BLIND DOG - "THE LAST ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN DOG"
[ CD -Meteorcity ]
From the first track "Thundergroove" to the last "Sun", Swedens Blind Dogtake you on versatile musical journey in the way that Captain Beyond did ontheir first (and best) album. Blind Dog might differ a lot from CaptainBeyond musically, but they switch from heavy to soft in the same kinda way.Another band that comes to mind is Spiritual Beggars (also from Halmstad,Sweden). The difference between these two bands is that the Beggars are allheavy all the time, and Blind Dog traverse the landscape of riff-rock;acoustic to bludgeoningly heavy. Besides the standard rawk instrumentation,Blind Dog make use of occasional organ and harmonica, and augment it withvocals that move from subte harmonies to trash-metal heaviness.
BORGO PASS - "POWERED BY SLUDGE"
[ CD -Loudbelly Music ]
A heavy as hell, kick ass doom assault by one of America's grooviest sludgebands. Fans of Eyehategod, WarHorse and The Obsessed will return to the darkeve of despair. A definite slickness marks the Borgo sound making them moreaccessible to neophyte riff rock fans.
CATHEDRAL - "GARGOYLIAN / EARTH IN THE GRIP OF A SKELETAL HAND"
[7" - Southern Lord Recordings]
Bloody hell! As if the amazing "Endtyme" wasn't enough, Cathedral also havethis mammoth 7" out on Southern Lord. Sounds like it could have come fromthe same sessions as "Endtyme" and marks the renaissance of one of theoriginal and best stoner bands. Gargoylian sounds like this: Doom! Doom!RRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIFFFFFFFF! "Earth in the grip of a skeletal hand" is astraight out punkified adrenaline rush that crashes to a halt and then TonyIommi worship commences. Essential.
CHURCH OF MISERY - "MASTER OF BRUTALITY"
[CD - Southern Lord Recordings]
COM is back with their first full length since getting a new singer. With aname like "Master of Brutality" you're gonna figure that they do the Sabbathworship thing. And you'd be right. They also throw in elements of Clutch andAnti-Seen and a weird spaced out vibe as well. I have to admit this recordis a bit of a grower and my initial reaction was that it wasn't too keen.This has since been rectified, and now I salute the super distortedriff-fest with my biggest bong. The production on this record soundsfantastic! The new singer sounds like a cross between Neil from Clutch andLemmy. It's quite a difference if you're a fan of old COM, but like me,you'll probably get used to it and come to realize this is a kick-assrecord.
COLOUR HAZE - "CO2"
[CD-EP - Monster Zero records]
German groovesters' first 6 track release. Multi-layered and varied, from subtle spacy jams to intense slabs of heavy rock with a refreshing taste of its own. Definitely one of the most promising releases to emerge from the German scene lately.
COWBOYS AND ALIENS | "A TRIP TO STONEHENGE COLONY"
[CD - Buzzville Records]
Combining elements of Kyuss and Unida, Cowboys and Aliens pack thick riffs and solos and rev up their engines for an endless journey. A groovy trip through the vast deserts of Belgium by four cats lookin' for classic cars, wide open spaces, beer and buds.Contact: alienmanagement@hotmail.com
CROATAN | "CURSE OF THE RED QUEEN"
[CD - Man's Ruin Records]
Croatan are a husband and wife two-piece band, which makes them very unique in the genre of heavy noise rock. Jenny wields the guitar and handles vocal duties (at times sounding like Karen Crisis without the inhuman rage) and Mark is the drummer. Alternates between skree noise in the vein of Unsane and Barkmarket, and melodic, edgy hard rock. Catchy riffs keep your attention long enough for your head to be pummeled by the next noise onslaught. Contains one of the great song titles ever, "Gravity 1, Sisyphus 0".
DEAD MEADOW | "DEAD MEADOW" [ CD - Tolotta Records ]
Moments of sheer brilliance permeates this uneven debut. Not widdly-widdlytechnical brilliance, but brilliant sounding songs. Dead Meadow hail fromthe doomopolis of the D.C. area and they definitely share a vibe with SpiritCaravan, but with a psychededic blues jam emphasis. Highlights: guitar toneof the first order, gorgeous sustained notes, interesting as hell basslines, innovative songwriting. Lowlights: weird indie-rock songs that arecompletely out of place, flaccid singing. Overall effect: coming close toawesomeness. They already have another record in the can that will be out inSeptember, and are working on their third as you read this. I'm keeping myfingers crossed, this band could be the shit!
DOZER | "MADRE DE DIOS"
[CD - Man's Ruin Records]
Dozer hail from Sweden and this is their second Man's Ruin release. Once again, their eerily accurate Kyuss reproduction is flawlessy executed, this time with an over-the-top space theme. Madre De Dios (mother of god, in spanish) is tight and hard with fuzzy edges and a rock solid rhythm section. This is the record to play when your copy of "Blues for the Red Sun" is on loan to a friend.
DRUNKHORSE | "TANNING SALON/BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS"
[CD - Man's Ruin Records]
An odd record that is actually two mini records released on one cd. Drunkhorseseems to find inspiration in bands like ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd and StickyFingers-era Rolling Stones. In short, they offer up good-time hard-drinkingrawk. They spice it up with occasional doses of woozy keyboards, exoticinstrumentation (Thai gong) and ambient-jazz interludes. Maybe because I've seenthem live, I can't shake the feeling that this recording doesn't do their energyand groove enough justice. Recommended, nonetheless. I would call thestretched-out, textural "is, was...(and ever shall be)" a 'must hear'.
ELEKTRIK MISTRESS | "S/T"
[CD -Echo Relations ]
Drawing influences from modern rockers like Queens of The Stone Age, HenryRollins and Fu Manchu, Elektrik Mistress aren't afraid to look back at theheavy 70's either. With additional inspiration from Rush, Van Halen andBlack Sabbath, these Canadians, formely known as Peacemaker, serve up aplatter of heavy space-age rock. Armed with psychedelic riffs and grindinggrooves, attached to 11 songs solid and trippy enough to drop tons of acidand send you into the stratosphere. Flashes of Hendrix-style guitar collidewith thunderous basslines and tribal rhythms. Has all the earmarks of beinga great live band.
GASCOINE | "STORIES OF MAJOR TROUBLE DIRTY..."
[10" - Loudsprecher]
Launched in 1998, Germany's Gascoine deliver a solid slab of Teutonic stonerrock; deep, intense and heavy. Like a steamroller, the four piece startswith the ruins of 70's era Black Sabbath, take a Saint Vitus turn, and addit to their own brand of 'Shwermut' heaviness. Spice is added courtesy ofthe sounds of late 80's NYC hardcore (Agnostic Front) and Malfunkshun-stylegrunge.
GENEROUS MARIA/SKUA | SPLIT CD
[CD - Alone Records]
Spain's Alone Records latest release is a split CD from two Swedish stonerrock bands. Generous Maria (hailing from Gotheborg) play 70's influenced rock. Skua (from Stockholm) deliver fuzzy rock 'n roll. Both bands offer solid songwriting and plenty of groove - but each with a different sound and their own musical identity.
HALFWAY TO GONE | "HIGH FIVE"
[ CD - Small Stone Records ]
This is Halfway To Gone's debut full-length. The new band of formerSolarized member Lou Gorra deals out thick slabs of high amperage stonerenergy. The songs sport lots of lyrics about partying (duh!), huge tightriffs and a twist of southern hospitality. For about half the record this isas good as it gets, then it kind of hits a plateau and becomes just plaingood. Pleasing raspy vocals with a twang and swagger top off the package.Good stuff!
HANGNAIL | "CLOUDS IN THE HEAD"
[ CD -Rise Above records ]
For their debut album "Ten Days Before Summer", Hangnail were indebted towhat many consider to be the best rock bands of all time: Free, BlackSabbath, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin and Motorhead. The same goes for their newesteffort, named "Clouds In The Head." The result is a good ol' rock album thatsounds both heavy and rather commercial. From the heads down, riff rockbludgeon of "Slow Head", via "That There Soul" (where singer Harry duetswith Orange Goblin's Ben Ward) to the laid back trippiness of "The Watcher",it's very clear that Hangnail intends to keep the spirit of classic rockalive.
HEAVY LIQUID | "S/T"
[ Demo -Buzzbomb Music ]
Heavy Liquid is a New Jersey band that makes underground revolutionary spacerock. This 3-song single, produced by Monster Magnet's Phil Caivano, is mixof raw acid rock fused with elements of The Cult and Zodiac Mindwarp.
buzzbomb6913@aol.com.
Hellfueled | "Demo 5"
[ CD-R -Hellfueled Productions ]
Hellfueled are a hard-playing high-octane rock 'n roll band from Sweden withmembers that seem to be on an IV drip of staight hard liquor. Hellfueledhave a sound that is explosive, diesel-powered, primal, and yet very groovy, and makes you wanna open several six packs at the same time. Hell fueled orliquor feuled? You decide. hellfueled@hotmail.com.
JPT SCARE BAND | "SLEEPING SICKNESS"
[CD - Monster Records]
Authentic stoned rock by this 70's power trio. Sleeping Sickness features most of the songs from JPT Scare Band's long out of print vinyl releases; "Acid Acetate Excursion" and "Rape of Titan's Sirens." This album is an homage to guitar greats like John McLaughin, Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix byanother forgotten 70's guitar hero -- Terry Swope.
LAMONT | "POPULATION 3"
[ CD -Curve of the Earth ]
Heavy guitar-driven rock music by one of Boston's finest power trios. Lamont's myriad influences permeate "Population 3" -- AC/DC, Motorhead, ZZ-Top,Speedealer, Zeke, and even a little surf and country are thrown into theblistering atmosphere. With wonderfully cheesy metal lyrics, Lamont is apowerful counter attack on today's contrived angst-ridden crap.
MACHINEGUN | "S/T"
[CD - People Like You Records]
Machinegun, formed out of the ashes of Jon Cougar Concentration Camp by Chris Fields, serves up a platter of full-throttle, head-on-collision rawk 'n roll. To put it plain and simple: blistering lead guitars, down and dirty as hell lead vocals and a rhythm section that thunders like AC/DC on speed. All this is played by men clad in black leather and torn jeans with tattooed arms and greasy hair. Expect nothing less than Zeke and The Supersuckers having an orgy while heavily drinkin' and snortin' with The Hellacopters.
MANTARAY KD | "RED LIGHT DISTRICT"
[ CD - People Like You records]
Straight up seventies hard rock with touches of good ol' aggressive rock 'nroll punk; raw, fast and yet melodious. 8 high energy rawk 'n roll songsthat makes you wanna drink gallons of Jack D. The perfect soundtrack forsome saturday night action down at the cruisin' strip.
NUCLEUS | "F.T.W."
[CD - People Like You records]
Nucleus, hailing from NYC, plays hard-edged rock music. Their good-time music is influenced by the likes of Bad Company, Deep Purple, Steppenwolf , Free and Cream. File this four track EP down south next to Down, Clearlight and C.O.C.
OPERATOR:GENERATOR | "POLAR FLEET"
[CD - Man's Ruin Records]
New band featuring one-time Asbestos Death member Thomas Choi. The other three members of Asbestos Death went on to form the band Sleep. Choi has been involved with a few bands since then, most notably the highly underrated It Is I. Operator Generator serves up heavy riffrock with a very clean production style that makes it sound almost pop-like, despite its heaviness. With standout vocals, this is a promising debut.
PLACE OF SKULLS - LIVE
[CD - www.placeofskulls.com]
Enormous riffs of doom, created by Pentagram's Victor Griffin. Ten tracks of doom-filled despair, recorded at The Prince, Knoxville on 12/8/00. These excellent quality live recordings are available for $10. Send CD requests to: Place of Skulls or: placeofskulls@msn.com c/o Anne Griffin, 5111 E. Sunset Rd. Knoxville, TN. 37914 U.S.A.
PUNY HUMAN | "REVENGE IS EASY"
[CD - Small Stone Records]
Puny Human hails from New York City, and is on a quest for the re-birth of rawk 'n roll --a sound that combines seventies style acid rock, and sheer power of the nineties. "Revenge is Easy" is a mix of raw power, fused with elements of punk rock and metal, and influenced by the likes of Black Flag,Clutch, Motorhead, Alabama Thunderpussy and Black Sabbath.
RAGING SLAB | "THE DEALER"
[CD - TeePee Records]
Although it has been at least a half-dozen years since PA-based Southern rockers Raging Slab have released anything new, their album The Dealer is a great return to form, if you like this style of boogie rock. It always seemed the band was a little behind the times: their riff heavy guitar rock had a lot more to do with the sounds of the mid-'70s than the early '90s. But with the current interest in heavy riff rock at a peak, thanks to bands such as Fu Manchu and Queens of the Stone Age, timing could not be betterfor a new Raging Slab release. Musically, not much has changed - guitar heavy rock music that has a little bit of swing to it. One band in particular that Raging Slab is quite close to musically is Royal Trux,although I am sure fans of both bands will never admit to just how similar the two sound. Unlike the Trux, however, Slab rarely changes too radically from album to album. Which means, depending on where you sit, this is either another in a long line of solid records or something you can live without. It really shows how hogwash imitators like Nashville Pussy are nothing more than a novelty --Sean Palmerston
RED AIM | "SAARTANIC CLUTTYDOGS"
[CD - People Like You Records]
With their second full-length "Saartanic Cluttydogs", Red Aim walk the path of psychedelic and strange atmospheres. These four young, dusty Germans definitely know how to combine loud, heavy riffing with, mind altering psychedelica. Touches on the sounds of Karma To Burn, Kyuss and Alice In Chains.
RESIDUE | Demo
[CDR - http://residue.musicpage.com]
Reincarnation of Alabama sludgelordz Molehill, rising like a phoenix from the very depths of hell.Although the scorched wastelands of its ancestor have been fertilized with a few melodic overtones, these five boulders of brutality hit you where it hurts most.
ROACHPOWDER | "ATOMIC CHURCH"
[ CD - The Music Cartel ]
What a difference an album makes! Roachpowder went from sounding like Downon "Viejo Diablo" to sounding like a cross between Monster Magnet andNebula. Very curious how these Swedes resemble a musical chameleon. There'splenty good rock here, nothing earthshaking in terms of originality butplenty of wallshaking guitar buttressed by a bludgeoning rhythm section. Theheaviness is broken up by spacy interludes, to give your head time to heal.
SANTORO | "S/T"
[ CD -People Like You Records ]
Santoro, produced by Natas-guitarist Sergio, unveil the Argentinianlandscape --a feelin' of dust, wind and solitude. It's not surprising thatSantoro's musical approach features laid back and mellow grooves combinedwith serious heavy riffage. The intricate guitar parts bear a resemblance tothe legendary Kyuss. In a world of Kyuss copycats this can sometimes be anunsettling experience, but due to their own creativity, Santoro recorded analbum that is unique. This comes as a welcome relief, and an invitation tocome together with people from other places and cultures and experience therock that moves us all.
SILVER BULLET | "CITIZEN BIRD"
[ CD -Mons records ]
Silver Bullet's debut started them off at a cranking pace with musicalreferences to Iggy and The Stooges. Their new album "Citizen Bird" brings amore complete picture to the band. Listening to if feels like a mindaltering trip that takes you through 60's psychedelica, classic rock, rock'n roll, and 80's new wave bombastica. Citizen Bird might make you drowsybut you'll be in a very good mood.
SIR HEDGEHOG | S/T"
[CD - www.gameaction.com/hedgehog]
2001 brings the release of Sir Hedgehog's official debut album. A nod to the best hard rock of the past three decades, their self titled release is melodic with heavy guitars, piercing screams and Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin all making their prescence felt. Has all the earmarks of being a great live act...Info: sirhedgehog@hotmail.com
SIX SIGMA | THE SPIRIT IS GONE"
[CD - Etherdrag Records]
Six Sigma have set out on a journey that travels from the mind-numbing valleys of groove to the holy mountains of fuzz. This three-piece band was launched in the summer of '99 and delivers "The Spirit is Gone" complete with purple shag carpet, naugahyde upholstery, and cue-ball stick shifter. Let's go Vanning! Visit the band at www.sigmamusic.com
SLOTH - "THE VOICE OF GOD
[CD - Eccentric Man]
One of England's heaviest bands: dark, twisted, mind-altering and heavy on the volume. Fans of Sabbath, Cathedral, Electric Wizard and WarHorse will once again bow to the power of the lysergic riff.
Contact: www.the-sloth.com or sloth_of_doom@hotmail.com
SOCIETYS BURDEN | "TEN TALES FROM HELL'S TRAILER PARK"
[CD - www.societysburden.com]
Better known as the Bastard Sons of Sin & Hate, Societys Burden are focused on corrupting as many people as possible. Their second full-length "Ten Tales From Hell's Trailer Park" is a raw and nihilistic rock assault featuring mountains of low end noise and rumble. Created while drinking Satan's unholy body fluids in an attempt to corrupt the Bible Belt.Contact: societysburden@mailandnews.com
SOULPREACHER | "WHEN THE BLACK SUN RISES THE HOLYMEN BURN"
[CD - Beserker Records/Game Two]
SoulPreacher combine elements of Electric Wizard and EyeHateGod with Hawkwind and 70's rock twisting doom-out Heaviness with psychedelic overtones into very raw and powerful doom-metal. Sick, dying lyrics are screamed over an apocalyptic wall of sludge, volume and feedback. Not for the weak hearted or broken souls.
Contact: soulpreacher@usa.net
SPARZANZA | "S/T"
[ CD-R - Speedball Entertainment ]
Sparzanza come from Karlstad Sweden and definitely love 70's style hardrock. This three song CD-R gives a small taste of the band's stoned heavyrocking: classic rock riffs, powerful vocals and swirling guitars.Sparzanza is currently looking for a record deal: Speedball Entertainment,Verkstadsgatan 1, 652 19 Karlstad, Sweden.
Check out fly.to/sparzanza.
SUNRIDE | "THE GREAT INFILTRATION"
[CD - People Like You Records]
Second album by Finnish purveyors of aggressive and detuned riffrock. The Great Infiltration continues where their debut album "Magnetizer" left off. Sunride produce full throttle rock n roll like Powertrip-era Monster Magnet. The overall feel of "The Great Infiltration" is relaxed without sacrificing any heaviness or power. One of the better bands on this label.
TAILDRAGGER | "ANYWHERE NOWHERE"
[CD - Paradigm Shift Records: www.taildraggerrocks.com]
Chicken-fried boogie steak topped with a slice of blues rock. Found somewhere between Gov't Mule, ZZ-Top, Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd, Taildragger will take you on a mind-bending, whiskey-soaked trip through rural America.
Contact: info@taildraggerrocks.com
THROTTLEROD | EASTBOUND & DOWN"
[CD - Underdogma]
South Carolina's Throttlerod play Sabbath-inspired riff rock, combining acid drenched riffs with emotional, powerful vocals. File it somewhere between Clutch, Sabbath, Helmet and C.O.C. Their debut, Eastbound and Down is a happy fix for all riffrock junkies. Doesn't capture the band's live energy and spirit, although it comes close.Contact: throttlerod@hotmail.com or http://members.xoom.com.throttlerod
ZEBULON | "VOLUME I"
[CD - People Like You Records]
Sweden's Zebulon has risen from the ashes of Desultory, and back in 1999 the band recorded their self titled 10" which had some nice "high" points. Like that 10", this is a full frontal assault of turbo-charged rock 'n roll at its very best, topped off with adequate sandpaper vocals. Zebulon's debut full-length, Volume I, features ten hard hitting tracks, showcased by massive production.
ZEROCHARISMA | "Flip The Man"
[CD-EP - Monster Zero records]
First 5 track EP by this ultrafuzzy Finnish band on the German Monster Zero label, with good measures of Fu Manchu and Unida thrown in.
V/A | "BURNED DOWN TO ZERO"
[CD - Daredevil / Monster Zero records]
A joint effort of these two German stonergroove labels containing a selection unreleased material by Mustasch, Ridge, Adrenalin 42 and previously released tracks from 7"es by Mothercake, 500 ft. of Pipe and Astroqueen (among others).
V/A | "DOOMED"
[CD - This Dark Reign Recordings]
Doomed is the debut release from This Dark Reign Recordings, and is a 3 CD set featuring 44 of the worlds best and soon-to-be most notorious stoner, sludge and doom metal bands. Doomed features tracks by Cathedral ("Mourning of a New Day") and Electric Wizard ("Devil's Bride"), and includes bands like Black Rock, Atomic Bitchwax, Five Horse Johnson, Solace, The Want, Pod People, Orange Goblin and more. A very comprehensive compilation... one of the best of its kind. Hats off to This Dark Reign Recordings.
|
