ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY - "STARING AT THE DIVINE"
[ CD - Relapse / Suburban ]
Fueled with a desire to play dirty, moonshine-induced rawk 'n roll, Alabama Thunderpussy blaze ahead
with "Staring At The Divine", their first album for Relapse. ATP are just getting better and better
by the album; "Staring At The Divine" shows a considerable growth over its predecessor "Constellation" and
the split with Halfway To Gone. With decent-to-good songwriting, variety, a brickload of aggro, and do-it-yourself
work ethics under their belt, these hard liquor boys deliver their own brand of southern [hard] rock.
Lying somewhere between Skynyrd, Motorhead and Thin Lizzy, most of the songs gallop off into
relentless, bludgeoning riffs, twin guitar harmonies and hoarse, shouted vocals. Tracks like
"Twilight Arrival" and "Amounts That Count" explore new musical spaces and take Alabama Thunderpussy
up the country. However, there are some moments that ATP choose style over content, and it weakens
"Staring At The Divine" a bit. All in all though, it's a good soild rock album.
walter
THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX - "LIVE"
[ CDR - Nodzine ]
A somewhat rough live recording of a smoking Bitchwax set from 1999. The
lack of bass and overall compressed quality of the sound will limit the
appeal of this to only diehard TAB fans. For them, it is a document of a
night in time that they otherwise would be unlikely to hear. It is a bit
short in length (only 25 minutes) but there are bonus pictures and a band
bio included in the multimedia portion of the disc.
drew
THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX - "SPIT BLOOD"
[ CD - Meteorcity /
People Like You / Suburban ]
Rule number one: don't put a bad version of a cover song as the first track
on your album. Rule number two: you can break rule number one if the rest of
your record kicks ass. Not that TAB's version of "Dirty Deeds..." is bad,
but it's not good either.
Happily, starting from the blazing high octane riffs of "Liquor Queen" the rest of this disc is
the some of the best stuff that TAB has ever done. They manage to swap the affected 70's
boogie/cheeserock of their past for blazing riffrock TRUTH. There are riffs
everywhere here, in all shapes and speeds. TAB riffs out spacerock, hard
rock, psych rock and plain rock. "Cold Day in Hell", "Spit Blood" and "U
Want I" are simply the best songs TAB has committed to tape.
This CD also includes "Fly on the Wall" which is a documentary of the studio recording of
the record. The Nod Zine produced documentary is informative and an
excellent addition to this CD. As if all that wasn't enough, there is a
7-song Meteorcity sampler disc that comes with the CD.
drew
THE AWESOME MACHINE - "UNDER THE INFLUENCE"
[ CD -
People Like You / Suburban ]
"Under the Influence" is the latest release by Swedish stoners Awesome
Machine. The CD also features remastered tracks from an earlier, out
of print, record.
The Awesome Machine sound is basically downtuned, heavily fuzzed guitars
with a very Kyuss-esque feel to it. Josh Homme's spirit flows through
the guitarist's veins in terms of the solo sound and the heavy bottom-end
and rhythm section all intermingles in a style very reminiscent of the
last two Kyuss albums.
My first review of this album was basically along the lines of "this sounds
too derivative", but after several more listens, the tracks (although
you can spot the parentage) reveal themselves to be quite excellent -- with
several outstanding.
The opening three tracks are possibly the highpoint of the album providing
a heavy, unfussy, riff-fest. The vocalist, who I initially regarded with
a little suspicion, started growing on me quite a bit. He has his moments
of trying to sound a bit like John Garcia, but has a lot more venom in
his delivery which tends to keep things interesting.
There are 13 tracks on this album, and, guessing by the sound, 11 to 13 are
the old remastered tracks, perhaps also number 10. These tracks sound
simplistic in comparison to the material on offer earlier in the album
and don't add a great deal to the experience. In fact, they detract and
diminish the power of the album as a whole.
Obvious moments of copying are the Garcia-esque vocals on track 4 "Mother's
Gone", the utter Nirvana rip-off "One" (complete with lyrical "inspiration"
and Cobain impression) and the very Kyuss "Under the Veil". That aside,
the tracks are very good!
In short, this album surprised me is getting serious playing here. Best
played loud!
a.descartes
BEHEMOTH (ohio) - "BUFORD"
[ CD - Diaphragm Records ]
Yet another high octane, high alcohol content, american rock band. Some
tasty riffs here and a mixture of galloping punk-flavored rawk and southern
rock. This six song record is either a lengthy EP or a really short CD.
Either way, it's not bad, even despite a terrible kick drum sound (is that
drum head made out of metal?) and unremarkable gravel voiced vocals. The
songs could be a bit more original...
drew
BLACK ROCK - "CLUTCHING AT STRAWS"
[ CDEP - Threefold Records ]
Transforming a heavy rock record from ordinary to excellent -- that is what
really good songwriting does, and that is the strength of Black Rock. They
use a variety of writing tools to add interest to their strong selection of
riffs and succeed in producing a very good, diverse, HARD, rock record.
Excellent, strong vocals are part of their strength too. Strains of The Cult
(especially in the vox), ZZ Top and Sabbath can be heard in Black Rock's
music but they make it all their own. Using a wide range of tempos and
styles to embellish their fine grasp of groove, "Clutching at Straws" will
definitely win the band some interest.
They have a nice blend of 70's sensibilities that offers "legitimacy" to their rock, but they are
definitely a product of current times. It's fine music which transcends the
middling recording quality. Go get you some.
drew
BOTTOM - "FEELS
SO GOOD WHEN YOU'RE GONE"
[ CD - Rise Above Records / Suburban ]
Up from the fiercy bottom of NYC's Lower East, the all female rawk 'n roll
outfit Bottom release their second full length finally through Rise Above Records.
"Feels So Good When You're Gone" captures Bottom's explosive live-show, and
is thick with monster riffs and killer hooks. Its a platter of (primitive)
seventies riff rock, heavy groove and dark blues story telling. Vocalist
Sina spins a tale of sex, guns, violence and lust in the glamorous landscape
of hell. This is definitely the real thing.
walter
THE BROUGHT LOW - "S/T"
[ CD - Tee Pee Records / Suburban ]
The Brought Low serve up a deep fried slab of genuine southern rock. Listening to their self titled debut
full length, it's almost hard to believe that this power trio is actually from Brooklyn, and not from
beneath the Mason-Dixon line. They learned their trade playing along with NYC-punks like Murphy's Law
and Sweet Diesel. Surprising then, that "The Brought Low" oozes the soul of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the rare funk
of ZZ Top, Ted Nugent's guitar heroics, and the songcraft of contemporaries like The Black Crowes.
While the songs sport a retro atmosphere [other references are The Stones, The Who and vintage hard rock from
the heavy 70's], the overall sound of the album comes to fruition with today's recording technology. It's
dripping with the atmosphere of the deep south and the sheer gospel of the hardworking
man: a six pack, a good smoke, and having fun with your ladyfriend.
"The Brought Low" is the album that the Black Crowes should have made as a successor to the much
acclaimed "Southern Harmony & Musical Companion." Unfortunately they didn't; fortunately, The Brought
Low did. Top notch.
walter
COLOUR HAZE - "PERISCOPE"
[ CD - Self released ]
Combining the laid back desert blues of Kyuss, the magic mushroom elevation
of Natas and the guitarwork of Hendrix and Dead Meadow, Germany's Colour
Haze has a very good sense of what is going on in the world of psychedelic
rock. Colour Haze is very good at making long-stretched songs that build
slowly into a climax of pure hypnotic trance.
The shorter and faster songs, however sound much too average for sober consumption. Highlight of the album
is the boiling and exploding spacerock wild ride that is Periscope (Breit
Return). Originally released as a CD-R in 1999, "Persicope" will be out
on vinyl [ltd. edition - 500 copies] within a few months
xander77
COLT THIRTY-EIGHT - "A FREAK EXPERIMENT THROUGH THE 99TH DIMENSION"
[ CD - V.E.Recordings ] - Only available with Vincebus Eruptum magazine #6
This is a side project put together by members from That's All Folks, Acajou and Hogwash.
Right, an all-Italian get together it is. These studio sessions brought forth an ecclectic album that smoothly blends 60s psychedelia, movie scores, trip-hop-ish
instrumentals & barking dogs. The result is an exciting journey thru the wild-roaring sixties with an occasional sidestep to the near future.
It's obvious this bunch had fun committing each one of these tracks to tape. Very different & highly enjoyable.
Chris
COWBOYS & ALIENS - "LOVE SEX VOLUME"
[ CD - Buzzvile / Suburban ]
Yet another band that play stonerrock-by-the-numbers. Belgium's Cowboys & Aliens are ripping off the
Kyuss-songbook, and drive their muscle car through the famous Belgium heartland in search of buds, naked
women and sheer volume.
walter
THE CUMSHOTS - "LAST SONS OF EVIL"
[ CD - This Dark Reign ]
At last, the Norwegians are starting to make some riff rock noise. The
Cumshots have taken Entombed's "Wolverine Blues" as a literal template for
their crushing sound and songwriting. Purveyors of fine Death-n-Roll, this
massive 5 piece [featuring Thulsa Doom's El Doom on guitar] top off their
groove-laden sludge with Motorhead-inflected rawk. Each and every song on
"Last Sons of Evil" is heavy-as-hell and utterly bold; it's all about the
weight of the riffs here. It isn't your average porn music or lightweight
L.A. hair metal either, this is some serious headbanging stuff. Chugga
chugga chugga. Wo-ohh-ahh-ohh. Brrrrrr Brrrrrr Brrrrrrrrrrr!
walter
THE DAREDEVILS - "LOGANS RUN"
[ CD -
Self released ]
Jesus creeping Christ! What is it this time, that these bastard Germans have sent me? Another one of those bad
stoner trips fueled by enthousiasm but lacking The Truth. The Truth is a very hard nut to crack, but once you
understand what "IT" is, you know what I am talking about. "IT" is about understanding what you are doing
musically. Ordering the content. The Daredevils (out of the picturesque and beautiful Germany) gladden us with
a seven track disc nobody will be wanting to hear, except some publishing-crazy reviewer, the bandmembers, and
maybe some friends and grandmas.
The opener "Bob" is the worst song I've ever heard connected to Roadburn. It sounds like Fu Manchu if they
were deranged by massive ennui and could produce only creative emptiness. I feel a strong urge to use a
massive amount of cocaine while listening to this record. Maybe I might like it then -- when perception is altered
and The Truth is hidden behind a mask of ignorance. "Are you talking to me?", sings Jimmy Nobody with his
strongly German accent. This record is not ready for the big leap because it is way too much the work for
the true believer which, according to these recordings, turns out to be the official and probably
definitive amateur.
The only highlights are the instrumental "Rocket Chef" and the Hammond organ in "Losing Track". But that is
not enough. The rest of the material on offer is pretty decent demo material, but that is not going to cut it
in the densely populated field of stonerrock. It is also definitely not what is going to be labeled as Quality
in whatever magazine. The hammer is down and the decision is made!
xander77
DOWN II - "Bustle In Your Hedgerow"
[ CD -
Elektra/Time Warner /
Down Music ]
Well, its been a long wait hasn't it? It's been what, 7 years? 7 years since
Down unleashed the masterful "NOLA". 7 long years it has taken the boys from
Down to find time from their main projects like Pantera, Crowbar and
Eyehategod, to put out a new album. With that kind of wait when I found out
a few months ago that there was a follow up Down album in the works, I could
barely contain my excitement. I wish I could say my anticipation and nervous
fingernail biting was worth it. "What?!?!" I hear you exclaim, "Don't you
dare diss da Down!"
Well, I've listened to it at least 10 times and does have some great
musicianship and songs on it. But, there is a but. It's much slicker, less
punchy and has far less memorable songs present than "NOLA". In that, I am
disappointed and that's a real shame. I'm sure the majority of people who
hear this album and Down for the first time will like it, maybe even love
it. But I guess this album will generally appeal more to your average
Pantera fan as Phil's side project band, than it does to a crusty old
metalhead like me.
I wanted this to be sooo good! Give it a listen and judge
for yourself, and then send me hatemail (if you must). Anyone remember when
Celtic Frost released "Into The Pandemonium" after they gave you the
masterpieces "To Mega Therion" and "Morbid Tales"? Well, that's the feeling
I have with this. [Ed. - for what it's worth, I loved "Pandemonium"!]
steve
DUKES OF NOTHING -
"WAR & WINE"
[ CD -
Eccentric Man Records ]
Wow! A new band consisting of members of Iron Monkey, Orange Goblin and
Acrimony. Aggro-doom and sludge for sure, right? WRONG,WRONG & THRICE WRONG!
What we have here is a collection of Motörhead style punk tunes. Not bad at
all actually, and quite powerful. Lots of spit and anger flying around here,
but I guess mentioning the member's previous bands could be a mistake and a
very misleading marketing ploy.
This is nothing like Iron Monkey, OrangeGoblin etc. There are many many bands out there doing this kinda stuff
(mainly Swedish ones for some reason!) and this may be one of the better
ones. Approach with caution!!
steve
DUSTER 69 -
"S/T"
[ CD -
Daredevil Records ]
A fairly standard collection of "stonerrock" songs with vocals that range
slightly flat to downright annoying. While the music here could easily be
compared to several well-known stonerrock bands, Duster 69's music comes out
on the high-octane side of stoner and not the spacey, desert side. These
Germans offer up a decent record with reasonably heavy, tight sound but
marred by off key singing that is also too high in the mix. Not surprising
then, that the instrumental bits are the best ones here and the rest of
it is not so good.
drew
EARTHTONE 9 -
"OMEGA"
[ CD - Copro Records ]
Sheesh. I put this on and kept waiting for the hair raising intensity,
machine-like metal riffs and paint blistering vocals of their debut CD, and
all I got was mid-tempo radio rock. With breathy, clean vocals to boot! At
last, at 4:00 of the next-to-last song, I got what I had been waiting for.
Too little too late? Yer damn right it was! There are a couple of videos on
this five song disc and one of the songs is live, clocking in at over 11
minutes. Ultimately, very little content here (4 new songs) and very little
innovation and inspiration. Stick with their debut if you are looking for
top quality new metal.
drew
FU MANCHU -
"CALIFORNIA CROSSING"
[ CD -
Mammoth Records ]
Original stonerrockers Fu Manchu return with a new album named after their home state. I feel
that they had something to prove after the rather by-the-numbers "King Of The Road".
In fact, the Man's Ruin "Eatin' Dust" 10" didn't do much for me either, with the
exception of the ultra dirty "Pigeon Toe". When I got the record, I wasn't especially
happy to see that "Mongoose" (from "Eatin' Dust") was making a reappearance on
"California Crossing". So it was with great skepticism that I spun up the first
cut, "Separate Kingdom"... and was knocked on my ass! What a great track! One
long-standing criticism of Fu Manchu is that Scott Hill can't sing properly and
therefore sounds the same album after album. On "Separate Kingdom" he does some
actual singing in the chorus and it sounds just fine.
The band have honed and polished their AC/DC-like riffing style (and don't forget
Brant's cowbell!) so that it is wide open and completely catchy. "...Kingdom"
is close to the ultimate realization of Fu's musical vision, and it slays.
Could this be the song that gets them onto FM rock radio? We'll see. Unfortunately,
the next cut "Hang On" doesn't live up to the lofty heights of the opener, but only
because Hill reverts back to the non-singing style of old. A nifty keyboard riff
(believe it or not!) and well-placed breakdown highlight this track. Other highlights
include "Thinkin' Out Loud", which has an insanely catchy riff, the shamelessly '80s
sounding (is that Eddie Van Halen at the beginning?) "Wiz Kid", and the great
instrumental "The Wasteoid". On the downside are "Mongoose" (which seems unchanged
from it's previous incarnation), and the choruses to "California Crossing" and
"Downtown in Dogtown".
On the whole, this Fu is NEW!. Poppier, catchier less distorted. Don't worry though,
long time fans will still find everything they expect from Fu Manchu. The band's
best release since "In Search Of..."
drew
GATE 9 -
"MOON RANGER GONE EVIL"
[ CD -
Underdogma Records ]
News flash! Scandinavian stonerrock band is found not to be from Sweden!
Gate 9 hail from Norway, a country that started the Black Metal revolution
but has been curiously quiet in stonerrock and doom until Thulsa Doom made a
splash last year with their fine records. Now Gate 9 joins them and delivers
a mostly impressive debut. This is not just by-the-numbers stoner as it
shows some tasty southern rock riffs, deliberate and effective songs, and a
nice amount of variation in tempo and dynamics. Often straying into
spacerock territory and liberally laced with Sabbath-variety doom, this
compares favorably to Spirit Caravan and Novadriver. Recommended.
drew
THE GLASSPACK -
"POWDERKEG"
[ CD -
Small Stone ]
Small Stone does it again. Another rock solid rock record. Closer to rock 'n
roll than stoner, Glasspack are the musical equivalent of a sweaty fuck
during a whiskey drunk after a long days work. Honest, sweaty, and slightly
out of control. The guitars are so overdriven that it sometimes sounds like
one of the cabinet speakers might be blown. There are woozy keyboards, wildy
distorted vocals, lurching rhythms and a whole lotta noise here.
Ultimately, the songwriting is not catchy enough to elevate this to the exalted levels
of some of the past Small Stone releases, but it is a damn sight better than
most of the shit out there. Quality turbocharged American rock and roll.
drew
HALF MAN -
"RED HERRING"
[ CD -
Beard of Stars ]
"The Complete Guide For Cynics", [Half Man's debut album] unexpectedly
arrived in 1999 to uncover the heavy-blues pot of the seventies, predating
acts like Firebird, Gorilla and Grand Magus. As a matter of fact, the
harmonica playing together with psychedelic guitars on that record was a
real risk at a time when the majority of the bands were aping Kyuss!
With their new release "Red Herring", Half Man shows how it's possible to speak
to the stoner generation of today with the language of the forefathers
(Cream, Hendrix, Free, Sabbath, Mountain...) conjugating in past tense,
without any fear, the verb of heavy-psychedelia. This is because the
musicians take great advantage of an immense knowledge of hard and
progressive rock, studied and collected troughout some 20 years.
"Red Herring" is out now on the Italian label Beard Of Stars, and it
certainly is a big step forward in the bands' artistic growth; today these
guys play in a (perhaps) less spontaneous way than they once did, but
the intense and inspired mood is still the same. Indeed, a decidedly
heavier sound than on the debut, and an evident display of their greater
experience went into the recording of these new tracks, and led the Swedish
quartet to an enthralling follow-up CD that is a rare gem... and a very
varied one overall.
They intrepidly start with the rich instrumental "Repulsion" and the
anthemic "Too Late"; alternating mammoth rhythms and expressive guitar
flights over which they imprint the rough voice of Janne Bengtsson. They
keep goin'on with the perturbing "Pigs in Space" also including falsetto
singing and a sinuous, elegant, psychedelic digression. the lazy and
slouching "Sunday Morning Is Coming Down" follows, with Patric Carlsson's
bass leading, while the harsh stomp of "Willy The Pimp" (Frank Zappa)
creates a climate of contrast with "Sugar Mama" which is pure heavy-psych
painted in blue(s) exploding on demand, and dragging itself for almost ten
minutes among ecstatic and lysergic abandon.
There is a variety of contents, as I said, but there is experimentation too:
the atypical instrumental "Departed Souls", born out from a jam originally
lasting around twenty minutes, is possibly the most valuable track in the
lot. An overflowing rock-jazz number moving unseen over Roger Bengtsson's
percussive background and through sounds and effects studied and selected in
detail to enhance the climate of estrangement and obliqueness belied by the
title itself. "Hard Road", ultra-powerful even over the psychedelic
fireworks out of Bengtsson's and Peter Lilja's guitars, closes the cd with
just a short titleless instrumental following; in the 2LP version,
however, you'll also find as a bonus the album's title-track: "Red Herring."
Half Man represent the hard and psych tradition embodied in a band of the
new millennium, and this is that kind of record which in thirty years'
time - maybe with the next revival of the Seventies - will be sought after
and glorified ! For you who are here now, it's an appointment with history
that can't be missed.
luciano gaglio
HALFWAY TO GONE - "2001"
[ CD -
Small Stone Records ]
Stop me if you've heard this before, but this is ANOTHER top notch release
from Small Stone. The label that can seemingly do no wrong. Halfway to Gone
kicked a lot of asses on last summer's U.S. tour and this was an eagerly
awaited release. While it doesn't quite live up to what I had hoped (because
of the drummer change maybe?) it still sounds great. This is big burly hard
rock with relentless riffs that leave you no time for boredom.
The thing that makes Halfway to Gone really special are Lou Gorra's unparalleled
gritty vocals. He sounds so damn good, he may have the best voice in
American rock today. There is a nice amount of variety on the record and the
songwriting is very solid. Huge production makes this album sound fat and
warm and the great cover art completes the package. Another must own item,
even if it's not the masterpiece I was hoping for.
drew
HELLFUELED - "2001"
[ CD EP -
Self released ]
Here's another delivery of heavy 80's-inspired rock and metal sounds by Sweden's Hellfueled. Sweden proved to be
a breeding ground for a succession of simular acts like B>Thong or Transport League, but Hellfueled can't compete
with the aformentioned groove-monsters, unfortunately. The songs on "2001" are way to avarage. Hellfueled proves
to be a good cover band though, their versions of Judas Priest's "Electric Eye" and "Cold Sweat" [Thin Lizzy]
are the hightlights of the album.
walter
HIGH ON FIRE -
"THE ART OF SELF DEFENSE"
[ CD -
Tee Pee Records ]
Tee Pee Records has reissued High On Fire's much acclaimed "The Art of Self
Defense" on digi-pack CD. For added incentive to buy the new product they
added two songs, a cover of Celtic Frost's "The Usurper" and a brand new
track named "Steel Toe." This reissue also sports new artwork by the
renowned Arik Roper.
"The Art of Self Defense" was originally issued by Man's Ruin 1999. Here is
our review:
"As great as this record is, it also has that timeless quality of getting
better with every listen. As you become accustomed to the overwhelming wall
of sounds, the intricacies become audible. Subtle changes in dynamics, tempo
and feeling abound. From the soothing, intriguing intro of "Fireface" to the
grand canyon sized riff of "10,000 Years" you will go back again and again.
To the portal of elemental release that this record provides. Other records
that provide the same feeling include Black Sabbath's "Master of Reality",
Kyuss' "Blues for the Red Sun" and Sloburn's "Amusing the Amazing". High
praise for a masterful record" -Roadburn 1999.
THE ICARUS LINE -
"MONO"
[ CD -
Cargo Records/Sweet Nothing ]
LA's The Icarus Line debuts their full length after a few single releases
and one EP. "Mono" presents 12 frantic rock 'n roll songs that just burst
with At The Drive In inspired energy, but unfortunately it loses focus after
a while. After 6 kind-of-the-same songs, your ears get tired of their mix of
Jesus Lizard hooks and New Bomb Turks power. It's emo with too little
emotion, it's rock 'n roll with too little roll. Not bad, but definitely not
essential either.
jurgen
IRONBOSS -
"IRONBOSS LIVE"
[ CD -
Underdogma Records ]
Fire up the barbecue, tap the keg, grease the hogs and hitch 'em up to the
cart cuz we're going to an Ironboss show! Shit, I hope I'm not negatively
stereotyping the average Ironboss fan. I'm sure that plenty of suit-wearing
Wall Street types dig this kind of corn-pone and alcohol-enema farm rock.
If you think there's only one side to the Mason-Dixon line, or have trouble
spelling I.Q., then this is the band for you. Seriously though, what is
Ironboss? Part comedy and part hard rock performed by large tattooed men
with potential rap sheets. Sample song titles: "Hung Like Horses", "Bad
Motherfuckers" and "Pussy On The Corner". The good news is that their riffs
are every bit as large as they are, and they are as infectious as an STD in
a prison ward. Southern hard rock with a comic twist for the headbangers
set? Boy howdy!
drew
THE JFK Jr ROYAL AIRFORCE -
"2"
[ CD -
Slutfish Records ]
Earth calling JFK Jr Royal Airforce are you out there? Wing commander, come in please... Martians cut off
their invisible chains and free themselves. Aliens threaten the world. Please call in the help of fellow
psychedelic warriors Hawkwind and Jimi Hendrix. Ask The Amboy Dukes and Butthole Surfers for gun support. Save
The world! In case of hard resistance pull back to the space rock universe, and fold into functional, three
dimensional structures. Then use your hallucinatory audio freak-out instead. Over and out..!
walter
LAWN -
"LAWN-DRO-MAT"
[ CD -
Grond Recordings ]
Lawn is a four-piece from Groningen, the Netherlands. "Lawn-Dro-Mat" is their
debut and a very good one, too. In seven songs (and an intro) Lawn picks up
the vibes that Motorpsycho and Mogwai left behind. The result is a
beautifully constructed record in which words like 'atmosphere' and
'subtlety' are more important than others. The production was in the hands
of Motorpsycho recording legend Pieter Kloos.
After four of five spins Lawn prove that they have found a sound of their own which overrules the
known Motorpsycho elements. Great contributions come from the sounds of a
violin, Juno keys and the beautiful Theremin. Of course this is their debut
and some things could be better (vocal melodies, variation in the production
of the songs) but all in all Lawn-dro-mat is a great debut with much
potential for the future.
xander77
LOTHAR -
"GHOSTBASTARDS"
[ CD -
Lorna Records ]
Lothar is the latest addition to the ever growing contemporary heavy-psych
scene. This four-piece hails from Finland and harkens back to the fuzzed out
days of the Sonics and 13th Floor Elevators. The songs (reminiscent of
those awe-inspiring predecessors) are solid, upbeat and cathcy.
"Ghostbastards" is rife with the atmosphere of a saturday night down at the
rehearsal room, just drinkin' some beers and having fun, while your best
mates play some psychedelic tunes. The exact prescription for long-winded
winter evenings or even a fucked up summer day.
walter
MAGNIFIED EYE -
"THE LAST SUN"
[ CD -
Daredevil Records ]
Great big groovy rock riffs dominate this first full length from Magnified
Eye. This disc has a bit of diversity and originality to it, with heavy
metal being represented as well as stonerrock and a hint of Mindfunk. Mostly
good stuff here, plenty of bludgeoning drums and catchy riffs. Ultimately
though, too many pointless guitar solos, erratic vocals and a slightly
muddy, midrangy mix detract from this heavy record.
drew
MISDEMEANOR -
"S/T"
[ CD -
GMR Music group ]
Three years after their last EP, Misdemeanor release their long rumored full
length. So, what does the record show? For one, that they have used the time
to beef up their sound and songwriting skills. With a sound that ranges from
stonerrock (Kyuss) to rawk 'n roll (Hellacopters), they were perfectly
suited to be produced by Entombed guitarist Alex Hellid.
The result is that these Swedes play louder and harder than many of their male counterparts.
The band has also some good songwriting on offer, although the album runs a
bit long. The overall feeling is that Misdemeanor are likely to be a ferocious live band.
walter
|
