Red Marbled Vinyl
Available on our Bandcamp page. / Pre-order your copy of ‘III’ here
Red Eye live at Stoner Club 3 x Sonido Custom.
Red Eye in the live sessions at Rawsic Studio.
Release Date: January 17th 2025. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Diminishing Returns - Track Listing:
1. Drowning All Night
2. Boogie Johnson
3. Spin Up Spin Down
4. Astrogarden
5. 3rd Street Shuffle
6. Unsustainable
7. Common Board, Magic Nail
8. Shadow Of A Mountain
Members
Michael Dye - Bass, Synth, Vocals
Mark Hennessy - Vocals
Cody Romaine - Drums
Ben White - Guitar, Synth, Vocals
Featuring
Chris Copp - Vocals on "Astrogarden"
Chelsey Larson and Lauren Mayhew - vocals on "Common Board, Magic Nail"
Lizz Weiler - Vocals on "Unsustainable"
Slade Templeton - production/synths on "Unsustainable"
Basil Oberli - electronic drums on "Unsustainable"
Review
Alternative/Stoner Rock outfit Godzillionaire return with their new album Diminishing Returns and it’s a refreshing style of music from the underground Grunge/Stoner Rock movement which is firmly solidified by Ripple Music signing this great band to their roster. The band who are led by Singer, Poet, and Artist Mark Hennessy once again brings his steely eyed expertise and outlaw mysticism to the record with his vocal delivery adding a real storyteller effect to the album.
Diminishing Returns is a mighty throwback to the classic 90’s Rock/Metal scene where every style of Rock and Roll worked wonders by adding different melodies and musical structures. Godzillionaire explores a classic Psych Rock and Grunge Rock ideology into their music with shades of KYUSS, FU MANCHU, Soundgarden and even Audioslave appearing within the fast paced movements of the epic solos that are played throughout the album.
The first two tracks of Drowning All Night and Boogie Johnson are straight up bangers with the band flexing their Fuzz Rock, Stoner, Psych and Grunge surroundings with the music being quite heavy, surreal, dreamlike and bleakly sinister with some of the lyrics. However, the music is played on a grand scale with Michael Dye (Bass), Cody Romaine (Drums) and Ben White (Guitar, Synth, Vocals) all providing epic soundscapes for Mark to explore his bombastic vocals throughout.
Third track Spin Up Spin Down was quite a surprise as it changes dramatically with the band exploring a dreamlike Shoegaze and Post-Rock vibe before slowly bringing heavy FUZZY guitars whilst still allowing the Post-Rock creative energy to still be the leading light of this track. Some fantastic classic Hard Rock guitar solos and ethereal vocals make this easily the standout track of the whole album.
The next part of the album sees Godzillionaire allow guest musicians to appear on tracks such as Astrogarden, Unsustainable and “Common Board, Magic Ball”. These tracks perhaps have the more “WOW FACTOR” behind them especially with Unsustainable and “Common Board, Magic Ball”. The sound becomes even more Stoner Metal obsessive with thundering guitars and a classic Grunge groove forming with a subtle Blues Rock demeanor holding everything together.
I also have to highlight one of my other favoiirte aspects of this album is how Psychedelic and Spaced Out the record ultimately becomes. That tone maybe understated but it’s most definitely there and gives this record a class of Psychedelic heaviness all of its own making.
Diminishing Returns is a stunning album packed full of STONER ROCK/METAL hits of the highest order which gets the year off to a flying start and with Ripple Music releasing this great album, what more could you possibly want. Godzillionaire have released the “first” Album Of The Year” contender right here. Believe me on that one…
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Purple Sage PR for promo.
Diminishing Returns will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music from Friday 17th January 2025.
Links
Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram
Release Date: December 27th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Thorun (Unreleased 2016 Album) - Track Listing:
1.Gaia (studio) 04:26
2.Saturn (studio) 06:46
3.Hive (studio) 08:16
4.Sonder (studio) 06:16
5.Thorun (studio) 07:40
6.Wrath (studio) 07:13
7.Gaia (demo) 04:29
8.Saturn (demo) 06:47
9.Hive (demo) 08:03
10.Sonder (demo) 06:16
11.Thorun (demo) 07:42
12.Wrath (demo) 07:21
Review
Instrumental Sludge/Stoner Metallers Thorun were a band who were active between 2010 to 2020 and managed to release some excellent records along the way. The band initially split up in 2016 and got back together in 2020 before splitting up for good. Neal Palmer (Bass) from the band has just released their unreleased 2016 album which contains both the original studio version and demo version.
Neal states on BandCamp - “There are two sets of the same tracks, released together. One is the best version of the studio recordings I can find. Then there's live demos we made previously. The studio ‘mix’ doesn't actually sound bad, but is missing a lot of guitar accent, and is a bit clipped. The demos are live and sound more vibrant, but looser, and some bum notes, usually mine, arg. I'm not sure really what's right or not, it's been a while and tinnitus doesn't help! Fuck it, it's this or nothing, and it's free to listen to on here. Fact is what we really did was riff. Riffs are here. For sonic perfection, try Hotel California ;)”
I was a huge fan of Thorun back in the day and reviewed their records in the past for The Sludgelord blog and I was excited to hear this album and I have to admit this is a surprisingly excellent and superbly involved album on both versions. The music is constantly sludgy with a deep Doom/Stoner Metal sound which can be quite aggressive and melodic at the same time.
The music is perhaps of its time in many ways where Instrumental Sludge/Stoner Metal had a more vibrant and visceral energy to it with Thorun employing a subtle and direct style of delivery. The sound is unapologetically raw with some cool sounding overlaps of Psych Metal and Progressive themes throughout.
The production is sparse and is quite raw with some low volume appearing here and there but overall this is a well put together album with Thorun at the top of their game within the more destructive elements on the album.
Standout tracks include: Gaia, Saturn, Hive and Wrath being my favourite moments on the studio version of the record. And it’s a different story with the demo version with Sonder and Thorun being my favourites on that side. I don’t know why but it’s just how the tracks resonate and sound different to each other.
There’s a ton of guitar reverb and amplifier feedback on this record which Thorun were known for but it was good to see the band beginning to explore further areas of Prog Rock, Space Rock and Cosmic Doom unlike ever before compared to their previous records.
If you’re a fan of Thorun then this album is a must have addition to remember the band by. As they were surely a talented bunch who had some great original ideas of their own making which appear on this album throughout.
Words by Steve Howe
Links
Release Date: December 27th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl
I - Track Listing:
1.Am Anfang der Schmerz 03:25
2.Ich sehe keine Tannen mehr 11:32
3.N(osferatu)3 06:30
4.Scheise was is pasirt 07:03
5.Erst die Schlacht dann das Sterben 07:33
6.Kaventsmann 07:37
7.Auf dem Gipfel ein Sturm 06:45
8.Bergschwer 07:25
Members
Vocals: Tobias Ralf Robert Hüttmeyer
Guitars: Adrian Lorenzo Waldemar Seifert
Bass: Salvatore Giallo
Drums: Lanthir Lörp Saibøt
Review
Funeral Doom/Sludge Metallers KAPUTTH new album “I” is quite a dark, brooding and at times a very slow-to-mid moving style of bleak obsessed metal. KAPUTTH are well observant with their Funeral Metal roots with the album having a long drawn out “LOW & SLOW” and “DOWN TUNED” approach with their instrumental passages. The record is quite experimental and progressive with the band changing their whole creative direction just to play a brief moody musical interlude before returning to the more violent style of Blackened Doom and sometimes violent harsh growls that originate from Tobias Ralf Robert Hüttmeyer vocal style.
There is a sense of Appalachian Doom appearing within the music where the band proclaim themselves as German Funeral Mountain Doom Wizards. You can hear echoes of Black Sabbath and Electric Wizard within KAPUTTH’s music but given a Blackened Doom/Sludge Metal makeover with a nightmarish quality appearing at times. “I” can be quite abstract with how KAPUTTH deliver their music and the way Tobias Ralf Robert Hüttmeyer delivers his excellent screams, growls and clean vocals along the way.
I can’t comment on the lyrics or the creative storyline for the album as everything is sung in German and I haven’t studied German in over thirty years when I was back in high school. Though, the band absolutely kills it with their highly atmospheric blend of Prog Metal, Doom, Sludge, Thrash, Psych, Post-Rock and Black Metal which brings a sense of dread to the already gloomy winter months.
The instrumental sounds are quite eclectic and highly obsessive at times but KAPUTTH work best when they think outside of the box especially on tracks such as Ich sehe keine Tannen mehr, N(osferatu)3, Kaventsmann and Bergschwer. Sometimes the tracks can be very drawn out at times but KAPUTTH manage to find a way to sweeten the mood with a Classic Hard Rock or Proto-Doom based grooves that come out of nowhere to give this album quite a contemporary and classic feeling.
Overall, “I” is a spellbinding, superbly weird and quite gloomy experience with KAPUTTH creating something grand and ambitious with the standard FUNERAL DOOM METAL sound. Give this one a spin and you’ll be majorly surprised by what you hear.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Links
Release Date: December 13th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Easy Way - Track Listing:
1.Easy Way 03:09
2.Wake the dead 03:26
3.Headache 03:58
4.The old man lied 06:29
5.Burn 02:55
6.Rickenbästard 04:02
7.Insomnia 07:12
8.Friday the 13th 04:11
9.Gonna Fall 03:33
10.Last night a Zombie 03:15
Review
Easy Way is the debut album from Greek Fuzz/Stoner Rockers Weevil and it sees the guys moving into the area of Stoner Rock dominated by their fellow countrymen 1000MODS, Planet Of Zeus and Nightstalker. However, Weevil focus on playing a more glorious and rebellious Punk Rock style of Punk Rock which is perhaps influenced by the Nick Oliveri way of thinking especially with how Weevil write their lyrics and deliver their glorious vocals throughout the album.
Weevil are definitely inspired by the likes of KYUSS, FU MANCHU, BRANT BJORK and I would add Motorhead and Truckfighters into the mix. As they play their music with a fast and loose approach which can be wholly unpredictable especially where the “in-your-face” and “speed-metal” grooves appear whilst still maintaining that Stoner Rock sound.
The ten tracks contained on the record aren’t the most original but it’s how Weevil fuse Punk Rock, Alt-Rock and Rap Rock into the mix at times which allows the album a hugely enjoyable record where sometimes a “NO FUCKS GIVEN” attitude and policy are applied. The sound is quite unapologetic and allows Weevil to think outside the box and play music they want to play especially on tracks such as Wake The Dead, Headache, The Old Man Lied, Rickenbastard, Insomnia and Last Night A Zombie.
There’s a sense of DEVILISH fun on the later stages of the record but one that allows Weevil every perfect opportunity to show they mean business by playing sublime instrumental grooves of their own making. Weevil earns extra BONUS POINTS by adding cool moments of Atmospheric Desert Rock into the mix which gives the album a slightly more ambiguous DOOMED OUT vibe that I never expected. So there’s a lot more to Weevil’s music than you initially expect which gives them a little bit more originality in places and allows Easy Way to be quite a soulful record in places.
Overall, Easy Way is a great record to introduce yourselves to the Stoner Rock underground scene. I recommend you familiarize with Weevil as soon as possible as they have a bright future ahead of themselves.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Links
Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram
Release Date: January 03rd 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Nightscape - Track Listing:
1.Silver Moon 06:33
2.Placid Lake
3.Mirrored
4.Floating in Silence
5.Moonflower 04:12
6.Blue Moon
7.Nightscape
Members
Guglielmo Allegro - Everything
Review
Nightscape is the new instrumental project from Guglielmo Allegro who is the creative mastermind behind Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal outfit Void Sinker. This time round Guglielmo focuses upon a quieter sound with a more obsessive Psychedelic groove for Nightscape’s self titled debut album. There’s a deeply emotional Shoegaze or Doomgaze sound with Guglielmo admitting he was influenced by the works of the legendary band EARTH.
The record is unapologetically slow at times which entices the listener into Nightscape’s dark realm. The instrumental sounds have a slight Drone delivery to them which transforms into a heavier style of Spaced Out Doom with overlapping sound effects in places. The opening track of Silver Moon embodies a hallucinogenic and aggressive style of haunting melodies which has a grand CINEMATIC approach. Ambient textures are added along the way for a slight Shoegaze effect.
Nightscapes does have its fair share of chillout movements but Guglielmo still delivers a heavy Drone Rock/Metal sound which drifts further into the Stoner Rock/Metal abyss when the heavier grooves appear. Long drawn out notes take time to fully appreciate and absorb which is the main way for Nightscape to grow and evolve naturally.
Songs such as Placid Lake, Mirrored and Floating In Silence have an ethereal Post-Rock element to them with distorted Drone/Doom progressive sounds allowing Guglielmo to leave the shadow of Void Sinker a distant and long forgotten memory. That’s one of the main strengths of Nightscape with the listener being able to differentiate between the two projects. Both projects can definitely live side-by-side with each other with Guglielmo having all bases covered for folks who like their music that is a little bit more brutal and intense.
There’s quite a meditative quality with different overlapping grooves, sounds and ambient effects paying homage to acts such as EARTH, BORIS, SUNN O))) and BONG. The record is a complex and long drawn out listen but it’s the journey that makes everything worthwhile with Nightscape reaching an epic conclusion within the final two tracks of Blue Moon and Nightscape being the standout tracks of the whole album.
I should advise to be prepared with a ton of AMPLIFIER DISTORTION and FUZZED OUT grooves that can be quite aggressive and deafening in places despite the soulful and peaceful intent that Guglielmo originally sets out to do with Nightscape.
For a debut album, Nightscape is a richly observed, highly captivating and emotionally rewarding record where I’m looking forward to hearing the next exciting chapter. This is another superb record from Guglielmo Allegro and if you haven’t heard his musical projects now then I recommend you change that now.
Words by Steve Howe
Links