Zac's "Double Dose": Big Wheel Stunt Show / Nightosaur

Big Wheel Stunt Show: Wonderful LIFE 

Finally, another excellent concept album! I live for these, so without further ado Heavy Planet presents... Big Wheel Stunt Show and thier latest release Wonderful LIFE. Native to Tacoma, Washington this quartet combines the love for funk and traditional blues with a whole lotta soul. If you're looking for an operatic narrative that hits the lines with psychedelic rock, heavy blues, and a good dose of organ Big Wheel Stunt Show is your band and Wonderful LIFE is your album. The story is told from birth, beginning with the cry of our main character's infancy, through aging, alien abduction, and finally the after-life. Check out the video for Bad Thing below and get a copy here.

 

Members: 

Andy Basinger - Organ // Back-up Vocals 

Evan Nagle - Guitar // Vocals 

Jake Melius - Bass // Back-up Vocals 

Justin Gimse - Drums // Back-up // Lead Vocals

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Nightosaur: Spaceaxers 

History states they've been extinct some 65 million years. Don't buy it, because there are a few roaming the terrain under the moon-lit sky of Minnesota and recently reared its ugly Tricera-head on Heavy Planet's Smoke Out Sunday. The beast I speak of is no other than Nightosaur who've come to crush your skull with their sophmore release Spaceaxers. The band desribes the sound as dino sludge and fossil rock, which is exactly what you're going to find... mammoth riffs, thunderous drums, and sharp hooks. Something about it all together feels very ancient. Check out my favorite track is Too Far South For Muntiny below... an angry and fast paced jam telling the story of a mutinous voyage to the south. The track There May Be Dragons, the single featured on Smoke Out Sunday, is available for free here and if that doesn't get you a fix the entire album can be downloaded on iTunes, Spotify, and all the expected online stores. 

**Andy Webber, lead guitarist, custom manufactures Nightosaur's guitars under the name Whale Hazard Unlimited, something completely awesome and should be noted**

Members: 

Andy Webber - Guitar // Vocals 

John Henry - Bass // Vocals 

Brad - Drums // Vocals

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CD Review: Wheel - Wheel

As seen on The Klepto's Guide:

Lately, I've been complaining about the world of doom metal (mostly to myself because I haven't finished the article I'm working on), and the lack of quality in the 'classic' doom sound. As such, and for research for the article I'm working on, I've been trying to find the quote/unquote "best" (I don't know if that saying works in writing) new doom bands/albums and putting them to the test (I'm going to have to try the new Electric Wizard when it is finally released, but I've never been a huge fan of their either). Wheel is one of these new doom metal acts, and have just released their self-titled debut. They've been getting rave reviews, on numerous sites, so I decided to check them out. From my research (as I try to stay informed) wheel was formed in 2006 in Germany by some guys who have been in various bands before (so says The Metal Archives) - but no act that I've ever heard of before. Their band/album/website artwork is pretty cool, very classical and somewhat simple. I like it (first impressions).
Listening to their album, Wheel treads the thin line between being a traditional doom band, and a stoner/doom band. Most of the songs are straight-forward doom, but from time to time - the second song, "To My Love Departed," especially - the fuzz of the guitar is upped and you have a definite stoner feel/groove pop up. It's not bad really, but I much prefer their straight-on doom works; fortunately this is where they spend most of their time. Their music is very reminiscent of the golden age of doom; where the songs are simple in composition, the vocals are clean and are semi-operatic, and the overall message is one of despair and/or loneliness. Everything I love about doom - real doom - is here, so I know you're assuming that I love these guys and this album, but unfortunately... I don't.
Their songs, while a decent throwback, while in no way bad, are lacking in originality or emphasis. No song truly stands out above the others, which is sometimes a great boast to make, but they all aren't of an amazing quality to warrant this. With exception to the rare albums that are 100% amazing (see my Favorite Albums Page), they need to have this up and down feeling to them. A difference in scope and style, that let's you determine which style of the music you prefer more. In this debut album, Wheel has all the songs just there, with nothing special and with nothing lacking. It's all just ok.
This album is decent though; I'm not trying to paint a picture of disappointment. This album is a return to a style of doom that I feel has been lacking of late, and the songs are epic in nature, but there is just something missing from this equation. It's not nearly special enough to deserve all of the praises the band has been getting of late, but it shows an open-ended possibility. That maybe in the group's next release or perhaps the one after, we will hear something truly remarkable - just not yet.
If you like classic/traditional/epic doom, then give Wheel a try and determine where they stand for yourself. If you're looking for something new and amazing then I would search somewhere else. It's good for a listen, but I wouldn't put it on repeat.

Tracks of note: 

Track Listing

1. Mills of God
2. To My Love Departed
3. Lilith
4. Eyes of The Hydra
5. Ethereal Sleep
6. Only God Knows
7. The Day I Need You Most
8. Entrance Into While Light

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