BLUTBAD - Alcohodyssey (Album Review) And Video Premiere For Flash Goldon

Release date: January 31st 2020. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Alcohodyssey - Tracklisting

01 Lost in Space (feat. Kristallo)

02 Alcohodyssey part.1 (The space adventures of the hopshunters)

03 Die Alone

04 Sunday of Living Dead

05 Space Trumps

06 I want to believe

07 Alcohodyssey part.2 (The great escape from Bikini planet)

08 Steam Road

09 Interstellaris 0042

10 Flash Goldon (feat. Niko from Own Paw Thee Die)

11 Arcade Mood (feat. Kristallo)

Members

Tomi Versetti – Vocals

Manu Il Bello – Guitar/Vocals

Michael Deon – Bass

Davide Tonin – Drums

Review

Blutbad new album Alcohodyssey is an wickedly entertaining romp that takes influence from the realm of Science Fiction with their highly cool take on all things Punk Rock/Stoner Metal. This is a band who don’t take themselves too seriously with outlandish lyrics leading the way.

Opening song – Lost In Space – is an Electronic/Stoner Rock hybrid song with lo-fi production values with “B” movie material written all over it. The quirky Electronic vocals are meant to imitate a Robot of some kind. Maybe from the TV Series in question the song is named after. The glitchy electronic sounds and beeps had me worried. As I was thinking I couldn’t listen to an album full of these different sounds. It would drive me insane. Though it’s quite a cool song to open the album with.

Second song – Alcohodyssey part.1 – opts for a more straight-forward Sludge/Stoner Metal sound where the riffs are fast and precise. There is a Motorhead sensibility within Blutbad’s sound that brings some much needed aggression to the table. The lyrics yet again are inspired by classic Science Fiction lore with the Lemmy inspired vocals of Tomi providing a cool sounding story. The music is lively and allows the band to play some superb riffs along the way.

Third song – Die Alone – is another crazy Punk/Sludge/Stoner Metal affair with the band taking influence from Kvelertak with their music but sounding more vibrant and a lot more fun as well. The lyrics is perhaps the best thing about this album. As the band are quite the wordsmiths with their Sci-Fi inspired lyrics and matching them against addictive heavy Sludge/Stoner grooves.

The rest of the album follows the same crazy “B” movie inspired route over eight more songs with Blutbad playing to their maximum potential. The album never lets up with the band playing a faster style of Punk/Sludge/Stoner Metal that can leave you breathless in places. The production is good but there are moments where the album sounds too raw at times but nothing major to stop you from enjoying the whole wild ride the band have created here.

Other good songs to check out are: Sunday Of Living Dead, Space Tramps, I Want To Believe, Steam Road and Flash Goldon. As these songs show you what’s so good about Blutbad. The energetic lyrics and heavy sounding riffs have quite an inventive flair about them and it’s good to hear a band playing to their strengths even if they’re using Science Fiction Pop-Culture as their main influences.

If you’re a fan of Red Fang, Motorhead and Valient Thorr then Blutbad should be at the very top of your list for cool bands to check out now.

Overall, Alcohodyssey is an exciting and crazy album to listen to that has something different to offer.

Words by Steve Howe

You can see the video for their superb new song Flash Goldon from the upcoming new album.

Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR for all of the details. Alcohodyssey will be available to buy on CD/DD via Argonauta Records from Jan 31^st 2020.

Links:

Facebook

Abrams share lead track from forthcoming third album Modern Ways

Denver quartet Abrams share the lead single and title track to their forthcoming third album Modern Ways today via Metal Injection. Hear and share the hook-laden "Modern Ways" HERE. (Direct Bandcamp.)

Abrams has upped the ante with their latest recording, Modern Ways. With a focus on songwriting, lyrical narrative, and addictive hooks and refrains, Abrams presents a highly focused, intensely polished sonic narrative. Written over the course of two and a half years, the album reflects the passions, pains, successes and nightmares of the members of Abrams lives. 

Modern Ways will be available on vinyl and streaming services via Sailor Records on May 1st, 2020. Pre-orders are available HERE. 

Based out of Denver, Abrams was founded in 2013 as a trio. Abrams debut EP, February was released in May 2014 on No List Records. The supporting tour for this release saw the band hit the West Coast, before heading immediately into the studio to record their first full length.

Lust. Love. Loss was released independently in June 2015, receiving praise from Metal Injection, Decibel Magazine, Invisible Oranges, and others. The remainder of the year saw Abrams tour West, East, and West again.

Their follow up, Morning, came out on Sailor Records in June of 2017, which was supported by three nationwide tours for much of the remaining year. Morning received high praise from Metal Injection, New Noise Magazine, Metal Sucks and others.

Abrams is:

Patrick Alberts: Guitar
Zachary Amster: Guitar & Vox
Ryan Dewitt: Drums
Taylor Iversen: Bass & Vox

ABRAMS LIVE 2020:

01/29/20 Denver, CO @ Ophelia's - Private Snowboard Industry event w/ ASG 

05/02/20 Denver, CO @ Hi Dive - w/ Native Daughters and Palehorse/Palerider

Album: Modern Ways
Record Label: Sailor Records
Release Date: May 1st, 2020

01. Modern Ways
02. Poison Bullets
03. Joshua Tree
04. That Part of Me
05.. Find a Way
06. My War
07. Silver Lake
08. Silence
09. Pale Moonlight
10. Marionette

On The Web:

www.abramsrocks.com
instagram.com/abramstheband
abramsrock.bandcamp.com
facebook.com/abramsrock

Monolithic Sludge Metallers BEGGAR Release New Video; Announce Debut Album

Album Compelled to Repeat to be released via APF Records April 3rd 2020

Emerging from the nihilistic quagmire of London, four-piece BEGGAR have announced their debut album Compelled To Repeat will be released on April 3rd via APF Records. Not so much unleashing their album as hurling it in frustration into the faces of the general public, BEGGAR propound a kind of sludge-meets-extreme-metal pandemic of tar thick riffs and groove, blasts, emotional vocal discharge and genre-bending brutality.

Pre-order Compelled To Repeat here: https://apfrecords.co.uk/albums/compelled-to-repeat

Originally premiered via Decibel Magazine, the band have also released their new single 'Black Cloud'. View the video here: https://youtu.be/88bRdViMCms

Recorded with Wayne Adams (responsible for recent works by Green Lung, 11Paranoias and Terminal Cheesecake) at Bear Bites Horse, London and mastered by the master of noise himself, James Plotkin (Sunn O))), ISIS, Pelican and Earth), Compelled To Repeat is a fuming tornado of aggression and frustration, offering a glimpse into a new sphere of savagery.

Originally founded in Bristol in 2011 as a means of melding big riffs and grooves with a blackened mode of expression, BEGGAR have honed their bubbling hatred over a series of EPs into something that might defy categorisation altogether.

Impossible to fit solely within the sludge bracket, their sound nonetheless nods to the huge monoliths of tone that such a tag implies. More multi-faceted than the death metal or hardcore genres would allow, BEGGAR still use the sheer brutality and visceral dynamics of those styles as their primary means of propulsion. Fans of bands such as Iron Monkey, Eyehategod and Napalm Death will all find a comfortable auditory home with BEGGAR. Most will find it a hard journey and startlingly abhorent, but for the brave few lies a raucous audio initiation into the hellish world of BEGGAR.

BEGGAR will release their debut album, Compelled to Repeat, on April 3rd 2020 via APF Records. Preorder via APF Records or Bandcamp.

FORTHCOMING GIGS/TOUR DATES:

26 March - London launch at the Dev, UK (with Road Mutant, Wallowing)
27 March - Bristol launch at Old England, UK (with TBA)
28 March – Record Junkie, Sheffield, UK (with Dopelord)
29 March – The Bread Shed, Manchester, UK (Riffolution Festival)
6 June – Boom, Leeds, UK (Stonebaked Festival)
5 Nov – Star & Garter, Manchester, UK (with Desert Storm)
6 Nov – Ivory Blacks, Glasgow, UK (with Desert Storm)
7 Nov – Tap ‘n’ Tumbler, Nottingham, UK (with Desert Storm)

Find out more about the band 

Facebook || Bandcamp || Instagram || APF Records

YATRA - Blood Of The Night (Album Review)

Release date: January 31st 2020. Label: STB Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Blood Of The Night - Tracklisting

1.Sorcerer

2.Carrion

3.The Howling

4.After The Ravens

5.Blood Will Flow

6.Burning Vision

7.Three Moons

8.Surrender

Members

Dana Helmuth

Maria Geisbert

Sean Lafferty

Review

Blood Of The Night is the new album from Yatra and it’s another bleak round of heavy sounding Doom/Sludge Metal groove. This album is a more aggressive sound compared to their previous release. As the mood is quite downbeat from start to finish with Yatra in no mood to play any up-tempo beats or sounds at all on this album. The album has a well-rounded gloomy atmosphere that sees the band play to their strengths with delicious twisted results.

The vocals whilst good throughout the album don’t really change direction very much at all and keeps in line with the seedy and aggressive mood the band capture superbly well.

The music is a genuine highlight with Yatra playing a wide range of Doom/Sludge Metal riffs with certain Stoner Metal and Classic Hard Rock sounds allowing Yatra to offer a more expansive sound. The tone maybe bleak but Yatra know how to have fun with their music along way and that translate easily for the listener to become part of the action.

The opening few songs – Sorcerer, Carrion and The Howling – show you that Yatra are striving to play and aim for that classic Doom/Sludge Metal style of music and succeeding with a deeply rich and satisfying groove that feels influenced by Black Sabbath and Saint Vitus in places but with vocals are firmly rooted in the more Extreme side of Hard Rock/Heavy Metal.

Yatra offer a sinister Psychedelic twist on their heavy bleak sounds on this album and it’s good to hear the band offer elements of Progressive Rock/Metal along the way on songs such as: After The Ravens, Three Moons and Surrender. Which offer some of the heaviest and gloomiest parts of the album.

It may take a few listens to fully get on board with but Yatra have more than enough tricks up their sleeve to entice you into their way of thinking. Add intelligent and creepy lyrics to the mix and Blood Of The Night has a lot to offer even the most jaded of Doom/Sludge Metal fan.

The best parts about the album is most definitely the music that Yatra have created here and the top-notch production that the album offers. Everything sounds epic and with a deep precise sound that allows the music to fully breathe naturally.

Blood Of The Night is an excellent album that ultimately demands your undivided attention.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Steve at STB Records for the promo. Blood Of The Night will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via STB Records from Jan 31^st 2020.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Voidlurker - Industrial Nightmare (EP Review)

Release date: January 31st 2020. Label: APF Records. Format: CD/DD

Industrial Nightmare - Tracklisting

1.Industrial Nightmare

2.Jeffrey Doomer 06:08

3.Rotten Seed

4.Bitchcraft And Misery

Members

Brad Thomas - vocals & guitar

Andrew Rennie - bass

Jack Bourne - drums

Review

Industrial Nightmare is the debut EP from Birmingham, UK Sludge/Doom Metallers – Void Lurker – and it’s a bleak and desolate sounding EP which sees the band explore to their full potential over 4 songs of heavy distorted and filth-ridden aggressive riffs.

Opening song – Industrial Nightmare – is a nightmarish style song that revels in it’s harsh environment with Brad’s pissed off vocals that leave nothing to the imagination. There is a slight “DIY” feel within the song but still offering a “professional” sound which allows the band to play a heavier blend of Doom/Sludge Metal. The riffs take time to fully get going but there is a lot of different grooves going and the band play a more “Extreme” style of Doom/Sludge Metal. There is a slight “Industrial” atmosphere being played in the background and the EP slowly offers a more threatening presence.

Second song – Jeffrey Doomer – is a clever play on words with the band adding another “Killer Instinct” with their music with this song being a more Doom based affair. The bleak and down-tuned guitars add a more gloomier style of music for the band to play with. The lyrics aren’t the best but Brad’s vocals allows them to be quite convincing and brutally honest in places. Though it’s the music that’s the main standout here with strands of deliciously evil FUZZ sounds appearing and almost taking centre stage towards the end of the song.

The other two songs “Rotten Seed” and “Bitchcraft And Misery” follow the same highly destructive path as the opening two songs with Rotten Seed being perhaps the standout song on the EP. As the song is over 8 minutes long and Voidlurker allow themselves more time to create a more vibrant and pissed off sound with superb equal attention on both music and lyrics where the band impress the most.

Industrial Nightmare is a highly accomplished and thrilling debut release for Voidlurker. If you’re looking for a bleak and gloomy ride into the world of Doom/Sludge Metal then Voidlurker are the band for you.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to APF Records for the promo. Industrial Nightmare will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via APF Records from Jan 31^st 2020.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Fostermother - S/T (Album Review)

Release date: January 31st 2020. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Fostermother - S/T - Tracklisting

1.Destroyers 04:35

2.Dark Sun

3.Give 05:18

4.Lie in Wait

5.Fathoms

6.Blood on the Wall

7.In the Shadow

Members

Travis Weatherred

Stephen Griffin

Review

Fostermother self-titled debut album may run for thirty minutes but that’s more enough time for the band to impress you with their style of Heavy Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal riffs which draws influence from Monolord, Black Sabbath, Uncle Acid and Blue Oyster Cult. The band focus on a more melodic style of Doom/Stoner Metal with Heavy Psychedelic and Classic Rock influences.

Opening song – Destroyers – has a hazy seventies Doom Rock feel before adding a modern Stoner Rock/Metal riff with a slightly distorted Fuzz Rock sound. The vocals soon kick in and we’re instantly transported back to the heyday of Classic Doom/Hard Rock with echoes of Blue Oyster Cult appearing in the vocals. The lyrics portray a band who are willing to inject a bleaker atmosphere that you wouldn’t expect with the trippy distorted guitar riffs showing you that Fostermother mean business.

Second song – Dark Sun – opens with a heavy and almost laid-back Post-Doom groove before settling down for an upbeat Stoner Metal delivery with flashes of Desert Rock and Fuzz Rock appearing. The lyrical content maybe dark but the music tells a different story and this works to the band’s favour. As this song shows all the different sides that make up Fostermother. It’s addictive, soulful and enough trippy based heaviness for the listener to lose themselves in.

Third song – Give – is played at a slow pace as Fostermother gradually bring out their “Doom” based persona to the song and it’s quite progressive in places. The heavy distorted Fuzz Rock sounds appear and interact superbly well with the gloomier sounds currently being played on the song. The instrumental work is equally fascinating as the band play different strands of Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Rock.

Fourth song – Lie In Wait – is quite different of all of the songs on the album as the vocals and lyrics have an almost “Indie/Alternative Rock” vibe at the start of the song. Though the Doom/Stoner Metal vibe soon appears and takes centre-stage but the band has a deep appreciation for Eighties Alternative/Goth Rock. The Electronic Influence is another great touch and this allows the song to be my favourite on the album. Just showing how crazy and inventive Fostermother can actually be.

The final three songs: Fathoms, Blood On The Wall and In The Shadow sees Fostermother continuing their musical journey with dark and seedy lyrics matched against their own Psychedelic blend of Distorted Fuzz, Doom and Stoner Metal that has a gloomy seventies atmosphere holding everything together.

For an album with a short running time, Fostermother cover a lot of ground and truth be told the album could have done with a couple more songs. However, I’m willing to let that minor criticism go as the band have included a lot of different sounds on this album that I didn’t expect. This is an album that has Heart, Braun and Intelligence to match. Fostermother have crafted an undeniable slice of Doom/Stoner Metal heaven here.

These guys maybe new on the block but this album proves they have the talent and vision to go a long way in the Doom/Stoner Metal scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Travis for the promo. Fostermother self-titled debut album will be released digitally on Jan 31^st 2020. CD/Vinyl will be released later in the year.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Festival Line-Up Announced! All Roads Lead To The Electric Highway In Calgary, AB, Canada!

Buckle up for The Electric Highway Festival, two days of killer bands, rad artists and fuzzy vibes April 17 & 18, 2020 at the historic Royal Canadian Legion #1 in downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 

The Electric Highway Festival has completed its lineup with the addition of the mighty Mothership from Dallas, Texas. The Supersonic Intergalactic Heavy Rock trio’s goal from the beginning has been to carry on the tradition of the classic rock style of the ’70s, updated and amped up for the modern-day. Mothership have created a unique sound that satisfies like a steaming hot stew of UFO and Iron Maiden, blended with the southern swagger of Molly Hatchet and ZZ Top, paired with a deadly chalice of Black Sabbath. Do not miss this chance to hop on board and join Mothership as they tear across the Universal Cosmos!

The Electric Highway Festival has also added Vancouver’s Empress to the lineup.  Both Mothership and Empress will be performing at the festival on Saturday, April 18, 2020. That brings the total number of bands performing during the festival to 22.

The Electric Highway Festival is excited to release its official artwork created by the renowned dark surreal artist David Paul Seymour.  David Paul Seymour is an internationally known illustrator based in Minneapolis, MN who has created artwork for Municipal Waste, Conan, Mastodon as well as Shadow Weaver and Wo Fat who are both performing at The Electric Highway Festival in 2020. David Paul Seymore is also the driving force behind The Planet of Doom, an Animated Tale of Metal and Art and the creator of the Kumasan comic series.

FB: https://www.facebook.com/DavidPaulSeymour

IG: https://www.instagram.com/davidpaulseymour 

Web: https://davidpaulseymour.bigcartel.com/

The rest of the 2020 lineup brings an electric offering of North American bands featuring headliners Sasquatch and Wo Fat laying down their brand of fuzzy, kick-ass Desert Rock & Heavy Psych. Duel from Austin, Texas will be playing Canada for the 1st time at The Electric Highway Festival along with Hippie Death Cult & LáGoon both from Portland, Oregon. Festival favorites La Chinga return from Vancouver for their 4th appearance and Calgary’s Gone Cosmic & Buzzard from Victoria, BC are just a few more of the wicked bands that will be playing on two stages over the two days of The Electric Highway Festival, the full lineup below.

The Electric Highway Festival has also partnered with the Veteran’s Association Food Bank this year. The Veterans Association Food Bank was incorporated in September 2018, as a Not for Profit Society. The Association and Food Bank is designed to relieve poverty by providing food and basic, fundamental needs for Veterans and their families. The goal is to promote a stable environment for Veterans affected by loneliness, isolation, addiction, mental health or other health-related issues with peer support programs and social activities. The Association provides a safe and welcoming environment for all Veterans, building a community of Veterans helping Veterans.  The Festival will be collecting donations of food, cash, and various other items which will be donated to the organization.

The Electric Highway Festival is a fully immersive festival experience and offers much more than just music. The festival also features an art & vendor exposition during both days at The Legion, April 17-18, 2020 and a pinball tournament at Pin-Bar, April 18th, 2020. 

Exhibitor spaces are still available for the Art and Vendor Exposition. The Expo is open to Artists, Designers, Craftspeople and other creators as well as interesting small businesses. Limited space is available and you can register HERE. Business sponsorships are also available. Please contact the festival for further information at TheElectricHighwayFestival[@]gmail[.]com 

The Electric Highway Festival is also getting the whole thing started with a Kick-Off Party on Thursday, April 16th, 2020 at The Palomino Smokehouse & Social Club. This killer line up features Seattle powerhouse psychedelic doom duo Year of the Cobra as they return to Calgary.  They will be joined by Calgary’s Bloated Pig, Outlaws of Ravenhurst, and newcomers Falcotron along with Red Deer’s Smoothsayer.

2 Day Festival Pass holders can pick up their wristbands a day early at The Electric Highway Festival Kick-Off Party.  This event will be free for festival pass holders or $13 at the door for non-pass holders. (Space is limited so make sure to get their early!) Pre-order merch sales will also be available for pick up at this event too. Beat the lineup and come for some bands, beer & BBQ at the Pal!

Festival passes are currently on sale; check www.TheElectricHighway.ca to purchase and for more festival information.

The Electric Highway Official Lineup:

Sasquatch (Los Angeles, CA)
Wo Fat (Dallas, TX)
Mothership (Dallas, TX)
Duel (Austin, TX)
La Chinga (Vancouver, BC)
Gone Cosmic (Calgary, AB)
Hippie Death Cult (Portland, OR)
LáGoon (Portland, OR)
Buzzard (Victoria, BC)
Chunkasaurus (Victoria, BC)
Bazaraba (Calgary, AB)
Shadow Weaver (Calgary, AB)
Father Moon (Calgary, AB)
Set & Stoned (Crossfield, AB)
Row of Giants (Calgary, AB)
Hemptress (Kamloops, BC)
Pink Cocoon (Montreal, QC)
The Sleeping Legion (Winnipeg, MB)
The Basement Paintings (Saskatoon, SK)
Empress (Vancouver, BC)
Locutus (Calgary, AB)
The Worst (Calgary, AB) 

Festival Links:

FullFestival

Expo - Vendor opportunities are available. Please go to the website to fill out a form.

PinballTournament

KickoffParty

Ticket Information:

Early Bird Festival Passes are $50 (plus GST/SC) while quantities last or until Jan 31, 2020, 11:59 pm at https://theelectrichighway.ecwid.com/

Regular Festival Passes are $65 (plus GST/SC). Single Day tickets are $35 (plus GST/SC)

Regular Festival Passes and Single Day tickets go on sale on February 1, 2020. Physical tickets and passes will be available at Sloth Records and New Level Brewing Company as well as online in the FestivalStore. Paperless tickets will also be available on Showpass.

Social Media Links:

Website: http://www.TheElectricHighway.ca
Facebook: Facebook.com/ElectricHighwayFestival
Instagram: Instagram.com/TheElectricHighway
Twitter: Twitter.com/TheElectricHwy

Hashtag #BuckleUp

Media Partners:

Absolute Underground Magazine
BeatRoute
Broken Neck Radio
Calgary Metal Scene Events
Cannabis Update
CJSW Radio
Crackmacs
Daily Hive
Doomed & Stoned
Hellspeak
Live Music Magazine
Metal Devastation Radio
Metal Master Kingdom
Outlaws of the Sun
PureGrainAudio.com
Pure Rock Radio
Riff Relevant
Taylor Made Radio
The YYScene  

Business Partners/Sponsors:

Asher Media Relations
The Celestial Agency
Clearview Accounting Services
From the Floor Entertainment Inc
Loud as Hell Festival
Mammoth Beard Co.
METALHEADS UNITED
New Level Brewing Company
The Palomino Smokehouse & Social Club
Pin-Bar
Royal Canadian Legion #1
Sloth Records
Twinbat Sticker Company
Veterans Association Food Bank

Elephant Tree Announce New Album Details For HABITS

London-based prog-psych-doom artisans ELEPHANT TREE have announced their highly-anticipated third album Habits, after four years of honing their sound on the international live circuit.

Released April 24th via Holy Roar Records, you can pre-order Habits here: http://smarturl.it/elephanttree

The band have also streamed their new single 'Sails'. View the video here:

The champions of the underground have delivered perhaps their most cohesive record yet, a scintillating blur of prog, stoner, psych, and melodic heavy rock. Opening on a hazy note of foreboding dread on 'Wake.Repeat (Intro)', the band explode into life soon after and rarely let up.

Every aspect of ELEPHANT TREE’s previously established sound has been amplified to 11 and fine-tuned to perfection. Their heavy, driving, grooves hold a more calculated rhythmic swing counterbalanced with leads that hold a soberingly clear gentleness. This is all tied together with vocals that possess a charming hedonism to their timbre, sure to win over legions more fans.

Elements of a heavy Pink Floyd, Melvins, and Deftones all combine with exhilarating effect, cementing the status of this group who have already sold tens of thousands of records and streams into the millions.

The union of sonic density and yearning is captured wonderfully, thanks in no small part to the band's production choice of The Church Studios, famed for the sounds of U2, Nick Cave, The Jesus and Mary Chain and Adele amongst others.

If the sound of Kyuss and Smashing Pumpkins partying with Hunter S. Thompson and Cult Of Luna in an arena sounds like a good time, then this is the album for you. If there's any justice, 2020 will be the year ELEPHANT TREE bloom out of best kept underground secret into a household name.


https://www.facebook.com/elephanttreeband/
https://twitter.com/ElephantTreee
https://www.instagram.com/elephant_tree_band
https://elephanttreeband.bandcamp.com/

Lowrider - Refractions (Album Review)

Release date: February 21^st 2020. Label: Blues Funeral Recordings. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Refractions - Tracklisting

1.Red River

2.Ode to Ganymede

3.Sernanders Krog

4.Ol' Mule Pepe

5.Sun Devil / M87*

6.Pipe Rider

Members

Ola Hellquist - lead guitar, vocals.

Niclas Stålfors - guitar.

Andreas Eriksson – drums.

Peder Bergstrand - bass, vocals.

Review

Seminal Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Rockers – Lowrider – have finally released their eagerly awaited second album Refractions and twenty years after their celebrated classic debut release - Ode to Io. The band did go on hiatus at the turn of the century and reformed 2013 to rapturous approval from the Stoner Metal community. It was only a matter of time that Lowrider came back with a new album and this is the main event.

Lowrider take a more cerebral journey with Refractions and inject a trippier style of Doom/Stoner Metal that takes their music into the realm of Spaced Out Cosmic Rock. Their trademark Desert/Stoner Metal riffs still remain but the band play a more grown-up sound that allows them to experiment with their music compared to their debut album.

Opening song – Red River – is a mixture of Psych Rock, Desert Rock and Stoner Rock which has a slightly early-Kyuss influence that Lowrider soon allow their Psychedelic creative juices take centre stage with classic sounding Desert/Stoner Rock vocals to match. The song moves into more “Monolord” style territory on the second half but Lowrider still manage to play their own blend of heavy addictive riffs that have an original vibe of their own.

Second song – Ode To Ganymede – is one of the best songs on the album with Lowrider showing the world what QOTSA would sound like if they didn’t go down the commercial rock route of recent years. The song is unexpectedly quite aggressive which allows Lowrider to play a more direct blend of Psych Rock and Stoner Metal that sees the band move into style of music that we haven’t heard them play before. The epic sounding Psychedelic Guitar solos is what make this song truly standout with a Spaced Out influence running freely for everyone to hear and fully experience. The organs are another cool touch which adds more substance to Lowrider’s overall sound.

Third song – Sermanders Krog – allows Lowrider to embrace their “Prog-Rock” influences even further with the band playing a more distinctive style of Psychedelic Stoner Metal with strands of Desert Rock leading the way. The song takes you on many different paths as Lowrider don’t stick to one conventional route. The song is quite challenging and creative in places but still equally and wildly addictive. This is one of the standout songs on the album and has a timeless sound to it all. The instrumental work is epic as they come with excellent vocals leading the way.

The second half of Refractions impresses even further with Lowrider leaving the Progressive Rock influences behind on the next two songs – Ol’ Mule Pepe and Sun Devil/M87*. The songs still have its fair share of Cosmic vibes but it’s more down-to-earth Desert Rock/Stoner Metal that the band first made their name with.

The final song – Pipe Rider – is the final song and don’t Lowrider leave the best song till last with an eleven minute plus Prog Stoner Rock/Metal odyssey that has many hidden surprises along the way. Lowrider could have easily lost their way with the many different sounds and ideas contained on this song. Though, to their credit Lowrider manage to keep the mood vibrant and most of all, original in their own unique way. The psychedelic and trippy interludes have the perfect balance of Heavy and Light Progressive moments that sound EPIC in every way possible. Fans of Monolord and Ufomammut will sure get a kick out of song especially when the heavier spaced out riffs appear. Though the vocals and lyrics are what make this song work so brilliantly well.

This is perhaps the best Stoner Metal album I’ve heard since SLEEP's comeback album The Sciences. Refractions is brilliantly produced and what makes this such a classic sounding album in its own right. Lowrider may have delivered the Stoner Metal album of the year.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Blues Funeral Recordings and Purple Sage PR for the promo. Refractions will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Blues Funeral Recordings from February 21^st 2020.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Kirk Windstein - Dream In Motion (Album Review)

Release date: January 24th 2020. Label: eOne Music. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Dream In Motion - Tracklisting

1.Dream In Motion 

2.Hollow Dying Man

3.Once Again

4.Enemy In Disguise

5.The World You Know

6.Toxic

7.The Healing

8.Necropolis

9.The Ugly Truth

10.Aqualung

Review

Legendary musician Kirk Windstein debut album Dream In Motion is quite different to his work with his legendary groups such as Crowbar, DOWN and Kingdom Of Sorrow with the album being influenced by Seventies Prog Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. The album is also more reflective with Kirk writing some of his most personal lyrics and music to date that allows Dream In Motion to have a more sombre atmosphere that you would originally expect.

Though that doesn’t mean Kirk has diverted from his trademark Sludge Metal grooves. Far from it. This album does feature a high amount of Sludge/NOLA based sounds but there dialled back a bit and the album feels more emotional at the same time. I always worry when Sludge/Stoner Metal musicians decide to release solo albums. As they always tend to be far removed what the person is known for and mainly be “Country” or “Americana” inspired albums. Most of those albums don’t impress me but I have no issues with Kirk’s debut solo album. Dream In Motion is a full on Hard Rock/Sludge Metal album with a few surprises along the way.

Opening song – Dream In Motion – opens with Kirk’s trademark “NOLA” groove before moving into Progressive/Classic Rock territory with a distorted Psychedelic edge. It’s a different style of music from Kirk but also one that has an air of familiarity as well. Kirk’s vocals are passionate and quite aggressive in places but still allowing Kirk to try his hand at different styles of music. The lyrics are excellent that impressed me from the start. The NOLA influence goes into Seventies Prog Rock overdrive but you are treated to some epic guitar riffs along the way. The song perfectly shows you how the rest of the album plays out.

Songs such as: Hollow Dying Man, Once Again and Enemy in Disguise allows Kirk to create a world-weary Psychedelic and Gloomy sound with a Post-Doom atmosphere being played on the opening stages on most of the songs. The most impressive about this part of the album is how comfortable Kirk is playing these different styles of music. Long-time fans of Kirk maybe disappointed at first to hear the album and it does take a few listens to fully come on board with the less aggressive style of music that Kirk is known for.

The later stages of the album are perhaps the best moments of the album with Kirk showing a fine ear for creative detail with the music and lyrics combining for a haunting and original style of their own. The most surprising thing about this album is the cover version of Jethro Tull classic – Aqualung – on this album. As it’s quite different to the original though Kirk still retains the dark experimental tone that appeared on the original version.

Kirk has been in the music business for over the last thirty years or so and is very much part of the fabric of the NOLA Sludge Metal scene. His influence can be heard in countless bands across multiple generations. I hope Kirk will release many more solo albums in the future as Dream In Motion is a super fresh record with a lot to say and I want to hear more of this style of music from Kirk.

Dream In Motion is a welcome addition to Kirk’s already impressive and legendary output of material.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Carl at Action PR for the promo. Dream In Motion will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via eOne Music from Jan 24^th 2020.

Links:

BandCamp