HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST adds more name to the bill ; pre-sale tickets available now!

Mother's Cake, Giöbia and Tons get added to HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST, to take place Nov. 15-16th in Innsbruck!

Heavy Psych Sounds and Poison For Souls are proud to announce three more bands to join the 2018 edition of HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST, taking place in the Tyrol capital of Innsbruck (Austria) on November 15-16th.

This is a first for the Italy-based stoner & fuzz festival, which will settle in the colorful old city of Innsbruck in the Austrian mountains this fall. HPS FEST is taking residence at PMK and Hafen venues for two days of the finest stoner, doom, psych rock, occult riffage!

Alongside legendary acts such as BRANT BJORK, BELZEBONG, BLACK RAINBOWS and heavy rock revelation THE NECROMANCERS, the festival is happy to welcome local rock heroes MOTHER'S CAKE, Italy's psychsters GIÖBIA, as well as HPS sludge protégés TONS.

BRANT BJORK (USA)
BELZEBONG (PL)
BLACK RAINBOWS (IT)
THE NECROMANCERS (FR)
MOTHER'S CAKE (AT)
GIÖBIA (IT)
TONS (IT)
+ more to be announced soon…

Pre-sale tickets are available now at this location

Join the official Facebook event here

Heavy Psych Sounds & Poison For Souls links

HPS website | HPS Facebook | HPS Bandcamp | www.poisonforsouls.com

BARBARIAN HERMIT Announce Debut Album; Release New Single

BARBARIAN HERMIT Announce Debut Album; Release New Single 

Solitude and Savagery to be released via APF Records 16th November

Single 'Reawaken' is out NOW

British monsters of heavy groove BARBARIAN HERMIT have announced their debut album Solitude and Savagery will be released via APF Records on November 16th 2018.

The band have released the gargantuan single 'Reawaken' taken from their forthcoming albumSolitude and Savagery which you can listen to here or purchase here. It's also available to be added to your Spotify playlists here.

 
Playing a heady mix of downtuned, fuzz-laden guitars, the quintet kick out some of the raunchiest riffs in rock draped over elephantine grime and groove on their debut to create a sound that is as irresistibly catchy as it is crushingly heavy.

Working with the legendary Chris Fielding at Skyhammer Studios, the producer behind such mammoth sounds as Electric Wizard, Conan, Primordial, Witchsorrow, Winterfylleth and mastered by James Plotkin (Khanate, OLD), BARBARIAN HERMIT’s Solitude and Savagery bears seven bruising tracks of pummelling groove metal that smoulders with swampy rawness and feral energy.

Comments guitarist Adam Robertshaw: "Solitude and Savagery isn't exactly a concept album but there are themes and recurring motifs that our vocalist Ed has woven through the album's lyrical tapestry, such as the struggle between dark and light, the exploration of one's inner self and the search for truth. This is all tied together nicely with the gnarly artwork by Manchester artist MrHass, which is a depiction of the original hermit, Diogenes of Sinope, a guy who would walk around in broad daylight with a burning lamp and when people would ask what he was doing he'd reply “looking for an honest man".

Working with Chris Fielding at Skyhammer studio was a dream come true for us too. The man is a genius and such a pleasure to work with. His ear is incredible and once he got to know us and what we were about he really got on board, suggesting harmonies or adaptations here and there, which really gave the songs a boost. With anyone else we'd have recorded a good album. With him made a great one. We hope people have as much fun listening to it as we did making it."

Pre-orders for Solitude and Savagery are now available via APF Records here.

About Barbarian Hermit

BARBARIAN HERMIT are a five piece doom/sludge/Stoner act, based in Manchester, England. Formed in 2013 from former members of disbanded Manchester bands Bisonhammer, Arke, Severed Fate, Random Act of Violence, Mountains Became Machines and That Sunless Tide and the disbanded South Korean band FatalFear.

The band have been gigging heavily around the UK for the last few years. Recently, playing at big events like HRH festival, Bloodstock Festival and supporting big names like Raging Speedhorn, Dopelord and Crowbar. Their debut self-titled EP came out in early 2016 and received rave reviews from the press and will follow this up with their debut album Solitude and Savagery which is set for release from APF Records in November 2018.

Find out more about the band

Facebook || Twitter || Instagram || Spotify || Bandcamp || APF Records

Solitude and Savagery Tracklisting

1. Enter the Hermitage
2. Black Mass
3. No Sleep
4. Beyond the Wall
5. Lifebreather
6. Reawaken
7. Laniakea

Slug Salt Lava - Siaynoq (EP Reveiw)

Release date: August 11th 2018. Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Siaynoq – Tracklisting

1.Siaynoq 03:46

2.Hateland 02:59

3.Desert Fury 04:46

4.Repeat Slave Eternal 05:00

5.Eternity of Enemies 04:40

Members

Guitars and Vocals: Ersin Tas

Bass: Ataberk Angi.

Drums: Can Kurtoglu

Review

I originally thought Siaynoq was a Turkish word with some powerful deep meaning as Slug Salt Lava are from Turkey. However I realised that Siaynoq is actually from the classic science fiction series of novels of DUNE and in particular – God Emperor Of Dune.

I remember reading the original DUNE novels in my teenage years and confusing the hell out of me. So I’m always slightly worried when listening to records that are based on the DUNE mythology and concepts of the novel. However I have a job to do with Slug Salt Lava’s latest EP – Siaynoq.

Slug Salt Lava is a Post-Metal/Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal band that creates a more experimental kind of music. The music never feels bogged down by the many different elements the band have included in their arsenal. The music is very progressive and direct with Slug Salt Lava adding a post-industrial rock/metal feel to their music as well.

The production is quite raw and intense at times but allows Slug Salt Lava to create heavy unflinching sounds with songs Siaynoq, Hateland, and Repeat Slave Eternal being the main standout songs on the EP. Obviously the lyrical content is based on the works of Frank Herbert but it’s the music and Ersin’s vocals that are the strongest parts of the EP.

The EP can be very melodic at times. Perhaps too melodic for it’s own good. However Slug Salt Lava do manage to play a heavy amount of progressive doom/sludge metal sounds.

My step-dad is Turkish and he knows what I currently do on the blog and sometimes tells me that “TURKEY DOESN’T HAVE ANY HEAVY METAL BANDS OF ANY KIND.” - Well now is the time I can tell him about Slug Salt Lava and they play some damn fine Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal music.

I know there are other cool Hard Rock/Heavy Metal bands from Turkey. I haven’t had much dealings with them but if they are half as good as Slug Salt Lava then I need to revisit the Turkish Heavy Metal Scene again. (Though SÜLFÜR Ensemble are another excellent Doom/Sludge Metal band from Turkey that you should check out as well).

Anyway Siaynoq is a damn good release especially if you’re a fan of the DUNE mythology and Progressive Sludge/Stoner Metal as well.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Dead Now - S/T (Album Review)

Release date: September 07th 2018. Label: Brutal Panda Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Dead Now – S/T – Tracklisting

1.Brunette

2.Ritchie Blackmourning

3.Bird Leaf

4.Powershapes

5.Motorekt

Members

Bobby Theberge - Day Old Man

Derek Schulz - Day Old Man

Andrew Elstner - Ex Torche, Tilts, Riddle of Steel

Review

Dead Now is the new band featuring Bobby Theberge, Derek Schulz of Day Old Man and Andrew Elstner from bands such as Tilts, Riddle Of Steel and ex-Torche. Playing a heavy stylized version of Sludge Rock with elements of Psych, Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Stoner Metal and a whole lot of attitude to match.

Dead Now debut self-titled album is a highly confident affair that takes the standard Sludge Rock template and gives it a more self-aware makeover and that’s perhaps down to the wicked humour that is contained within the lyrics and some of the song titles. I’ve always found that with almost every band that Andrew has been a member of that the music has been blissfully heavy but with catchy lyrics to match that sometimes leave you with a smile on your face even when your rocking out to the music.

Bobby and Derek bring a more dirtier and psychedelic sound compared to Andrew’s style of music and that’s no bad thing. As Dead Now have a more vibrant sound than I originally expected.

Opening song – Brunette – is a classic rock/stoner metal hybrid sound with hard-rocking sludgy based guitars that is off-set by a sinister poppy sound. It’s perhaps not too far away from Torche’s standard sound but the music has a more industrial noise rock driven atmosphere. Andrew’s vocals are good as ever. Perhaps his best work since Tilts last album.

Second track – Ritchie Blackmourning – is where Dead Now take influence from the members previous bands and it ends up being one of the albums standout songs. The song has a “Doom-Pop” feel with the band playing fast-paced psych sludge/stoner rock riffs that leave you wanting more. The heavy guitars have a “classic” heavy metal approach that holds everything together. The guitar solos are what make this song one of the best tracks on the album.

Third track – Bird Leaf – sees Dead Now adding a more grizzled Post-Rock feel to their overall sound. The song still retains it’s Sludge/Stoner Rock identity but the band start to adopt a more Alternative Rock flair to their music. Andrew’s vocals are more threatening and quite sincere at the same time. However it’s the backline of Bobby and Derek that impressed me the most on this song. As the heavy drums and pounding bass guitar are quite ferocious and leave you wanting more.

The final two songs – Powershapes and Motorekt – are perhaps the true centrepieces of the album with both songs seeing Dead Now playing a more progressive style of Sludge/Stoner Metal and one that will genuinely excite fans the most. As the music drifts from one heavy level of noise to the next. Motorekt is perhaps the best song on the album as Dead Now let everything out and show you that they mean business with their style of heavy rock/metal.

The only downside is that the only is too damn short running under 23 minutes. Though Dead Now have still managed to release a thrilling and brilliantly entertaining record that will see these guys build a mighty impression with the Sludge/Stoner Metal community.

Watch DEAD NOW soar to greater heights with this album and future releases. Your new favourite band is here…..

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Brutal Panda Records for the promo. Dead Now S/T debut album will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Brutal Panda Records from September 7^th 2018.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Sludge Titans BATTALIONS Announce New Album; Drop New Video/Single

Sludge Titans BATTALIONS Announce New Album; Drop New Video/Single 

Forever Marching Backwards to be released via APF Records 30th November 

BATTALIONS, belligerent champions of the UK DIY underground scene, revered by fans worldwide, lauded by the press and hairier than a bucket of black bears have announced their third album Forever Marching Backwards will be released via APF Records on November 30th 2018. 

The band have also released their first video and single 'Forever Marching Backwards' from the album, check it out here: 

Stream and purchase 'Forever Marching Backwards' (single) HERE or via Spotify.

Recorded and mixed by Chris Fielding at Skyhammer Studios in the UK, the resulting album is a danger-fuelled 30 minutes of Battalions own brand of bleak, swaggering, riff-infused groove metal-meets-harsh-punk sound. To quote the band, this is ‘pure Humber sludge’.

Comments vocalist Phil Wilkinson: “If you’ve followed Battalions for the last few albums you can expect tighter production, bigger riffs, more of a focus on structure and song writing along with the usual self-depreciating humour peppered throughout. The album itself is based around lead single 'Forever Marching Backwards' from which the album takes its name, essentially an allegory about how society seems to be hardwired to follow blindly without the majority questioning motives. The blind leading the blind."

Pre-orders are now available via APF Records here.

Battalions - Forever Marching Backwards

Forever Marching Backwards is the follow up album to the band's 2017 release Moonburn and brings to the table a tighter, punchier, dirtier sound with bigger riffs and extra swagger.

BATTALIONS was formed in early 2010 in the coastal city of Hull, UK. Their fanbase and support has steadily grown through incendiary live shows throughout the UK including high-profile support slots with Conan, Church Of Misery, Sworn Enemy, Ohhms, Slabdragger, Samothrace, Dopethrone and Vinnum Sabbathi. In 2017 they played on the Hobgoblin Stage at Bloodstock Open Air Festival, and headlined the Motorhead Roadcrew Stage at the 30,000-capacity Humber Street Sesh.

The band’s first two albums, 2016’s Nothing To Lose and 2017’s Moonburn received universal critical praise. Since the writing of the latter the band has slimmed down from a quintet to a 4-piece and now in 2018 the band have recently signed to APF Records and will release Forever Marching Backwards in November.

Forever Marching Backwards will be released by APF Records on November 30th. Pre-orders are available here.

Find out more about the band

Facebook || Twitter || Instagram || Spotify|| Bandcamp || APF Records

Forever Marching Backwards Tracklisting

1: Forever Marching Backwards
2: Cities of Ruin
3: Goat Feeder
4: Vaseline (G)Love
5: Tyskie Vampire
6: Infinite Void
7: Brick Hole
8: Devil’s Footsteps

Golden Bats - Residual Dread (Album Review)

Release date: August 15th 2018. Label: Domestic LA LA Records. Format: DD/Vinyl

Residual Dread – Tracklisting

1.Trouble In The Sewers 05:50

2.Into The Silver Valley 06:36

3.Nothing 06:00

4.Eye Juices 04:04

5.Outer Body 05:29

6.The Crows Build A Fire In Front Of The Owls' Cave 11:13

Members

Geordie Stafford - Everything

Review

Prolific One Man Sludge/Doom Metal musician Geordie Stafford aka Golden Bats returns with Residual Dread. Parts Doom, Sludge, Stoner and pitch-black Post-Whatever sounds holding everything together. Golden Bats have adopted a more gloomy and bleak feel to their music. As Residual Dread relies more on Doom Metal compared to his previous releases.

That’s no bad thing as Golden Bats creates a heavy psychedelic sound with progressive layers of Sludge Metal and harsh vocals to match.

Opening track – Trouble In The Sewers – is a gloomy and dirty offering that sees Geordie shout his way through a barrage of harsh and pissed off growls that leave you with quite an uncomfortable feeling. The music on the other hand can be quite hopeful at times especially when the psychedelic post-rock/post-metal sounds appear. This is a good style of music to hear on the album. You don’t hear it much times but it does show that Golden Bats aren’t all DOOM AND GLOOM on the album.

Second track – Into The Silver Valley – has elements of Neurosis running through it’s pitch-black cold heart. As this song is one of the gloomiest and heaviest songs on the album. The guitars have a slight NOLA dirge ridden sound that only alienates the listener from the rest of humanity. The bleak lyrics have a sense of truth and realism to them. The Psychedelic Sludge/Stoner Riffs offer a brief sense of hope yet again but it doesn’t last long as Golden Bats soon return to their despairing and bleak monolithic heavy sound.

This album does have a more theatrical occult rock sound compared to Golden Bats previous other records. I wasn’t a fan of this style of sound when I first heard the album. However with multiple listens of the album, I’ve became to admire the brave and weird choices that Geordie has made with this album including the more theatrical occult rock vibes.

The rest of the album follows a similar path as the opening two songs with Golden Bats laying down heavy progressive Sludge Metal riffs. Though don’t be surprised when the whole flow of the album changes into something different and more complex. Nothing and Outer Body are great examples of this happening on the album.

The final song - The Crows Build A Fire In Front Of The Owls' Cave – is perhaps the most daring song of all. As it’s quite epic running almost 12 mins in length. The song does run out of steam towards the end but it’s the journey that the song takes you on with more twisted heavy psychedelic and nightmarish sounds. The music is the strongest part of this song as the song does move into so many different directions that you may seem slightly confused by it all. However I do admire the creativity and complexity of this song above everything else.

Overall, Residual Dread is perhaps Golden Bats most daring, heaviest and adventurous album to date. What more could you possibly want from a Doom/Sludge Metal album?

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Golden Bats for the promo. Residual Dread is available to buy on Vinyl now from Domestic LA LA Records

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Hound The Wolves Release New Video For Omnia In Numeris Sita Sunt

Hound the Wolves have released a video for Omnia In Numeris Sita Sunt, from their debut album Camera Obscura, released February 2018.

From the mind of director Triangles, Part 1 of a 2 part series, the video explores the beginning of an aural and visual journey into the nature of the world around us where everything lies veiled in numbers.

The band has the following upcoming performances scheduled.

August 25th 2018 - Red Crow Booking with Un (Seattle), Sól, Tiah’s Birthday Celebration at Kenton Club

About Hound the Wolves:

Portland, Oregon’s Hound the Wolves liken themselves much to the climate that surrounds them - moody, mysterious and beautifully glum. Their creations are rooted in cyclical repetition and contrast, sonically transforming ritualistic practice into dark and gritty psych metal and droned stoner rock. Fans of Earth, Neurosis and U.S. Christmas now have a new band to enjoy.

Links:

Facebook | Bandcamp

An Interview With John Rau and Dustin Mendel from CONJURER (US)

This interview is about the US Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal Band – CONJURER and not the UK Doom/Sludge Metal band of the same name.

Conjurer first came to my attention back in July 2015 when they sent me their blistering debut album – Old World Ritual – to review. Old World Ritual was the very first album review published on the blog.

Looking back at Old World Ritual, I was impressed of the band’s style of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal that took influence from Mastodon and High On Fire but with Conjurer offering their own style of heavy based sounds.

Fast Forward 3 years later and CONJURER will be returning later this year in December 2018 when they will be releasing their 2nd album – Sigils. I’ve heard Sigils and it’s a leaner, heavier and moodier album than it’s predecessor. I will be reviewing the album in November 2018. Nearer the albums official release date.

Until then you can read this interview that I did with John Rau and Dustin Mendel from CONJURER where we discuss the making of the new album and what you can expect from the album.

Hi guys. Thanks for doing this interview. How are things with you today. Congratulations on your new album.

JR: Thanks for having us, Steve. We’re doing great, excited to share this record.

Can you give a brief history of how the band formed and where it is today.

JR: We formed the tail end of 2010, after a couple line-up changes initially, we released our first s/t EP in 2012, a full length “Old World Ritual” in 2015, and a split 7” on Small Hand Factory, in 2016. Since then we have been writing and recording our new full length “Sigils”. 

You’re probably aware there is another Doom/Sludge Metal band from the UK called Conjurer as well. Has this caused any issues having the same name as that band. Have you checked that “Conjurer” out. Or do you just focus on your own thing. 

DM: We’ve had a couple things get tagged incorrectly online. It has been a little comical, but for the most part people get which band is which.

How would you describe the music that Conjurer creates on your new album - Sigils. As there are many different elements and levels to your overall sound compared to your debut album.

JR: Stylistically “Sigils”, was the next step. It is definitely heavier and it has more doom influence than our first record, but that change wasn’t something we set out to do. It just organically evolved as we wrote.

Was that the plan to release something different compared to your debut album.

DM: We definitely wanted to capture more of the heaviness that we had live. Playing songs live always shows you what works and what doesn’t, when we recorded “Old World Ritual” we were still figuring that out. I feel like this record is a much more cohesive album and much heavier.

Sigils has quite a dark and gloomy narrative running throughout the album. Was recording the album a hard experience or was it just something you wanted to release on Sigils.

JR: When we started writing we had a rough idea of the narrative, and Dustin had an overarching concept for the album.

What is the main concept of the album.

DM: Lyrically, the album deals with issues that may arise when a person tries to fulfil their desires by using metaphysical things like chaos magick, astral projection et al. And gets bit in the ass by doing things wrong or trying to rush.

You’re looking for a label to release the album. Have you found a label yet to release the album.

JR: It feels great to say, yes! “Sigils” is going to being coming out on Doom Stew Records, out of San Francisco, in December. We are stoked to join an awesome group of bands that are crushing as hell. It will be coming out on CD/LP/Digital.

Will you be performing any more gigs to promote the upcoming new album.

JR: Yeah, living in Indy we can get to a lot of cities pretty quick, so we are planning to cover a lot of ground in 2018/19. We’re also hoping to play some fests.

Do you have an active scene to perform gigs on a regular basis. Or do you have to travel further afield to perform gigs. 

JR: Indy has a great metal scene there are so many great bands like: Shroud of Vulture, Obscene, Archarus, Photian Schism, Drude, Pot Slammer, Steed, and Battersea. I’m sure I forgot a bunch too. We feel very fortunate to be part in the scene here in Indianapolis.

You have a lot of different styles on this album. Doom, Sludge, Post-Metal and Stoner Rock. How would you class your own music as.

DM: Transdimensional Blues.

The album artwork is quite striking and fits the overall mood of the album. Who designed the artwork and how much input did you have into the final design.

JR: A good friend of ours, Dusty Neal from Black Anvil Tattoo, painted it for us, and it turned out fucking amazing. He’s one of the best tattoo artists I’ve ever seen, and I am so awe struck with what he came up with from our very basic concept.

When you’re creating new music. What comes first. The music or the lyrics. 

JR: With us, it’s always music first. While the song is being written, Dustin figures out how he wants to phrase things, and then writes lyrics. For “Sigils” we talked about Dustin’s lyrical concept and recorded demos of each song as we went, so that Dustin could write and plot the story.

What is the songwriting dynamic within the band. Is it a group collective or down to one individual.

DM: Our songs usually start with one of the guys bringing a riff or two, and then we finish writing the rest and do the arrangement as a group.

What is your current equipment/setup when recording music and playing live. 

JR: I play a Jazzmaster into an Ampeg V2 and a Sovtek Mig 50h. Brian plays a Peavey T60 into a Sunn Beta Lead. Gabe plays a Sterling into a Sunn Concert Bass. Dillon plays some giant Ludwig drums, and Dustin shouts at everyone while playing an Ensoniq ESQ-1 organ.

We pretty much used our normal rigs to record “Sigils”, plus a few extra things. We used an old Traynor TS-10, a Marshall 2555 head, an Orange Tiny Terror, an EGC Standard, and a Korg SV-1 organ.

Thanks for doing this interview. Before you go do you have any words of wisdom to say to your fans.

DM: Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of their weak riffs.

Words by Steve Howe and CONJURER

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

KVINNA - This is Türborock (Album Review)

Release date: September 28th 2018. Label: Self Released. Format: DD

This is Türborock – Tracklisting

1.Desert Wytch

2.War Machine

3.Nitefighter

4.Flat Tyre

5.Space Vampyres

6.She-Wolves on Fyre

7.The Angry 45

8.Demon Road

9.Gammal Kvinna

10.Full Moon Ryders

Members

Thünderwolf | Grïzzly | Spÿder

Review

Truth be told I wasn’t going to review KVINNA debut album - This is Türborock. As I didn’t like the album at all from my very first listen. As the band felt they were trying to hard to be HIP and not playing the most exciting of sounds. I left the album alone for a few weeks and I decided to go back and listen to the album again. I even read their brilliantly funny EPK that came with the album. (Whoever wrote that EPK, My respect to you good sir!!!).

Maybe I was in a bad mood when listening to the album originally. However the 2^nd listen I began to enjoy the album a whole lot more. Sure it’s not the most original of sounds but KVINNA have created a hugely entertaining and exciting debut album. Parts Stoner Rock, Punk Rock, Hard Rock, Fuzz Rock and Classic Rock. Imagine bands such as The Shrine, The Offspring, KISS and Turbonegro joining forces and releasing their own album.

This is Türborock will be the fucked-up and twisted result. KVINNA blast their way through 10 tracks of high voltage Hard Rock/Stoner Rock sounds with elements of Punk Rock and Classic Rock allowing the band to say a big “FUCK YOU” to standard genre conventions.

Most of the songs only last 2 mins or so. The album is frantic and fast-paced from the start. Songs such as Desert Witch, War Machine, Nitefighter, Space Vampyres, Demon Road and Full Moon Ryders are the ones that offer the albums most exciting moments.

The vocals feel inspired by Dexter Holland from The Offspring and that is no bad thing especially when matched against the different styles of music that KVINNA hold within their ranks. The only part of the album that I still have issues with is the lyrics. Sometimes the lyrics don’t really go with the music that the band have written for the album.

This is Türborock will find an audience with the Hard Rock/Stoner Rock scene within time. As it’s not the most easiest album to listen to. However This is Türborock is a superbly produced and hugely entertaining album. If you like your music being played at a 100 MPH and without a care in the world then KVINNA are the band for you.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to KVINNA for the promo. This is Türborock will be available to buy on DD from September 28^th 2018.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Dead Otter - Bridge Of Weird (Album Review)

Release date: August 24th 2018. Label: Riot Season Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Bridge Of Weird – Tracklisting

1.Eye Elevator 07:03

2.Waning 07:21

3.Fur 00:32

4.V-426 03:58

5.Bridge of Weird 13:45

Members

John - Guitar, Vocals,
Omar - Guitar,
Gavin - Bass,
Scott - Drums,
John - Drums

Review

Dead Otter’s debut album – Bridge Of Weird – is a slice of psychedelic/space rock weirdness with the band creating a very different and surreal style of Stoner Rock. The music is very jam based at times and the album has a looser flow and structure compared to other Space/Stoner Rock albums that I’ve heard recently. Though Dead Otter become a heavier band when the heavier psychedelic riffs are in full flow.

Opening song – Eye Elevator – is a very intriguing song with Dead Otter moving from one form of psychedelic rock to the next. There are even moments of Post-Rock interludes within this song that gives this song a haunting and emotional edge. If you dig bands such as Hawkwind, Monkey3 and Monomyth then Dead Otter will be the band for you. As they have a similar style of music as those great bands.

Second track – Waning – is a more calmer affair with the band playing a slower style of Spaced Out Riffs. Though that doesn’t stop the band by adding elements of Stoner Rock at different parts of the song. The groovy guitar sounds leave you in a tranquil state. The song would have been more exciting if the band played a faster and heavier style of music. Though I have a feeling this song will become one of my favourites tracks to hear on the record in the near future.

Third track – Fur – is a 30 second interlude with the familiar sounding riffs. It’s nicely played but it doesn’t bring anything new or exciting to the album.

However the final two tracks – LV-426 and Bridge Of Weird – is where Dead Otter impress the most as they play the heaviest moments on the album with LV-426 being one of the best songs on the album. Named after the planet from the classic movie – ALIEN. This song has a more doomier aspect compared to the other songs on the album and the Classic 70s Prog Rock guitar solos allow Dead Otter to play a more experimental style of music.

The final epic song – Bridge Of Weird – is an almost 14 minutes song and is perhaps the centrepiece of the entire album. As the song drifts from Classic Rock, Stoner Rock, Psych and Space Rock and still sounding very different as well. Maybe it’s the Post-Rock interludes hidden in the background that sees Dead Otter leave you richly rewarded and wanting more.

It’s a shame the album is on far too short running under 35 minutes. However with that being said, The Bridge Of Weird is a superbly entertaining album and should have you coming back for non-stop repeated listens.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Riot Season Records and Dead Otter for the promo. The Bridge Of Weird will is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl now from Riot Season Records.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp