Cripta Blue - S/T (Album Review)

Release Date: September 24th 2021. Record Label: Argonauta Records. Format: DD/Vinyl

Cripta Blue - S/T - Tracklisting

Mourning Pyre

Magickal Ride

Tombstone (feat. Ricky Dal Pane from Witchwood)

Creepy Eyes

Spectral Highway

Death Wheelers

A Space Tale

Members

Andrea Giuliani - Vocals/Bass

Federico Bocchini - Guitar

Silvio Dalla Valle - Drums

Review

Cripta Blue is a Doom/Stoner Metal band brought up on the heavy power grooves of Black Sabbath, Saint Vitus and Blue Cheer. Throw in a subtle NWOBHM flavour and Cripta Blue are a different kind of power-trio who revel in the early beginnings of 70s Doom Metal. Their debut self-titled album is full of Psychedelic Soundscapes which brings perhaps a more modern sound. The guitars become down-tuned and more Occult based when Cripta Blue decide the time is right for that heavy sound to control the actions of the entire album.

Cripta Blue is made up of different bands from the Italian Hard Rock and Heavy Metal scene with members coming from Desert Wizard, Rising Dark and Talismanstone. This allows each member to bring their own respective sound to this album. The album has a refreshing seedy attitude and approach to the songs contained on the album. You can experience and hear that attitude on the excellent two opening songs of Mourning Pyre and Magickal Ride.

Both songs contain a gloomy approach with both the music and vocals offering a rough Psychedelic Rock and Blues Rock sound. Though bubbling beneath the heavy grooves is a HEAVY METAL attitude that allows the record to be a more “daring” album that you initially expect. There is a warped 60s/70s Psychedelic vibe to the whole album and that’s perhaps where Cripta Blue draw their biggest and best creative ideas from. 

The atmosphere is very much “Streetwise” or “Streetwise DOOM” attitude with an “Outlaws” mentality with Sabbathian and Blue Cheer riffs coming from all directions especially on songs such as: Tombstone, Creepy Eyes, Death Wheelers and A Space Tale.

The final song A Space Tale sees Cripta Blue go full on Space Rock and bring an excellent and well put together instrumental song that reminds me of fellow of Italian Spaced Out Riffsters Black Rainbow and this remains one of the best tracks on the album, if not the best song. This ends the album on an almighty HIGH....

The production on the album is first rate with Cripta Blue being given every opportunity to impress with their own blend of Psychedelic and Trippy based Doom/Stoner Metal. Overall, this feels like an album that could have easily been recorded in the legendary Hard Rock, Heavy Metal and Doom Metal scenes of the 70s whilst offering a modern day perspective as well.

Cripta Blue are being represented by Italian Powerhouse Label - Argonauta Records. Another fantastic label bringing awesome undiscovered talent to the Doom/Stoner Metal masses and Cripta Blue is another great release from Argonauta.

Overall, Cripta Blue debut full length album is a triumph and if you miss the good old days of seedy 70s Doom/Stoner Metal then this album is an essential one to own.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR.

Cripta Blue S/T will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Argonauta Records from September 24th 2021.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Sugar Horse - The Live Long After (Album Review)

Release Date: August 27th 2021. Record Label: Small Pond Records.  Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Live Long After - Tracklisting

1.I Am Not Now, Nor Have I Ever Been... 01:49

2.Shouting Judas At Bob Dylan 05:01

3.Fat Dracula 03:36

4.Phil Spector In Hell 08:06

5.The Live Long After 08:00

6.Terrible Things Are Happening As We Speak 06:03

7.The Great British Death Cult 06:07

8.Dadcore World Cup 08:49

9....A Las Vegas Showgirl 09:12

Members

Drums - Martin Savage

Bass - Chris Howarth

Baritone Guitar, Keyboards, Synths, Gruff Shouting - Jake Healy

Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals - Ashley Tubb

Strings (Dadcore World Cup) - Mari & Craig Campbell

Fart Library - Andy Hawkins

Review

UK Weirdo Sludge Rockers Sugar Horse is a very hard band to describe. The band move across different styles of Hard Rock and Metal whilst ignoring the rules and genre conventions of whatever style they use. Their debut album The Live Long After is a LOUD, RAUCOUS, BOLD and EXTREMELY NOISY AFFAIR. Sugar Horse use elements of Post-Hardcore, Noise Rock, Post-Metal, Doom Metal and Sludge Metal for a muscular style of music with the majority of this album being mostly experimental. Shades of OCEANSIZE come to mind for this album when they start moving between the quieter moments of Post-Rock sounds to the more frantic atmospheric sludge parts of the album.

Maybe Sugar Horse take a Melvins based approach with how the music is put together or even BORIS to some respects but there’s a lot to breakdown on this album especially with songs such as: Shouting Judas At Bob Dylan, Fat Dracula, Phil Spector In Hell, The Live Long After and the gloriously ridiculously titled Dadcore World Cup.

I’m still not fully sold on the glitches and different breakdown beats this album contains but there is a method to the madness contained on this album. It does add an uncomfortable feeling in places but one that allows the band to elevate their overall sound onto a deeper and threatening level.

Another welcome aspect to this record is the shoegaze elements which is the strongest part of the album and acts as the “GLUE” that holds everything together. The vocals are a mixture of harsh growls, clean and screamo vocals. 

The production is superbly handled and allows Sugar Horse to shine on their own creative merits. The album is always forward thinking and the songs sound strikingly different to each other. If you’re in the mood for an experimental album that focuses on both the melodic and heavier grooves then Sugar Horse is most definitely worth checking out.

The Live Long After is an essential release and could mark the arrival of a very important band within the UK Experimental/Doom/Sludge Metal scene. 

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp 

Band To Check Out - Sound Animal

Sound Animal is an Experimental Avant-Garde or One Person Artist. As this fantastic project is the work of one hugely talented individual. Sound Animal play a lot of different styles of music such as Doom Metal, Psych Metal, Stoner Metal, Folk, Post-Rock and Post-Metal.

Their BandCamp Page is overflowing with awesome songs that are quite diverse, weird and unusual but also thrilling examples of Doom Metal and Stoner Metal such as Listen Around and Walk Your Mastodon being my two personal favourites of the entire collection.

Though Sound Animal show their Post-Rock/Post-Metal side on tracks such as: End Of Neverending and Before And After Ghosts.

Sound Animal play every instrument themselves and there's a lot of different instruments depending on what style or genre the song actually is.

Check out Sound Animal. There's bound to be something you like. I believe Sound Animal has a new album coming out soon and I for one will be checking that out when

Words by Steve Howe

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Solar Mantra - Away (Album Review)

Release Date: September 03rd 2021. Record Label: Argonauta Records. Format: DD/CD

Away - Tracklisting

1.Stone Rider 03:43

2.Pacciani 04:47

3.Candyman 03:47

4.Monster from the Abyss 04:17

5.Mazinga 05:22

6.Thiz Iz 05:45

7.Hard as a Stone 04:30

8.Hurricane 04:41

9.Crown 04:44

10.The Snake 04:06

11.Solar Mantra 06:59

Members

Tommaso Santillo - Voice

Francesco Carretti - Guitar

Federico "Quattro" Lombardi - Bass

Simone Bianchini - Drums

Review

Away is the new album from Italian Desert/Stoner Rockers Solar Mantra with the band leaning firmly on the 90s scene for a heavier sound that has an early Orange Goblin and KYUSS twinge within their overall sound. The album is perhaps a tad too long but you can’t deny the quality of the songs held on Away. As this album moves between the different levels of Fuzz Rock, Desert Rock and aggressive Stoner Metal. The band even finds the time to add strands of Classic Hard Rock and Heavy Metal which you can hear in the excellent opening song Stoner Rider.

Second song Pacciani has a “Velvet Revolver” attitude and style to it but still being a Desert Rock/Stoner Metal song. THe music is plentiful and heavy with a buoyant attitude and the vocals have a troublesome feel to it. The song is a mixture of 90s Stoner Metal attitude and a modern gloomy vibe. This song shouldn’t really work but it does and that’s down to the cool inventive and different styles of music the band have employed here. The song is quite soulful within the quieter moments before the heavier grooves fully take over.

Third song - Candyman - opens with heavy grooves before the band bring a groove straight from legendary hard rockers “CREAM” were known for and the “sweet-natured” lyrics make this song quite a funky and fun little number. 

From here on in, Solar Mantra play a mixture of different styles of Desert Rock and Stoner Metal for the remainder of the album with Tommaso vocals being the best thing about this record. The dude can sure sing and he has a great vocal style and delivery all of his own but the whole band bring their “A” game to the party and make this album a refreshing change of style.

Other great songs to checkout are: Monster From The Abyss, Thiz Iz, Hurricane, The Snake and Solar Mantra.

The second half of the album is perhaps the most exciting part of the record with the best ideas, songs and heaviest grooves can be found especially on the final 3 songs of the album.  As I said earlier in the review, the album is a tad too long but it’s the journey that Solar Mantra takes you on with this record that makes it such an exciting listen. The band never play it safe and take some bold creative choices on this record which ultimately works to their favour. This makes Away a fantastical and action packed record that will satisfy your Desert Rock/Stoner Metal cravings.

Argonauta Records are releasing this record and it’s good seeing Gero putting the spotlight on these guys and it showcases another great band from the Italian Stoner Rock/Metal scene. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR.

Away is available to buy now on CD/DD via Argonauta Records.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp 

Heavy Psych Sounds To Re-issue B.U.S. Debut Album The Unknown Secretary. New Video Released

Debut album “The Unknown Secretary” to be reissued October 8 on Heavy Psych Sounds. 

Preorder: https://www.heavypsychsounds.com/shop.htm#HPS184

MORE INFO:

Bus The Unknown Secretary is a four-piece Heavy Rock group hailing from Athens, Greece, simply known as B.U.S.

The band was formed in 2011 and have since then released two EP’s and two full length albums: “The Impious Tapes” EP (2014) and “The Cross” EP (2014), followed by “The Unknown Secretary” LP (2016) and “Never Decide” LP, released back in March 2019.

Influenced by tunes and bands that emerged from the 60’s up to the 90’s, B.U.S are heavily inspired by artists such as The Who, Alice Cooper, Sex Pistols, King Diamond, Kyuss, Nirvana and many more. The band incorporates all these influences into a deeply unique and personal style, creating a genuinely special musical identity.

During the past years the band has toured extensively throughout Greece and other European countries such as Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Serbia and Bulgaria. They also held special shows as an opening act for Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats (UK) in Athens, for Blood Ceremony (USA) during two back to back shows in Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as for Orchid (USA), again in Athens. B.U.S. have also appeared at Athens Desert-fest in 2017.

You can hear the new video for Don't Fear Your Demon below. 

B.U.S. is:

Bill Politis - Vocals & Guitars
Dimitris Papavasileiou - Bass Guitar
Aris Fasoulis - Drums
Fotis Kolokithas - Guitars

Bill said this about the album

"A while later in the Heavens, where angels reigned, there was once held a great symposium, a glorious feast. Everyone was happy and having a great time, until Lucifer, fairest and mightiest of all the angels, brought in suspicious and strange substances, offering them freely with both hands for everyone to take. All were fooled by the Ancient Serpent, starting to misbehave and act in contradiction to the Heavenly Laws. The Almighty God, enraged upon learning about the mutiny, threw everyone down on earth to suffer eternally in hunger, ugliness and desperation. 

Vulnerable now to each and every temptation, they are ready to perpetuate Good and Evil, while building their new earthly Kingdom in any way they can. Angelic chants, Demon’s screams, witches dancing and woeful mortal suffering are recounted in this album’s songs, embellished with mesmerising hymns and sharp riffs. Chaos is always close and all that remains is the human revolution against the forces of evil. Battlefields of Satan's servants, witch-hunt for our ways, face off reality and eat TV today. Lucifer, Forever Grey".

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Tommy Stewart's DYERWULF - Doomsday Deferred (Album Review) And Exclusive Album Premiere

Release Date: September 03rd 2021. Record Label: Black Doomba Records. Format: DD/CD/Vinyl

Doomsday Deferred - Tracklisting

1.Doomsday Malum

2.Shadow in the Well 05:24

3.Two Trog Yomp

4.Madness for Two

5.Rolling My Own

6.Not Prey to Yourself

7.Indiscriminate Trepidation

8.Stars Flee in Pain

9.Why the Rotting Sun Speaks in Tongues

10.By the Blood of Mars

Review

Doomsday Deferred is the 2nd album from Tommy Stewart’s Dyerwulf project and is quite different to the last project that I reviewed for Negative Wall. Dyerwulf is more Atmospheric Doom Metal spliced with modern day Stoner Metal with flashes of Psych Rock and Fuzz Rock. The album is quite gloomy with a heavy amount of FUZZ leading the way. The album does have a fair amount of Amplifier Worship which is to be expected for a two piece band I believe though Dyerwulf do have special guest appearances along the way.

There is a deep love for 70s Doom Metal, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal with Black Sabbath, Trouble and Saint Vitus being the most obvious starting points especially on the excellent earliest tracks such as Shadow In The Well and Two Trog Yomp laying down the groundwork for Dyerwulf to get their “DOOM CLAWS” into whoever listens to this album.

The vocal arrangements on the album are good and show a different side to Tommy and I can even hear shades of Ozzy and King Buzzo in equal measure throughout the album. The music is always on the right side of Doom/Stoner Metal HEAVINESS with an aggressive sound and attitude to match. 

Bass Players throughout the Doom/Stoner Metal land will ultimately love this album the most. As this is a Drum and Bass Two Piece combo that utilizes everything great about the Bass Guitar. The riffs are LOUD, FREAKY and PLENTIFUL. 

Doomsday Deferred is perhaps the most entertaining album I’ve heard from Tommy Stewart’s weird and wonderful musical mind. As I dig the Black Sabbath vibes and The Melvins sludgy weirdo rock/metal that is held on this album but Dyerwulf still brings their own flavour and identity to the party. 

Check this great album out yourself with this cool exclusive album premiere.

 

Tommy says this about the album: 

“The creation of this album took place during a dark time for me, the same dark and precarious year or so many of us had to endure in the 2020 times. Writing and recording this album has its freewheeling moments but was also a catharsis of the dim, gloomy, and sometimes angry era. These sessions helped me break through the loneliness of isolation that I’m sure many of you could find relatable. ‘Doomsday Deferred’ shares my personal journey from dark to light with you.”

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to C Squared Music for all of the details

Doomsday Deferred will be available to buy on CD/DD/Cassette/Vinyl via Black Doomba Records from September 3rd 2021.

Links:

BandCamp

KADABRA - Ultra (Album Review)

Release Date: September 17th 2021. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Ultra - Tracklisting

Graveyard

Faded Black

Eagle 20’s

Bean King

Death

Coyote

Settle Me

Members

Garrett Zanol - Vocals/Guitar

Ian Nelson - Bass

Chase Howard - Drums

Review

Kadabra haven’t done too badly for themselves with their debut album Ultra. Signed to Heavy Psych Sounds Records and showing the Doom/Stoner Rock world there’s a new kid on the block especially if you dig bands such as All Them Witches, Dead Meadow and dare I say early shades of both Kadavar and Uncle Acid. 

Ultra showcases the band’s gloriously heavy retro style of Doom Metal, Fuzz, Psych, Stoner Rock and Classic Rock though the one thing the album impresses the most for myself is how soulful it actually is. This album has a “SOULFUL” presence with all the songs. 

The seven songs held on the record have excellent grooves and lyrics that allow Kadabra to be fantastic storytellers even if they’re inspired by an “Occult Rock” style of gloomy Doom based themes. There is a heavy amount of Psychedelic Amplifier Worship going on with this record especially on the opening two tracks - Graveyard and Faded Black. The soaring grooves and melodies just draw you in with the band’s adventurous sound and pulsating 70s Blues Rock vocals. 

I was expecting a more upbeat “POPPIER” sound before listening to this album. I don’t know why but I thought Kadabra would lean on the lighter side of 60s and 70s Hard Rock but these guys revel in the darker and gloomier side of that era. The band excel in playing at LOUD VOLUMES of different styles of Doom/Stoner Rock but still challenging themselves along the way.

Songs such as Eagle 20’s, Bean King and Death only see Kadabra bring heavier ideas to the party and perhaps even bring a more Sludgy attitude when you least expect it. The songs may have similar themes but each song has it’s own wicked identity to stand on it’s own merits.

If you love “FUZZ ROCK” then Kadabra bring “Truckfighters” style heaviness and fast-paced aggression to the later stages of the record. Check out Coyote and Settle Me great examples of this.

The instrumental work is superb from everyone playing their in part in bringing this highly majestic album to life. The excellent production values helps Ultra being dynamite entertainment and sounding like a “Classic Rock” album whilst offering a thrilling Modern based vibe as well.

Ultra is a must have record and another top-notch release from one of the best underground labels out there. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Claire at Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Ultra will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from September 17th 2021.

Links:

Instagram | BandCamp