Shotgun Sawyer - Shotgun Sawyer (Album Review)

Release Date: December 04th 2024. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Shotgun Sawyer - Track Listing:

1.Cock N' Bull 03:37

2.Bye Bye Baby Boogie 03:43

3.The Sky is Crying 04:38

4.Isildur's Bane 09:47

5.Master Nasty 05:39

6.Hopeless 03:45

7.Going Down 03:52

8.Tired 04:25

9.That's How it Goes 03:31

Members

Cody Tarbell - Drums

Brett (The Butcher) Sanders - Bass

Dylan Jarman - Vocals/Guitar

Review

Shotgun Sawyer are back with their long awaited new self titled album which is their third overall. The band went on hiatus after the release of their second album with COVID, creative differences with the band and frontman Dylan Jarman stepping away from music for a period of time. Drummer David Lee left and has now been replaced by Slow Season/Westing member Cody Tarbell.

It seems all the trials and tribulations that Shotgun Sawyer have faced over the last years has helped them release their best album to date which was released back in December 2024. The album is a fine collection of songs from the classic heyday of 1970’s Hard Rock where elements of Blues, Country, Southern Rock, Roots and Americana are used to great effect. Though, Shotgun Sawyer enjoys using some mighty HEAVY FUZZED up POWER CHORDS along the way. 

There’s a cool “RETRO” vibe to the songs with Dylan’s vocals inspired by the classic frontmen of the 1960’s and 1970’s. Dylan’s vocals have a fine storytelling presence to them and I can listen to him all day as he has such a highly likeable persona. WIth a mixture of fast-paced, mid-tempo and slow sounding Blues Rock melodies, the band may live in the era of music that’s not that fashionable but they actually have a hip and happening presence to them especially when the music becomes more Doom Rock orientated. 

Standout tracks include: Cock N’ Bull, The Sky Is Crying, Isildur’s Bane, Master Nasty, Tired and That’s How It Goes.

If I have to choose a favourite track then it would have to be Isildur’s Bane as it’s a Doomed Out Blues Rock filled with sludgy side guitars, trippy Southern Rock vibes and a shit-ton of street level attitude coming from the whole band with excellent lyrics to match.

This is perhaps the perfect album for the Classic Hard Rock fan to invest themselves emotionally with. As it’s a record full of wonderful surprises where it can be surprisingly heavy when the mood calls for this. It may have taken six years for the band to return but welcome back Shotgun Sawyer, you’ve been missed. 

Shotgun Sawyer have done themselves proud with this album and have released their most mature record yet. I sadly missed this album when it was originally released back in Dec 2024 as it would have easily made my Albums Of The Year list for 2024. Don’t make the same mistake that I did. Add this to your collection now.

Words by Steve Howe

Shotgun Sawyer is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music.

Links

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Dee Calhoun - From Under the Smogberry Trees - A Novelty EP (EP Review)

Release Date: August 23rd 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DDl

From Under the Smogberry Trees - A Novelty EP: Tracklisting

1.Taylor's on the NFL Today 04:37

2.Bumpin' Uglies 02:17

3.Off is the Direction... 04:03

4.(She) Learned it from Watchin' a Porn 03:17

5.The Legend of Woke Dolly 03:55

6.Under the Smogberry Trees 03:47

Members

Dee Calhoun - Everything

Review

Doom/Stoner Rock musician Dee Calhoun takes a break away from his usual bleak way of usual storytelling by taking a humorous and sly look at modern day pop culture and mainstream media. The music is still a mix of Americana, Southern Rock, Folk Rock, Boogie Rock and Doom Rock with spiky lyrics that takes aim at the American male stereotype especially on the brilliantly funny opening track of Taylor’s On The NFL Today. 

Even with myself being British or a Limey Prick who has no right commentating on the American way of life but Dee has tapped into the similar type of humour that I’ve seen with the whole Taylor Swift vs NFL Football fan. (Even though in my mind there’s only one real game of FOOTBALL and it’s not the NFL. It’s what you guys call SOCCER - Anyway I digress). The music itself is simply played acoustic jams but it’s the music and Dee’s deadpan serious manner that makes everything stand out. 

The whole EP is delivered within the whole style of Dr Demento Radio Show with perhaps some Weird Al Yankovic influence shining through along the way. Bumpin’ Uglies is another funny little oddity which doesn’t quite work overall but the music was solid enough. The rest of the EP is bang on point with Off Is The Direction and (She) Learned It From Watchin’ A Porn seeing Dee’s real musical identity shining through with his music mostly and dark comedic lyrics perhaps drawing influence from the likes of Bill Hicks and George Carlin with Dee’s commentary on modern day life.

The final two tracks of The Legend Of Woke Dolly and Under The Smogberry Trees expands the Adult Humour which does show a more rebellious side to Dee’s songwriting skills but it’s the instrumental sounds that impress yet again with the music being quite daring, raw and honest that explores the darker style of Americana, Acoustic Rock and Southern Rock grooves.

From Under The Smogberry Trees is silly and downright hilarious entertainment where it’s good to hear Dee Calhoun releasing a different style of music that he’s currently known for. I’m not sure if I could listen to a full record of this and as the EP states within the title, the novelty could quickly wear thin but this is still a superb EP.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

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Westing - FUTURE (Album Review)

Release Date: February 24th 2023. Record Label: RidingEasy Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

FUTURE: Tracklisting

1.Back In The Twenties 03:52

2.Nothing New 06:08

3.Lost Riders Intro 02:12

4.Lost Riders 05:16

5.Big Trouble 03:42

6.Artemisia Coming Down 06:01

7.Silent Shout 03:30

8.Stanley Wu 04:33

9.Coming Back To Me 04:43

Review

I always wondered what happened to Psych Stoner Rockers Slow Season and now we have the answer with Westing. Slow Season have evolved into Westing and offer their debut release FUTURE. The band have retained their Classic Rock and perhaps Led Zepp inspired sound for FUTURE but it also sees Westing venture into heavier areas of Psych Rock and Boogie Rock with a COSMIC attitude replacing the more Blues Rock aspect of Slow Season.

This is a refreshing change of pace for Westing and they show that within the excellent two opening songs of Back In The Twenties and Nothing New. Both songs have a Seventies Classic Hard Rock attitude that allows Westing to play a more stylish “Stoner” based drive that easily moves into the Cosmic Rock arena. The guitar solos are plentiful within Nothing New but the restrained Psych Stoner Rock drive is quite pleasing to hear. 

You can detect a dark FUZZ ROCK attitude within Nothing New, Lost Riders Intro and Lost Riders (which is the standout track on the album). Westing are quite adept at playing a soulful style of music that has a mighty confident swagger to it especially when the heavier COSMIC elements appear. The music may not be HEAVY as such but Westing do play their own definitive style of Hard Rock with highly polished production values.

FUTURE remains deeply committed to its 1970’s Hard Rock cause but Westing injects modern day Stoner based techniques and sounds on great tracks such as Big Trouble, Artemisa Coming Down, Stanley Wu and Coming Back To Me.

Westing aren’t shy about using more SONIC based projections for certain parts of the record that allows FUTURE to become more challenging to listen to at times. Though, the overall creative strengths of this album is when the two worlds of OLD & NEW creative themes meet together for a more fuller and richer sound which gives the album some of its more majestic and powerful moments. 

Slow Season were famed for their RIFF-BASED approach and they don’t disappoint here with an even more “RIFF-CENTRIC” style being used for more daring grooves that I didn’t think I would expect to hear on a Slow Season record. However, this is a new chapter for the band and with Westing, the band has evolved into a more daring and exciting band. 

FUTURE is a sublime release for all fans of the Classic Hard Rock and Stoner Rock scenes.

Words by Steve Howe.

Thanks to RidingEasy Records for the promo.

FUTURE is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via RidingEasy Records.

Links

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Sonic Flower - Me And My BellBottom Blues (Album Review)

Date Released: 30th September 2022. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Me And My BellBottom Blues: Tracklisting

Swineherd

Love Like Rubber

Black Sheep

Captain Frost

Quicksand Planet

Poor Girl

Sonic Flower

Members

Tatsu Mikami – Bass

Kazuhiro Asaeda – Vocals

Fumiya Hattori — Guitar

Toshiaki Umemura – Drums

Review

Me And My BellBottom Blues is the new album by Japanese Blues/Boogie/Classic Rockers Sonic Flower who are in supreme confident form by adding vibes of Doom Rock and Stoner Rock. Fans of Blue Cheer, Black Sabbath and Led Zepp will find this album a thrilling musical adventure with the band moving across the multitude of different rock flavours that covers the sounds of 70s Rock upto 90's Stoner Rock. 

The album moves along at such a fast pace with the band adding a hazy and freaky Psychedelic sound which you can hear on the excellent opening song Swineherd. A song that captures classic hard rock excess with a Blues Rock swagger that moves from Blue Cheer and Black Sabbath grooves with elements of Fuzz Rock and extended Guitar Jams allowing Sonic Flower to perform some of their heaviest material to date.

Second song Love Like Rubber continues the classic hard rock journey with a powerful Blues Rock drive that brings a fresh take on the Boogie/Southern Rock sound. The vocals are bang on form with an almost "70's Outlaw" style of musical delivery. The funky psychedelic beats once again impress the most and the freaky Doom/Stoner Rock vibes show that Sonic Flower have a more heavier and thunderous sound for this album. The song has a high amount of extended guitar solos that flirts between Classic Hard Rock and modern day Doom/Stoner Rock.

Third song Black Sheep is more of a Funk/Blues Rock offering with Sonic Flower playing different styles of guitar solos that almost ends up becoming an impromptu jamming session. Once the vocals appear, then the song becomes a different thing altogether with the spiky lyrics and screeching Blues Rock sounds allowing this track becoming one of the standout tracks on the album.

Sonic Flower show their more adventurous side on the second half of the album bringing a more Progressive feel to the album with a few of the tracks running past the eight minutes to nine minutes mark. Songs such as Quicksand Planet, Poor Girl and Sonic Flower show a different and more daring side to the band. As the music becomes more grounded and real with the band still playing their sublime 70's inspired extended guitar jams and solos.

Poor Girl and Sonic Flower are perhaps the most exciting parts of the album with Sonic Flower having a free-flowing attitude with the creative choices they make for the album. The music is an inspired choice of Doom Rock, Stoner Rock and Psych Rock whilst still maintaining that Classic Rock energy the band are well known for. There’s also an understated Grunge vibe in these songs that are almost reminiscent of Soundgarden.

The album sounds super freaky with fabulous production values allowing this album being perhaps the best album they've released to date. Sonic Flower have continued their winning relationship with ace record label Heavy Psych Sounds. Another reason why this album sounds amazing from start to finish.

Me And My BellBottom Blues is an essential release for fans of the Hard Rock Underground Scene. Plain and Simple.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Claire at Purple Sage for the promo.

Me And My BellBottom Blues will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from September 30th 2022.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

GEEZER - Stoned Blues Machine (Album Review)

Release Date: May 20th 2022. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Stoned Blues Machine - Tracklisting

1. Atomic Moronic

2. Logan's Run

3. A Cold Black Heart

4. Stoned Blues Machine

5. Broken Glass

6. Eleven

7. Saviours

8. The Diamond Rain Of Saturn

Members

Pat Harrington – Guitar & Vocals

Richie Touseull - Bass

Steve Markota – Drums & Percussion

Review

Cosmic Blues Unit GEEZER return with their new album Stoned Blues Machine and it’s the perfect description on how to describe the band’s music overall. The band fuse the Psychedelic Spaced Out Stoner Rock grooves of their last two albums. Psychoriffadelia and Groovy. Both different in so many different ways yet remarkably familiar as well. 

Stoned Blues Machine is GEEZER’s most Blues Rock based release since Psychoriffadelia and still manages to convey that heavy Cosmic sound that GEEZER have become known for. Perhaps far “looser” with a more easy going attitude compared to the last few releases. This album is more “BOOGIE” rock oriented which GEEZER haven’t done primarily for a while. 

There is still a “seedier” side to GEEZER on this album with dangerous lyrics contained throughout the album which you can hear from the excellent two opening tracks Atomic Moronic and Logan’s Run. The music is filled with Psychedelic/Cosmic/Blues Rock passages with Pat’s instantly recognizable vocals revelling in his “ringleader” role that has this wonderful showman quality to it all. 

The album ventures through heavy Cosmic/Psych based Stoner Rock moments with GEEZER on highly confident and inspired form. There’s a ton of great guitar solos contained on this album with excellent support from Richie on Bass and Steve on Drums providing the important musical foundations for GEEZER to truly work.

GEEZER don’t feel the need to reinvent themselves here which they did on their last two albums. This album shows a band wanting to play music for the sheer love of it all and the huge WEEDIAN aspect is always a damn good thing for a Stoner Rock/Metal album such as this

The album should be considered a celebration of what is great about GEEZER. Fantastic songs containing EPIC sounds and inventive ideas that only GEEZER can fully deliver.

Standout songs include: A Cold Black Heart, Stoned Blues Machine, Saviours and The Diamond Rain Of Saturn. With these tracks containing some of the heaviest and most “far-out” sounds that GEEZER have released to date. 

Stoned Blues Machine sees GEEZER working with Heavy Psych Sounds yet again and another EPIC reason why the album sounds incredible from start to finish. This album proves yet again why GEEZER are one of the most important and essential bands within the Stoner Rock/Metal underground scene. 

What else can I say about this album. Nothing much apart from - Add this album to your record collection now and just buy the DAMN THING!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Claire at Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Stoned Blues Machine will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from May 20th 2022.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp