The Great Red Dragon - The Gread Red Dragon (Album Review)

Release date: March 22nd 2021. Label: Independent. Format: CD/DD

The Great Red Dragon - Tracklisting:

Sunset (4:00)
Slide (3:14)
Ancient Voices (3:16)
Annihilation (1:32)
Arabic (2:03)
Cosmic Mantra (6:00)
Birds (2:15)
Southern of Nowhere (2:02)
Thelma (8:28)
Sacred Riddle (3:20)
70’s (1:51)
Falling (2:33)

Members:

Rolo Riemer - everything

Review:

If you are specifically and strictly looking for a heavy and energetic or something similar stuff for this moment then I recommend you think twice before giving your time to “The Great Red Dragon”, this pleasant solo release conceived by Mexican guitar player and singer Rolo Riemer (member of bands like Rivers of Gore and Powertrip). Please don´t understand this as a disappointment or depreciation: it is a filter that can help a lot to better enjoy the experience with this intimate, climatic work. It can end up being valuable advice.

Immersive to the core and introspective in their influences rooted in World Music, Psychedelic music and Folk, without peaks of sound elevation, the album is a diversified work by a musician more accustomed to the dense and heavily lysergic nuances in their other projects. Uniform, rectilinear and perhaps "strange" in some moments, yet the work sounds like a breath of sensitivity and externalization of feelings in the midst of a chaotic world. It may not be your next favorite album or it may even become: in any case, this "perspiration" of calm and placidity can fit in very well depending on your moment and energy.

The work seems to demonstrate throughout his hearing nuances of artists such Carlos Santana, Pink Floyd and others similar supported by details that sometimes pass almost imperceptibly, but that attentive ears can find and add to the appreciation for this work. Strings, ambiance, nothing else. Minimalism is the law in "The Great Red Dragon" and makes every atom of the essence of “minimalism” count, giving itself over to this concept and investing energy and spirit.

As in my own case, perhaps Rolo's solo album may not seem at first look to be a potential favorite work of your life. But it can be observed and absorbed as an honest and witty manifestation from the inside, as a projection of feelings like anguish and anxiety and s a search for internal realization. Allow yourself to try to listen to this work with an open mind and heart, and you can possibly enjoy it in its entirety with all your heart.

Words by Matheus Jacques

Links:

Bandcamp

BUZZARD - Eye Of The Sun (EP Review)

Release date: April 02nd 2021. Label: Tape Dad. Format: CD/DD/Cassette

Eye Of The Sun – Tracklisting

1.Eye of the sun 04:59
2.Higher 07:19
3.Mantis 06:17
4.Sonne 02:55

Members

Suyanne Gabrielle (drums/vocals)
André Leoni (bass/vocals)

Review

Eye Of The Sun is the debut release from Ambient and Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal Duo – Buzzard who arrive from the Brazilian underground scene. The band only formed in August 2020 but they show plenty of early promise with their debut EP. The record is inspired by bands such as Mars Red Sky and SLEEP but with a more “ritual” style of Doom/Stoner Metal. There are elements of Spaced Out Rock and slabs of Progressive Rock/Metal to elevate their music to a heavier level.

Opening song – Eye Of The Sun – shows off Buzzard’s powerful Bass/Drum combo with heavy levels of distorted groove and slow paced violent energy. The FUZZ volume levels is LOUD to say the least with the band showing their impressive musical skills from start to finish. This is purely an instrumental song but if you dig SLEEP style heaviness then Buzzard will have you on board with this cool song. Shades of Sabbath reign supreme towards the end of the song for an exciting finish.

Second song – Higher – sees vocals from both Suyanne and André being added amongst the down-tempo bass-heavy grooves and pounding drums leading the way. The song is cautiously slow yet again but allows the listener to draw everything in. There is a slight “Blues” based twinge on the early stages of the song before Buzzard move onto a distorted style of Grunge, Doom, Stoner and Prog Rock with a Punk Rock aesthetic.

Third song – Mantis – carries on the slow style of music with Suyanne taking centre stage for the first part of the song with an excellent vocal performance. André drifts in and out with a drone based chant and the song does take time to fully get going. I wanted the music to appear sooner but it gives both Suyanne and André to impress with their vocals. Once the heavy riffs do appear the song becomes the most heaviest and exciting in the whole record.

The final song - Sonne - is the shortest on the EP that offers more of the "Blues" based Doom/Stoner Rock and it's a soothing experience. It's a shame there are no heavy riffs on this track. It would of ended this EP on high and instead of a whimper. However, that's my only complaint for this excellent debut release.

Overall, Eye Of The Sun is an action-packed ride which allows Buzzard the opportunity to show folks what they can do. If you're in the mood for a more "Ritualistic" style of Doom/Stoner Metal then get on board with BUZZARD. As this great duo aim high with this release and leave you wanting to hear more.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Matheus Jacques for the promo. Eye Of The Sun is available to buy now on DD.

Links:

Instagram | BandCamp

Filthy Hippies Release New Ethereal Video For Mystified

"The eternal question of what happens when we die… Is it just the end? Or a new beginning? The answer will be made know to all of us one day... until then... Mystified.”

Cape Town based psychedelic noise-mongers Filthy Hippies have released the video for their new single Mystified. Formed in 2018, the trio quickly established themselves in the rising South African psych scene and list supporting Post-punk band Dangerfield’s album launch, and 2019’s Endless Daze Festival as current highlights.

With four albums and three EPs under their belt, Filthy Hippies feel that forthcoming new album Departures (out April 2021) showcases some of their best work.

Watch the video for Mystified

Buy // Stream Mystified - https://orcd.co/mystified

Pre-order Departures

Facebook | Instagram 

Evert Snyman Releases New Video For: DUMB AND DEAD

South African producer and songwriter Evert Snyman has released a live studio performance video for his track Dumb and Dead, taken from his well-received second solo album Hot Mess.

Based in Johannesburg, Snyman has launched and collaborated on various projects, cementing himself as a versatile multi-instrumentalist. He’s best known as the guitarist and vocalist of alternative rock band Pollinator but has been involved in various bands over the years such as synth rockers Swandy, doom-metallers Mad God and experimental alternative noise-rock project Bombaby. He has most recently joined South African stoner rock cult Ruff Majik as a fulltime member after handling production duties on their last couple albums.

“When I wrote Dumb and Dead I was listening to a lot of Pixies and was inspired by their song Baal’s Back, where Black Francis only screams throughout the entire song. Stiaan Du Preez’s lead guitar was the last thing to really tie the track together. Let’s just say I felt a lot of relief after screaming my brains out that day” laughs Evert.

Watch the video below

Dumb and Dead is available now on all digital platforms https://orcd.co/dumbanddead

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Blues Funeral Recordings announce REZN and VINNUM SABBATHI for new PostWax Vol. II series; Kickstarter for subscription signups live now.

Blues Funeral Recordings announce REZN and VINNUM SABBATHI for new PostWax Vol. II series; Kickstarter for subscription signups live now.

Hot on the heels of the Acid King and Josiah announcement, Blues Funeral Recordings reveal Chicago's REZN and Mexico City's VINNUM SABBATHI as the next two bands to take part in the second volume of their PostWax vinyl subscription series, this time for a special collaborative release.

The joining of REZN's gargantuan heaviness and lysergic dreamscapes with VINNUM SABBATHI's hypnotic and jammy superscience soundtracks is the exact type of aural mind-meld that PostWax was conceived to present. These two avant-garde outfits will deliver one massive and ground-breaking effort, one that has chance to make an impression among heavy music lovers and beyond.

REZN guitarist Rob McWilliams elaborates: "Our intention is to give this collaboration a solid REZN foundation with Vinnum Sabbathi providing the cosmic textures and atmosphere to align it all under the same sonic storyline. We've been talking about doing something together for a little while now, since our bands are a great match sonically and already sync up in a lot of ways. In the end, we'll have a roasty REZN dish with a decadent Vinnum Sabbathi glaze."

VINNUM SABBATHI guitarist Juan Tamayo adds: “For us, this collaboration with REZN is very special. From the day we played with them in Mexico, we knew we wanted to create something together, and being able to do it with Blues Funeral for the PostWax series is a great privilege. We can't wait to make something truly unique by adding a story to the sonic landscapes, and all the fans are in for some cosmic epicness.”

The PostWax series present exclusive limited edition records from some of the best stoner rock, doom and heavy psych bands on the planet. Benefiting from a spectacular Kickstarter success in 2018, PostWax Year One debuted monster releases to subscribers first — including Elder's "The Gold & Silver Sessions" and the seminal comeback album "Refractions" from Lowrider — which were subsequently released in standard retail versions to the public several months later. PostWax Vol. II will unfold as a series of 9 deluxe releases on gorgeous vinyl, with each record including at least one exclusive track only available to PostWax subscribers, also featuring next-level sleeve design, hand-crafted art and illustrations, and behind-the-scenes liner notes by JJ Koczan of The Obelisk. The first PostWax Vol. II release will be delivered directly to subscribers in the summer of 2021.

=> Get more info and subscribe to PostWax Vol. II at this location

About REZN

The music churned out by Chicago quartet REZN somehow manages to convey both crushing mass and cosmic weightlessness. The seed was planted when guitarist Rob McWilliams and bassist Phil Cangelosi began jamming together at age twelve in the DC commuter town of Leesburg, VA. They relocated to Chicago in 2015, recruited Patrick Dunn to bash on the drums, and set about recording their debut album 'Let It Burn' after playing just three shows together. Spencer Ouellette rounded out their bottom-heavy sound with the hum-and-squall of modular synth, and the added textural component immediately became a key facet to their sound. REZN quickly established their footing in the heady-and-heavy Chicago rock community, playing with esteemed riff barons like Bongripper and Oozing Wound, as well as landing coveted slots for Conan and Acid King. The 2018 sophomore album 'Calm Black Water' continued the band’s penchant for molasses-thick guitar-and-bass punishments with soaring minor key vocal melodies, but Ouellette further pushed the dreamscape envelope by supplementing the synth duties with blissed out saxophone passages. REZN’s newest offering 'Chaotic Divine' continues their melding of gargantuan heaviness and lysergic calm, as well as the band’s penchant for tying the music to a visual landscape.

About VINNUM SABBATHI

Formed in 2012 in Mexico City, Vinnum Sabbathi merge loud, slow and distorted riffs with samples from science and sci-fi to create a unique sonic experience. From 2013 to 2016, the band released two EPs and two split albums, but it's their 2017 debut album 'Gravity Works' (LSDR Recs) that really caught the international scene's attention. Their space-themed doom traveled from Mexico to the Old Continent's shores, leading them to play at Bristol Psych Fest, Doomlines and Sonic Blast Moledo. Between 2018 and 2019, the band released two more split records including 'The Good Earth is Dying' with Cegvera, also playing shows with Red Fang, Rosetta, Rezn and Truckfighters. Early in 2020, their sophomore album 'Of Dimensions & Theories' sees the light of day and slowly but steadily proves that science, space and riffs belong together, leaving an elephantine trail for their works to come.

Blues Funeral Recordings is an independent label created by the founders of MeteorCity and Lowrider, and releasing music from luminary artists in the heavy/stoner/doom/psych ecosphere. While issuing stellar albums from Domkraft, Howling Giant, Lord Buffalo and Somnuri, the label has also gained attention through PostWax, a groundbreaking subscription-style series of lavish custom releases featuring exclusive music from Elder, Daxma, Spotlights, Lowrider, Besvärjelsen, Big Scenic Nowhere and Domkraft.

BLUES FUNERAL RECORDINGS LINKS

Website⎮Facebook⎮Bandcamp⎮Instagram

REZN LINKS

Website⎮Facebook⎮Bandcamp⎮Instagram

VINNUM SABBATHI LINKS

Facebook⎮Bandcamp⎮Instagram

Zac Crye - All The Same (EP Review)

Release Date: 16th April 2021. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

All The Same - Tracklisting

All The Same

Look Out Above

Roachweeds

Firewater

The Roads

Members

Zac Crye - Everything

Review

All The Same is the new EP from Zac Crye who played and recorded everything on this release. This EP is a collection of Psychedelic Stoner Rock tunes with Zac on fine form across the 5 songs held on the release. The music is constantly engaging with a warm sunny attitude from Zac which explores the finer moments of the Stoner Rock genre.

Opening song - All The Same - is what you expect from a title track of the EP with Zac playing a heavy style of music that allows him plenty of opportunity to show off his fine musical skills with the grooves being a taste of Classic Desert/Stoner Rock to the heavier Hard Rock moments. The lyrics and vocals are superbly handled and drive this song to a fine and heavy conclusion,

Second song - Look Out Above - is perhaps the most rebellious track on the EP with Zac writing some spiky based lyrics that gives this song a more mature and grown-up sound. The song does take time to get going but once it does the heavy psychedelic moments become more focused with Zac revelling in his almost “Outlaw” persona I feel he uses for this song. The music is the real highlight here with the Stoner Rock grooves being effortlessly cool from start to finish.

Third song - Roach Weeds - offers a more twisted style of music with an almost “Doom” based distorted sound opening the song before the Desert/Stoner Rock riff appears. This has an early Fu Manchu vibe to it all as Zac once again emits “Desert/Stoner Rock” Outlaw Cool. A song of simple means but one that packs some fine heavy ideas of its own.

The final two songs - Firewater and The Road is where Zac excels the most on this release. As these two songs are more daring, bolder and even darker with some of the creative choices that Zac has made for this part of the EP. The music drifts from Heavy Stoner Rock to one of almost Americana based Doom especially on Firewater. I can detect a slight “Brant Bjork” influence on these two songs and that is no bad thing.

All The Same is a gloriously hip and supremely entertaining release that you can’t help but be swept along with. Awesome stuff….

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Infecting Cells PR for the promo. All The Same will be available to buy on DD from April 16th 2021

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Acid's Trip Premiere New Song - JUST A MAN - From Their New Album STRINGS OF SOUL Due Out on HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS RECORDS

Acid’s Trip from Gothenburg was formed in late 2018 by Acid, former guitarist of Honeymoon Disease, with a clear vision of performing high speed rock’n’roll. With blasting guitar riffs, punchy melodies and a shitload of attitude the band delivers full tilt boogie action on vinyl & live on stage! 

With two shreddin’ guitarists in the front and a dynamite rhythm section, this power house is running over the garage rock scene – with rapid electric guitars, groovy riffs and chopper culture! The music is best described as a hard rock action mix of the speedy Mc5, a touch of Thin Lizzy and Lynyrd Skynyrd soul. 

The quartet has already proven themselves on tour in Europe and the band blew the roof at the legendary "Flanders Chopper Bash" while the success became a fact. The bands 12” vinyl “Rock’n’Roll Speedball” sold out quickly and the awaited debut album ”Strings of Soul” will be released soon on Heavy Psych Sounds Records! 

The tracks come with the raw power of furious motor engines and Gothenburg groove. With a growing fanbase all around Europe and the states Acid’s Trip is now hittin’ the charts to reclaim the rockin’ vibes and fill your heads with groovy rock’n’roll!

You can hear the excellent new single JUST A MAN from their forthcoming brilliant new album STRINGS OF SOULS due out on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds Records from May 7th 2021.

Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR for all of the details.

Links:

Official | Facebook