Nonsun - Blood & Spirit (Album Review)

Release Date: April 15th 2022. Record Label: Dunk Records. Format: DD/Vinyl

Blood & Spirit - Tracklisting

1.A Wizard Grieving Over the Loss of Magic 10:15

2.That Which Does Not Kill 07:41 

3.Days of Thunder Bring New Wisdom 12:33

4.Guilt, Disgust, Disaster 11:17

5.In Your Eyes I’m a Cripple 12:49

Members

Goatooth – guitars, keys & voices

Alex – bass

Alpha – drums

Review

Drone/Doom/Post-Metallers Nonsun have just released their stunning second album Blood & Spirit and with these guys being from Ukraine, this album puts everything into perspective into what their homeland is currently going through where my thoughts are with the mighty brave folks of Ukraine. 

Nonsun play a heavy experimental style of Drone based Doom/Post-Metal with glacial slabs of Sludge Metal that gives Blood & Spirit an icy cold atmosphere but one that can be quite upbeat as well thanks mainly to their clever and progressive use of Ambient based Post-Rock themes. The album runs for almost fifty four minutes and the record is quite surreal and psychedelic on the stunning first lengthy track  A Wizard Grieving Over The Loss Of His Magic.

The song is mostly instrumental Drone based soundscapes with small vocal interludes appearing when they need to. The song feels naturally organic with echoes of Neurosis, ISIS, Cult Of Luna and Pelican perhaps being an influence in certain ways. However, Nonsun are their own band playing their own destructive style of Drone/Post-Metal set against a stirring backdrop of Progressive Sludge Metal 

Nonsun drive their hypnotic style of heavy emotional driven music across four more excellent tracks that allows Nonsun add Ambient Noises and Trippy Sound Effects to a bleaker style of music that appears on songs such as: That Which Does Not Kill, Days Of Thunder Bring New Wisdom and In Your Eyes I’m A Cripple.

The song titles do advise what type of atmosphere awaits you on this release especially of That Which Does Not Kill and In Your Eyes I’m A Cripple which are perhaps my favourite parts of the album. As they tell self contained stories with harsh grooves and sounds leading the way. The grooves are quite cinematic and that’s mostly down to the clever use of Drone atmospherics and Post-Rock/Post-Metal swirling delivery that accompanies the majority of this album.

Fantastic production values can be heard throughout Blood & Spirit with Nonsun delivering a devastating slice of Post-Metal/Sludge Metal with real heart and humanity. 

Overall, Blood & Spirit is a stunning bleak release and if you’re a dedicated follower of the Drone, Doom and Post-Metal scene then Nonsun are most definitely worth your time.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

You can buy Blood & Spirit on Vinyl from Dunk Records now.

Please consider supporting Ukraine in these dire times:

standforukraine.com

linktr.ee/HowToHelpUkraine2022

Links

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Jawless - Warrizer (Album Review)

Release Date: February 02nd 2022. Record Label: Self Released. Format: Cassette/DD

Warrizer - Tracklisting

1.G.O.D (Genuine Obsessive Disruptive) 07:50

2.War Is Come 06:53

3.Dark Muzzling 08:47

4.Deceptive Events 06:27

5.Bad Excursion 05:12

6.Metaphorical Speech 04:19

7.Restrained 05:28

8.The Throne of Tramp 05:54

Review

Indonesian Doom/Stoner Metallers Jawless new album Warrizer is a great mix of fast-paced heavy Doom/Stoner Metal with a few throwbacks to the classic style of slow-paced Hard Rock and Heavy Psychedelics. Maybe not the most groundbreaking album you’re ever likely to hear but there’s a lot of passion and creativity on this record with a deceptive vintage sound running through it all.

The album does a gloomy presence with a fuzzy outlook where the Stoner Metal grooves are concerned. Jawless are classed mostly proto-metal with their mix of Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne creative themes but throw in some fast-paced Motorhead aggression first heard on the early stages of the album especially on excellent opening tracks G.O.D (Genuine Obsessive Disruptive) and War Is Come.

The production is quite sparse in places and maybe could be quite heavier in places but Jawless are an interesting band to listen to. As they do try many different styles of music on this album. The songwriting is a very strong aspect for this release along with the vocals. Though, it’s ultimately the heavy grooves contained on this release that make this such a very cool album to listen to.

Jawless live in the good old days of Doom/Stoner Metal with this album being mostly full of “Classic Sounding” grooves with the added bonus of swirling Psychedelic elements allowing Jawless to show folks they have plenty of promise and perhaps fully coming into their own sound on future releases.

Overall, this is a wickedly entertaining album that gets a lot of things right and for a debut Doom/Stoner Metal album you couldn’t ask for anything more. 

Words by Steve Howe

Links

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Introduce Yourselves: THE CHAW

What is the name of your band?

The Chaw from Oakland, Ca

What is the genre of music that you play?

Heavy Rock Psych Pop in that order

Can you give a brief history of the band of how it came together and where it is today?

We started in 2011 with a reverberated live EP, 2 albums later we’re releasing our 3rd full length 5/13/22. We’ve been bay area native musicians, playing the area for 20 years recording and playing live and don’t plan on stopping.

What can people expect from your music?

A great well produced sound, Slightly moody, lyrically available but also fun. Peter Murphy shaking hands with John Fogarty while QOTSA arm wrestles Interpol.

What is the best release that folks should check out from your band?

Our new single “Big Black Sequoia” is streaming now: https://youtu.be/ss0jLj21zmo

Where can people find you on Social Media?

- Instagram
- Spotify
- Bandcamp
- Facebook
- Twitter

Lunavieja - S/T (Album Review)

Release Date: March 25th 2022. Record Label: Various. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Lunavieja - Tracklisting

1.Unguentum Sabbati 02:56

2.Mal de Luna 04:59

3. 04:57

4.Desdoblamiento 03:35

5.Hécate 05:17

6.Lunavieja 03:15

7.Walpurgis 04:22

8.La Quema 08:01

Members

Stefy: Drums, vocals

Luque: Guitars

Paco: Bass, vocals

Javier Cereto: Keyboards, vocals

Review

Spanish Doom/Stoner Metal quartet Lunavieja debut self titled album is one that focuses on both the Occult and Psychedelic Weedian sounds. The album is sung primarily in Spanish so I can’t really comment on what the lyrics actually mean but the vocals are varied and superb throughout. The music on the other hand is heavy and combines both Doom Metal and Stoner Metal themes with a haunting Psychedelic Weedian vibe. 

The album is aggressive with Lunavieja playing distorted amplifier grooves which you can hear from the early stages of the album and right to the very end. The atmosphere can be quite manic when the band switches things up a bit with areas of Ambient Rock/Metal being dropped in for certain parts of the album. There are some different musical elements to Lunavieja that were quite unexpected like the trippy Spaced Out vibes for a more captivating style of music.

Lunavieja are one of the more interesting bands I’ve heard from the Spanish Doom/Stoner Metal scene with the band showing some true originality with this release especially on tracks such as: Mal de Luna, La Güestia, Hécate and La Quema. 

If you’re fascinated by bands such as SLEEP, Uncle Acid and Black Sabbath then Lunavieja will be the perfect band for you to admire and enjoy but perhaps on the more weirder side of WEEDIAN based Doom/Stoner Metal.

The instrumental work is excellent from start to finish, especially with the thrilling guitars contained on the album. 

Lunavieja debut album is a captivating, striking and bewitching style of modern day Psych Doom/Stoner Metal that the underground scene needs to fully get behind and discover this great band right now.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Lunavieja self titled debut album is now available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from on the following labels:

Spinda Records, LaRubiaProducciones, Violence In The Veins, Quebranta Records, The Brave Records & Ritval Prods.

Links

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Basson Laubscher & The Violent Free Peace release video for new single ‘Shoot Me Down’

Basson Laubscher & his band of blues-rock bandits brings you a hard-hitting, raw, garage-rock salvo on his latest single Shoot Me Down.

Shoot Me Down takes lyrical inspiration from the frustration and defeat from the end of a relationship and inevitable breakup and blends it musically into blissfully dirty, heavy, psychedelic, fuzzed-out rock n' roll. 

Hailing from his testify album, Laubscher shows how he makes his Stratocaster sing with his signature passionate, raw & pure soul ecstasy. This is a no holds barred riff burger and will get you headbanging and throwing the devil horns in no time. 

There’s an accompanying video for the track which follows the no frills & cut the bullshit approach by letting the band do what they do best, get in a room and just let it rip. Shoot me down was filmed in their band room by the video's director & editor Kyle Wesson, who also served as the band's drummer till 2021. 

Dubbed South Africa’s Rory Gallagher, Basson Laubscher is one talented musician. Born and raised in Stellenbosch, Basson fell in love with music! At the tender age of 13 he started playing guitar and has never looked back. During his high school career, he met fellow band member Bertie Coetzee and helped form one of South Africa’s most loved bands, Zinkplaat who performed at all of South Africa’s most loved festivals for over 10 years. After the band split, Basson knew he had to pursue music further and thus the violent free peace was born, with a passion for blues rock.

The violent free peace delivers with intense passion and honesty. With practice comes perfection which allows for every show to be a truly unique experience. With some face-melting guitars, foot-stomping grooves, and a crowd that goes wild from start to finish. Lead by Basson Laubscher (ex Zinkplaat) this interactive rock 'n roll powerhouse create a symbiotic tight-knit experience that will have you a rock and roll believer in no time at all.

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Wo Fat - The Singularity (Album Review)

Release Date: May 06th 2022. Record Label: Ripple Music. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Singularity - Tracklisting

Orphans Of The Singe

The Snows Of Banquo IV

Overworlder

The Unraveling

The Witching Chamber

The Singularity

The Oracle

Members

Kent Stump - Guitar/Vocals

Michael Walter - Drums/Percussion/Harmony Vocals

Zack Busby - Bass

Review

Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal legends Wo Fat return with their seventh new album The Singularity and these guys are a band who need no introduction. What you always get is stunning Psychedelic Blues, Southern Rock and perhaps Swampedelic grooves. This album is perhaps the craziest offering the guys have released to date with tales of humanity battling artificial intelligence and machines for the future safety of our planet. Perhaps not as crazy as it seems within the real world we currently occupy. 

This album is most definitely their most progressive release to date with epic long drawn out Doom based grooves with twinges of Psych Rock, Classic Rock and Stoner Metal reigning supreme from start to finish. The killer artwork by Eli Quinn gives you the much needed inspiration and glimpse on what to expect on this album. The Singularity runs past the seventy minutes mark across seven epic tracks with some running between thirteen and seventeen minutes in length.

Wo Fat are the masters at playing "Swampedelic" within the underground scene. You're fully drawn in from the excellent opening song Orphans Of The Singe with it's bombastic and fantastical lyrics that's levelled off by modern day Psych Doom/Stoner Metal with a slight classic vintage sound that Wo Fat are known for. The song sees Wo Fat maybe take influence from RUSH on this release and you get to hear that new found style of music on this gloriously heavy new track. Throw in a ton of great instrumental solos that last a gloriously fucking long time.

The band keep coming at you with wild out there lyrics and gloriously epic progressive sounds that venture far past the standard rules of Doom/Stoner Metal especially when the Blues Rock fused swamp based atmospherics fully take over. There's also a fine amount of heavy distortion on this album but one that allows the band to fully keep moving with their wonderfully clever creative ideas on tracks such as: The Snows Of Banquo IV, Overworlder, The Witching Chamber and The Oracle.

If you delve further into the lyrical content on this album then you can see Wo Fat have taken hard hitting social issues such as Climate Change, Disinformation and humanity's issues whilst remaining true to themselves within the riffs department. 

The Singularity has echoes of many different musical sounds and styles from over the last forty years of Doom/Stoner Metal with everything still feeling remarkably fresh and original. 

Boosted by wonderful production and recording values  that were handled by Wo Fat lead vocalist Kent Stump at his famed Crystal Clear Sound in Dallas, Texas. With the added bonus of being a Ripple Music release, then you have the recipe for continued success from two iconic sources of the underground music scene,

The Singularity has the potential to be one of the standout Stoner Metal albums of the year and maybe considered a future classic in the making. Yeah, I said it and I stand by every word.

Wo Fat are back with a vengeance and long may that continue.

WOW!!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Claire at Purple Sage PR for the promo.

The Singularity will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music from May 06th 2022. 

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Romance de Andrés d'Orois, second single of MOURA's second album 'Axexan, espreitan' out on May 27, 2022

'Axexan, espreitan' is a map of the intangible heritage of the Galician people in the North West coast of Spain drawn up based on personal experiences, popular traditions, collective rituals as a social element and the presence of the souls of those who are now gone. A peek into the subconscious that gives voice to that heritage which "contemplates and lurks" in silence, blurring the thin line between the world of the living and the world of the dead.

Two years after the release of their self-titled debut album and being featured with their stand-alone single "Muiñeira da Maruxaina" on Spinda Records 12x 7" compilation boxset 'Grados. Minutos. Segundos.' in 2021, Spanish psych-prog rockers MOURA are back with their long-awaited second studio album in which they go even deeper into Galician tradition, both lyrically and instrumentally. 'Axexan, espreitan' is scheduled to be released on May 27, 2022 via Spinda Records,

If in March they advanced a first single titled "Baile do dentón", a song halfway between neo-psychedelia and kraut-rock, the Galicians are now launching "Romance de Andrés d'Orois". On this occasion, it is a composition much closer to traditional folklore that ends up breaking into a multi-colored explosion of progressive rock and in which tells the story of Andrés, a cattle dealer from the Orois parish who was murdered at beginning of the 20th century by two thieves in the Ribadiso forest when returning from a fair. Through its relevant video, band members pay tribute to Beat-Club, the legendary German television music program of the late 60s and early 70s, which was attended by groups such as Yes, Black Sabbath, Can, T. Rex, King Crimson or Grateful Dead.

In 'Axexan, espreitan', the singer and percussionist Belém Tajes leaves the Irmandade Ártabra (currently made up of 8 collaborating musicians specialized in traditional Galician folklore) to form part of the nucleus of MOURA together with Diego Veiga, Hugo Santeiro, Fernando Vilaboy, Luis Casanova and Pedro Alberte.

You can view the new video for Romance de Andrés d'Orois below

This new album was recorded during the summer of 2021 in a house on the outskirts of A Coruña (Spain) by J. Gutiérrez (who also worked on the production with the band itself); to later be mixed by the producer himself in Cangas (Pontevedra) in the fall of the same year and mastered by Álvaro Gallego at Agmastering.

In the visual section, the cover design is the work of Hugo Santeiro, based on images provided by the Museo do Pobo Galego; the photographs by Leo López; the video of "Romance de Andrés d'Orois" by Leo López, Hugo Santeiro & Fernando Vilaboy; and the video of "Baile do dentón" by Pablo Soto Goluboff.

'Axexan, espreitan' will be released on May 27, 2022 through the Andalusian indie label Spinda Records as part of its 'The Trippy Series' in digital, compact disc, cassette and in a triple vinyl edition limited to 400 hand-numbered copies in black, 250 on clear purple and 150 on marbled orange. Pre-order is now up and running at spindarecords.com and spindarecords.bandcamp.com.

Sail release melancholic fuzz-ladened single ‘Emotion Motional Ocean’ on June 3rd 2022

Sail release melancholic fuzz-ladened single ‘Emotion Motional Ocean’

Southwest-based metal four-piece Sail are pleased to announce the release of their upcoming single Emotion Motional Ocean (EMO) on June 3rd.

Formed in 2016, Sail draw influences from modern sludge, post-rock and grunge movements while bringing in unique elements of psychedelia and synth-driven flair, veering manically from catchy pop bangers to absolute noise.

The band released their debut album ‘Slumbersong’ via Hibernacula Records in March 2017, which saw them championed by the likes of Kerrang!, New Noise Magazine and Soundscape Magazine and tour the UK with the likes of Cybernetic Witch Cult, Morass of Molasses, Kylver and Morag Tong and Ireland with ZhOra and Everest Queen. With a handful of successful singles and a live EP under their belt since, the band are back with their latest single Emotion Motional Ocean.

Produced and mixed with Josh Gallop (Phoxjaw, Mother Vulture, Krooked Tongue), at Stage 2 Studios in Bath, Emotion Motional Ocean is their breeziest single yet. While still doused in fuzz, the song also delivers an addicting mix of soaring vocals, distorted guitar tones, and hooky choruses that are hard to resist.

Speaking about the single, vocalist and lyricist Tim Kazer says, “You know the end of Pinocchio with the Whale? Monstro I think. I went back and watched a clip and Gepetto will not stop talking about dying. Like I don’t think there was a single person who made that film thinking “this one’s for the kids!”. Emotions can be that way sometimes though, like being eaten alive. That’s what Emotion Motional Ocean is. One big alt rock emotional monster munch.”

Alongside the release of the single, the band are also releasing two remixes of Emotion Motional Ocean; A glitchy, dubstep remix by Glitchtrip and another more liquid / chillout remix by Kynan Destroyer.

Emotion Motional Ocean is due for release June 3rd and will be available on all major digital platforms.

ONLINE:

Website: https://thebandsail.bandcamp.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebandsail/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebandsail
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebandsail/

SAIL ARE:

Charlie Dowzell - Guitar, Vocals
Tim Kazer - Guitar, Vocals
Kynan Scott - Bass, Vocals
Tom Coles - Drums

Thanks to Jade at Memphia Music PR and Management for all of the details.

Mountain Of Smoke - Imprinted (Album Review)

Release Date:April 22nd 2022. Record Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD

Imprinted - Tracklisting

1.Imprint 01:39

2.Pain Providers 02:11

3.The Glass King 04:11

4.As We Slept 04:13

5.Tuning 02:15

6.The Weeping Spine 03:46

7.Sleep Now 04:03

8.Funeral of God 03:48

9.Then Came The Strangers 08:10

10.Freeze My Eyes 04:40

Members

Alex Johnson- pedal steel, guitar, synth, and vocals

PJ Costigan- Drums

Brooks Willhoite- bass, guitar, and vocals

Review

Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers Mountain Of Smoke have been blazing a trail of bloodied/retired replicants and heavy sludgy grooves over the last few years. With their “Blade Runner” inspired albums and releases, Mountain Of Smoke have become one of the more original bands from the underground scene. Their last proper original “studio” release was 2019’s Future Sins but the band did release a remix album of their second full length album and a covers album as well.

Now the guys are back with Imprinted and the guys have switched their attention to another cult film “Dark City” for their latest album though I believe some themes from Blade Runner are felt within this release. Imprinted is more of an Industrialised Sludge/Stoner Metal adventure with outbursts of manic Punk Rock and Doom Metal sounds.

Opening song Imprint is an Industrial/Punk/Doom Metal/Digi-Hardcore hybrid that reminds me of Author & Punisher and The Mad Capsule Markets for it’s brief 100 seconds run time. There’s a heavy amount of aggression and pissed off vocals on this track plus don’t get me started on the almost 200 miles per hour guitar beats. Well it feels that way.

Second song Pain Providers is the Mountain Smoke that I know and love. Intricate Psychedelic based energy with socially aware lyrics with a deeply flawed science fiction theme. The music airs on the side of Post-Doom/Post-Metal caution but still stands out within the boundaries of Sludge/Stoner Metal.

Third song The Glass King does feel mostly inspired by Dark City within the lyrical department mostly but the electronica sounds are from the world of Blade Runner. This is a weird and surreal cinematic journey with spellbinding vocals and claustrophobic industrial beats. The music is quite nightmarish and is one of the darkest songs on the album. Add some 90s hard-hitting Alt-Rock/Gothic/Alt-Metal sounds and Mountain Of Smoke maybe recovering from a bad trip that Philip K Dick always wrote about. Paranoia reigns supreme on this track and the later stages of the album.

I can’t really go into the remaining seven songs on the album as I will be here all day. However, Mountain Of Smoker carry on with their Paranoia Induced mission by playing their distorted and nightmarish Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal grooves with twisted Psychedelic vocals and lyrics to match.

The final three songs of the album Funeral Of God, Then Came The Strangers and Freeze My Eyes is my favourite part of the album. As Mountain Of Smoke plays a menacing blend of different styles of music with the music still feeling like a WEEDIAN based album in places. Perhaps very hard to distinguish at first but Mountain Of Smoke have always been fantastic at creating multi-layered levels of music with hidden depth and imagination to it all.

Imprinted is a quite a daring album that offers no easy answers but if you’re on the lookout for a more experimental Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal album then please spend some time with Mountain Of Smoke. This album is another outstanding release from Mountain Of Smoke. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

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Sator - Cleansing Ritual (Album Review)

Release Date: March 24th 2022. Record Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD

Cleansing Ritual - Tracklisting

1.Ancient Disease 09:14

2.Solaris 10:26

3.Murder By Music 08:25

4.On The Edge 12:08

Review

Psych Doom/Sludge Metallers Sator return with another heavy round of bludgeoning sludgy grooves on their excellent new album Cleansing Ritual. The album contains four lengthy compositions of down-tuned guitars, psychedelic rhythms and aggressive vocals. Taking a more primal approach on this release, Sator offers an uncompromising blend of modern day Doom/Sludge Metal that will appeal to fans of CONAN, Black Sabbath and Electric Wizard.

The album has a cool “NOLA” vibe which you can hear on the superb opening song Ancient Disease. Distorted doom grooves that constantly change with the bleak moods and atmosphere that lies with this song. Some progressive vibes appear towards the later stages of the song with Sator playing towards the Doom Metal spectrum with intricate bursts of Sludge riffs allowing the song to be one of the standout parts of the album.

Second song Solaris opens with an “Occult Rock” appetite before slowly moving into Sludge Metal territory with a gloomy sense of doom fully taking over. The harsh growls are easy to understand and follow but still retaining a threatening presence of their own. The music is distorted and down-tuned yet again but still allowing Sator to find the time to play some fantastic riffs along the way even if they’re the long drawn out kind. 

Sator keep up this Sludge/Doom Metal aggression with supreme confidence on the remaining two tracks of Murder By Music and On The Edge leaving no stone unturned in playing a more brutal style of music from the band. Though, it’s hard to believe that there are some catchy and addictive sounds on the second half of the album despite the bleak subject matter especially on Murder By Music.

Sator have been releasing great albums since their debut album in 2015 and with the band four albums into their recording career, it seems the band have no time or appetite to mellow out. This is Sator’s heaviest and most impressive album they’ve released to date. As Cleansing Ritual is an exciting listen to fully experience and behold.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR for the promo.

Cleansing Ritual is available to buy now on CD/DD via Argonauta Records.

Domkraft Links

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