Hypervolume - Conceive (Album Review)

Release Date: 4th December 2020: Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD

Conceive - Tracklisting

Fire
Orbit
Before
Sun
Edge
Escape
Wicked
Sea

Band Members

FABIAN A.- Drums
A.HUMAN - Vocals/Guitars

Review

Hypervolume is a band made of two highly talented individuals from Chicago who’ve been involved within the local scene for a very long time and have built a wealth of knowledge and experience between them. The band is made up of FABIAN A. on Drums and A. HUMAN on Guitars and Vocal Duties. Hypervolume play a unique style of music that blends Psychedelia, Noise, Punk, Thrash, Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal for a harsh and volatile sounding experience.

Their debut album Conceive is an interesting record with both it’s execution and delivery. As Hypervolume play outside the usual boundaries of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal. One moment they’re playing HIGH ON FIRE style riffs and then opt for a more patient Post-Metal delivery akin to legendary Chicago natives - PELICAN.

The album only lasts 30 minutes but there’s so many different ideas and moods the band play on each of the 8 songs contained on the album.

Opening song - Fire - starts very slowly with heavy guitars and pounding drums building upto a more threatening style of Instrumental Rock/Metal but Hypervolume change direction when A. HUMAN appears with his bombastic and in your face vocals. The song becomes more of a violent riff-fest that reminds myself of early-era High On Fire. Though these guys have way bleaker themes contained in the lyrics. There is also a cool Psych Rock vibe lurking in the background.

Second song - Orbit - is more Thrash orientated with a Noise Rock/Stoner Metal atmosphere being thrown in just for the hell of it. FABIAN A. drums are poetic and quite frantic in equal measure with some top-notch guitars being laid down by A.HUMAN. Hypervolume add an intelligent switch or style of music towards the end when the aggressive energy is replaced by a more somber Space Rock influence and it shows you that the band aren’t afraid to change the whole sound of the album in one quick moment.

Third song - Before - opens with a slowly played Post-Doom/Stoner/Psych based melody which has more of an Ambient based delivery and shows a different side to Hypervolume. The instrumental work is superb yet again with the Post-Rock/Post-Metal vibes allowing this song to be one of the standout songs on the record.

Fourth song - Sun - is the longest song on the record clocking in at almost 6 minutes and Hypervolume throws everything at you with this song. Fast-paced Thrash grooves with a totally Punk Rock atmosphere allowing the band to move into any musical direction they see fit. The song doesn’t know what it wants to be and that is a good thing. As this is an exciting song that shows you what Hypervolume is all about.

The 2nd half of the album sees Hypervolume add more Eastern and Psychedelic influences to the mix with the album achieving the right balance of musical exploration and pulsating PISSED OFF grooves that have true “HEAD-BANGING” quality to them all.

Other great songs to check out are: Edge, Wicked and Sea.

The only downside to this album that it’s too damn short. Conceive is one of those albums where I wanted to hear and was quite sad to see it ended quite suddenly. However, what Hypervolume have included on the record is first-rate and one that will offer listeners something exciting and wholly original.

This is the type of album that should really be on RELAPSE RECORDS. I can easily see Hypervolume fitting in with that legendary label and their roster of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal bands. And if that’s your thing then be prepared for a stunning record.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Dewar PR for the promo. Conceive will be available to buy on CD/DD from December 4th 2020.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

ILS Release A New Video For Their New Song - "No Luck" - From Their Upcoming New Album

ILS released a video for a new song called "No Luck" from their upcoming debut album CURSE which is due for release on July 4th 2020.

Decibel says "This catchy, nasty straight sidewinder of a record feels like an improbably successful attempt to build a tightly coiled rope bridge between Jesus Lizard, Kyuss, and EYEHATEGOD."

(Pronounced ilz) ILS is a 4 piece disaster chic band from Portland, OR. ILS consists of Tom Glose (Black Elk) on vocals. Nate Abner (The Days, The Nights) on guitar. Tim Steiner (Passerby) on drums and Adam Pike (White Orange) on bass.

"Curse" was engineered by Nate Abner and Stephan Hawkes, mastered by Stephan Hawkes, and will be released on July 4th. Preorder it here.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Festival News - RPM Fest 2018

RPM Fest organizers have announced the 2018 full band roster for the late August music event. Held this year in Montague, Massachusetts, RPM Fest is an annual three-day outdoor heavy Rock, Punk, and Metal music festival that in 2018 features 50 bands, as well as camping, games, local beer and food, vendors, and more.

This year RPM Fest brings in national headlining acts such as Black Tusk, Tombs, Incite,Whores., and Acid Witch, as well as additional local and regional vendors and festival sponsors for the 2018 event.

Each year of RPM Fest has occurred in Western Massachusetts, and while the region is somewhat rural, it has been a hotbed for spawning nationally-recognized heavy music acts like Killswitch Engage and Shadows Fall. Since RPM Fest's 2014 start, West Mass has seen a heavy music resurgence, with its goal to keep fostering the local heavy music scene by showcasing some of the best underground bands New England has to offer.

DETAILS:

• RPM FEST 2018
• Presented by: Promotorhead Entertainment; PDP Productions 
• Event Date: August 24 - 26, 2018 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
• Location: 210 Turners Fall Road, Montague, Massachusetts, USA 01351
• Genres/Styles: Rock, Metal, Punk
• Fest Lineup Playlists:
  • http://spotify.rpmfest.org/
  • https://www.youtube.com/rpmfest
• Info: RPMFest.org
  • 2018 FAQ: faq.rpmfest.org
  • Volunteers: volunteers.rpmfest.org
  • Partners: partners.rpmfest.org
  • Booking: booking.rpmfest.org
• Ticket Sales: Early Bird sales open June 4th, 2018 (Monday)

WMN (Women) - S/T (Album Review)

Release date: May 07th 2018. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD

WMN – S/T – Tracklisting

1.ELECTRIC BATH ATTENDANT
2.52 YRS AN IMBECILE

3.WEEP NOW IN THE MIRE
4.DROWNER
5.COUNT AS FEMALE
6.FRWLL

Review

WMN return after a three year absence with their new album. If you're new to world of WMN then be prepared for a heavy as heck Noise/Punk/Sludge Metal journey that can be quite hard work at times. If you're already familiar with the band then WMN have gone a moody and slightly dramatic makeover. Gone are the upbeat Sludge/Stoner Rock vibes that appeared on their earlier releases. Now the band is embracing their dark and moodier personas.

Opening track – Electric Bath Attendant - is a Noise Rock/Punk driven affair with the doom and sludge metal elements appearing on different stages of the song. The vocals are more boisterous than WMN's previous records. The whole mood of the album is bleak and unsettling at times. WMN experiment with their sound and long-time fans of the band maybe slightly put off from the drastic change of sound from WMN. The song becomes very creepy with harsh growls, angry lyrics and weird psychedelic sounds. Though the music can be quite catchy at times.

Second track – 52 Years An Imbecile - is one of the albums strongest tracks with WMN focusing more on aggressive melody than the Punk influence that can be heard on other songs. The song is played at a very slow pace but this allows WMN to play a different style of music compared to the opening track.

The band have included a couple of songs on this album that act as a brief break from the more epic tracks that WMN have included on the album. These songs last for under two minutes and most of them are completely crazy with a wide array of different distorted sounds. Other good songs to check out are: Drowner and FRWLL. FRWLL runs for almost nine minutes and perhaps the standout track on the album.

The gloomy and depressing Punk Rock sound of the album never waives and WMN feel like a different band compared to their earlier releases. You may need to be in a certain mood to listen to this album but there is one thing you can never call WMN and that is BORING. Nothing is what it seems on this album.

Sure I miss the upbeat riffs the band created on their earlier records but I admire WMN for creating something different. If you're a fan of Eagle Twin's earlier albums then WMN are the band for you. As with multiple listens I'm beginning to discover heavy distorted drone metal sounds that I missed originally.

So give this album a chance. It won't be for everyone but there is bound to be an audience out there for WMN. Overall, WMN have released a deeply disturbing and hugely entertaining album.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Melvins - Pinkus Abortion Technician (Album Review)

Release date: April 20th 2018. Label: Ipecac Recordings. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Pinkus Abortion Technician – Tracklisting

1. Stop Moving To Florida

2. Embrace The Rub

3. Don’t Forget To Breathe

4. Flamboyant Duck

5. Break Bread

6. I Want To Hold Your Hand

7. Prenup Butter

8. Graveyard

Members

Buzz Osborne – Guitars/Vox

Dale Crover – Drums

Jeff Pinkus – Bass

Steven McDonald – Bass

Review

Greetings All,

It was a little less than two years ago that I did my first review for Outlaws. Steve took a chance on me and handed me the Melvins Basses Loaded. I have been a huge Melvins fan for over 20 years. I was a grunge kid being in my teens in the early 90’s. I remember going to the National Record Mart in Steubenville, Ohio to pick up Houdini the day it came out in 1993. I had read a review in Rolling Stone and was a big Nirvana fan, so I took a stab and have been hooked ever since.

2018 gives us Pinkus Abortion Technician, the bands 507^th release and 23^rd in the past two years. I’m kidding, but honestly I have lost track. The band remains insanely prolific. I believe this to be their 3^rd full length in the last 3 years, not counting solo albums, side projects, etc.

Pinkus Abortion Technician has Buzz and Dale (If you are reading this I assume you already have a working knowledge of how the Melvins operate and how their line up constantly evolves) working with their last two bassists, Jeff Pinkus (Butthole Surfers, Honky, and more) and Steven McDonald (Redd Kross, Off!, etc) in an interesting fashion that includes tons of differing styles and instrumentation. In listening to the record, I didn’t notice any specific tracks that highlighted a double bass sound. It seems the band used the opportunity to add to the unique instrumentation and song structure. The eight songs on the record are intriguing and eminently listenable.

Stop Moving to Florida opens the record. It is an amalgamation of the old James Gang song Stop and the Butthole Surfers track Moving to Florida from Rembrandt Pussyhorse. The catchy classic rock style of the Stop portion improves upon the original version, while the Florida portion is remarkably similar to the original. Embrace the Rub follows, it is a short New-Wave inspired track with a punk inspired chorus.

Don’t Forget to Breathe is a seven minute plus track that moves at a slow, methodical pace with an ominous sound and shows touches of the bands more trademark heavy/sludge sound. The song is also highlighted by an odd steel drum/synth/dulcimer sound. One of the most interesting songs on the record is the atmospheric pop of Flamboyant Duck. The song is the first of two that opens with an acoustic guitar and brings in some of Pinkus trademark banjo plucking before transforming into a heavy guitar and synth closing. An interesting note on the first half of the record is that the majority of lead vocals are done by the bassist duo and not Buzz.

Break Bread is a more straight ahead, almost southern rock tinged track. It’s no secret that the band has an affection for ZZ Top. The songs mid-tempo beat and catchy chorus give way to a noisy breakdown that reminds me a lot of the little band from Texas. Ironically, one of the heaviest songs on the record is a cover of the greatest pop group of all time.

I Want to Hold Your Hand has been a live staple for quite a few years. The song maintains the catchiness of the original but adds a real heavy punch that makes it one of the stand out tracks on the record. The Melvins prove throughout this record (as well as past albums) that they can really do some remarkable work with a cover song. Prenup Butter follows and opens once again with an acoustic guitar that gives way to a definite psychedelic guitar sound. The track has a driving drum beat that carries a dark, heavy psych stomp. A second Butthole Surfers cover of Graveyard, from the almost name sake Surfers record Locust Abortion Technician, closes the record.

This is the sludgiest, most old school Melvins sounding track on the record. The band makes it their own, while still keeping it similar to the original, this track may be the most obvious to have a double bass sound to it. The guitars are heavy, the drums loud and the vocals are trade mark Buzz style with plenty of noise and feedback to go around.

At this point in the game the Melvins approach an album and do what they want with no regard or interest in what others expect or want them to do. This must be an amazingly liberating feeling. If you are a Melvins fan, you will absolutely dig Pinkus Abortion Technician. 

Don’t do yourself the disservice of pushing it off because it lacks the Sludge of Lysol or the heaviness/metal sound of their Atlantic years. Embrace it and enjoy the ride, the Melvins know where they are going, even if the rest of us don’t. 

Pinkus Abortion Technician is a welcome addition to an already impressive catalog of killer music.

- Todd S

Instagram @alltheghoststhathauntyou

Words by Todd Stealey

Thanks to Lauren at Rarely Unable PR for the promo. Pinkus Abortion Technician will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ipecac Recordings from April 20th 2018.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Heave Blood & Die - Vol II (Album Review)

Release date: 19th January 2018. Label: Blues For The Red Sun. Format: CD/DD

Vol II – Tracklisting

Plague

Warsaw

Countercult

Brigade

Harakiri

LXXX

Wealth is Nothing

Sinking Ships

Members

BASS/VOCAL- Karl Pedersen

GUITAR/VOCAL - Mads Ystmark

GIUTAR- Jonas Helgesen Kuivalainen

SYNTH - Marie Sofie Langeland Mikkelsen

DRUMS - Kenneth Mortensen

Review

Heave Blood & Die's new album - II - is an intriguing album indeed. Blending Psychedelic Doom and Stoner Metal with the band drawing influence from Post-Punk and Post-Rock. The first half of the album sees the band open with Plague a heavy psychedelic doom/stoner offering with traces of distorted post-punk sounds. The riffs are firmly within the heavy psychedelic world. What makes this song and perhaps the album standout is their highly inventive use of synths.

Second track - Harikari - opens with a slow-paced sludgy post-rock groove. The vocals have a punk style vibe around them before the band move onto more progressive doom/stoner metal sounds. The song may sound and feel simple but listen more closely and you can hear a complex sounding song with many different elements to it. The synths add a trippy psychedelic level of weirdness with the riffs keeping the whole thing together.

Third track - Warsaw - is a dirge ridden sludgier effort with the band losing some of the psychedelic gloss they created on the opening two songs. It's quite depressing in parts with the lyrics containing post-doom and gloom bleak themes. The song does try to match the upbeat psychedelic madness of the earDier songs but fails to do so. That's a good thing as this song shows a different side to the bad. Sludgy Punk/Doom Guitars matched against a more aggressive Post-Rock/Stoner Metal attitude.

The first part of the album ends with the next two songs on the album LXXX and Counter Cult. Both of these tracks offer genuine exciting moments of post-doom/stoner metal weirdness with Counter Cult being one of the standout songs on the album. As it has a more frantic Doom/Stoner Metal atmosphere that truly allows the band to fully explore their musical identity.

The second half of the album contains four songs - Wealth Is Nothing, Brigade, Sinking Ships, and Krokodil carry on the heavy psychedelic experimental feel of the album but with the focus being more on Psychedelic Stoner Metal. The vocals contain the usual raucous punk-rock/sludge style and it works superbly well.

It's perhaps not as strong as the frantic first half but I did enjoy the musical experimentation more here. As the band play a more expansive Post-Metal/Doom/Stoner Metal sound. The riffs are a mixture of angry fast-paced moments and slow-paced sludgy sounds. The standout track on this half has to be Brigade. The intelligent drumming of Kenneth allows the music to be played more freely.

Elements of Mastodon can be heard here especially when the band opt for a more progressive metal sound. You have to applaud for Heave Blood & Die for doing something different and almost pulling it off.

The album can be quite confusing and maybe messy in places but it's still an emotionally charged and hugely entertaining album that offers something different within the Hard Rock/Heavy Metal world.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

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VIDEO NASTIES Announce New Single And Video For TRANSVOLTUM

Video Nasties from Liverpool. Featuring members of Iron Witch, Magpyes, The Bendal Interlude and SSS, have just dropped a new video and single for TRANSVOLTUM.

FFO Kvelertak/Black Breath/Entombed/Necrophagia etc.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | Twitter

Bloodnut - St. Ranga (Album Review)

Release date: August 1st 2017. Label: Self Released Music. Format: CD/DD

St Ranga – Tracklisting

Space Orangutan

Mark Of The Outcast

That Fire Inside

Burning Boosh

Red Dead Riders

Song Of Fire And Ice

Band Members

Doug McFarlane- Bass/Vox

Ty Boniface - Drums

Doug Robertson - Guitar

Review

New Zealand band of ginger ruffians - Bloodnut - return almost twelve months after their superb debut album with St. Ranga. Another cool take on a well-known Metal album. Though this time with Metallica's derided album - St. Anger. Last time they took a shot at Kyuss seminal classic album - Blues For The Red Sun. Bloodnut play a bombastic kind of Punk driven Sludge/Stoner Metal sound with the band having a subtle tongue and cheek approach to their music.

Nothing has much changed here with the band carrying on their modern sounding Sludge/Stoner riffs. Though this album does have a more spaced out feel especially with the opening track - Space Orangutan. It has a Kyuss/Red Fang approach but the distorted punk sounds make the band have a harder edge. The lyrics do have a very humorous feel but Bloodnut make it counts where it matters most and that's with the music. 

They have written some fantastic classic sounding heavy metal riffs merged with familiar psychedelic sounds. That's the longest track on the album clocking in at almost nine minutes. It's a good job that the song keeps you entertained throughout.

The next three songs Mark Of The Outcast, That Fire Inside and Burning Boosh are shorter songs that allow Bloodnut to get straight to the point in playing more direct sludge riffs. Mark Of The Outcast and Burning Boosh are perhaps some of the standout songs on the album as you can hear moments of vintage sounding sludge/stoner metal ringing through your speaks at a loud volume.

The production has improved immensely since their debut album. Everything is clearer and has more focus.

The final two songs on the album Red Dead Riders and Song Of Fire And Ice sees Bloodnut return to play familiar epic riffs first heard on the opening track. The songs can be quite deafening at times with the band excelling once again with the lyrics. Who knew that you can write such fantastical heavy songs about being "ginger"? I thought they were over-stretching the idea on their debut album. 

Nope. They've found more weird and wonderful tales to sing about being ginger. I'm not complaining as I'm a fellow ginger myself.

I applaud the guys for writing something so simple and dear to their hearts that they can create songs and album after album of the perils of being ginger. Sure it's all very tongue in cheek but I wouldn't tell these heavyweight sludge/stoner metal bruisers to stop. I would tell them to carry on as long as they can. The album is a violent powder-keg of Punk/Sludge/Stoner Metal fury that should enhance Bloodnut's appeal and popularity to the masses even more.

I still prefer their debut album compared to St. Ranga but that's not to say this is any less entertaining than their debut album. Far from it, St. Ranga has the power and intelligence to stand on its own merits and be classed as a brutally heavy and supremely entertaining album.

With Beastwars taking a sabbatical at the moment, Bloodnut have the potential to take over the position of New Zealand's premier Sludge/Stoner Metal band.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

The Ditch And The Delta - Hives In Decline (Album Review)

Release date: May 12th 2017. Label: Battleground Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Hives In Decline – Tracklisting

1.Hives In Decline 06:55

2.Fuck On Asphalt 05:57

3.Sleeping Dogs 04:41

4.Dry Land 02:01

5.Till Body Quits 04:44

6.Mud 04:57

7.Dread Spectacle 05:36

Members:

Elliot Secrist-Guitars, samples, vocals

Charles Bogus-Drums

Kory Quist-Bass, vocals

Review

The Ditch And The Delta are a band I hadn't heard of before. They've been compared to a wave of different legendary artists within the Sludge Metal field. Though I feel on their new album - Hives In Decline - the band creates their own unique sound. Parts Noise Rock, Sludge, Doom and Post-Metallic sounds. Hives In Decline is built upon math-rock like progression and that allows the band to create heavy melodic sludgier moments with fantastic punk/metal vocals.

Opening track - Hives In Decline - is a confident and self-assured slice of pure punk/noise-rock driven sound. The song has moments of psychedelic sludge/doom based grooves that remind me of Kowloon Walled City in parts that are merged with the post-theatrical sounds of Neurosis. The album has a gloomy and despairing outlook on life and it all starts with this great song.

Second track – Fuck On Asphalt - sees the band opt for a more Sludge Rock driven sound. It's a more grown-up sound compared to the opening track and the thumping bass lines add an unsettling feel with The Ditch And The Delta delivering a more post-punk sound especially with the vocals. The album may sound and feel under-produced at first, though with a few more listens of the album, you soon start to become more aware of the murky atmosphere the band have created on the album. The different genres and sounds held within the album have hidden meaning that you may miss the first time you listen to the album.

The album then returns to a more traditional Sludge Metal sound with songs such as: Sleeping Dogs, Dry Land and Till Body Quits - carrying on the expert sludge/doom delivery of the opening two tracks. Hives In Decline ranks as an uncompromising blend or pure rock/metal aggression and this band has a lot to say.

It's a shame the album only lasts for thirty five minutes or so. As the album suddenly ends. I wanted a couple of more songs from The Ditch And The Delta. Maybe I'm being slightly greedy there. The Ditch And The Delta aren't afraid to experiment with their sound and matching their noise/sludge hybrid sound with moments of Americana which you can hear on the excellent song - Dry Land.

This album is already starting to win plaudits within the Doom/Sludge Metal world and it's not hard to see why. The Ditch And The Delta have delivered a hard-hitting and uncompromising album that packs an almighty punch.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Earsplit PR for the promo. Hives In Decline is available to buy now via Battleground Records on CD/DD/Vinyl.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

House Of Lightning - S/T (Album Review)

Release date: 01st December 2016. Label: Self Released. Format: DD

House Of Lightning – S/T – Tracklisting

1.Fear Merchant 04:45
2.James Brown 08:07
3.Rapture 03:42
4.Small Hours 04:26
5.Quadzilla 07:03
6.Trust 08:14

Band Members

Henry Wilson - guitar, vocals

Eric Hernandez - bass

Rick Smith - drums

Review

Greetings All

Florida's House of Lightning's self titled album is a most interesting record. It's one that requires repeated listens because the first time around something sounds a bit off. I really didn't know what to think the first time around. So, I hopped in the car, cranked it up, and absorbed it all in. Next thing I knew my head was rocking and it hit me like a ton of bricks. This thing rocked. The band plays a high energy mix of metal riffs and bends with some heavy ass drums and a little bit of thrash metal thrown in for good measure. The style and tempo change a couple of times in almost every song.

There is some 80's metal feel mixed with a 90's thrash/punk influence. With just a touch of hardcore thrown in for good medicine. I am talking solely the music, the other interesting element is the vocals. There are bit of a mind fuck that takes a while to wrap your head around. As they're a mix of 70's hard rock/radio rock with 90's alternative rock. It may turn some people off, but I dug it.

It all made a little more sense when I checked the band's bio and saw the Torche/Floor/Dove connection. There are some definite similarities that add some clarity to this record. House of Lightning tends to draw more from the thrash and metal influences in lieu of the sludgy aspects of the aforementioned bands.

The 6 tracks are an epic 37 minutes of headbanging action. The first track Fear Merchant kicks you in the teeth right away. James Brown hits you with the big time tempo changes. Rapture is reminiscent of old school Metallica and leads into the albums shortest and slowest track Small Hours. Which gives way to the shifty Quadzilla. The album closes with Trust, an absolute neck-breaker.

This record will grow on you, most definitely. If you are someone that doesn't like your peas mixed with your carrots, then maybe this isn't your thing. Though, if you're adventurous and dig throwing a bunch of shit in a blender to see what you get, hop aboard, House of Lightning will get your juices flowing!

Words by Todd Stealey

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Superjoint - Caught Up In The Gears Of Application (Album Review)

Release date: November 11th 2016. Label: Housecore Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Caught Up In The Gears Of Application – Tracklisting

1.Today And Tomorrow 03:24

2.Burning The Blanket 02:33

3.Ruin You 02:24

4.Caught In The Gears Of Application 02:42

5.Sociopathic Herd Delusion 02:34

6.Circling The Drain 04:30

7.Clickbait 05:21

8.Asshole 02:37

9.Mutts Bite Too 03:56

10.Rigging The Fight 02:34

11.Receiving No Answer 05:33

Band Members:

Phil Anselmo - Vocals/Guitar

Jimmy Bower - Guitar

Kevin Bond - Guitar

Joey "Blue" Gonzalez - Drums

Stephen Taylor - Bass

Review:

Superjoint may have dropped the Ritual from their name since returning after they split in 2004 but as they blast back into the metal worlds consciousness with their storming new album Caught Up In The Gears Of Application. It is clear they still have the same aggression and energy as when the band first emerged but with a renewed, angry and fierce approach to their music that their last album, the sluggish, A Lethal Dose Of American Hatred lacked.

It is clear that both the break and name change was needed, as they feel like a new band (and with new members in drummer Jose Gonzalez and bassist Steven Taylor, courtesy of Phil Anselmo's solo band The Illegals joining the singer plus original members Jimmy Bower and Kevin Bond. It almost is a new band) and this is reflected in the focussed nature of the bands music.

As soon as the feedback drenched riffs and Anselmo's commanding voice on the opening track Today And Tomorrow kick in, it is clear that the band are back with a vengeance and as soon as the song hits its stride with its galloping riffs and rapid fire drumming. It feels good to have them back and the venomous "Trust no one" refrain at the end of the song is pure Superjoint.

Caught Up In The Gears Of Application doesn't let up for a second after the effective opener with the all encompassing angry groove of Burning The Blanket (a song that features one of those classic Jimmy Bower riffs) and the relentless hardcore energy of Ruin You brimming with energy. That relentless energy doesn't let up and tracks like Circling, The Drain, Clickbait, Mutts Bite Too and Rigging The Fight fizzle with an infectious hatred while the groove of the more downbeat and sludgey heaviness of Receiving No Answer closes the album in fine style.

The bands hardcore punk influence is really evident on this album with the majority of the tracks being short sharp shocks of noise and is reflected in the energetic songs with Poison Idea being the strongest reference point especially on Ruin You with Anselmo channelling his inner Jerry A to maximum effect. The likes of Discharge, Celtic Frost and Darkthrone are all clearly still big influences on the band too and the feeling of these classic bands resonates throughout the album and it is a feeling that is both super angry and super heavy.

It's good to have Superjoint back, refreshed, refocussed and firing on all cylinders with this album and with Caught Up In The Gears Of Application and the excellent Scour EP from earlier in the year, it's good to see Phil Anselmo hitting another rich vein of form in his vocal approach. He might have had a regrettable year in many ways that has been well documented, discussed, dismissed and dissected but musically speaking, it's been a highlight from him and this is the pick of his musical endeavours in 2016. Superjoint are back, they're even more pissed off and they have the songs and the attitude to prove this beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Words by Gavin Brown

You can buy Caught Up In The Gears Of Application on CD/DD/Vinyl via Housecore Records now. Thanks to Earsplit PR for the promo.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

GOD DAMN - Everything Ever (Album Review)

 

Release date: September 23rd 2016. Label: One Little Indian Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Everything Ever – Tracklisting

Sing This

Ghost

Again Again

Fake Prisons

I'll Bury You

Failure

It Bites

Oh No

Six Wires

Dead To Me

Violence

Let's Speak

Easily Misled

Band Members:

Thom Edward, guitar/vocals

Ash Weaver, drums.

Review:

God Damn return with their second album, Everything Ever and it’s boisterous, noisy and infectious as their debut album. It seems God Damn have returned louder, heavier and with grander ideas than their debut album. If you’re new to God Damn’s world expect loud angry Stoner Rock anthems with a sideline in Noise and Grunge style riffs with a pop style sensibility.

Opening track – Sing This – sees God Damn create a heavy punk/pop/grunge/stoner sing-along anthem. Heavy guitars and confident vocals that entertain you from the start. The lyrics have shades of nineties Grunge/Alternative Rock about them. Match them together and this makes up one of the albums strongest tracks.

Second track – Ghost – follows the guitar heavy style riffs of the opening track with the vocals adding another punk dimension to their music. It’s another party-moshing anthem especially when the chorus gets going with the heavy Stoner/Grunge riffs being driven along by superb pounding drums.

Third track – Again Again once again sees the band play the same template of fast paced 

Stoner/Grunge riffs with the atmosphere becoming slightly louder as result. Sure it can sound disjointed at times but with the band having so much fun it’s virtually impossible not to be swept away by it all. The lyrics could have done with more work but it’s the music that holds your attention.

Fourth track – Fake Prisons is one of the heaviest songs on the album with the band experimenting with their sound by adding synth based noises. It’s another one of the albums standout tracks with the vocals being a major highlight.

Well you get the picture the on how the rest of the album plays out. The album contains thirteen tracks and they follow the same pattern as each other. Other great songs to checkout are: I’ll Bury You, Failure, It Bites, Six Wires and Dead To Me.

Though the band could have easily left the final song Easily Misled off the album as it’s the weakest part of the album. This song stops the whole flow of the album. It’s a shame as until then God Damn keep the mood fresh and exciting. Maybe I’m being too harsh on the band; I just feel the album would have been better without the final song.

Apart from that minor criticism, Everything Ever is still a superb album to listen to and add to your music collection. It will no doubt enhance the band’s reputation to the Grunge/Stoner masses that will go crazy over this album.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Dave at Division Promotions for the promo. Everything Ever will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via One Little Indian Records from 23^rd Sept 2016.

Links:

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