they said that they couldn't so I hopped in my car and went to our local independant store and sure enough they had one copy. For some reason, I never opened up cds right away and had to wait for the right environment to listen to it. Ok, now don't laugh, that environment was while I was washing my car. Now I occasionally listened to heavy music while I was washing my car but as soon as the first song started, I knew this was going to disturb the neighbourhood. The songs were painfully slow and the vocals were really not what I was used to, but as the music "sludged" on I really began to enjoy it more and more. While the sound of "Houdini" was a lot more polished, I loved the rawness of "Bullgod" as I recently included it in my Top 50 Best Stoner Rock Albums of All-Time coming in at #12.

The band is considered the "Godfathers of Grunge" but, many consider them as being the "Godfathers of Sludge" as well. The band naturally had an influence on the Grunge scene but also paved the way for such bands as Sludge gods Eyehategod and Crowbar. Even the Japanese experimental/drone rock act Boris took their name from the first track from the album "Bullgod".

The band has a pretty loyal following and continues to put out critically acclaimed albums, their most recent being 2010's "The Bride Screamed Murder" on Mike Patton's Ipecac recordings label. The album was the 20th of their career and the first to reach the Billboard Top 200 hundred selling 2809 copies in its first few weeks. Speaking of Mike Patton, King Buzzo along with bassist Trevor Dunn and drummer Dave Lombardo formed the avant-garde metal band Fantomas.

The members have gone on to form or perform in many other successful bands and have been a huge influence on the scene. I hope that you get a chance to listen to this awesome band and if you haven't so already you will be hooked, I promise you.

Website|Last.fm|MySpace|Facebook

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Heavy Planet Updates

You may have noticed a few changes to the home page today, that is because I felt that the site just needed a little refreshed. Over the course of the next few weeks you will see some of these areas tweeked a bit more until I get it the way I feel it should be. In my discussions with Toby, we think that the "New Band To Burn One" needs to be given the most exposure because our primary goal is to give unsigned bands the opportunity for some free promotion. Because I get so many bands submitting, I pretty much have to post everyday and the band loses its top spot on the page. I have a rotating link for the past 10 days as a temporary fix until I can come up with something better.

On the sidebar you will notice areas for "Rad Reviews", "Free Downloads" and "Reverb Nation" widgets. I will try and rotate these out on a weekly basis to give other bands exposure.

We also have a few new features that will hopefully bring some excitement to the site. We will have a feature on Sunday called "Sunday Sludge", this feature will expose readers to influential bands in the genre as well as up and coming and unsigned bands. We will also be bringing back the "Heavy Rotation" feature and will run it every Wednesday. For those of you unfamiliar with that feature, I do a write-up of what catches my ear the most throughout the week. And finally, we will do a feature every Friday called "Flashback Friday" in which we search for influential and/or obscure bands from the 70's, 80's and 90's that defined the genre as we know it today.

We will continue to post reviews of CDs as well and if you need a news fix, check out the links along the side of the site. Like us on Facebook to get occasional tidbits not found on the blog, such as contests, videos, news, etc.

As always, thank you for dedication and continued support.

Mini-Review: Green & Wood - Green & Wood

As seen on The Klepto's Guide:

I've recently been on a doom bender; I've been scooping up every doom band within every sub-genre of doom that I could find. I must have added 100 artists to my collection, and probably 200 albums, Green & Wood being one of them. This group is stoner, this group is doom, this group is great. Right from the get-go you know what you're going to get, leading off with "Banquet of Jupiter," a grinding stoner/doom song with a bit of gothic (not full-on mind you) vocals, sounding like a pair of gents singing in an echoy room, It's not too distorted, but it adds an effect that is actually kind of neat. Track two, "Rockin' Real Hard," does exactly what it says; it rocks real hard and the following song, "Heathen Copse," has an opening riff that would make Black Sabbath proud - one of their most doom-oriented songs. Although that is only the first half of the album, you know what you're getting, a Sabbath-tinged, groove-laden rocker with serious jam capabilities. A side note: apparently the lead singer is a professional skateboarder by the name of Ethan Fowler, he and his professional-photographer partner, Magda (never says a last name), play their stoner/doom with a semi-folk vibe, equating themselves to Robin Hood and Maid Marian. Not really important for the album, but kind of a neat side story.

MySpace/Doommantia

Friday, January 28, 2011

Album Review - Winterun: Shadow


Winterun are a stoner rock outfit from Melbourne, Australia who have been slugging it out in the trenches of the independent music scene down under for over ten years. With this five song E.P., which is the band’s first release since 2007’s Into the Underground (and fourth overall), these Aussies are hoping to whet your appetite for their groove heavy tunes prior to the release of their next full length album, which is scheduled to drop later this year. If you’re familiar with the band, then you don’t need me to tell you how much ass they kick. But for those who have yet to be initiated, Shadow is the perfect introduction to Winterun, as it features three brand new tracks alongside two of the band’s older cuts that have been spit shined and given one hell of a blues-rock makeover.

The disc starts with “Tomahawk”, a riff heavy rocker with a significant Clutch vibe. The song is highlighted by the guitar playing of Guy Martin and it’s punctuated by the gravelly rasp of vocalist Nick Dunstan. The band uses dual guitars (Dunstan plays rhythm) to simultaneously create the heavy crunch that drives their sound while allowing the lead to come to the forefront of the songs, creating a level of depth that carries them beyond your typical “riff-rock” fare. The title track from Shadow is a perfect example of this, and it’s my personal favorite of this collection. “8 X 10”, the last of the three new songs, is yet another example of the band’s ability to combine groove and rhythm, thanks in part to drummer Joel Schneidruk and new bassist Matt Taylor with looser, free roaming guitar to create a sort of alt-stoner sound, kind of like a heavy ass version of Pearl Jam.

The final two tracks are remakes of "Sucker for Punishment" from the band's 2005 album Welcome To… and "Lighter" off their 2004 debut The Full Effect. The new versions of these songs feature the harmonica playing of Aaron Gillet, which completely transforms Winterun's sound into a bluesy, Southern rock explosion. As I described previously, Shadow is a sort of merging of the old and the new for these Australian stoner rock vets. The result is a quick, but altogether satisfying taste of Winterun and something to tide you over until the real deal arrives later in 2011.

Track Listing:

01: Tomahawk
02: Shadow
03: 8 X 10
04: Sucker for Punishment
05: Lighter

Band Members:

Nick Dunstan - Vocals and Guitar
Guy Martin - Guitar
Matt Taylor - Bass
Joel Schneidruk - Drums
Aaron Gillett - Harmonica

Website|Facebook|My Space|Last FM|CD Baby

Mini-Review: SardoniS - SardoniS

As seen on The Klepto's Guide:

Damn good instrumental metal. SardoniS was sent to me by Reg at Heavy Planet to listen and review. I had actually already owned the album, but I appreciated the thought. That was back in September or October, and I just now listened to their debut album. I was in no rush because of it's instrumental nature and I've never been a huge fan of the genre. Like sludge metal, I think that I am not the ideal person to review instrumental music, just because I am tainted against it from the get-go. But I had just woken up and I wanted something simple to enter the day with so I turned on SardoniS. What followed was anything but simple, SardoniS is one of the most complex and richly sounding instrumental bands I've ever heard. The album transcends genres, all of which sounded at least half-way decent. This is something very difficult to do without the aid of vocals of any kind, and they somehow kept it all fresh throughout the album, something else that is difficult (for me) with instrumental bands. While not all the tracks were winners - it had it's share of ups and downs - it was an easy album to get through, and I didn't find myself wandering away in thought as I do with most bands. I was continuously surprised and entranced with the differences of sound, track to track. This is something to listen to, if you're a fan of instrumental stoner metal or not.

MySpace

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Mini-Review: High On Fire - Snakes For The Divine

As seen on The Klepto's Guide:

Another album I really waited too long to listen to (Jesus 10 months...). High On Fire (as I'm sure many of you know) is another godfather of the stoner/doom movement. My personal knowledge of this band is a bit limited; the only experience I have with them is their 2007 release, Death Is This Communion, although I probably haven't heard it since it first came out. So even though I have heard them before, it's been so long that I only have a vague recollection of their sound and style - besides the random songs I have heard over the year (I'm actually listening to "Bastard Samurai" right now, and I not only remember it, it is a kick-ass song) - so my review of Snakes For The Divine is almost as if I am completely new to the band. That's the way I like to review; for the first time/listen. First impression: Fuck yes! This is an amazing band/album! The first track (and title track) begins by punching you in the sonic gonads from the get-go and doesn't stop throughout the record. While "Snakes For The Divine" didn't hold my 'wow' factor for the whole song, every track after that one has been superb. The aforementioned, "Bastard Samurai," is a straight doom rocker, while the following track, "Ghost Neck," picks up the temp and shoves it down your throat. These songs are immediately followed by the instrumental "The Path" which does a great job of acting as a pallet cleanser for your ears, before juicing it all back up for the rest of the album. Seriously this is some good shit. To me, this album should be taking the place of Electric Wizard on everyones Best of 2010 list. Same genre and localized style, but Snakes For The Divine offers so much more!

Official/MySpace

Album Review: Stone Axe I & II

As seen on The Klepto's Guide:

I first found Stone Axe a while ago (I'm assuming 2009, seeing as that was when their debut album was out) randomly on one of the websites I peruse looking for what's new and amazing. At the time, I couldn't find any info on the band, no album reviews, nothing at all really (which makes me think it was closer to 2008 and the album was unreleased), and so their debut LP got shelved into my ever growing collection of music.
Fast forward to 2010, and I discover their second release, this time with a bit of fanfare and a little about the band out there. But still it wasn't enough for me to get excited and listen to the dual releases, and so it, once again, was shelved. Later that year, I decided to take this website thing seriously and I began listening to new music as fast as I could, and I also began reading more and more websites and fellow bloggers, and I began to notice the name Stone Axe popping up over and over. So, earlier this week, I decided to actually listen to the artist that I have been sitting on for at least two years, give them their time in the sun and the attention everyone seems to think they deserve. Well let me tell you, everyone was right. Stone Axe plays a very strong showing of post-grunge mixed in with retro-rock, but with each album taking it's own view of this description.

Stone Axe - 2009
The band's debut, self-titled, album, starts deep within the vein of stoner blues, but with each song, moves steadily into a more traditional hard rock/stoner sound. It all sounds a bit post-grunge, like Soundgarden with a bit more groove, especially within the vocals. The album has some moments when it sounds like Thin Lizzy throughout, especially during the semi-folksy song "The Skylah Rae." This album seems to be where the act is getting it's feet wet, they are expanding their sound and style, experimenting with what they can do.
Stone Axe II - 2010
The first song off their newest album seamlessly moves directly from the sounds of the previous - you wouldn't know it was a different album just from listening to it. Stone Axe II seems a bit more in the classic rock zone, moving into something more akin to AC/DC, but still keeping the touches of Soundgarden and - depending on the person singing - still sounds strangely like Thin Lizzy (the song "Those Were the Golden Years" more then any other). This album is more varied then the original, but still grounded in the stoner/retro-rock feel of its predecessor. I found myself bobbing my head and grooving right along with the music - it was really easy to write articles (I wrote three within the span of these two albums) with this music playing. The chillness of it all did wonders for the creative process.

Well there you have it, yet another band that I wish I had taken a bit of time, all those years ago, to sit down and listen to some great rock. While Stone Axe II wouldn't have been a true contender for my 'Best of 2010' list (it just didn't pop like the ones on the list did) it still would have been a great addition to the year's music collection.

MySpace/Official

New Band To Burn One To-Druid Lord

The "New Band To Burn One To" today is Druid Lord.


























Bio:

"Formed in early 2010 by Pete Slate and Stephen Spillers, Druid Lord quickly gained the attention of many in the metal scene. Initially, Druid Lord set out to self-release a 4 song EP but due to interest by labels and fans decided to proceed with a full length cd. Recently signed to HPGD Productions, Druid Lord have just released "Hymns for the Wicked" on Oct. 31st of 2010. In addition to joining Druid Lord on bass & vocals recently, long time friend and band member Tony Blakk is handling the engineering of this deadly release. Fans of doom and old-school death metal are already hailing this release as one of the best offerings to surface in ages. Druid Lord, interestingly enough, is comprised of three of the members of the '92-'99 line-up of another well-regarded death metal act from Florida, Equinox. Pete Slate honed his skills as a member of Incubus, Acheron, Massacre and Kauldron . Tony Blakk gained respect and recognition with bands such as Acheron, Apostasy and Diabolic. Stephen Spillers was a founding member of Equinox and recorded numerous releases with the band including "Return to Mystery", "Journey into Oblivion" and "As the Moon Swallows the Sun"."

Druid Lord from Orlando, FL have just released an amazing collection of what you could call Death Doom. Citing influences ranging from Cirith Ungol to doom legends Pentagram, the band takes doom and despair to a new level. The music would have made the perfect soundtrack to a creepy horror flick from the seventies. The plodding tempo and blistering riffs along with death vocals make this band one to look out for. The band is currently streaming their latest CD "Hymns For the Wicked" on their Bandcamp site. Make sure to purchase their merch if you dig the band.

Check out a few reviews of the album at the followings websites.

Doommantia
Deafsparrow




MySpace|Facebook|Last.fm|Bandcamp

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Mini-Review: Electric Wizard - Black Masses

As seen on The Klepto's Guide:

Down and dirty stoner/doom metal, the way it should be. Now I've never been a huge Electric Wizard fan, the couple of albums I have heard haven't impressed me too much, but Black Masses is something different. The only other releases I have heard from the group are their self-titled debut, and their EP/single Chrono.naut, and while I found Electric Wizard (album) to be alright, I did not like Chrono.naut, and I guess I've never really gone back to give them another shot. I think now I may have to now. Anyway, Black Masses has made it on every person's (just about) Top of 2010 list, and although I don't see that being a case for me (who knows, I haven't finished the album completely yet), it mill definitely be an Honorable Mention of some kind. While the music is great - it is doom metal with constantly fuzz-driven guitars - the songs themselves tend to become  very difficult to distinguish one from the other. The first four songs of the album all sound pretty damn similar, and if there wasn't a slight quiet bit between the songs I would have no clue where one begins and another ends. The fifth track "Satyr IX" was the first songs to mix it up; so sound like something different, which then when it returned to the previous style song, "Turn Off Your Mind," it sounded a bit more fresh. This is a minor gripe, as all of the songs do make me want to crawl into a whole and die (as any good doom metal should), I just like some variety, which is why songs like "Satyr IX" will stand out in my memory. Again a great album, nearly every song on it is something I could rock out to repeatedly. I would just like a little more variance (even a little change is doom is noticeable) in the song styles. Once the new year starts I'll have some free time to go back and listen to all of the great acts I have missed, Electric Wizard will be one of them.

Official/MySpace/Metal-Archives

New Band To Burn One To - Monotonix

 
As also seen on The Soda Shop

Today's New Band To Burn One To is Monotonix.

I'd like to thank Dan at Exploding With Sound for opening my eyes to these guys.This 3 piece plays a wicked mix of stoner, punk and garage rock. All fuzzed out of course. They just released a new album called Not Yet on Drag City Records.
Monotonix are back – but how can this be, if they never really went away? They’re the People’s Rock Band, playing anywhere and everywhere that they’re allowed to play all around the world. Nobody anywhere has played more gigs than Monotonix over the past two years. Nobody – unless “playing gigs” is code for scratching one’s ass, in which case, we’re all as Godly as the Monotonix crew. Speaking of ass, wait’ll you see the back of Where Were You When It Happened? ! What it lacks in cheek, it makes up for in crack. But what are Monotonix supposed to do? Fans of their incredible live energy insist that their first record, the “Body

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Mini-Review: Cathedral - The Guessing Game

As seen on The Klepto's Guide:

Ok now, this one was an oddity. The only things from Cathedral I have heard has been their first two or three albums, back when they were truly doom. Somewhere around their third album, The Carnival Bizarre, they changed styles into something else. I haven't heard past that change, having liked their doom style, and with no interest in the new, but after a decade and a half, I figure it's time to give it another try. The first thing I have to get across is that The Guessing Game comes off as two different albums, with styles to match. After listening to the album I realized it is a double disc release and that makes sense really, with the great range of styles heard here. The majority of the first disc is not doom, not stoner, not really classifiable. It is almost a simplistic, folky, heavy metal record. On almost every song it sounds like the singer is just talking the lyrics in a rhyming fashion; the music song to song is very disjointed, and the songs themselves are mixes of empty sounding music with vocals over-top or eclectic acoustic guitar and bass segments. If it was only this one album as a release I would have been very disappointed, with the songs (besides a handful) not really being what I would call 'musical.' Some of the songs are ok; "Painting in the Dark," and "Death of an Anarchist" are both listenable (if a bit long), with the song "Cats, Incense, Candles and Wine" being the stand-out. The interesting thing is, that as the release switches albums, so does the style of song. It goes from this almost-unexplainable rock into something more akin to classic Cathedral - doom. The second disc is almost entirely doom, with the occasional quick rocker thrown in for good measure. This is the disc you need to hear; most of the songs being damn good. As I said above, when I listened to The Guessing Game I did not originally know that there were two discs, and I was puzzled with this sudden shift. With the inclusion of a second 'story' (if you will), the full picture is easier to take in. While I wouldn't call this new album from the legendary Cathedral really great, it does hold some interesting points. I would suggest picking it up solely for the second disc, but you will need to hear the first - at least once - to understand what I mean; and honestly to hear something that treads the line between good and strange.

Official/MySpace/Metal-Archives

Album Review: The Might Could - The Might Could

As seen on The Klepto's Guide:

Whenever a great band breaks up, the members splinter off and create a plethora of really good follow-ups. Some of these off-shoots aren't as good as the original, others are par with it, and some exemplify the musicianship of the members of the original sound. The day that Alabama Thunderpussy broke up (about a month after I discovered them) was a sad day for stoner metal fans the world over. Sense then we've all been waiting, and wanting to hear what new project would be summoned from that corpse. A group with that much skill and potential could never go quietly into the night, there had to be more. That being said; from the ashes of Alabama Thunderpussy I present: The Might Could!

The Might Could's debut, self-titled, LP continues the general themes of Alabama Thunderpussy's music, it's gritty southern stoner, with a bit of gabled vocals - which took a bit for me to get used to - more akin to Fulton Hill then Open Fire. The songs are all groove-laden, heavily doom-influenced, and are guaranteed to melt your face. Of course amongst all this there is still a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor, especially in the song titles "The Night They Shoot Ol' Dixie Down," an obvious play off of The Band's "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," and the following "I Don't Even Like Pantera Anymore," I'd like to say there is a story about Pantera in there somewhere, but it's one of their more screamy songs, and they only lyrics I can make out are the title line in the chorus.
But the songs aren't all sludge-tinged stoner doom, there are some slower, more thought out songs. "When The Spirits Take Control" is a bluesy-jam track, with clean vocals and a soul. It stands out from the record as being so different, and quite honestly it is my favorite of the album. It is most akin to Alabama Thunderpussy's final album, Open Fire, and because that one was my favorite from the group, any song that The Might Could would record in that style will immediately be favored over the rest. It just follows my tastes well.

I have to admit that it did take me a few tracks to get into the swing of things with The Might Could, but once I did, this album really began to run for me. The songs are all pretty damn good, especially the second-half of the disc (I may have to re-listen to the first-half, now that I am used to the style). They do a version of down-and-dirty southern stoner that you don't hear without heavy sludge influence as well. With their debut album, the hints of sludge are there, but they aren't running rampant and overpowering the rest of the release. It's a tasteful mix of styles and genres that I think more bands should take into consideration. I really enjoyed hearing what The Might Could had to offer, and I will pick up their second release as soon as I am able, mark my words.
Official/MySpace

New Band To Burn One To-Les Guenilles

The "New Band To Burn One To" today is Les Guenilles.





















Bio:

"The band was formed in 2008 by David and Francois. They splitted both of they're own bands to form Les Guenilles which means The Rags in french. Their sound is described like a mix of stoner, punk and thrash. They've been compared to The Melvins, Trigger Effects, etc. They released their first EP (5 songs) in 2009. Their first album, Aucun Album, was released in 2010 which contains 11 songs. Produced by Pierre Girard (Malajube, Beast, Karkwa), Aucun Album appeared on the top 40 list of the best canadian albums of 2010 by Bande a Part, Radio-Canada (CBC). Les Guenilles shared the stage with bands like Burning Brides, The Pack AD, Priestess, Bison BC, The Sainte-Catherines and lots more. Lots of people claim that they're the loudest french band in the whole province of Quebec."

The band:

Simon Gauthier: bass

David Guilbault: guitar, vocals
Jonathan Bigras: drums
Francois Gagnon: guitar, vocals


When I think of Canada, I immediately think of two things, Rush and hockey. As I was listening to Les Guenilles the first thing I though was this does not sound anything like Rush and second, this would be the perfect soundtrack to a hockey game. Stoner/Thrash with a punk mentallity. Fast, furious, and blood-soaked. So go grab yourself a Molsen, turn on a hockey game and let the fun begin. Go to the band's Bandcamp site to stream the album for free, if you like it buy it! Word of caution. Everything is in French, but rock 'n roll is the universal language, right. You guys are gonna love this shit!




MySpace|Facebook|Bandcamp

Monday, January 24, 2011

Album Review: Under The Sun - Man of Sorrow

As seen on The Klepto's Guide:

A doom supergroup, with members from Pentagram, Cathedral, and Place of Skulls, Under The Sun has been mostly skipped over by the reviewing community (at least the sites I check out). This seems a shame, that men of such renown fly under the radar as long as they have. I plan to do my part to rectify this - what little influence I have over the internet - so read, listen, and enjoy listening to a modern-day supergroup that would make any doom fan blush: Under The Sun.


Man of Sorrow opens with an amazing track; "Stride" begins as a slow, trudging doom song - completely instrumental - then after a few minutes it begins to fade out, which makes you think a new song is about to begin. Just then the song volume and tempo ramps up into some of the best groove-oriented stoner/doom that I have heard in a while. And after they play their fill, say their piece (oh yea there are vocals in this part), they return to the original melody and theme, of soul-crushing doom. This is how you are greeted to Under The Sun, and it sums up the album perfectly. This is a group well-versed in the arts of both doom and stoner, and they are not afraid to show you ass-hats how to rock.
I wish I could say this feeling was kept up through the entire album; the songs that are good are great, but then the album is also filled with dull tracks, that really take away from the rest of the disc. "Stride," "Bruised," "Joy," and "Forgiveness" are all amazing, blending mostly instrumental doom with bits of juiced-up stoner levity and excitement, before crashing down back to doom. The rest of the album is very ho-hum, either the songs are too short to follow the usual path of build-up and die-down, or they are just too repetitive to fully enjoy. Don't even get me started on the last track, the title-track, it is over seven minutes, but for the first three or four it's filled with a dull droning guitar/bass lick with a spoken word track over top, eventually it gets to actual music, but by then I was checked out of the album. A really shitty way to end any album, let alone this one.


Under The Sun is an interesting band, whose members have an interesting history. These are the grand-daddies of doom, coming together to bring back a resurgence to the genre. Some songs on Man of Sorrow hit their mark, while others fall a bit short - and one is way off target - but it's the beginning of something new, and I hope something great. The group shows promise, bringing together some of the best stoner/doom of my short life, but I think it takes too much from the experimenting tendencies of Cathedral, something I've never really been on board with.

MySpace

New Band To Burn One To - Black Pistol Fire

 

Today's New Band To Burn One To is Black Pistol Fire.
Black Pistol Fire is a Rock and Roll duo originally from Toronto, Canada now based out of Austin, Texas. Their sound has been described as a mix of classic southern rock and garage punk. Comparisons span many sub-genres and eras. They are most often compared to early Kings of Leon, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Black Keys, and Clutch.

Black Pistol Fire features Kevin McKeown on Guitar/Lead Vocals and Eric Owen on Drums. The two have been friends since Kindergarten and began playing music together when they found they had a shared passion for Rock and Roll music in high school. They were two

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Mini-Review: Wino - Adrift

As seen on The Klepto's Guide:

Simply amazing. Best way to describe the legendary Wino's second solo release, as it has become one of my favorites for all year. It's a far change from what the master of all thing doom has ever previously released, coming off as more classic rock than doom or heavy metal. Adrift is a mostly acoustic album, with only the occasional electric guitar solo stopping it from being fully acoustic. These songs are not really metal, and the disc comes off with a very classic rock (circa-1975) feel. Think some good ol' Deep Purple or perhaps some Zeppelin to get what I mean. There are a couple of covers thrown in (Motorhead and Savoy Brown), something I was not expecting, but for the most part it is Wino at his core. I love his gruff voice, his abrupt singing style, and of course his amazing guitar-work. It's amazing what the man can do with an acoustic guitar, usually not something that one would expect to hear truly amazing work from, but Wino delivers! This album is another that I wish I hadn't waited so long in hearing, and it makes me want to go back through this amazing musician's history and re-listen (or listen for the first time) to his entire discography. It is that good.

MySpace

New Band To Burn One To-The Octopus

The "New Band To Burn One To" today is The Octopus.




























There is not a lot of info to be had on this band, but here is a quick bio:


The Octopus, is a heavy rock band from Detroit.

The band features former members of other Detroit-area bands (Electric Six, The Dead Bodies, The Deadstring Bros and the Detroit Cobras), none of whom are known for being the least bit stoner/doom/psych-y. But the band works a large plot of land in the stoner/psych/fuzz neighborhood.

From what I heard on their MySpace page, the tunes are very heavy psych-tinged rockers. Sometimes a bit punk, sometimes whimsical, this female-fronted band keeps your attention with some very well though out nuggets. Contact the band if interested in obtaining some of their work.

As the Detroit News states, "Fronted by Masha Marjieh, who is as beautiful and as she is cool, Octopus has heavy songs that sound best when played at full blast right in your face."



MySpace|Facebook

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Mini-Review: Wall of Sleep - When Mountains Roar

As seen on The Klepto's Guide:

I have heard nothing of Wall of Sleep before, and I know nothing of them, aside that they are a stoner/doom act. This is a tale of my virgin ears to Wall of Sleep, and what they determine the group to be.
I am/was very surprised by When Mountains Roar. I have been listening to so much stoner/doom that I have been getting sick of the genre. I really was in no hurry to hear Wall of Sleep, but now I am in a hurry to hear the rest of their catalog! The album is not stoner by any means, and even the doom is stretched a bit. It's like a classic rock band decided to add the plodding sound of doom to their latest record - a pleasant surprise after so many acts that sounded the same. This album really reminded me of the straight-forward era of metal from the 70s or 80s. It a little reminiscent of NWOBHM American bands that were from this time, but not in the power metal-esq vibe. Power doom metal I guess would be the best way to describe it. I know, I know, I'm doing another crappy job at describing the sound of the act, but cut me some slack; I'm at work, tired and hung-over. You're all lucky you're getting anything from me today, so enjoy what you read and move on.

MySpace

New Band To Burn One To-Switchblade Jesus

The "New Band To Burn One To" today is Switchblade Jesus.


















Bio:

Coming out of nowhere, Switchblade Jesus is a down tuned Texas Stoner Groove here to kick your ass. Starting in late 2009, formed when two local musicians/friends Eric Calvert & Billy Guerra decided to tear down the city that is Corpus. Add the solid backbone of Jason Beers & Jon Elizondo formerly from The Highspeed Heartaches and you get the core of Switchblade Jesus. To further add to this madness now you can add Peter Quarnstrom formerly from Xcrete!! Yep. With his broad vocal styles and in your face attitude you can be promised with a great show night after night! With a growing fan base and soon to be in the studio, we are here to make our mark on the world.




With grooves as big as the HD screen at Cowboys Stadium, Switchblade Jesus from Corpus Christi, TX  will place a boot firmly up your ass with their brand of Texas-style Stoner Metal. Ok, enough of the cliches, just go listen to the badass tunes they have up on Reverb Nation.






MySpace|Facebook|ReverbNation

Friday, January 21, 2011

Album Review - Pan Galactic Straw Boss: Reverberator


Patience…

What you’re looking for will arrive…but it will get here on its own time, not on yours. The music of Pan Galactic Straw Boss, who if you’re wondering, takes their name from the writings of Kurt Vonnegut, is about timing, it is about taking a basic musical idea and tracing it from the humble beginning (perhaps a simple guitar chord) all the way to the final conclusion (a crushing, feedback laden jam). But more than anything else, the music of PGSB is about anticipation. On their first full length album Reverberator, this three-piece from Norfolk, Virginia have created one epic slab of noise that will simultaneously soothe, enlighten and ultimately crush your soul and it will do it by subtly drawing you in, making you wait for the climax and then pummeling you with it just when you least expect it.

Take the first track, “The Shape” for example. The song starts with a single guitar being gently strummed with pauses here and there allowing seconds of pure silence to creep into the mix. This bleak landscape of sound goes on for nearly three minutes, the effect of which is one of sheer loneliness. And just as you reach the point of exhaustion in your aural state of solitary confinement, a drum roll blasts forth and you’re hit with a deafening wall of feedback and a crash of cymbals that lasts for 60 seconds that feel like an eternity. At that point the drummer shifts into a solid beat and the bass rolls in to save the day with a head bobbing groove…but that guitar is relentless and the feedback continues…in fact by this point you’ll feel like it’s in the back of your head…like it’ll never go away. But then another couple of minutes go by and the whole thing does go away and you’re back to that beautiful, soothing guitar that started this…this opus. And you’re thankful for the peace…for the chance to breath…to contemplate what the fuck this is that you’re experiencing. But then two minutes later, the drums lift up again and this time the guitar isn’t just creating reverb, no this time there’s a solid riff and the whole ensemble is working together, creating a groove that would make most metal bands cower in the corner. And when you’ve finally succumbed to the fact that you have no idea where this ride will take you next, PGSB decide they’ve reached their conclusion, and the entire sound collapses in on itself and then it’s gone.

My friends, that’s just the first song.

On ensuing tracks, PGSB manage to continue to draw the listener in with a near constant sense of anticipation oftentimes by way of using silence as an instrument. The band is not afraid to give the listener space to reflect on what they’re hearing and it does wonders for the overall piece of work. From the frenetic pace of “Dialogue between a Priest and a Dying Man” to the calm, Zen-like peacefulness of “Mouth Crazy”, the album flows together seamlessly.

“Have We Some Wrong? Done?” is a complete mind-fuck, as it opens with a sound bite from the controversial, yet classic fight between Sonny Liston and Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali), which is interlaced with somber guitar playing that is repeatedly interrupted by jarring bouts of white noise and the bleeps and blurps of a public service announcement…somehow this song just disturbs me and I’m not sure exactly why…try wrapping your head around that. “Jane Toppan’s Lust Murders”, which may be my personal favorite off of Reverberator, sounds as though it could be the demented soundtrack to an old Clint Eastwood spaghetti western. And the album’s finale, “Silos”, is an eleven and a half minute epilogue that never breaks a sweat, and sees PGSB bringing their Drone masterpiece to a quiet and conclusive close.

Admittedly, this is not an album for everyone. It is intense, it is abstract and it requires a patient ear. But if you’re willing to take the time to listen to Reverberator (this is a perfect headphone album by the way), you’re in for a highly enlightening and altogether enjoyable experience. At times I wouldn’t even define this as music, but as an overall aural experience. PGSB do not write songs, they write soundscapes. This is noise as art…dig it.

Drone on!

Track Listing:
01 The Shape
02 Dialogue Between a Priest and a Dying Man
03 Mouth Crazy
04 Have We Some Wrong? Done?
05 Jane Toppan’s Lust Murders
06 Silos

Band Members:
Andrew Joseph – Bass
Michael Twark – Drums
Steven Jordan - Guitar

My Space|Facebook|Bandcamp|Last FM|Buy Here

New Band To Burn One To-Black Ocean

The "New Band To Burn One To" today is Black Ocean.





















Bio:

BlackOcean was formed early 2008 by long-time friends and songwriters Jason Burchfield and Steve Hunter. The initial lineup consisted of bassist Spike Justis, who departed the band in early 2010, and replaced with long-time friend Joe Maurone from Philadelphia. In 2010, BlackOcean acquired guitarist Zack Blickos to complete the final lineup.

With their many influences, ranging from Metallica, Dream Theater, Rush, Sabbath, Life of Agony and so many others, this unique band delivers the hardcore sounds, technical styles and signature tempos that separate them from most music that is out there today!

Taking 90's influences such as White Zombie and Deftones and mixing it together with progressive metal and a blistering groove, New Jersey's Black Ocean will drown you with their tidal wave of crunchy guitars, sonic drum blasts and inspired songwriting.



BlackOcean plans to release its debut album "Sea Of Darkness" sometime early 2011 on Toil Records. The album was recorded and engineered by Kevin Hogan from KHSTUDIO in NJ. Stay tuned for the official release date, coming soon...

Website|Facebook|ReverbNation|Toil Records

Thursday, January 20, 2011

CD Review: Wo Fat-"Noche del Chupacabra"























The other day a package arrived in the mail, on that package the address was from Wo Fat, I was like "no freakin' way the new Wo Fat!", goddamn was I elated. My wife just stood there and laughed and looked at me like I was crazy. I am like a little kid in a candy store when it comes to hearing new music, especially by one of my new favorite bands. I had never heard of Wo Fat until last year's "Psychedelonaut", which ultimately made my Top 10 of 2009. Ever since, I have been hooked. So needless to say, I had to pop that sucker in and take a listen. Well, here are my thoughts on Wo Fat's new opus "Noche del Chupacabra".

The first track "Bayou JuJu" starts off with a driving bass line which builds the intensity of a full-blown riff-driven psychedelic freak-out. Vocalist Kent Stump beckons "whatcha gonna do know?" There is plenty of wah-wah guitar and killer riffage to wet your appetite for more. The second track "Descent Into the Maelstrom" starts off with a flange-heavy bass line and crushing doom groove played along to a thunderous drum rhythym. Track three "Common Ground" starts off with a ton of feedback then pulverizes you with probably one of the heaviest grooves I have ever heard midway through the song.

One thing that I must state before I continue on is that the five songs on "Noche del Chupacabra" are all long, with all clocking in at six minutes or longer. There is a ton of extensive jamming and interplay between the bandmates and their playing is top-notch. Now back to the music. Track four "Phantasmagoria" is a very heavy blues-inspired tune complete with slide guitar and a slow repetitious groove.

The album's final track "Noche del Chupacabra" is a 15:05 instrumental masterpiece. The song starts with a very tribal-like drum beat and is almost jazzy in nature as the bass line wallows in the background. The song has many time changes and improvision. Some very trippy effects are used to complete the feeling as if you are being sucked through the doors of a hoodoo hut in the middle of a swamp which leads to the extraterrestrial vastness of the universe. Wait, I just explained what the album cover looks like. Anyways, Wo Fat fuckin' rock and that is really all that matters. Doom on Wo Fat!

The album is slated for release sometime mid-February on Nasoni Records. This album will definitely be on my Top 20 at year's end!

MySpace|Website|Facebook

Mini-Review: Bongripper - Satan Worshiping Doom

As seen on The Klepto's Guide:

Another group, in the long line, that I probably am not the best person to review their album. Bongripper is an instrumental sludge band (I don't know how you can really call it sludge without any lyrics, but whatever), who falls into the same problems as most instrumental acts: dull songs. For Satan Worshiping Doom, the group decided to only include four tracks for a fifty-three minute album; so as you can guess the songs are long. This is actually a step up from their norm, with every previous album aside one (Hippie Killer) being one, hour-plus, song - sometimes broken up into several parts, sometimes not. So I guess I really shouldn't complain about the song length, but honestly I don't know how (without drugs) people can listen to the same droning sound or melody repeatedly for almost fifteen minutes (this goes for anything atmospheric or drone-doom as well). Satan Worshiping Doom appeared on several people's 'Best of' lists and I guess if you're a fan of the genre I could see why, but it wouldn't make the top 50 for me. I mean the music is decent, and as always there are good segments, but I can barely stand to listen to it all through once, let alone repeatedly over a year. As I said, I'm not the best review of music like this, because I am not a fan of the genre (imagine me reviewing death metal - ugh), but every now and then an instrumental group stands out (Sahara Surfers), and for that reason along, I search amongst the records.
[EDIT]: Ok, I wrote the above and then I actually finished the album. I have to say, it grew on me. Once I stopped trying to listen to it, and let it float to the back of my mind, it began to become enjoyable. I'm still not saying it's an instant classic or anywhere close to top 10, but my first impressions may have been a bit off base.

Official/MySpace/BandCamp

New Band To Burn One To-Scattered Earth

The "New Band To Burn One To" today is Scattered Earth.




















Beginning in late 2007, the seed for Scattered Earth was planted as a conversation between friends on the way home from a concert. Slowly, unsteadily, but surely, the pieces came together to form the complete unit that they are today. Discontent with Long Island's cliché-ridden scene, the band takes pride in being the proverbial black sheep. With songs ranging from slow, plodding dirges to fast-paced sonic barrages, their sound is unpredictable, unconventional and most of all, unrelenting. Their first demo, "To Suffer..." was released in January 2010 and they are currently focused on playing shows and writing for a second demo and full-length in the imminent future.

Drawing influences from bands such as Down, High On Fire, and Alice in Chains, Scattered Earth from New York has one goal in mind and that is to break your eardrums. The band blasts its way through songs filled with bombastic devastation.



MySpace|Facebook

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Mini-Review: Agalloch - Marrow of The Spirit

As seen on The Klepto's Guide:

I've got a lot of quick reviews that I've done in the past month, and because they were in groups of five and some of the five weren't suitable for Heavy Planet, I've neglected to post them here. Now that I have some time, I am going to be writing this wrong and banging out a bunch of short album reviews of some past albums.

Hauntingly beautiful meets downright dark. Agalloch has always been a mystery to me. I love them, but they are unlike 99.9% of the other music I hear. I don't much care for black metal, the only groups I listen to being the 'classic' black (Mercyful Fate, King Diamond and Celtic Frost (in certain parts)), but for some reason Agalloch breaks through these barriers. I think it's because I see them more as folk metal, then true black metal. Their albums cross several genres, black, folk, progressive, symphonic, and post-metal have all been attributed to the group. It all fits. Marrow of The Spirit continues on the group's previous style; the songs are mixed with haunting beautiful strings and pianos, ear-shattering thrash, and wailing vocals. It's an experience that is difficult to accurately describe, it is something you will just have to try for yourself. The vocals don't take the main focus of the record, and I think that is another reason why I like Agalloch; they seem to be - at times - another instrument, adding to the layer of sound. The songs are all long, multi-layered and part pieces, with almost everyone changing styles throughout. It's hard to choose favorite tracks, as the songs sometimes fall onto the sword of most long songs; they have good segments, and some not-so-good segments, and while Marrow of The Spirit doesn't have this dragging effect too much, it is still there, taking away from the whole sound. This effect is seen more on the later songs, "Ghosts of the Midwinter Fires" and the final, "To Drown," with the last song, being an instrumental, effected the most. Other then this, there is no complaint. I love this group, and they fall way outside my normal comfort zone - but I always say every genre has a few good bands - and sometimes you need something like that. Go out, get Agalloch, all of the albums, and feel the experience of the group.

MySpace/Metal-Archives/Facebook

New Band To Burn One To - Wolf People

 
As also seen on The Soda Shop

Today's New Band To Burn One To is Wolf People

Well, where to start.Take a psychedelic band, add a little prog and classic rock, perhaps a little Jethro Tull and you get Wolf People. These guys are from the UK and will have you tripping out to their music, oh, that's before you take anything to "enhance" your music listening experience. For those lucky enough to attend, Wolf People will be appearing at this years Roadburn Festival.

Here's a little bio via Roadburn from the announcement of them playing this years (2011) festival:
Since 2006 the name Wolf People has been uttered with hushed reverence amongst psych heads, record collectors and fervent music enthusiasts in the UK. Their mix of psych rock riffs, blues chops and acid folk eventually bringing them to the attention of legendary US label JAGJAGUWAR (home to Black Mountain, Dinosaur Jr, Oneida etc). The debut LP Steeple released earlier this year is fiercely proud of it’s heritage both musical and cultural, and doesn’t shy away from it’s influences, but that’s not to say it’s not it’s own beast: majestic, heavy and real.


MySpace profile

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

New Band To Burn One To - Domo

 
As also seen on The Soda Shop
"Domo is formed in January of 2010 after the dissolution of other proyects and with the purpose of killing the thirst for experimentation and to liberate the dosage of adrenaline of its band members. Practising psycodelic and electrifying rock Domo builts its foundations on experimentation and psycodelia using the clasic structures of the 70's Hard Rock as a starting point. Their concerts combine wild and intense moments with long and hipnotising atmospheres and in their short career they have shared lineup with bands like Mystic Frequency Worm, The Hapiness Project, Kayser Sozé or Piñata and have also participated in various spanish festivals. Their participation in "Territorio Lunar" (Santa Maria del Páramo, León), a festival dedicated in body and mind to Hard Rock and Psycodelia, was a turning point for their career, as well as the organization and participation in the "Festival en el Castillo" (Santa Pola, Alicante) last summer, which was made possible thanks to the initiative and dedication of the bands that formed the lineup. Domo brought out their first homonymous album in August of 2010, an album full of lysergic sounds and a large dosage of experimentation, and are right now emmerged in the creation of new songs for a future album, which we hope, will see the light of day in a near future. Domo (2010)"
These guys may be fairly new but they play like seasoned veterans. The guitar work is awesome. This is some of the best instrumental music I've heard in some time. Look for a full fledged review soon.

MySpace profileGet this album from Bandcamp

Monday, January 17, 2011

New Band To Burn One To-Stream Of Sorrow

The "New Band To Burn One To" today is Stream Of Sorrow.
























Stream Of Sorrow (S.O.S.), is a Finnish stoner rock band. The band originally started out as Occupied, and formed sometime in 2006. The band started out playing a Nu-metal style. As the band progressed as musicians, they ditched the nu-metal crap, changed their band name and moved on to a more rock-like direction. Stream Of Sorrow formed in 26.2.08 (accurate date). So far they've had gigs here and there and recorded a lot of demos.

The dudes from Finnish band Stream Of Sorrow blast their way through your speakers with a fuzzed out groove inflicted brand of psychedelic desert rock. Tracks such as "Burnin' Up", "Fever", and "The Trip" are pretty killer. It will be interesting to see where the band goes from here. Keep an ear out for them. The band has made a link available for free download of their latest collection of songs.

Download

MySpace|Facebook

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Album Review - Joe and the Jungle: Broken Amps and Fuzz Boxes


Now and again we’ll receive an album from a band that doesn’t necessarily fit the “stoner rock” mold that Heavy Planet prides itself on making its primary focus. Depending on how far off the sludgy path the band wanders, we may or may not feature their music on this site. Consider this a disclaimer…Joe and the Jungle’s Broken Amps and Fuzz Boxes is by far the furthest I have strayed from the genre we know and love in my coverage of all that is doomy and gloomy. So if your only musical interest lies in down tuned, chugging guitars, slow as molasses riffing and guys with beards grown to their knees, then perhaps you should go ahead and skip ahead to the next blog post.

For those of you who don’t mind a little guitar wankery, a drum solo shoved smack in the middle of a song and a singer with the capability to do just that…sing (in addition to screaming his balls off), well then you’ve come to the right place. My friends, Joe and the Jungle are here to put some L.A. sleaze back into rock n roll. Coming at ya straight off the Sunset Strip by way of New York City, the band is led by Joe Reilly, who does a little bit of everything on this album…lead vocals, guitar on a few tracks, bass on a few others…hell, the guy even takes a turn on the drums on a couple of the songs. The Jungle features a revolving cast of musicians including Reilly’s primary cohort on the project, Brian Edwards, a multi-instrumentalist whose impact is noticeable in one way or another on every single track on Broken Amps and Fuzz Boxes. This guy plays piano, organ, harmonica, cowbell, trumpet, sings backup on pretty much every song and even takes over lead on one of them. To say he’s the yin to Reilly’s yang would be an understatement.

So by now you all must be thinking “yeah, yeah that’s all well and good, but if it isn’t stoner rock, then what the hell is it?” To that I’d say, imagine if you threw Guns n’ Roses, Cheap Trick and The Beatles into a blender and added a dash of The Sex Pistols for flavor…the resulting mess would be Joe and the Jungle. From the album's opener “Protester”, an up-tempo rocker with pounding drums, shredding guitar work and some fantastic organ…which, come to think of it, does bring to mind an element of stoner rock….to its closer “How Long Shall We Dance?”, a ballad that you might hear at an 8th grade dance, Fuzz Boxes is one helluva rock n roll ride.

According to the album notes, this thing is actually a rock opera of sorts, involving pretty much all the staples of a great rock n roll record…rebellion, love, death, the afterlife…it's all here. Highlights include the mellow, sing-along "Music Box in My Head", the punk rock explosion that is "Gina", complete with that devastating mid-song drum solo, and "1776" which would sound right at home in the arena rock heyday of the 1970's. Both "Solitary Confinement" and "Manchester" bring to mind the Beatles…and I mean the tripped out White Album Beatles, not that "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" bullshit. And just listen to the scathing attitude that's apparent on "Oil Revolution"…you can just see Reilly wearing a snarl as he screams "revolution…we don't have to take this shit".

Joe and the Jungle makes me think about what Velvet Revolver could have been if Scott Weiland wasn't such a candyass. Or maybe what it would have sounded like if GnR had dropped the cocaine in favor of dropping a little acid instead. These guys remind me of a time when rock music was a little dangerous and the musicians playing it tiptoed on the edge of disaster. Is Broken Amps and Fuzz Boxes stoner rock? No…but it's a damn good rock album that you need to check out.

Track Listing:

01 Protester
02 Special Place
03 Music Box in My Head
04 Gina
05 Solitary Confinement
06 1776
07 Oil Revolution
08 Hand of a Woman
09 Mourning Lullaby
10 Cry Little Girl
11 Manchester
12 How Long Shall We Dance?

Band Members:

Joe Reilly - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar (Music Box, How Long Shall We Dance), Bass (Protester, Special Place, 1776, Manchester, How Long Shall We Dance), Drums (Special Place, Manchester intro), Orchestral Arrangements
Brian Edwards - Piano, Organ, Harmonicas, Cowbell, Trumpet, Lead Vocals (1776), Backing Vocals
Martin Gustafsson - Lead Guitar
Brett Middleton - Drums (Music Box, Gina, Oil Revolution, Hand of a Woman, Mourning Lullaby, Cry Little Girl)
Tom Asvold - Drums (Protester, Solitary Confinement, 1776, Manchester, How Long Shall We Dance)
Joe Maisonave - Bass (Music Box, Gina, Hand of a Woman, Cry Little Girl)
Mikael Tillander Planefeldt - Bass (Oil Revolution, Mourning Lullaby)

Website|Facebook|My Space|CD Baby

Free Music: Fister-Bronsonic

On August 30, 2003 Charles Bronson died of pneumonia and went to Hell. Bronson entered the first level of Hell with a chip on his shoulder. He demanded to speak to the Devil himself about his stay. Upon entering the Devil’s chamber, he pulled out a .44 Magnum and blew his teeth out the back of his skull. He now rules Hell under his new name, Lucifer Bronson. His first assignment as King of Hell was to write the most evil music ever to be heard by human ears. He wrote countless hours of music and hid it in a secret dimension.

In Saint Louis, Missouri, four guys were smoking a combination of marijuana and salvia. They uncovered Bronson’s sheet music and decided to document it for mankind.

This music can only be recorded under the influence of black weed during Bronsonic rituals. The only people on Earth that can understand the workings of Bronson’s sheet music are the Ambassadors of Hell, Fister.



















The band is selling these cassettes at their show Jan. 21st @ The Firebird in St. Louis, MO and  are limited to only 30 copies. If you are not lucky enough to get to the show the band will sell the remaining copies at Pissfork.net. If you can't get a copy at the show or online, the band is making the album available as a free download right here on Heavy Planet. Doom on!

Track listing:

1. Bronsonic
2. Santabbath
3. Mazda Of Puppets
4. First
5. Trainwrecked
6. Riff Glacier (Demo '09)

320 KBPS / 85 MB / 40:18 Total Time

Download

MySpace|Facebook|Website

New Band To Burn One To-Romero

The "New Band To Burn One To" today is Romero.


























Romero's Jeffrey Mundt spent most of the 90's behind the drum kit for a variety of bands including Bovine Records' THUG & punk legends, NAKED AGGRESSION. A long-time guitar player & songwriter, he often dabbled in fronting a band, but never pursued it seriously. Enter: a move to northern WI, a random Craigslist ad from bass player Josh Stanchik, a casual 8 month writing and recording session (with Mundt handling vocals, guitar & drums!) & Romero was born! Intent on creating a demo to locate & convince a drummer to work with them, Mundt & Stanchik were about a month from completion when... a drummer found them! Rumors of the project peaked the interest of PONEY drummer & vocalist Ben Brooks and he gleefully volunteered before even hearing a single note. Good thing he eventually liked what he heard!


ROMERO started playing live immediately. Very often. First, locally...then regionally...now, nation-wide! They have already shared the stage with the likes of Jucifer, Weedeater, Clutch, Black Label Society and other dyed-in-the-wool heavyweights.

ROMERO spreads like a weed.

HEAVY - LOUD - VERY, VERY HIGH...

Romero hailing from Wisconsin, sludges through the frozen tundra with a thick bottom heavy stoner groove. Their sound is angry, immense, and heavy as hell. The band has a 7" vinyl single available for purchase through this link. Only 500 copies are available so get yours now! I can not wait to hear a full-length from this band.



MySpace|Facebook|Sonicbids|Bandcamp

Saturday, January 15, 2011

CD Review: Redeemer-Global Exorcism

Here is a review submitted by Zac Boda.

Brief bio:

Thrash, doom, metal from Toronto, Canada featuring former members of Monster Voodoo Machine, Soulstorm, Downfall, Mundane, Sudden Impact, etc....

Full length, self-produced debut album 'Global Exorcism' was recorded and mixed at Rouge Valley Studio by Darius Szczepaniak (Sacrifice, Sum 41, I Mother Earth, etc..) and released independently September 2010 on Redeemer's own Death Of The Earth Records.

Redeemer is also currently at work on a film score for 'The Captured Bird' a short film written and directed by Jovanka Vuckovic and featuring Guillermo Del Toro as executive producer.

Now on with the review...

























First review of the New Year! Happy New Year everyone! What we have on the burner for you today is a little gem from Redeemer called “Global Exorcism”. The name of the band, title of the album, and album artwork let you know exactly what you are in for with this album. This is a very heavy album, with great breakdowns, groovy licks, and a mix of hardcore punk style and clean vocals. Redeemer does a righteous job of mixing Thrash, Groove, and Hardcore.

The track “Global Exorcism” is a great all around track. I also really enjoy the heavy, doom ridden intro to “Dark Passenger”. The intro to “Regression” will bring touches of Mr. Mustaine’s newest record. If I were to choose a stand out track from Global Exorcism, I would pick “Scourge Of Man”. This tune has everything a dedicated metal head wants.

I think Redeemer has out done themselves with this record. It is an all around excellent head banging, moshin’ metal album! To all those who are fans of Exodus and early 80’s thrash, you do not want to miss this one! If you’re not sold, check out their Myspace.

While not typically something that you would hear on Heavy Planet, Redeemer, you have earned 4.0 out of 5.0 on my chart.

MySpace|Buy

Mini-Review: Second Gear Grind- "Grayscale" EP

























Fusing elements of dirty southern heavy rock with Kyuss-inspired stoner rock, Second Gear Grind from Christchurch, NZ have created a unique 3 song EP that will stupify the listener. The first track "Carpet of Smoke" is a fistful of bruising southern sludge complete with heavy keyboards. Second song "Black Swan" starts off quick then settles into a blistering groove. Third track "Grayscale" starts off with a wah-wah heavy beginning riff then slows down the tempo with some scorching guitar then ultimately crushes you into oblivion. You can not help but notice the Down influence amongst these songs, even in the vocal delivery, albeit a bit on the grungy side.  These guys have a tremendous upside and should be heard.  The band is currently hard at work on a full-length to be released hopefully by the end of 2011.

The band has recently secured a spot opening for The Melvins and High on Fire at Al's Bar in Christchurch Feb.21, 2011

Second Gear Grind's second EP "Grayscale" is now available for international mail order and at Penny Lane Records. Email cage_of_nails@hotmail.com or michael.cheer@gmail.com to order.

I have 2 copies to give away to the first 2 people to send me their address. Open to U.S. residents only.

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