Stoner doom heroes SONS OF OTIS to reissue all albums on Heavy Psych Sounds

Toronto's stoner doom icons SONS OF OTIS have signed to Heavy Psych Sounds Records for the reissue of their entire catalog, and reveal the first two releases to get a brand new pressing today.

For more than three decades, Toronto’s SONS OF OTIS have been one of Canada’s most respected heavy bands, forging a signature blend of doom, stoner rock, and psychedelia built on crushing riffs, hypnotic grooves, and immersive atmospheres. Their DIY debut Paid to Suffer (1994) introduced the band’s raw, uncompromising sound. While Spacejumbofudge (1996) expanded that vision into psychedelic territory, becoming an underground stoner rock classic. With Temple Ball (1999), the songwriting grew more expansive, helping establish the band’s international reputation.

Songs for Worship (2001) perfectly captured their balance of heaviness and atmosphere. X (2005) refined their sound with stronger production and memorable songwriting, while Exiled (2009) explored darker, more atmospheric territory. Seismic (2012) delivered some of the heaviest material of their career, and Isolation (2020) proved that, nearly 35 years in, SONS OF OTIS remains as powerful and inspired as ever.

Now, with their signing to Heavy Psych Sounds, the band enters an exciting new chapter. The acclaimed Italian label has become one of the leading names in heavy psychedelic, doom, and stoner rock, making it a natural home for a band whose influence has quietly resonated throughout the underground for decades. Get ready to discover or rediscover one of Canada’s true heavy music pioneers as they prepare for the next stage of their journey!

"Spacejumbofudge" album reissue - Out October 6th on Heavy Psych Sounds - Pre-order

"Paid To Sufffer" EP reissue - Out October 6th on Heavy Psych Sounds - Pre-order

About the first two records, frontman Ken Baluke states: “Our first recording 'Paid To Suffer' was completely DIY. We were all broke and asked our friends for donations in exchange for the tape and their name in the liner notes. We only released it on cassette. It was live off the floor and raw as hell, and we were looking to offend as many people as possible. Instead… people liked it. As for debut album 'Spacejumbofudge', it was our first full-length on a major label. It opened a lot of eyes back then. This is where our trademark “wall of fuzz” sound started to take shape. Big budget, big sounds... Trippy and heavy… a cult favorite of the underground scene."

SONS OF OTIS links

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS links

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Youtube

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the details.

ELEPHANT TREE Drop Video Single 'Try' & Celebrate Anniversary With 3 Releases Being Reissued via Magnetic Eye Records

ELEPHANT TREE are having a party and they're inviting everyone to hitch a ride and join in! September 2024 marks ten years since Magnetic Eye's release of the beloved British stoner doom quartet's first album "Theia" (2014), and in observance of that milestone, the label is proud to showcase three releases celebrating one of the label's landmark bands:

"Theia" (Anniversary Edition) and "Habits" (2020) are presented as reissues without additional audio content, but in new physical formats. The former comes packaged with updated artwork and significantly expanded background content (see below for more details).

The third release entitled "Handful of Ten" is a new full-length containing brand-new tracks, demos, and b-sides, and includes two of the first new ELEPHANT TREE tracks in numerous years, recorded specifically for this compilation. All three albums have been scheduled for release on September 6, 2024. Pre-orders are available via http://lnk.spkr.media/elephant-tree-ten

As a first delicious taste from "Handful of Ten", the Londoners release the video single 'Try'.

"This was really a cathartic exercise in playing something a little different, written with an initial cast-away attitude after a few pints on a sweltering summer's day", guitarist and singer Jack Townley writes on behalf of the band. "We don't play faster songs often, let alone get space to add them to records. The subject matter is about someone conforming to try be a model citizen, not wanting to step out of line in fear of the repercussions. He tries his hardest to not express his alternate views while others around him conform and in the end it all boils over, leaving him feeling 'forever lost'."

Tracklist:

1. Attack of the Altaica (2013 Demo)

2. Visions (The Planet of Doom)

3. Try

4. Bird (2017 Demo)

5. Faceless (2017 Hurin Version)

6. Sunday

The seed for ELEPHANT TREE was planted in a rehearsal space somewhere in the smelly back alleys of England's sleepless capital of London in 2013. There, the first notes of what would become 'Attack of the Altaica' sprang from the bass of Jack Townley and Sam Hart's drums. Thus, it is fitting that this earliest demo became the opening track of the band's new rarities collection "Handful of Ten".

Soon the duo became a trio with the addition of bassist and vocalist Peter Holland, who had already established himself in the London scene with TRIPPY WICKED & THE COSMIC CHILDREN OF THE KNIGHT, allowing Townley to pick up the guitar again. With the addition of Canadian sitar player Riley MacIntyre, who also stepped in as a third singer, the band's classic first line-up was completed.

From there, things fell into place quickly. The infectious blend of warm, syrupy fuzz and soaring vocal harmonies on the demo 'Attack of the Altaica' captured the ears of Magnetic Eye Records. Soon a contract was signed and the debut full-length "Theia" was released in September 2014. ELEPHANT TREE had a lightning start and the debut album achieved an excellent reception by critics and fans alike. Now reissued as "Theia" (Anniversary Edition), the music of this milestone release is untouched, but the artwork has been given a refreshing inversion, and a wealth of rare photos, liner notes and lyrics have been added to provide a thorough look at the band's first decade since the original release.

These hardworking Englishmen did not rest on their laurels, and in 2015 followed up with the self-titled sophomore full-length "Elephant Tree". While "Theia" had opened the European continent for touring, their second album carried ELEPHANT TREE across the Atlantic to perform at the tastemaker Psycho Las Vegas.

In the meantime, John Slattery, who initially was added to give support as second guitarist and synth player for the band's live shows, joined ELEPHANT TREE as a permanent member. About the same time, Riley MacIntyre decided to draw back from the band to focus on production. ELEPHANT TREE also decided to try a label closer to home, a choice which ultimately did not work out as the new label ran into trouble and left the band's third and latest album "Habits" (2020) without the ongoing support it deserved.

During the turmoil of the global pandemic years, ELEPHANT TREE were affected and set back like everyone else. Jack Townley suffered a serious accident in early 2023, and the time needed for his recovery delayed the band again. Yet despite all of this, they put plans into motion for a return both to the stages and studio. Taking matters into their own hands, the band initiated a plan to self-release some of their material – with a little help from old friends. At long last, ELEPHANT TREE are reissuing the acclaimed "Habits" via Magnetic Eye to make it widely available once more and satisfy the continued demand.

Looking back at ten most exciting years, ELEPHANT TREE enthusiastically present 'Handful of Ten' containing great tunes pulled from their archive alongside the brash and blistering new tracks, ready to delight longtime followers and win over new friends to their unique brand of melodic doom: all thriller, no filler!

Current line-up:

Jack Townley - guitar, vocals, synths

Peter Holland - bass, vocals

John Slattery - guitar, synths, vocals

Sam Hart - percussion

Guest musician

Ryan Gledhill – vocals on 'Visions'

Emma Näslund (GAUPA) – vocals on 'Death Perception'

For more info visit:

https://elephanttree.band 

www.facebook.com/elephanttreeband 

www.instagram.com/elephant_tree_band 

Mastering of all tracks by Karl Daniel Lidén

Artwork & layout by Ieva Misiukonytė

Available formats "Handful of Ten"

"Handful of Ten" is available as digisleeve CD, as a solid white vinyl LP, and as a marbled black & violet vinyl LP.

Available format "Theia"

"Theia" (Anniversary Edition) is available as 36-page hardcover CD-Artbook, and as a gatefold LP on marbled clear, white & transparent green vinyl.

Available formats "Habits"

"Habits" is available as digisleeve CD, and as a marbled orange & white vinyl LP.

Live:

13 SEP 2024 Sheffield (UK) The Corporation

14 SEP 2024 Southampton (UK) Abyssal Festival

15 SEP 2024 Bristol (UK) The Exchange

29 SEP 2024 Manchester (UK) Riffolution Festival

19 DEC 2024 London (UK) The Black Heart

20 DEC 2024 London (UK) The Black Heart

Thanks to All Noir PR and Magnetic Eye Records for all of the details.