LP Review 'Chapter 1: A Long Time Coming' by Profane And The Sacred

While there's a lot to be said - in terms of Google search rankings at least - for naming your band a reversal of a Smashing Pumpkins song, 'The Sacred and the Profane' - it's equally pleasing, that all musical similarities end there.

London-based Profane And The Sacred are remorseless in their occupation of music's deep-south, whisky-swigging, stoner rock; from their unnerving passion, eight minute opener 'Bench' warps and mutates into something reminiscent of Phil Anselmo's finest moments crossed with lighter shades of 'Rooster' based Alice In Chains.

Both dissonant and rich, their sound blazes proudly at its bluesy core with guitarists Luke Alleeson and Rick Spooner masterful in their guitar playing craft.

The mid-paced riffage soon gives way to the precise and scabrous vocals of Luke Alleeson, offset by Robb Taylor on bass and the malicious missives of Kieran Smith on drums.

This is a great album that lands its blows track to track.

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LP Review: 'Atala' by Atala

Atala's form of stoner rock has definitely fallen on the heavier side of the musical spectrum, and this, their debut release is a scatter-shot collection of different styles which hone in on a strong, overriding mood akin at times to Tool with the assertive desert rock like pace of Kyuss. It pays off. 'Broken Glass' is a pummeling, riff-charge of a track that opens the album with a screeching - if somewhat restrained guitar solo - before 'Cuts Run Deep' settles into the aggressive groove that defines the band's sound. 'Seas of Fear' trudges along at a doom-like pace, providing an instrumental release from the tortured vocals attacking from all channels. The most surprising addition to the Atala is the ability to redefine their sound track-to-track, as 'Labyrinth of the Mind' is testament to with its Black Sabbath-esque riffs and t solid guitar work.

Atala are impossible to nail down and this impressively enjoyable.

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LP Review - "The Fountain of Tantric Worship" by Black Moth Cult

I've not long woken up (it's after midday) and I sit down to write todays review and I'm still recovering after a heavy weekend away partying like I'm still 20 years old. I feel done-in, baked but satisfied; a couple more wrinkles added to my nearly 40 year old face and I'm trying to keep warm by a wood burner. It's snowing outside even though I can see blue skies. It's the fourth day it's snowed here and the mountains I see in the distance glow white under an early spring sun.

I really didn't know what I was going to review today but after flicking through a few demos and promos and not really getting excited about what I was hearing, I came across an album that suddenly got my blood pumping and had me blasting it out at full volume and rocking out to this finely crafted slice of stoner rock. I love a band that can do that. From the opening chords of the first track, your attention is grabbed by the balls and you are captivated by the sonic goodness that pours forth from your speakers. This band did that to me, and it has been a good while that something like that has happened so this band definitely deserve a review.

They are Black Moth Cult, a stoner band based in Toulon, France who recently released 10 tracks of highly accessible fuzzy and heavy desert style stoner-rock in the form of "The Fountain of Tantric Worship".
From the opening chunky bass riffs of the self titled track the stoner grooves are played with hearty passion showing that here is a band that take their music writing seriously, and boy are they good at it. They remind me at times of the now sadly long ago ended Astroqueen, with uplifting riffs that drift around huge vistas, sounding a celebration of Californian robot-rock and Swedish fuzz. This is driving music with the destination being outer space as each track launches us to soaring heights, leaving the earth behind in a blazing rocket of stoner-rock fire.

Stand out tracks for me are "From the Woods" with vocals that sound a bit like Stone Roses singer Ian Brown making the track almost stoner indie music and quite radio friendly. "Six Love Goddess" that shows Black Moth Cult's music writing skills in a blinding white light of riffs and drums in a many leveled track that takes us from QOTSA inspired sections to hugely uplifting stoner-rock dimensions. So many changing moments are crammed into the 4 minutes 26 seconds of that track that each section could be a track of its own. "Scum Sculpture" which is a hugely satisfying behemoth of classic fuzzed out stoner-rock in the vein of Astroqueen and Colour Haze. The riffs are delivered on this one in thick waves of crunchy tones that slay with the mighty hammer of low-end grooves. "Vintage Wines" being the last track and one of 2 tracks on the album that has Black Moth Cult going into mellow territory. This ender is a sumptuously jammed twinkly starred atmospheric story told under a clear night's sky and is a great way to end this great album.

It's a joy to listen to. Indeed the whole album is a joy to listen to. I am glad I have discovered Black Moth Cult today. I have found a new favorite band, one I will be keeping a keen eye on for future releases because with their level of song writing their next offerings are sure to be something awe inspiring, which this album already is.

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