Craneium - Point Of No Return (Album Review)

Release Date: 23rd February 2024. Record Label: The Sign Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Point Of No Return - Tracklisting

1.One Thousand Sighs

2.The Sun

3.A Distant Shore

4....of Laughter and Cries

5.Things Have Changed 

6.Search Eternal

Members

Andreas Kaján – Guitars and Vocals 

Martin Ahlö – Guitars and Vocals 

Jonas Ridberg – Bass 

Joel Kronqvist – Drums

Review

Heavy Psychedelic Stoner Rockers Craneium return with their new album Point Of No Return which sees the band continue to evolve with their Spaced Out Heavy and Cosmic sounding grooves which became quite prominent on their acclaimed 2021 album Unknown Heights. This time round Craneium delivers a heavier and darker style of music that retains a vital Psychedelic  creative energy which sees the band deliver similar SONIC sounds to bands such as King Buffalo, ELDER and Monolord whilst still creating their own great style.

The album is quite conceptual dealing with the effects of Climate Change, Global Warming and who will be left to look after the planet. So the album is quite topical with Craneium delivering that message very early on within the standout opening tracks of One Thousand Sighs and The Sun. The music is brilliantly melodic with flashes of FUZZY and DOOMED out dominance which works amazingly well with the band’s uplifting Psychedelic Stoner Rock energy with great vocals to match.

Both of the opening tracks feel like two different sides of the same coin with One Thousand Sighs being more Heavy Psychedelic sounding and The Sun being more Post-Doom based with some epic instrumental moments being heard throughout both tracks. This allows Point Of No Return to easily be part of the “DOES IT DOOM” category very early on.

Craneium provide a wide cinematic scope to their music which comes primarily into play on the next batch of tracks with A Distant Shore, ….of Laughter And Cries and Things Have Changed being quite emotional when the music switches to a more 1970’s Prog Rock direction and the hard hitting lyrics delivering a few home truths about where the planet maybe headed. The music is beautifully melodic and superbly played with the atmosphere being most Post-Rock orientated but Craneium knows when to deliver the knockout Psychedelic Stoner Rock punch that also brings the heaviest grooves on the album.

The record does have an excessive Sludge Rock attitude on the later stages with Craneium cranking up the distorted sound to the max which should appeal to folks who like their music VERY LOUD.

Point Of No Return ends with the thrilling and emotionally charged Search Eternal where Craneium delivers a winning finale with different movements of Heavy Psychedelic and Stoner Rock passages which leave you feeling emotionally satisfied. 

This is easily Craneium’s most technically impressive record to date with the amount of great sounds that appear throughout. This allows Point Of No Return to be considered their most defining work to date and easily an Album Of The Year contender. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Almost Religious for the promo..

Point Of No Return will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via The Sign Records from February 23rd 2024. Stockists listed below:

Almost Religious label group (The Sign Records / Lövely Records / Gaphals) is distributed by:

Proper - UK, Ireland V2 - Benelux, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France Bertus - Spain, Portugal Audioglobe - Italy Heathen Natives - Greece Border / Red Eye - Nordics, Rest of Europe MVD - North America, Japan, Australia, New Zealand The Orchard - Digital/Streaming

Links

Linktree | BandCamp

Green King - Hidden Beyond Time (Album Review)

Release Date: 16th December 2022. Record Label: The Sign Records Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Hidden Beyond Time: Tracklisting

Gods Of Annihilation

Godkiller

Prelude To Massacre

Steel On Ice

Taunter's Theme

Tervakiituri

Where Speedian Dwells

Lifetakers

Members

Eliel Salomaa - Guitars/Vocals

Lauri Lyytinen - Guitars

Heikki Nyman - Bass

Otto Bigler - Drums

Review

Heavy Metal/Stoner Metal crew Green King release their debut album Hidden Beyond Time and the record is a mixture of Classic Hard Rock and Heavy Metal sounds merged with the underground modern day Stoner Metal grooves. Taking cues from bands such as Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden and The Sword. This album is full of rich sounding moments that show how Green King could be a major part of the Classic or Retro music scene for many years to come but also having a refreshingly different modern sound as well.

Opening song Gates Of Annihilation is the perfect showcase for Green King to play their high-flying and twin-guitar riff worship of the past but with a thoroughly modern Stoner/Doom drive. This is first rate "fist pumping in the air" and "head-banging" material with the band playing that classic Twin Guitar sound to great effect with a highly energetic 80's Heavy Metal effect before the Psych Doom/Stoner underground vibe appears. Taking the mantle of the early-era The Sword with a catchy Thin Lizzy sound to the next level within the instrumental work on the album. Catchy and classic sounding vocals gives the listener an easy gateway to fully get on board with Green King.

Second song Godkiller carries on with the hybrid Heavy Metal/WEEDIAN sound with Green King playing excessive and extended guitar solos that shows a band within truly inspired magnificent form. The guitars have a slight "THRASH" based approach with the vocals moving into menacing Doom Rock passagess. Though, everything remains catchy and aggressive at the same time. Green King enjoy paying homage to their musical influences past and present with an epic homage to Iron Maiden on the later stages of the track. There's also a cool sounding gloomy Stoner influence that works surprisingly well with the faster paced grooves. 

Third song Prelude To Massacre is a lovely Psych Doom/Stoner Rock track with a distinctive feel of it's own. The spoken word passages are perhaps OTT but they show a different side to Green King's creative vision against the other tracks on the album.

Fourth song Steel On Ice has a sense of more urgency to it all with Green King playing a more direct sound. The music doesn't change or drift too far away from the opening two songs and why should it. Green King has hit upon a winning formula so why not only offer HEAVIER and more thrilling moments of this style of music. The song can be too chaotic at times but the excellent vocals and superb lyrics win the day for Green King to shine yet again.

The second half of the album sees Green King perhaps move into heavier and gloomier areas of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. With more of a central focus on Doom/Stoner Metal on tracks such as the Folk Rock tinged Taunter's Theme, Tervakiituri, Where Speedian Dwells and Lifetakers. All superbly written and played tracks with perhaps Tervakiituri and Lifetakers being the finest two tracks on the album.

Despite the thirty four minutes short running time of the album, Green King cover a lot of ground here which feels like the album is on much longer than it actually is. That's a good thing. As there's a ton of different sounding genres, grooves and riffs to fully appreciate on this album. 

Hidden Beyond Time is a brilliantly entertaining release and sees Green King to be a welcome addition to the Doom/Stoner Metal underground scene and should be lovingly embraced with HORNS IN THE AIR whilst HEADBANGING from start to finish. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to All Noir PR and Palmer Turner Overdrive PR for the promo. 

Hidden Beyond Time is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via The Sign Records from December 16th 2022.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Liar Thief Bandit - Diamonds (Album Review)

Date Released: September 16th 2022. Record Label: The Sign Records. Formats: CD/DD

Diamonds: Tracklisting

1.Peace With Disaster

2.Better Days 

3.Harm Reduction

4.Ain´t Fit To Live Here 

5.Diamonds (Are Made Under Pressure) 

6.The Art of Losing Battles 

7.Send Me Home

Review

Diamonds is the new mini-album from Swedish Power Trio Liar Thief Bandit. A band that describes themselves as Action Rock which encompasses areas of Hard Rock, Classic Rock and Stoner Rock but all done within the established Power Trio formation. There is also a slight Alternative modern feel on Diamonds that is a welcome addition to their overall sound. Add a Garage Rock element and Liar Thief Bandit are firing on all cylinders. 

Opening song Peace With Disaster is an aggressive and addictive song that evokes the spirit of Thin Lizzy with some top-notch classic twin guitar action. The psychedelic sounds are an added bonus with the band showing areas of classic heavy metal and rugged cllassic rock. The music is nicely balanced between different periods of Heavy Music with the spiky confident vocals being more suited to modern day Stoner Rock.

Second track Better Days carries on with the Thin Lizzy influence with bursts of 90’s Alt Rock energy for a song that tells a well crafted story. The vocals have a Punk Pop vibe but in a good way though it’s the music that saves the day. The lyrics are just OK for this track but they get the job done for one of the most “POP” based offerings on the album. Those damn melodic guitar solos are some of the best parts of this release.

Liar Thief Bandit continued this style of music for the remainder of the album across excellent tracks such as Harm Reduction, Am I Fit To Live Here, Diamonds (Are Made Under Pressure) and Send Me Home. Well just the whole damn album mentioned there. That’s a testament to this great band by creating memorable grooves that captures the spirit and essence of the last 45 years of the Hard Rock scene with a small underground vibe lurking in the background.

My only complaint about Diamonds is that it can be too repetitive in places but Liar Thief Bandit have more than enough charm to stand on their own creative merits. If you’re a fan of good old fashioned Hard Rock and Stoner Rock then these guys are seriously worth checking out.

Roll onto the next full length album from Liar Thief Bandit.

Excellent and Highly Recommended. 

Words by Steve Howe

Diamonds is available to buy now on CD/DD via The Sign Records.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Twitter | Instagram

Volcanova - Cosmic Bullshit (EP Review)

Release Date: February 25th 2022. Record Label: The Sign Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Cosmic Bullshit  - Tracklisting

1. Salem

2. Gold Coast

3. Desolation

4. End Of Time

5. No Wheels

6. Lost Spot

Members

Samuel Ásgeirsson - guitar, vocals

Thorsteinn Árnasson - bass guitar, vocals

Dagur Atlason - drums, vocals

Review

This Icelandic trio has stirred the airwaves for a few years now and are back with a new recording, and what is there to say? They go from strength to strength with 'Cosmic Bullshit', just listen and let it soak in and you know what I mean. The musical sphere they move within is starting to get oversaturated, like most genres, but Volcanova elegantly and effortlessly side-step any trappings, Instead the guys throw off any shackles and inhibitions and let everything roll. And the end-result? Bloody fantastic, you hear! Read on and see if I can do this masterpiece any justice.

 

Gripping you by the throat right from the start ‘Salem’ blends riffs, licks, melody and harmonies perfectly while moving back and forth between tempos…only to switch into cool jam session before ending at full tilt. ‘Gold Coast’ slows down just a touch going more for groove seeped in tight rhythms and razor sharp riffs. The explosive ending heightens an already great song. ‘Desolation’ absolutely destroys everything in sight. This is fantastic rock’n’roll mixed with the very heaviest and melodic parts of stoner rock. No holds barred from these gents and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

‘End Of Time’ starts out largely acoustic giving the listener a chance to catch one’s breath, but around 1:45 minutes Volcanova ups the ante and rocks as only they can, heavy yet melodic. A cool slower spaced out bluesy section follows before Samuel pulls off a wonderful solo. ‘No Wheels’ is short, sharp and to the point, this is intense, crushing and fabulous. Last out is ‘Lost Spot’ is the longest song coming in at almost 7 minutes. Kind of mid-tempo at first mixed with sharp riffs and punishing rhythm section and nice vocal harmonies in the chorus. Then, almost 3 minutes in, they slow everything down with Thorsteinn and Dagur leading the way. Eventually Samuel joins in as the band takes us through uncharted super novas and galaxies before they erupt and go brutally heavy. Absolutely wonderful!

 

Volcanova are something else and something we really need in music today to shake things up and challenge all the bands who just play by the trends. These guys are phenomenal and deserve all the accolades and praise and then some. The top of the world is where they should be and you, dear reader, should help them get there. Volcanova are the real deal, so miss them at your peril!

Words by Håkan Nyman

Cosmic Bullshit will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via The Sign Records from February 25th 2022.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Craneium Release New Video For A Secret Garden From Their Upcoming Album - Unknown Heights.

The Sign Records recently signed acclaimed Finnish Fuzz/Desert/Stoner Rock band Craneium for the release of their upcoming third studio album "Unknown Heights".

A couple of weeks ago, the band released the album's first single, "A Secret Garden" which you can hear streaming at the following link: https://orcd.co/asecretgarden

We are now premiering the new video of A Secret Garden as a little taster before the album is released later this year.

The band have said this about the video and upcoming new album:

"The video to A Secret Garden was filmed at V.R. Studio in Turku during the recording of the new album. This time we did most of the recording live with Joona Hassinen from Studio Underjord in the control room. We spent six hot summer days in the extremely cozy studio, built in the old railway depot of our home town Turku. We had a blast recording in this environment and wanted to save it on film as well as on track. Our dear friend Oliver Webb from the band Sunniva did some amazing animations to give it that final touch. We hope to give everybody a picture of how fun we had recording the new album."

Links

https://www.facebook.com/craneiumband
https://www.instagram.com/craneiumband/
https://craneiumband.bandcamp.com/

Thanks to Valdemar at Almost Religious for all of the details.

Album Premiere Of LIAR THIEF BANDIT New Album DEADLIGHTS

Liar Thief Bandit will release their third album ”Deadlights” on May 14, 2021. The album contains 12 tracks of modern-sounding and forward-thinking Scandinavian garage rock and will be released on digital, vinyl, and CD format. Liar Thief Bandit effortlessly blends smooth guitar licks, infectious hooks, and uplifting lyrics with a ton of live-rock energy, creating an album that easily would pass for a best-of collection of singles. 

Recorded in Tambourine Studios, who launched the career of The Cardigans among others, and produced by Erik Sunding, who’s been the engineer/producer for bands such as Terrible Feelings and Bob Hund. The production on ”Deadlights” is spotless, taking the spirit of Garage rock revival to a completely new level. 

Deadlights is released on The Sign Records, who’ve previously worked with Liar Thief Bandit for the release of the band’s 2019 7” split single ”Virtue Not a Vice / Saved by Rock n Roll” together with Grande Royale. Nothing can stop Liar Thief Bandit - get ready.

You can listen to the album below:

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

You can order DEADLIGHTS now from The Sign Records

Thanks to Keith at Infecting Cells PR for all of the details.

VOLCANOVA Premiere New Song - I'M OFF - From Their Forthcoming New Album - RADICAL WAVES

In an alternate reality where Kyuss was born in the barren, volcanic landscape of Iceland, emerges the unholy trio Volcanova. With members hailing from three corners of this unique island of lava fields, glaciers, and hot springs, Volcanova comes together to erupt a fresh take on desert rock.

Building on this style, the band pays homage to the crushing doom of Black Sabbath as well as progressive sludge in the vein of modern bands like Mastodon and Gojira. But wait, there's more! Volcanova can turn seamlessly to thunderous fuzzy riffs in the style of Fu Manchu or somber moments akin to YOB -- all coupled with an irreverent live show that's straight out of a Red Fang video. There is never a dull moment with Volcanova.

Volcanova was founded in the summer of 2014 with principle song writer Samúel Ásgeirsson on guitar and vocals. After a few lineup changes, the band finally settled on a winning formula with Þorsteinn Árnason of (Rock Paper Sisters) on bass and vocals and Dagur Atlason (Churchhouse Creepers) on drums and vocals.

The trio has an infectious groove and togetherness that's bolstered by an ability to pull off three-part vocal harmonies, keeping audiences rocking and rolling. Uplifting moments with epic guitar solos are underpinned by headbanging bass grooves and complemented with a tasteful use of cowbell -- because who doesn't have that fever?

Having extensively toured their own country, playing Eistnaflug Festival and high profile support slots with Elder, Brain Police, Sólstafir, and the Vintage Caravan, the band has now set sights on trips abroad. Recently, they've converted the people of Scotland to their rock n roll cause on two different outings. Whether they're in packed Glasgow venues, remote highlands pubs, or on the barren volcanic island they call home, Volcanova wins over audiences wherever they play.

Due out August 21st, 2020 via The Sign Records, Volcanova's debut album Radical Waves will surely propel the band to new heights.

"I'm Off" is the second single leading up to our album "Radical Waves". A song full of uplifting moments with epic guitar solos, underpinned by head banging bass grooves! I'm Off is all about the fun and tells the story of how to keep the party going because for obvious reasons, life shouldn't be boring, it's a party.

- Þorsteinn Árnason

Gaphals · Volcanova - I'm Off

Social Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volcanovaofficial
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/volcanova/

Album Tracklist:

1. Welcome
2. Where’s the Time?
3. Super Duper Van
4. I'm Off
5. Stoneman Snowman
6. Sushi Sam
7. Mountain
8. M.O.O.D.
9. Got Game
10. Lights

Volcanova - Radical Waves (Album Review)

Release date: August 21^st 2020. Label: The Sign Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Radical Waves – Tracklisting

Welcome

Where’s the Time?

Super Duper Van

I’m Off

Stoneman Snowman

Sushi Sam

Mountain

M.O.O.D.

Got Game

Lights

Members

Samúel Ásgeirsson- guitar, lead vocals

Dagur Atlason- drums

Þorsteinn Árnason- bass

Review

Radical Waves is the debut album Desert/Stoner Rockers Volcanova who hail from Iceland. These cool Icelandic Rockers formed in 2014 and it’s quite hard to believe they’re just releasing their debut album now. As their debut album is packed full of many different sounds with Volcanova playing genres such as Prog Rock, Psych Rock, Sludge Rock and even Space Rock within their normal style of Desert Rock/Stoner Metal.

As debut albums go, this will be one of the best debut records of 2020. As the band take many different creative risks and choices on this record which ultimately pay-off for a more well rounded experience which is top-heavy with spectacular riffs. The band seem to take influence from bands such as Kyuss, QOTSA, Truckfighters and even Mastodon on this album.

The opening two songs Welcome and Where’s The Time showcase the band playing a fast-paced and addictive style of Desert Rock/Stoner Metal with the band adding a subtle Psychedelic groove to keep things that slightly different. The vocals from Samúel are your standard style of Desert/Stoner Rock vocals with that allow him to add a lot more variety on the later stages of the album.

Things go into overdrive with the stunning 3^rd track – Super Duper Van – with Volcanova moving slightly towards a more classier style of Prog Rock with some fantastic lyrics and vocals allowing Super Duper Van showing at first hand the band’s true talent at writing action packed songs with thrilling lyrics and melodies to match.

Fourth Song – I’m Off – is where the band start adding a more heavier Sludge Rock sound that works superbly well against the Desert Rock textures featured in the opening songs. This song has a more “Post-Doom” or “Post-Rock” approach that settles down to a more heavier vibe. The band are seasoned road-warriors with the band constantly touring over the last few years and you can tell they’ve picked up a few tricks along the way touring with The Vintage Caravan and ELDER. This song does have those band’s DNA on this song but this still remains Volcanova’s show and you can’t help be instantly drawn into their hazy Psychedelic world.

Fifth song – Stoneman Snowman – is my favourite song on the entire album with Volcanova playing a brilliantly clever style of Grunge, Psych, Desert Rock, Sludge Rock and Stoner Metal with a haunting Progressive mood holding everything together. The vocals are great but it’s the music and lyrics that are the best part of the song. There is killer riffs and a blistering sing-along chorus that you can’t help not but SHOUT along to.

Volcanova are in fine confident form leading into the 2^nd half of the album and dare I say that the 2^nd part is even better than the first half. The band do play some of the heaviest and most expressive riffs on the album especially on the final two songs of Got Game and Lights.

I didn’t know what expect with Radical Waves before I listened to it but Volcanova have released a wonderful album that will no doubt make some actual waves within the Desert/Sludge/Stoner Rock scenes with it’s wide range of different ideas held on the album.

You would be absolutely insane to miss this album when it’s released in August 2020. This will be classed as one of the best Stoner Rock/Metal debut albums of 2020. Need I say more….

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Curtis at Dewar PR for the promo. Radical Waves will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via The Sign Records from August 21^st 2020

Links:

Facebook

Song Premiere Fomr DICTATOR SHIP With EAT THE POOR

Album Art: Afshin Piran

Sweden's Dictator Ship is excited to announce news of their upcoming debut album Your Favorites, which will be released by The Sign Records this April. It's an immediate outburst in raw and primitive rock n roll, with lush harmonized vocals inspired by 1960s soul bands. Combined with an impossibly intense rhythm section, Dictator Ship is the prime and natural energy source that the world has been searching for.

Your Favorites was recorded in a small cabin in Värmland, Sweden, engineered by band member John Sijbren Leonard. He comments: “I am pleased with the lo-fi sound and the honesty of this album. It sounds like us, and that's the hardest thing in recording, to capture your own sound.” The band mic'ed and pre-mixed all the drums through an old PA-mixing console from the '70s. Then they summed the drums up to two stereo channels, so only two drum channels were recorded. This was done to save on channels, mostly because they only had eight channels available for the whole recording. The instruments were recorded live with vocals added later on.

The reason for this unique approach was that John wanted to focus on the band's live sound rather than studio enhancements. What listeners hear on Your Favorites is what they'd hear from Dictator Ship at a small Swedish pub -- or perhaps one day, a big-city stadium.

FFO: MC5, The Saints, The Stooges, The Sonics

Lineup

Petter Heinemann - Vocals and Guitar
John Sijbren Leonard - Vocals and Guitar
Viktor Henriksson - Vocals and Drums
David Ericsson - Vocals and Bass

Tracklist:

1. In the Heat of the Night
2. Savage
3. Good Thing Gone Bad
4. Just for Fun
5. Eat the Poor
6. Gunner Man
7. From the Womb to the Tomb

Links

Facebook

Thanks to Curtis at Dewar PR for all of the info. Your Favourites will be available to buy from The Sign Records on April 17th 2020.