Monday 30 September 2024

An Interview With John Gist From VEGAS ROCK REVOLUTION and Organiser Of PLANET DESERT ROCK WEEKEND FESTIVAL


Today I'm interviewing John Gist who is perhaps the person responsible for keeping the Desert/Stoner Rock scene alive and kicking in Las Vegas through his excellent work with Vegas Rock Revolution and his annual Planet Desert Rock Weekend Festival.

I caught up with John recently to discuss Planet Desert Rock Festival 2025 Edition, the formations of Vegas Rock Revolution and what people can expect to see and hear within the next edition of this KICK-ASS Festival. ]

Here's what John has to say....

Hi John. Thanks for doing the interview. How are things with you today?

Hey Steve thanks so much everything you do for the scene and its cool to chat!

We're here to discuss the upcoming Planet Desert Rock Weekend which will be hitting it's 5th Edition in Jan 30th 2025 to Feb 1st 2025. What can people expect to see from that weekend if they didn't know anything about the festival?

PDRW is setup different than the other 3 or so regularly done festivals for the underground scene in the USA. I have always felt a careful curation is paramount to what I am trying to do with PDRW. This year we have bands from 8 different countries slated to come perform. We did this back at PDRW v2 when we brought in bands like Saturna, Mr. Bison, Omega Sun, Kaiser, 1968, Green Desert Water, Captain Caravan and Monsternaut. 

 The way the weekend is set up is that the shows aren't until the evenings and so that folks can enjoy the days in Vegas doing all the cool things you can do in Vegas like the parks, gaming, museums ( Mob Museum, Punk Rock Museum, Atomic Museum, Pinball, etc), sightseeing, shopping, shows or whatever else Sin City has to offer. Each night of PDRW takes place in one venue and no overlapping sets. 

The sound of the festival is of the utmost importance. Nights 1 & 2 take place in one of the absolute best rock venues in the country and is owned by Danny Koker who is the star of the TV show Counting Cars. They have the most amazing sound system and stage along with lighting system. The following night we shift over to the Fremont Street area at The Usual Place. We have done the last two PDRW there for an evening and its been killer. 

The sound is done by Patrick Bonner who is a veteran of the scene that evening. He has travelled with bands like Orange Goblin, Nebula and others on tour doing sound. The feedback we got from PDRW goers and the bands have been amazing for both venues. 

Recently we added a 4th night and that will be at Sinwave which is in The Arts District. It's a new venue with a cool setup and the Arts District is a neat area with lots of independent restaurants, shops and unique spots for libations. The vibe has been described as a fun party atmosphere where everyone gets to hang while catching great bands in a comfortable setting.

Some great bands you have performing at this edition of the festival - Fireball Ministry, Mos Generator, Sergeant Thunderhoof, Valley Of The Sun and Fire Down Below to name just a few. Are these bands all chosen by yourself to perform or did you have other folks asking you to put these bands on the same bill?

I hand select every single band. There is a certain amount of visualization that goes into who I invite each year. There is no doubt I get a ton of people asking/suggesting/telling me a band should be in the lineup but I stay true to what I am trying to achieve. 

Sometimes I tell people this isn't McDonalds where you just order something. LOL. 

There have been some cases where bands have reached out to play and after careful consideration, we made it happen like for instance Beastmaker, Solace and Valley of the Sun! Speaking of Valley of the Sun this will be a return to PDRW as well as Mr. Bison, Omega Sun and Green Desert Water.

Where is the festival taking place and where can people by tickets?

Tickets are available on Eventbrite and we have cool poster options. Fuzz Evil's Joey Ruddell is doing some of the posters again along with shirt designs. Alex Sonolith of the Vegas band Sonolith also helps so much on artwork and posters as well. He has since early on been a great supporter of Vegas Rock Revolution Shows since the beginning. 

By the way Sonolith who has performed at several PDRWs has a new album soon to be released.



Will you be announcing any more bands to the bill or is the final confirmed lineup?

We have 1 more band to announce for the first three nights and four more to add to PDRW final night we named "Last Call" to go with Bonehawk who we are super stoked to have come out from Michigan. Their music is at a very high level of heavy rock. 

We promise the final announcements will be a diverse selection of bands from the underground heavy rock scene and we will have a one time performance happening on the final night as well that is sure to be killer!

Where did the idea start of putting together an annual festival in Las Vegas came about?

A number of factors came into play on the idea of doing these weekenders Truth be told I worked in marketing for years and years for big companies but around 2016 my life changed dramatically from being a married successful highly stressed upper middle manager of programs and teams to basically pressing the reset button. 

I gravitated to live rock music more and more during this time. Starting noticing how few people were going to many of the shows and started thinking I wonder if I could set up shows. Eventually was given the chance by 3 separate ladies at 3 separate venues to try my hand at it. I learned a lot during that time including how peculiar people can be in the scene who controls the levers shall I say. 

The 1st show I ever booking was with House of Broken Promises. Arthur Seay also of Unida fame and I developed a relationship and eventually he linked me up to chat with.... John Garcia from Kyuss! After a cool ass talk with John we hatched a show concept that was called "A Night with John Garcia". 

I had come in Nick Oliveri, Dave Angstrom (Hermano), Arthur Seay (Unida) and Chris Hale (Slo Burn) to perform with John. It was absolutely an amazing event and it was held at the Hard Rock Casino. Also that night Luna Sol featuring Dave Angstrom, Nick Oliveri and Death in Pretty Wrapping featuring Arthur Seay + Mike Cancinco of Unida/House of Broken Promises all played. 

Now hey I have to admit I loved Psycho Vegas and it was inspiring. The direction I wanted to go though was a smaller more intimate type weekender that didn't have all the screaming stuff involved. Much prefer to blend closer to heavy psych and hard rock bands instead. Vegas is a cool place to have a weekender as it's one of the most popular spots in America to visit. Our weather last year was 60 for a day or two this year for PDRW IV.

Has it got any easier or harder arranging these annual festivals?

It's a labor of love. Since getting back at a couple years ago, I have really tried to stay consistent in my processes. Some of the more tenuous things that have to be planned out is budgeting and revenue projections. I lost a massive amount of money on PDRW v2 and learned some very hard lessons. I basically quit even thinking about it and then a couple years later Covid happened. 

Slowly I have been building it and fans have increased each year. Most of the success of PDRW goes to the people who support these fun weekends. The scene really seems to be galvanizing as many are making multiple fests a yearly thing. The Ripplefest Texas connection is very organic as not only do many of the same now come to Vegas for PDRW but also their fest general Ryan Garney is a guy I have much love for and have helped him over the years with some marketing. I go every year with my two high school buds and we hang with so many cool folks from around the world each year.

 

What are the main aims and objectives for Vegas Rock Revolution?

To help the scene's best bands get elevated as well as expose more rockers who have no idea how much good heavy rock is out there that is kept underground by the big 3 record labels and the money machine that controls music industry. I work with selective bands on their marketing, promotions, social media along with a few other things and I only work with bands that i believe have upside in growth. Don't want to get paid what little I charge for my services if I don't think it will get anywhere.

Do you have a set of rules that you abide by when booking gigs or promoting certain bands?

No rules really other than be professional and come to play your heart out. Generally I don't want to repeat a band for PDRW for 2 years except for headliner like bands. Trying to make it a unique PDRW each year and not the same bands all the time.

What have been your biggest challenges and rewarding experiences so far with Vegas Rock Revolution and Planet Desert Rock Weekend?

Biggest challenges is revenue vs expense. If folks don't come out and support then PDRW is doomed potentially. I have to carefully work with the bands on pay so that neither of us over extend which leads me to a challenge I will bring up that may be eye opening. When the bands that have elevated some get booking agents or management companies they jack the rate so high that we (the four fests) can't really book them much. 

For instance some bands maybe get $1500 - $2000 or so a show at most on tour but if you check with the agents the number for fest goes up to $15,000 or whatever. Both Ryan Garney and I have been stung hard by these tough lessons. The scene is just not big enough to gamble like that.... meaning not enough folks go to our underground fests to balance out the costs of these "bigger" bands. 

 It's a delicate balance of value and gambling. I could name names but I think it would not be wise right now. Some of the bands get bigger and they want to separate themselves from the "stoner rock" scene thus they barely play any festivals in the USA as they have outpriced themselves.

Most rewarding has been getting to know so many people including bands! I love being part of something and trying to make a difference. Some folks stand up for certain causes or political BS but I stay committed to rock music and the spreading of it. We have the bands, the tunes and the passion... now we need more people to hear these amazing musicians. 

We must confront why in America it has been stifled so much. The P-Diddy thing is uncovering what may be the key to why things are the way they are in the Big 3 labels that control everything as far as money is concerned.

How did you get involved with promoting within the whole underground Stoner Rock/Metal scene?

Well I was a Kyuss fan when they came out but kinda floated away for a while but around 2011 or so I was looking around on Amazon for used CD's and started checking out bands suggested. I resisted the idea of there being good heavier rock music being out there and not being on the radio... sounds familiar? 

I used to think the same way many are now as they seek validation of a band by traditional means. The four bands that woke me up from the conventional programming were: Rival Sons, Sasquatch, Freedom Hawk and Gozu. 

Once I started digging deeper I found that the music that was rooted in the foundations of the music I dig the most (70;s & 90's rock) was alive and kicking but just barely on the radio including Sirius XM whose new rock channel created their own brand of heavy rock that is highly overproduced and in general crap! People like yourself, JJ Koczan, Billy Goate with Doomed & Stoned, Todd Severin with Ripple and Bucky Brown all had an impact on me getting more involved with the scene. Started doing The Doomed & Stoned show with Billy back in 2020 and its been a wild ride since!

What's your favourite and least favourite aspect of being involved with the underground scene?

I like the scene and feel it coming together more and more among the Gen Xers in America but we need more folks of any age to be presented some of our top bands so they can get into the scene.

And if you could change anything about the overall scene what would that be? We still need way more people to support the scene at live shows and part of that is recruiting new folks into the fold. People need to listen to their friends and understand first what kind of rock or metal music they like and then tailor what you suggest to them. 

Don't give them Sleep right away! LOL Or some band that is nice to you so therefor you become a fanboy or fangirl and start putting them as the first band someone new to the scene should hear. You can't go wrong with bands like Sasquatch, Rival Sons, Dirty Streets, Freedom Hawk, The Watchers, King Buffalo or Clutch.

You also run some excellent Facebook Pages under the Vegas Rock Revolution banner. Does that take a lot of your daily time moderating both pages or do you manage your time quite well?

Yeah it can be very time consuming and I look at my Vegas Rock Revolution: Heavy + Hard Rock Group almost like a radio station. Ha for lack of a better term,.. I gatekeep the hell out of that page and approve each posting.

We all need some downtime to relax away from the scene. How did you relax away from the scene? Any personal hobbies that help you unwind?

*I really like to travel and need to do more of it but with my mom's health and age, I am really in a different space right now. Also I am a massive American football fan.

What are your favourite bands from within the scene itself? 

So many to list! ha ha. But I really love Villagers of Ioannina City. Their album Age of Aquarius is a pure masterpiece and it speaks to me in some mystical or spiritual way. I have been a long time lover of Sasquatch, Freedom Hawk, Rival Sons, Gozu, John Garcia, JIRM and many more!

Any great bands that folks should know about? 

The best under the radar bands for me to suggest is Tidal Wave (Sweeden), Saturna (Spain), Mr. Bison(Italy), JIRM (Sweden), Omega Sun (SLovenia), Sundrifter (Mass), Duneeater (Australia), Planet of the 8's (Australia), Witchskull (Australia), Dirty Streets (Memphis) and Sons of Arrakis (Canada)....

Hell I could say any band that has played PDRW is a band people should check out. Call me loyal but I sincerely believe in these bands!

Which physical media do you prefer – Cassette, CD or Vinyl? 

CD..... love the sound and the size. My car has a cd player and it sounds so good still!

If someone is looking to start a career promoting gigs and festivals such as yourself, what advice would you offer them?

Move into it slowly and know that likely it will be more of a hobby. Make sure to talk to some people who have done the things you are considering but also actually listen to them some!

Any lessons that you've learnt along the way?

Don't get ahead of yourself and build a budget. Truly think through the numbers and don't just hope things will happen if you build it. There is a saying at my old employer Marriott had as part of their culture "Under promise and over deliver". 

People are flaky so don't gamble too much on the shows early on. 

Good Luck!

Words by Steve Howe and John Gist

Thanks to John Gist for doing this interview. Details for Planet Desert Rock Weekend 2025 can be found here: 

From January 30th to February 1st, 2025 at Count's Vamp'd and The Usual Place (Las Vegas, NV)
EVENT & INFO // TICKETS

Links

VEGAS ROCK REVOLUTION on Facebook | Instagram

Rückwater - Bored Machine (Album Review)

Release Date: October 4th 2024. Record Label: Inverse Records. Format: Digital

Bored Machine  - Track Listing:


1.N.O.T.S.Y.

2.Birthday Boy

3.No More Air 

4.Homo Economicus 

5. Follow The Money

6.Look At The Sky

7.Blue Lake Escape

8.Waiting For The Ride


Members


Markku Makkonen: Guitar, Vocals

Jussi Vehman: Bass, Vocals

Jape Makkonen: Drums


Review


Finnish Doom/Stoner Rockers Rückwater second album Bored Machine takes a slight detour into the Alternative Rock/Metal arena compared to their debut release. There’s a Grunge influence with flashes of Alice In Chains and Soundgarden. The music is mostly delivered through the sonically tight and highly melodic Doom/Stoner passages that have enough Hard Rock Angst appearing within the vocals and slightly boisterous lyrics.


The frantic sounding guitars have a slight Punk Rock and Garage Rock swagger that also allows Rückwater to have a determined grittier outlook within the heavier parts of the record. Sometimes the album does take time to find the right balance of Heavy Doom Rock grooves and full out Stoner Rock/Metal aggression but Rückwater do create a loud of killer sounds and tracks along the way that almost perfectly capture the 1990’s and 2000’s Doom/Stoner Rock scene with that subtle Grunge sound. 


The dual vocals from Markku and Jussi become way more Progressive and quite threatening on the gloomier parts of the record on tracks such as Birthday Boy, No More Air and Homo Economicus. The Soundgarden/Alice In Chains influence resides strongly in this part of the album with echoes of KYUSS and FU MANCHU allowing the Stoner Rock/Metal aspect to never be far away. The album does become quite HEAVY METAL obsessed with flashes of Post-Stoner and Psych Rock attitude which leads into heavy jagged instrumental solos with a twinge of THRASH and high amounts of distortion.


Rückwater allows the rest of the album to grow and breathe naturally with a harsh sense of reality shaping up the foundation of not only creative outline but also how the album develops on tracks such as Follow The Money, Look At The Sky and Waiting For The Sky seeing Rückwater developing heavier strands of Sludge Rock with a deep sense of urgency.


One of Bored Machine’s strengths is the vast amount of different sounds and instrumental passages that Rückwater has developed here. This is most definitely an album built on a MOUNTAIN OF RIFFS that allows the band to create another highly engaging and superbly entertaining record that can be quite subversive throughout the whole thing.


Excellent and HIghly Recommended.


Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to Inverse Records for the promo.


Bored Machine will be available to buy on digital download via Inverse Records from Friday October 04th 2024.


Links


Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram


Saturday 28 September 2024

Twisted prog/psych crew Acid Hags to release their new album "Tempora Matantur" November 15th


Acid Hags is an instrumental trio from Croatia who, through vibrant, loud and dynamic exchange, take you on an unexpected psychedelic journey… while additional hints of experimental jazz and the strength of metal create a unique blend of progressive and ambient rock. 

The band started in 2016, and so far, they’ve released the album Wild in 2018 and Acid Hags in January 2020. The band has already made several notable performances in Croatia and Slovenia and supported the sold-out Močvara show of American stoner rock legends ALL THEM WITCHES. Listeners may also recognize Aleksandar Vrhovec (Guitars, Synth) from bands Mycena and Grinded Grin.


IN THE BAND'S OWN WORDS:

“Acid Hags constantly flirt with unconventionality, making a twisted and non-standard intertwining of styles their signature. No genre is off-limits and no zone must be respected, and the listener’s perspective is relativized through incessant flashes of unexpected twists in rhythm.”


“Polyrhythms in polytope with spices of polytonality at one moment and unison breathing seamlessly balanced and blended at another. Constant and ostentatious pulsations breathe as a distinct living creature through the intense and theatrical turns of an exotic musical ambiance.”



Acid Hags - Tempora Matantur - Out Nov 15, 2024 (Digital)
Self-released - Olde Scratch Records - Croatia

Acid Hags is:

Aleksandar Vrhovec - Guitar, Synth
Borna Ilić - Bass
Relja Kekez - Drums
Vedran Momčilović - Sax (track 2)
Nikola Milosavljević - Guitar, Clarinet (track 4)

Tracklist:

1. Solar Bones (3:54)
2. Horn & Violence (5:10)
3. Intersection (4:31)
4. Ether Override: 2312 (6:43)
5. Magma (3:00)
6. Interrelation (3:42)
7. Kaoss & Concord (5:55)
8. Collapse (2:58)

Acid Hags:


Thanks to Good Boy PR for all of the details.

Legends of the Desert: Volume 4 featuring Eagle Twin & The Otolith (Album Review)

Release Date: September 20th 2024. Record Label: Desert Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Legends of the Desert: Volume 4 featuring Eagle Twin & The Otolith - Track Listing:

1. Eagle Twin - Horn Vs. Halo 11:39 video

2. Eagle Twin - Qasida of The Dark Doves 08:28

3. The Otolith - Crossway 08:53

4. The Otolith - Phosphene Dream 10:49


Review


Legends of the Desert: Volume 4 is the next exciting installment from Desert Records series of joint albums this time featuring Eagle Twin & The Otolith. This chapter sees both bands bring their own stylish and acclaimed take of Drone, Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal that’s quite different to each other. Both sets of tracks from each band lasts around twenty minutes with Eagle Twin being up first with their two tracks of Horn VS Halo and Qasida Of The Dark Doves.


Eagle Twin have been playing their down-tuned slice of Droned Out Americana since 2007 across acclaimed multiple releases and this sees the band get straight down to business of laying down pulsating progressive leaning Droned Out Fuzzed Up Sounds with their gruff trademark vocals to match. 


Their two tracks are the heaviest of the split and personally my favourite part of the album. As it has a heavy sludgy monolithic beat throughout both tracks where the music is vividly melodic with the down-tuned aggressive pastures that results in heavy destructive grooves with quite an organic delivery as well. 


The Psychedelic Fuzzy Instrumental passages have a more dramatic Post-Metal sound compared to their previous releases but it’s the grizzled and gruffy vocals that is quintessential Eagle Twin territory and overlapping instrumental passages with a mighty air of distorted progressive metal holding everything together.


I have to admit that Qasida Of The Dark Doves has a more straightforward riff-centric style from Eagle Twin for the most part and I loved the screeching guitars that has similar themes to bands such as The Melvins and Mastodon in places but this is still classic EAGLE TWIN through and through.


Up next is The Otolith and they are more than capable for the challenge by delivering their own sublime tracks of Atmospheric Doom/Stoner Metal based folklore which has a more experimental delivery compared to Eagle Twin. I was blown away by their 2022 debut album Folium Limina and their two offerings of Crossway and Phosphene Dream carries on with a similar vivid sound with more emphasis on the folkier aspects of their lyrics with a brilliantly intense vocal performance from everyone involved.


The interplay between the sludgy instrumental sounds and traditional instruments such as Violin and Piano is a joy to behold that appears within Crossway leaving me quite dumbfounded once again at how spectacularly heavy The Otolith can be whilst bringing a Classical Music element to their overall sound. There are echoes of Drone and Ambient delivery within the hidden Post-Rock flow which allows their music to have a more dramatic and progressive feeling compared to Eagle Twin.


Legends of the Desert: Volume 4 is going from strength-to-strength with each passing release but this is perhaps their heaviest and finest release to date with two bands at the top of their creative powers. This is forty one minutes of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal perfection which showcases two highly different bands to each other but delivering a split record of the highest order. 


Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to Desert Bloom PR for the promo.


Legends of the Desert: Volume 4 is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Desert Records.


Eagle Twin Links


Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram


The Otolith Links


Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram


Friday 27 September 2024

Epic Down - Days Of Oblivion (Album Review)

Release Date: September 27th 2024. Record Label: Argonauta Records. Formats: CD/DD

Days Of Oblivion - Track Listing:


Twisted Perceptions

Leave Banger

Faded Legacies

Days Of Oblivion

Lords Of Doom

Downfall Of Being

Lone Ruler


Members


Mitzschi (guitar(s)/bass)

Fabian (drums/vocals)


Review


Days Of Oblivion is the new album from Doom Metallers EPIC DOWN is what Black Sabbath would sound like if Peter Steele was their lead singer. As this is Doom Metal with a depressing style of emotionally charged angst that Type O Negative were masters at back in the day. The record is powered through down-tuned and distorted FUZZED DOOM passages with a sullen Industrial sound which is quite sludgy and unforgiving in places.

The production side of things is quite abstract and has an aggressive DIY based approach which allows EPIC DOWN to have a brooding presence to their music which becomes quite Sludge based with heavy industrialised beats airing on the right side of Drone/Ambient Metal experimentation that is used quite well within the opening tracks of Twisted Perceptions, Leave Banger and Faded Legacies.

Days Of Oblivion does have an unforgiving Post-Metal mentality with the clunking and thuggish guitars veering into a deft style of Progressive explorations that feels that EPIC DOWN are a much bigger band than the duo of Mitzschi and Fabian currently within their ranks. This is a Drums/Guitar DUO and Mitzschi’s guitars have a muscular presence around them which allows Fabian’s drumming to dive right into the thick of the musical action.

The record isn’t melodic as such but EPIC DOWN allow themselves to create their own blend of surreal Psychedelic instrumental movements along the way. Fabian’s vocals constantly remain within the theatre of Doom, Gothic, Occult Rock and Post-Punk surroundings. They can be quite experimental but if you're a fan of the more sullen style offered here then the album will resonate more emotionally with you like it did with me.

Days Of Oblivion works at it’s best when EPIC DOWN strip away their AMPLIFIER DISTORTED surroundings and venture further into the Gothic, Industrial and Post-Punk themes of their work which builds into heavier strands of Doom/Sludge Metal especially on tracks such as: Days Of Oblivion, Lords Of Doom and Lone Ruler. There's also some fantastic Ambient and Psychedelic interplay where EPIC DOWN show an aggressive and catchy style of COSMIC grooves on the later stages of the record.

Overall, EPIC DOWN have crafted a subversively different style of Doom Metal which blends the legendary mythos of BLACK SABBATH with the emotionally charged destructive energy of TYPE O NEGATIVE whilst exploring and building their own creative dominance within the whole album. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the promo.


You can buy Days Of Oblivion via Argonauta Records from Friday 27th September 2024.


Links


https://www.facebook.com/epicd0wn
https://epicdown.bandcamp.com/

Sif - Aegis Of The Hollowed King (Album Review)

Release Date: September 27th 2024. Record Label: Self Released / Cassettes by Fiadh Records. Formats: Cassette/DD

Aegis Of The Hollowed King - Track Listing:

1. Aegis (11:05)

2. Bearer of the Curse (13:29)

3. The Last Giant (5:14)

4. Fume (10:56)


Members


Richard Murphy - Everything


Review


Aegis Of The Hollowed King is the second full length album from Instrumental Doom Metal collective Sif which has a more expansive and cinematic story compared to their 2020 debut album Death On Foreign Shores. The PR blurb described the album as “TITANIC METAL” and that’s a very apt description though Sif does throw some in SATANIC sounds and visions within the album. The end result is quite reminiscent of bands such as BONGRIPPER, CONAN and THOU.

SIf plays a subtle array of different musical styles where the music can be quite fast paced and very direct with moments from other areas of Heavy Metal such as Prog, Thrash, Sludge, Groove, Psych and Stoner. The album is very much a product of the Doom Metal Underground Scene as Richard Murphy (creative mastermind behind Sif) feels like he’s studied the best aspects of the Instrumental Rock/Metal scene and spliced elements of Blackened Doom, Crust and Drone for that extra level of spicy heaviness. 

The end result is wonderfully down-tuned and has a muscular and destructive quality to it especially on the outstanding two opening tracks of Aegis and Bearer Of The Curse. Richard explores his love for video games and fantasy with the album being inspired by the legendary video game Dark Souls. That alone allows Sif to explore the darker and progressive themes of Instrumental Doom Metal with haunting Ambient, Drone and Psychedelic passages having a certain Video Game Soundtrack delivery appearing. Though, Richard is wise not to let that aspect fully take over with the album primarily being an Instrumental Doom Metal album.

With an ever changing musical landscape that becomes more dominant by Thrash, Groove and even sublime classic guitar shredding which adds a murky NOLA/Southern Metal style which I didn’t expect at all. The atmosphere can be quite delicate and vicious at the same time on perhaps on Bearer Of The Curse and The Last Giant being the standout tracks and prime examples of this throughout the whole album.

I’m not the biggest follower of Lost Souls but I know that it has a huge, loyal and dedicated following across the globe and perhaps a certain small crowd of the underground scene will appreciate this album more than some. However, it’s to Richard’s credit that he’s shown more than enough creative versatility to release an album that has the power to speak to a huge section of the Instrumental Rock/Metal audience with a spellbinding array of different sounds that becomes harder, weirder and heavier along the way to it’s natural conclusion.

Aegis Of The Hollowed King is a gloriously heavy and superbly delivered cinematic adventure that leaves you wanting to hear more of this EPIC dark tale that SIf has delivered here. 

Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to Good Boy PR for the promo.


Aegis Of The Hollowed King is available to buy now on Cassette/Digital Download


Links


Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram | Twitter


Italian Psychedelic Doom Rockers Cripta Blue Unveil Details of Their "No Return" Album; New Single Out Now


Argonauta Records has set October 31st as the international release date for the album "No Return" by Italian psychedelic doom rockers Cripta Blue. The album will be available digitally worldwide.

"With the single No Return, we’ve only begun to reveal the beating heart of our music. The album is a journey that transcends technique or style, reaching straight for the purest emotions. We opted for a stripped-down production to keep the sound raw and authentic, free from filters or embellishments, capturing the same intensity and spontaneity with which each track was born. Edge of Instinct delves into the lunar allure, that fine line between madness and instinct ignited by the full moon, weaving darkness with flashes of light in a one-of-a-kind nocturnal journey." - says the band

"No Return" album tracklisting and cover art are as follows:

1. No Return
2. Dark Temptation
3. Hermit
4. Desert Deceit
5. Edge of Instinct
6. Hypnotic Haze


Today, the band also released a new single, "Edge of Instinct," which is now streaming on Argonauta Records' official YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/DtClqO6_pnw


Cripta Blue, hailing from the historic city of Ravenna, is a powerhouse trio blending rock with psychedelic influences and proto-doom vibes reminiscent of the late 60s. Their evocative sound has made them a standout in the underground rock scene.

Formed in 2019, Cripta Blue emerged from the shared passion of three musicians. The lineup includes Alessandro Melandri on bass and lead vocals, Federico Bocchini on electric and acoustic guitars, and Silvio Della Valle on drums. Their collective synergy and diverse musical backgrounds have created a unique and evolving sound that bridges various genres.

Cripta Blue’s music is a rich tapestry of rock infused with psychedelic undertones and heavy, doom-laden riffs. Over time, their sound has evolved significantly, culminating in their latest EP which consolidates these diverse influences.

Looking ahead, Cripta Blue is gearing up for an exciting period. Their highly anticipated second album is set for release in the fall of October 2024 via Argonauta Records. In the lead-up to this major release, listeners can expect two singles that will offer a glimpse into the evolving sound and direction of the band.

For more info:



Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for all of the details.

Thursday 26 September 2024

Noise Rock/Sludge Metal Collective CHAT PILE Share New Song/Video, 'FUNNY MAN' From Upcoming New Album COOL WORLD

Photo by Matthew Zagorski

As they prepare for the release of their highly-anticipated sophomore LP Cool World, Oklahoma City noise rock quartet CHAT PILE have revealed the album's third single Funny Man. The song is about "...being a servant, indentured or otherwise. I hate having to explain the content of these songs, because I want it to mean whatever it needs to mean to those listening, but essentially it concerns illusion vs reality in regards to America and war. The title comes from an obscure British movie but otherwise there’s no relation" says CHAT PILE frontman Raygun Busch. Bassist Stin adds, "My favorite thing about Funny Man is that we've finally accomplished creating our version of the ultimate Beavis and Butthead couch music. This is like our Thunderkiss '65 or Existence is Punishment."

The new single arrives with a music video by multi-disciplinary artist Matt Rosenbaum. Stin comments, "The patient, static nature of the video fighting against the frenetic energy of the song makes for a cool and queasy juxtaposition that I personally love. Matt was able to tap into a very specific uncomfortable feeling that conjures those depressive semi-conscious dream states that we've all experienced but can't quite articulate."


Besides being the name of a largely forgotten (and panned) 90s film, Cool World makes for an apt title of CHAT PILE's sophomore full-length record. In the context of a CHAT PILE record, the words are steeped in a grim double entendre that not only evokes imagery of a dying planet but a progression from the band’s previous work, moving the scope of its depiction of modern malaise from just “God’s Country” to the entirety of humankind. “Cool World covers similar themes to our last album, except now exploded from a micro to macro scale, with thoughts specifically about disasters abroad, at home, and how they affect one another,” says Busch. “If I had to describe the album in one sentence,” he continues, “It’s hard not to borrow from Voltaire, so I won’t resist – Cool World is about the price at which we eat sugar in America.”

Cool World is out October 11th via The Flenser [pre-order].

CHAT PILE were recently announced to perform at the 2025 edition of Roadburn in Tilburg, The Netherlands. More live performances will be announced in due course.


Cool World Tracklisting:

I Am Dog Now
Shame
Frownland
Funny Man
Camcorder
Tape
The New World
Masc
Milk of Human Kindness
No Way Out


Links



Thanks to Pioneer Music Press for all of the details.