New Band To Burn One To-The Atlas Moth

Holy Hell is this some freakin' incredible shit. Are you ready for a piece of gritty psychedelic-tinged southern fried swamp sludge, then you have got to hear this awesome band from Chicago, Illinois calling themselves The Atlas Moth.



Review:

Hailing from Chicago, The Atlas Moth take their bluesy hometown roots and combine that with New Orleans style sludge & 60s psychedelic. Gritty and raw, yet thought out and insightful. If you grew up living in a swamp, wearing a Black Sabbath T-Shirt, and eating nothing but fried chicken, this is your band.

"Lord knows I'm a sucker for anything heavy with a groove. And few bands really are able to show something truly full formed with their debut EP. But shit, the Atlas Moth got it right. Pray for Tides is just under 19 minutes, but each is well-written, performed and recorded.

The songs are based around chaotic, sludgy riffs with layers of strangely melodic guitar parts and soaring lead riffs; the vocals switch from black metal screeching to harmonic chants. The band strays from cliché, leaving harmonic pinches and dueling guitarmony leads to only the necessary parts of the songs, and usually playing background to the wall of sound created by the bass and three guitars.

The production is near flawless, allowing the full sound of the band to come through. Their sound, like the moth they named themselves after, is truly massive. They borrow from the same heavy metal influences that have propelled bands like the Sword and Mastodon into the mainstream, but while those bands strive to hit something hard and loud, the Atlas Moth are in pursuit of something more akin to a Pink Floyd album -- swirling colors of psychedelic guitars and atmospheric noise created by the sheer quantity of music create something akin to an impressionist painting.

It's a supremely impressive first effort, and leaves me wanting more. Just imagining what this band could be capable of given a studio budget and an album's worth of material gives me shivers." - PunkNews.org

Ditto!!

Go to the band's MySpace page to support them by purchasing their music and merchandise.

Album Of The Day-Warpig-"Self-Titled" (1970)

The Album Of The Day is "Warpig" by Canada's Warpig.



Review:

One of those bands that miss the boat to stardom during their active lifetime, Canadian hard rockers Warpig would experience a zombie-like afterlife following their demise, when they joined other cult acts like Sir Lord Baltimore, Leaf Hound, and Captain Beyond in haunting the minds of hard rock and heavy metal collectors. Vocalist/guitarist Rick Donmoyer, keyboard player/vocalist Dana Snitch, bassist Terry Brett, and drummer Terry Hook had all accumulated ample wood-shedding experience with an assortment of amateur bands (including the Kingbees, the Wot, and Mass Destruction) before coming together as Warpig in 1968. Smitten with recent, revolutionary albums by the likes of Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience -- seedling examples of what would come to be described as "hard rock" and, later, heavy metal -- the members of Warpig began defining their own style around these new, more powerful sonic parameters from their base of Woodstock, Ontario (just an hour outside Toronto). They weren't alone, of course, as 1968 was the year that spawned debut albums from seminal proto-metal acts like Blue Cheer, Iron Butterfly, and Canadian compatriots Steppenwolf, among others, and the last two, in particular, bore numerous similarities to Warpig's organ-heavy hard rock sound. By the following year, the quartet was building quite a fan following throughout the Ontario club circuit and had signed a contract with local independent Fonthill Records, completing work on their eponymous debut album in late 1970 and proceeding to perform with several visiting luminaries, such as Mahogany Rush, Wishbone Ash, Manfred Mann, and Savoy Brown. But poor distribution and promotion on the part of their indie label meant that Warpig remained largely unknown outside of Canada, and there was little progress made until 1973, when London Records offered to re-release the album with different cover art and two completely re-recorded tracks cut with future Rush producer Terry Brown. Unfortunately, time and changing trends had conspired to seriously date Warpig's once cutting-edge sound, and even though the Deep Purple-esque single "Rock Star" actually scraped into the Canadian charts and convinced London to commission a second album, the band would fall apart following the mid-session departure of Terry Hook and, soon after, Dana Snitch. Rick Donmoyer went on to play with Ash Mountain, but both Warpig and their lone, overlooked album quickly faded into forgetfulness -- until the new millennium, that is, when rare original copies started fetching outrageous prices on eBay. This may have been one of the factors behind Donmoyer and Snitch's reconciliation after 30 years of silence, leading to discussions of a full-blown Warpig reunion, and the re-release of their debut album on CD for the first time, via Relapse Records. (Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide)

Track Listing:

01. Flaggit
02. Tough Nuts
03. Melody With Balls
04. Advance in A Minor
05. Rock Star
06. Sunflight
07. U.X.I.B.
08. The Moth

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Album Of The Day-Earthride-"Taming Of The Demons" (2002)

The Album Of The Day is "Taming Of The Demons" by Earthride.



Review:

Earthride's sound is that of a lumbering beast. Not necessarily because they restrict themselves to doom metal's slower-than-coma-inducing crawl (they rarely do), however, but because of vocalist David Sherman's unnaturally crusty, sub-Lemmy growl. A frightening weapon which he'd occasionally reveal during his tenure with Wino's Spirit Caravan, the man's gruesome, bowel-churning rasp is both an acquired taste and an inseparable element of Earthride's unique sound. Backed by a solid set of memorable doom metal songwriting, the resulting Taming of the Demons album (complete with cred-building Master of Reality-inspired logo on the back sleeve) may strike uninitiated fans as somewhat simplistic and unremarkable, but will instantly connect with knowledgeable enthusiasts of this uncompromising musical style. After opening with the exceptionally heavy (and funny) "Valiume 10," a — you guessed it — love song to Valium, the quartet proves it can creep with the best of them via the snail-like "For Mere Remains" and later the equally turgid "Mr. Green." The speed-barreling rip-ride of "Train Wreck" is something of an anomaly, too, but this is just as well, as Earthride is clearly in its element when riding groove-intensive, mid-paced doom rockers like "Under a Black Cloud," "Deception," and the massive title track. Dirty and delightful, Taming of the Demons delivers primo doom metal all around. (Ed Rivadavia, AMG)

Track Listing:

01. Valium 10
02. For Mere Remains
03. Train Wreck
04. Under A Black Cloud
05. Deception
06. Mr. Green
07. Taming Of The Demons

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Album Of The Day-Dixie Witch-"One Bird, Two Stones" (2003)

The Album Of The Day is "One Bird, Two Stones" by Dixie Witch.

Review:

Unlike most of its hard-rockin' new millennium counterparts, Texas trio Dixie Witch rarely explodes into manic spells of stoner rock head-banging, but rather tends to lay back and coast along laid-back highways paved by Southern rock grooves. The piss-poor production values aside, there's much to love in the band's second album, One Bird, Two Stones, which features a wealth of inspired head-nodding anthems like "Drifting Lady," "Makes Me Crazy," and especially the Skynyrd-esque "The Wheel." Singing drummer Trinidad Leal employs a convincing Dave Wyndorf-styled moan 'n' yowl technique on both the unusually hard-driving "Turbo Wing" and the more typical stride of "On My Way," while the standout "More of a Woman" simply flips the guitar riff from Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion" inside out. And to wrap things up with a flourish, lengthy, lazy closer "Traveler" offers an admirable tour de force by guitarist Clayton Mills, including electric, slide, and acoustic work. With so much strong material weighing in the album's favor, it's really a pity having to deal with such a frustratingly muddy sound mix, but then perhaps this is as Dixie Witch intended. Whatever the case, most lovers of gritty and honest Southern rock are likely to forgive these technical issues in order to see through to the great tunes below. (Ed Rivadavia, AMG)

Track Listing:

01. Get Busy
02. Going South
03. More Of A Woman
04. The Wheel
05. On My Way
06. Drifting Lady
07. Makes Me Crazy
08. Turbo Wing
09. Here Today Gone Tommorow
10. Traveler

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Album Of The Day-Las Cruces-"Ringmaster" (1999)

Originally released in 1999, Brainticket Records has finally decided to re-release one of the finest Doom Metal albums ever made. That would be "Ringmaster" by Las Cruces, therefore making it my Album Of The Day.



Review:

Picture this...cross Led Zeppish bluesmetal with Doom Metal and unleash upon an unsuspecting society. These five Texans stand tall and proud and push out waves of slightly psychedelic bluesish deadly doom. Mark Zammaron reminds me of Robert Plant crossed with a demonically-possessed, doom-laden 1930s-era blues singer (I'm speaking hypothetically--it's not Robert Johnson) with just a dash of early Danzig. This is no-holds barred bluesdoom. George Trevino definitely updates the classic blues sound with a healthy dose of feedback-laden doom metal guitar. Ben Regio Montano beats the skins and cymbals into submission and controls the slowly building sludgemonster. No beat shall escape his grasp without paying the price. Occasionally the band softens their brutal assault with a quiet moment, but it only makes the sledgehammer hit harder when they bang it out in the next few minutes. Some songs start slow and tender then build towards its an apocalyptic, bullish finish. Best cuts are "Behemoth" and "Pigz." They have learned much from their producer John Perez (with Mike Trujillo) of the seminal doom band, Solitude Aeturnus. They take the doom-laden with sorrow style of Solitude Aeturnus and increase the bottom end forcing an unnatural heaviness upon an already heavy genre, then they toss in a spoonful of blues to strengthen the approach. With Ringmaster, Perez has helped elevate Las Cruces to the next level. These songs burn the heart and brain with their acid-drenched bitterness and pain. This is not a band to be taken lightly. They will crush you if you underestimate their power. (Sabrina Wade Haines, EarPollution.com)

Track Listing:

01. Behemoth 04:24
02. Killer Kane 03:43
03. Black Waters 04:14
04. Pigz 03:22
05. Cascades of Phantoms 03:07
06. Doomed 03:04
07. Ringmaster 04:46
08. Human Form 07:14
09. This Time 04:40
10. Lazy Drag 03:23

Total playing time 43:13

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New Band To Burn One To-Venomin James

VENOMIN JAMES

Venomin James's music recalls classic bands like Black Sabbath, Cream, and Led Zeppelin, and contemporary sounds like Kyuss, Down, C.O.C., Acid Bath, and Entombed. The band describes their music as "Stoner Metal" or "Heavy Doomrock".

On Venomin James' debut album, "Left hand man", some of the doom-soaked themes are directly influenced by vocalist Jim Meador's experiences serving as a Sergeant in Iraq. Meador is one of thousands who are now haunted by memories of intense violence and the unforgiving ugliness of war. Political statements, however, are notably absent. Within the lyrics of such songs as "Abu Ghraib" and "Downer", there are only lyrical snapshots of what soldiers face on a day-to-day basis. The album's lyrics as a whole act as a conduit for Meador's repressed emotions, attempting to exorcise demons and ghosts plaguing his thoughts. The overriding arc of "Left Hand Man" deals not only with violence and war, but also of situations existing within contemporary society.

Says Meador of the themes present in Venomin James' music: "There is an apocalyptic vibe everywhere these days. Mass media, news, art, music, the stock market, and even our environment is soaked with the feeling of impending doom." He adds, "I think our music reflects the uncertainty, fears and confusion of this generation."

When Meador returned to the States after his tour was up, he sought an outlet. He had faced his mortality and was ready to speak about it. In the spring of 2006, the band Venomin James were seeking a vocalist that would compliment their heavy, doomrock sound.

Guitarists Tomasz Scull and Joe Fortunato grew up as ravenous listeners of classic guitar rock and heavy metal. Bassist Erin Corcoran combines Geezer Butler's style from early Sabbath, with groove and tasteful dynamics. Drummer Jared Koston brings precision and power, a highlight to the band's hybrid metal sound. Meador's angry and introspective lyrics fit well with Venomin James' doom-laden music, and some of his harsh and more questioning observations communicate the group's more brutal and frantic pieces.

Venomin James is also heavily inspired by their home, the historic Kirtland area of eastern Cleveland, Ohio. Known as "Kultland" by the locals, Kirtland has a strange, esoteric past that reads like the gothic horror of Lovecraft or Poe. From the first Mormon temple in 1836 to the 1989 Lundgren cult slayings, there is a sense of mysticism and foreboding in the area - even the air feels noticeably colder as you travel through certain parts. "You know when you're in Kirtland because you feel it in your bones," says guitarist Joe Fortunato, "and our music embodies that feeling."

Venomin James has shared the stage with a variety of respected acts, including: Ringworm, Fu Manchu, Brand New Sin, Seemless, Unearthly Trance, Mushroomhead, Bad Wizard, Early Man, 3 Inches of Blood, facedowninshit, Artimus Pyledriver, Abdullah, and Red Giant.

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Press:

Number 10 On 10 Bands to Watch in 2008

If Clutch and Alice in Chains had a baby raised by Kyuss and Cream, this would be Venomin James. The band - drummer Jared Koston, singer Jim Meador, guitarist Tom Scull, bassist Erin Corcoran and guitarist Joe Fortunato - released Left-Hand Man at the end of 2007. With lyrics transcribed from Meador's wartime journal (he served in Iraq), the themes are tortured yet delicate, with the occasional growl included for emphasis. "Abu Ghraib" rips open the disc with straight stoner rock. Doom/stone rockers will love "Iron Horse," as the guitar work is stellar. "Feed the Flames" is a standout with lines such as "I found serenity in madness, found my peace of mind," and then it takes off with Meador's soulful, rousing call to "burn it all." "El Brujo" closes out the CD with insane guitar riffs and tighter-than-tight drumming. Too many times, you hear a band's influences and not the band itself. This is simply not the case with these guys as VJ manages to have its own vibe while delivering a cool vintage Black Sabbath/Skynyrd sound. Also, while Meador's army experience certainly accounts for his lyrics, it's the band as a whole that works together so well on its debut CD. (Jara Anton, Cleveland Free Times January 2-8, 2008 edition)

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It's a sad truth that it was only a matter of time until the Iraq war/quagmire started directly influencing music. There have been a number of protest songs from Important Artists With Important Things to Say, but by my count, not many that were the result of personal involvement.

Venomin James' vocalist Jim Meador is among that unfortunate new niche – a good amount of the Cleveland-based group's Left Hand Man is lyrically inspired by his tour of duty. Good thing the music backs up the dour themes. Much like fellow Ohioans Fuzztub, Venomin James plays a strain of muscular riff rock that touches upon the traditional doom. The band (Meador, guitarists Tomasz Scull and Joe Fortunato, bassist Erin Cocoran, and drummer Jared Koston) doesn't really stretch out too much – simple and direct is their MO, but that serves songs like “Feed the Flames,” “Downer,” or “El Brujo” well. Same goes for the production, although that could've benefited from a little more oomph. It's one of those albums that hints at what the band sounds like live but doesn't necessarily deliver at the same level.

All in all, Left Hand Man is a weighty slab of riff-doom-rock. Fans of Down, Solace, and Sixty Watt Shaman ought to give this a shot. (John Pegoraro, StonerRock.com)



Track Listing:

01. Abu Ghraib
02. Bullet Juice
03. Tears of the Scorpion
04. Feed the Flames
05. Downer
06. Iron Horse
07. Undertow
08. El Brujo

Check Out A Few Live Performances From Venomin James

VENOMIN JAMES


Venomin James


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