Daemonelix - Devil's Corkscrew (EP Review)

Release Date: October 15th 2021. Record Label: Metal Assault Records. Format: CD/DD

Devil’s Corkscrew  - Tracklisting

1.Daemonelix 03:56 

2.Raise Crows 03:36 

3.In The Name Of Freedom 05:02

4.Sing For The Moon 05:57

Members

Vocals - Ana Garcia Lopez

Guitar / Bass - Derek Phillips

Leads - Andrew Luddy

Drums - Pat Labuda

Review

Devil’s Corkscrew is the debut EP from Alternative Metal/Groove/Sludge Metallers Daemonelix and they have a not too subtle Extreme Metal flair within their grasp. The music moves firmly and freely within the constraints of Extreme Metal and friendlier styles of Hard Rock and Metal. Though the vocals remain in the extreme background with the harsh growls employed here. This shouldn’t really work but to the band’s credit everything does and can be quite catchy in places especially on the superb opening track Daemonelix.

There is a bombastic approach to Daemonelix music with the band playing Doom/Sludge Metal grooves as the main glue that holds everything together before switching to a more brutal style of Groove and Thrash Metal. The EP contains a heavy amount of modern day beatdowns that I haven’t heard this good in a long time. 

The other songs Raise Crows, In the Name Of Freedom and Sing For The Moon rumble on within their own catchy and bleak narrative with the band breaking out to play whatever comes to mind. A bleak psychedelic narrative makes itself known with lyrics that make you think. The release is backed up by solid production values and feels like a modern day extreme release should. 

This is a well-made and superbly entertaining release and if you like your Doom/Sludge Metal with extra extreme aggressive bite then this is the release for you.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Kurokuma - Born Of Obsidian (Album Review)

Release Date: February 04th 2022. Record Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD/Cassette/Vinyl

Born Of Obsidian  - Tracklisting

1.Smoking Mirror 08:24

2.Sacrifice to Huitzilopochtli 04:32

3.Jaguar 08:30

4.Ololiuqui 08:00

5.Under the Fifth Sun 08:53

Members

Jacob Mazlum (guitar/vocals)

Joe Allen (drums)

George Ionita (bass)

Review

Born Of Obsidian is the debut full length album from Sheffield Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal juggernauts Kurokuma and comes eight years after I originally encountered them on my Sludgelord days. This album sees the Sheffield dirge-ridden heavy hitters bring a more riff-centric approach for this release but still keeping their experimental heavy creative approach intact.  Bringing Sanford Parker along for the ride in a producer’s role, the album has a “major league” appeal with the band performing Progressive Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal grooves from the rule-book of Relapse Record releases. Kudos also to getting James Plotkin to master the album as well. So you know with those two legends of the scene on board, this album is going to sound wonderful from start to finish.

The album moves at a thrilling speed with Kurokuma moving between the different levels of Sludge Metal and Post-Metal with the band evolving into heavier depths of Doom/Stoner Metal with a twinge of Psychedelic vibes and even distorted Noise Rock levels. You can feel all these dark musical surroundings on the excellent opening track Smoking Mirror. The  vocals match the dark musical mood that Kurokuma lays down with a surreal Progressive theme leading the way. The riffs are plentiful but played with the force of “THOR’S HAMMER”. Yeah, I’m being OTT there but when the music hits hard, this really becomes a powerful beast of it’s own.

The music is quite grimy in places with a sense of realism at the heart for the album. Maybe taking influence from PRIMITIVE MAN and CONAN with the heavy volume stakes, Kurokuma are still masters of their own dark musical vision. The album is a concept album of sorts and has an early-Mastodon feel but perhaps harsher and with more aggressive energy.

The other four songs are just as good as the opening track with Sacrifice to Huitzilopochtli, Jaguar and Under The Fifth Sun being the heaviest offerings on the record.

The album is best viewed and listened to as one epic song broken down into individual chapters. Each one brings its own themes, narratives and breathtaking grooves with some of the best bass-playing I’ve heard in quite some time. Born Of Obsidian will take repeated listens to fully understand and appreciate with the record being quite complex in places. Though, Kurokuma have always delivered this style of music with their previous releases.

Born Of Obsidian does have a “CULT UNDERGROUND” appeal but it also has the potential to launch Kurokuma onto bigger and greater things. The guys deserve this after all the time and effort they’ve put into the scene. 

This is without doubt Kurokuma's best release to date. An album that pulls no punches with it’s almost limitless style of musical tempos and changes that all build up to one of the most daring, exciting and adventurous debut releases the UK Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal scene has seen in years. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to For The Lost PR for the promo.

Born Of Obsidian is available to buy now on CD/DD/Cassette/Vinyl

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

LUNAVIEJA: Announce New SIngle and Pre-Order For New Album Via Spinda Records

From the deepest darkness of Andalusia in the South of Spain, LUNAVIEJA invites you to dance around the bonfire, taking part in ancestral rituals and in a new occult session titled "La Güestia". This is a cult, and once you're in, you're in - there's no way to get out!

© Uve Martínez

Back in November 2021, LUNAVIEJA aired a first self-titled single as part of the soundtrack of the FANCINE Fest and which brought them excellent reviews from different specialised websites in North America, United Kingdom and Europe.

Today, 2nd February 2022, the doom-psych rockers are releasing a new single called "La Güestia" - its video was simultaneous premiered yesterday by La Habitación 235 (Spain), Desert Vulture (United Kingdom), 666 Mr Doom (Greece), Doomed Nation (Slovenia) and The Heavy Chronicles (France).

LUNAVIEJA "La Güestia"

Production: INSTINTO
Art Direction: Alonso Gll Gll
Video-edition: Claudia Laguna
Music and lyrics: Lunavieja

This way, "La Güestia" is the second single extracted from LUNAVIEJA's self-titled debut album, which was produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Fran Corpas at Void Sound Studio (Spain), with drums recorded by Jesús Gómez at Green Cross Studio (Spain), and it includes fantastic artwork by Key Svn Kvlt, with design by Paco L. González Anaya.

The band will be presenting the album live on 24th February in Málaga (Spain).

The first album is set to be released on 25th March 2022 via Spinda Records, LaRubiaProducciones, Violence In The Veins, Quebranta Records and Ritval Prods; and it will be available on both digital and vinyl; in two limited editions to 150 copies each.

Pre-order is available at spindarecords.com and spindarecords.bandcamp.com.

PRE-ORDER AT BANDCAMP.COM
PRE-ORDER AT SPINDARECORDS.COM

THE LONG HUNT Announces New 'Threshold Wanderer' Album And Short Film

Threshold Wanderer' is the newest album by the Pittsburgh-based instrumental trio The Long Hunt, following 2017’s 'Wilderness Tales' EP and 2018’s 'All Paths Lead to Here' full-length.
In contrast to the dry minimalism and sparse textures that defined the first two records, the songs on 'Threshold Wanderer' are often lush, dense, and verdant. Musical styles range from post-rock to post-metal, heavy psychedelic, doom, drone, and even a few hints of prog and classic rock. 'Threshold Wanderer' is all about musical exploration and traveling between worlds.

The album was recorded, mixed, and mastered in the first quarter of 2020, with the intent to release it later that year. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the global pandemic, those plans were unfortunately shelved. Not to be deterred by events beyond their control, the band soldiered on behind the scenes.

Digitally Pre-save 'Threshold Wanderer' now!

 

After a three-month crash course in 3D modeling, using open-source animation software Blender, guitarist Trevor Richards embarked on the monumental task of writing and animating an album-length music video. Eight months and over 1000 hours of work later, the accompanying music video/short film for 'Threshold Wanderer' was born.

Expanding on the band’s frequent use of archetypal themes such as nature, life, death, and rebirth, the music video for 'Threshold Wanderer' is an epic story-driven visual experience set to the music of The Long Hunt.

Bookending two years of anticipation, the band will release both the album and accompanying music video/short film for 'Threshold Wanderer' on Friday, April 1, 2022.

Pre-order coming soon at: thelonghunt.bandcamp.com

Here's a tease from Threshold Wanderer below.

The Long Hunt is a three-piece instrumental doom, drone, psych band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Adaptable and dynamic, the music can shift in both volume and mood at a moment’s notice.

With live shows often accompanied by samples, lights, and projected images, The Long Hunt strives to create an immersive experience for the audience. The band has provided support for National/regional touring acts such as Karma to Burn, The Atomic Bitchwax, The Skull, Yatra, Rebreather, Insect Ark, Monte Luna, Mirror Queen, Horehound, Worshipper, Samothrace, He Whose Ox Is Gored, and Child Bite, as well as appearances at multiple regional festivals.

Upcoming Live Shows:

June 3-4 @ Descendants of Crom IV, Pittsburgh, PA

THE LONG HUNT Online:

https://listentothelonghunt.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thelonghuntband/
https://www.instagram.com/thelonghunt/
https://thelonghunt.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1GzuUQUobcKgH1IzjDqE74
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCL0cOWirUYVB15vEj3bwvw

Introduce Yourselves: Fastflows

What is the name of your band?

Fastflows

What is the genre of music that you play?

We start from a sort of heavy rock, with many influences from prog to space/stoner rock, but not only. We like to wink at the vocal melodic lines.

Can you give a brief history of the band of how it came together and where it is today?

We started playing in 2019 as a drum/bass duo in lowlands of south Sardinia. In 2020 the guitar was added to the band passing from the duo to the trio formula, starting to create new songs and complete the stuffs composed in the first year as a duo. At the same time as adding the guitarist again, in 2021 we released our first EP: "Noon" (https://fastflows.bandcamp.com/album/noon). 

This debut is entirely mixed and mastered by the RopeCave Studio.

We are currently composing new music and simultaneously starting to record new songs.

We would like to try to integrate new sounds for some new productions. Specifically with "new sounds" we refer to sounds that we have not yet used for our compositions such as synths, but also Hammond, Farfisa.

What can people expect from your music?

Slow but also fast sounds, a little melody and oniric passages.

What is the best release that folks should check out from your band?

“Noon” at the moment, our first EP:

Check it: https://fastflows.bandcamp.com/album/noon

Where can people find you on Social Media?

FB: https://facebook.com/fastflows
IG: https://www.instagram.com/fastflows.band/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/68DsiF1ZKwBSarnMj2Jp6d

Mud Spencer - Fuzz Soup (Album Review)

Release Date: January 24th 2022. Record Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD

Fuzz Soup- Tracklisting

1.Razana 02:01

2.Back To Origin 05:03

3.Fuzz Soup 04:31

4.Quest For Fire 04:51

5.Ride The Mammoth 04:28

6.Argapura 02:44

7.The Shelter 03:51

8.Surfin The Dune 04:20

9.The Cheating Mole 04:43

10.Tumulus 04:41

11.Narcolepsy 04:35

Review

Fuzz Soup is the debut album from Indonesian Instrumental Stoner Rockers Mud Spencer. The album sees Mud Spencer playing a sixties and seventies based trippy psychedelic mix of Stoner Rock, Doom Rock and Fuzz Rock. Mud Spencer feels in complete control of their own crazy hard rocking world. The album has different styles of Stoner Rock/Metal that may take some time to fully get accustomed to. However, there’s something for everyone to enjoy if you’re a serious follower of Stoner Rock/Metal.

The album is quite jagged with its production values. The production is superb but it can be quite jarring when Mud Spencer brings in different flavours of Psych Stoner Rock that even moves into Jazz and Middle Eastern musical territories. The sixties hard rock attitude is very easy to spot especially on the two opening tracks of Razana and  Back To Origin.

Back To Origin even has elements of Surf Rock before moving back to a kick-ass modern Karma To Burn-esque guitar riff-fest. The instrumental work is proggressive in many ways and you don’t instantly feel or hear that at first. As the music sticks within the standard rules of Stoner Rock/Metal but Mud Spencer uses tricks of the Prog Rock trade to get their music across more substantially. 

There are a lot of Psychedelic Freakouts throughout the album that scream “SIXTIES PSYCHEDELIA” before burying itself underneath an avalanche of dirty and scuzzy FUZZ ROCK jams. Check out songs such as: Fuzz Soup, Quest For Fire and Surfin The Dune for prime examples of this. 

The album maybe a little too long and experimental in places but there’s a lot of great soulful sounds and grooves to fully appreciate. The album does move at a breakneck speed. The second half of the record contains perhaps the heaviest and darkest sounds on the record but still allowing the listener to fully enjoy and immerse themselves with Mud Spencer’s “weirdo” brand of Psychedelic Stoner Rock.

The album oozes CREATIVE CONFIDENCE and perhaps HIPSTER COOL that is fine by me. It’s good to listen to a daring and bold Stoner Rock/Metal album and that’s what Mud Spencer have delivered with this spellbinding album. An almighty trippy riff-fest from start to finish.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to All Noir PR for the promo.

Fuzz Soup is available to buy digitally now and CD from Argonauta Records.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Preamp Disaster - By The Edges (Album Review)

Release Date: February 04th 2022. Record Label: Czar Of Crickets. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

By The Edges - Tracklisting

Above The Bloodline

Dark Brilliance

Holdun

Entering One Last Epoch

Review

Preamp Disaster is a band who have been around for fifteen years and who are about to release their fourth album with By The Edges. The band play a style of music that weaves different styles of  Post-Rock, Post-Metal, Doom Metal and Psych Rock. 

This is the first time I’ve encountered the band and I’m majorly impressed with By The Edges. An album that runs under thirty minutes. Maybe a little too compact for some but Preamp Disaster get straight into the action by playing Progressive Post-Rock/Post-Metal sounds.

Preamp Disaster prove their creative worth through the four songs held on the album. The music is HEAVY without being deafening and PROGRESSIVE without being condescending. There is a fine balance of LOUD GROOVES and moments of quiet CINEMATIC POST ROCK that can be heard throughout the album.

Opening song Above The Bloodline harks back to the days of early-era Pelican with gloomy undercurrent of Doom based Post-Metal with Sludgy Vibes starting to appear. The vocals are sparse but when they appear, the record moves up a few aggressive gears that the music easily matches beat for beat.

Second song Dark Brilliance opens with a lo-fi sonic ambient sound before the band add layers of street level Post-Rock/Post-Metal attitude. The song moves with the modern Psych Doom Metal times with the music blending the different atmospherics heard within this song. There’s a real sense of purpose on this track with the band playing a more forceful style of music. The vocals are brief yet again with Preamp Disaster forcing intelligent soundbytes to tell the song’s narrative.

Third song Holdun continues with the Prog Metal/Post-Metal trajectory sound of the record with the band wisely holding onto a winning creative formula. Heavy breakaways move into the Psychedelic Metal Wastelands. The song does become more progressive towards the later stages that fans of TOOL and CULT OF LUNA will surely be impressed with. The song is quite solitary with it’s cold-heart grooves that are mainly down to the fantastic vocals.

The final song Entering One Last Epoch is where Preamp Disaster truly shine by playing the standout track on the album. Running over nine minutes in length, this song sees the band playing a more subdued style of Post-Metal and Prog Metal. This is a heavy song but it’s the quieter sullen moments that impress the most. You can soak up all the different styles of music being played around you. There’s a lot to take in with this song but when things become heavier, you’ll be more appreciative of what is being played around you. The song perhaps draws influence from the later stages of Pelican and Russian Circles but still retaining Preamp Disaster’s own creative style.

By The Edges is a cold, desolate and aggressive album but one that also has a few uplifting moments contained within the record. This maybe my first experience with Preamp Disaster but I can honestly say it won’t be my last and I’m looking forward to checking out their previous releases. 

Preamp Disaster have released a superbly thrilling album that will no doubt grab the minds, attention and ears of the Post-Metal, Doom Metal and Prog Metal communities.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Czar Of Crickets for the promo. 

By The Edges will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Czar of Crickets from Friday 4th February 2022.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp