Juke Cove - Tempest (Album Review)

Release Date: May 03rd 2024. Record Label: Interstellar Smoke Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Tempest - Tracklisting

1.The Path

2.Hypnosis

3.Wait 

4.Confined

5.Tempest

6.Glow 

7.Burst

8.Xanadu

Members

 

Mateusz Pietrzela - Guitar/Vocals

Dima Ogorodnov - Bass/Vocals

Maxim Balobin - Drums

Guitar solos on "Confined" & "Xanadu" by Phil

Review

Psych/Doom/Stoner Rockers Juke Cove new album Tempest sees them return with a more amplified Punk Rock sound which drifts into a Grunge based state within the seedier parts of the record. The album is rooted within a Trippy and Psychedelic mindset with the sound being surrounded by clear levels of AMPLIFIER heaviness even when Juke Cove ventures into more hallucinogenic waters especially within the opening tracks of The Path and Hypnosis.

There’s a Desert Rock core to Juke Cove’s music which has echoes of The Doors, KYUSS and Truckfighters but with an altogether more DOOM ROCK swagger with the sound being quite JAZZ ROCK based especially within the kick-ass rhythm section of Dima and Maxim on Bass and Drums respectively. Juke Cove also rely on a heavy use of Jam Rock and Improvisation which has a slight EARTHLESS influence and one that allows the band to weave Middle Eastern and sludgy guitars into the mix.

The vocals from Mateusz and Dima are from the classic Stoner Rock movement that merge with a Punk Rock style that has a wicked DIY quality to them. Tempest has a FUZZ ROCK atmosphere that drifts into heavier and laidback styles of Desert/Stoner Rock with the band never too far away from injecting a HEAVY DOOMED OUT groove into the mix.

I even admired the Alternative Rock flow that appears on the later stages of the record with some excellent “IN YOUR FACE” lyrics allowing Juke Cove to perform their own spellbinding style of Stoner Rock aggression.

Other standout tracks include: Well, Confined, Tempest, Burst and the brilliantly original final track of Tempest. These tracks see Juke Cove play different styles of Psychedelic Stoner Rock with levels of SONIC heaviness that soon merges into a more soulful mix of Doom Metal and Sludge Rock extended instrumental passages. With the band never afraid of moving into different eras of Hard Rock and Stoner Rock to get their message across to the underground masses. So don’t be surprised when you’re transported back to the 60’s Hard Rock, 70’s Proto Metal and 90’s Grunge/Stoner scenes on various parts of the album.

If you want another review to check out for Tempest, please check out the fantastic in-depth review over at the brilliant site Screaming From The Heavy Underground written by the hugely talented writer/reviewer Doomcakes.

However, back to my own review. I'll leave you with my final thoughts for Tempest. Tempest is an outstanding album on all fronts with true Punk Rock production values allowing Juke Cove to release their most impressive and riff-fuelled adventure yet.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Juke Cove for the promo.

Tempest will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Interstellar Smoke Records from Friday May 3rd 2024.

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ZOLLE - Rosa (Album Review)

Release Date: May 03rd 2024. Record Label: Subsound Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Rosa - Tracklisting

1.Pepe 

2.Lana

3.Toffolette e Zuccherini

4.Merda

5.Pompon

6.Pois

7.Confetto

8.Fiorellino

9.Fiocco video

10.Maialini e Maialine

Members

 

STEFANO - DRUMS & PERCUSSIONS

MARCELLO - GUITARS & VOCALS

Review

Rosa is the new full length album from Italian Sludge/Noise/Stoner Rockers ZOLLE and the band are back with another buoyant new record which is outlandish and offers the listener a brilliantly uplifting good time. Embracing the wilder side of Stoner Metal with a playful attitude with a plethora of Psychedelic Noises, Ambient Sounds and a fantastic sense of Doom-Pop melodies spliced throughout the whole album.

Opening track Pepe feels partially inspired by TORCHE in places but with ZOLLE adding a chaotic energy with Sludge Rock beats that’s quite aggressive and fast paced when it wants to be. Shades of Experimental energy appear that has a slight Melvins vibe but allowing ZOLLE to perform the music they’re wonderfully known for. 

Second track Lana continues with the frantic Sludge/Noise Rock theatrics with the heavy pounding drums from Stefano building up a wall of Psychedelic Waves for Marcello to add his jagged guitars that combine for another energetic round of high voltage Sludge/Stoner Rock. ZOLLE have a great talent of writing sublime uplifting songs without the need for harsh abrasive atmospherics and this track proves that point whilst still bringing a fresh round of HEAVY GROOVES to head-bang to.

Third track Toffolette e Zuccherini is a more subdued track with a lush sounding Post-Rock score and exquisite vocals appearing with soulful Doom-Pop melodies soon changing into more heavy based Sludge/Stoner instrumental jams. This is perhaps my favourite track on the album and perhaps one of my favourite ever tracks that I’ve heard from ZOLLE. As the uplifting energy from the track is highly infectious with the track being constantly HEAVY without the need of being HEAVY at the same time.

ZOLLE continues with the Noise Rock angle for the next few tracks of Merda, Pompon and Pois with that aggressive Sludge/Stoner melodic angle that’s being the more dominant attitude of the album which can be quite flashy and overpowering at times. However, the addictive and warm natured energy allows ZOLLE to experiment across the musical spectrum especially with the fabulous vocals that are quite catchy even when set against the Punk Rock backdrop that appears from time-to-time.

The final stages of the album is where the heaviest and surreal moments of the record appear whilst still retaining the zany creative attitude of the earlier stages of the album with tracks such as Confetto, Fiocco Video and Maialini e Maialine being the other standout tracks on an already wild, varied and highly inventive album such as Rosa.

Rosa is perhaps ZOLLE’s most brilliantly original record to date and may end up becoming one of the most exciting and wildest albums to be released this year. Another ALBUM OF THE YEAR contender is right here. Absolutely superb. No question.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Rosa will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Subsound Records from Friday May 3rd 2024.

Links

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Exclusive Album Premiere Of Psych/Stoner/Fuzz Rockers TRANSONIC SCIENCE New Album PSYCHOBULB

Transonic Science, pioneers of the German stoner rock scene since 1997, have left an indelible mark on the music landscape. Their journey began with the EP "Sunshine Baby Home" in 2001, featuring the standout track "Solar Love," earning recognition from Visions magazine. Over the years, they've shared stages with renowned acts like Dozer, Girls Against Boys, and Blackmail, solidifying their presence in the industry. The band faced challenges, including the loss of co-founder Gerald Kirsch in 2018, but found renewed strength through a tribute concert, inviting bassist Manuel Estrada into the fold.

In 2020, Transonic Science made a powerful comeback, gearing up for their upcoming LP "Psychobulb," set for release in early 2024. This album showcases their evolution, blending high-energy rock with heavy psych, grunge elements, and psychedelic interludes. Led by the distinctive vocals of Ergün Aktürk, Transonic Science promises an electrifying experience, channeling raw energy into their music. "Psychobulb" encapsulates the band's collective experiences, inviting listeners back into the world of heavy rock underground, where authenticity, energy, and emotion reign supreme.

Psychobulb is here thanks to the cool folks over at Grand Sounds Promotion and Argonauta Records.

Psychobulb will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Argonauta Records from Friday May 3rd 2024.

Thanks to Grand Sound Promotions for all of the info.

Links

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State Of Non Return - White Ink (Album Review)

Release Date: May 03rd 2024. Record Label: Trepanation Recordings. Formats: DD

White Ink - Tracklisting

1. Catharsis 9:35

2. Vertigo 8:45

3. White Ink 9:18

4. Pendulum 15:15

Members

 

Mauro - guitars

Diego - bass

Tony - drums

Review

White Ink is the debut album from Drone/Doom/Stoner Metallers State Of Non Return and when a band names themselves after the classic track by OM then you have a good idea of a certain style of music that the band plays. However, that’s a small side of State Of Non Return’s overall sound as they incorporate massive amounts of Drone, Doom, Psych and Stoner Metal grooves which also has a cold calculated Industrialised movement running through it’s creative mindset.

You can hear influences from bands such as Neurosis, YOB, ISIS and SLEEP with the record moving across the Post-Metal landscape to a heavier style of Progressive Stoner Metal. There’s moments of Ambient Post Rock and ethereal soundscapes all combining for a record that’s quite unsettling within the more heavier Sludgier environments on the stunning opening tracks of Catharsis and Vertigo. The vocals that appear when the time calls for it which you first hear on Catharsis and they’re spread out fairly evenly within the album. 

White Ink contains four tracks that run about forty four minutes in length but it feels longer and I mean that as a huge compliment. As State Of Non Return are quite adventurous with their music and explore different levels of cold-hearted heaviness which becomes ever more ethereal and devastating on the later tracks of White Ink and Pendulum. The instrumental passages can be focused mostly on Shoegaze or Doomgaze delivery but State Of Non Return brings an epic, harsh and abrasive style of vocals to move the album back into the Sludge/Post-Metal arena. 

State Of Non Return allows the record to transform into a heavier and distorted atmosphere which sees the overall creative flow of the record to be quite dynamic and fractured at times with the help of some intense raw-sounding production values. 

White Ink is a more direct, aggressive and primal style of Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal sound which buries itself under a ton of POST-METAL aggression that leaves you wanting to hear more.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Trepanataion Recordings for the promo.

White Ink will be available to buy on Digital Download from Friday May 3rd 2024.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Introduce Yourselves: Zahhāk

What is the name of your band?

Zahhāk

What is the genre of music that you play?

Noise/Sludge/Doom

Can you give a brief history of the band of how it came together and where it is today?

Zahhāk is a Noise-Sludge trio from Aachen, Germany, founded in late 2021, when members of previous projects decided to start a new band, focused on really heavy sludge, noise and drone.

Since then we had quite some gigs, opened for Crowbar in our hometown and released an EP (“Zahhāk s/t”, 2022) a full length album (“Yakh”, 2023), and now we added our second one 'Ostokhān' to our discography. We recorded and produced all these releases ourselves.

What can people expect from your music?

Noise and slooow Doom but we also like to surprise with oriental rhythms and melodies. Emotionally it revolves around sadness and desperation and anger.

What is the best release that folks should check out from your band?

The newest one 'Ostokhān' has the most fleshed out sound. But people also seem to like our harsh and rough sounding self titled EP.

Where can people find you on Social Media?

Instagram.com/zahhak.band/
Facebook.com/zahhak.band/
Or check out our linktree: http://hyperfollow.com/Zahhk

Hollow Leg - Dust (EP Review)

Release Date: May 03rd 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Dust - Tracklisting

1. Poison Bite (3:34)

2. Sick Days (3:58)

3. Funeral Storms (3:47)

4. Another Day Dying (4:51)

5. Holy Water (5:46)

Members

 

Scott Angelacos - vocals

Brent Lynch - guitar/backing vocals

Tom Crowther - bass

John Stewart - drums, rainstick general

Review

Sludge/Doom Metallers Hollow Leg return after a five year absence with their new EP Dust which is the first of a two-part release. This time round the band opt for a new heavier and perhaps clearer sound compared to their previous albums. The sound is more aggressive and quite forceful while still bringing sludge-based melodies to the Groove Metal surroundings heard within the bombastic opening track Poison Bite.

The track has a buoyant High On Fire/Motorhead energy within the music and even the harsh vocals from lead vocalist Scott. There’s a subtle and aggressive flavour of Doom Metal with a fantastic kinetic Psychedelic energy heard within the lyrics. 

Second track Sick Days has a more fleeting style of NOLA based sounds with the band going all out by playing a classic style of Sludge/Stoner Metal grooves that sees Hollow Leg playing a more riff focused delivery within this track alone. There’s some sublime FUZZED UP and SEEDY sounding guitar solos with powerful drumming to match.

Third track Funeral Storm is another down-tuned and catchy number with Scott’s vocals bridging the gap between punishing Doom Metal aggression and the more subtle Sludge Metal sound. Brent Lynch provides excellent vocal support with his cleaner style of delivery. The later stages of the song is dominated by Psychedelic Stoner Metal and Prog Rock even within the short running time of the track not hindering the band at all.

Fourth Song Another Day Dying is classic Hollow Leg through and through with the instrumental sounds being more aggressive and fast-paced compared to the other tracks. There’s moments of pissed off THRASH elements appearing with the track having a stripped back quality. Scott’s vocals are slightly more demonic and there’s some epic harsh passages which allow this track to perhaps be the heaviest part of the whole EP.

The final track of Holy Water opens with a solitary acoustic guitar with Hollow Leg adding different levels of instrumental passages. The song is quite different with the band opting for a surreal sound with moments of intricate Post-Doom allowing Hollow Leg playing a similar style of music to Ancient VVisdom with its melodic and acoustic structure. The song still has moments of Psychedelic Metal becoming more primal and the sludgy guitars gaining more control as time goes by. The vocals are a mixture of harsh and clean based passages with a certain Alice In Chains energy or influence appearing within the later stages of the track.

Dust is a first rate slice of modern day Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal that sees Hollow Leg announce their return with supreme confidence and promising more punishing grooves within the second part of the EP that will be released at a later date.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the promo. Dust will be available to buy digitally from Friday 3rd May 2024.

Links:

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Druidess - Hermits & Mandrakes (EP Review)

Release Date: March 20th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Hermits & Mandrakes - Tracklisting

1.Intro 00:40

2.Witches' Sabbath 05:56

3.Mandragora 03:41

4.Knightingales 06:12

5.The Hermit of Druid's Temple 04:14

6.The Forest Witches' Daughter 05:51

Members

 

Vocals by Shonagh Brown

Guitars Performed by Daniel Downing

Bass Guitar Performed by Daniel Downing

Drum Programming by Daniel Downing

Additional Keyboards by Daniel Downing

Review

Hermits & Mandrakes is the debut release from Heavy Psych/Doom/Stoner Rocker Druidess who hail from my hometown of Newcastle Upon Tyne. I saw the band open recently for Saint Karloff / JOSIAH on their recent UK tour. I was impressed by the band’s subtle style of IOMMI Riff Worship and Sabbath inspired take on the Heavy Psych sound. Their debut EP is quite a bewitching OCCULT affair with a massive sludgy down-tuned sound. If you dig bands such as Green Lung, LOWEN, Alunah and Black Sabbath then Druidess offer a drug induced and Proto-Doom sound within the EP with standout tracks as Witches’ Sabbath, Knightingales and The Forest Witches’ Daughter.

There is a surreal dreamlike Psychedelic energy when matching with the heavier DOOMED OUT aspects of the music which is first heard on Witches’ Sabbath and that is amplified for a more sinister creative style heard within Shonagh’s excellent vocals and intense lyrics that appear on the record. The music is quite FUZZY and SEEDY even when the mood becomes more Blues Rock based. Druidess have a fine ear for conjuring up extended instrumental passages that pays HOMAGE to the classic AMPLIFIER WORSHIP sound that Black Sabbath created back in the day.

Druidess work best when they let their Heavy Psych attitude merge with the Occult Rock overtones which gives way to some of the best grooves on the whole EP. 

Overall, Hermits & Mandrakes is a superbly produced record which allows Druidess to cast a bewitching spell within the Doom/Stoner Rock community and I’m excited to hear what the band can deliver on a full length record. Don’t let this EP pass you by as it’s seriously good with Druidess having the potential to go a long way within the UK Doom/Stoner Metal scene and perhaps perform on some of the biggest stages currently out there.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

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