MOLARBEAR - You Will Need Gods (Album Review)

Release Date: December 23rd 2022. Record Label: Cursed Monk Records. Formats: CD/DD

You Will Need Gods - Tracklisting

1.Cataclysm

2.Fail To See 

3.The Chalice

4.Hatchet Storm

5.Harbingers

6.First Layer Of Skin

7.You Will Need Gods

8.Omega Supreme 

9.No Reward

10.Divine Treason

Review

You Will Need Gods is the new album from Northern Ireland Sludge/Stoner Metallers MOLARBEAR who impressed with their 2019 debut album Storklord. Taking a more experimental and riffier approach on this album with echoes of Red Fang, Big Business and the crazed ideas of The Melvins when they switch to a heavier style of Sludge Metal. Add some Noise Rock aggression and bleak soundscapes then MOLARBEAR have a chaotic Punk Rock style with their lyrical content showcasing some fine creative zest within the band.

The opening two songs of Cataclysm and Fail To See are very fast-paced affairs with a Speed Punk energy merged with the aggressive Sludge/Stoner Metal sounds. The vocals have that air of 90’s Grunge and Alternative Metal authority with pissed off clean growls giving a more unsettled approach to their music. However, that doesn’t stop the band adding a more upbeat Stoner Metal sound that Red Fang have become known for over the years. MOLARBEAR show their true creative selves on the excellent third track of The Chalice. A song that is aggressively natured but one that offers moments of sweet-natured melodic guitars before changing into a more gloomier style of Sludge Metal.

MOLARBEAR upped the ante yet again on the fourth track Hatchet Storm by playing a more THRASHIER style of music with that seedy Punk Rock vibe that still allows the band to be part of the overall WEEDIAN scene. Even if the music is more OUT THERE compared to other tracks on the album.

With a cool sideline in Psychedelic Metal and Apocalyptic creative approach on the later stages of the album, MOLARBEAR excel the most when they think outside of the box and play some of the albums heaviest and harshest sounds on tracks such as: Harbingers, First Layer Of Skin, You Will Need Gods, Omega Supreme and Divine Treason.

MOLARBEAR perhaps maybe too experimental for some but there’s some fantastic guitar solos and riffs waiting to be heard on You Will Need Gods. There’s a wealth of different noises and themes on this album which the band ultimately impresses with.

You Will Need Gods is a love letter to the more experimental side of 90's Alt Metal, Sludge Metal and Stoner Metal that still sounds essentially modern which is perhaps down to the fantastic production values the album ultimately contains. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Cursed Monk Records for the promo. 

You Will Need Gods will be available to buy on CD/DD via Cursed Monk Records from December 23rd 2022.

Links

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Outlaws Of The Sun - Top 40 Albums Of The Year For 2022

Here it is folks. My favourite Top 40 Albums Of The Year For 2022

I want to thank you all for reading the blog on a daily basis and letting me air my views on releases within the world of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal.

Huge Thanks to Frazer Jones at Desert Psychlist for his never-ending support and words of encouragement. Matthew Thomas for having my back throughout the year.

Same goes to Gizmo, Edd JR Saylor, Todd Stealey, Håkan Nyman, Marty Harvey, Steve Rodger, James Marshall and Bill Goodman for their support as well.

I must also give a shout out to the Bands, Labels and PR Reps who helped me be aware of albums or bands that I may have missed.

Check my list out for the best sounds I've heard all year.

1 Sergeant Thunderhoof - The Sceptred Veil

2 Cave In - Heavy Pendulum



3 Burning Sister - Mile High Downer Rock



4 BORIS - Heavy Rocks



5 King Buffalo - Regenerator

6 Elder - Innate Passage

7 Psychlona - Palo Verde

8 Calm Collapse - Mirrored Nature

9 Astrosaur - Portals

10 CONAN - Evidence Of Immortality

11 Pike VS The Automaton - S/T

12 Museum Of Light - Horizons

13 Wo Fat - The Singularity

14 Druids - Shadow Work

15 Geezer - Sacred Blues Machine

16 Cities Of Mars - S/T

17 Ufomammuat - Fenice

18 MNRVA - Hollow

19 Lazer Beam - Lost In Oblivion

 20 Dirt Forge - Interspheral

21 GRIN - Phantom Knocks

22 OREYEON - Equations For The Useless

23 CB3 - Exploration

24 Cloakroom - Dissolution Wave

25 10000 Years - III

26 Blue Heron - Ephemeral

27 Somali Yacht Club - The Space

28 Somnus Throne - Nemesis Lately

29 STONER - totally…

30 TONS - Hashension

31 Firebreather - Dwell In The Fog

32 Problem With Dragons - Accelerationist

33 Slowenya - Meadow

34 Slowjoint - Piss And Gravel

35 Wild Rocket - Formless Abyss

36 Eye Of Doom - The Sapient

37 Witchfinder - Forgotten Mansion



38 Abrams - In The Dark

39 BongBongBeerWizards - Ampire

40 Nebula - Transmission From Mothership Earth

Exclusive Album Premiere Of UNCOMMON EVOLUTION New Album FRY - Out Via Argonauta Records

Southern/Stoner Metallers Uncommon Evolution hails from high in the mountains of North West Montana USA. Since forming in the Spring of 2013, they have traveled all over the country and had the honor of playing the South by South West Festival in Austin Texas, where they also love to record at the Machine Shop Recording Studio. With fiery vocals, big ballsy riffs and grooves thick enough to shake mountains, these guys have honed a sound truly all their own, though their wide ranging influences shine through in a cornucopia of flavor.

Thanks to the cool folks at Grand Sounds PR and Argonauta Records we're beyond excited to premiere their new album FRY which you can hear below:

FRY is available to buy on CD/DD via Argonauta Records from December 16th 2022 with a Vinyl release coming at a later date in the future.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

THUNDERCHIEF is heading South in support of their new release “Dekk Meg…” (ASR Records)

THUNDERCHIEF is heading South in support of their new release “Dekk Meg…”

Richmond, VA’s 2–piece nihilistic Sludge ‘n’ Roll outfit THUNDERCHIEF are heading out due south to support their new CD release, “Dekk Meg…” (ASR Records), slated for Friday, January 6, 2023.

The album is the culmination of 12 cover songs that were digitally released as singles throughout 2021/2022, and have now been re-mastered at New Alliance East in Boston, MA. This collection of deep cuts by Sheer Terror, Joe Walsh, Neanderthal, among others, showcases the band making full use of the pandemic downtime.

Photo by Chris Boarts Larson

“Dekk Meg…” (“Cover Me…”) was created in 3 sessions with 6 powerhouse engineers--Mike Dean, Mark Miley, Jordan Faett, Lance Koehler, Allen Bergendahl, and Nick Zampiello

Tour begins January 9 in Asheville, NC and continues on with heavy support from CrankBait, Hot Ram, Christworm, and a rare appearance from Southern heavyweight titans, Hexxus.

1/9 Asheville, NC Static Age Records
1/10 Murfreesboro, TN cXr
1/11 Little Rock, AR Whitewater Tavern
1/12 Denton, TX Dan’s Silverleaf
1/13 San Antonio, TX Faust
1/14 Austin, TX Lost Well
1/15 Houston, TX Black Magic Social Club
1/16 New Orleans, LA Siberia
1/17 Gulfport, MS VFW #1406
1/18 Birmingham, AL Saturn
1/19 Atlanta, GA Star Community Bar
1/20 Charlotte, NC The Milestone
1/21 Charleston, SC Trolley Pub
1/22 Raleigh, NC School Kids Records

Links

Official Website: www.thethunderchief.com
Tour Dates/News; www.artistecard.com/thunderchief
Bandcamp: www.thethunderchief.bandcamp.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thunderchiefofficial
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thunderchiefrva

ZOAHR - Apraxia (Album Review)

Release Date: December 10th 2022. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD

Apraxia - Tracklisting

1.Imperious Hand 03:48

2.Cocoon 05:36

3.Avarice 04:22

4.Dreamstate 05:34

5.Apraxia 05:23

6.Avers & Reverse 03:03

7.Portal 06:47

8.Roots Between Rails 06:07

9.Threatmill 08:58

Review

Apraxia is the new album from Heavy Blues/Psych/Desert/Stoner Rockers ZOAHR and the band operate between the fine lines of Classic Rock and Modern Day Stoner Rock on this album. This is quite an effective slice of Psychedelic Stoner with ZOAHR showing a love for 1970’s Hard Rock which gives way to some low-key epic grooves that evoke memories of bands such as Thin Lizzy with the subtle guitar sounds that appear on the earlier stages of the album.

The vocals have that fine balance of whiskey soaked Blues Rock vibe and a surreal Desert/Stoner Rock presence which matches the world-weary grooves on the opening few tracks: Imperious Hand, Cocoon and Avarice. Nothing too flashy but good old fashioned music with ZOAHR playing highly melodic strands of Stoner Rock but merged with sounds of the last 50 years of the Classic Hard Rock scene. The Blues Rock flow gives ZOAHR a more groove driven atmosphere and free-flowing approach with the highly intelligent melodic work that sees the band venture into more Spaced Out areas on other parts of the album.

ZOAHR impressed me the most when they operated fully as a true Psychedelic Desert/Stoner Rock band. As the music becomes more vivid and exciting to listen to. Though, I still admire the Blues Rock moments as well. Since they give the band that little bit more creative and emotional depth on songs such as: Dreamstate, Apraxia and Avers & Reverse.

There’s perhaps multiple different level’s to ZOAHR compared to their debut album OFF AXIS. The music is constantly engaging with sublime extended guitar sounds never too far behind with the excellent rhythm section laying down the groundwork for all this to happen.

The final part of the album is the standout moments of the album with ZOAHR playing the heaviest and melodic tracks on the album across Portal, Roots Between Rails and Threatmill. Almost twenty two minutes of sprawling Psychedelic Stoner Rock with ZOAHR having a more free-flowing creative attitude with the other areas of their music. A constant mix of first rate of Classic Rock sounds with a fresh modern Stoner based approach.

Apraxia is a winning record on all fronts and should gain ZOAHR plenty of notice and plaudits within the Stoner Rock underground scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

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French Stoner Rockers GREYBORN Release New Live Video Performing Cover Of Red Fang Track WIRES

French Stoner Rockers Greyborn release a new live video for Red Fang track Wires. The band who released their superb new EP Leeches in April 2022 do their own stunning rendition of the classic Red Fang track which you can view below:

Here's what the band said about the cover:  

"We discovered Red Fang about 10 years ago with the "Murder The Mountains" album. For Theo (vocals/drums), it was a gateway to stoner music, and today we can say that Red Fang is one of our main influences. The "Wires" video obviously impressed us, but less than the song in itself, which has a form of balance that we also try to reach. You can feel the angst and heaviness, clean and punchy vocals with a sharp playing from all four musicians... Each time we listen to "Wires", we are caught by the dramatic and epic bridge, then crushed by the riff that follows. That's the kind of feeling we try to give our audience."

Greyborn Members

Théo Jude - Drums & vocals

Guillaume Barrou - Bass & backing vocals

Maxime Conan - Guitar & backing vocals

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Thanks to Claire at Purple Sage PR for all of the details.

Siberian Tusk - Reapers By Trade (Album Review) And Competition To Win CD/DD Album Packages

Release Date: December 16th 2022. Record Label: Hidden Noise Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Reapers By Trade - Tracklisting

1.Rich & Poor 05:03

2.Goes Around 04:40

3.Desert Sun 04:44

4.Fucked Up 03:47

5.Hung Over 05:03

6.Reaper Blues 04:20

7.Truth Be Told 04:47

8.Two Fast Uppercuts 04:25

9.Eternal Bliss 03:18

10.Word To The Wise 05:06

Review

Norwegian Sludge/Stoner Metal outfit Siberian Tusk return with their new album Reapers By Trade which has a more mature sound and flow compared to their excellent debut album Save My Soul. The band feel more energised and assured of themselves with the band playing their own stylish blend of Sludge, Stoner, Doom and Punk Rock with their deep appreciation for bands such as Torche, Red Fang and perhaps a few more bands from the Stoner Metal roster of Relapse Records.

The music is a highly melodic blend of Streetwise Punk sounds with a modern aesthetic which gives way to some fantastic guitars and highly confident vocals which you can appreciate throughout the first few songs of Rich & Poor, Goes Around and Desert Sun. There’s a distinctive Punk Rock flavour which holds everything together but you can see Siberian Tusk approaching it from a sublime Psych Sludge/Stoner Metal angle with gloomy atmospherics that also gives their lyrics and ice cold feeling.

There’s a lot of SOULFUL moments on this album and that’s perhaps down to the fantastic vocals that work hand in hand with the melodic grooves spliced throughout the album. The music is always joyful, intense and quite aggressive in places especially on the middle section of the album with songs such as: Fucked Up, Hung Over, Reaper Blues and Truth Be Told. You can even hear an Alice In Chains influence going on with the quieter and low-key instrumental parts which surprised and impressed me a great deal.

Siberian Tusk aim HIGH for this album which they pull off in impeccable fashion with an album that is packed full of HUGE SOUNDING RIFFS with a cool sideline in ferocious Blues Rock soundbytes appearing on different stages of the album.

The band wrap up the album in more rebellious fashion with tracks such as Two Fast Uppercuts and Word To The Wise that both continue the rebellious vocals and fast-paced grooves that ultimately prove what a great band Siberian Tusk actually are. 

Reapers By Trade is another exciting chapter for Siberian Tusk to showcase their talents to the Sludge/Stoner Metal underground with. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the promo.

Reapers by Trade will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Hidden Noise Records from December 16th 2022.

Competition Time

Thanks to the great folks at Viral Propaganda PR, Siberian Tusk and Hidden Noise Records you could own this great album on CD and Digital Download with this cool competition. 

We have 5 CD/DD packages to give away and 10 Runner’s Up will receive a digital download code to redeem for themselves.

All you have to do is answer the following question below and send your answer to Outlawsofthesun@gmail.com.

What is the name of Siberian Tusk’s 2020 debut album.

We’ll pick out the first 15 correct answers and let the winners know soon after December 21st 2022 when the competition will close. We will ask for the address details to send the CD's off to the first 5 winners. Thanks.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Caracara - Vagrant Witness Cantos (Album Review)

Release Date: December 03rd 2022. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD

Vagrant Witness Cantos - Tracklisting

1.Au and Nihl 12:01

2.Preference 14:01

3.The First 10:26

4.Zeno's Meter 10:18

Members

Ed Jamieson - Guitars

Matthew Meehan - Vocals

Christopher Colbath - Bass

Matt Johnson - Drums

Review

Vagrant Witness Cantos is the debut album from Caracara who offer four epic slices of vintage sounding Doom/Stoner Rock that veer into areas of Psych Rock and Blues Rock that has certain 1970’s Classic Rock swagger. The album takes influence from the legendary era of Doom Metal where you can hear influences from different bands of that time. Caracara still plays a modern blend of Progressive Stoner Rock/Metal throughout each of the four tracks.

The album does see Caracara take time to fully hit their true creative stride with opening song Au and Nihl having a bewitching OCCULT flavour or vision to it. The music has a sinister Blues Rock element which feels quite out of place at times but still being undeniably catchy and addictive at the same time. Matthew’s vocals are in total control here amongst the BLACK SABBATH sounding grooves with flourishes of Psych Rock working surprisingly well with the 1970’ gloomy atmospherics the band play towards the end of the song. 

Caracara maintain that style of music for the second track Preference though the band play long droned out sounds on the opening stages of the song which gives Caracara a different creative complexion whilst still retaining that classic Blues Rock fused Doom/Stoner Metal sound. Preference is perhaps my favourite track on the album. As it’s quite daring with the slow approach the band uses for this song. The solemn Psyched Out Doom approach gives Caracara a cool sound of their own where things become more OCCULT based. Though, still leaves the band a lot of room to expand their WEEDIAN grooves on the album.

The other two tracks The First and Zeno’s Master sees Caracara switching things up yet again with weirder, heavier and trippier moments whilst still offering a familiar heavy Doomed feeling appearing mostly on The First and then briefly on Zeno’s Master. 

Caracara have delivered a superbly entertaining album that’s packed full of exquisite Doom/Stoner Metal grooves to give you a CHILLING FEELING within the gloomy winter season. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

BandCamp

Snowchild - II (Album Review)

Release Date: December 09th 2022. Record Label: Kozmik Artifactz. Formats: DD/Vinyl

II - Tracklisting

1.Ascent 01:21

2.Megalith 04:08

3.Blacklight 04:54

4.Temple 02:03

5.Bind the Night 05:03

6.Parasite 09:41

7.Descent 01:35

8.Aries 05:29

Members

Larry Donaldson

Chad Duncan

Dustin Roberts

Review

The Doom/Stoner Metal Underground scene has been eagerly awaiting new material from Midwestern Doom/Stoner Metallers Snowchild. And the musical gods have spoken with II. The band’s first new album in over six years. I initially thought the guys had split up and I will admit I was a bit underwhelmed listening to this album for the first time. Then, I stepped back and enjoyed the album a few times before writing my final thoughts.

I’m glad I did that as I freaking adore this album. Quite similar to Age Of Change with it’s Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal sounds but also refreshingly different as well with Snowchild adding a more haunting Ambient drive. Snowchild takes influence from the Black Sabbath school of AMPLIFIER based grooves but with a modern day Psych/Prog Rock flourish.

The opening songs of Ascent and Megalith allow Snowchild the opportunity to adapt a more Ambient driven atmosphere with the opening track of Ascent being a fabulous sounding and quite gloomy instrumental track that has a slight Electronica feel to it.

Second song Megalith is where the real magic happens with finely played and fast-paced subtle Psych Doom/Stoner Metal atmospherics with that Black Sabbath swagger but with a cautious Post-Rock element. The music is expertly progressive with a subtle melodic sound that allows Snowchild deliver intense creative compositions which feel classically understated and beautifully modern at the same time.

Third song Blacklight opts for a more classic style of 70’s Hard Rock fashion with a great sense of bravado with the sublime vocal delivery and fantastic lyrics that appear on the song. The song becomes more modern with Snowchild’s clever use of Psychedelic and Spaced Out themes. Blacklight is Snowchild at their creative best. First rate and powerful ideas told through a wonderfully creative and WEEDIAN microscopic lens. 

Fourth song Temple is more of a gloomy distorted offering with solitary guitars with a droned out identity. Quite different from Snowchild and the excellent use of synths and ambient noises allow this to be one of the most interesting tracks on the album despite the short running time of the song.

Bind The Night sees Snowchild delves further into their Doom Metal persona with flashes of Psychedelic and Progressive paranoia on slowly building up AMPLIFIER and LOW & SLOW atmospheric sounds yet again. The vocals do feel inspired by Ozzy Osbourne in places but still retain their own sound and identity of their own. Though, it’s the music that impresses the most yet again with Snowchild playing some mighty fine extended guitar solos and musical jams on the later stages of the song.

Up next is Parasite which is more of a Blues Rock and slowly played number with Snowchild perhaps tugging on the heartstrings with their cautious approach with everything on this track. Though, the band start adding small pieces of Psychedelic Gloominess. The song sees Snowchild adding Pink Floyd influences to the vocals and lyrical content. There’s even a “MOBILE PHONE or LIGHTER IN THE AIR” element to this song in places but Snowchild venture further into heavier areas of music on the second half of the album which allow this to be the finest track on the album but perhaps Snowchild’s best song and creative effort to date.

The final two songs of Descent and Aries allow Snowchild to wrap this album in a highly convincing fashion with perhaps a heavier and thunderous drive compared to Parasite. 

Snowchild have once again delivered the goods with II and with the album having first rate production values, this is the type of album the Doom/Stoner Metal underground always goes crazy for. And it’s not hard to see why.

II is an essential Doom/Stoner Metal album to own and a late entry for Album Of The Year contender. 

Let’s hope Snowchild doesn't wait for another six years to release another album.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Kozmik Artifactz for the promo.

II is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via Kozmik Artifactz

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram