Archive for November, 2011

Album of the day: Junius – Reports From The Threshold Of Death

Posted on Sunday, November 6th, 2011

Praise for Junius‘ Reports From The Threshold Of Death from San Francisco’s aQuarius Records: We first heard Boston post metal heavies on a recent split with fellow post metallers Rosetta, and were surprised by just how UNmetal these guys were.

They’re still heavy, but more like Katatonia or ‘Radiohead’ era Cave In, bombastic and epic, majestic and yeah, heavy, but clean vocals, soaring and dramatic (right down to some hazy dreamy female backup vox). The songs proggy and sprawling, unfurling brooding dramatic slow build verses, that build to massive crushing choruses, but never getting fully metal, instead blossoming into some sort of epic doom pop.  The sound is a bit mathy too, and weirdly enough, some of the tracks remind us of Three Mile Pilot, albeit a much more metallic version, but the phrasing and hypnotic rhythms definitely draw from the same sonic well.

As we mentioned in the review of that split with Rosetta, we can definitely see that this stuff might be too poppy and wimpy for a lot of metalheads, in fact, these guys opened up for some metal show here recently, and were definitely not appreciated, but hell, get these guys on a tour with Katatonia or Opeth or Lifelover, and people would be losing their mind.

And really, this stuff could and should be all over the radio, the songs are that good, the production massive, the sound incredible, just like Cave In, if there were any justice in the world, these guys would be huge. And honestly, we weren’t totally sold on these guys, but after a handful of listens, we find ourselves a little bit obsessed, playing this record like crazy.

So, recommended if you like your metal tempered with plenty of poppiness, or alternately if you can handle your pop music on the seriously heavy side. A new favorite for sure.

At 40 years old, Aquarius is the oldest independent record store in San Francisco. We try to only carry music we love, and we’re always searching for more new, cool, weird and wonderful music. All of which we then share with you, our loyal customers.

Tags: Album of the day, Aquarius Records, Junius, Post Metal, prosthetic records, Reports From The Threshold Of Death
Posted in 2011, Album of the Day, Roadburn Recommended | No Comments »

White Hills: Live at Roadburn 2011 Full Album Stream at Bandcamp

Posted on Sunday, November 6th, 2011

White Hills are currently streaming their new full-length, Live at Roadburn 2011, in its entirety on Burning World Records / Roadburn Records official Bandcamp page. Listen to While Hills’ Live at Roadburn 2011 in full HERE or use the media player below. The CD is scheduled for release in December ...read more

Album of the day: Danava – Hemisphere Of Shadows

Posted on Saturday, November 5th, 2011

Praise for Danava‘s Hemisphere Of Shadows from San Francisco’s aQuarius Records: It’s not really all that much fun writing a review of this new Danava album. What’s fun is listening to it, turned up loud… and maybe getting buzzed on a substance of choice whilst doing so. Whoo-hoo! Granted, that’s ...read more

Jess And The Ancient Ones: 13th Breath of the Zodiac Posted On Soundcloud

Posted on Saturday, November 5th, 2011

Hailing from Finland, occult rock newcomers Jess And The Ancient Ones have posted a track on Soundcloud.  The title-track  is culled from ther first 7″, 13th Breath of the Zodiac, out now on Svart Records.

Album of the day: The Bevis Frond – The Leaving of London

Posted on Friday, November 4th, 2011

Lovingly pinched from Scott’s Music Reviews: Nick Saloman is back with his first new Bevis Frond record in 7 years. His life was quite complex the last few years and he left London for Hastings and the lyrics are very inspired and thoughtful and the double vinyl version is very ...read more

Barn Owl To Play Roadburn Festival 2012

Posted on Friday, November 4th, 2011

We’re thrilled to announce that Bay Area’s Barn Owl has been confirmed for Roadburn Festival 2012, playing the Midi Theatre in Tilburg, Holland on Friday, April 13th. Barn Owl is guitarist Jon Porras and guitarist Evan K. Caminiti. Together they create dialogue between imagination and reality through wandering soundscapes, using ...read more

The Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation added to Roadburn Festival 2012 Afterburner Event

Posted on Friday, November 4th, 2011

Using organic improvisational techniques, The Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation are an improv sideline of members of The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble (who were among the absolute highlights of this years festival). Coming at their improvised ambient jazz from a more drone/doom-informed angle than that of their parental unit, TMFDJC revolves around ...read more

Gothic Psychedelia Newcomers Purson Confirmed For Roadburn Festival 2012

Posted on Friday, November 4th, 2011

We are ecstatic to announce that London-based gothic psychedelia newcomers Purson have been added to the line-up for Roadburn Festival 2012. Named after a demon and fronted by the bewitching Rosalie Cunningham, Purson is the latest psychedelic proto-doom band with a mesmerizing female vocalist to cast a spell over everyone ...read more

Album of the day: Electric Moon / Glowsun – Sun and Moon Split

Posted on Thursday, November 3rd, 2011

Lovingly pinched from The Obelisk: Caked in a foamy, lysergic head, the Sun and Moon split between French and German psychedelic trios Glowsun and Electric Moon practically floats into the ears. It’s just five tracks, but both bands jam their way to just below 42 minutes on the limited 180 ...read more

Album of the day: Leviathan – True Traitor, True Whore

Posted on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

Lovingly pinched from The Inarguable: If there were to be a book written on black metal’s presence in the US, an entire volume would be dedicated to the works of one Jef Whitehead, better known as the enigmatic Wrest. Between his solo work in Leviathan and Lurker of Chalice as ...read more