Introduce Yourselves: THOT

What is the name of your band?

THOT

What is the genre of music that you play?

A fine blend of post-rock, industrial and punk.

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

With a constantly evolving line-up, THOT has been active on the European music scene for more than 10 years. The gang is actually working on a new record, which will feature a collaboration with singers of polyphonic ensemble "The Mystery of The Bulgarian Voices".

Photo by Michael Thiel

What can people expect from your music?

Something between the dark haze of Neurosis and the dadaism of Throbbing Gristle, embracing the dark romanticism of Bauhaus, and venturing into the spiraling structures of Mars Volta.

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

Our album "FLEUVE" released in 2017, and our upcoming EP "Méandres":

https://thotweb.net/meandres/

Where can people find you on Social Media?

https://thot.bandcamp.com/

http://www.instagram.com/thtmsc

http://www.facebook.com/thotmusic

Info about upcoming EP Release - FLEUVE

Following their 2017’s release FLEUVE, Belgian post-rock/industrial collective THOT returns with MEANDRES, a 3 tracks EP written by the gang’s brain Gregoire Fray before the world froze in March 2020. These songs, which carry Fray’s obsession for electronic bass lines & heavy guitars, took the time required to reach their full potential and meet the listener.

EUPHRATE is the entrance gate. Not only to this EP but to all the music the band has been cooking for these past 2 years. Here Fray embraces his mother tongue. In French he leads the song through a sonic puzzle gradually joined by the haunting voice of vocalist Juliette Mauduit around whom singers of polyphonic choir The Mystery of The Bulgarian Voice gather in an epic and swirling ending. Here, lyrics are inspired by women fighting for their rights.

Big Scenic Nowhere - The Long Morrow (Album Review)

Release Date: January 14th 2022. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format: DD/CD/Vinyl

The Long Morrow - Tracklisting

1.Defector (of Future Days) 04:19

2.Murder Klipp 04:47

3.Lavender Bleu 05:12

4.LeDü 02:51

5.The Long Morrow 19:45

Review

Big Scenic Nowhere return with new album The Long Morrow and sees the core lineup of Tony Reed, Bill Stinson, Gary Arce and Bob Balch join forces with Reeves Gabrels (THE CURE/DAVID BOWIE) and Per Wiberg (OPETH, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS) on guitars and synth respectively.

I’m a huge fan of Big Scenic Nowhere previous releases and I will admit The Long Morrow took me a damn long time to fully warm up to and richly appreciate. Big Scenic Nowhere brings a Punk Rock and  Prog Rock attitude to their usual style of Desert/Stoner Rock. Lead vocalist Tony Reed offers a more classic hard rock approach to his vocals whilst retaining an easy-going attitude throughout the album.

The majority of the songs except the epic 20 minute final song last around the 3 mins to 5 mins mark with the band playing not only to their main musical influences but also their musical heroes such as Led Zepplin and Husker Du. The grooves are quintessential Desert/Stoner Rock which you expect from this “supergroup”. Well I think they’re a “supergroup” and I’m calling them that. 

The opening songs Defector (of Future Days) and Murder Klipp bring a soulful style of music with Psychedelic Heavy Layers of hazy Stoner Rock. The synths of Per Wiberg bring a fresher style of Prog Rock with a more dynamic presence which can be quite “Spaced Out” at times.

If you’re a fan of Big Scenic Nowhere previous releases then The Long Morrow is a welcome release to their already impressive discography. Just be prepared for twinges of 70s Prog Rock appearing and becoming quite abstract on certain stages of the album. Though the band never loses sight they’re primarily a Desert/Stoner Rock outfit and everything is built around this especially with the lyrics and creative choices made for the album.

The standout song is the 20 minute epic song The Long Morrow with the band creating epic Desert/Stoner Rock grooves and jams with dynamic Prog Rock rhythms leading the way. Perhaps one of the band’s best tracks to date. As the song is rich with bold storytelling and sublime vocals to match.

The production on The Long Morrow ranks as one of their best produced efforts to date. The record sounds super-fresh and allows Big Scenic Nowhere to try many different things compared to previous releases. 

My favourite Big Scenic Nowhere record is most definitely their 2020 debut full length VISIONS, however The Long Morrow isn’t too far behind. Big Scenic Nowhere have built their reputation on wonderfully solid hooks and jams to leave you wanting more and this record does just that.

Overall, this is a release not only perfect for long-time devotees of the band but also for the casual listener as well.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Claire at Purple Sage PR for the promo. 

The Long Morrow is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Introduce Yourselves: Kajgūn

What is the name of your band?

Hi, our band is called Kajgūn. The name is a word we made up, it didn’t mean anything, but now it represents us and the music we play.

What is the genre of music that you play?

We play 100% improvised jazz metal. Half of the band brings a mixture of doomjazz and world music, and the other half brings sludge/doom metal. 

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

Kajgūn was formed by members of Modef and Vanta, who decided to play improvised music together. The band made their debut at 2020’s Fekete Zaj festival (you can watch the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhODamiBGew). We have released an EP called Maorey and a live album Chamber Works in Concrete. Today we are focusing on the release of our debut album Daogoad, the release date is February 11. 

What can people expect from your music?

Our music is trippy and heavy at the same time. Fuzzy Cracklins described it as “Crushing riffs with ethereal theremin and jazz tones delivered as improv.”. Layers of melodies are built by electric violin, theremin, synths, and saxophone on top of sludgy guitar riffs and drums. Furthermore, you can expect a unique experience each time we play because we do total improvisation.

Photo by Peter Szalontai

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

We recommend our debut album Daogoad, you can check it out before the release date because we have already published some music videos from the material. It’s a great snapshot of our work, experiments, and sound. 

Ptahfraw Nowmuuz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD17MudLGJw

Alaiyenna: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWdCsMAazqw

Maorey Suh Raawb: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xqs8wGKczM

Where can people find you on Social Media?

Follow us on YouTube and Bandcamp if you want to be up-to-date with our releases:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtJnlvYV80Eeks3XINPifOQ

https://kajgun.bandcamp.com/

In general, you can find all our important links at our linktree:

https://linktr.ee/kajgun

Introduce Yourselves: Little Hole Filled

What is the name of your band?

Little Hole Filled

What is the genre of music that you play?

A bastard-sound of stoner, doom and sludge

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

Founded in 1996 in the deepest woods of Austria. We have played a lot of shows all over the Mühlviertel in the early years. Stopped playing live due to living in different parts of Austria, but never stopped rehearsing and writing songs.

After experimenting with recording several demos, our first official demo “Far Beyond The Horizon Of The Sun” was finally released in 2015.

Played some shows. Wrote more songs.

In 2020, thanks to having time during the first corona-lockdown, we wrote and recorded our first album “And The Ants Still March On” and released it in October 2020.

A physical version on vinyl was released in March of 2021 via Austrian indie label “Konkord Records” (Konkord - das höfliche Label) and internationally distributed via “Cargo”.

Photo by Werner Novak

What can people expect from your music?

Heavy, downtuned, slow moshing riffs with mostly clean vocals. For fans of Pallbearer, Crowbar, Khemmis, Sleep,…

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

Our debut album “And The Ants Still March On”.

We are really proud for all the great reviews we got for that album and we want to thank all the blogs, zines, print-magazines and supporters out there! The stoner and doom scene is really very supportive and welcoming!

For fans of really slow, monotonous, crushing destruction, our song “Head Down” from our 2015 “Far Beyond The Horizon Of The Sun”-demo can also be very recommended.

Where can people find you on Social Media?

• Little Hole Filled (bandcamp.com)
• https://open.spotify.com/artist/1wm6aPdHc9cAQuQfE1zmlE?si=bYP8vQwCSAOTOslSy9byBQ
• Little Hole Filled (@littleholefilled_doom) • Instagram-Fotos und -Videos
• Little Hole Filled | Facebook
• Philipp Diesenreiter - YouTube
• https://tidal.com/browse/artist/17237985

Hazemaze - Blinded By The Wicked (Album Review)

Release Date: January 28th 2022. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format: DD/CD/Vinyl

Blinded By The Wicked - Tracklisting

1. In The Night Of The Light, For The Dark

2. Devil's Spawn

3. Ethereal Disillusion

4. Sectatores Et Principes

5. Ceremonial Aspersion

6. Divine Harlotry

7. Luciferian Rite

8. Malevolent Inveigler

Members

Ludvig Andersson - Guitar/Vocals

Nils Einéus - Drums

Estefan Carrillo - Bass

Review

Swedish Doom/Stoner Metallers Hazemaze waste no time in getting down to business of playing wickedly entertaining style of Seedy and Fuzz Driven grooves on their new album Blinded By The Wicked. Their first new full length album in three years and the first for their new label Heavy Psych Sounds. The album has that classic BLACK SABBATH sound merged with Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats seedy Occult Stoner Rock tones. Hazemaze operate in the classic world of Doom Rock/Metal and also the world of modern Fuzz/Stoner Rock with deliciously twisted results.

The album moves along at a cracking pace with shades of Classic Rock appearing on the excellent opening track In The Night Of The Light For The Dark. Screeching guitars and vintage based vocals allows Hazemaze to bring their own Occult Rock attitude to the Doom/Stoner Rock masses. The atmosphere is built upon GLOOMY lyrics that capture the true OCCULT ROCK spirit. The FUZZY Guitars have shades of IOMMI RIff Worship to them but with a small Stoner Rock/Metal flavour to give it more musical bite. The song does capture the 70s Doom Rock environment that many classic bands made their reputation from but with these guys being Swedish, you can also hear that classic Swedish Hard Rock/Metal swagger.

Second song Devil’s Spawn sees Hazemaze drift further into their Doom Metal odyssey with flashes of 60s style Psych Classic Occult Rock with almost AMPLIFIER WORSHIP levels of free-flowing Stoner Rock/Metal. The song also has a kick-ass Psychedelic element that can be quite spacey in places even with the Occult vibes of both the song and the album. The vocals remain firmly in the 70s Old-School of Doom Rock. Another great song that can be quite loud in certain places.

Third song Ethereal Disillusion shows the listener the bleak message of the whole album and Hazemaze just thrive bringing a bleaker style of Doom/Stoner Metal. The lyrics are very straight to the point with the music having a certain creative style to them. This song feels inspired by 60s/70s Classic Hard Rock bands such as CREAM or Blue CHeer with it’s free-flowing based riffs and when the guitar solos play the meaty sounds it’s the epic BASS LINE that’s the standout part of the song.

Fourth song is called Sectatores Et Principes which is beautifully played and shows a different side to Hazemaze that I wish they explored a little bit more. Still great to see a different side to the band,

There’s eight tracks on the album and I’ve only described the first half of the album in great detail. This should tell all you need to know on what to expect with the album. The album is a clever mix of different styles of Doom/Stoner Rock that fuses other areas of Hard Rock but keeping everything on the right side of Occult Rock.

Other standout songs include: Ceremonial Aspersion, Luciferian Rite and Malevolent Inveigler.

The production is excellent which you would expect this being a Heavy Psych Sounds release. The album does a wonderful job of showcasing the many different eras and timelines of music held on the album. 

Blinded By The Wicked is Hazemaze's best album to date with the record being a thrilling and superbly outlandish spectacle of Doom/Stoner Metal. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Claire at Purple Sage PR for the promo. 

Blinded By The Wicked will be released on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from Jan 28th 2022.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Introduce Yourselves: Daemonelix

What is the name of your band?

Daemonelix

What is the genre of music that you play?

Doom, Groove, Thrash, Death Metal

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

After COVID hit in 2019 I had a lot of down time. I wrote a batch of songs and reconnected with an old drummer friend of mine. We hammered out the parts and hit the studio. After tracking all the music we set out to find a vocalist. Finally we found the voice that fit best and got the mixes & mastering done. We got picked up by Metal Assault records and released our debut EP in 0ctober 2021.

We currently are working on the live show and completing the full length release.

What can people expect from your music?

Heavy riffage, brutal vocals, tight groovin drums

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

Devil's Corkscrew

Where can people find you on Social Media?

https://daemonelix.bandcamp.com/
https://facebook.com/daemonelix13/
https://www.instagram.com/daemonelix13/

TEKARRA - Kicking Horse (Album Review)

Release Date: January 06th 2022. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD/CD/Vinyl

Kicking Horse - Tracklisting

1.Hunted 22:53

2.Crusade / Kicking Horse 23:11

Review

Edmonton, Alberta - Doom/Sludge Metallers TEKARRA finally return after a four year absence with their second full length album Kicking Horse. The band play what can only be described as Atmospheric Doom/Sludge Metal with an over-reliance on AMPLIFIER RIFF WORSHIP and with a healthy LOW & SLOW attitude to match as well.

Kicking Horse offers two tracks with both songs running at twenty three minutes each. The atmosphere is icy cold with heavy grizzled guitars with a DRONE based attitude. Languishing between the heavy sounds of CONAN, SLOMATICS, BONG and SUNN 0))) but with TEKARRA still being their own thing. Almost everything runs at its own pace here with slow-paced and down-tuned guitars being the main order of business. The drumming is sparse but with real purpose. 

This is more Meditative Doom/Sludge Metal with the heavy grooves appearing only when they need to. This isn’t exactly a riff-driven affair but there are RIFFS to be found here. You will need to have patience with this release as this isn’t the most fast-paced style of music. TEKARRA explores this style of music fully on the outstanding opening track Hunted. 

There are vocals on this album but like the heavy grooves, they appear from the darkness only when they need to. They’re more GROWLS than vocals but they bring a bleak aggressive nature to the album. 

Second song is a two-part song called Crusade/ Kicking Horse and is indeed the standout part of the album with TEKARRA being more reflective on this track. This part of the album is more nuanced with bolder creative choices being made by the band. The song has similar flow and energy to the opening track but I felt more emotionally connected to this song. TEKARRA still plays epic drone based Doom/Sludge Metal with harsh vocals to match. There is an almost Post-Black Metal atmosphere to this song that almost goes unnoticed but there's a bleakness to this track that comes from that style of music. However, TEKARRA still firmly remain in Doom/Sludge Metal mode for the most part. 

The production process is an interesting setup with well known Canadian Folk Artist Jake Ian recording and mixing the album. Jake does an incredible job here recording TEKARRA’s blend of Atmospheric Doom/Sludge Metal. Credit also goes to Esben Williams (MONOLORD/Studio Berserk) once again doing another wonderful job on mastering duties. 

Kicking Horse is a wonderfully bleak exercise that expertly builds up slow-paced tension that allows this album to be one of the best records I’ve heard from the Canadian Doom/Sludge Metal scene in quite some time. 

An outstanding album. Plain and simple.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp