Swan Valley Heights - The Heavy Seed (Album Review)

Release date: September 6th 2019. Label: Fuzzorama Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Heavy Seed – Tracklisting

1.The Heavy Seed

2.Vaporizer Woman

3.Take a Swim in God's Washing Machine

4.My First Knife Fight

5.Teeth & Waves 10:37

Review

Swan Valley Heights new album The Heavy Seed is a Psychedelic Stoner Rock/Metal offering where nothing is as it seems. As the band play a cool and progressive style of music that allows the band to merge elements of Psych Rock, Stoner Rock, Space Rock, Doom, Fuzz Rock and Classic Rock into a wildly surreal and heavy experience that sees the band play their own style of high octane Rock and Roll.

Opening song – The Heavy Seed – is a thirteen minute plus song that starts off rather quietly and quite abstract with the Post Rock interludes slowly building upto a more exciting style of music when the Heavy Psychedelic Stoner Rock vibes appear. Swan Valley Heights start adding different layers of distorted Space/Stoner Rock riffs that morph into a more Doom based sound.

The atmosphere can be quite complex in places and there is a lot of different things going on at the same time. The vocals take an age to finally appear but the band treat the listener to high amounts of Fuzz Rock riffage. This is the standout song on the album and it’s a brave and risky decision to open the album with the longest track on the album. However, this works in Swan Valley Heights favour. As this song shows the listener what to expect for the remainder of the album.

Second song – Vaporizer Women – may not be as progressive or creative as the epic opening song. However, this is still another superb song that sees the band play a more “straight-forward” style of Psychedelic Fuzz/Stoner Rock. The lyrics and vocals are more restrained and it’s good to see a different side to Swan Valley Heights music starting to shine through. The whole song is more melodic and thoughtful in places and leaves you wanting more. I enjoyed the quieter parts of the song immensely as this reminded me of Weedpecker in certain places. Though, the familiar Fuzz/Stoner Rock heavy riffs are never too far behind and bring this song to an exciting finish.

Third song - Take A Swim In God’s Washing Machine – gets straight down to business of playing loud progressive sounds for the first few moments. The band switch gears yet again for a slower style of Spaced Out sound. The song can be to “mellow” in places but this is where the Psychedelic and Post-Rock ambient textures of the album really start to take effect. Add the soothing vocals which have a slight Alternative Rock feel to them. The album once again fully comes to life when the thundering Stoner Metal grooves appear.

Fourth song – My First Knife Fight – is Fuzz/Stoner Metal instrumental song where Swan Valley Heights don’t mess around and get straight down to business playing a hard-rocking song that’s of the standout songs held on the album.

The final song – Teeth & Waves – has a cinematic feel to it with the band once again slowly building and creating different styles of atmospheric music. The song has a soothing “Drone” based melody being played in the background before elements of Psychedelic Rock and Post-Rock interludes fully take over. The aggressive Fuzz Rock/Stoner Metal vibes appear throughout the song but it’s the quieter moments that left me wanting more. The reflective vocals are excellent yet again. As the band end this album on a glorious high.

The production is pitch perfect and this allows the band to create an exciting sound all of their own making.

Overall, The Heavy Seed is a truly cinematic album in every sense of the word. Swan Valley Heights have created an album that is powerful to refresh your mind, body and soul.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Fuzzorama Records for the promo. The Heavy Seed will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Fuzzorama Records from September 6^th 2019.

Links:

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Quiet The Thief - The Fate Of Elision (EP Review)

Release date: May 18th 2019. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD

The Fate Of Elision – Tracklisting

1.Star Crossed Lover 05:03

2.Open Road 04:14

3.Free Fall 05:20

4.Unwritten 05:46

5.Speed Freak 03:42

Members

Stig Chell (Guitar & Vocals)

Neil Bailey (Lead Guitar & Backing Vocals)

Robert Hussey (Drums)

Gareth Harding (Bass Guitar)

Review

The Fate Of Elision is the new EP from Hard Rock/Stoner Rockers Quiet The Thief who have came back after a two year absence since their last release which I reviewed here.

This EP is a classic sounding EP that embraces it Hard Rock roots with the ferocious Blues Rock drive of CLUTCH in places. The overall flow of the EP is very smooth as the band play a blend of fast-paced grooves. The first two opening songs – Star Crossed Lover and Open Road – are perhaps the best two songs on the EP. As Quiet The Thief put so much hard-rocking energy into these tracks that it’s quite hard not to be swept up by the magic momentum the band create here.

The other songs are good as well just not as strong as these two songs. Though I did like the fast-paced riffs of Speed Freak as well.

The Fate of Elision can be quite trippy and psychedelic in places but it’s the classic hard rock sounds where Quiet The Thief excel the most. The production is handled superbly well and the band know how to write a LOUD MEAN RIFF.

Quiet The Thief are starting to make a name for themselves within the UK Hard Rock/Stoner Rock scene and the evidence is here for everyone to listen to and fully admire. The band know how to have fun with their music and they excel at playing good old fashioned Rock and Roll. You don’t have to include Progressive Rock sounds in your music all the time and it’s good to hear Quiet The Thief playing a classic style of Hard Rock/Metal to the best of their abilities and leave you wanting more.

Overall, The Fate Of Elision is great EP to listen to and it should be good to see where Quiet The Thief’s musical journey will take them next….

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

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Torche - Admission (Album Review)

Release date: 12^th July 2019. Label: Relapse Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Admission – Tracklisting

1.From Here

2.Submission

3.Slide

4.What Was

5.Times Missing

6.Admission

7.Reminder

8.Extremes Of Consciousness

9.On The Wire

10.Infierno

11.Changes Come

Members

Steve Brooks - (Guitar/Vocals)

Rick Smith - (Drums)

Jonathan Nuñez - (Guitar)

Eric Hernandez - (Bass)

Review

Greetings All,

There is not any reason to waste time giving you the backstory on Torche. I feel as though it you are reading this, you are familiar with these guys and their tremendous work to date. What does need to be said is that 15 years into their career Torche has delivered unto us unworthy souls their absolute best record so far. Admission is 11 tracks of pure rock brilliance!

Fuzzed out and heavy and loaded with a fuck-ton of hooks and will keep these songs in your head for the foreseeable future. The band delivers on their trademark sound with huge guitars and riffs, massive, earth quaking drums, fuzzed out bass work and their strongest vocals to date.

The record opens with the explosive blast of From Here with it’s double drum and massive riff driving the start/stop tempo as the band brings in some dissonant guitars and echoed vocals as an extra measure. Submission brings in a heavy bass groove and leads into more dissonance and heaviness with Slide. A driving punk inspired beat carries one of the albums best moments with What Was, a stellar blast noise. The band reels things in a bit with Times Missing. A slower, fuzzed out gem accentuated with some mighty cymbal crashes.

The best song on the album is by far the title track, Admission. The song has a bit of a new wave mixed with 90’s rock feel over a killer chorus. Things take a bit of spacier vibe with the dissonance and repetitive feel of Reminder. Driving drums and some well placed synth sounds unleash the Extremes Of Consciousness. 

A big guitar and drum intro bring in the more ominous sounding On The Wire with even more massive guitars and some serious lead guitar work. A smouldering rumble lies under the lumbering Infiereno which plays out and finally explodes with waves of crushing feedback and distortion. The album closes with the top notch song craft of Changes Come. A heavy pop titan loaded with fuzz and synth.

It is fairly safe to say that Admission will be near the top of my best of list, and I imagine many others as well. If you dig Torche, or just head shaking, body quaking rock n rolla, you will undoubtedly dig on this record. Check it out!

- Todd S - Instagram @alltheghoststhathauntyou

Words by Todd Stealey

Thanks to Monica at Speakeasy PR for the promo. Admission will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Relapse Records from July 12^th 2019.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

High Fighter - Champain (Album Review)

Release date: 26^th July 2019. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Champain – Tracklisting

1. Before I Disappear

2. Shine Equal Dark

3. Dead Gift

4. Another Cure

5. Kozel

6. I Will Not

7. When We Suffer (feat. Anton Lisovoj of Downfall of Gaia)

8. A Shrine

9. Champain

Members

Mona Miluski – vocals

Christian "Shi" Pappas – guitar

Ingwer Boysen – guitar

Constantin Wüst – bass

Thomas Wildelau - drums & backing vocals

Review

It seems life on the road has impacted High Fighter in a huge way. As their new album CHAMPAIN has a heavier and fast-paced sound compared to their acclaimed debut album. The best way to describe High Fighter in 2019 is PISSED OFF. This is a different band that announced their arrival in 2014 with their debut EP – The Goat Ritual.

The first thing I have to mention that has changed is Mona’s vocals. I’ve never heard Mona sing Death Metal growls but here she is singing in a style that I wouldn’t expect to hear in a million years. As Mona has always sung soulful and melodic vocals with every record that she’s been involved with. I like this more aggressive style of vocals from Mona. She has a real talent for it. Though Mona doesn’t forget her Doom/Stoner Metal roots as Mona still sings plenty of clean vocals on CHAMPAIN.

Lets move onto High Fighter’s music. The guys now play a mix of Hardcore, Thrash, Doom and Stoner Metal but with a more progressive and aggressive tone. CHAMPAIN isn’t for the faint hearted and the band may actually disappoint some of their established fanbase at first. with this album. However to survive in this business you need to evolve and High Fighter have most definitely evolved.

Opening songs – Before I Disappear, Shine Equal Dark and Dead Gift – create an eerie and gloomy atmosphere where the mood can be pitch-black in places. The soaring and brutal riffs allow Mona to show her impressive vocal range on this album.

CHAMPAIN is an album that I didn’t expect from High Fighter and truth be told I expected Scars & Crosses Part 2. So it’s to High Fighter’s credit they have released something so dramatically different to their debut album.

High Fighter are highly respected and well thought of within the Doom/Stoner Metal world and the band have called in a few favours for this album. As you have Anton Lisovoj of Downfall Of Gaia fame providing vocals on the excellent song – When We Suffer. CHAMPAIN has been recorded, mixed & mastered by Jan Oberg of EARTHSHIP and GRIN fame.

HIGH FIGHTER have released a daring, bold, brutal and highly creative album with CHAMPAIN. Now it’s time for the world to be re-introduced to the heavy sounds of HIGH FIGHTER.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR for the promo. Champain will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Argonauta Records from July 26^th 2019.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Hippie Death Cult - 111 (Album Review)

Release date: July 26th 2019 (Digital)/August 23^rd 2019 (Vinyl). Label: Cursed Tongue Records (Vinyl). Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

111 – Tracklisting

1. Sanctimonious

2. Breeder’s Curse

3. Unborn

4. Mrtyu

5. Pigs

6. Treehugger

7. Black Snake

Members

Eddie Brnabic : Guitar

Laura Phillips : Bass

Ryan Moore : Drums

Ben Jackson : Vocals/Keys

Review

111 is the new album from Hippie Death Cult and it’s quite a highly psychedelic mix of Doom Metal, Stoner Rock, Grunge and classic Hard Rock sounds. The album is quite brooding and heavy from the start with Hippie Death Cult creating a complex sounding atmosphere that is influenced by Black Sabbath and Soundgarden in places especially on the excellent opening song – Sanctimonious.

Sanctimonious sees Hippie Death Cult playing a hybrid Doom Meta/Grunge sound with the heavy atmosphere moving between Black Sabbath style heaviness and soaring Grunge melodies. Even the vocals have a slight Chris Cornell influence to them. The lyrics are very cool and allows Hippie Death Cult music to grow naturally. The listener becomes part of the action with the swirling psychedelic noises working best when the Grunge rhythms appear. This is a fantastic song to open the album with.

Second song – Breeder’s Curse – is straight up Doom/Stoner Rock song with plenty of anger and attitude to match. The riffs are loud, confident and angry from the start. You can hear a little bit of FUZZ ROCK starting to appear as Hippie Death Cult change their style of music for this song. The heavy guitars pitch the perfect balance between classic seventies Doom/Hard Rock and more modern Fuzz/Stoner Rock grooves.

Third song – Unborn – is a song lasting past the eight-minute mark and Hippie Death Cult open with a creepy and almost occult Blues Rock riff. The song takes time to fully get going as Hippie Death Cult add many different genres for a heavier and progressive sound. This is easily one of the best songs on the album as Hippie Death Cult have more fun with this song and the Doom Metal based riffs are quite direct in places. The gloomy lyrics and passionate vocals will leave you wanting more.

Fourth song – Mrtyu – is an instrumental Psychedelic Folk Rock song that is superbly played from start to finish. It’s quite soothing to listen to and is a stark contrast to the other songs held on the album. I will admit that I wanted some heavy sounds to appear on this song. Though, it’s a cool change of pace and I admire the band for including this song on the album.

Anyway, the band get back playing their usual Hard Rock/Doom Metal/Grunge based melodies on the superb song – Pigs. This song has a Classic Hard Rock feel with HDS adding a distinctive Led Zep/Aerosmith approach to their overall sound. The vocals feel inspired by Chris Cornell again and I loved how the soulful vocals soon give way for the darker and heavier progressive guitars riffs to work their magic.

The final two songs Treehugger and Black Snake are more psychedelic but Hippie Death Cult still carry on playing their addictive Doom/Grunge hybrid sound and sees 111 ending on an exciting finish.

Hippie Death Cult should be mightily proud of this release. As 111 is a richly rewarding and deeply engaging album that becomes better with each subsequent listen.

Words by Steve Howe

111 will be available to buy on Digital from July 26th 2019 and on Vinyl from August 23rd  via Cursed Tongue Records.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Robots Of The Ancient World - Cosmic Riders (Album Review)

Release date: March 26th 2019. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD

Cosmic Riders – Tracklisting

1.God Particle/Oblivion Stone 08:31

2.Sweet Lady 06:30

3.In My Head 02:50

4.High & Drive 05:25

5.Five Eyes 06:29

6.Cosmic Riders 07:16

Members

Nico-Guitar+Keys

Justin-Drums+Guitar

Laven-Bass

Caleb-Vocals

Review

Cosmic Riders is the new album from Robots Of The Ancient World and it’s an album that pitches the right balance between Spaced Out Stoner Rock/Metal and good old fashioned Rock and Roll. The album doesn’t play out or finish as you would fully expect. As the band take many creative risks and challenges with this album.

Opening song – God Particle/Oblivion Stone – is a two-part song masquerading as one whole song. As the first part – God Particle – is an exciting take on the standard Instrumental Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal song with a cool narration setting up the scene for the rest of the album. The song seems to fade out and you expect the band to move onto the next song. Nope. The second part of this song – Oblivion Stone – appears and it sees Robots Of The Ancient World taking influence from The Sword with a more Punk driven style of Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal with the spaced out lyrics and riffs building up to an exciting finish.

Second song – Sweet Lady – opens with a cool Bass Guitar riff before the trippy Stoner Metal sounds appear and sees Robots Of The Ancient World play a vintage style of Stoner Rock/Metal. These guys have quite a flair to their music as they take influence from The Sword, Black Sabbath and Clutch in places. The whole feel of the album can be quite raw at times and uneven at times but in the overall context of how the album plays out, this works superbly well in the bands favour.

Third song – In My Head – is a vintage sounding Stoner Rock song that opens with psychedelic post-rock interlude before the band come back kicking and screaming with a faster style of music that does run out of steam before the three minutes are up. Though the vocals and lyrics are excellent throughout.

Fourth song – High & Drive – offers a more “Weedian” style of music with the sound of the Desert fully coming into force for this song. The whole song reminds me of KYUSS and FU MANCHU with the hard-rocking Desert/Stoner Rock riffs leave you wanting more. The vocals from Caleb feel inspired John Garcia in places. Maybe not as dramatic but I can hear similar style of vocals from Caleb.

The final two songs – Five Eyes & Cosmic Riders – is where the band start to sound more comfortable with their musical surroundings as they offer perhaps the heaviest and best sounding songs on the album. The band don’t mess around here as the riffs come thick and fast from almost every direction especially on the excellent final song – Cosmic Riders.

Robots Of The Ancient World have released a thrilling album. It’s not the best produced album currently out there. However, Cosmic Riders still offers a high amount of exciting riffs to stand out from the crowd and will have you under their highly dynamic and hypnotic spell.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

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Old Horn Tooth - From The Ghost Grey Depths (EP Review)

Release date: June 29th 2019. Label: Self Released. Format: Cassette/DD

From The Ghost Grey Depths – Tracklisting

1.She Is Risen 13:02

2.Follow The Demon 13:12

3.Old Horn Tooth 12:34

4.Grief 11:34

Members

Chris - Guitar/Vocals

Ollie - Bass

Mark - Drums/Griefcase

Review

From The Ghost Grey Depths is the new EP from UK band – Old Horn Tooth. This EP offers 50 minutes of heavy down-tuned Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal with a cool distorted feel to it. The band are not afraid to add elements of Drone Metal when the mood calls for it.

Old Horn Tooth have called in the big guns for this release as they recorded this EP with Sam Thredder of SLABDRAGGER fame and he knows a thing or two about HOW LOUD Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal music should be.

Old Horn Tooth present 4 fantastic sounding tracks that draw influence from bands such as Sleep, CONAN and COUGH but with a filthier and progressive sound. The guitars are down-tuned and the vocals from Chris feel inspired by Ozzy Osbourne in places especially on the epic opening song – She Is Risen.

Old Horn Tooth live upto their DOOM METAL PERSONA with absolute confidence and they’re not afraid to play a more daring and violent sound on the other songs contained on the EP. Follow The Demon and Old Horn Tooth are the best parts of the EP as the band become more confident with their highly atmospheric surroundings and when the band start playing a more psychedelic blend of Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal then you can’t but help being swept by the sheer heaviness and excitement of it all.

With all of the songs running past the 12 minute mark, you’re going to need patience with this EP. As the band play at their own pace and by their own rules.

The only downside to this EP is the final song – GRIEF. As it’s a full on Drone/Doom Metal assault with the band playing music you would expect to hear from SUNN 0))). The song is superbly put together but the glitch based noises and experimental sounds maybe too much for some. I did enjoy the final moments as the song becomes increasingly dark and more distant as time passes by.

Apart from that minor complaint, Old Horn Tooth have released a superbly entertaining EP and I do want to hear more from these guys in the future.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

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