UMBILICHAOS - Entrails II Redux (Album Review)

Release Date: March 03rd 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Entrails II Redux: Tracklisting

1.Renounce 16:28

2.Vague and Great Pain 17:06

Members

Anna C. Chaos - Everything

Review

Entrails II Redux is the new album from Solo Doom/Post-Metal Act UMBILICHAOS and as the title suggests, this is a Redux of a previous release from Anna C. Chaos who is the creative force behind UMBILICHAOS. I can’t compare the previous version as it’s no longer available. So I’m reviewing this new version of Entrails II.

The album is a mixture of Doom Metal, Post-Metal and Sludge Metal sounds with Hardcore/Shoegaze edge. The album runs for around thirty four minutes across two tracks and Anna offers a bleak twisted style of music that can be quite Grungy and Noise Rock based. There’s few twisted Industrial sounds which you can hear within both tracks of Renounce and Vague and Great Pain.

The Shoegaze element of the album is one of my favourite parts of the album. As the music feels more vibrant with a sludgier presence as well. The instrumental work whilst RAW and DIY based, is effective and allows UMBILICHAOS to play music taking elements from bands such as Melvins. Neurosis and Nine Inch Nails.

The vocals are what you expect for a Sludge/Post-Metal release but they add a menacing approach to the album. There is also a subtle EARTHY and ORGANIC sound to this album when the quieter moments appear. Another highlight of the album which shows a different creative side to Anna’s most recent work. 

Glitchy Industrial Beats is another creative weapon of choice for Anna to provide a more threatening style of music that evokes memories of the 90’s and 00’s rising Post-Metal scene. 

Entrails II Redux is another highly impressive, daring and wonderfully heavy release from UMBILICHAOS. 

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Linktree | BandCamp

Morass Of Molasses - End All We Know (Album Review)

Release Date: March 24th 2023. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

End All We Know: Tracklisting

1.The Origin of North 04:32

2.Hellfayre 03:58

3.Sinkhole 04:51

4.Naysayer 05:25

5.Slingshot Around the Sun 04:39

6.Terra Nova 03:59

7.Prima Materia 04:40

8.Wings of Reverie 05:30

Review

Stoner Metallers Morass Of Molasses return with their triumphant third album End All We Know which sees the band offer a more heavier and twisted style of Stoner Metal. Their earlier Blues Rock tinged grooves are here but with a more metallic and psychedelic edge that is heard throughout the album. The vocals have a more mature approach with Morass Of Molasses venturing between the fine line of Stoner Rock and Stoner Metal which you can hear on the excellent opening track The Origin Of North.

The track is quite flashy and progressive for all the right reasons with the band showing some fine “Classic Hard Rock Guitar Shredding” towards the later stages of the track. Mostly instrumental with the briefest of vocals but it shows the new creative turn the band have taken with this album. The song does have a more of an aggressive “THRASH” based attitude which allows the band to explore their Heavy Metal roots that little bit further compared to their earlier releases.

Second song Hellfayre continues with that vibrant “Heavy Metal” energy with deft touches of Psych Stoner Metal being quite soulful and modern. The grooves are plentiful with sublime vocals leading the charge. The music can be melodic and forceful when the time calls for it. There’s a twinge of “mainstream” hard rock vibes with some of the more impressive guitar solos and shredding that accompany the catchy as hell vocals. 

Third song Sinkhole sees Morass Of Molasses drift slightly further to the Doom Rock vortex with the focus on AMPLIFIER DISTORTION in places. Shades of Thin Lizzy guitar sounds merge with an almost Orange Goblin approach allowing the band to offer one of the strongest tracks on the albums. Screeching Psychedelic sounds is another highlight with the band bringing a FUZZY atmosphere to the mix. Once again the song moves into heavier areas of Heavy Metal that is quite a captivating mix of different styles and shows you how talented these guys actually are.

Fourth song Naysayer opts for a more Post-Doom/Post-Stoner vibe with a sound that’s more restrained and builds up to an action-packed song. This song is quite solitary before the band return to their heavy Doom based sound which can be quite “PROTO-METAL” in places. The subtle Psychedelic Stoner Rock/Metal energy is used wisely yet again with Morass Of Molasses unleashing slightly more chaotic and aggressive vocals.

The second half of the album follows the same route as the first half with boisterous catchy Stoner based grooves on outstanding tracks such as: Slingshot Around The World, Prima Materia and Wings Of Reverie. The album maybe more Blues Based but Morass Of Molasses don’t rest on their creative laurels. As they throw a few more FUZZ based surprises along the way. The mood is perhaps even gloomier but everything is done for a mighty purpose. 

End All We Know is Morass Of Molasses most outstanding and electrifying release to date. As it’s packed full of classic STONER METAL grooves with sublime lyrics throughout. With the power of RIPPLE MUSIC releasing this album, Morass Of Molasses aimed BIG for this album and it paid off big time.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

End All We Know is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via via Ripple Music (USA) and Ripple Music (EU)

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Psych Stoner Rockers Acid Magus unleash massive new single Caligulater from forthcoming album Hope Is Heavy

Pretoria based South African experimental rock band Acid Magus have been making waves in the music scene since their 2021 debut release Wyrd Syster. The album was well received by international media, with the likes of tastemakers The Sleeping Shaman saying it’s “cracking with both light and darkness, melody and cacophony and worthy of multiple spins on the platter, debut effort and all”.

 
Now a 5-piece, 2023 sees the band returning stronger than ever with a new vocalist and addition of a second guitarist plus a forthcoming album Hope Is Heavy, set for release in July 2023 via Mongrel Records. New single Caligulater comes off the back of the albums immersive debut single Demon Behemoth which released in February this year.

Continuing the cynical theme established with Demon Behemoth, Caligulater derives its name from the infamous emperor Gaius, otherwise known as Caligula. He was the megalomaniacal third emperor of Rome, a man steeped in violent and sadistic excess. In short, not a cool guy. Guitarist and songwriter Keenan Kinnear delves into the message behind the song, 

“Caligulater explores my feelings concerning myself and my place in society. My own existential crisis and self-imposed vitriolic outlook on the world when at my worst. The “they” in the main hook, “they made us, betrayed us and enslaved us” can be applied to any subject. It could be Caligula himself concerning the citizens of Rome circa 37 AD or your parents, boss, society as a whole etc. It can even apply to yourself in the end.”

Buy the single from this link

Doom, stoner, punk, psych, and classic rock are all common themes in their music. As huge fans of the rock greats (Zeppelin, Sabbath), stoner/desert rock behemoths (Kyuss, Sleep) as well as the tripped out psychedelic stylings of modern “psych” bands like Slift. Acid Magus take inspiration from all kinds of great music, spanning the entire gamut from 60s Hendrix and The Doors to Hawkwind and Scorpions at their heaviest, all this with maybe a little Alt Rock sensibility thrown in for good measure.

With an uncompromising, DIY approach to writing, Acid Magus promises to offer up only the best, most impassioned musical works. Long, slow, heavy, soft, it’s all there, and it comes from the heart…

Links

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | BandCamp

OHHMS - Rot (Album Review)

Release Date: March 31st 2023. Record Label: Church Road Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Rot: Tracklisting

1.Tonight's Feature Presentation

2.Let’s Scare Jessica To Death

3.Eaten Alive 

4.Blood Feast 

5.Body Melt

6.A Dark Song

7.The Mephisto Waltz 

8.Sisters

9.Swamp Thing

Members

Paul Waller - Vocals

Stuart Day - Guitar/Vocals

Marc Prentice - Guitar

Chainy Rabbit - Bass

Max Newton - Drums

Review

UK Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metallers OHHMS have seemed to left behind the hard-hitting social spectrum of their last few albums for a more riff-centric album for Rot. This album sees the band draw upon their love for Horror Movies and that has allowed the band to perhaps release their most fun, catchy and aggressive album to date.

Rot features plenty of up-tempo changes and aggressive slabs of Progressive based Sludge/Stoner Metal that you would expect to hear from TORCHE, Baroness and Mastodon with OHHMS living up to their “Post-Whatever” style with more catchy guitar solos and harmonious vocals as well. Though OHHMS still add their trademark “Social Conscience” commentary on the album but perhaps with a more sarcastic and bleak humour with some of the lyrics contained on the album.

The record is deadly serious when it needs to be but OHHMS are in the business of having fun on Rot. The riffs are plentiful with echoes of Hard Rock, Thrash Metal and even moments of Sludgy Psychedelic Pop which you can hear on the early stages of the album.

The first track Tonight’s Feature Presentation brings an almost “Grindhouse” and “VHS” old-school effect with twisted noises and sadistic voice-over that is the perfect balance of 1980’s “Video Nasties” atmospherics which definitely sends chills your way.

Second track Let’s Scare Jessica To Death is based on the classic 1971 Horror Movie of the same name but injected with OHHMS bombastic Sludge/Stoner Metal delivery. The Psychedelic Post-Doom grooves can be quite apocalyptic but there’s that sense of “FUN” that I mentioned earlier. The song is violently loud but there’s a subtle “POPPY” vibe with the intense lead vocals from Paul Waller moving from clean based vocals before morphing into a more aggressive style while still clean based. Throw in some classic sounding TORCHE inspired AMPLIFIER FEEDBACK and the album fully comes alive with some BONE CRUNCHING sludgy guitars allowing the song to have a more inspired DOOM based ending.

Third song Eaten Alive is named after the 1976 film of the same name and directed by Legendary Horror Maestro Tobe Hooper. The lyrics are inspired by the film with OHHMS deeply social conscience touch appearing at times. The music is progressively DOOM based with the guitar tone moving cautiously between slabs of Sludge Metal and that twinge of Stoner Metal. The dual vocals of Paul and Stuart work superbly well together. Different styles of Hard Rock and Metal appear which OHHMS are well known for within the underground scene. The song does move at its own cautious rhythm with a menacing outlook which allows OHHMS to play some wicked beat-downs and breakdowns for the later stages of the song.

Fourth song Blood Feast is based on the 1962 film of the same name. However, there are multiple Horror films with that name and I’m making a guess based on the message of the album. More jagged guitars and Punk inspired beat-downs allows this to be one of the more “VIOLENT” and “UNPLEASANT” tracks on the album with the lyrics the band has written here. The song itself is powered by catchy Sludge/Doom/Post-Metal beats where perhaps the rhythm section featuring the talents of Chainy (Bass) and Max (Drums) steal the show here. The music is addictive and catchy (yeah, sorry I’m using that term again) but also one full of muscular energy which OHHMS starting to showcase why they’ve created another wonderfully diverse sound for themselves.

The other five songs on the album follow that same destructive creative path by forging addictive sounds on the fifth song Body Melt. Despite the harsh subject matter and the film it’s inspired by. OHHMS play some of the sweetest and technically impressive sounds on this track with some fantastic vocal harmonies yet again by Paul and Stuart that draws upon influences as diverse as QUEEN and maybe the Glam Rock Movement.

OHHMS venture into more darker creative waters on tracks such as A Dark Song, The Mephisto Waltz and Swamp Thing. The music maybe more upbeat compared to the earlier tracks of the album but listen to the dark subject matter on these tracks and they may surprise you like they did with me on The Mephisto Waltz. As the lyrics are wonderfully deceptive and speak to me in many different ways. 

Rot contains wonderful production values and ranks as one of the best sounding records the band have released to date. OHHMS impress yet again by releasing an album that sounds so completely different to their previous albums but they’ve done that with each subsequent release. 

OHHMS are one of the most bold, distinctive and creative voices within the UK Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal scene. Rot is absolutely packed with “HEAD-BANGING ANTHEMS” that allows it to be their most addictive and most consistent release to date.

This album is another Album Of The Year Contender from OHHMS. It’s seriously that great!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Justine at Church Road Records for the promo.

Rot will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Church Road Records from March 31st 2023.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

European Stoner Rock Pillars BLACK RAINBOWS Share "Superhero Dopeproof" Video; New Album "Superskull" out June 9th on Heavy Psych Sounds

Italian stoner rock heroes BLACK RAINBOWS return with their ninth studio album "Superskull" on Heavy Psych Sounds this June, and present their brand new "Superhero Dopeproof" video exclusively on Metal Injection. Fasten your seatbelts!

Three years after their latest sonic bomb "Cosmic Ritual Supertrip", mighty Italian stoner rockers BLACK RAINBOWS are ready to kick the dust with their trademark fire and twelve exciting new tracks: be ready to embrace the full power of their new album "Superskull"! With increased attention paid to details and guitars during the recording, the trio seems to have found the perfect balance and tone for their fuzz-fueled stoner sound, offering a few tasty surprises along the way!

Crank it up and watch "Superhero Dopeproof"

Guitarist and frontman Gabriele Fiori comments: "This album gives you not only incredible heavy stoner rock gems but it also contains one space acoustic song, one super psychedelic suite, and one trippy melodic ballad that all make a perfect mixture for what is sure to be our best album so far!"

"Superskull" was recorded, mixed and engineered by Fabio Sforza at Forward Studio and mastered by Claudio Pisi Gruer at Pisistudio in Rome, Italy. The cover was designed by Brazilian artist Pedro Correa. It will be issued in a limited double gatefold vinyl edition, colored and black vinyl editions CD and digital, with preorders available now from Heavy Psych Sounds.

New album "Superskull" - Out June 9th on Heavy Psych Sounds - PPRE-ORDER

TRACKLIST:

1. Apocalipse March
2. Superhero Dopeproof
3. Children Of Fire And Sacrifices
4. Cosmic Ride Of The Cristal Skull
5. The Pilgrim Son
6. Till The Outerspace
7. Lone Wolf
8. King Snake
9. Desert Sun
10. All The Chaos In Mine
11. Megalomania
12. Fire In The Sky

BLACK RAINBOWS is established among the most revered heavy rock bands of the European scene, spreading the fuzz since 2005. Their sound sits firmly between 90s-style Californian stoner rock, deep-cosmos psychedelia and hard-driving space rock. In 2020, the trio entered the new decade refreshed and with well-earned veteran status resulting from countless tours and festival appearances, tearing roofs off with their unstoppable and infectious rock’n’roll energy. They released their eighth album “Cosmic Ritual Supertrip” on Heavy Psych Sounds to great applause from the international rock and metal community, followed by the "Live at Desertfest Belgium" album in 2021 in celebration of the band's 15th anniversary.

BLACK RAINBOWS is

Gabriele Fiori — Guitars & Vocals
Edoardo "Mancio" Mancini — Bass
Filippo Ragazzoni — Drums

BLACK RAINBOWS links

Facebook ⎜ Website ⎜ Bandcamp ⎜ Instagram ⎜Spotify

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS links

Website ⎜ Facebook ⎜ Bandcamp ⎜Instagram ⎜Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the details.

BONGZILLA to release new album "Dab City" on June 2nd via Heavy Psych Sounds; first track and pre-order available!

Wisconsin's sludge metal behemoths BONGZILLA announce the release of their sixth studio full-length "Dab City" on Heavy Psych Sounds, and unleash the crushing first track "Hippie Stick"

Their sixth album "Dab City" is an ode to the purest form of THC and the trio's beloved hometown of Madison Wisconsin, which is known as Mad City. A political and social hotbed and a lightning rod for the state and entire Midwest since the 1960s, Madison is also home to a large University with one of the best agronomy departments in the country and not surprisingly the focal point for some of the finest cannabis our country has to offer — frontman Mike "Muleboy" Makela has not seen pot with seeds in it since arriving in 1993! Although not legal, possession is basically ignored and punished with a nominal $1 fine for under 128 grams. "Dab City" was 100% recorded on tape and composed of seven songs with a running time of almost 60 minutes of brand new Stoned Sludge Heavy Doomy Riffs!

Says BONGZILLA: "For the recording of "Dab City" we procured 10 g plus of the finest concentrates, we could lay our hands on and somewhere north of 120 g of cannabis flower. And recorded it on 2-in analog tape over two sessions at Future Apple Tree Studio in Rock Island, Illinois. The fall 2022 session is known as the "Harvest Sessions" and the February 2023 session is known as the Propagation Sessions. The record is our second album as a three-piece and our second release for our label Heavy Psych Sounds, continuing our journey into ultra-stoned sludgey psychedelia."

"Dab City" will be released in various ultra-limited and limited colored editions, classic vinyl edition, CD digipack and digital on June 2nd through Heavy Psych Sounds.

BONGZILLA New album "Dab City" - Out June 2nd on Heavy Psych Sounds - PRE-ORDER

BONGZILLA is a stoner metal band from Madison, Wisconsin. As their name suggests, most of their material is related to marijuana and promotes its legalization. The band formed in 1995, and over the next three years recorded and released a dozen songs on EPs and split singles. In 1998 they signed to Relapse Records, and have since released four studio albums and a live album through the label. Since the seeds were planted in the mid-90s, BONGZILLA have been sowing Madison, Wisconsin’s rich soil with their homegrown, psychedelic sludge. Following the release of their fourth studio album "Amerijuanican" in 2005, the band toured and remained active until 2009 when the group quietly took a hiatus. 

In April 2015 it was announced BONGZILLA was reforming with the "Gateway" lineup, first announcing a tour of Europe. The band followed up with a four-date tour of the West Coast USA, a tour of the east coast USA and an appearance at Desertfest Belgium. The band began 2017 with a local show in Wisconsin before embarking on another European tour, playing the likes of Roadburn Festival, DesertFest Berlin, DesertFest London, KristonFest and have begun working on material for a new album.

In early 2020, BONGZILLA started their own label Gungeon Records and released a re-issue of their classic album "Apogee". However, in March of 2020 it would be announced that Cooter Brown would retire from the band due to health and family reasons, with Bongzilla choosing to continue as a thunderous three-piece. A few months into the pandemic, BONGZILLA began rehearsing and recording for several different record projects: a limited 'Wake Brewing' 7", a full-length album titled Weedsconsin, an LP split with the band Tons, and a 7" split with Boris —  the first of a 7" split series released on Gungeon Records. All projects were recorded at Future Apple Tree Studios in Rockford, Illinois in October 2020 by the legendary John Hopkins, before his sudden and unexpected passing in the late fall of 2020.

In January 2021, the band announced their signing to Heavy Psych Sounds for the release of their fifth studio album "Weedsconsin" in the spring of 2021, which "immediately returned them to the top of the stoner doom heap", according to Decibel Magazine. They are now set to return with their new album "Dab City" on HPS Records.

BONGZILLA is

Mike "Muleboy" Makela - vocals & bass

Jeff "Spanky" Schultz - guitar

Mike "Magma" Henry - drums

BONGZILLA links

Website ⎜ Facebook ⎜ Bandcamp ⎜ Instagram ⎜ Spotify

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS links

Website ⎜ Facebook ⎜ Bandcamp ⎜Instagram ⎜ Youtube

"WINO: The Documentary", the story of US doom metal legend SCOTT "WINO" WEINRICH to be released by New Terms Productions on May 13th!

WINO: The Documentary, the story of SCOTT "WINO" WEINRICH, one of heavy metal's most iconic underground figureheads and godfather of doom, will be released by New Terms Productions on May 13th digitally and on DVD.

"WINO: The Documentary" is the story of doom rock legend Scott 'Wino' Weinrich, known for his many influential bands such as The Obsessed, Saint Vitus, Spirit Caravan, The Hidden Hand, Premonition 13, Wino Acoustic, Place of Skulls, Shrinebuilder, Probot, and more.

Dive into the outlaw life, epic career, and enduring influence of Wino, in this honest, raw, and often hilarious depiction of the man and his music. Woven together with heavier-than-hell live performances from his many legendary bands, the story is structured by the truth told in his own words, through interviews, road trips, tours, intimate behind the scenes, and the quest to pick up his 1964 Harley Davidson panhead chopper, Mr. Nasty.

The movie features Bobby Liebling (Pentagram), Dixie Dave (Weedeater), Jimmy Bower (Down, Eyehategod), Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters), Phil Anselmo (Pantera, Down), Pepper Keenan (Corrosion of Conformity), Henry Rollins (Black Flag), and more.

Created and directed by Sharlee Patches of New Terms Productions, 'Wino: The Documentary' is set for a physical and digital release on May 13th, 2023. It will be premiered on March 25th at the Maryland International Film Festival, and on April 20th at Tinker Street Cinema in Woodstock, NY, with additional acoustic show + screening dates to be announced soon.

Watch The Trailer Below:

WINO: The Documentary" available on May 13th, 2023

Digitally on bit.ly/newtermsproductions
DVD preorder available on www.wino-art.com

Scott “Wino” Weinrich is widely known as the iconic frontman of cornerstone doom metal founders SAINT VITUS and THE OBSESSED — both founded in the late 70s and revered for inspiring hundreds of bands in their sovereign wake — as well as SPIRIT CARAVAN, THE HIDDEN HAND, SHRINEBUILDER, and more. Through his prolific and passion-driven 40-year career, whether he was laying the foundations of modern doom or successfully sailing across stirring folk rock lands, Wino has remained an unwavering force of the underground scene. Wino formed his first band The Obsessed in 1978, starting the reign of “heavy and slow” decades before doom grew into a flourishing worldwide genre unto itself. A few years later, he moved to California to join Saint Vitus, with whom he released the seminal ‘Born Too Late’ (1986), one of the most powerful statements in doom’s early history, with Wino’s raspy, heartfelt and punk-charged vocals booming loudly above the crowd of howling, gimmicky Ozzy copycats.

Following a reformation of The Obsessed and a brief major-label flirtation in the early 90s which included a piledriving update of Black Sabbath's "The Wizard" alongside Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Rob Halford, Wino formed yet another influential outfit, Spirit Caravan. The new band fused his trademark sludgy churn with an increased soulfulness, beginning to lay the groundwork for his eventual exploration of acoustic and expansive songwriting. During this time, Dave Grohl also invited Wino to join his all-star Probot project alongside Lemmy Kilmister, King Diamond, Max Cavalera and other notables. 

Numerous world tours with his various bands later, the creative source remained inexhaustible as Wino embarked on a new direction with the release of his solo debut, ‘Punctuated Equilibrium’, quickly followed by a second solo LP ‘Adrift’ in 2010, a series of collaborations with German folk songwriter Conny Ochs, and ‘Forever Gone’ in 2020. Wino embarked on extensive European and North American tours as a solo act, continuing to maintain his thriving solo output even with the arrival of a much-heralded and welcomed re-constitution of The Obsessed formed for the third time in 2017. The Obsessed, now a 4-piece, have toured extensively since 2020, and have just completed their latest studio album “Gilded Sorrow”, to be released on Ripple Music in 2023.

Today, Wino is respected the world over as the godfather of doom and one of underground heavy music’s most revered lifers. Worldwide festivals like Roadburn, Hellfest, Psycho Las Vegas, Desertfest, Maryland Deathfest, Rock Hard Fest, Monolith On The Mesa and countless others keep inviting Wino back through his various sonic incarnations year after year.

SCOTT "WINO" WEINRICH links:

Facebook - Instagram - Website

Cosmic/Psych/Blues/Hard Rockers Zålomon Grass Announce Details Of Their Upcoming "SPACE OPERA" Tour

Cosmic/Blues/Hard Rockers Zålomon Grass announce details of their "Space Opera" Tour to promote their new album Space Opera

The "Space Opera" tour begins:

-Saturday April 8, Corroios Theatre, Lisbon
-Thursday April 13. Azkena Hall, Bilbao
-Friday April 14. Soho, Burgos
-Saturday April 15. TBD
-Friday April 21. Fun House, Madrid
-Saturday April 22. Babylon, Leon
-Friday, May 5. Masterclub, Vigo
-Friday May 12. Cultural Brotherhood, Vilanova
-Friday May 19. Auriense, Ourense
-Saturday May 20. La Alquitara, Bejar
-Sunday May 21. El Zagal, Valladolid
-Friday May 26. Mardi Gras, A Coruña
-Saturday May 27. Jagger Room, Lugo
-Saturday, September 2. TBA
-Saturday, September 9, La Guarida del Ángel, Jerez de la Frontera
-Sunday October 1, Krazzy Kray, Cambados


BAND BIO:

Fed up with how predictable the current Hard Rock scene may be sometimes, both inside and outside our borders, Zålomon Grass spins the gears of his time and space machinery, ready to bring us sounds of other times and retake the legacy and spirit of the early 70s of the 20th century with his particular, eclectic, yet accurate Cosmic Blues.

The band has already published two albums: The Four Track EP at Radar Estudios, with 4 electrifying songs charged with the adrenaline of a live performance. And a second EP; Three Hundred Years, the soundtrack to the 20-minute self-produced experimental film in which they explored their creative limits throughout 4 songs that combine psychedelic rock, acoustic blues and the soundtracks of the 70's sci-fi B movies.

With this new and long-awaited album -recorded at Hendrik Röver's GuitarTown Recording Studios and produced by the band itself- Zålomon Grass culminates a cycle and opens the door to a universe full of sonic possibilities with a conceptual album, rich in analog nuances and full of veiled and subtle nods to classic works of the genre, both lyrically and musically; thus consolidating his personal style and navigating through a unique sound, which fearlessly addresses the entire spectrum of Rock and Roll with capital letters, from the most classic notes to the most avant-garde.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

.

Zålomon Grass - Space Opera (Album Review)

Release Date: March 10th 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Space Opera: Tracklisting

1.Cosmic Relief 03:31

2.The Drill 04:20

3.All Hands On Deck 05:48

4.Harder To Rise 05:37

5.Heard It On The News 04:39

6.Too Late Now 03:52

7.Groove To Prove 04:04

8.Don't Let Me Go Down (Space Opera) 06:37

Members

G. Mckenzie: lead & backing vocals, electric, twelve string and acoustic guitars.

David Rodd: electric Fender bass guitar, synths & backing vocals.

Mauro Comesaña: drums, percussion & backing vocals.

Hendrik Röver: European classic guitar, Fender Rhodes & percussion.

Review

Space Opera is the new album from Vintage Cosmic Rockers Zålomon Grass who bring a 70’s Hard Rock Entergy inspired mostly by Led Zep. The band also play strands of Blues Rock, Psych Rock and an addictive wave of Nostalgia based grooves. The music may not be classed as METAL but perhaps the precursor to Heavy Metal with a melodic outlook with their music.

The album is downright FUNKY when the Blues Rock inspired grooves are played with a fresh Classic Rock perspective that feels quite grounded even when the Cosmic/Space Rock attitude fully takes over even early on with the album on tracks such as Cosmic Relief, The Drill and All Hands On Deck. There’s some epic guitar solos that feel inspired by Peter Frampton and Eddie Van Halen. The instrumental work is insanely good which allows Zålomon Grass to have a first-rate delivery where the extended guitar solos and jams appear.

Space Opera is meant to be a concept album which is explained in greater detail on their BandCamp Page. However, Space Opera feels like a greatest hits collection of a Classic Hard Rock Band from yesteryear but still sounding original and wholly inspired when the freaky Psych/Cosmic Rock sounds are used as the prime way to playing their music. 

The mood can be quite emotionally charged, with Zålomon Grass playing to their strengths on the album’s standout tracks All Hands On Deck and Heard It On The News. There’s a slight deviation to an aggressive style of Blues Rock guitars which the band fuse heavier Psychedelic elements for a more well-rounded sound.

Zålomon Grass “wear their hearts on their sleeves” with this album. Some of the ideas for the concept album maybe too outlandish for a Classic/Retro/Hard Rock album such as this but somehow it all works. The lyrics are bloody fantastic and have a real soulful purpose to them.  The vocals on Space Opera are off the chart here. Lead vocalist G. McKenzie has an impressive vocal range here and this dude can really SING!!!. 

G. McKeznie is helped along by excellent backup vocals from David and Mauro throughout the album which can be thoroughly modern even with the main Classic Hard Rock themes of the whole album.

The production values are superbly handled and allows Zålomon Grass to have a deep, warm and engaging sound to showcase their first rate style of music that brings a banging Psych/Cosmic/Space Rock attitude to the Classic Hard Rock Underground scene.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Exclusive Song Premiere From MASHEENA For Their New Song UNDER THE SAME SUN From Upcoming New Album

Masheena’s second single from their upcoming debut album WEST COAST HARD ROCK! The album will be released digitally on all platforms, as well as vinyl through Majestic Mountain Records, and on the CD and cassette mediums through Electric Talon Records US.

After the party vibe of the first single “1979”, “Under The Same Sun” presents a darker and heavier sound. Unashamedly grunge influenced, it sounds like a collaboration that Soundgarden and Metallica would have done in the early 90s, yet with modern hard rock production. A high-flying chorus shines rays of sunlight down on the brooding verses, balancing the darkness and light presented in the song’s mood.

The track was recorded at Solslottet Studios in Bergen, Norway by Enslaved-drummer and renowned producer Iver Sandøy, co-produced by the band, and mixed to perfection by the legend Machine at The Machine Shop in Austin, Texas, USA.

We’re excited to announce that the cover illustration for WEST COAST HARD ROCK was created by tattoo artist and illustrator Chon Hernandez (Blast Tyrant)! The single cover for Under The Same Sun is a detail from the full album cover.

Masheena was started up by a group of longtime friends in 2021. Combined, they have over 100 years of service in hard-rocking bands like Immortal, Abbath, I, Royal Rooster, Lost at Last, Ilti Milta, and St Satan.

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Thanks to Majestic Mountain Records for all of the details.

Green Yeti - Necropolitan (Album Review)

Release Date: March 17th 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Necropolitan: Tracklisting

1.Syracuse 02:45

2.Witch Dive 04:04

3.Jupiter 362 05:09

4.Golgotha 07:41

5.Dirty Lung 07:32

6.Kerosene 07:31

7.One More Bite 09:16

Members

Bass: Dani Avramidis

Guitar & Vocals: Michael Andresakis

Drums: Giannis Koutroumpis

Review

Necropolitan is the new album Psych Doom/Stoner Metallers Green Yeti and is their first album in six years. This album is a collection of Doomed Out Stoner sounds wrapped up in layers of Psych Rock, Fuzz and Desert Rock which does become slightly distorted at times. Green Yeti find their real focus when playing a swirling style of Gloomy Rhythms and KYUSS-esque extended jams. The vocals from Michael has that classic “Desert/Stoner Metal” feel even when the album ventures into areas of Doom Metal where perhaps the band’s rhythm section becomes the best part of the album with forceful Bass Guitar sounds and pounding drums to match.

The early stages of the album sees Green Yeti explore subtle  areas of creativity with early songs such as Witch Dive, Jupiter 362 and Golgotha having varied styles of WEEDIAN based music that soon goes into areas such as Space Rock and Prog Rock. The sound of the legendary DESERT SCENE feels more gloomy and desolate with Green Yeti’s use of Ambient themes especially on Jupiter 362. That song has a true “CINEMATIC” feel that allows the song to be classed more of a Post-Doom or Post-Rock song. Long droned out soundscapes were a great creative choice to make as it shows there’s something different to Green Yeti’s outlook on Stoner based music.

Fourth track Golgotha carries on the creative themes from Jupiter 362 but Green Yeti play a heavier style of Doomed Out or Spaced Out grooves. The song moves cautiously slowly at times but the grooves are heavy and plentiful with the atmosphere becoming more adventurous when the band plays a heavier style of music. The vocals are an interesting style with Michael performing a mixture of Growls, Chants and Harsh sounding vocals. The music does become a bit side-tracked in places especially when the band play a chaotic style of Sludge based grooves. Though, seemingly everything works as it should with this becoming one of the best tracks on the album.

The final three tracks of Dirty Lung, Kerosene and One More Bite are perhaps the gloomiest and heaviest parts of the album where Green Yeti embrace their “DOOM METAL” persona with devilish charm and authority. The music still has that “KICK-ASS” and WEEDIAN approach but Green Yeti switch things up on these tracks especially when the band try their hand at playing a THRASHIER style of music. Even Michael's vocals remind me of James Hetfield in places. There’s a lean and mean sounding SLUDGE and PUNK attitude that leads the creative charge with a cool Progressive flair.

Necropolitan is perhaps a “BASS” heavy album as that instrument feels the most dominant sound on the album. The sublime “DIY” production feel and flow of the album allows Necropolitan to be an intense experience which doesn’t pull any punches either. 

The instrumental work is superb and if you’re a fan of Green Yeti’s previous albums then you know what to expect even if the band have learnt lots of more different sounds to breathe new life into their style of Doom/Stoner Metal.

Green Yeti have delivered the goods yet again with Necropolitan and prove why they’re one of the best Doom/Stoner Metal bands from the Greek Underground Scene. 

Words by Steve Howe.

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