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!

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Listener/Reader Request Playlist V1

We decided to try something different this week by asking our readers/listeners to submit a song to be included on our playlist. While the response wasn't what you would call overwhelming, there were some pretty awesome bands that submitted a song for inclusion. I was actually expecting more of a favorite song type of submission but it turned into more of a band submitting a song thing, which in my opinion is always better because I get to hear something I more than likely haven't heard before. With that being said, we have a wide variety of music for you today, some of which can only be heard right here as well as a song with a special guest and a special bonus track from another band. So as Zac and I prepare for our first annual Heavy Planet Backyard Stoner Rock BBQ we present this to you as our soundtrack to set the night on fire! Drink up and doom on!
TRACKLIST:

Antero Sleeps - The Fall of Gellar Elias
Astro Baron-The Creeper
Crybaby Deathmatch-Triumph of the Wounded Animal
DoctoR DooM - The Sun
Foghound-Long After I Die (w- Dan Soren, ex-Sixty Watt Shaman)
Hibagon - Silent Assault of the Killer Diplodocus
Judd Madden - Mountain Slayer
Lightsystem-Bury the Tongue
Nymronaut - Droide
Radio Garage-Carretera
The Munsens-Lead to the Grave
The Munsens-Resinopolis (Bonus Track)
The Whorehouse Massacre - End of Mankind
Weedpecker -Sativa Landscapes
Wicked Inquisition - Brainstorm
ZOM-Burning

Thank you to everyone that submitted a song. 


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Thursday, August 29, 2013

Album Review: Goatess by Goatess


A quick glance at the cover of the debut by Goatess conjures images of the infamous devil baby of Sabbath's Born Again. But a closer look reveals this to be no ordinary spawn of Satan. Note the hind legs. What you have here is the birth of the great god Pan, and while it is an obvious nod to the the founders of the genre we all hold so dear, just as the cover differs, so does the sound of the mighty Goatess.

Goatess are more than a doom band. They offer a healthy doss of Stoner groove in most of their songs. And I know, I know, the genres aren't light years away from each other, but the quickening of the tunes goes a long way for those who might shy away from modern doom and its hypnotic thud. Goatess could be a genre unto themselves: Gateway Doom.

The first tune, Know Your Animal, sounds like Ozzy when he isn't trying so hard to sound like the Prince of Darkness. The track even name checks an underrated Sabbath tune. Alpha Omega  is a more traditionally Doom tune, the sonic equivalent of Michael Myers walking towards a hapless sitter. But something happens at the the four minute mark, a stonery guitar solo pops up, and if I were keeping with my original slasher analogy, I'd mention conscience here, but the plodding begins again and we are bathed again in Doom so why bother. Oracle Part I  is the shortest tune on the album, clocking in at a measly four minutes, forty seconds. This tune again showcases the bands commanding dominance of the doom Stoner/Doome genres- it is just slow enough to be Doom, but interesting and compelling enough to be considered Stoner. King One again walks the Stoner line, and the first vocalizations you hear is a cough like a song I think I heard once before. The nods to Sabbath are understandable, and like with any band that plays heavy music it is fun to play the game "Spot the Sabbath", cause there ain't a damn band out there that wasn't influenced by those lads from Birmingham. And maybe the whole thing is just a game we reviewers play cause we got nothing better to do. Who knows.

But if something needs to be printed on a sticker and slapped on the album's front I'll say this, "Goatess are both student and teacher of Stoner/Doom Rawk. They preach the old and practice the new. Buy this."

I'll end by saying you're not wrong if you think this albums sounds like, say, Count Raven or Lord Vicar, or even a Saint Vitus album,like the Don Dokken produced album C.O.D.There IS a common thread you can investigate on yer own. But after referencing those bands and listening to this album, I believe this band will prove to be on par with those legendary bands. Listen to the track below and find out for yerself. Then buy a physical copy cause this one is worth it.


"Life is a motherless child"

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

GEEZER Press Release



Geezer and STB Records are proud to announce that we have joined forces to release Gage
(EP) as a special Limited Edition Vinyl Release.

Pat says of STB, “Up until now, Gage has only been available as a digital download. Our
main goal has always been to press it up on vinyl. Ever since I saw their first release, the
Die Hard Edition of Dopethrone’s Demonsmoke, I knew STB was the label I wanted to work
with. STB Records is reinventing how vinyl is packaged, marketed & sold.”

Steve from STB Records says, “I have been a fan of the Electric Beard Of Doom podcast for a
while now.. Once I met Pat and started talking to him it was only a matter of time that we
started to collaborate on ideas. One night he let me hear the new Geezer EP and I was sold..
The rest is history.. STB is truly honored to be a part of the US Doom revival along side
Geezer and The BEARD!!

Specs:

Geezer: Gage (EP)
Limited Edition of 100 (color vinyl)
Hand numbered, hand screened cover in a hand sewn burlap outer jacket which will then
be hand screened.
Artwork, colors, and other details are still being developed

*The EP will include 2 previously unreleased tracks that are being specifically recorded for
this Ltd. Edition release.

STB Records started in Dec of 2012 on a whim. Since then, it has snowballed into a special
boutique record label specializing in limited edition vinyl pressings of Doom / Stoner /
Psych Rock... with a great cult following. Records made for record collectors by a record
collector.

Geezer is the (anti)band... not interested in winning any fashion contest, we just lay down
grooves that make you shake your ass down to the barrelhouse to get drunk, get laid and
get into a fight... Formed in the Hudson Valley, NY in 2010, the original idea was to harness
our familiar background of classic rock, hardcore and heavy metal; throw in Pat’s affinity
for pre-war slide-guitar blues and Geezer was born. Best described as ‘Heavy Blues’, Pat
says of Geezer’s approach, “We just wanted to bring the evil back to the blues, the devil’s
music!”

Gage is the follow up EP to Geezer’s debut full length album, Electrically Recorded
Handmade Heavy Blues, which is being released via Blues Blvd. Records (Belgium) on Sept.
15th, 2013.

Current and future STB releases include:

• Dopethrone: Demonsmoke LP - Die Hard Edition Ltd 50 / Standard Edition 200
• Spelljammer: Vol 2 LP Die Hard Edition 75 / Standard Edition 175
• Spelljammer: Vol 2/Inches from the Sun Die Hard Edition Cassette Tape 100
• Traitors Return To Earth: Betting On A Full Collapse Die Hard Edition 37
• DoctoR DooM: DoomO EP (coming soon) Limited Edition of 100
• Brimstone Coven: LP (coming soon) Limited Edition of 250 (Die Hard Edition 50 /
Dooomed.com Edition 75 / Standard Edition 125)
• Geezer: Gage EP (coming soon) Limited edition of 100
• Druglord: Brand New Album recorded by Garrett Morris of Windhand due out winter
2014

Geezer Reviews:

The Sludgelord raves, "Believe me folks when I say Geezer's EP is a work of genius. Stoner
Rock of the highest order...", and goes on to call it, "Brilliant and Highly Recommended"

Nuclear Dog from Heavy Planet concludes, "Incredible musicianship is the hallmark of
Geezer's EP, a worthy, treasured, and indelible addition to any collection."

Joe at Ride With The Devil predicts, “Geezer is quickly becoming the dark horse of the
stoner scene. Given the right exposure, Geezer could soon be on the fast track to blowing
minds across the world.”

Lucas at the Paranoid Hitsophrenic says, "Ridin' down the highway through the country,
the sun spins in the sky creating a warm blanket of light. When that happens, pull over to
the side of the road and press play."

Contact :

Bandcamp: http://geezertown.bandcamp.com/ (FREE Download)
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Monday, August 26, 2013

New Band To Burn One To: SERPENT LORD

HEAVY PLANET PRESENTS

SERPENT LORD



BAND BIO:

Rowdy as fuck!

Chris Booth -Vox
Jason Sichi - Guitar
Bill Criss - Guitar
Kevin Kupecz -Bass/Vox
Jeff Kalp - Drums



THOUGHTS:

"This past Saturday Toby, Zac and I attended a show in Pittsburgh at the 31st Street Pub that included Foghound, Kingsnake and Supervoid. It was an amazing show but a rather disappointing turnout which is usually the case when it comes to incredible music. The opening band was a pleasant surprise which I later found out was from the Steel City. I also realized that they had never been featured on the pages of Heavy Planet neither. We'll here is your introduction to Serpent Lord.

After hearing the band play live it was evidenced and confirmed by my fellow Heavy Planet compadres that the band has a very Alice in Chains-like feel. Especially in the guitar sound. But the band takes that sound to a much doomier level and totally brings a satisfying heavy groove to the table. The songs were tight and the band had a very nice chemistry playing off each other very well. I can't help but gush over the vocals of Chris Booth. Gritty, raspy and very melodic. The perfect fit for their music. 

According to the band, a full-length is in the works and should be out very soon. Until then you can check out a few demo songs they have up on their Bandcamp page. 

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Sunday, August 25, 2013

Sunday Sludge: Northless - "World Keeps Sinking"


I woke up enjoying a bowl o' crow this morning. Actually, this foot in my mouth has its origins around August 1st, when I had trouble deciding which of four Chicago shows I'd be attending. After spending months complaining that the scene in the Midwest was pale and elusive compared to other corners of the country, here were four of my favorite bands playing the same fucking city on the same fucking night. Three weeks later and here we are in the second of consecutive features on Milwaukee's finest sludge thickness.

Milwaukee's abrasive but well-centered Northless released World Keeps Sinking on Friday, meaning we've already wasted two days and countless opportunities to adopt a soiled perspective. Containing seven substantial strokes of sludgy disenchantment, this release is more about stern observation than violent assurances. Northless exercise plenty of down-tuned and downtrodden calculation, but they never insult our intelligence by merely clubbing our skulls. There's a thinking man inside you, young automaton.

Any of these fifty-nine minutes could attest we're watching a world deteriorate. From the slow lumber of Last of Your Kind to the title track's abrupt chaos, we're dragged through reality by a heaving beast riddled with arrows. Rhythm shifts and jarring blasts are just one facet. Tolerance is long forgotten and intensity permeates even the album's restrained passages. Slow crunches of doom direct us, but the destination isn't likely one we'll want to discover.

Kuru is a lurk of grinding static that gasps between riffs and sways like a drunken giant. Imagine driving iron fists into thick earth on a reach for hell, only to discover something even darker. The EYEHATEGOD abrasion is packaged in sandpaper and tied together by John Gleisner's dizzying drumwork. We've already begun unraveling, but Northless here begin to deconstruct, spitting and shitting on a stumble of absolutely gargantuan volume. In fact, not a note on the disc reaches justice when you plan to respect your neighbors. Listen loud, please.

The molasses underlayment finds its truest form of filth-based sludge metal on Communion, an eleven-minute slab of shifts that stays low and dirty as it pulls off its blinders and cuts away fake smiles. The gorgeously erratic atmospheres arrive and depart in every direction before breaking into a somber lakeside reflection that fades like the sun. This highlight bridges into Passage, an even longer epic of echoed memories and slow-drawn post-metal elements. Fifteen-plus minutes of surges and pullbacks threaded with Jerry Hauppa's loose low-end is completely exhausting and completely fucking awesome. If World Keeps Sinking still had a working heart, this would be it.

The disc's back end provides some straight-forward sludge dejection on Wither and Escape, a quick roll through steaming bogs. Erik Stenglein's vocal here is a tad more accessible than on the previous tracks, but that's hardly a comfort. This guy's pipes are to-the-point and wait until the song's final bark to flatten your chest. Leading directly into the shaky Returnless, this collection closes on blackened doom and collapsing villages. Rising and falling rhythms marry Stenglein's encircling throat-cloak to assure us there's no looking back. Warbled and murky, the chug-fade at the album's end is less death rattle and more slow snuff. Shudder.

You may not like the message, but you needed to hear this. I'm sorry, son. Your future is broken. Northless stamp our minds with the realization that we fucked up. World Keeps Sinking is an expansive, itchy shuffle that'll leave you scratching at your skin, twitching on yesterday's promises that never emerged. The muddled, nebulous rhythms perfectly ensnare the falling hope, while ambitious guitars are perfectly snatched mid-air and snapped on complacency's knee. It all paints a pretty bleak landscape. And it all sounds heavier than hell-on-earth.

For fans of: Crowbar, Soilent Green, Rwake

Pair with: St. Peter's Cream Stout, St. Peter's Brewery



Saturday, August 24, 2013

New Band To Burn One To: Piloto Automático

HEAVY PLANET PRESENTS...

Piloto Automático!


BAND BIO:

Four ordinary guys, working at daily jobs and studying at University join forces to give birth to an unpretentious musical project under the name Piloto Automático. With its roots punk coming from the stoner / punk rock - both in sound and in DIY punk rock ethos - Pedro Assis (drums and percussion), Tomaz Jr (guitar, lap steel, vocals), Alfredo Garcia (bass and vocals) and Rangel Zurk (guitar and vocals), in the year 2013, prepare the first flight of their spacecraft: the first self-titled EP "Piloto Automático".

There are five songs that recall the band's diverse influences. Thus, on this record you’ve got in your hands a compendium of Black Flag, Black Sabbath, Brant Bjork, Kyuss, Desert Sessions, Zefirina Bomba, Pixies, Queens of the Stone Age, Sonic Youth, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Melvins, 1960/1970 garage rock, desert landscapes of the Brazilian Northeast countryside, automotive etc. Depicting themes in their lyrics such as loneliness and mystery ("Estrada Deserta"), addictions ("Una Ranchera Romantica"), the hustle and bustle of everyday life ("Tudo"), travel through the desert stoner ("Mais Um Morto No Deserto ") and more addictions (" Coma ").

The release of this EP will come along with the official music video for "Estrada Deserta", which was recorded in the countryside of Pernambuco state in the towns of Ameixas, Bezerros and Feira Nova. Everything filmed, produced and edited by the band members.


THOUGHTS:

"Music is truly the universal language and is evidenced throughout the latest self-titled EP from Piloto Automático. The EP is laced with an abundance of sun-drenched riffs and seething grooves. As the bio suggests, the bands influences range from the desert rock of Queens of the Stone Age to the trippy psych-laden vibe of the sixties and can be heard throughout this masterfully played EP. From the machine gun rhythm of "Estrada Deserta" to the jaw-dropping barrage of  "Mias um Morto no Deserto", you will be pleasantly surprised by the bands penchant for melody and for sticking to their guns by singing lyrics in their native tongue. This EP is solid and one that you should not pass up!

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Thursday, August 22, 2013

EP Review - "Strauss" by Strauss


Strauss, from London UK, released their debut s/t EP back in June and it's so good there was no way I was going to let it slip by us here at Heavy Planet.

What Strauss offer on this EP are 6 chunks of storming stoner rock played with a full on old school metal attitude all slathered in a layer of sludge. Big fuzzy guitar riffs loaded with swaggering groove are aplenty here with gruffly shouted vocals sounding to me at times a little like Mr Garcia. There is a hint of punk rock in some of the songs such as the EP opener "Burning Sky" but the stoner grooves are laid on thick and heavy throughout, showing that Strauss's hearts lie with catchy fuzzed out grooves and blazing stoner rock outs.

Standouts for me are:

"Mi Casa Es Tu Casa" with an opening of tight but bendy riffs and a sleazy vocal that leads to a tearing rock lunge and boldly shouted lyrics until a thundering chug of heavy riffage rolls the track out to it's faded end.

"March Of One" which shows Strauss at their sludgiest whilst blending a triumphant stoner metal riff that unleashes a heavy rock monster armed with a sky splitting guitar lick and a demanding screaming vocal.

..and "Stop, Pause, Play" which opens with soft atmospherics, even softer words and a tumble of percussion that builds the track to a hugely pleasing explosion of metal. There is a brief pause for a gentle breath until the full force of face melting stoner riffs is unleashed, igniting and turning this track into an inferno of glorious metal.

This is a damn fine first release from Strauss and for fans of catchy stoner grooves with a dirty sludgier edge, this is essential listening.


Tuesday, August 20, 2013

New Band To Burn One To: The Playlist-Volume Six

This week after perusing the internet and also receiving numerous song submissions, I was able to come up with 20 tracks which are sure to leave you gasping for air. The tunes contained within our latest playlist run the gamut from dynamic post-metal sludge to psych-tinged doom. Today we feature new tracks from A Storm of Light, Dead Meadow and Windhand as well as devastatingly awesome tracks by newcomers Exiles, Witch Charmer and Defeating the Porpoise. So far, this is one of my favorite playlists. Let us know what you think and which songs you enjoyed the most.

Without any further hesitation, I give to you NBTBOT Playlist V6!


Track Listing:

A Storm of Light - Fall
ABSENT-MINDED - Ghost Tower
ATLAS -Two Wolves
Bedowyn-Evil/Right
Corinth -Redbeard
Dead Meadow -1000 Dreams
Defeating The Porpoise - I Am The Goatface
Exiles -Supervolcano
Gesso - Strong Unholy Winds Are Coming
Goatmantra - Doomed
Judd Madden - Mountain Slayer
Maidens - Eve Of Absolution
Mountain Witch - Ancient Light
Peace Killers - Devil's Daughters
Prisma Circus -Napalm
Snake Priest - Red Snow
Sun God Replica -Vivisection
Weedpecker -Sativa Landscapes
Windhand - Woodbine
Witch Charmer- Born A Slave

For more music than yours ears can possibly handle, check us out at the following links:

Monday, August 19, 2013

LP Review - "Death is the Border That Evil Cannot Cross" by Nihilosaur



Polish doom and sludge metal band Nihilosaur release their 3rd long player titled "Death is the Border That Evil Cannot Cross" with 10 tracks of blisteringly bleak odes to the darkside, although there are shards of light therein that serve to lift the emotions, albeit only briefly before Nihilosaur takes things back down again to create a wonderfully harsh explosion of sludge and black metal.

With track titles such as "Swedish Concentration Camp", "Fucked Up" and "Nightmares", before you even hit play you just know you're in for an onslaught of harsh realities slamming into your face in the form of big angry riffs, screamed and desperate vocals, fast paced and urgent drumming and an over-all comment that the world is not such a nice place when you look at it objectively.

Various samples are nicely placed before some tracks and some cleverly inserted within such as Snr. George Bush speaking of a New World Order, on the track "NASDAQ" or the very disturbing intro to "Unfortunately" which left me feeling cold.

The metal mastership on display throughout the album is impressive. Nihilosaur's song craft shows that these guys know how to construct highly enjoyable sludge metal with layers of black metal and glimpses of doom and despite the sometimes extremely dark places they explore there is real passion played throughout by all band members that makes this album so good.

"Death is the Border That Evil Cannot Cross" is offered by the band as a Name Your Own Price download at their Bandcamp.





Sunday, August 18, 2013

Sunday Sludge: Maidens - "Eve of Absolution"



In an age of pressed flesh and force-fed singles, it's a comfort to find there are still bands and sub-genres dedicated to crafting entire expansive albums. Once you stop looking for that hook or a gimmicky harmony that'll sell your soul for shock 'n roll, you're left with bare-bones musicianship and songwriting. Sink or swim, eh? Turning a single idea into thirty minutes of relevant material is no small task, so you'd better have your chops honed and your focus clear.

The problem with blanket moods and atmospheres that thread through an entire LP is that I can enjoy the first half and then have to break back into reality for fifteen fucking seconds to flip the damn record. Small price to pay, sure. So Milwaukee's post-metal/sludge quartet Maidens are victims of their own prowess. The seven tracks on Eve of Absolution, their first full-length effort, may as well be presented as one. Luckily a pair of headphones and a streaming format via bandcamp are all any listener's gonna need to experience this tome from cover to cover, uninterrupted.

There's a tight grip on the back of our heads, sternly whispering in our ear that we need to face forward and remain silent. Promising doom, drone, post-metal, and the crunch of sludge could sound a tad ambitious for one single track; but on Beginnings: Rebirth, Maidens forge a whirr that soothes and saturates, while the abrasive dirge of sludge rhythms keeps things from getting too cozy. Teeming and flickering, this opener's atmospheric passages are contemplative and rueful, countering the intense, jarring vocal. Jettisoning into the choppy stutter of Our Splendor, Our Antiquity, Maidens showcase arachnid drum-chaos and burning guitar screeches, weaving together the two into a complex tapestry of post-metal emotional doubt. Instruments are mastered here, but the layers peeled back uncover some harsh family secrets. Oh, there's more to come.

You could expect the drone and doom to carry tracks to indulgent lengths, but Maidens only stretch things on the instrumental Discord: Storm on the Horizon. Fluttering with the static of approaching woe, a slow dawn can't break these dark clouds. The midpoint in the album is patient, pensive, and peppered with cosmic surprises. Terrain is littered with ash and slow-motion sickness crunching on bleached bones. Fanning upward into an opaque menace, the track brilliantly melds into the title track that follows. The mold is given time to set here; a delicious crunch meeting the focused and precise tandem of skin slaps and condensing riffs. Doom is prevalent in the form of shifted rhythms and archaic pendulum swings. Those dark realizations are setting in.

What's ominous and repetant is countered on Lands of the Blind, with a fuzzy cruise wrapped in stoner thickness that peeks into themes later realized on The Calm, The Silence. Cool winds ease us into splintering guitars that ooze ambition and confidence. Post-metal proficiency is on full-display in the track's progressive Pelican-influenced passages. The reflective acceptance on the closer is dulled yet wholly-permeating pain. Vocal pleas form a powerful denouement and an ultimate encapsulation of the existential trinity.

Don't worry too much about how to approach this one. Maidens fit into no single tag, but somehow they manage to smoothly change lanes between genres. What you experience only grows important when it has time to absorb. Eve of Absolution is one contemplation after another, at times littered with turmoil and at others laced with hope. The controlled chaos, the swirls of fret, and the icy breath heaved between sobs all funnel into an incredible journey, heartbreaking as it is.

For fans of: Pelican, Horn of the Rhino, Neurosis

Pair with: Rendezvous, Lakefront Brewery



Saturday, August 17, 2013

Nuclear Dog's Atomic Split: Luder - "Adelphophagia" / Elvis Deluxe - "The Story So Far"

I know it's been awhile. You know, life. Part and parcel of the responsibilities of life require paying the pimp for services rendered, and decades of rendering those services yield physical breakdowns of the sort to stymie your abilities. Regardless, the responsibilities remain, leaving little time for soul replenishment via cherished activities, such as writing about the wonderful, awe inspiring world of stoner metal. But, enough small blocks of time banded together today yield just enough opportunity to introduce to you two fine new albums of stoner bliss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LUDER - "ADELPHOPHAGIA"

What happens when the intense full throttle sound of  Five Horse Johnson's lead guitarist, who loves blues and classic rock, Novadriver's heavy hitting drummer, who loves hard and heavy rock, Small Stone Record's head honcho, who loves the classic sounds of The Who and The Cult, and Slot's dulcet toned vocalist, who loves the mellow sounds of indie rock get together to form a band? The short answer is Luder. Go a bit deeper and the response is an intriguing, unique, deep, soulful blend of styles that yields a sound that surprisingly satisfies a craving you might not have known you had.

One of my all time favorite things is the sound of that wonderful, soul stirring, stoner guitar riff, the kind employed on many great albums by some of the genre's best known and most accomplished artists such as Truckfighters, Dozer, Summoner, Steak, and Kyuss, just to name about half a percent. It is an incredible, vibrant guitar riff and plays well in every setting in which I've ever heard it. I've often wondered how applying that riff style to mellower rock or songs that are perhaps more poppish in nature might improve their sound. With Luder and their latest release "Adelphophagia" my curiosity has been assuaged, and then some. Does it work? HELL, YEAH!!! it works. "Adelphophagia"'s songs are exciting and invigorating, due both to the unique blend of sound and style as well as to the musical talents on full display in each of the piece parts of the band's members.

Luder have been making music for quite a while, hearkening back to 2006 as a culmination of efforts to honor the band Slot, who had lost their guitarist and main creative force, Billy Rivkin, just a few years earlier. Small Stone Records first released Slot's music in 2006. That release stirred 2 of Slot's remaining members, vocalist and bassist Sue Lott and drummer Eddie Alterman, and  Five Horse Johnson's guitarist Phil Dürr as well as Small Stone Record's Scott Hamilton, also on guitar, to play Slot's music at SXSW in the spring of 2007. Afterward, the feeling they could, and should, create a fresh style of rock music led to the official formation of Luder and a changing of the guard at drums in which Eddie was replaced by Novadriver's Eric Miller. Soon 2009's "Sonoluminescence" was released, and now "Adelphophagia".

Dürr's guitar charges out of the gate straight away on the opener "Never Liked You" in a prelude of the sonic bursts he has peppered throughout the song. In much the same way Lott flexes big bass muscle in antipodal display to her soothing and confident vocals. The drumwork rides a wave of clearly defined execution, never simply underpinning the more obvious guitarwork. Listening to the varied and brilliant pieces on display here gives you an immediate sense of just how incredibly gifted these musicians are.

In second position is "Astrolabe", a song of psychedelic tendencies, richly layered with compelling and dexterous instrumentation. And again, despite the high powered lead guitar riff hammer of Phil Dürr, the biggest guns might just be from the same person who lays out the sweet sounding vocals as she practically lays waste with her booming, athletic bass licks.

Sublime stoner fuzz accentuated with enveloping avalanche blitzes propel "One Eye" on an engrossing journey, followed by "Heartfelt" with its almost strident riffage encompassed in rich, deep, blended psychedelic tones.

"Ask the Sky" gives Lott a chance to shine even more than usual with her rich, measured vocals, turning on a sublime and haunting charm that stands out as the focal point for the accompanying melody, while the haunting quality of "You Try It" shifts slightly to the dueling guitars of Dürr and Hamilton.

The melody and music of "Dirge" is a tight and powerfully executed anthem of haunting beauty.

A change of pace awaits on "I'm Afraid of Americans", a funky and fun exhibition that throws some unusual sounds into the mix while making it all work effortlessly and seamlessly.

The closer is the slow burning "Remember What I Said". Whether or not you remember what I said today or not doesn't matter so much as remembering the sustained immersion and profound experience of this unique and wonderful album.







facebook ||| bandcamp ||| smallstone ||| website

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ELVIS DELUXE - "THE STORY SO FAR"

This band from Warsaw, Poland should be considered grizzled veterans of the stoner rock scene having lasted this long from inception in 2003. They seem to be gaining steam as they course along the fuzzy paths of underground metal both in album frequency and musical quality. Forming in 2003 they didn't release their first album, "Lazy", until 2007, followed up after another 4 year elapse with the highly acclaimed "Favourite State of Mind" in 2011. But only 2 years have transpired since and now comes "The Story So Far" ( a promising title of more to come, perhaps ).

Elvis Deluxe have always displayed a knack for the hook and melody of Kyuss-like stoner rock with a garage rock strain, but with this latest release there is a depth and dexterity not always matched on the earlier albums. Having said that, 3 of the songs on this album are from the very early days and feature the original guitarist, Mechu, who had left Elvis Deluxe soon after the release of  "Favourite State of Mind". The band did not lose any of its new found momentum, however, and have added a new guitarist who plays on the newest tracks of "The Story So Far".

Current band members include:

Bert Trust - Guitar
Bolek - Guitar
Miko - Drums
Ziemba - Bass / Vocals

"The Story So Far" wastes no time establishing itself as a contender. Out of the gate we are treated to "Yourgodfreed", an eight minute immersion into a measured hypnotic atmosphere that permeates and elevates as it carries you along in its fuzzy hooks and psychedelic connotations.

The style changes up significantly on "No Reason" and "Dark Lovers" in which recognizable stoner riffs are executed in an almost atypical and intriguing manner, while playing enjoyable hooks of pop sensibilities, yet never abandoning the booming riffs and low tuned megablasts of hallmark stoner rock.

"Face It" demonstrates that rare accomplishment of blending bigger than life stoner fuzz riffs with beautiful melody and a memorable hook, punctuated by a closing salvo of naval proportions.

"Something to Hide", "Out of Life", and "The Hope" are all massive onslaughts of measured sound, blasting loud and deep while under strict control.

Elvis Deluxe closes out with a cover of the Stooges' "Search and Destroy", doing more than a credible impression of the classic song by throwing in signature stoner riffs throughout, giving it an incredible and enjoyable sound.

"The Story So Far" immediately goes on the 'Best of Lists' for many stoner rock lovers, myself included. While it faces stiff competition in the coming months from stoner rock royalty and some very heavily anticipated albums, this signature album from Poland's premier metal band is exceptional whether on its own or in the company of other albums of similar stature, so when the curtains close and the dust settles on 2013 there will definitely be a light shining squarely on the brilliance of "The Story So Far".









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Thursday, August 15, 2013

Album Review: Lo and Behold! by Mojo Waves



Mojo Waves are a rock 'n' roll band from Finland. They perform as a power trio. They've just released their debut LP, Lo and Behold! Their music is a swirling amalgam of Desert Rock, Psychedelia, and Garage Rock. The drums are tight, the guitars chop and soar, and the bass keeps the whole thing relatively grounded. But the vocals are what separates this band from the hard rock pack. Arttu Kantola, who handles voice and guitar, belts and shrieks like a demented Burke Shelley, or the rebellious son of Tiny Tim. This approach to the vox is refreshing and distances the group from other bands fronted by Neil Fallon wannabes and grungey warblers.

But while the vocals are different, they are not employed as a novelty, like The Darkness used them. No, the vocals here are the perfect compliment to the crunch of the music, the high and sweet to the music's heavy and tough. This dynamic works great on songs like Skylight (personal favorite) where the guitar bounces like a tumbleweed in a twister, and the vocals soar above like an angel. Great White cleverly incorporates elements of surf music and hints at a sense of humor. And the closing track, It's Just a Road, Yeah offers some funky bass breakdowns and dusty guitar solos. The tune is a frenzied cliff hanger and the perfect way to end an album- going out swinging and making the listener want more.

Lo and Behold! is the first LP from Mojo Waves, and if the great songs on their debut are any indication, this young band will be big. You can say you heard them here first. Below is a short teaser, but the link to their Bandcamp page below the video is the way to go to hear these tunes in their awesome glory. 



Tuesday, August 13, 2013

New Band to Burn One To: The Playlist-Volume 5

Alright people! The moment you have been waiting for...the 5th edition of the "New Band To Burn One To" playlist or as we like to call it NBTBOT is here. Today we infiltrate your earholes with new music from fucking Earthmass, Bright Curse, Chivo and a new personal favorite of mine Spirits of the Dead. Also on today's playlist are new tracks from a few familiar faces such as Black Pyramid, Toner Low and the forever crushing sludge metal ensemble Beastwars. Load it up and crank it out. This is NBTBOT Playlist V5!!

Tracklist:

Beastwars - Dune
Black Pyramid -Onyx & Obsidian
Bright Curse - Unknown Mistress
Chivo - Drill Of The Horn
Contra Limit-Winchester's Diary
Cumulus Nimbus - Forestal
Earthmass - Stjärna Ormr
Fangs Of The Molossus - I Drink Your Blood (Featuring Necromass)
Fuzz Manta- Marble Queen
Holistic Hobos-Mind-Twisting Bugger 
Louded -Cosecha
Lunatic Medlar - When the Bell Begins to Chime
Maskin-The Swarm
Mega Blue Stallion -Ride The Worm
Pektop - Black Moonshine
Picaporters - Sol de Metal
RUST - Faked Dreams
Spirits Of The Dead - Red Death
Wall Of Sleep -Demon Mind


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Monday, August 12, 2013

EP Review - "Polynseeds" by Bomg


How do you pronounce Bomg? I've spent the past several hours walking around and muttering the word quietly over and over and people were looking at me with furrows of worry caked on their faces. This one has frazzled my brain, it does not compute, I fail at saying a word that looks so simple to pronounce but the synapses misfire and pop in tiny puffs of smoke when my mouth forms the necessary shape in which to say the word and so I say it over and over like a mantra; or I'm stuck in an OCD nightmare.

With that in mind I sit down to listen to Bomg's follow up EP to April's "Plutonaut", captivated as I am by the cover artwork and realizing that it looks a bit like where I live. Rolling green hills and shrooms on logs, yup. We've got all that stuff here. So I decided to go for a walk and listen to Bomg's "Polysneeds", instead of sitting at home muttering to myself and nodding my head back and forth and glaring at the carpet. I take a stroll through a nearby woods, toking as I go and as the opening chords of "Intro" flood my ears with galaxy shaking doom, I realize I made a good choice. I just wish I had a big grey beard, a long woolen hooded cloak and a trusty oaken staff...or something.

Feedback moves into the Sleepy stoner riff of "Polysneeds of Shubin", the stoner caravan is launched into a journey through psychedelic doom blending huge megalithic riffs, heavy lumbering drums, and spacey smokey lyrics. The waves of lowend are piled upon you and catch you in a trance; this is hypnotic, even shamanic doom of a most ancient kind played by oath taken high priests of the riff. The trees move gently around me but I can almost feel the ground shake under my feet, even though I listen through headphones, the sonic weight sinks through me into the ground, shaking it as I walk and nearly bringing me to my knees once or thrice.

I continue apace as the massive chugging fuzz of "Etaph" shoots waves of earthy yet cosmic doom down my spine. Soaring and drifting vocals sound a ritual chant as the riff is carved onto a moss covered stone, ancient spirits look on with folded arms, nodding their ghostly heads in riff approval. Pan's pipes sing a luring tune halfway until the airy chant returns to herald the falling of the sky as splitting guitar licks and thick fuzz crushes all but herein is celebration as the pace picks up into a hugely satisfying stoner rock blaze out, complete with double fist and long hair raising moments of metal obliteration.

A drone of feedback leads to "Etaph pt.2" and Bomg turning on the sludge hose and dowsing another transcendental doom journey with thick slatherings of fuzz. Earth shaking drums evoke ethereal guitar movements creating a spacescape that you float through in your mind's eye until you are snapped out of your vision into a torrent of psychedelic and soul stirring doom with such a simple but memorable guitar lick which brings to mind Warhorse and their brilliant and ultra heavy output all those years ago.

"Sanikov Land" takes us on our final journey through Bomg's crushing psychedelic doom, the expertly crafted riffs on full display driven along by a rumble of ground shaking drums while chanted calls echo through inner and outer space making Bomg a band that plays some of the most hypnotic doom I have heard in a long time.

However you pronounce their name, it seems that Bomg don't have a facebook but this absolutely mind blasting doom album can be previewed and then bought at their Bandcamp. I urge you to do both.


Sunday, August 11, 2013

Sunday Sludge: StoneBirds / Stangala - "Kreiz-Breizh Sessions"


I couldn't be this alliterative if I tried. Seth's Sunday Sludge featuring a StoneBirds / Stangala split? Cosmic elements are aligning and perhaps this is the universe slapping me with the most insanely unique and enjoyable split presentation I'll ever hear. There's nothing standard or pedestrian about what we're showcasing today. One act a choppy, churning stoner-sludge trio from Lorient, the other an eerie haunt of bagpiped doom by way of Quimper, this formidable French tandem leaves nothing to be desired on The Infamous Kreiz-Breizh Sessions, Vol. 1. Take it all in.

StoneBirds swing first, knocking crunch-groove tastiness square into your chest with Red Is The Sky. A bluesy southern roll, hazy stoner-fuzz passages, gravelly vocals... Are we traipsing through Western France or scorching our skin on Oklahoma's dusty panhandle roads? No matter. Thick in tone with battered, battling dual vocals, this opening track is punchy and promising. StoneBirds strip off their moss-coated skin and earn their moment in the mist. As we lead into Game Over, we drift toward our teenage basement nods. Dense and dank, this supremely sticky, smoky sludge (and its tinny tinsel mood) pulls more than a few surprises from its beard. Gargle mud, cough, and slap on a heady half-smile... coming your way is a heavy hand of warbled licks and tense bong rips.

But if StoneBirds set the standard, Stangala do a bang-up job of following suit. Earlier this year, Reg warned you'll need to "hear for yourself to discover all of the nuances." No shit! On Kemper, groove-molded celtic-stoner-doom (what?) steamrolls your expectations. Chanted vocals and an elemental tapestry of fuzz is somehow enhanced with window-shopping keys and pipes. I found myself lifted to a rainy cobblestone tip-toe through Scottish highlands rather than lacing my coffee with bourbon in my dusty den. Conversely, the uptempo stoner-thrash havoc that is Konk Kerne recoils on sweet piss-puddle drums and Byzantine howls. They quickly melt into a returning grindcore violence, bizarre and cool all at once. Its unsettling, sure. But the sneering stoner guitar is again clouded by pipes, a long breakdown that'll linger in your ears and your mind.

Not that StoneBirds can't do some haunting. A cavernous wail drapes the murky Outro Drama spookfest. The vocal is chained and well-past offended. Swirling and growling at primitive pacing, this is an absolute lumber of slow-motion psychedelia that'll plow through mountains. The tense, paranoid Red Lights can't help but be stuffed into the stagnant-stoner-swamp-sludge category. Echoed and epic, pensive and cautionary... this tale cools with buzz and clouded warnings, perhaps against the loose bass and powered reverb of Dark Passenger. Moving from semi-thick to über-viscous in the span of seconds, this bouncing sludge is contemplative and high-strung. Bury yourself with the burn, even the chippy relent is wholly staggering.

StoneBirds' 2011 full-length Slow Fly

Perhaps there was no fistfight over top-billing, simply because Stangala know how to close out an album. Christ, the triptych of Ar Stang / Evel ar re yen / St Alar el les algues hallucinogènes is an impressively diverse yet cohesive exercise in balancing departures with throwbacks. The fuzz metal absorbing directly into your skull on Ar Stang is more uptempo than you'd expect from French doom. Dense, tight, and loaded with plucks and plods, this cruiser is true to roots. The desert-rolled Kyuss influence is maximized by the massive drums on Evel, cloaked to counter the sandy slaps. As riffage buzzes and burns, screams command your ear. Laser keys, bulging rhythms, samples, sagging-tit pipes... All the elements seemingly pit this track at war with itself as it deconstructs into a spiral of spook. And finally, ominous at its closing and ear-rung at its heart is the flattening St Alar. The rumble of stoner-doom cadence and distant pinches of solid, steady bass thumbs keep this fuzz-pipe blast smoothly executed and softer than your grandma's panties. But more than the subtle sniffs, you'll love the long, heady passages punctuated by spurts of psychedelic doom.

Stangala's 2011 release Boued Tousek Hag Traou Mat All


Sludge led us here. These Sunday morning jaunts casually open with murk and mire, but rarely are they led toward such an eclectic meld of... Uh, I don't even know what to call this split. These Kreiz-Breizh sessions must've been fun to record; shit, they were fun to hear. You came for the boggy thickness. You stuck around for the stoner sensibilities. Perhaps you dipped your wick in embalming fluid before sparking up some doobage. Either way, you've been led down one trippy hill only to climb right up another. Whether these bands splinter their subsequent releases or return for Vol. 2, we'll be waiting.










Saturday, August 10, 2013

Interview with The Ripple Effect

A few weeks ago I aswered a few questions from the fine folks over at Ripple Music and the Ripple Effect. It went a little something like this:



A new column featuring the folks who make it their life to spread the word on good music. Today, Reg Rykaczewski Jr. the Main Man at the empire that is Heavy Planet, Heavy Planet Radio, and the excellent Heavy Planet Download Compilations.

Start at the beginning, how did you get started with this crazy idea of writing about music?

I never intended to write about music, it kind of just happened that way. I worked in music retail as a store manager for the better part of 18 years. After both companies I worked for went bankrupt, I decided that I would like to suggest to people bands and albums that I enjoy. I had been kicking around the idea of Heavy Planet since 1999 but didn't actually get serious about it until 2007 at which time it was an all Heavy Metal site. But, after about a year of doing that I felt my love for Stoner/Doom start to take hold and on February 5, 2008 The Heavy Planet Stoner Rock Blog was born!

We're all the product of our musical past. What's your musical history?

I played trumpet starting in 4th grade and did so until I graduated in 1986, I haven't touched it since. I rocked out the KISS songbook pretty hard. That is about it. I am basically just a huge fan.

First album you ever bought?

Black Sabbath-We Sold Our Soul For Rock and Roll. Original Gatefold cover. I lent it to a friend and never saw him nor the album again.

First musical epiphany moment?

Growing up listening to basically AM Radio and some harder groups such as REO Speedwagon, Styx, Jethro Tull, etc... I eventually started to get into KISS, but what totally changed my whole outlook on music was after listening to a cassette some kid in my 7th grade study hall gave me. He said he borrowed it from his older brother and it was really heavy. That album was "Paranoid" by the almighty Black Sabbath. I was 13. How ironic, huh?

First album that terrified the hell out of you?

Culture Club-"Kissing To Be Clever". No, seriously I would have to say "Hell Awaits" by Slayer. That shit was crazy! I eventually began to enjoy their music, but it wasn't really until "Seasons in the Abyss". "Reign in Blood" and "South of Heaven" are amazing too as we all know!

What's the last album to grab you by the throat and insist you listen?

I got to be honest with you, I am a sucker for instrumental albums and the one that caught my ear and that I can just sit back and chill is the latest release from Tumbleweed Dealer. It is freakin' amazing!


What do you see happening in the music scene today, good and bad?

There are a tremendous amount of really good quality bands out there, not just from the US, but from all over the world...hence the name Heavy Planet. The problem is, there is a very miniscule group of people that listen to them. For some reason this genre can not catch on which is totally frustrating at times. Even when I am talking to supposed metalheads they never even heard of classic bands such as Kyuss, Fu Manchu, Dozer, and even Clutch, that is insane!!

There are some totally killer radio shows as well, my current favorite is the Electric Beard of Doom DJ'd by Pat Harrington from the band Geezer, if you haven't listened it is well worth it. Check out The Listening Booth on HeavyPlanet.net for more.

Labels such as Ripple are bringing these incredible sounds to a greater audience. The work you guys do to get these bands heard is top-notch.

I think more bands would benefit from an earlier start time on a weekday. I think many people don't go to shows on a weekday primarily because the bands get started so late and the show ends so late. Also, many will stay for the first few bands but will leave early and miss the remaining bands.

With so many music sites, how would you describe what you do?

What I think that sets us apart from the other sites is that we have an honest group with a burning passion for this music and each one of them has a unique writing style. We pride ourselves in being more of a promotional site rather that a review site and that makes a lot of difference as well. If we don't like it, we don't review it. Unfortunately, there are a ton of bands that we do like that don't make it on the site. We simply do not have the time nor the staff to keep up.

What's your unique take on the music and writing?

One day I was talking to a friend and ex co-worker of mine telling him about the blog that I was writing. I told him that I needed a name for an article for which I wanted to feature a new band for people to check out, and he stated...what about the "New Band To Burn One To". I said... that is fantastic! and with that being said the rest is history. I lost count along the way, but upwards of around 700 plus bands have been featured on that article alone

To this day, I still don't think my writing skills are that great. They are what they are and as long as people get to hear the music then it is good enough for me.

Illegal free downloads on your site. Yes or no, and why?

No. If you like the band go buy their music. Illegal downloads suck ass when it comes to quality anyway.

What's been your all time greatest "Find"? That band you "discovered" before anyone else and started the word spreading?

Back in high school I remember buying this record from the local record store by a little band by the name of Metallica, that was 1983 and the album was "Kill'em All". All I know is that after I let a few people hear it, that shit exploded.


If you could write a 1,000 word essay on one song, which one would it be, and why? What makes that song so important?

Honestly, I am not really a song guy. I really don't pay attention to lyrics because frankly I can't ever understand what most singers are saying. I am more of a full album guy and believe that a vocalist can make or break an album.

If I were to write an essay on an album, it would probably be Kyuss-"Welcome to Sky Valley". Other than Black Sabbath, Kyuss has been such a huge influence on the Stoner/Doom genre. Of course, many will debate this choice.

Give us three bands that we need to keep our eyes out for.

Supervoid from my home town of Pittsburgh, Valley of the Sun from Cincinnati, and Witchrider from Austria.

Tell us about your personal music collection. Vinyl? CD? What's your prized possession?

I accumulated a vast collection of CDs while working in music retail for 18 years, I do have a collection of vinyl but is nothing that impressive. I love all of the new vinyl that is coming out right now but do not currently have much of a system nor turntable to play them on. Most of my listening comes by way of Bandcamp, promos, MixCloud, etc. on my computer or in my car.

I do have a rather nice collection of Soundgarden vinyl.

What makes it all worthwhile for you?

If I could find a way to do this for a living, I would in a heartbeat. Unfortunately it is not really about the money. I am just a lover of music and feel good when I hear a great band. I just want others to hear it as well. It makes me feel good when bands take the time to acknowledge your work. Heavy Planet has been a life-changing experience for some and I have gained mainy friendships because of this blog.

These guys deserve a shout out as well for their ongoing support of Heavy Planet:

Steve Moss-The Midnight Ghost Train
Eric Calvert-Switchblade Jesus
Mario, Steve and Tim-Borracho

How would your life be different if you weren't writing about music?

Actually, this past week has been a bit of a challenge for me. Just as I was about to announce to everyone that I was going to cut back a bit on the blog a few of my writer's decided that they needed to do the same. It is rough when it comes to the work balance schedule and occasionally we all get a little burned out. We will continue to bring you great new music to check out but on a much calmer pace, it is a Stoner Rock blog after all. Ha ha.

Ever been threatened by a band or a ravenous fan?

Not really. People have their opinions. But nothing that I can think of.

In the end, what would you like to have accomplished, or be remembered for?

That we were able to help a band achieve their goals and live out their dream and for people to say...hey man, I heard your band the other day on Heavy Planet!

Many people may not realize the hours you devote to what you do for little or no pay. Is there a day job? If so, how do you find the balance?

I work 8:30-5:00 M-F for a very large industrial supplier. Trust me, sometimes it is really hard, but I enjoy it and calms me after a long day at work. My wife who does the illustrations for the site is very supportive and also enjoys the music. We work opposite schedules a lot of the time, so that is when I try to get the blog stuff taken care of. Lately though it has been taking a bit too much of my time and I need to cut back to attend to other matters.

What's next? Any new projects?

Well you know what they say...If I tell you I'll have to k*ll you.

Finally, other than the music, what's your other burning passion?

In another life, I would probably be a brewmaster. I love beer! A Heavy Planet beer someday would be awesome! Of course it would have to be dark and heavy.

Thank you Todd and John for being so supportive of Heavy Planet and for letting me share with you the answers to these burning questions. We look forward to some of the greatest rock music the world has to offer on Ripple Music in the years to come. Doom on!

Also huge thanks to current staff writers Toby, Seth, Zac, Ken, Al, Justin and Lee. Past staff writers Mark, Misha, Bill and Colin. Special thanks to Stump for his hard work on Heavy Planet Radio.

Without these fine people, the incredible bands and the supportive fans, Heavy Planet would be nothing.

Thank you!!
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