Heavy Blues Rock trio Ambassador team up with Interstellar Smoke Records to release debut album on vinyl!

Heavy Blues Rock trio Ambassador team up with Interstellar Smoke Records to release their brilliantly crushing debut album on vinyl!

ALBUM CAN BE PURCHASED HERE:

#ISR066: AMBASSADOR "Ambassador" #ISR RED DOWN VINYL EDITION LTD. 250 COPIES

*Trans Violet Vinyl 180 grams, housed in standard LP-sleeve cover, comes in single-pocket cover, double-sided print insert and poster A3.

Art by Alejandro Castillo Leonelli Gogogoch.com.ar

*Trans Violet Vinyl Hand-Crafted in 33 1/3 RPM, with new special audiophile mastering for vinyl edition to get the highest possible sound quality at Velozet Estudio by Dylan Lerner and Masterized at Delajungla Estudio by Hernan Asconiga

All analogic recorded(!)

This album was recorded live and in one take(!)

Heavy Blues Rock Trio in BEST POSSIBLE FORM ! ! !

Tracklist:

1. Blues del origen 05:07

2. Estado Natural 04:05
3. Arbol de la paz 03:54
4. Espejismo 03:57
5. Siniestro 06:11
6. Por los caminos 02:54
7. La amenaza del pombero 03:06
8. Donde pega el sol 03:58
9. Tiempo 01:32

Connect with Interstellar Smoke Records:

https://interstellarsmokerecords1.bandcamp.com/
https://interstellarsmokerecords.bigcartel.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Interstellar-Smoke-Records-101687381255396/
https://instagram.com/interstellar.smoke.label?igshid=n7qwce5lvevs

Connnect with AMBASSADOR:

https://www.facebook.com/Ambassadoroficial

https://ambassadoroficial.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/ambassadorblues/

Funeral For Two - II (EP Review)

Release Date: September 23rd 2021. Record Label: Inverse Records. Format: DD

II - Tracklisting

1.The Curse Of Lord

2.La Muerte

Members

Guitar/vocals: Mikke

Bass: Jetro

Drums: Pete

Review

II is the new EP from Finland Doom/Stoner Metal Power Trio Funeral For Two and it’s a well produced and well made affair that sees the band prove their talent across two excellent tracks. The atmosphere is one of aggressive tone and gloomy atmospherics. There is a moody Blues based vibe held within the confinements of the music with a Black Sabbath aesthetic that’s very hard to deny.

Opening song - The Curse Of Lord - is constantly loud and aggressive with a thumping bass being one of the highlights of the song. It’s perhaps not as prominent as the Drums or Guitars but there is something that draws you into that part of the song the most. Well it did for myself. The song soon moves into early-Monolord territory with heavy down-tuned or down-doomed sounds. The song can be quite Drone and Distorted sounding which gives Funeral For Two a more “in-yer-face” sound. With the song being on for over 11 minutes the band are quite comfortable making this a more progressive affair.

Second song - La Muerte - runs for little over 10 minutes and continues the themes and ideas from the first song but adds a few different sounds along the way. The FUZZ is brought way up more on this song and you’re treated to a song that moves a fine line between Doom Metal, Stoner Metal and FUZZ Rock with those Sabbath/Monolord influences still allowing Funeral For Two bring their own distinctive flavour to the party.

II is quite lo-fi but that doesn’t take anything away from the great production held on the EP. This remains a product of the underground scene and it does play along with fantastic gloomy energy. I wish there was another song to go with the songs contained on this release. Just to see if Funeral For Two has more cool tricks up their sleeve but we can wait until the nest release.

Add this to your collection now. Superb stuff…..

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Exclusive Album Premiere Of Cripta Blue Debut Full Length Album

Italy's up and coming power rock trio, CRIPTA BLUE will be releasing their debut self-titled album on Friday 24th September via Italian Powerhouse Label Argonauta Records.

The band's self- titled, first full length record will be out on September 24, 2021 and available on Vinyl and as Digital formats.

CRIPTA BLUE was formed in 2019 by members of bands like Desert Wizard, Thrash act Rising Dark and Talismanstone. Being no strangers to the heavy music scene, the trio skilfully plays an enthralling and vibrant blend of psych rock, heavy power blues and a remarkable sound of the NWOBHM doom rock era between Blue Cheer, May Blitz and Saint Vitus. CRIPTA BLUES‘ debut is a captivating example of finest proto doom, that has the psychedelic mood you can't help but to dive into, gloomy lyrics and the hint of a cult horror classic. 

The baritone vocals of front-man and bassist Andrea Giuliani are shrouded by acid and fuzz rock soundscapes, full of power blues and with the soul of doom, without any doubt CRIPTA BLUE's upcoming, first album could easily make it on several Best-Of lists by the end of this year. 

"We started our musical and twilight journey in a cold night of November 2019, and now our dark creature is finally alive and ready to get unleashed!" Says vocalist and bassist, Andrea Giuliani. 

He continues: "A new, personal doom and psych sound, that looks back on the past of the dark 70's. No occult lyrics but instead distorted and horrible metaphors of what it means to taste life and to live it sinking deep, surrounded by the living dead..." 

You can listen to the album in full thanks to the cool folks at Argonauta Records and 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

Slowshine - Living Light (Album Review)

Release Date: October 08th 2021. Record Label: The Lasting Dose Records.

Format: DD/Vinyl/Cassette

From The Basement - Tracklisting

1.Trails

2.Brittle Bones

3.Heights

4.Wanderer

5.Mother Moon

6.Dunes Of Time

7.Living Light 

8.A Quiet Place

Members

Sabine Oberg – Bass

Jan Oberg – Guitars, Vocals

André Klein – Drums

Review

Slowshine is the new band from members of Earth Ship, GRIN and The Smokin’ 44s with Sabine, Jan and André already being part of the same band with Earth Ship. However, this is a different beast to Earth Ship and sounds more like a fully realized version of Jan and Sabine’s other project GRIN. WIth both bands focusing upon Doom Rock, Sludge Metal, Stoner Rock though Slowshine add elements of Noise Rock and Shoegaze into the mix. 

Their debut album Shining Light can seem to have a comparison with bands such as FLOOR, TORCHE and Spotlights. However, Slowshine has a more upbeat, distorted and feelgood sound with the album being so cool and original in places. 

The record has 8 songs and has a lot of sonic variety for the band to play with especially on the excellent opening song Trails with its heavy mix of Distorted Sludge Rock and a powerful Drone quality to it. The vocals rest on the psychedelic side of life but the music gives Slowshine a real muscular edge. The Psychedelic guitars move from Post-Doom to Post-Stoner grooves with no trouble at all and shows you what to expect for the rest of the album.

Second song - Battle Bones - is a heavier song with the band moving quickly onto Psychedelic Sludge Rock with Noise/Indie Rock attitude being played in the background. The band brings a Progressive feel to this song and it does remind me of the more quieter moments from GRIN’s last album but as I said with a modern Indie feel though still within the confinements of Sludge/Stoner Metal. The Shoegaze aspect is a great touch with Slowshine really starting to get in their creative stride with this album.

Third song - Heights - has fantastic dual vocal delivery from Jan and Sabine which makes this one of the standout tracks on the album. The Post-Punk feel brings a heavier psychedelic environment for the band to experiment with. Crunching sludgy guitars and great singalong choruses make it irresistible not to join in. You can hear the band's musical influences far and wide on this song and it still remains a cool and original sounding composition. 

Fourth song - Wanderer - is perhaps the most laid back track on the album with a lovely slow-paced groove that lets you soak in the heavy and hazy atmosphere. Heavy Post-Rock guitars build upto heavier elements such as Sludge and Stoner with an almost 90s Alt-Rock/Psychedelic flow running in the vocals and lyrics. The 2nd half of the song sees the band play heavier grooves but still keeping in line with the earlier moments of the song.

The 2nd half of the album perhaps contains the heaviest parts of the album with Slowshine becoming more daring and creative with their music. The final 3 songs of Dunes Of Time, Living Light and A Quiet Place are the best parts of the album and even perhaps some of the best music I’ve heard all 3 members have been involved with including the mighty Earth Ship. 

Living Light was an unexpected surprise for myself as I fell in love with this album quite quickly and one that has definitely earned a place on my list of Best Albums of 2021.

Overall, Living Light is an album backed up by wonderful production values that make this a must have album. If you’re a fan of Torche’s earlier albums such as Meanderthal then you have no reason not to check this band out. This is an exciting and bold album packed full of uplifting Sludge/Stoner Metal songs from start to finish. 

Words by Steve Howe

Living Light will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl/Cassette from The Lasting Dose Records from October 8th 2021. 

Links

BandCamp | Instagram | Facebook

Delco Detention - From The Basement (Album Review)

Release Date: September 09h 2021. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD

From The Basement - Tracklisting

1.It Came From The Basement (w/ Jared Collins of Mississippi Bones) 03:51

2.The Joy Of Homeschooling (w/ Neil Fallon of Clutch) 03:09

3.Across The Water (w/ Domagoj Simek of She Loves Pablo & Isaiah Mitchell of Earthless) 04:07

4.Mascat (w/ Krissy Allen McPherson & Neal Pomerantz) 03:59

5.Dirt School (w/ Ben Jackson & Eddie Brnabic of Hippie Death Cult 04:05

6.From The Shadows ( w/ Bob Mavity & Mike Descoteaux) 04:24

7.The Action Is Delco (w/ Bob Balch of Fu Manchu) 03:19

8.The Future Of Werewolvery (w/ Jared Collins of Mississippi Bones) 03:44

9.All Ages Show (w/ Nate Bergman of Lionize) 02:51

10.422 (w/ Kevin McNamara of The Age Of Truth) 04:26

11.Gods Surround (w/ Thunderbird Divine) 03:03

12.Digital Animal (w/ Kingsnake) 03:27

13.Behemoth Ship (w/ The Mike Dillon Band) 03:51

14.Tones Of Detention (w/ Rogers Stevens of Blind Melon) 02:39

15.The Future Of Werewolvery 2 (w/ Jared Collins of Mississippi Bones) 03:33

Members

Adam Pomerantz

Tyler Pomerantz

Review

Delco Detention is the Stoner Rock Duo made up of a father and son. The band have gained attention within the Stoner Rock Community recently thanks to their action-packed and star studded debut album From The Basement. This is a collection of songs written by Tyler Pomerantz and he’s joined by the cream of the crop of the Doom/Stoner Rock underground. Check out the artists who appear on every song. What is even more impressive is that Tyler is only 10 years old and wrote all these tracks himself.

You have appearances from Neil Fallon (Clutch), Jared Collins (Mississippi Bones), Rogers Stevens (Blined Melon), Bob Balch (Fu Manchu) and Isaiah MItchell (Earthless) on this album with Delco Detention debut album being an exciting collection of Blues Rock/Stoner Rock based tracks with the guest appearances not overshadowing the main duo of Adam and Tyler.

The band gained momentum when Neil Fallon of CLUTCH appeared on a song written by Tyler which spread like wildfire last year and the second track where Neil appears on The Joy Of Homeschooling is one of the standout songs on the album. With it’s joyful and rebellious lyrics with a spikey Punk/Stoner Rock flavour with Neil’s awesome vocals elevating a level above the usual Stoner Rock song you here nowadays.

The album is perhaps  too bloated at 15 tracks but at least Delco Detention are aiming big for this release and the journey is always an exciting and adventurous style of Blues Rock and Stoner Rock. There are some moments of Heavy Psych and even Doom based moments along the way.

Standout songs include: Across The Water, Mascat, Dirt School, The Action Is Delco, 422 and Digital Animal. These were the tracks I found the most exciting and perhaps where both Father and Son find their true creative flow and groove on the album.

Not all of the lyrics work but you have to give Tyler credit. Being 10 Years Old this kid has a bright future ahead of him and he does show a sense of maturity way beyond his current age. The album is jam-packed full of great riffs that are constantly heavy and sometimes even challenging.

From The Basement's biggest achievement is showcasing a future star of the Stoner Rock underground. Let's hope Tyler carries on with his Stoner Rock journey and releases more stunning tracks such as held on this album. 

Overall, Delco Detention have graduated “TOP OF THE STONER ROCK CLASS” with From The Basement with an album rich in musical variety and one featuring your favourite Stoner Rock musicians is always an added bonus.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Bogwife - A Passage Divine (Album Review)

Release Date: September 17th 2021. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Format: DD/Vinyl

A Passage Divine - Tracklisting

1.The Approach 06:46

2.Restoration 06:04

3.Among the Trees 08:15

4.Celestial Dawn 05:22

5.Descent 10:11

Review

A Passage Divine is the 2nd full length album from Danish Psych Doom/Stoner Metallers Bogwife and follows on from their 2020 debut album. This album takes a more riff-centric approach compared to that album with Bogwife leaning heavily on the Psychedelic Heaviness with echoes of YOB and Slomatics for good measure. There is also a steady mix of Blues Rock and Hard Rock on this album but mostly this is an action-packed album full of many Stoner/Weedian Twists and Turns.

Opening track - The Approach - is a doomedelic journey into the layers of different Psychedelic areas of Doom and Stoner Metal with an almost “Drone” feel to everything. There is a seedy element to the album which gives the record a much needed classic sound whilst remaining modern at the same time. The music moves along at a slow pace with the vocals bringing a well balanced style of different themes and tones. The lyrics are superb which allows the music to breathe and play naturally. 

Second song - Restoration - brings a “Sludge” environment which prompts the band to play some of the heaviest parts of the album. The vocals are slightly OTT in places but it works. As the music becomes more theatrical, you have to admire the influences of Black Sabbath and YOB working their way through on this track. The Space Rock flavour becomes an important building block for Bogwife to convert their heaviest grooves and sounds to a slightly more Progressive style of music.

Third track - Among The Trees - sees Bogwife in full flight with their Cosmic/Space Rock sonic based passages and the band simply excel at this style of music. The distorted and drone guitars allow Bogwife to become a more vengeful Doom Metal entity and you can see that change with the kick-ass vocals and soaring instrumental work that appears in the 2nd half of the song. Ambient/Psychedelic Sounds take over for a brief moment of time with Bogwife playing the best track on the album.

The final two songs - Celestial Dawn and Descent - offer almost 16 minutes of Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal being played yet again with heavy levels of Space Rock and Swampy Blues Rock with the final song Descent being the other standout track on the album. Descent lasts for over 10 minutes but it’s a dream song for Psych Doom/Stoner Metal fans. As the song has many different layers and levels of heaviness to the song. Bogwife channel modern-day YOB on the later stages of the album but still remaining true to their own sound.

A Passage Divine is another epic and stunning album to discover from the Danish Doom/Stoner Metal scene and Bogwife should be pleased with themselves in releasing a thunderous album such as this. If you’re on the lookout for a top-notch Spaced Out Doom/Stoner Metal experience then Bogwife would like to have a word with you all….

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Richard at Sheltered Life PR for the promo.

A Passage Divine is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via Majestic Mountain Records.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instragram

Nordic Doom Giants JOINTHUGGER Announce Second Release of the Year with SURROUNDED BY VULTURES

Photo Credit: Pål Bellis Photography

Formed in 2012 amidst the Norwegian fjords, Jointhugger are an explosive trio that recall the cosmic doom of rock colossic like Shrinebuilder, Sleep and YOB.

Having first come to the attention of Majestic Mountain Records following the release of their debut, I Am No One in 2020, an unhallowed union was quickly established to herald the arrival of not one, but two new records in 2021. The first, a sublime one-track EP – Reaper Season – was released to high praise earlier in the year, foreshadowing the arrival of their latest and most lethal entry into the annals of Nordic Doom; Surrounded by Vultures.

“Surrounded by Vultures is the second instalment in a trilogy of albums connected by correlating titles, united by their opening tracks,” explains Nico. “It’s a chronicle of Jointhugger’s journey as a band over the last ten years and our lives as people.”

Now counting drummer, Adam Suleiman (Saint Karloff), among its ranks, the band recorded the album live before handing over mixing and mastering duties to Haldor Grunberg at Satanic Audio. Featuring a curated selection of old and new tracks that offer a candid glimpse into the inner world of Jointhugger, ‘Midnight’; the first sprawling and cinematic single from the record reflects deeply on the chaos of existence and creation. Drawing a crushing heaviness and doom rock assault that lays waste to the turbulence of dominion.

Pre-order Surrounded by Vultures, the brand-new album by Jointhugger with Majestic Mountain Records here, ahead of its official release on Sunday 31st October 2021.

FFO: Domkraft, Electric Wizard, Saint Karloff

Jointhugger on Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | YouTube