Filthy Hippies - A Colourful Trip Through Melancholy (Album Review)

Release Date: April 04th 2025. Record Label: Mongrel Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

A Colourful Trip Through Melancholy - Tracklisting

1. Get Out Of My Way 

2. Wilt 

3. Miserable 

4. Fuzzbox 

5. Mind Pollution 

6. Throw Away 

7. Flashbacks 

8. Smells Like Rehab 

9. Sad Things Write Themselves 

10. Colours Fade Away 

11. Into A Dream 

12. Stargazer 

13. Absolution  

Members:

Andrew Paine - Vox/Guitars/Keys 

Mandy Backstrom - Bass/Vox 

Tim Ball - Guitars 

Ca'lee Tucker - Guitars 

with Mark Van Zyl 

Review

South African Psych/Alternative/Shoegaze Rockers Filthy Hippies return with their new album A Colourful Trip Through Melancholy which offers another experimental slice of Kaleidoscopic sounding Rock and Pop with hints of Noise, Space and Stoner Rock based expeditions. A bit more conventional than their 2024 album Share The Pill but with a subtle Shoegaze and 80’s Electronica feel. The record can be described as soulful, ethereal and dreamlike with a minimal HEAVY ROCK presence being used for the heavier moments that the album contains.

However, for the majority of the record A Colourful Trip Through Melancholy is more content being laid-back with its Shoegaze and Space Rock surroundings. The electronic and synth beats have moments of The Cure, Slowdive and Doves at times which are firmly implemented into the band’s core sound very early on tracks such as Get Out Of My Way, Wilt and Miserable. The quietly pitched vocals from Andrew Pain and Mandy Backstrom never feel out of place or pitched in anger but they do show moments of some Garage Rock or Punk Rock angst especially on Fuzzbox and Mind Pollution.

The record does have an abstract flow inspired by the likes of EELS, Lou Reed, Velvet Underground and Phil Spector which allows Filthy Hippies to be very hard to categorize and the real heavier grooves, moments and perhaps STONER sounding melodies start to appear within the second half of the record and mostly through the standout sixth track Throw Away. The song has an assortment of sonic distortion, overlapping Stoner Rock guitars which allows the vocals to drift into different dimensional planes. 

With a heavier experimental guitar leaning sound developing even further on the tracks Flashbacks, Sad Things Write Themselves, Colours Fade Away, Into A Dream and Absolution allows the Space Rock expression to flow naturally that leads into some of the most powerful and emotionally charged sounds that Filthy Hippies have released to date. 

A Colourful Trip Through Melancholy is a perfectly named record with Filthy Hippies on a complete hallucinogenic trip of creative discovery where the results can be quite magical and downright confusing at times. However, the result is never boring and the music is played superbly throughout with magical sounds that need multiple playthroughs to fully understand the whole cinematic journey. Filthy Hippies never release the same record twice and that makes them a true original act in my mind and firmly keep their reputation as one of South Africa’s best musical exports currently out there. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Buy / Stream A Colourful Trip Through Melancholy

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Alt/Psych/Stoner Rock Band Filthy Hippies release new album A Colourful Trip Through Melancholy

Cape Town-based alternative-psychedelic band Filthy Hippies have made a name for themselves in the South African music scene with their signature shoegaze-infused sound. Since their formation in 2018, they have cemented their reputation as a standout act in the country’s thriving psych scene, sharing stages with notable bands such as Dangerfield and delivering an unforgettable performance at the 2019 Endless Daze Festival.

After a period of evolution and lineup changes, Filthy Hippies are thrilled to announce their latest album, A Colourful Trip Through Melancholy. This release marks a significant chapter for the band as they bid farewell to longtime collaborator Mark Van Zyl, who was instrumental in shaping the record before his upcoming move to New Zealand.

“His intense creativity will be sorely missed,” shares frontman Andrew Paine. “But it was awesome to get to go down the rabbit hole one last time with him before he goes.”

‘A Colourful Trip Through Melancholy’ is exactly that—a vibrant yet introspective journey through the highs and lows of life. “It’s just reflections on everyday experiences and emotions,” Paine explains. “A journey through a slightly jaded mind.”

The album embraces a message of presence and acceptance, reminding listeners to cherish fleeting moments. “Enjoy every moment as it happens,” says Paine. “Things fade away far too quickly, and life moves in very definite cycles.”

Buy / Stream A Colourful Trip Through Melancholy

Filthy Hippies took an organic approach to songwriting, allowing tracks to develop naturally through jam sessions at their home studio, The Sanctuary. “The usual jamming at our home studio, and the songs just fell into place,” Paine states simply.

The recording process was an immersive and intensive experience, with the band diving deep into late-night brainstorming sessions and extended tracking marathons. “Everything was recorded at our home studio, The Sanctuary. Lots of late-night brainstorming and intensely long sessions—it was a lot of fun.”

With a Phil Spector-esque wall of sound blending rich textures, layered harmonies, and deep-rooted pop sensibilities, A Colourful Trip Through Melancholy’ stands as a defining statement from Filthy Hippies.

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GRUNGE ROCKERS FREE MACHINE UNVEILS POWERFUL NEW SGLE AND LYRIC VIDEO FROM THEIR DEBUT ALBUM

Independent grunge-rock collective Free Machine release their latest single and accompanying lyric video, offering listeners a deeply emotional and sonically rich experience. Born from a shared love of ‘90s alternative rock, the band’s newest track serves as both an homage to their influences and a poignant reflection on personal loss.

Free Machine is more than just a band—it's a passion project crafted by four ex-musicians who left the gig and tour scene behind but never lost their love for creating music. Drawing inspiration from legends like Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Pearl Jam, the band members—Glenn Bradford (vocals, mixing), Clint Jurgens (guitar), Bryan Nicol (drums), and Brendan Haupt (bass)—collaborated remotely to craft their debut EP, proving that distance is no barrier when the vision is clear.

Musically, the new single Black Seasons is “somewhat of the inspired lovechild of Black Hole Sun and Chris Cornell’s solo hit Seasons,” according to the band. The lyrics were influenced by a powerful scene from the film Wind River, where a grieving Native American father learns to cope with the devastating loss of his daughter.

“The song is about the loss of someone very close and the pain we all go through when we experience such an event,” says Free Machine. “But the message is meant to be about how you will hurt, yet keep those memories close, and eventually, you will be able to revisit them with a smile.”

For Free Machine, songwriting begins with the music. “Once I had that intro, it immediately spawned the epic and moody feel that the rest of the song just had to follow,” explains guitarist Clint Jurgens. “The chorus was pretty much served up to me on a platter at that point. The bridge was an exciting challenge—breaking from what had been a steady emotional build, we wanted it to reflect the struggle of letting go, pushing toward the final send-off.”

Unlike most bands launching an album, Free Machine is taking a different approach. “There is no ‘bigger picture’ here,” they say. “No marketing pushes, no endless promo runs, no events or concerts. This is simply about making good music and sharing it with like-minded rock fans.”

Buy / Stream Dead Echoes

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Thanks to Plug Music Agency for all of the details.

Acid Magus - Scatterling Empire (Album Review)

Release Date: February 21st 2025. Record Label: Mongrel Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Scatterling Empire - Track Listing:

1. War 

2. Incantations 

3. Wytch 

4. Ascendancy 

5. Emperor 

6. Citadel 

7. Absolution 

8. Haven 

Members

Keenan Kinnear - Guitars 

Roelof Van Tonder - Bass 

Brendon Bezuidenhout - guitars and  vocals  

Anrico Jeske - vocals  

Jethro Vlag – drums 

Review

Sometimes when new band members join an established band their sound and creative dynamic can change dramatically. That is true for Psych/Doom/Stoner Metal alchemists Acid Magus who have added Jethro Vlag (Drums) and Anrick Jeske (Vcals) to their ranks. This is a totally different Acid Magus compared to their celebrated albums Wyrd Syster and Hope Is heavy. Both records received a wide range of acclaim across the underground Doom/Stoner scene.

Scatterling Empire is their new album and it’s a darker and more despairing blend of music with elements of Sludge Metal, Post-Metal and Prog Metal appearing with a haunting Ambient sound holding their usual style of Doom/Stoner Metal together. With influences ranging from Black Sabbath, Sleep and Pink Floyd being heard on their previous records. Acid Magus now turn to visionary acts such as ELDER, Mastodon, Neurosis and KYLESA for an album that’s quite opaque, bleak and subliminally psychedelic at the same time.

The opening tracks of War, Incantations and Wytch sees the band diving right into their new Sludge/Post-Metal approach with a slightly distorted and disruptive melody that allows the lyrics to have a restricted Blackened Doom flow. Though, Acid Magus have still retained the classic Doom/Stoner sound that made them acquire a solid fan base within the underground scene. Just be prepared for bursts for Ambient Post-Rock and Post-Metal melodies that remind me of ISIS in their creative prime.

The album is still quite riff heavy and groove driven compared to Wyrd Syster and Hope Is Heavy but with the Atmospheric Sludge themes and dynamic vocals being the main reason for the band's major transformation of creative change for this record alone. This tone is carried throughout for the whole album with echoes of Post-Doom, Ambient Rock and aggressive Psychedelic movements leading to a wave of paranoia on tracks such as Wytch, Ascendancy and Emperor. Though, I rank these as the best parts of the record. The band are brilliantly loud with Acid Magus creating an exciting new sound for themselves. 

The real question is will longtime fans of the band support this transformation and go along for the musical journey. I think the majority will but even better Acid Magus could gain a considerable new following with Scatterling Empire. As it taps into other areas of the heavy underground scene with a sound that can be quite brutally devastating on the later stages of the record. 

The final stages of the album sees Acid Magus opt for a more personal and reflective sound with emotionally charged lyrics having a social awareness to them especially on Absolution and Haven. When the record is finally over, you begin to understand why Acid Magus have undergone a drastic makeover and it’s all for the better with Scatterling Empire being their most assured, technically brilliant, deeply engaging and hard hitting album to date.

I’m quite excited to see what the rest of the Doom/Stoner Metal community will think of  the record. My own personal thoughts is that Scatterling Empire is another Album Of The Year contender from Acid Magus.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Plug Music Agency for the promo.

Scatterling Empire will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Mongrel Records from Friday 21st February 2025.

Links

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Grunge/Stoner Rockers We Kill Cowboys Unleash Electrifying New Single "Sweat and Blood" Alongside Captivating Live Performance Music Video

Cape Town’s heavy rock powerhouse, We Kill Cowboys, have released their latest single, "Sweat and Blood," accompanied by a striking music video. The track offers a raw and emotional glimpse into the band’s upcoming album, Back from the Dead, slated for release later this year.

Formed by tattoo artist and singer-songwriter Alex Muller, We Kill Cowboys deliver a unique sonic blend that fuses elements of psychedelic rock, punk rock, grunge, and stoner blues. The band’s distinctive sound—gritty, compelling, and unapologetically raw—has established them as a force to be reckoned with in the South African rock scene.

Front and centre, Alex Muller’s powerful, gravel-edged vocals breathe life into thought-provoking and anti-establishment themes. "Sweat and Blood" is no exception. Speaking about the song, Alex shares, “The song is about our own

internal, mental struggle. Being in that negative mind loop where you feel disconnected from reality, from yourself. It can be a scary place to go through situations that leave you distrusting yourself. The chorus brings it back—back to letting that shit go and loving yourself. Trusting yourself by letting go of the thoughts and behaviours that don’t serve your highest good. We’re always searching for that internal peace of mind.”

With Alex’s hauntingly passionate delivery leading the charge, We Kill Cowboys’ lineup features Mornay on guitar, Andrew on drums and Miggs on bass. Known for their high-voltage live performances, the band bring unparalleled energy and immersion to their shows. Their ability to captivate audiences with both their sonic force and compelling narratives is a testament to their commitment to pushing the boundaries of modern rock.

Buy / Stream Sweat and Blood

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Thanks to Warren at Plug Music Agency / Mongrel Records for all of the details.

Introduce Yourselves: MOSKITOS

What is the name of your band?

Moskitos

What is the genre of music that you play?

Garage/Psych/Art Rock

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

We formed in 2021 as the South African Covid lockdown ensued, and the band had the opportunity to play one sold-out first show to a frothing home crowd before the plug was pulled on live music in SA. We utilised the following months to meticulously craft their sound and live set with a new melodic, yet high energy take on the psych rock revivalist roots that are inherent to our DIY Cape Town rock scene.

The band dropped a four-track EP, Adieu Or Die, as well as a double-single release with a music video which premiered on It’s Psychedelic Baby Magazine in 2022. A few national tours and larger shows followed, including festival slots at That 70s fest, Pangea and Helter Skelter and releases were featured on local radio stations, SA Alternative Top 20 chart and playlists such as Spotify’s SA Rock. 

Moskitos reopened our account in 2024 with several singles that lean into the more gritty garage rock sound and energy we cultivated at our live shows, still aiming to maintain the methodical musical and lyrical approach to piece together a sonic journey that draws the listener in from the inception.

What can people expect from your music?

The new album, Mirage, is a heady collision of sound. It’s an album for those who dare to question what they think they know. Our music shifts gears from composed emotional existentialism to unapologetic garage-rock with a good mix of wandering off into weird little pockets of soundbites before we bring everything back together.” 

The band has always found a home in blending psychedelic guitar manipulations and infectious hooks, drawing inspiration from iconic acts like The Kinks and Nuggets-era bands. Still, in equal measure, we embrace the diverse musical tastes of the three members that range from Black Sabbath to the Beach Boys and more recent psych rock and art rock acts such as Thee Oh Sees, The Black Angels, and The Smile.

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

We are poised to drop our debut full LP, Mirage, on 1 November 2024. The album shows Moskitos at our most visceral -  it’s a relentless journey where anything can happen next. The first singles including Woman and Ten Lies are out on all good streaming platforms. 

Where can people find you on Social Media?

Facebook | Instagram | Linktree | YouTube

Thanks to Plug Music Agency for all of the info.

DÖ - Unversum (Album Review)

Release Date: September 18th 2024. Record Label: Lay Bare Recordings. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Unversum - Track Listing:

1. Call of the Supervoid (6:46)

2. Nuclear Emperor (5:17)

3. Sulfur Incense (5:35)

4. At the Melting Gaze of the Origin (4:27)

5. Ode to the Dark Matter (4:59)

6. Faster Than Light (6:51)

7. Moldy Moon (5:37)

8. Wasted Life Form (6:28)

Review

Unversum is the new album from Acclaimed Psych/Doom/Sludge/Stoner Riffsters DÖ and is their third full length album with the band moving themselves deeper into the Cosmic Vortex of the Spaced Out aspect with their music. With a primal style of Progressive Metal and sometimes Death Metal growls appearing, this is a heavier version of DÖ that we’ve encountered compared to their previous releases. 

Opening track Call Of The Supervoid sees DÖ’s music still has their trademark COSMIC DOOM themes that allows the Psychedelic based Stoner/Sludge Metal grooves to build up a muscular and aggressive FUZZY style of music. Warped sound effects and glitchy noises allow DÖ to play a cinematic style of Intergalactic pounding rhythms which becomes quite “out there” with the cerebral vision of DÖ’s music especially when waves of Ambient Post-Rock appear out of nowhere especially within the closing seconds of the track.

DÖ demonstrates that style of music throughout the album but they include a Pitch Black sensibility into the mix within the second track Nuclear Emperor. The music once again moves within the Extreme elements of Black Metal and Death Metal whilst retaining a catchy Sludge/Stoner Metal movement. The vocals are harsh and violent but always full of purpose that are quite easy to understand. The subtle flashes of distortion and down-tuned experimentation has always been a major part of DÖ’s creative philosophy and it’s good to hear it’s been moved up to an altogether different style of Psychedelic heaviness.

The music is always full of LOW & SLOW and Down-Tuned instrumental passages with a disturbing use of Amplifier Reverb which only adds another level of sonic heaviness with gaps of glitchy sound clips that DÖ fill with highly intricate flashes of Psych Metal with epic guitar solos along the way especially on tracks such as Sulfur Incense and At The Melting Gaze Of The Origin.

The album does feel inspired by well known Science Fiction franchises but given a unique and refreshing storytelling spin that DÖ brings a destructive quality throughout the whole album. Unversum sees DÖ taking creative cues from bands such as UFOMAMMUT, Mastodon, High On Fire and SLEEP but playing a slightly more extreme style of COSMIC DOOM spliced with extra APOCALYPTIC FUZZ METAL goodness.

Though, DÖ do play classic Sludge/Stoner Metal structures on various parts of the record where the music becomes more riff-centric with the “PITCH BLACK” metal aspect being left out especially within the stunning fourth track Melting Gaze Of The Origin. This is DÖ playing a stylish take on the Post-Doom and Post-Stoner genres but giving a highly vicious SPACE ROCK spin that also includes some of my favourite instrumental moments on the whole album.

Unversum sees DÖ conjuring dark tales of the COSMOS within the second half of the record which does become more DOOM & GLOOM with the heaviest and trippiest parts of the whole album. There’s a free-flowing Post-Rock attitude that appears within the quieter sections of the record before DÖ unleash a torrent of nasty Blackened Doom grooves before solidifying the mood with a heavy cosmic creative energy that would make fans of UFOMAMMUT extremely happy.

The final few tracks of Faster Than Light, Moldy Moon and Wasted Life Form once again allows DÖ to explore familiar sounds they created on their previous records but still creating highly original music to entice new fans with. The vocals when they appear are superbly aggressive with an unapologetic attitude with the music continuing to grow naturally with a true destructive purpose. You’ll be surprised at how melodic Unversum can actually be though that aspect is buried under a MEGATON of destructive COSMIC RIFFAGE.

Unversum is perhaps where DÖ have shown they’ve matured as songwriters and musicians which allows the album to be their most complete and technically impressive record to date. This is also my favourite album from them as it explores themes that we haven’t heard from the band before and this only adds to the overall experience of UNVERSUM which will no doubt be considered as one of the best albums of the year.

Unversum is a jaw-dropping experience that deserves your full and undivided attention.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to DÖ and Plug Music Agency for the promo.

Unversum will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Lay Bare Recordings from Wednesday September 18th 2024.

Links

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Finnish Doom Trio DÖ Unveil Lyric Video for "Ode to the Dark Matter" from Upcoming Album Unversum

Photo Credit – Hannu Nieminen

Finland's riff-worshipping, cosmos-obsessed doom trio, DÖ, releases the lyric video for their latest track, Ode to the Dark Matter. This powerful new song is taken from their highly anticipated upcoming album Unversum, due out on September 18th, 2024, via Lay Bare Recordings in vinyl format and across various digital platforms.

For the past decade, DÖ has steadily gathered international recognition with their dark, astral-infused sound, which they refer to as "döömer." This distinctive Northern blend combines elements of stoner, doom, sludge, and psychedelia, with subtle nods to death and black metal, creating a unique sonic experience. Their growing discography includes four acclaimed EPs and two albums, all of which have been praised by the global heavy music press, including the prestigious Doom Charts.

DÖ has built a reputation for their loud, high-energy live performances, spearheaded by their infamous maniacal drummer. They have performed at notable festivals like Soulcrusher (Netherlands), Nummirock (Finland), and Desert Hel (Finland), and have shared stages with iconic acts such as Church of Misery.

The new track was created during the recording sessions for Unversum, as the band explains, "Ode to the Dark Matter was the last song we made for the album. It was actually born during the recording sessions, and it replaced another track that was originally planned for the album. The lyrics serve as both a tribute to the fascinating dark matter and to our friend who produced and recorded the album, whose nickname is Ode."

Pre-order Unversum on vinyl

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Thanks to Plug Music Agency for all of the details.

Filthy Hippies - Share The Pill (Album Review)

Release Date: July 05th 2024. Record Label: Mongrel Records. Formats: DD

Share The Pill - Track Listing:

1. We All Fall Down

2. Dual

3. Walk In The Sun

4. Good Time

5. Candy Floss

6. Stolen From Heaven

7. Share The Pill

8. Catch Me If You Can

9. Catatonic

10. Dreaming Of Water

11. You’ll Forgive Me (When I’m Clean)

12. Dead Flowers

Line Up:

Andrew Paine - Vox,Bass,Keys

Mandy Backstrom - Vox,Bass

Tim Ball - Guitar

Ca'Lee Quick - Guitar

Chealsey Leukes – Drums

Review

Share The Pill is the new album from South African Psych/Noise/Shoegaze/Stoner Rockers Filthy Hippies though the record has a deep Indie Rock that aligns them more closely to bands from the 1980’s and 1990’s Alt Rock scene. The record is quite adventurous with Filthy Hippies exploring a surreal and jazzy Psychedelic sound which is quite experimental but always warm-hearted.

Filthy Hippies aren’t afraid with some Classic Pop sounds along the way but there’s a ton of heavy shoegaze guitars that can be quite dynamic and powerful. Share The Pill can only be described as a hallucinogenic trip with layers of sonic tapestry where I can see the Phil Spector influence the PR blurb that accompanied the album coming shining through.

There’s cues to bands such as A Place To Bury Strangers, The Jesus & Mary Chain, Slowdive and even HUM. The record could be too melancholic for some for the first four tracks of We All Fall Down, Duel, Walk In The Sun and Good Time as Filthy Hippies operate too closely within the Indie/Pop creative template at times but it’s beautiful to hear. However, they do show some gritty determination when the heavier Alt Rock grooves appear which adds a layer of distortion that you don’t expect. 

Fifth track Candy Floss is one of the standout tracks where the music shifts dramatically with elements of Shoegaze, Noise Rock, Post-Rock and sullen Stoner Rock attitudes. The vocals from Andrew Paine are excellent and where you can hear influences from the 1980’s Alt Rock scene and the band resemble bands such as REM and The Pixies at times. Perhaps the perfect reason  why I became a fan of this great band in the first place.

Sixth track Stolen From Heaven is a Post-Rock driven number with a slow-paced Shoegaze attitude which has moments of Distorted Pop noises with a Prog Rock attitude becoming quite Jazzy and Psychedelic on the later stages of the track. The dual vocals from Andrew and Mandy work superbly well together and leave you wanting to hear more before the song fades into the distance.

The second half of the album is equally as strong and beautifully dynamic as the first with Filthy Hippies once again experimenting with their Shoegaze focused sound with heartfelt lyrics to match. The Electronica aspect is more dominant here in places but the band manage to keep the “ROCK” aspect of their music fully intact even when the experimental “POPPIER” creative themes take centre stage.

Other great songs to check out are: Share The Pill, Catch Me If You Can, You’ll Forgive Me (When I’m Clean) and Dead Flowers.

Share The Pill won’t be for everyone as Filthy Hippie’s experimental approach is one of the main strengths of this album and allows the band to have a fearless attitude that provides some emotionally charged and highly original sounds throughout the record. 

This is an exquisite release from one of South Africa’s best kept musical secrets. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Plug Music Agency for the promo.

Share The Pill is available to buy from all good digital stockists now.

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