Saturday 28 April 2018

Craters - Laurentian Abyss (Album Review)


Release date: April 24th 2018. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD

Laurentian Abyss – Tracklisting

1.Laurentian Abyss 13:25
2.Batagaika 15:01

Members

Rhythm Guitar: Brenden Gunn
Lead Guitar: Dave Morris
Bass and Synth: Anne Emberline
Drums: Aidan Adamson

Review

Craters new album – Laurentian Abyss – is an instrumental Doom/Sludge Metal riff-fest that offers two epic songs that both run for 13 and 15 minutes respectively. Craters don’t fuck around with this release. As it’s constantly bleak and challenging from the start. The heavy post-doom sounds builds upto a gloomy apocalyptic feel. Though Craters don’t mind adding Ambient Post-Rock/Post-Metal sounds that offers brief moments of hope before returning to the more depressing post-doom/sludge metal world.

Opening track – Laurentian Abyss – sees Craters switch musical genres quite frequently. The song starts off very bleak before Craters opt for a more Ambient Post-Rock driven sound.. The dual guitars from Brenden and Dave are constantly engaging and threatening through the entire song. This allows Anne and Aidan on Bass and Drums respectively to create a dynamic rhythm section for Craters to thrive upon.

Second track – Batagaika – is the heaviest song on the album with Craters unleashing a more violent post-doom/post-metal sound compared to the first track. Anne’s bass playing is what stands out the most. As it’s quite central to Craters sound before the heavy guitars start making their presence known.

Truth be told when I received this promo I was expecting a record that sounded like a heavier version of Russian Circles and Pelican. Craters are a totally different band and I admire they released an album that has it’s own unique sound, soul and identity.

Overall, Laurentian Abyss is one of the more interesting Instrumental Doom/Sludge Metal albums I’ve heard in a long time. Check this record out for some top-notch hard-hitting instrumental Doom/Sludge Metal.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:


Scientist - BARBELITH (Album Review)


Release date: April 20th 2018. Label: Self Released. Format: DD

BARBELITH – Tracklisting

1.chokhmah/binah 05:49
2.magick mirror 05:56
3.barbelith 06:10
4.fiction suit 05:47
5.retrograde 04:00
6.shed this meat 05:23
7./(home)/ at last 04:59

Members

Eric Plonka - guitar,vox
Justin Cape - drums
Patrick Auclair - guitar,vox
Mathew Milligan - bass
Barry Kotarba - vocals

Review

I’ve been a fan of Progressive Doom/Sludge Metallers – Scientist – ever since they released their debut album back in 2013. However I’ve never reviewed any of their records. So it’s time to correct that with their brilliantly heavy and quite thrilling new offering – Barbelith.

The first thing that stands out with this album is how complex and deeply progressive this album is compared to previous Scientists albums. The band have recruited a full time vocalist for this album. Barry Kotarba brings his “A” game to this album. Eric Plonka handled guitars and vocals on the previous albums. This time round Barry is in the driving seat with the vocals. However the other members still bring their heavy progressive Doom/Sludge Metal sounds to the party.

Opening track – Chokhmah/Binah – has a blackened Sludge Metal approach but Scientist manage to inject their trademark style Psychedelic/Doom based sound. The song is quite riff-centred at times and it’s good to hear Scientist let loose with their music whilst still offering a heavy psychedelic feel.

Second track – Magick Mirror – has a more Death Metal feel but still maintaining a Progressive/Psychedelic Sludge Metal sound. The guitars feel influenced by Mastodon and Neurosis. However Scientist build upon these influences and manage to create their own unique sound. And I’m fairly sure I can hear some Organ type instrument being played. Maybe it’s just me losing grip on all reality. I blame that on the music. As Scientist veer into many different musical directions on this song. It can be very hard to keep up. This is one of the most intelligent and emotional songs on the album.

Third track – Barbelith – is the standout song on the album. As it’s another complex sounding Doom/Sludge Metal song with pitch-black moments of heavy thrash based guitars. The clean and death based vocals work superbly well. One moment the song is quite scary and intense, the next, the clean vocals appear and the song changes into a more reflective song that TOOL would rightly be proud to call their own.

I should have mentioned that Barbelith is a concept album based on the following:

"the search for life's meaning through the use of psychedelics and the occult, only to discover that you haven't even been born yet"

That explains a lot about Barbelith. As this is a complex and mysterious sounding album. Scientist are not only living up to the name with their complex melodies but also with the highly intelligent lyrics written throughout the album.

Other standout songs include: Friction Suit, Retrograde and Shed This Meat. As Scientist build upon their claim at being one of the most original sounding Doom/Sludge Metal bands currently out there today. I’m not kidding. Listen to their impressive back catalogue and you can bear witness to a band creating highly intelligent sounding albums.

Barbelith is an album that you simply cannot ignore. Scientist have created something special with Barbelith. Not many bands can release great music such as this. However Scientist have done it again and perhaps outdone themselves here. As they’ve released their best album to date.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:


Friday 27 April 2018

SOOM - Джєбарс (Album Review)


Release date: April 20th 2018. Label: Various. Format: CD/DD

Джєбарс – Tracklisting

1.Понад Секвоями: Джерело 07:42
2.Вщент 10:44
3.Сміх дів нічних 01:12
4.Під променем тьмяним захована мрія 13:21
5.Сувенір фен-шуй 01:26
6.Полтавський Шлях 10:51
7.Спокій і тиша цілодобово 01:16
8.Коляска 09:37
9.Наґно (Bonus Track) 12:36
10.Панічна Атака (Bonus Track) 05:31

Members

Al Kova - noise, vox
Tomrer - bass (again, from 2016)
Amorth - drums (again, from 2016)

Review

Джєбарс is the 2nd full length album from SOOM. This album blends Doom, Sludge, Psych, Folk and Spaced Out Sounds. it’s not the most easiest album to listen to. As there’s a lot going on with SOOM’s music. The music can be way out there and the lo-fi surroundings doesn’t help as much. Truth be told I didn’t enjoy this album at first. Mainly down to the fact there is a lot to take in.

I’m not going to do a song by song review as the album is more of a psychedelic and FUCKED UP journey where the music moves into so many different directions. SOOM are quite adapt at playing weirdly addictive drone based sounds with the folk element of their music creating an uneasy atmosphere. The heavy riffs do take time to arrive. Though when they do, SOOM unleash with a barrage of progressive sludgy riffs.

The opening track feels it was inspired by EARTH and BONG. Wait until the second song appears and SOOM play a more nightmarish sound of Doom/Drone/Sludge Metal. Джєбарс has a high amount of Middle Eastern influences within the album.

Джєбарс truly comes alive when the dominant Sludge/Doom Metal riffs appear. As the album violently bursts into life with aggressive Punk/Sludge Metal sounds that cut right to the bone. It’s deeply unflinching and I admire SOOM’s vision for releasing a highly experimental album such as this.

Not everyone is going to enjoy this album. It’s perhaps for the more experimental Doom/Sludge Metal fan and not the casual observer. Джєбарс took me about 4 listens to fully admire and appreciate. Whilst I still have issues with certain parts of the album, I believe that Джєбарс is a complex, brave and bold album for SOOM to release.

The production feels flat but that’s perhaps down to the lo-fi environment SOOM have used for Джєбарс overall tone and atmosphere. SOOM are unapologetic with Джєбарс and I admire their bleak outlook on all things Doom/Sludge Metal.

Джєбарс is an album that I won’t be listening to all the time. As you need to be in a certain mood to listen the entire thing. However it’s an album that I won’t forget for a very long time. This is one of the most nightmarish and complex sounding albums I’ve heard this year.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Robustfellow Prods for the Promo. Джєбарс is available to buy on CD/DD from Robustfellow Prods now.

Links:

Thursday 26 April 2018

SLEEP - The Sciences (Album Review)


Release date: April 20th 2018. Label: Third Man Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Sciences – Tracklisting

1. The Sciences (3:03)
2. Marijuanaut's Theme (6:39)
3. Sonic Titan (12:26)
4. Antarcticans Thawed (14:23)
5. Giza Butler (10:02)
6. The Botanist (6:27)

Members

Al Cisneros – vocals, bass
Matt Pike – guitar
Jason Roeder – drums

Review

Only SLEEP could have released their new album on 4/20. What made it more legendary is what the album was released immediately without any massive promotional campaign of any kind. For a band of SLEEP’s structure you expect a major announcement. Nope. Not with SLEEP. The global Weedian/Stoner Metal community was taken by major surprise that the album would be released straight away via DD/CD and Limited Edition Vinyls.

People have been expecting this album for a very long time to come. Ever since Sleep reformed almost a decade ago when they started playing regular gigs and tours. That anticipation reached fever pitch with the release of The Clarity back in 2014. We saw snippets of information being published on their media pages in the middle of last year. We hope that we weren’t expecting a TOOL style epic (and boring) on-going musical – will they/won’t they musical saga.

Nope. The new album was officially released 4/20. So here we are with – THE SCIENCES. Their first proper new studio album in twenty years. All I can say is that The Sciences is First and foremost, definitely a SLEEP album. All of their trademark sounds are there. Huge sounding Doom/Stoner riffs inspired by Black Sabbath and the Spaced Out Weedian Culture.

The album opens with – The Sciences – a Doom/Stoner Metal odyssey with hints of distorted sludge based noises. This is a very cool song to open the album with. As the anticipation of the familiar sound reaches fever pitch. The constant on-going riff reminds me of the opening from Dopesmoker. SLEEP start to add a subtle psychedelic groove.

The Sciences opens soon moves onto the trademark riffs of SLEEP and they are at the top of the game. Matt Pike, Al Cisneros and Jason Roeder are on inspired form. This is most definitely a team effort. The whole album at times feels like it was influenced by what has come before it. Especially with the other bands that the members are part of. Yes, Even Neurosis as well. With Jason’s hard-hitting and intelligent drumming.

You can expect to hear OM style drone/stoner rhythms on songs such as Marijuanaut's Theme, Sonic Titan and Antarticans Thawed. The heaviest parts of the album perhaps come from Matt Pike’s guitars and mostly with his work from High On Fire. That’s to be expected. As both OM and High On Fire originally came from SLEEP.

I know that Sonic Titan and Antarticans Thawed are not exactly new songs. However they haven’t been heard like this before. Properly recorded and fully realised into a more spiritual experience. You know what to expect with SLEEP. They are perhaps one of the finest Stoner Metal bands currently out there.

The vocals from Al are superb throughout. This is perhaps the best he’s sounded in a very long time. The Sciences contains some of the best lyrics that SLEEP has ever committed to record. Trippy, psychedelic and all within the realm of Weedian spaced out culture.

The best songs on the album have to be Giza Butler and The Botanist. This is where SLEEP embrace a more reflective and psychedelic feeling. The Botanist is purely instrumental and it’s good to hear SLEEP concentrating more on progressive melodies than lyrical content.

The Sciences is superbly produced. I’ve heard some people complaining that it feels a little too rushed at times. Maybe I’m listening to a different album. The production is fantastic. As you can feel every riff, note and sound being played at maximum levels.

The Sciences sees SLEEP back at their most legendary best. We may never see another album released from SLEEP. And truth be told I’m fine with that. I don’t know if SLEEP could top this epic release. I thought it would be impossible to top Dopesmoker. However, SLEEP have managed to do just that with The Sciences. As SLEEP have delivered their best album to date.

The Sciences is simply a must have album.

Words by Steve Howe

You can buy The Sciences from Third Man Records on CD/DD/Vinyl now.

Links:

Ether Feather - Interstellar (Single Review and Song Premiere)


Release date: April 26th 2018. Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Members

Dylan Ryan - Drums
Chris Welcome - Guitar
Tim Young - Guitar
Devin Hoff - Bass
Willie Blair - Bass

Review

I’ll let the bio tell you the details behind this fantastic sounding Psychedelic Hard Rock/Stoner Rock Band by the name of Ether Feather.

Although they took their name from a Captain Beefheart lyric, Los Angeles trio Ether Feather seems to worship more at the alter of Black Sabbath, Budgie, and Rush. In many ways the band, with only one release to its name, actually began in 2011 when drummer/singer Dylan Ryan (Cursive, Fatal Jamz) started the band as an instrumental trio called Sand with future Ether Feather collaborators Devin Hoff (Cibo Matto, Julia Holter) and Tim Young (Reggie Watts, Wayne Horvitz)

After two Sand records Ryan set the moniker aside in favor of a new name that better reflected the new direction of the material he was writing, specifically psychedelic proto-metal. Ether Feather self-released an EP in 2017 called Other Memory and are sorting out plans for the 2018 release of their debut full length. March 12, 2018 sees the release of the new single, The Falconer.

The band’s new single Interstellar is a seriously heavy and groovy affair that sees the band declare their love for all things 70s Hard Rock/Heavy Metal with shades of Doom, Stoner Rock and Proto-Metal lurking in the background. Perhaps taking influence more from Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats with a hint of Black Sabbath. The dual vocals are simply sublime with the heavy doom based guitars playing in the background.

Ether Feather have been premiering songs all over the place with songs and videos premiering on sites such as Buzzlands L.A., Psychedelic Baby Magazine and New Noise Magazine amongst others.

I’ve included the links so you can find more about this great band.


Ether Feather have allowed me to premiere their excellent new single – Interstellar. The band are currently hard at work recording their new album which will be released later this year. Until then enjoy this slice of heavy proto-metal goodness.



Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Tuesday 24 April 2018

Monsternaut - Enter The Storm (Album Review) And Album Premiere


Release date: April 27th 2018. Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Enter The Storm – Tracklisting

1. Winter
2. Landslide
3. Anthem
4. One Of The Rodents
5. Filled With Vain
6. Back To Universe
7. Black Breath
8. Midnight
9. Devil's Inn
10. Changing Shape
11. Enter The Storm
12. Swallowed By The Earth

Members

Tuomas Heiskanen - Guitars / Vocals
Perttu Härkönen - Bass
Jani Kuusela - Drums

Review

Monsternaut's new album Enter The Storm is a Desert Rock/Stoner Metal offering that bridges the gap between the classic sounds of Truckfighters and Kyuss but with their own dynamic flair. Enter The Storm has a deeply rich progressive sound that allows Monsternaut to create music on their own terms. The Psychedelic Desert Rock vibes gives way to a more vibrant modern Stoner Metal sound with the vocals adding real grit to the overall tone of the album.

Opening track - Winter - is a heavy Desert Rock affair with the band creating a delicate fast-paced atmosphere with the heavy guitars influenced by the early sound of Truckfighters. Though Monsternaut are in control of their own destiny and you can tell this early on that this album is going to be one wild ride. The album moves at such a breakneck speed that Monsternaut have a slight Punk Rock influence running throughout out the album

Second track - Landside - has a more rebellious approach with the vocals and lyrics offering a heavier ride compared to the first song. Monsternaut do like adding Psychedelic Sounds and delicious amounts of heavy fuzz. Enter The Storm is one of those rare albums that has a beginning, a middle and an end with the band writing an exciting narrative to match the great music on show.

Songs such as Anthem, One Of The Rodents, Filled With Vain, Black Breath, Enter The Storm and Swallowed By The Earth are perhaps the best songs on the whole album with Monsternaut gradually playing heavier sounds and hard-edged vocals to match. The music is first rate on Enter The Storm as Monsternaut hardly put a foot wrong. The album moves effortlessly from the different genres contained within the twelve songs held on the album. Maybe some people think that's a bit excessive for a Stoner Rock/Metal album such as this. I would say just sit back and enjoy the wild ride that Monsternaut have created here.

The production is handled superbly well with the album sounding very dynamic from the start. Enter The Storm offers the perfect balance between nineties sounding Desert/Stoner Rock hazy psychedelic vibes with the perfect amount of FUZZ being added for good measure. Though that doesn't stop Monsternaut changing the albums sound to a heavier and distorted style of Hard Rock/Stoner Metal when the mood calls for it.

Enter The Storm is a richly rewarding and deeply satisfying album that Monsternaut should rightly be proud of.

Now you can hear this fantastic album in all it's Stoner Metal technicolour FUZZ ROCK GLORY with this cool album premiere.



Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Claire at Purple Sage PR for the promo and for the album premiere

Enter The Storm will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from April 27th 2018.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Monday 23 April 2018

Let It Breathe - S/T (Album Review)


Release date: April 28th 2018. Label: STB Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Let It Breathe – S/T – Tracklisting

1.Bucket Of Bullheads
2.Fat Lip
3.Greater Than I 04:57
4.Mauler 05:17
5.Blood Relations
6.Coramoor
7.Wanderer

Members

Jason - D
Randy - G,V
Rob - B

Review

Let It Breathe are the latest band to receive a stellar STB Vinyl Release with their self-titled debut album. A potential sign advising future listeners how good this album really is. I will admit that Let It Breathe were a new discovery for myself. I only heard of them when I received the album promo to review. So what can you expect on the album. That's a tough one.

Let It Breathe have an intriguing Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal sound with a lot of other different influences and sounds happening at the same time. The band are perhaps more influenced by the seventies and nineties style of Hard Rock/Doom Rock with the Stoner Rock sounds allowing the band to keep a less modern sound.

Opening track - Bucket Of Bulletheads - is driven along by a thumping bass line and psychedelic groovy guitars. The vocals from Randy are rooted between classic doom rock and psychedelic stoner rock. The album is quite gloomy and atmospheric with Let It Breathe managing to keep their classic rock approach down to a fine art.
Second track - Fat Lip - sees Let It Breathe play a more atmospheric blues rock sound that soon changes to one of weedian style influences. The lyrics aren't the most original but the vocals and hazy riffs move the song nicely to its natural conclusion.

Third track - Greater Than I - opts for a more laid-back Classic Rock sound but the Doom Rock can be heard primarily in the background. The lyrics yet again disappoint slightly but the powerful vocals save the day. This song feels influenced by the classic rock bands of the sixties such as The Doors and Cream. The drumming and bass playing really shine on this track especially when the band decides to play some Earthless-style jam-based Stoner Rock towards the end of the song.

Fourth track - Mauler - is where the album finally embraces a true Doom/Stoner Metal sound with pounding gloomy beats leading to murkier psychedelic riffs. The vocals are kept to a minimum though when they do appear they add an eerie atmosphere.

The final three songs on the album - Blood Relations, Coramoor and Wanderer - sees Let It Breathe carry on playing the heavier Doom Rock/Metal sound with the other different genres of music that appeared on the first few tracks slowly fading into the background. The whole feel and flow of the second part of the album does struggle to match the excitement of the first part. That's my only complaint with the album. Still, Let It Breathe manages to create some stunning heavy atmospheric sounds especially on the final song Wanderer. The production is good and is what you expect from an album such as this.

The music is given time to flow and grow naturally with heavy amounts of loud volume being played for a more dynamic effect. Let It Breathe are going to gain maximum exposure for this album. 

With the band being signed to STB Records. STB Records vinyls always sell out in double quick time. Plus the album speaks for itself. Let It Breathe's debut album has crossover appeal with a lot of different genres being catered for. This album is a spellbinding and powerful Doom Rock/Metal album.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Jadd at Read Lead PR for the promo. Let It Breathe self-titled album will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from STB Records BandCamp Page and available here as well. from April 28th 2018.

Links:

Sunday 22 April 2018

NOMAD - Feral (Album Review)


Release date: May 31st 2018. Label: APF Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Feral – Tracklisting

1.Curse Of The Sun
2.Feral
3.Swarm
4.The War Is Never Over
5.Culture Of Ruin
6.Feed
7.Shallow Fate

Members

Drian Nash - Vocals
Lewis Atkinson - Guitar
John Carberry - Bass
Hayley McIntyre - Drums

Review

Nomad become of age with their debut full length album – Feral. The band have played a wide range of heavyweight Sludge/Doom Metal bands over the years such as CONAN, Church Of Misery, Raging Speedhorn, Bongripper and Dopethrone. A mighty impressive list by anyone’s standards. Though Feral sees Nomad playing their own highly volatile of Sludge/Doom Metal.

The first thing that stands out the most from the beginning is the vocals from Drain Nash. As he puts in a commanding performance on the excellent opening track – Curse Of The Son. The song starts really slowly but soon builds up to a heavy monolithic Doom based atmosphere. The sludgy guitars from Lewis Atkinson offer a raw honest feel with John and Hayley providing superb support on bass and drums respectively. Once Nomad settle into an almighty progressive groove the band start adding little elements of Psychedelic sounds here and there.

Feral does show Nomad’s deep respect for the legendary NOLA scene. As the album feels straight out of New Orleans and not Manchester, England where the band is from. Nomad excel the most on the more progressive and lengthier songs on the album with songs such as Swarm, Culture Of Pain and Shallow Fate exciting me the most. As these tracks sees Nomad create bleak distorted sludge/doom metal riffs that take time to fully flesh out and demolish the listener’s take on reality.

Though the shorter songs on the album are just as good with Feral, The War Is Never Over and Feed being constantly threatening and engaging with the different sounds that Nomad possess and play with superb precision.

I was expecting Feral to be a heavy onslaught of brutal vocals and riffs and truth be told Feral does contain both of those things. However the album manages to have a sheer sense of fun and wicked enjoyment. Especially when Nomad decide to change direction with their music. As the album contains many moments of Hard Rock, Heavy Metal and Stoner Metal vibes within the Doom/Sludge Metal framework.

The production is very good indeed as Nomad sound demonically pissed off throughout the entire album.

Nomad have been paying their dues and proving their worth within the UK Heavy Metal Underground over the last few years. Now it’s time for Nomad to reap their rewards of their continuous hard work and graft. As Feral has the potential to move Nomad onto the next level by playing some of the more prestigious European Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal festivals.

Overall, Feral is a thrilling album and I recommend you all to take notice of Nomad as they’ve released a MONSTER OF AN ALBUM. No question….

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to APF Records and Curtis at Dewar PR for the promo. Feral will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from APF Records from May 31st 2018.

Links:


Saturday 21 April 2018

From Beyond - The Band From Beyond (Album Review)


Release date: May 11th 2018. Label: Candlelight Records/UMG. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Band From Beyond – Tracklisting

Invocation
The Fall to Earth
Blooming Sun
The Slip
Lost Way
The Color Into Space
The Color Out of Space
11:59
At Midnight
Laura
Machine Gun
White Marble
Black Mirror
Synthetic Skin (Part 1)

Members

Rob - Guitars, Vocals, Synthesizers
Dave - Guitars, Effects
Brooks - Bass, Synth, Vocals
Anthony - Drums, Vocals

Review

Greetings All,

It is always exciting to check out a band’s debut album. Then there is another level of excitement when that band delivers a record of completely mind shattering brilliance. So, is the case with the debut album by From Beyond. The record is a rocking, synth heavy marvel that pays homage to a bunch of different styles and influences while being uniquely original. There is also a very cool, and not so subtle, wink and a nod to the beloved Netflix. The last statement is something that I was fairly certain I would never, ever have written in a record review, but alas. The band bio notes that they are from Austin, Texas, however, I would have assumed they were from some distant smoky planet comprised of vintage amps and synths and a large satellite dish that fed all the wonders of Netflix to a strange and enlightened group. 

The Band From Beyond is comprised of 14 killer tunes. The record is excellently played and beautifully recorded. The vibe you feel from listening to this album is intriguing and intense. There are tons of well performed records released every year, but there is only a select few that carry this certain vibe. I honestly listened to this album on repeat for the better part of a week and it just doesn’t get old, as I hear something new and intriguing with each listen.

To be honest with you, I am not a big fan of synthesizers. 70’s prog, 80’s new wave, 90’s industrial really does nothing for me. However, From Beyond have done a stellar job of using the synthesizers the way that I assume they were intended. They are a part of the songs, and they add to the power of each one. I challenge you not to smile to yourself when you get thrown into the land of Stranger Things at various times while listening.

While the synth is a major factor on the album, it is worth noting that all parts are of the highest regard. There is some absolutely killer guitar and bass work here, along with some massive drums. I will invoke this sentiment again moving forward, but I challenge you not to catch some Queens of the Stone Age/Dave Grohl – Songs for the Deaf style drumming, it is amazing. The vocals are also noteworthy. There is something to be said for the vocals fitting perfectly with the music and From Beyond nail it throughout The Band From Beyond.

On to the songs, Invocation is a brief synth intro that leads directly into the killer, chugging riff that is the foundation of The Fall to Earth. The band brings the heavy right away, which is a great move. Blooming Sun follows with a driving rhythm that is eerily reminiscent of QOTSA and the song also has some slick guitar work of note. The Slip opens with a Cars like synth intro before those wicked drums drive this immensely catchy track with a little woo-hoo refrain thrown in to boot.

Lost Way comes in with a synthetic late era Nine Inch Nails inspired drum beat that carries this dark, down tempo track. The darkness continues on the brief interlude of The Color In to Space, which is a dark, Stranger Things inspired lead in to The Color Out of Space. This song has an absolutely methodical and rocking riff that lays under some very Sabbath inspired vocals. A killer track. 11:59 follows as another synth driven interlude. Then comes At Midnight with a very stoner rock inspired groove ala the early sound of another Texas band, The Sword. The synths are replaced or reworked into a driving 70’s organ sound that fits the song beautifully. The bassist gets some love on the inspired, Laura, with its big bass intro and bass solo that keep this record moving in the right direction.

Machine Gun is up next. Dammit if I didn’t get hit with a bit of 80’s era Sonic Youth nostalgia with this one. It is a killer track with a scream along chorus of “One Eyed Jack, One Eyed Jack” that will find its way into the earworm part of your brain. White Marble is an acoustic guitar based interlude that gives way to the most epic of tracks on the album. The stellar Black Mirror comes with a dizzying level of power. The heaviest track on the album delivers in spades with an almost Alice In Chains style vocal delivery.

The record comes to a close with the dark synth outro of Synthetic Skin (part 1). It is a shame, but all good things must come to an end.

In a year that has so far been dominated by killer albums from bands with established resumes (Corrosion of Conformity, Fu Manchu, Monster Magnet, Black Rainbows to name a few) From Beyond has come storming from the great beyond with an absolute rocking gem. Do yourself a favor track this record down. Highest possible recommendation!

- Todd S

Instagram @alltheghoststhathauntyou

Words by Todd Stealey


Thanks to Carl at Action! PR for the promo. The Band From Beyond will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Candlelight Records/UMG from May 11th 2018.

Links: