Stoner Rockers ASTRAL KOMPAKT Announce New Album Goldader on Tonzonen Records.

Astral Kompakt carefully dissect the psych metal blueprint laid out by Sleep and Electric Wizard, slowing it down, spacing it out and abstracting its essence. Creating a new conversation in which heaviness is not a goal but a means to an end, Goldader, out November 22 via Tonzonen Records, perfects the art of making complexity comprehensible and sonic violence sophisticated.

Stoner rock leans heavily on its psychedelic imagery and lyrics for its allure, leaving a small number of artists capable of writing captivating instrumental music that still fits the bill. Where other acts turn to humorous tropes or excessive layers of fuzz, Germany-based instrumental outfit Astral Kompakt resort to reducing things to a minimum, keeping a tight formation as a trio. With their debut album Goldader they have perfected the art of making complexity comprehensible and sonic violence sophisticated.

Across its 40-minute long runtime Goldader reveals itself as a lexicon of anything prog and stoner, touching upon and playing with stylistic devices that also characterise the metal genre as a whole. From from the jagged start-stop riffing of Pirsch through the subtle polyrhythms of Welwitschie to the repeating motifs of Batavische Träne II, Astral Kompakt prove they understand the elements of the genre and know how to use them in refreshing ways.

The inconspicuous way in which they open the album in 10/8 but make it seem like the most normal stoner riff ever, attests to the ability of Astral Kompakt to make music that is both fun and engaging. The title track innovatively juxtaposes the summer vibes of indie rock with exuberant blast beats, while album closer Levitas skilfully anatomizes the art of melting face, creating an experience in which the real heaviness is found in the space between the distorted chords.

With Goldader Astral Kompakt have indeed struck gold, creating a record you can spend endless moments with, digging around and unearthing all its intricacies. The songwriting is serious but also has a sense of humour, the riffs are both brain-heavy and face-melting, while the album sounds phenomenal thanks to Jan Oberg at who recorded, produced and mixed the album at his Hidden Planet Studio in Berlin.

Astral Kompakt Goldader is out November 22, 2024 on Tonzonen Records. It can be pre-ordered on limited edition vinyl here: https://www.tonzonen.de/shop/p/astral-kompakt-presale-061024-

Artist: Astral Kompakt
Title: Goldader
Format: LP, Digital
Label: Tonzonen Records
Distribution: Cargo
Genre: Stoner Rock
Release Date: 22/11/2024

Tracklist

1. Pirsch
2. Goldader
3. Welwitschie
4. Batavitsche Träne I
5. Batavitsche Träne II
6. Ruin
7. Levitas

Links

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/astralkompakt
Bandcamp: https://astralkompakt.bandcamp.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/astralkompakt
Facebook: https://facebook.com/astralkompakt
Label: https://www.tonzonen.de

Thanks to Creative Eclipse PR for all of the info.

Deserts Of Mars - Dead Planet Exodus (Album Review)

Release Date: October 18th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD

Dead Planet Exodus - Track Listing:

1.Crashdown

2.Temple of the Rain

3.Shilluminati

4.Dead Planet

5.Darkness

6.Midnight Comes

7.Never

8.Temporal Vampires

9.Crimson Mountain

10.The Fallen

Members

Tony Salvaggio - Bass, Vocals

Morgan Faber - Drums

Kotah Womack - Guitar (2024) 

Dead Planet Exodus Guests:

Bradley Barnes - Guitar ("Crashdown", "Temple of the Rain")

Jeff Henson - Rhythm and Lead Guitar Wizardry

Jeff Klein - Interstellar Rhythm and Lead Guitar

Review

Austin, Texas based Desert/Doom/Stoner Metallers Deserts Of Mars finally release their second album Dead Planet Exodus following their 2011 debut album Transmission which I’m a huge fan of to this very day. The band did release a superb EP called Return From The Void in 2019 but this is perhaps the main event for Deserts Of Mars to become more well known with. As Dead Planet Exodus is a comprehensive take on the modern day Stoner Metal sound which includes other areas of Heavy Rock to give it a stylish and highly original sound of their own making.

Deserts Of Mars blend Psychedelia, Space Rock, Fuzz, Grunge and Industrial Rock for a record that takes the ever popular Post-Stoner or Post-Doom sounds then give it a more APOCALYPTIC feeling with distorted rhythms and subtle melodies which is put to great effect with the excellent opening tracks Crashdown and Temple Of The Rain.

With a similar sound to King Buffalo, Howling Giant and ELDER developing in the early stages of the record with Deserts Of Mars going off script into more Doomed Out Environments with sublime instrumental passages being played at a catchy and aggressive pace. There’s a sense of distorted optimism within the seedier Industrial, Grunge and Sludgy beats that keeps the music quite grounded despite the Science FIction theme of the whole album.

The record wastes no time at all in creating an all conquering style of Intergalactic Fuzz which allows Deserts Of Mars to fully sell their OTT creative vision of Return From The Void across within every spellbinding track of the whole album. Deserts Of Mars impress the most when they allow their Grunge, Psych and Space Rock sound to take over with a demanding presence which manifests into some stunning heavy and fuzzed up musical interplay between all band members. 

The sound can be quite deafening at times even within the uplifting Psych Rock and Post-Stoner tracks of the record as you can feel something heavier lurking behind you that fully takes over especially on tracks such as Shilluminati, Dead Planet, Darkness, Crimson Mountain and The Fallen being the other standout tracks on the album.

Tony  Salvaggio (Bass/Vocals) has stated what fuels Desert Of Mars as the following: “a steady diet of sci-fi movies, novels, manga, animation, RPGS, and metal fuels me and bleeds into the rest of the band. I’ve been a nerd first and a metalhead for a very long time, and I’ve never grown out of that quest for the next fun thing to watch/read/listen to half a century into life. I feel like if I lose that sense of wonder, it’s over. Always be learning/listening/creating."

Though, you’ll be surprised to hear that there’s some real life experiences being used within the creative fabric of some of the lyrics written for the album. Desert Of Mars are also quite adept at experimenting with digitized vocals, synths, ambient sounds and quirky industrial beats that  makes Dead Planet Exodus such a vast and brilliantly inventive record that has some cool moments where the band pays homage to the classic era of Stoner Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal in general.

Dead Planet Exodus has a true “CINEMATIC” feel that allows this to ultimately become one of the freshest and outstanding albums you’ll hear this year. 

It may have taken the band over thirteen years to release this album but it’s been worth the wait and I’m hoping the underground Doom/Stoner Metal scene embrace this album for the brilliant album that it truly is. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to C Squared Music for the promo.

Dead Planet Exodus will be available to buy on CD/DD from Friday 18th October 2024.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Your Highness - Under The Weight (Album Review)

Release Date: October 11th 2024. Record Label: PolderRecords. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Under The Weight - Track Listing:

1.Agni 01:03

2.Fire To The Storm 06:06

3.Above The Odds 04:31

4.Celestial Burst 08:33

5.Return Of The Nakba 06:06

6.Head Hung Low 04:01

7.Oblivion Nigh 03:10

8.Trouble The Skies 06:43

Members

Ben Baert - vocals

Bart Struyf - guitar

Nic Placklé - guitar

Jan Rammelloo - bass

Joachim Cols - drums

Review

Sludge/Stoner Metallers Your Highness release their fourth album Under The Weight which sees the band change their sound for the better with bursts of Psych Metal, Groove Metal and Blues Rock that goes with their familiar Sludge/Stoner Metal sound. With a more aggressive and progressive style of music, Your Highness resides within the same world as bands such as High On Fire, Mastodon and Baroness which Under The Weight proves without a doubt time and time again.

The album allows Your Highness to capture a more soulful and melodic style whilst retaining a pure metallic sound which you hear within the early stages of the album on tracks such as Fire To The Storm, Above The Odds and Celestial Burst. There are moments of Middle Eastern vibes that appear within Agni and Fire To The Storm that allows the record to have a slight Trippy and Ambient flow which is used to great effect on other parts of the album.

Under The Weight is perhaps influenced by the mid-to-late 2000’s  era of Sludge/Stoner Metal as I can hear parts inspired by the likes of Mastodon (Crack The Skye), Baroness (Blue Record) and High On Fire (Devil Is The Communion) with Your Highness creating their own sound along the way which remains highly progressive and quite methodical at the same time.

The record impresses the most with Your Highness blending seedy Blues Rock/Metal energy within the heaviest parts of the album with the standout track Celestial Burst being the perfect example of this. There’s a killer AMERICANA or OUTLAW movement which has a certain Post-Stoner Rock flow and melody without losing the Sludge Metal aspect of Your Highness overall sound. 

The second half of the album becomes dominated by first rate Psych Sludge/Stoner Metal sound with Your Highness perhaps going back to their roots with sounds I first encountered on their first two albums Cults ‘n’ Cunts and City In Ruins though keeping with their newfound creative vision with tracks such as Return Of The Nakba and Trouble The Skies being the other standout parts of the whole album. If you're a fan of the classic "TWIN GUITAR" sound inspired by THIN LIZZY and IRON MAIDEN then you're in for a treat with Your Highness playing a high amount of those type of grooves on the later stages of the album.

Under The Weight features superb production values that shines a light on the excellent lyrics and melodies that Your Highness have written for the whole album. Your Highness have released their best album to date that should allow them to enhance their reputation even further within the Sludge/Stoner Metal underground scene and play on some of the biggest stages the scene has to offer.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to PolderRecords for the promo.

Under The Weight is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via PolderRecords.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

You Big Ox - I Hate It Here Too (EP Review)

Release Date: October 04th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD

I Hate It Here Too - Track Listing:

1.Monocular Comet 04:48

2.Binocular Comet 07:38

3.Trouts 04:52

4.Throat Rust 04:32

5.Horse Meat 05:43

Members

Derek Donley - Everything

Review

I Hate It Here Too is the new EP from Ambient/Doom/Sludge Metal collective You Big Ox who I originally featured back in 2016 when I reviewed their album The Oxwhal. The project is the work of Derek Donley who plays everything and he’s released a great collection of various records under the banner of You Big Ox. Derek mostly covers the landscape of Ambient Doom, Sludge Metal, Post-Metal and Psych Metal under the guise of You Big Ox.

I Hate It Here Too has a more abrasive, harsh and heavier sound compared to the other You Big Ox releases. The sound has an ethereal Drone quality which fuses a direct Post-Rock and Post-Metal style of music with the vocals drifting from clean sounds and distinctive growls that are aided by Ambient textures for a multi-layered record that lives up the DOOMGAZE creative energy of the whole record.

With leanings of Blackened Post-Metal appearing throughout the EP, You Big Ox has created an emotionally driven and haunting score that comes ALIVE on tracks such as Monocular Comet, Binocular Comet and Throat Rust being the standout tracks of the EP. Influences from acts such as Wolves In The Throne Room, Cult Of Luna, The Ocean, Russian Circles and Neurosis can be heard but You Big Ox stand on their own creative merits which also allows this to be quite a haunting and spellbinding record within its own right.

You Big Ox is one of the more interesting “One Man Bands” currently out there who always creates quite daring and challenging releases that offer no easy answers and I Hate It Here Too is another superb release which I can’t recommend highly enough.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Eight Foot Manchild - Do Spirits Return? (EP Review)

Release Date: October 04th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Format: Digital Download

Do Spirits Return? - Track Listing:

1.Monsters Reign 04:32

2.Tanas Root 03:27

3.Circle Of Salt 02:37

4.Spirits Return 04:33

5.The Good Death 04:01

Members

Dylan Foley: Guitar, vocals

Sara Honeywell: Trombone, vocals

Mr Squirrel: Baritone sax

Alison Earnhart: Tuba

Steve Kosinski: Drums

Review

The self proclaimed “The world's first and therefore best DOOMBRASS band” Eight Foot Manchild return with their new EP - Do Spirits Return?  And as the title suggests it’s a Spooky/Halloween themed release with the band bringing a Funk Rock inspired style of Doom/Stoner Metal which has close ties to bands such as CLUTCH and PRIMUS in places.

The vocals are more aggressive and way out there compared to their previous releases. However, the band are quite adverse into playing some sublime Stoner Rock/Metal grooves which are downright catchy and quite imaginative with this EP having a soulful party rock atmosphere which comes straight into play on the opening tracks of Monsters Reign and Tamas Root. 

The subtle movements of Occult Doom and Brass Metal is captured in such a unique that the instrumental sounds can be quite kitsch and out-of-place at times but Eight Foot Manchild bring a sense of metal realism to their music especially when a heavier and sludgier appetite merges from the least unexpected of places. 

THe most impressive part of Do Spirits Return? Is most definitely the Brass section and I’m not really a big fan of these types of instruments being added into Heavy Metal but I’m fully down with Eight Foot Manchild’s over the top and flamboyant style of Doom/Stoner Metal. The EP does become more experimental and psychedelic on the later stages of the record with songs such as Spirits Return and The Good Death being the standout tracks.

Eight Foot Manchild have tapped into the Halloween Season in the best possible way which brilliantly lampoons and pays huge respect at the same time. Do Spirit’s Return? is another excellent release from the band and should entertain folks who like their music that little bit strange compared to other bands within the underground scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Void Tripper - Sludgehammer (Single Review)

Release Date: October 13th 2024. Record Label: Wet Records. Format: Digital Download

Sludgehammer - Track Listing:

Sludgehammer

Praise The Sacrifice

Members

Mário Fonteles - Guitar and Vocals

Anastácio Júnior - Guitar and Vocals

Kevin Cavalcante - Drums

Jonatas Monte - Bass

Review

Brazilian Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers Void Tripper returns with a new double single Sludgehammer / Praise The Sacrifice. The new release is a different beast compared to their acclaimed debut album DOPEFIEND with the band wanting to move into other areas of music such as Grunge, Fuzz and Psych Rock. There were moments of that music on their debut album but this time it’s more fully fleshed out here with progressive melodic structures and with political commentary coming into focus with the lyrics that Void Tripper have written for both tracks.

Sludgehammer opens with a wicked Drum solo from new member Kevin Cavalcante with flashes of guitars and bass slowly appearing. There’s a controversial Donald Trump soundbyte to show you where this track is heading with Void Tripper becoming quite politically motivated within both tracks. Shades of NOLA SLUDGE reigns supreme here with nods to bands such as DOWN, CROWBAR and Corrosion Of Conformity being heard. The vocals are harsh but quite easy to understand. The sludgy aesthetics are there but it’s the aggressive FUZZED UP levels that make the most impression with the band sounding vastly different to their debut album. 

You can watch the controversial video for Sludgehammer that I premiered yesterday and it definitely earns it’s 18 RATING over on YouTube.

Praise The Sacrifice is a less dramatic affair with the stripped back vocals showing another different side to Void Tripper though it’s the music that makes the most impression with the stylish Sludge/Stoner Metal sound aiming for a bombastic style of Psych Rock and NOLA that joins forces for a gloomy atmospheric sound. The later stages become mostly DOOM and GLOOM obsessed with some epic flashes of killer guitar solos along the way.

I can see why Sludgehammer was chosen as the main single for Void Tripper to release here though Praise The Sacrifice is still a great track within its own right. Sludgehammer delves into the current political climate that’s happening all over the world and the track is quite daring in many ways which could see Void Tripper becoming one of the boldest bands to look out for in 2025 when their new album will hopefully be released.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Ygor at Wet Records for the promo.

Sludgehammer is set to be released digitally on October 13th via the American label Wet Records.

Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voidtripperband
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voidtripperdoom/
Bandcamp: https://voidtripperdoom.bandcamp.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0u26mTrsDxNiMa2yEiWc4e
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe69fs3XH1_NhoFerpmzB6A

ST​Ö​NER - Hittin' The Bitchin' Switch (Album Review)

Release Date: October 11th 2024. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Hittin' The Bitchin' Switch - Track Listing:

1.A Million Beers 02:44

2.Evel Never Dies 03:05

3.Gardenia (Kyuss cover) 07:41

4.Green Machine (Kyuss cover) 04:54

5.It Ain't Free 03:00

6.Night Tripper VS No Brainer 06:47

7.Nothin' 04:24

8.Own Yer Blues 05:39

9.Party March 03:15

10.R.A.M.O.N.E.S. 01:39

11.Rad Stays rad 07:12

12.Stand Down 06:09

13.Strawberry Creek 03:22

14.The Older Kids 05:47

15.Tribe/Fly Girl 14:02

Members

Brant Bjork

Nick Oliveri

Ryan Güt

Review

Stoner Rock royalty ST​Ö​NER are back with their first “official” live album as the band did release a live record for their “debut” release Live In The Mojave Desert: Volume 4 back in 2021 which was subsequently released as a proper studio recording called STONERS RULE to critical acclaim across the Stoner Rock community.

Hittin' The Bitchin' Switch sees ST​Ö​NER play their greatest hits along with a couple of KYUSS classics (Gardenia and Green Machine) for great measure across eighty minutes of superbly played Desert/Stoner Rock grooves that proves once again why Brant Bjork and Nick Oliveri are legends within the scene. Along with Ryan Güt who is becoming one of the best drummers within the scene today and shows why he’s one of Brant’s most trusted creative partners over the multiple different projects that Brant has released over the last few years. 

Hittin' The Bitchin' Switch has a highly majestic and raw sounding quality which makes you feel part of the audience which allows ST​Ö​NER to play some mighty fine extended instrumental sounds that allows ST​Ö​NER to have multiple “JAMMING SESSIONS” to the delight of the audience in attendance. The highlights of the album are without doubt the KYUSS covers of Gardenia and Green Machine which have lost none of their magic. 

ST​Ö​NER have a killer supply of classic tracks themselves with songs such as: Evel Never Dies, It Ain’t Free,  Night Tripper vs No Brainer, Own Yer Blues,  Rad Stays Rad and the brilliant fourteen minute epic of Tribe/Fly Girl. 

The album is LOUD and brilliantly AGGRESSIVE from the start with its raw and deeply unapologetic production values allowing ST​Ö​NER to release a classic LIVE ALBUM in every sense of the word. This is an absolutely superb and must have LIVE album and is perhaps my favourite LIVE record I’ve heard this year.  

ST​Ö​NER have been on a roll over the last few years and I’m hoping there’s more to come from this great band. Hittin' The Bitchin' Switch features a blistering powerhouse performance from ST​Ö​NER and proves once again why the Stoner Rock world needs bands like them to shake up the creative foundations of the whole scene. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR the promo.

Hittin' The Bitchin' Switch Gift is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.

Links

Facebook | Instagram | Spotify