Below A Silent Sky - A View From Afar (Album Review)

Release date: 11^th March 2018. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD

A View From Afar – Tracklisting

1.The Highest Shrine 09:05

2.Caverns of Light 08:51

3.Tartarus 10:28

4.Earthshifter 08:53

5.The Great Divide 18:29

Members

Heinz// Drums

Christian// Guitar

Robin// Guitar

Diego// Bass

Review

Atmospheric Post-Doom Rockers - Below A Silent Sky - new album, A View From Afar - is a complex sounding record that takes elements of Doom, Post-Rock, Post-Metal, Psych and heavy Sludge vibes for an unflinching approach to Post-Rock/Post-Metal music.

The album is purely instrumental and will no doubt appeal to fans of Pelican, Long Distance Calling and Russian Circles. Those bands are perhaps the most well-known bands within the Instrumental Post-Rock/Post-Metal world and Below A Silent Sky may cite these bands as major influences. As this album has an eerie familiarity to it. That's not a bad thing to follow.

As at least you have a starting point what to expect from this album. It's only after listening to the full record you recognise there a lot more to their music. Below A Silent Sky are way more aggressive with their music and they create a fine amount of heavy progressive noises that will impress the most jaded of Post-Rock/Post-Metal fans.

The opening track - The Highest Shrine - does a superb job of showcasing the bands talent of playing intricate and intelligent Post-Rock/Post-Metal progressive passages. Whilst maintaining an air of melody despite the lengthy running time.

Second track - Caverns Of Light - is a heavier offering with a "YOB" Doom/Sludge style sonic riff appearing here and there. Though the band add a few Post-Rock interludes that change the mood to a more positive approach. The music is still heavy with the progressive sounds and noises being played at a leisurely pace. Below A Silent Sky never forget their Sludge/Post-Metal roots and they slowly start adding heavier elements to their music. The instrumental work is impressive indeed especially the drums. Heinz builds up an almighty rhythm for his fellow band members to play their guitars against.

It's been a while since I've listened to a truly wonderful sounding instrumental Post-Rock/Post-Metal album and I'm glad this album has come along as I've been feeling slightly jaded by the scene recently.

Below A Silent Sky carries on the soaring progressive melodies on the other three songs on the album. Tartarus, Earthshifter and The Great Divide all equally proving A View From Afar is an exquisite sounding album. My favourite parts of the album are where the band decides to throw caution to the wind and experiment with their sound. Either by adding Psychedelic Noises or Ambient Post-Rock cinematic passages.

The standout track for me has to be the excellent third track - Tartarus. As this song shows what Below A Silent Sky do so well. Creating soulful grooves before exploding into a loud vortex of sound. The drone/post-rock style is a stark contrast to the later stages of the song. As the whole mood of the album becomes dark and very violent in places.

The production is another highlight with the sound being loud and dynamic from the start. A View From Afar is a thrilling and brilliantly entertaining album and is essential listening if you're a fan of Post-Rock/Post-Metal music.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Sergeant Thunderhoof - Terra Solus (Album Review)

Release date: 06^th May 2018. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Terra Solus – Tracklisting

1.Another Plane

2.Stellar Gate Drive

3.The Tree And The Serpent

4.B Oscillation

5.Diesel Breath

6.Priestess Of Misery

7.Half A Man

8.Om Shaantih

Members

Dan Flitcroft - Vocals

Jim Camp - Bass

Darren Ashman - Drums

Mark Sayer - Guitar

Review

Greetings All,

2018 continues to see wave after wave of fuzz heavy, stoner rock records being released. With this almost constant deluge of music, it is becoming more and more difficult for a band to make their presence known. Sergeant Thunderhoof do not have that problem. The band kicks down the goddam door and demands you give a listen to their righteous thunder. Terra Solus is eight killer tracks of heavy psyched out stoner perfection with sprinkles of metal, doom, and space rock throughout. This is the Bath, UK bands third studio album and it is delivered stunningly. The execution and recording are flawless and the songs are some of the strongest I have heard in a while.

Another Plane opens the album with a sick drumbeat that opens the door for a monster riff that allows the song to kick in to a killer groove. The song is dark and doomy with a sweet little wah heavy guitar solo that soothes the aching soul. The next track, Stellar Gate Drive is a groove heavy rocker with somewhat metal inspired harmony vocals and some wooah-o’s on the chorus.

The Tree & the Serpent is the most stunning song on the record and my personal favorite. It has a slower tempo but some fragile, melodic vocals and a chorus that digs in to your brain with cymbal crashes and will not let go. This is honestly, my favorite song that I have heard so far this year. It is amazing!

The instrumental B Oscillation follows. It opens with a tasty fuzz bass that gives way to some astral based guitar that then morphs into some heavy ass riffage. Diesel Breath is a heavy multi-faceted rock song that opens hard and heavy and then goes in a few different directions, it has a classic rock sound with a definite melodic, metal edge to it.

Priestess of Misery is another solid track that brings a fuzzy, doomy swagger that doesn’t quit. Throughout the record I was constantly impressed by the vocals, they are strong and in no way one dimensional. Definitely one of the bands strong points.

The acoustic Half a Man follows with a hushed, dissonant sound. It’s mantra like sound reminded me at times of Alice in Chains and Neurosis while staying true to the band’s sound. The track melds seamlessly into the closer.

The mostly instrumental Om Shaantih. The track opens with a muted acoustic sound that gives way to some psychedelic guitar way surrounding the minimal and detached astral vocals before closing with a solid groove that puts a solid exclamation point on the record.

Terra Solus is my introduction to Sergeant Thunderhoof and I am damn happy that I am now acquainted with these fine fellows. Terra Solus will rightly hold its place on the top of most “best of” lists for the year, and for good reason. Do yourself the biggest of favors and get down with Terra Solus!

- Todd S

Instagram @alltheghoststhathauntyou

Words by Todd Stealey

Thanks to the band for the promo. Terra Solus will be available to buy on DD/CD/Vinyl from May 06^th 2018.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

UK Tour News - Morass Of Molasses & Cybernetic Witch Cult Touring The UK

MOM ANNOUNCE NEW TOUR WITH CWC 

The Morass Of Molasses seemingly unending cycle of gigging since the release of their debut album ‘These Paths We Tread’ continues unabated with the ‘Cosmic Conquest Tour’. Once again they are joined for over half of it by Stoner-Rock-Space-Wizards Cybernetic Witch Cult. 

Due to start at the end of March, and go on through April, both bands will be road-testing new material to be featured on their next releases. 

‘Cosmic Conquest’ Tour Dates 

30.03.18 - The Carlisle, Hastings * 
31.03.18 - T-Chances, London* 
01.04.18 - The Hammer & The Anvil, Birmingham* 
05.04.18 - Bannermans, Edinburgh* 
07.04.18 - Temple of Boom, Leeds* 
08.04.18 - New Cross Inn, London* 
20.04.18 - The Rigger, Newcastle-under-lyme 
21.04.18 - The Underground, Bradford 
22.04.18 - The Firebug, Leicester 
27.04.18 - The Facebar, Reading 
28.04.18 - Rebellion, Manchester 

(*Shows with Cybernetic Witch Cult) 

Bones (vocalist & guitarist) had this to say; ‘Touring is our favourite proving-ground. It is where we try out the new ideas we’ve been throwing around in rehearsal. We never go into the studio, unless we’ve seen how the songs are received by an audience’

Morass Of Molasses links: 

My Leviathan' Video: https://youtu.be/F_cTjECbvZA 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorassOfMolasses
Bandcamp: https://morassofmolasses.bandcamp.com 

Cybernetic Witch Cult links: 

Cult Of The Druid' Video: https://youtu.be/RSrp5sTapl0 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cyberneticwitchcult/ 
Bandcamp: https://cyberneticwitchcult.bandcamp.com

Atomic Mold - Hybrid Slow Flood (Album Review)

Release date: 20^th March 2018. Label: Electric Valley Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Hybrid Slow Flood – Tracklisting

Hypnosis

I Fall

Wood Line

Yellow Crocodile

Members

Antonio Bonizzato – Bass\Vocals

Marco Fila - Drums

Davide Marotta - Guitar

Review

Italian Psych Doom/Stoner Rockers - Atomic Mold - release their new album - Hybrid Slow Flood - via Electric Valley Records and it's quite a psychedelic heavy affair. The album contains four tracks. Two songs run under four minutes and the other two songs run for thirteen and nineteen minutes respectively.

Atomic Mold creates a heavy psychedelic doom/stoner based sound that is slowly becoming quite popular with bands such as Monolord and Throneless. That's not to say Atomic Mold don't create their own sound. Far from it. They do. As they play with a more distinctive heavier bass sound.

Opening track - Hypnosis - is a heavy sounding Doom/Stoner Metal offering with vocals drifting in and out. It's quite slow-paced at times but Atomic Mold create and exciting and eerie atmosphere. Maybe sounding like a more atmospheric Black Rainbows at times, this is very good song to open the album with.

As the next two songs (I Fall and Wood Line) sees Atomic Mold change the mood of the entire album for the next thirty two minutes. The vocals disappear and a heavier distorted psychedelic sludgy post-doom whatever atmosphere appears. The sound is quite chaotic at times with both of these tracks running for thirteen minutes and nineteen minutes each. Both songs follow the same structure as each other with Atomic Mold even adding moments of chaotic droned noises to unsettle the eerie atmosphere.

Wood Line is perhaps the best song on the album as its offers the most exciting and creative moments on the album. As Atomic Mold experiment with their sound and manage to bring in different sounding elements to the whole feel of the album. Nothing is what it seems on Hybrid Slow Flood especially from your first listen on the album.

You will need multiple listens to this album to fully understand it all. The music is superbly played with the distorted and droned out sounds keeping you on edge.

The final song - Yellow Crocodile - follows the same path as the epic two final tracks with Atomic Mold playing a more jam-based sound. Even though the song lasts under four minutes, Atomic Mold manage to create a wide range of different sounds within the short running time. Mainly this song being a standard Doom/Stoner Metal song with groove laiden Psychedelic riffs ending the album in a low-key fashion.

The production is handled superbly well. The vocals could have done with more volume. Even though they appear for a small amount of time on the album, there were parts that I couldn't really hear at all.

That minor complaint aside, Atomic Mold has created an album that definitely lives upto to its full potential. This album also proves why Atomic Mold is another great band from the Italian Doom/Stoner Metal Scene to fall in love with.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Electric Valley Records for the promo. Hybrid Slow Flood will be available to buy on DD/CD/Vinyl via ElectricValley Records from March 20^th 2018.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Forming The Void / Pyreship (EP Review)

Release date: 09^th March 2018. Label: Endhipendit Record Co. Format: DD/Vinyl

Forming The Void/Pyreship – Tracklisting

1.Forming The Void - To the Wolves 06:20

2.Pyreship - Wraith's Tide 09:02

Forming The Void - Members

James Marshall – guitar/vocals

Shadi Omar Al-Khansa- guitar

Luke Baker – bass

Thomas Colley - drums

Pyreship - Members

Sam - Guitar and Vocals

J - Guitar and Vocals

George - Bass

Steve - Drums

Review

Two of my favourite bands that I discovered in 2017 have teamed up for this superb joint release. On one side you have Sludge/Stoner Rockers – Forming The Void and on the other you have Doom/Post-Metallers – Pyreship. Both bands released acclaimed albums in 2017 and I was quite excited to see what the band have in store for this joint record.

Forming The Void’s song lasts more than 6 minutes of Psych Sludge/Stoner grooves but with a more soulful blues vibe compared to the songs on 2017’s Relic. The song still has the familiar hallmarks that made Relic one of the best albums of last year. It’s dramatically heavy with a great vocal performance from James Marshall. James opts for a more grunge style of vocals for this performance. The music is heavy with the rest of the band creating a doomy psychedelic atmosphere. A very good song and shows that Forming The Void are continuing the good work they created with Relic.

Pyreship’s song opens with a dramatic monologue which is the same method they used on their debut album which was released last year. The mood is quite serious and political in places but I wouldn’t have it any other with from Pyreship. The music is very much in the realm of Atmospheric Doom/Sludge Metal with the band taking influence from artists such ISIS (The Band) and Russian Circles to a certain point. The song does take a few moments to fully get going but when it does Pyreship play a heavy cocktail of progressive Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal sounds.

It ‘s good to see that both bands offer different contrasts and styles of music to each other. This record is an essential listen and offers a brief glimpse in how Forming The Void and Pyreship will sound like in the near future. As both bands will be releasing new albums in 2018. Until then enjoy this superb sounding collaboration and play it LOUD AS YOU CAN!!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Forming The Void Links:

Facebook | BandCamp| Twitter

Pyreship Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

BORT - Crossing The Desert (Album Review)

Release date: 06^th April 2018. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD

Crossing The Desert - Tracklisting

1.White Desert Sun

2.The Beerfields of Bridgeview

3.Worldbane

4.Hello, Mr. Thompson

5.Sacraments & Bayonets

6.Lady Kyteler

7.Well Respected Man

8.The Flood

9.Soul Eater

Pyreship - Members

Josh Percy - Lead Vocals

Brandon Corness - Guitar, Vocals, Organ

Andrei Pavlov - Guitar

Crouton McGinn - Bass, Vocals, Violin

Ian Alvarez - Drums, Vocals

Review

BORT is a Canadian Psych Desert/Stoner Rock Band with a distinctive sound of their own. Their debut album Crossing The Desert sees the band trying their hand at different styles of Desert/Stoner Rock. It's quite a lively and highly accomplished affair with BORT taking influence from the usual legendary bands of the scene. Though BORT add a more experimental and progressive feel to their music.

Opening track - White Desert Sun - is a superb instrumental song with the band adapting a cool Post-Rock persona before venturing into the familiar heavy Desert/Stoner Metal sound. Second track - The Beerfields Of Bridgewater - is a very cool song indeed with BORT merging Post-Rock atmospherics and heavy amounts of Desert/Stoner Rock sounds. Josh’s vocals are quite raw and match the Desert Rock vibes superbly well. The psychedelic noises allows the band to create a soothing atmosphere at times but these moments don't last long before the heavy pounding drums of Ian keeps the mood more modern.

The lyrics are your usual Desert/Stoner Metal fare but they do add a sense of urgency at times. Maybe the sound of the album relies too much on the legendary "Kyuss" sound but which Stoner Rock/Metal band doesn't. In BORT's defence at least they mix things up a bit.

The groove laiden guitars of Brandon and Andrei and Crouton on Bass is another one of the albums highlights. As the guitars add extra steel and grit to BORT's overall sound. Songs such as Worldbane, Hello Mr. Thompson and Lady Kyteler sees BORT offer a more theatrical style of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. The whole flow and feel of the album is still rooted in Desert/Stoner Rock but that doesn't stop BORT adding different elements of music into the mix. Worldbane is perhaps one of my favourite songs on the album as this has an early Red Fang feel.

The lyrics are very tongue in cheek at times but BORT offer a heavy and fast-paced experience that Red Fang used to do back in the day. The production on the album is great for the most part. There are a couple rough moments with the vocals at times but maybe this is intentional. Mainly to show how BORT would sound like in the real world.

The majority of the songs on the album run past the five minute mark though BORT does offer one eight minute track with the superb sounding final track Soul Eater. This is another one of the albums standout tracks as BORT unleashes one final round of Progressive Psych Desert/Stoner Rock that will leave you wanting more. Crossing The Desert should hopefully get BORT noticed within the Desert/Stoner Rock community.

As I feel there's a lot more to their overall sound that's been created here. I want to see how they progress with their sound on future releases. Until then Crossing The Desert deserves to be heard by the biggest audience possible.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

BORT Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Black Rainbows - Pandemonium (Album Review)

Release date: 06^th April 2018. Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Pandemonium – Tracklisting

1. Sunrise

2. High On Hell

3. The Sacrifice

4. Grindstone

5. Supernova & Asteroids

6. Riding Fast Til The End Of Time

7. I Just Wanna Fire

8. The Abyss

9. 13th Step Of The Pyramid

Members

Gabriele Fiori – Guitar & Vocals

Giuseppe Guglielmino – Bass

Filippo Ragazzoni – Drums

Review

Greetings All,

Music, especially underground/indie music, can be weird, especially in regards to discovering new music. I have been given the amazing opportunity to listen to tons of music that without Steve and this awesome adventure he has allowed me to tag along on I would never have found on my own. The situation I often find myself in is that either I am familiar with and in love with a band from what seems like day one, or I completely miss the boat and feel like the oldest, most out of touch dude on the planet.

Sadly, the latter applies to Italy’s killer Black Rainbows. Pandemonium is the bands 6^th full length in over 10 years of existence and somehow this is the first I am hearing of them. Dammit, I feel like I have been missing out for the last decade!

If you are in the dark, like I was, Black Rainbows plays an absolutely smokin’ acid soaked, fuzzed out stoner space rock that is addicting to say the least. Pandemonium flies from beginning to end with an up tempo nature that somewhat shields the darker, doom laden lyrics throughout. The album sounds amazing. The recording is top notch and the sound is textured. Black Rainbows enhances the standard guitar, bass, drums and vocals with tons of effect, vocal clips, and organ that add the complexity and dynamic sound.

Black Rainbows roll masterfully from the beginning to the end of Pandemonium. The album kicks in right away with Sunrise, which is full of Fuzzed out, doom-laden swagger. The opening line of “Sunrise, you gotta die..” is tremendous. High to Hell follows with a groove heavy driving beat. It is the perfect track to drive your ’69 deep into the heart of the desert. It leads in to one of my favorite tracks. The Sacrifice is dark, rocking beast that is catchy as hell!

Grindstone is yet another killer track. It brings the heavy before breaking down into a 70’s inspired groove. Supernova and Asteroids is a brief bit of spaced out pop rock. The organ heavy Riding Fast ‘Til the End of Time follows and brings it still. A rather lengthy instrumental intro opens I Just Wanna Fire with it’s phaser heavy riffage keeps the good, dark times rolling.

The Abyss is another amazingly catchy, heavy ass piece of perfection. The riff heavy groove keeps your head above the pessimistic, sinking lyrics. There is also some amazing fret work and killer organ swirl to close out this beast. 13^th Step of the Pyramid closes the record with a slightly slower psychedelic groove. The track is heavy on phaser and effects and is a wicked, acid-soaked ending.

Black Rainbows kick around in the same territory as bands like Kadavar, Graveyard, and Fu Manchu. If you are a fan of these bands, then find Black Rainbows. Much like Fu Manchu’s excellent Clone of the Universe, Pandemonium deserves solid consideration for the Stoner/Fuzz rock record of the year. It is amazing that we are only in the beginning of 2018 and we have so much Heavy Fuzzed out goodness to be thankful full. Dig on Black Rainbows, I know I do (now)!

- Todd S

Instagram @alltheghoststhathauntyou

Words by Todd Stealey

Thanks to Claire at Purple Sage PR for the promo. Pandemonium will be available to buy on DD/CD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from April 06^th 2018.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp