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This Week's Recommended New Releases...

4/29/2015

This week's recommended new releases (04/28/15):
[Click on band name for samples and more info]

Monolord - Vænir (RidingEasy)

I didn’t think these guys could possibly top their magnificent debut from last year, but they’ve somehow managed to do so. While Empress Rising firmly placed the Swedish trio on the Doom map, the follow-up clearly vaults them into the Doom elite. It might seem odd to describe an album with mainly 6+ minute songs as “streamlined”, but this one seems to move a little better than the debut. The riffs are still massive and slow and the vocals still have that watery, reverb effect, but the songs are even more accessible and memorable this time around. This record has immediately vaulted into my #1 spot for the year. Now, about getting these dudes over to the States for a tour…

Space Probe Taurus - Mondo Satan (Ripple)

The second album from this Swedish quartet is a throwback to the 1990’s heyday of Stoner Rock, back before Monster Magnet wore aluminum foil pants on MTV. There’s definitely some Dave Wyndorf action in the vocals, but the riffs trade in the psychedelia for straightforward, bluesy rock and roll, akin to the Orange Goblin biker-rock phase. Sound-wise, I really enjoy the fuzz tones on this record and the constant lead runs are pretty tasty. Apparently these guys have been plying their trade since 1992, so it’s no surprise that they’ve managed to wrap up their influences into a tight amalgamation of fuzzed out glory.

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This Week's Recommended New Releases...

4/24/2015

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This week's recommended new releases (04/21/15):
[Click on band name for samples and more info]

Acid King - Middle of Nowhere, Center of Everywhere (Svart)

This is the first new release in 10 years for the legendary San Francisco Stoner/Doom trio. While I’m not intimately familiar with their back catalogue, I feel safe in saying that they haven’t lost their touch. The heavy, plodding grooves that the band is known for are highlighted by the smoky vocals and searing leads of frontwoman Lori S. These guys were in on the ground floor of the Stoner/Doom scene and pretty much carved out the sound that we’re all familiar with now – hypnotic, hazy and heavy as fuck. This is a must-listen album for worshippers of the almighty riff.

The Atomic Bitchwax - Gravitron (Tee Pee)

I haven’t taken a chance on this Jersey Monster Magnet spin-off trio since their debut album in 1999. That was a solid Stoner Rock album, but the most memorable part was the audio clip of Jesco White talking about “a-huffin’ the aeroplane glue in a samrich bag”. Now they’re back with their 6th album and it’s safe to say that I may have missed the boat on these guys. This is a headbanger right from the outset. Gnarly, fuzzed-out riffs, pounding drums, audible bass grooves and vocals that remind me of the Pepper Keenan CoC era. Balls to the wall Stoner Metal, as good as it gets.

Blizzen - Time Machine EP (High Roller)

I generally give EPs a cursory listen and then move on to full-lengths, but this one grabbed me from the start. The German quartet’s debut release is chock full of 80’s Speed Metal glory. “Strike the hammer…Strike! Fight for metal…Fight!” You just can’t go wrong with choruses like that. As with all of these throwback Speed/Thrash releases, there’s nothing really new here, but it sounds incredibly fresh regardless. Chugging riffs, harmonized leads, soaring high-pitched vocals and catchy hooks. If you’re a denim vest and/or Trans-Am guy, this is probably right up your alley.

Gruesome - Savage Land (Relapse)

This entire album is essentially a tribute to the Leprosy-era Death sound. While I’m more of a fan of the later period, progressive side of Death, this is about as close as anyone has ever come to replicating Chuck Schuldiner’s genius. Formed last year by 4 Californians who all play in like 30 other bands, Gruesome is certainly one of the more technically proficient Death Metal bands I’ve stumbled across recently. I don’t know if this was a one-off homage, but it would be cool if they started with Leprosy and kind of worked their way through the entire Death trajectory. You can never have enough Death in your life.

Horsehunter - Caged In Flesh (Magnetic Eye)

This is the album most likely to decimate your speakers this week. Loud, ugly, gnarly Stoner/Sludge/Doom in the vein of Sleep. Four songs, 41 minutes – the Aussie quartet doesn’t fuck around on their debut album. From the Sabbathian riffage in the 16 minute opener to the mellow, acoustic interlude to the full-throttle sonic sludge at the end, this one just rolls right along, crushing everything in its path. Long songs are challenging as a listener, but this whole record just has a perfect flow to it, so it’s not as daunting as it seems. Really nice launching point for these guys. Looking forward to hearing more.

Mare Infinitum - Alien Monolith God (Solitude Productions)

Long-time readers know that I’m a total homer for anything on Solitude Productions, so this is probably the least surprising choice this week. Long-time readers also know that I only put stuff in my columns if I personally dig it, so that says something about the best damn label in Russia. On their second album, this Russian duo perfectly melds Doom and Death with atmospheric touches. I particularly like the usage of both clean and aggressive vocals on this record. They shift from a classic Candlemass sound right into a Peaceville Death/Doom fury at the drop of a hat. Lots of layers on this one, so give it a few spins to soak it all in.

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This Week's Recommended New Releases...

4/14/2015

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This week's recommended new releases (04/14/15):
[Click on band name for samples and more info]

Dopethrone - Hochelaga (Totem Cat)

I was a tad bit wary of a band that borrowed their name from an Electric Wizard album and basically plays recycled EW riffs, but really…is more EW a bad thing? I think not. On their fourth release, the Montreal trio channels the reigning UK doomlords from the massive riffage right down to the soundbyte song intros. The vocals are a bit harsher than Jus Oborn’s drugged-out wails and there’s a little more sludge going on, but other than that, it’s pretty much like hearing a new EW release. Again, that’s not a bad thing. I really dig it, in fact. If you’re going to ape a band, might as well ape the best band on the planet.

Impalers - God from the Machine (Crime/Evil Eye)

The Danish quartet returns with their second album, a ferocious Teutonic-esque Thrash record sure to please fans of Sodom and Kreator, et al. It’s a pretty standard 80’s thrash metal throwback, but the musicianship is solid and the songs are well-written. The riffs are monstrous and the solos are spot-on. The vocals are generally in the aggressive vein, except on the obligatory “Fade to Black” rip-off ballad. The Thrash revival isn’t going away any time soon, but as long as it’s in the capable hands of bands like this, I have no complaints.

Pohjoinen - Pohjoinen (Inverse)

This is one of the best Stoner/Doom releases so far this year. In a pretty crowded scene, the Finnish trio manages to stand out with their debut record. It’s hard to find a comparable band, but if you like fuzzed out guitars, clean vocals and killer riffs, you owe it to yourself to check this one out. The lyrics are all in Finnish, but since I care about my readers I did some translating and they have some pretty cool themes about despair and lizard beasts and space invaders. Imagine Sleep’s Holy Mountain without all of the obvious Sabbath overtones and with a few more progressive tendencies.

Sulphur Aeon - Gateway to the Antisphere (Ván)

I generally shy away from Death Metal, because it’s been done to, well, death. That being said, it takes a stunning DM album to get through my exhaustive review process and into this column. This German trio manages to do just that on their second release. I’m a sucker for Lovecraft themes, so that was the initial thing that caught my eye here. Add to that the punishing riffs, incredible song structures and just the right amount of melody and you have one hell of a release. Like I said, I don’t listen to Death Metal, so you’ll just have to listen and draw your own comparisons.

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This Week's Recommended New Releases...

4/7/2015

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This week's recommended new releases (04/07/15):
[Click on band name for samples and more info]

Enforcer - From Beyond (Nuclear Blast)

Another week, another excellent 80’s throwback record. I tend to shy away from thrash/speed revival albums, but the fourth offering from this Swedish quartet is too good to pass up, for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, they don’t appear to be mocking thrash like so many of the newer thrash bands. Secondly, they just sing about cool metal stuff instead of waxing poetic about getting drunk and toxic mutants and stuff. This album is full of fantastic classic metal riffs and catchy hooks.

Mammoth Mammoth - Volume IV: Hammered Again (Napalm)

The third full-length and fourth overall release from this Aussie quartet is a solid dose of good old-fashioned Stoner Metal. The fad of calling your fourth record Volume IV is getting tiresome, but don’t let that deter you. The Sabbath influences are present, but this is more of a fuzzed-out party record. Nice riffs, ripping leads, dirty production, big drums, catchy choruses and solid vocals. It’s like a heavier version of Fu Manchu. And there’s a nude chick on the cover.

Editor's Note: I don't ususally sit on the fence like this, but here are a couple of really nice new doom releases that just didn't quite make the cut due to disappointing vocal performances. Both are still very nice background music and possibly worth checking out if you really need a doom fix this week. - JO

Дрём (Dryom) - 2 (Solitude Productions)

Russian funeral doom; second album.

Saturnalia Temple - To the Other (The Ajna Offensive)

Swedish stoner/doom; second album.

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Unsigned Bands of the Month - April, 2015

4/2/2015

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Hawkeyes – Poison Slows You Down
Kitchener, ON

Band Members:
Patrick Finch - Guitars
Ron Cybulskie - Guitars
Ryan Allen - Guitars
Chris Gardner - Guitars
Rob Keith - Bass
Stacey Schmitt - Drums/Cymbals

Influences:
Space grass and Time Travel, Food, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, boutique effects boxes, oversized drums and cymbals, Bill Wards red tights and heavy repetitive riffs that make you nod and drop out.

Describe your sound:
Chaotic Psychedelic Space-Doom

What’s next for Hawkeyes?
Our album Poison Slows You Down is getting a vinyl release by Helmet Lady Records and is coming out on April 18th. Our split 12" with Shooting Guns is coming out on multiple colours of vinyl in the next few months, and that is a co-release with Helmet Lady Records and Pre-Rock Records. A video is in the works for a track off of the split 12" and we are gearing up for shows starting in April, the first being April 11th at Jane Bond in Waterloo with Hawks AC and Woodlouse.

https://hawkeyes.bandcamp.com/

Thoren – Thoren
Sterling Heights, MI

Band members:
Anthony Lipari - Guitars and Composition
Joseph Paquette - Bass
Christopher Burrows - Drums and Drum Programming

Influences:
Our personal influences are too numerous and varied to list here, but the main musical influences on our writing are Deathspell Omega, Krzysztof Penderecki, Iannis Xenakis, Meshuggah, Cannibal Corpse, Defeated Sanity, Wormed, Portal, Ulcerate, Gojira, Dysrhythmia, Gorguts, Krallice, Hate Forest, Martyr, Nightbringer, Nile, Opeth, Suffocation, Scott Walker, and Virus. J.R.R. Tolkien Lore, Amnesia: The Dark Descent (video game) and Outlast (video game) are non-musical influences in that we use the feeling we get from those media as jumping off points compositionally.

Describe your sound:
Our sound is an synthesis of our influences with the focus on cohesion. This is achieved by mixing those influences in a way that sounds fresh and exciting to us. Thoren will go through many different sounds and styles through the multiple releases that have already been written and are waiting to be recorded. The common thread is the vibe of the music which will always be dark.

What's next for Thoren?
In the near future for Thoren is our first full length release tentatively titled Brennanberg. It is ominous, dark, jagged, dissonant, slower, groovier, and much more atmospheric that the debut EP. It has numerous interludes that will tie longer, more epic tracks together. Also, unlike the debut, it will feature the superb drumming of Christopher Burrows instead of drum machine. Thoren is always writing, has many other releases planned, and is always hard at work so stay tuned.

http://thoren.bandcamp.com/

Viajando - Counting Days EP
Charlotte, NC

Band Members:
Taylor - Vox/Drums
Nick – Guitar
Justin - Bass

Influences:
Too many. Torche, Baroness, Isis, ETID, Black Flag, Band of Horses, QOTSA, Cursed, Grails

Describe your sound:
Loud and Heavy

What’s next for Viajando?
Gettin’ the fuck out of NC and seeing what the rest of the world has to show us!

http://viajando.bandcamp.com/

Zaria - Po poti življenja
Medvode, Slovenia

Band Members:
Inez Osina - Vocals, Flute
Nika Kos – Drums
Miha Merc - Guitars
Jakob Konda – Guitars, Vocals
Gašper Pesek – Keyboards, Vocals
Rok Ražman - Bass

Influences:
Nightwish, Ensiferum, Eluveitie, Hans Zimmer, Equilibrium, Epica

Describe your sound:
Whole music is very melodic. We like natural sounds of instruments - especially flute and violin, which bring us very folky sound. We have mainly female vocals, but also vocals from Jakob and Gašper, to make all music more colorful. We have some very epic sounding parts, that is why we name ourselves as epic-folk metal.

What’s next for Zaria?
Making new music, searching for new ideas, crate new songs and bring them to live one day on another album. We also wish for more concerts and to have more opportunities to present ourselves also outside Slovenia. We'll follow our Star and see where it'll bring us :)

http://zaria-band.bandcamp.com/

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This Week's Recommended New Releases...

4/1/2015

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This week's recommended new releases (03/31/15):
[Click on band name for samples and more info]

Blackout - Blackout (RidingEasy)

Second album from Brooklyn stoner/doom trio.

Pombagira - Flesh Throne Press (Svart)

Sixth album from London stoner/doom duo.

Spectral Darkwave - First Last Contact (Occidental)

Debut album from london symphonic doom/death trio.

Ufomammut - Ecate (Neurot)

Ninth album from Itailan psychedelic stoner/doom trio.

Editor's note: Due to my travel schedule, I wasn't able to prepare proper reviews this week. That's a shame because these are all killer releases and I'd like to give them their due. That being said, I didn't want to rush my reviews and/or hold off until the weekend to spread the word on these fantastic new albums. Have a listen and feel free to post your own review in the comment section below. Cheers- JO

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This Week's Recommended New Releases...

This Week's Recommended New Releases...

This Week's Recommended New Releases...

This Week's Recommended New Releases...

Unsigned Bands of the Month - April, 2015

This Week's Recommended New Releases...

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