Archive for September, 2012

Album of the day: Jodis – Black Curtain

Posted on Sunday, September 30th, 2012

Lovingly pinched from Hammer Smashed Sound: In case you’re not familiar with this project, Jodis consists of Aaron Turner (Isis, Mamiffer, Old Man Gloom, House of Low Culture, Lotus Eaters, etc.), James Plotkin (Khanate, O.L.D.), and Tim Wyskida (Khanate, Blind Idiot God); Their first album, Secret House, was released by Hydra Head on CD and 2xLP in 2009, and though the members are perhaps best known for their metal exploits, the album was decidedly un-metal in its approach to creating heavy music.

Though distorted guitars played an important part in the sound of Secret House, the aim was to go in a more minimalist direction, using space and quiet to enhance the mood. The end product was a solid record, though at times it seemed a bit sluggish and meandered aimlessly a little too much. The potential was there, however, and I had high hopes that another record might be able to better harness the limitless creative capacities of the individual members of the band.

Black Curtain is the title of the new LP, out on October 2nd via Hydra Head, and it definitely delivers on the promise of the debut. While the approach is pretty much the same, the new album seems more focused, with a more defined purpose. The heavy guitars and minimalist approach again play an integral part in creating these songs, but the atmosphere here is easier to grasp, and some well-placed drums create a more welcoming yet powerful environment. The vocals are also more soulful, more emotional, more inviting and alluring, and contribute heavily to the more refined sound on this record.

Continue reading: Hammer Smashed Sound: Jodis, Black Curtain LP

Tags: aaron turner, Album of the day, Black Curtain, Hammer Smashed Sound, hydra head, James Plotkin, Jodis, Tim Wyskida
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BBC Documentary: Sweet Home Alabama – The Southern Rock Saga (Watch Online)

Posted on Sunday, September 30th, 2012

Watch this BBC documentary about the rise of Southern Rock in the 1970’s, featuring The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Charlie Daniels, Marshall Tucker, .38 Special and more. But lest you think that this is some jingoistic redneck fantasy – they remind us that the long-haired hippie songsters were not welcome ...read more

Album of the day: Litmus – Slaughterbahn

Posted on Saturday, September 29th, 2012

Lovingly pinched from The Obelisk: After two celebrated albums through Rise Above Records, London-based space proggers Litmus return to self-releasing with their fourth full-length, Slaughterbahn. The album finds the unit no less Hawkwindian than ever, heavy doses of mellotron bringing out a King Crimson-esque feel on songs like ‘Kommissar’ and ...read more

Album of the day: Orchid – Heretic (EP)

Posted on Friday, September 28th, 2012

Lovingly pinched from The Sleeping Shaman: If you’re looking for a band that encapsulates that warm, bluesy feel of 70s hard rock whilst avoiding being an exact replica, Orchid wouldn’t be a bad place to start. Their fuzzy, honest take on the typical doom sound has won round elitists and ...read more

Album of the day: Aluk Todolo – Occult Rock

Posted on Thursday, September 27th, 2012

Lovingly pinched from Pitchfork: For better and worse, audacity is an essential aspect of Aluk Todolo. After all, for the bulk of the last decade, the French trio of black metal veterans has attempted an unwieldy mission– to set the dark sounds of their past to the typically kaleidoscopic expanses ...read more

Album of the day: Rangda – Formerly Extinct

Posted on Wednesday, September 26th, 2012

Praise for Rangda‘s Formerly Extinct from San Francisco’s aQuarius Records: Record number two from this psychedelic super group, and like we mentioned in our review of their debut, just knowing the players will get most people to flip out and buy it, sounds unheard. Those players being Sir Richard Bishop of ...read more

Album of the day: Dysrhythmia – Test Of Submission

Posted on Tuesday, September 25th, 2012

Praise for Dysrhythmia‘s Test Of Submission from San Francisco’s aQuarius Records: It’s been a while since we’ve heard from NY math / post / prog metallers Dysrhythmia, but we’re happy to report that very little has changed in the years since 2009′s Psychic Maps (which for some reason we never ...read more

Mr. Peter Hayden To Bring Their Lygergic Post-Metal / Space Rock To Roadburn 2013

Posted on Monday, September 24th, 2012

We’re very pleased to announce that elusive Finnish psychedelic crushers Mr. Peter Hayden will bring their lysergically elliptical planetary travelogues to Roadburn Festival 2013 on Saturday, April 20th at the 013 venue in Tilburg, Holland. Mr Peter Hayden‘s post-metal-infused space-rock is comprised of intertwining movements built from long progressive builds ...read more

Album of the day: The Secret – Agnus Dei

Posted on Monday, September 24th, 2012

Lovingly pinched from ThisIsNotAScene: Southern Lord just keeps rolling. This time they offer the fourth album by The Secret, Agnus Dei. No one can ever accuse Southern Lord of coloring inside the lines, in fact it seems at times they go out of their way to blacken everything outside of ...read more

Monday Song: Oholics – Last Stoned Monday

Posted on Monday, September 24th, 2012

Every Monday morning we’ll post a kick-ass song to get your week going.