Conclave - Dawn Of Days (Album Review)

 

Release date: April 23rd 2021. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl 

Dawn Of Days –Tracklisting

1.Dawn Of Days
2.Death Blows Cold
3.Haggard
4.Thrown On Spikes
5.Suicide Funeral

Members

Jerry Orne: Bass, Vocals
Jeremy Kibort: Guitars, Backing Vocals
Chris Giguere: Guitars
Dan Blomquist: Drums

Review

Dawn Of Days is the 2nd full length album from New England Doom/Sludge Metallers Conclave and comes 5 years after their fantastic debut album Sins Of The Elders. What strikes you most about the 5 songs contained on the album is how Conclave never waiver or back-down in bringing their heavy style of Progressive Doom/Sludge Metal. The band do add elements of Psych Rock and Stoner Metal on the album but it’s mostly the Doom/Sludge Metal parts of the album that makes this album really standout.

Opening song – Dawn Of Days is 8:06 minutes of pure aggressive therapy for Doom/Sludge Metal fans with the band weaving bleak atmospheric gloomy riffs and world-weary lyrics for a more bombastic approach. Jerry’s growls are bang on-point but easily understandable. There are some cool chants in the middle part of the song but the band keep the mood interesting and varied with their “pissed-off” style of Progressive Doom and Sludge Metal they employ for this song and the majority of the record.

Second song – Death Blows Cold – sees Conclave hit the ground running for another well constructed track of Modern Doom Metal and Progressive Sludge based grooves. The song does open with a more classic style of Thrash Metal allowing the band to do their own blend of “riff-worship” with some epic guitar solos along the way. Though, the band return to their set style of Doom/Sludge Metal. This is a superbly written track that brings a bleak Psychedelic narrative to Conclave’s dark world.

The other 3 songs on the album – Haggard, Thrown On Spikes and Suicide Funeral – follow the same structure and groove based objectives as the first 2 songs on the album but this is a good thing as you know what to expect on the record. There maybe no hidden surprises but this works to Conclave advantage. As they do go BIGGER, BOLDER and HEAVIER on these 3 songs and perhaps the most exciting parts of the record.

The final two songs – Thrown On Spikes and Suicide Funeral – is were the band excel writing bleak based lyrics and even threatening riffs which airs on the right side of Progressive Metal.

Dawn Of Days is backed up by first-rate production values with Eric Sauter and Conclave on engineering and producing duties. The album has been helped along by a certain Esben Williams of MONOLORD fame who mastered the album from his acclaimed Studio Berserk. So KUDOS to everyone involved as the album sounds brilliant throughout.

Dawn Of Days is what you need from a modern and progressive based Doom/Sludge Metal album. An album packed full of great sounds and ideas that will leave you wanting more.

This is a must have album. End Of….

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR for the promo. Dawn Of Days will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Argonauta Records from April 23rd 2021.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Filthy Hippies - Departures (Album Review)

Release date: April 23rd 2021. Label: Mongrel Records. Format: DD

Departures – Tracklisting

1.Spirit
2.Mystified
3.You Are The Sun
4.The Recipe
5.The Air Is Poison
6.Otherside
7.Among The Wire
8.Dumb
9.Sweet Dreams and Nicotine
10.Never Without You
11.Dethroned
12.Like A Halo
13.Promise
14.I'm Bugging Out
15.Empty Spaces

Review

Departures is the new album from Psychedelic Shoegaze Rockers Filthy Hippies and they take a left-field creative turn with the normal style of Psychedelic Rock. The band have been going for over 3 years now and have released quite a few releases in this time. I believe Departures is their 4th or 5th full length album. Well according to the press release that accompanied with this album.

Departures is quite an expansive, bold, brash and wonderfully exciting album that takes many different genres and sounds which the band give a fresh spin. There are 15 songs on the record and the album runs for almost 78 minutes. So Filthy Hippies have a lot to say on this record but if you’re in the mood for a more daring, darker and “DEVILISH” style of Psychedelic Rock with glorious “POP” based hooks and grooves then Filthy Hippies demand your full undivided attention.

The band are inspired by the 60s Phil Spector sound and the 80s Shoegaze scene with that timeless Psychedelic Rock vibe that’s the main “thrust” of this album. Filthy Hippies do employ a lot of sonic distortion on this record and that’s evident from the excellent opening song – Spirit. With it’s heavy riffs and world-weary atmosphere, the band revel in their shoegaze surroundings and the vocals are the icing on the cake for a trippy dark experience.

If you’re a fan of bands such as Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Jesus And Mary Chain and even Slowdive for the more atmospheric parts of the album. Though, Filthy Hippies create their own blend of addictive and original music to make themselves known with.

I would love to do a song-by-song review for an album such as this but there are too many songs to consider but I will list my favourite songs to check out: Mystified, You’re The Sun, The Recipe, Among The Wire, Dethroned, and Empty Spaces.

These are the parts of the album that I enjoyed the most with Filthy Hippies impressing me even further with their wild style of music that has an almost “global” feel. One of the main strengths of this album is the “Ambient” based noises the band employ on this record. It shouldn’t really work but to Filthy Hippies credit, it moves this album into top-level Experimental Rock.

The production techniques used on the record is another highlight that seamlessly blends all the different elements held on the record.

Obviously, Departures isn’t going to be for everyone but if you’re in the mood for a challenging and complex listen then Filthy Hippies could be worth a listen. It’s an album that you need to be in a certain mood to fully listen to but when you do listen to Departures, you’ll find things that you’ve missed first time round.

Overall, Departures is an exciting record that dares to be different.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Warren ant Plug Music Agency for the promo. Departures will be available to buy on DD via Mongrel Records from April 23rd 2021.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

LORD DRUNKALOT are sharing the music video for their single “Witchfucker”

Croatia’s LORD DRUNKALOT will be unveiling their debut album Heads & Spirits via label Planet K Records on April 20, 2021.

Old-school metal hermits, LORD DRUNKALOT explore the vast psychedelic wastelands of heavy music thanks to massive riffs, catchy epic passages, aggressive vocals, and grungy choruses. Hailing from the gothic town of Zagreb these stoned Slavic boozers play sludgy heavy metal doom with a groovy 60s vibe and a touch of thrash in the name of Old Pagan Gods of distortion and moonshine from hell.

Today, the band is sharing the music video for their single “Witchfucker” - exclusive premiere by Outlaws of the Sun.

The video can be viewed via Planet K Records’ YouTube channel – https://bit.ly/2Q8dhKQ

Digital download and jewel cases available at the following link: 

https://planetkrecords.bandcamp.com/

Fans of bands such as Electric Wizard, Manilla Road, Pentagram, Orange Goblin, and Spirit Caravan will be intrigued to enter the undiscovered metal terrain that LORD DRUNKALOT is offering up.

LORD DRUNKALOT consists of:

Ganjalf The Black aka Narkobuddha (Guitars, Vocals)

Ratimir Nebozemlja (Bass)

Party Barbarian aka Alkobuddha (Drums)

Track Listing:

1. 2+2=3 (5:32)
2. Sun Demons (5:10)
3. Heads & Spirits (9:42)
4. Blåkulla (8:05)
5. Age of Aqualion (7:09)
6. Witchfucker (4:51)

LORD DRUNKALOT Online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LordDrunkalot
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lordrunkalot/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxcalqeg3nZR5v6-ysk-mPQ
Planet K Records: https://planetkrecords.bandcamp.com/
The Metallist PR: www.themetallistpr.com

BONGZILLA - Weedsconsin (Album Review)

Release date: April 20th 2021. Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl 

Weedsconsin – Tracklisting

Sundae Driver
Free The Weed
Space Rock
The Weedeater
Earth Bong / Smoked / Mags Bags
Gummies

Members

Muleboy (bass, vocals)
Spanky (guitar)
Magma (drums)

Review

Legendary WEEDIAN Doom/Stoner Metal Icons BONGZILLA return with their first new album in 16 years and it’s a glorious and welcome return. Weedsconsin is what you expect from an album that’s powered by the mighty WEED and then some. BONGZILLA have found time to venture into new areas of Psychedelic Heavy based weirdness on this album with the album having an adventurous Spaced Out feel though still remaining a true BONGZILLA record.

The album contains 6 slabs of mighty fine Stoner based Reefer Madness with some songs being firm favourites already for myself such as Sundae Driver, Free The Weed, Space Rock and the epic 15 minute plus track of Earth Bong / Smoked / Mags Bags though maybe I’m getting too far ahead.

Opening song – Sundae Driver – is a distorted bass heavy ride with that feels like BONGZILLA have never been away with their “classic” style of music leading the way. The music is brutally heavy and addictive with Muleboy’s vocals being the trippy storyteller the album wonderfully needs. There is a lot of DEMONIC FUZZ on this record and the album is more powerful for the LOUD VOLUMES the band use on the album.

Second song – Free The Weed – is a slow pounding song with BONGZILLA playing a cautious style of music before unleashing another heavy round of DEMONIC WEEDIAN based madness. The song is down-tuned yet again with an ugly underbelly of Doom/Sludge Metal causing the atmosphere to be quite volatile but the Psychedelic moments sees the band play some highly memorable instrumental sounds that leave you wanting more.

Third song – Space Rock – is superbly named with BONGZILLA drifting further into the realms of Psychedelic Rock and Spaced Out Stoner Doom. The song is one of the finest songs they’ve written in their lengthy careers. Psychedelic Rock/Metal is the key foundation of this song and it uses the 10 minute plus running time superbly well and shows style of music we haven’t heard from the band before. The vocals are harsh but easy to understand.

Fourth song – The Weedeater – is 35 second blast of WEEDIAN style ideas. It’s mostly there to fill in the time but there is some very cool Distorted Drone sounds before the song ends.

The final two songs of Earth Bong / Smoked / Mags Bags and Gummies offer almost 22 minutes of the best moments of the album with the band feeling more comfortable with their new musical surroundings. BONGZILLA play a more Progressive style of music especially on the 15 minute epic multi-chapter journey of Earth Bong / Smoked / Mags Bags.

This is perhaps one of the best Stoner Metal comeback albums since SLEEP released The Sciences back in 2018. Weedsconsin is the album that BONGZILLA needed to return with and they’ve delivered one of the finest Stoner Metal albums we’ll likely to hear in 2021.

It’s seriously a MUST HAVE ALBUM....

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo. Weedsconsin will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds Records from April 20th 2021.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

 

RIFT GIANT Announce New Album CATACLYSM

Denmark Stoner/Sludge Rockers RIFT GIANT is stoked to announce that their new album Cataclysm will be released on May, 1st via Planet K Records. The album is going to be shortly available as a jewel case and in digital download.

Rift Giant is a 2-piece band based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Together, guitarist/bassist/vocalist Matthew Pither (UK) and drummer Thomas Ramkilde (Denmark) focus on creating powerful, driving riffs interspersed with heavy, groovy melodies. Founded in 2016, the duo writes music with lyrics inspired by the fantasy literature genre; mammoths, demons, witches, and, of course, giants, feature prominently in their world.

Cataclysm has been recorded by the band himself in an adapted World War 2 bunker. Mixed by Patrick Fragtrup at Wolf Rider Sound Production and mastered by Lasse Ballade at Ballade Studios (Copenhagen). Artwork by Adam C Design & Illustration.

For fans of Doctor Smoke, High on Fire, and Mastodon.

Track Listing:

1. Into the Rift (5:09)
2. Hubris (5:37)
3. Queen Witch (7:49)
4. Slaves, She Made Us (5:47)
5. To Three (5:59)
6. Blocks Out the Sun (5:51)
7. Rift Giant (7:34)
8. Cataclysm (3:58)

Line-Up:

Matthew Pither – Guitar, Bass, Vocals
Thomas Ramkilde – Drums

RIFT GIANT Online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riftgiantdk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riftgiant/
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3msizwC

Planet K Records: https://planetkrecords.bandcamp.com/

LáGoon - Skullactic Visions (Album Review)

Release date: April 16th 2021. Label and Formats: Interstellar Smoke Records (Vinyl) and Forbidden Place Records (CD & Tape)

Skullactic Visions – Tracklisting

1.Cold Smoke
2.Beyond the Trees
3.Skullactic Visions
4.Buried
5.Hill Bomb
6.The Slow Down
7.Final Ride

Members

Drums: Brady Maurer
Guitar/Vocals/Synth: Anthony Gaglia
Bass: Kenny Coombs

Review

LáGoon return with a new line-up and a more grown-up sound on perhaps their best sounding record to date with Skullactic Visions. The album is dedicated to Todd Maurer with the band saying “a loving father and friend, and the biggest fan our band will ever see.”

A lovely gesture to a close family member of drummer Brady Maurer. 

Skullactic Visions is raucous collection of songs with LáGoon showing their years of experience playing gigs and releasing past albums and becoming a much better band. This is the bands 6th release and without doubt the best thing they’ve released and showing a more mature “Skate Punk” rebellious Sludge/Stoner Rock nature.

Opening song – Cold Smoke – is a Punk fuelled odyssey with elements of gloomy based rock branching into Stone/Street Punk grooves. The song is fast-paced and is quite an upbeat number before the band add flashes of Prog Rock and Classic Hard Rock riffs. The production is excellent and LáGoon revel in their “new-found” wave of music.

Second song – Beyond The Trees – starts very loud with a slowly distorted doomy riff before the rest of the band come into play and join the party. The downbeat atmosphere is gloomy with a cool “Indie” feel to it. The music moves along at it’s own pace with that “Street Punk” sensibility allowing LáGoon to bring a “Garage Rock” escapism to the whole feel and sound of the record. Anthony’s vocals take on the role of “storyteller” and demented “ring-master” with the different vocal styles and lyrics contained on the song. Perhaps the standout song on the album.

Third song – Skullactic Visions – isn’t too far behind being the “standout” song on the album with it’s “off-kilter” style of Doom, Stoner and Psychedelic Rock. The seedy 60s/70s Psych Rock nature of the song lends itself to early-era Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats but with more menacing results. The dirty atmosphere is one of the best parts of this song as LáGoon convey a serious tone and nature on this song whilst still having demented fun with everything.

LáGoon continue well into the 2nd half of the album perfecting their style of gloomy and seedy Doom/Stoner Rock without almost a care in the world. The band excel on the more adventurous songs such as: Hill Bomb, The Slow Down and Final Ride.

Skullactic Visions is must-have record if you’re a fan of LáGoon. If this is your first time to LáGoon’s dark world then this album is the best record to start with.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to LáGoon for the promo. Skullactic Visions will be available to buy from April 16th 2021 via Interstellar Smoke Records (Vinyl) and Forbidden Place Records (CD & Tape)

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

YAGOW Release New Song and New Video For "Rise & Shine"

Taken from YAGOW's upcoming album "The Mess" Out June 18 via Crazysane Records

"The otherworldly sounds of psychedelic space-rock outfit YAGOW take a new turn on their sophomore album "The Mess“. Combining the resonant riffing of The Black Angels, Kyuss, True Widow, Spacemen 3 with the celebrant atmosphere of Dead Skeletons "The Mess" presents an eclectic mix of psychedelic rock, kraut, garage rock and stoner rock."

Share/Watch "Rise & Shine" below:

Video by Keine Zeit Medien

Or from the following link:

http://smarturl.it/ygw

"The song is about the conscious or unconscious assumption of certain roles within our capitalist society that are expected from us and about how we have been socialised to adopt them and to perfect that facade. When Pascal and Tobi from Keine Zeit Medien came up with the idea to recreate a teleshopping program in the style of the 90s for the first video single and to have every band member present a trashy product, we knew that this would go perfectly with the message of “Rise & Shine!“ With the support of some friends who, in contrast to our amateur acting, turned out to be near-professional actors, the shoot was a lot of fun. And when Pascal, in his role as our hair model, said that he would be willing to do everything for the sake of art (“Mach mir einfach die Halbglatze!“), it was clear that the video was going to be killer! See for yourself!"