DISASTROID - Garden Creatures (Album Review)

Release Date: 23rd February 2024. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Garden Creatures - Tracklisting

1.Garden Creatures 05:57

2.Stucco Nowhere 05:07

3.Figurative Object

4.Backwards Sleeping

5.24

6.Hold Me Wrong

7.Light 'Em Up

8.Jack Londonin'

Members

Enver Koneya - Guitar/Vocals

Travis Williams - Bass

Braden McGaw - Drums

Review

Sludge/Grunge/Stoner Metallers DISASTROID return from a four year absence with their new album Garden Creatures which sees the band return to the heavier grungier fueled grooves. DISASTROID took a more stripped back approach with 2020’s release Mortal Fools. This time round the band also add a more Punk Rock and Noise Rock burgeoning sound which delves into the areas of Progressive Sludge where you might find associated with heavy hitters such as Mastodon especially on the sublime opening title track.

DISASTROID combines classic Grunge aesthetics with the stripped back sound of Sludge Rock, Stoner Metal, Punk Rock and with some Noise Rock angst for good measure. The whole tone is superbly heavy and even quite deceiving with its catchy rhythm and hooks. Enver’s vocals are more effective than ever with him embracing a more Grunge based persona with a passionate diverse style within the heavy melodic tones the song brings.

Second track Stucco Nowhere sounds like a stripped back and way-out-there version of Soundgarden breaking through and soon merging into a Psychedelic Blues Rock outfit which shows another different side of music from DISASTROID. The sound does become quite gloomy and eerie when the Post-Doom or Post-Stoner elements appear. Though, DISASTROID works more when the Grunge/Sludge Rock aspect takes a more commanding presence with that superb bass-line from Travis which has a KILLER INSTINCT to it. Braden on Drums keeps the momentum going with his intelligent drum beats which aren’t too fast nor are they too slow. Just timed right to perfection.

Third track Figurative Object is the longest track on the album with DISASTROID playing one of the most emotionally charged and daring songs on the album or perhaps even their career. The vocals are quite emotionally damaged or drained with the music matching the gloomy solemn tones from Enver. The mood changes ever more slightly aggressive with an epic Post-Doom/Post-Sludge rhythm starting to emerge with flashes of Noise Rock, Punk and Stoner based energy for the song to build upto a heavy Psychedelic FUZZ creative vision. Perhaps the standout track of the album which shows another side to DISASTRIOD where they show a real sense of maturity within almost everything that appears on the track.

Fourth track Backwards Sleeping delivers a throwback to 90’s Post-Grunge/Alt-Rock riffs with that off-kilter Noise Rock/Punk Rock drive allowing the heavier musical elements to be played only when they need to. The song can be quite chaotic with the Punk Rock energy and warped Psychedelic glitchy sounds that the band play here. However, the song is damn catchy and superbly entertaining with DISASTROID adding gloomy Post-Stoner effects whilst perfectly capturing the classic 90’s Grunge/Stoner Rock scene with some funky lyrics/vocals to match.

The second half of the album finds the perfect balance of wicked Punk Rock lyrics spliced with Sludge/Noise/Stoner Rock inspired freaky Grungy jams with an epic PROGRESSIVE sound especially on tracks such as 24, Hold Me Wrong and Light ‘Em Up. DISASTROID feel right at home exploring the classic 90’s Rock Scene and then transporting themselves into the modern day Progessive Sludge/Stoner theatrics for an album that has a timeless quality to it all.

The production values are OFF THE CHART and are EPIC throughout which isn’t surprising since the legend that is Billy Anderson recorded and produced this album. With the legendary label Heavy Psych Sounds once again releasing the album, this allows Garden Creatures to be another essential release from DISASTROID and perhaps even be considered for Album Of The Year Contender nods and honours before the year is out.

Garden Creatures is a record you need to add to your record collection especially. End Of. Plain and Simple.

Words by Steve Howe 

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Garden Creature will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from February 23rd 2024.

DISASTROID links

Website ⎜ Facebook ⎜ Bandcamp ⎜ Instagram ⎜ Spotify

Sludge/Stoner Metallers DISASTROID Release New Song/Video For LIGHT 'EM UP From Upcoming New Album

San Francisco vets Disastroid have been serving up sludgy noisy rock for more than a decade now, refining a sound that weaves angular guitar lines together with odd time signatures and hazy walls of fuzz. Blending the vibes of 90s grunge and noise with modern psych, stoner, and post-metal, Disastroid delivers delivers the riffs while also embracing a lot of dynamic range and some very unpredictable song structures.

The new album Garden Creatures" will be out on CD/DD/Vinyl from February 23rd on Heavy Psych Sounds.

To get you in the mood you can listen to the blistering new song/video for LIGHT 'EM UP from the upcoming new album. Thanks to the cool folks over at Purple Sage PR and Heavy Psych Sounds. 

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the details

The new album Garden Creatures" will be out on CD/DD/Vinyl from February 23rd on Heavy Psych Sounds.

Links

Facebook // Website // Bandcamp

Bay Area heavy trio DISASTROID to release new album "Garden Creatures" on Heavy Psych Sounds this February; first track streaming now!

San Francisco heavy rockers DISASTROID announce the release of their new album "Garden Creatures" this February 23rd on Heavy Psych Sounds, and unveil the first track "Stucco Nowhere" right now!

San Francisco veterans Disastroid have been serving up sludgy, grunge-infused stoner rock for the better part of a decade now, refining a sound that weaves heavy riffs together with angular guitar lines, odd time signatures, and hazy walls of fuzz. 

As influenced by 90's noise rock as they are by modern psych, doom, and post-metal, Disastroid delivers thick, satisfying stoner rock stomp while also embracing layers of noise, tripped-out feedback, and some unpredictable song structures.

Stream new single "Stucco Nowhere" belo

Disastroid’s latest outing "Garden Creatures" is a record about the darkness in the hidden corners of suburban landscapes — sinister overgrown gardens, secret collections kept in basements, the crime just beneath the surface, the pervasive loneliness under a veneer of normalcy. Accordingly, it’s a dark and atmospheric record, trading the stripped-down approach of 2020’s Mortal Fools for a thicker, heavier, and more layered sound. 

Legendary producer Billy Anderson (Sleep, Melvins, Neurosis) builds mixes that range from dark and dreamy to a thick, sludgy crunch, slowly puling the listener through a range of sounds and textures, making sure things stay interesting. Singer/guitarist Enver Koneya's vocals are soulful and sometimes haunting, drifting above Disastroid’s characteristically off-kilter, grunge-influenced riffs.

"Garden Creatures" was recorded and produced by Billy Anderson at Sharkbite Studios. It will be issued on vinyl, CD and digital on February 23rd, with pre-orders available now via Heavy Psych Sounds.

New album "Garden Creatures" - Out February 23rd on Heavy Psych Sounds

TRACKLIST:

1. Garden Creatures
2. Stucco Nowhere
3. Figurative Object
4. Backwards Sleeping
5. 24
6. Hold Me Wrong
7. Light 'Em Up
8. Jack Londonin'

Their original approach, capturd in their 2014 record “Missiles” and the 2017 follow-up “Screen”, has made them one of the most essential bands in the Bay Area music scene. Their latest, “Mortal Fools” is their heaviest and most expansive-sounding album to date. 

Produced by Tim Green (Nation of Ulysses, The Fucking Champs), it’s sonically focused on what Disastroid does best, laying singer/guitarist Enver Koneya’s deep vocals and fuzzed-out riffs on top of a relentless, pummeling rhythm section. 

At the same time, it’s loose enough that it takes some unpredictable twists and turns, conveying the band's rough edges, sense of humor, and noisy, experimental streak. The band is coming back with a brand new album in 2024 via Heavy Psych Sounds.

DISASTROID is

Enver Koneya - Guitar/Vocals
Travis Williams - Bass
Braden McGaw - Drums

DISASTROID links

Website ⎜ Facebook ⎜ Bandcamp ⎜ Instagram ⎜ Spotify

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS links

Website ⎜ Facebook ⎜ Bandcamp ⎜ Instagram ⎜ Youtube

Disastroid - Mortal Fools (Album Review)

Release date: February 14^th 2020. Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Mortal Fools - Tracklisting

1. 8hr Parking

2. Hopeless

3. Mortal Fools

4. The Crewser

5. Reset

6. Bilge

7. Insect Mind

8. Deep Well

9. Space Rodent

Members

Enver Koneya: Guitar/Vocals

Travis Williams: Bass

Braden McGaw: Drums

Review

Mortal Fools is the new album from Disastroid and their first for new label Heavy Psych Sounds. Mortal Fools sees the band carry on playing their Aggressive fuelled mix of Punk, Sludge and Stoner Metal. This album is perhaps their most interesting and varied release to date. The sound feels more focused whilst allowing the band not to lose any of their aggressive streetwise swagger they built on previous releases.

Disastroid blast their way through nine songs of fast-paced and aggressive Doom/Sludge/Stoner based Punk songs that differ in style and tone for certain parts of the album. It’s good to see the band trying different styles of music on this album especially with their lyrics having a more grown-up feel. The vocals are fast and loose and match the core essence of the music with Disastroid creating quite a violent and can I say “fun” based atmosphere. The riffs are loud and heavy from start to finish with modern-sounding production values that leave little to the imagination where the volume stakes are concerned.

The album can be quite trippy and spaced out in places which allows the album to be more adventurous than I first realised especially on songs such as: 8hr Parking, Hopeless, Mortal Fools, The Crewser and Space Rodent. With this being their third album overall, Disastroid still include their earlier Noise Rock and Stoner based influences but the band feel more inspired by bands such as QOTSA, Helmut and Mastodon. Though this still a Disastroid album through and through.

Mortal Fools takes the listener along a very dark and twisted journey which could take a few listens to fully get on board with. The music is so good though with a thumping Noise/Sludge Rock vibe allowing the band to change direction on certain parts of the album that become very addictive indeed.

The heaviest and best parts of the album appear on the second half with Disastroid settling down for a more confident manner and just letting their music do all the talking.

Mortal Fools is a thrilling, exciting and perhaps the most fulfilling album that Disastroid have released to date. As part of the album title suggests, you would be a FOOL to miss this great album. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to All Noir PR and Purple Sage PR for the promo. Mortal Fools will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from Feb 14^th 2020.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Disastroid - Screen (Album Review)

Release date: October 2^nd 2017. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD

Screen – Tracklisting

1.Screen

2.New Day

3.Dinosaur

4.I Didn't Kill Myself

5.Getting in the Way

6.Coyote

7.Choke the Falcon

8.Clinical Perfection

9.Gunslinger

Members

Enver Koneya: Guitar/Vocals

Travis Williams: Bass

Braden McGaw: Drums

Robot : Horrible crying

Review

Disastroid new album - Screen - may sound like a very straight forward affair from your first listen to the album. Though the album is very deceptive as the band takes a Melvins-esque approach to their music. With heavy slabs of Sludge Rock merged with Noise, Grunge and some vicious sounding Doom/Stoner sounds.

The opening track - Screen - starts off rather quietly before the band adapts a familiar Melvins style approach with the song. As it fully explodes into a violent Noise/Sludge/Grunge Rock style musical orgy with addictive elements of psychedelic rock appearing towards the end of the song.

The next song on the list is - New Day - which takes a more punk based route with the heavy sludge/stoner grooves being added at the later stages of the song. The song becomes more eerily psychedelic as the bass heavy guitar sounds draw you further into Disastroid's clutches and it's very hard to escape from.

Third song - Dinosaur - opens with a mighty thunderous grunge/sludge/style roar. The drumming and guitars have a heavy stop-start approach with the vocals adopting a more soulful take compared to other songs on the album. One of the main strengths of the album is how Distatroid move from the different sounds they have at their disposal and still sound remarkably fresh. The album stays vibrant and fun throughout.

With songs such as Getting In The Way, Coyote, Choke The Falcon and Gunslinger offering the listener an exciting and devilish ride into the darker side of Grunge/Stoner/Noise rock. The production is superb with Screen staying loud, boisterous and heavy right until the very end. The band may suffer from an identity crisis at times with the amount of different sounds and genres held on the album. Though it works to the bands advantage. As most of the songs have a different feel to each other.

The lyrics maybe too simple at times but for what Disastroid are trying to accomplish here, Screen doesn't suffer at all. As Screen is an exciting and rebellious album that has a lot to offer to the more adventurous Grunge/Sludge/Stoner Rock fan.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp