Archive for September, 2011

Album of the day: Freedom Hawk – Holding On

Posted on Saturday, September 17th, 2011

Lovingly pinched from The Obelisk: Virginian four-piece Freedom Hawk began to carve their name on the American riffy consciousness with 2009’s self-titled full-length, released by MeteorCity. That album earned generally favorable comparisons to Fu Manchu (from me as well), and on the follow-up, Holding On, the double-guitar unit maintain that smoothly-grooved sensibility, adding to it more memorable songwriting and a vocal approach from guitarist T.R. Morton that inherently reminds of Ozzy Osbourne’s early solo work in both cadence and tone.

On first listen, that’s going to be what most stands out about Holding On. The production of Vince Burke (Beaten Back to Pure), who also helmed the self-titled, and the mix of Small Stone’s house engineer Benny Grotto of Mad Oak Studios push Morton’s vocals to the fore, and whether it’s ‘Faded’ bringing to mind Diary of a Madman with its backing track later on the album or the earlier ‘Living for Days’ copping a feel off  Bark at the Moon, Freedom Hawk have a clarity of purpose in their use of the Ozzy influence that’s hard to ignore.

It’s a twist on, “Well, if it was good enough for Sabbath” , and to Morton’s credit, he’s able to pull off the style better than anyone I’ve heard in the genre since Sheavy’s Steve Hennessey, and able to do it while also busting out a slew of quality riffs on which Holding On’s 13 tracks are based.

Continue reading: The Obelisk » Blog Archive » Freedom Hawk, Holding On: Living for the Magic Lady.
Courtesy of JJ Koczan / The Obelisk

Tags: Album of the day, Benny Grotto, Freedom Hawk, Holding On, Mad Oak Studios, small stone records, Stonerrock, T.R. Morton, Vince Burke
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Album of the day: Isis – Live V

Posted on Friday, September 16th, 2011

Lovingly pinched from Sea of Tranquility: Isis is one that harder to categorize bands I’ve reviewed. With every release they evolved and altered their sound. Generally lumped in with post-rock  /post-metal and hardcore metal bands, they do draw from those influences while still adding their own stamp. Live V is ...read more

Legendary Doom Pioneers The Obsessed To Reunite For Roadburn Festival 2012

Posted on Thursday, September 15th, 2011

Roadburn is elated to announce that legendary doom pioneers The Obsessed will reunite to play the Roadburn Festival on Saturday, 14 April 2012. The band will be featuring the lineup from The Church Within; Scott “Wino” Weinrich on guitar/vocals, Greg Rogers (Goatsnake, Sonic Medusa) on drums and Guy Pinhas (Acid ...read more

Album of the day: Omega Massif – Karpatia

Posted on Thursday, September 15th, 2011

Lovingly pinched from A Wrenaissance of Music: Omega Massif craft another round of dark soundscapes on their second release Karpatia. They create contrasts between thundering low-end, and streaking gliding high-end sounds. The bass and drums comprise the rock & dirt, while the guitars are the fog & sky. The guitars ...read more

Kink X-Rated Roadburn Radio: 8pm to 11pm CET (Get Ready For The Broadcast of Wolves In The Throne Room’s Performance at Roadburn 2008)

Posted on Thursday, September 15th, 2011

Here is our playlist for this week’s Roadburn Radio on Kink X-Rated. Tune in from 8pm to 11pm CET (2pm EST / 11am PST) and listen to the latest sounds from the underground and the bands that inspire us as we work on next year’s Roadburn festival. And get ready ...read more

Agalloch, Sólstafir and 40 Watt Sun Confirmed for Roadburn Festival 2012

Posted on Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

Roadburn Headquarters is really excited to report that Agalloch, Sólstafir and 40 Watt Sun have been confirmed for Roadburn Festival 2012. Portland, Oregon’s Agalloch will bring their sweeping sonic landscapes conjuring desolate forests, icy waters and fire emerging from fog to Roadburn‘s main stage on Thursday, 12 April. The band’s ...read more

Album of the day: Mars Red Sky – Mars Red Sky

Posted on Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

Lovingly pinched from The Obelisk: Making their home in the rich dirt of France’s Bordeaux region, the trio Mars Red Sky specialize in gorgeously-toned and natural-sounding fuzz that comes on huge and overwhelming, but is rife also with engaging melody and psychedelic flourish. Guitarist Julien Pras (also Calc) is like ...read more

Sólstafir: New Track Available For Download

Posted on Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

Today, SoM hosts an exclusive premiere of ‘Fjara’ from Iceland’s very own Sólstafir. The song comes off the band’s upcoming Svartir Sandar full-length, set for release via Season of Mist on October 14th (October 18th in the US). Download ‘Fjara’ here or listen below.

d.USK (diSEMBOWELMENT) To Play Transcendence into the Peripheral at Roadburn 2012

Posted on Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

Roadburn is honored and proud to welcome for their first ever European performance, d.USK, the final embodiment of diSEMBOWELMENT, whom will play an exclusive set of diSEMBOWELMENT’s legendary funeral doom opus, Transcendence into the Peripheral. Commented guitarist Matthew Skarajew, “We feel that presenting “Trancendence into the Peripheral” in its entirety ...read more

Album of the day: Hank3 – Ghost to A Ghost / Gutter Town / Attention Deficit Domination / Cattle Callin’

Posted on Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

Lovingly pinched from antiMusic: Hank Williams III, son of Hank “Bocephus” Williams Jr. and grandson of the legendary Hank Williams has released more material in one day than many artists release in a decade or for that matter, a career. Hank3 has recently changed labels, he’s now with Megaforce, and ...read more