CITIES OF MARS - Song Premiere Of NECRONOGRAPH - From Their Upcoming New Album THE HOROLOGIST

CITIES OF MARS: Swedish Doom Trio team up with RIPPLE MUSIC for THE HOROLOGIST | OUTLAWS OF THE SUN première new song ‘NECRONOGRAPH’

The Horologist is officially released on Friday, 5th April 2019 on Ripple Music

Cities of Mars on Web | Instagram | Facebook | Bandcamp

Ripple Music on Web | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube | Twitter

Stream and share new previous single ‘Hydrahead’ HERE

Pre-order the album now at www.ripple-music.com

You can listen to their excellent new song - NECRONOGRAPH - below.

QUOTE ABOUT ‘NECRONOGRAPH’ FROM BASSIST DANNE PALM

“‘Necronograph’ takes place on Mars in 3151 BC, as the high culture flourishes in and around the capital city of Bahb-Elon, built within the colossal mountain crested with the ever-watching Eye. In this sprawling metropolis surrounded by mining caverns and mushroom fields, a mad scientist (The Horologist?) kidnaps people and leaves them with a biomechanical implant on their hearts, a Necronograph. This diabolical device steals the energy from the victims' heartbeats and transfers it to its Master, giving stolen life and longevity.”

Band Info

Formed in 2014 in Gothenburg by bassist/singer Danne Palm, guitarist Christoffer Norén and drummer Johan Küchler, Cities of Mars take a lead from the likes of Mastodon, Kylesa, Sleep and Baroness.

Combining heavy doom riffs, ambient soundscapes and haunting vocals, there’s an unmistakable sci-fi narrative that flows through their music, helping them to push boundaries and channel their unique firebrand of heavy progressive rock.

As chief proponents of stoner metal and corporeal ancestors in a revered lineage of Swedish doom rock history, following the success of their inaugural/self-released digital single ‘The Third Eye/Cyclopean Ritual’ (produced by Esben Willems of Monolord/Berserk Audio) the band wasted no time in setting out to record their debut album, Celestial Mistress. Released in 2016 on Suicide Records, this mind-crushing EP – featuring the captivating artwork of Gothenburg-based graphic artist Axel Widén – truly signalled the band’s arrival on the underground scene.

Cities of Mars have embarked on numerous European tours since their inception and new shows heralded the arrival of new songs, all of which fed into the release of their debut album, Temporal Rifts (2017). With the lyrics on each song adding a chapter to a continuing story, Temporal Rifts follows the ascent of a Soviet cosmonaut on a covert space mission in 1971 and his discovery of an ancient Martian city that awakens a sleeping conspiracy from the dawn of humanity.

This April, the saga continues, following three solid years of writing, jamming and touring under their collective belts. Now working alongside Ripple Music label and the management skills of Blackskull Services, Cities of Mars will unleash their awesome new album The Horologiston 5th April 2019.

CITIES OF MARS

Danne Palm – Bass, Vocals
Christoffer Norén – Guitar, Vocals
Johan Küchler – Drums, Vocals

TRACK LISTING

1. Necronograph

2. Trenches of Bahb-Elon

3. Inner Sanctum Outer Space

4. Hydrahead

5. The Last Electric Dream

6. The Floating Museum

7. Work Song

8. Lines In The Dark

Artist: Cities of Mars

Album: The Horologist

Label: Ripple Music

Release Date: 5/04/2019

Format: CD/LP/Digital

DISCOGRAPHY

Temporal Rifts (LP/CD/Digital, Argonauta Records, 2017)

Celestial Mistress (Vinyl EP/Digital, Suicide Records 2016)

‘The Third Eye/Cyclopean Ritual’ (Digital Single, 2015)

Brant Bjork - Jacoozzi (Album Review)

Release date: April 05th 2019. Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Jacoozzi – Tracklisting

1. Can’t Out Run The Sun

2. Guerrilla Funk

3. Mexico City Blues

4. Five Hundred Thousand Dollars

5. Black & White Wonderland

6. Oui

7. Mixed Nuts

8. Lost In Race

9. Polarized

10. Do You Love Your World?

Review

Jacoozzi is the "long lost" album by Desert Rock legend - Brant Bjork. This is an album I've been looking forward to hearing for the best part of five years now. When I've interviewed Brant over the years, I always asked him what's happening with Jacoozzi and he always advised that's he's still working on the album and that it will be released when it's ready.

Well the time is now and it's a different album from Brant that we've heard recently. This album is more of a laid-back Jazz influenced album. The album has elements of Funk, Blues, Classic Rock and Desert Rock. Some people maybe surprised with the direction that Brant has took with this album as it's very laidback compared to his recent studio output. This is a good record to hear from Brant and once again this proves why he's one of the best musicians within the Desert/Stoner Rock scene. The album flows at its own pace and is never in a hurry to get from A to B.

Opening song - Can't Out Run The Sun - is a trippy jazz based number with hazy Desert Rock Guitars and Progressive Drums that allows Brant to try a different style of music. The song is one of the best songs contained on the album and offers the perfect glimpse on what to expect for the rest of the album. Sure it's a challenging listen at times but it's equally addictive with Brant's personality shining all the way through.

Jacoozzi has quite a warm fuzzy feeling that allows the majority of the songs leaving you in a daze. Standout songs have to be Guerrilla Funk, Mexico City Blues, Black & White Wonderland, Polarized and Do You Love The World. As this is where Brant has the most fun and creates a wild array of different sounds. The album is never boring and will leave you guessing where the album will take you next.

Brant only sings vocals on the excellent final song - Do You Love Your World. However, Jacoozzi is primarily an Instrumental Rock album that fuses a wide range of different musical elements over the last fifty years or so. The album has its fair share of heavy distorted sounds that I didn't expect at all.

The production is superb throughout and I wouldn't expect anything less from a Brant Bjork record and Heavy Psych Sounds who are releasing the album. Overall, Jacoozzi is another standout album from Brant Bjork. The album may not be for everyone but give this a try and you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Claire at Purple Sage PR, Mona at All Noir PR and Carl at Action PR for the promo. Jacoozzi will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from April 05^th 2019.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

LáGoon - The Unwelcome (Album Review)

Release date: March 04th 2019. Label: Forbidden Place Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl/Cassette

The Unwelcome – Tracklisting

1.The Unwelcome 04:43

2.Wheel Bite 04:09

3.The Thirst 04:50

4.Worship the Van 03:57

5.Chop City 02:47

6.Last Hex 05:36

7.Alligator (In Your Head) 03:59

8.Live Through Death 04:05

9.Adieu, Desierto 02:02

Members

Anthony Gaglia (Guitar/Vocals) Brady Maurer (Drums)

Review

One of Stoner Rock craziest duo’s return with their 3^rd record within a 12 month period. LáGoon return with a more darker and crazier sound on The Unwelcome. This is perhaps their darkest, trippiest and most catchiest release to date. If you’re in the mood for lo-fi Stoner Rock merged with Punk Rock, Doom, Fuzz Rock, Classic Rock and Heavy Metal then LáGoon have you covered with this album.

All of the songs are quite gloomy with the band taking influence from a wide range of different artists. The opening song – The Unwelcome – feels like the twisted offspring of Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats and Garage Rock era Alice Cooper. The music is hazy and trippy with lots of psychedelic grooves keeping the music played a cool subtle pace.

LáGoon forge their own creative path on this album and it’s perhaps their strongest record to date with the band creating a more focused sound compared to previous releases. Songs such as Wheel Bite, The Thirst, Worship The Van and Chop City maybe Punk Rock orientated. However listen to the eerie Doomed Out Psychedelic Sounds being played in the background and you can feel this album starting to move into many different directions.

The production is clear and crisp and offers the listener a distorted vintage sound which makes the album sound very different and unique in places. The second half of the album is perhaps doesn’t quite match the excitement of the 1^st half but LáGoon have other cool songs to check out such as Last Hex, Alligator (In Your Head) and Live Through Death.

The Unwelcome is another great release from this hugely talented duo. If you’re new to the world of LáGoon then this is the best place to start. Long-time fans will no doubt enjoy this slice of Heavy Stoner Rock Weirdness that is THE UNWELCOME.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Lighteater - Autoscopy (Album Review)

Release date: February 01st 2019. Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Autoscopy – Tracklisting

1.Arbiter 06:03

2.Steam 05:33

3.Summoner 06:01

4.Autoscopy 06:14

5.Riven 08:01

Members

Dominic Bartolini - Guitar

Nate Derr - Guitar

Chris Kunitz - Bass

Ryan Luby - Drums

Review

Autoscopy is the new album from Post-Rock/Post-Metal collective Lighteater. This album is a more gloomy and progressive album compared to the other Post-Rock albums I’ve listened to recently. Lighteater are a band who create their own highly surreal and original sound. The album offers a bleak cinematic journey with strands of Ambient Doom allowing Lighteater to match the classic sound that Pelican first demonstrated back in 2003 on their landmark album – Australasia.

Lighteater have created 5 songs that have their own distinctive sound and identity. This allows the songs to sound very different to each other. As you’re treated to different styles of cinematic Post-Rock/Post-Metal but with a haunting Psychedelic and Ambient Rock edge holding everything together.

Autoscopy has the perfect balance of Post Rock and Post-Metal both vying for control of the listener’s mind and soul. This album is blissful, hopeful, peaceful whilst also being destructive, angry, and way out of control on songs such as Steam, Summoner and Riven.

If you’re a fan of Pelican and Russian Circles then you will be in your element here. However, Lighteater, personally speaking, is perhaps more daring and adventurous. With the cinematic themes speaking volumes on many different levels despite the short 32 minutes running time.

Autoscopy is perhaps one of the best Instrumental Post-Rock/Post-Metal albums I’ve heard so far this year and this will be the album I’ll be comparing other Post-Rock/Post-Metal albums to that are released in 2019.

You owe it to yourself to listen to this album and become a fan of this great band.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Monocluster - Ocean (Album Review)

Release date: March 12th 2019. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Ocean – Tracklisting

1.Ocean In Our Bones 10:07

2.Leviathan 12:55

3.Guns And Greed 09:18

4.A Place Beyond 12:36

5.Home 11:42

Members

Chris - bass/vocals

Ewald - drums

Jan - guitar

Review

Ocean is the new album from Progressive Stoner Rockers – Monocluster. Before I start my actual review I’m going to post the description the band have put on their BandCamp Page. Mainly to show you what to expect on their new album.

Monocluster is a three-piece Stoner Psychedelic Death Blues Band from Cologne Germany

Musical influences - Kyuss, Sungrazer, All them Witches, Colour Haze.

And that’s a very good description on how to describe Ocean and the band as a whole. However the band still create their own powerful and dynamic sound that has moments of Progressive Rock and Post Rock/Metal appearing from time to time.

Ocean isn’t the most easiest album to listen and to fully appreciate. This is an album that will take many listens to understand the overall narrative and story of the album. The music moves into so many different musical genres that you will need your wits about you. Though you can’t deny how addictive the music and vocals actually are.

Opening song Ocean In Our Bones has a deep All Them Witches influence running through it’s DNA but spliced with the dark poetry and genius of Lou Reed and Dave Wyndorf. I know that sounds very weird but the lyrics are quite dark and when the vocals appear, the whole mood of the album becomes slightly depressing. Trust me when I say that’s a god thing. This shows that Monocluster aren’t afraid to take huge creative risks with their music and Monocluster start to sound very unique indeed.

Second song – Leviathan – carries on the Psychedelic Death Blues (the band’s own term) riffs for a more darker and varied sound. The psychedelic grooves start to appear before slowly expanding into a huge wall of sonic riffs that literally took my breath away. This song is played at a slow deliberate pace and you have to wait for the heavy progressive moments to appear. Though it’s worth it as the band have a few surprises along the way with this song. This song is perhaps best described as a slightly depressing style of Desert Rock/Stoner Metal and Monocluster deserve credit for playing with people’s expectations on this song.

The remaining 3 songs – Guns and Greed, A Place Beyond and Home carry on the experimental vibe contained on the opening two tracks. However things become weirder and perhaps even heavier on the later stages of the album. As once again, Monocluster create more nightmarish sounds you didn’t think was possible for a Psychedelic Stoner Rock/Metal band.

I would have to say that A Place Beyond is perhaps my favourite song held on the album. As it’s the song I initially I had the most issues with and the song that I kept going back to. Within time, it became my favourite part of the album and that’s perhaps down to the epic progressive riffs and complex themes the band have written on this song.

Monocluster are amazing musicians and this album proves this time and time again. The production on the album is superb and brings Monocluster’s music truly to life. Maybe the band are too ambitious on certain parts of the album but I applaud the band for delivering a wonderful and truly original album.

This is a must have album if you like your Stoner Rock music Dark, Heavy, Progressive and Realistic.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

VAREGO - I, Prophetic (Album Review)

Release date: February 15th 2019. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

I, Prophetic – Tracklisting

1.Origin 01:45

2.The Abstract Corpse 05:41

3.I, Prophetic 06:29

4.Of Dust 05:27

5.Silent Giants 05:00

6.When the Wolves Howl 03:02

7.Duelist 05:03

8.Zodiac 04:32

Members

Voice/Bass: Davide Marcenaro

Guitar: Alberto Pozzo

Guitar: Gerolamo Lucisano

Drums: Simon Lepore

Review

I, Prophetic is the new album from Italian Progressive Sludge Masters – VAREGO – and it’s perhaps their most creative album to date. The band take many risks with this album and offer a more well rounded experience with the band playing a more groovier and progressive sound that has came before it.

Opening song – Origin – is a subdued Ambient Post-Rock song with a haunting piano track offering a sense of calm before the heavy progressive sounds appear.

Second song – The Abstract Corpse – is a mixture of heavy Progressive Sludge Grooves and hard-rocking Stoner Metal riffs that I haven’t heard VAREGO attempt to do before. It’s an encouraging start as the song has quite a gloomy and atmospheric doom metal approach to it. The guitars are LOUD and perhaps the most constant threat on the entire album. The vocals from Davide are equally as good with Davide drawing influence from bands from the world of 70s Progressive Rock and perhaps King Crimson being one of the main influences for Davide’s vocals and perhaps the band as well.

Third song I, Prophetic – carries on the heavy Progressive Sound but adds a deep heavy Post-Metallic sound to the mix with VAREGO becoming almost as menacing as Neurosis and Mastodon. That’s a good thing as VAREGO add their sound to the Progressive Sludge Metal genre. The distorted vocals from Davide is a great touch as the overall feel of the album becomes heavier and darker as a result.

Songs such as Of Dust, Silent Giants and Duelist are perhaps the standout songs on the album with VAREGO creating a heavy and deep meaningful vortex of different complex rhythms and sounds. The lyrics and production are other highlights to be discovered on the album. As the lyrics add a complex and soulful meaning to the overall message of I, Prophetic.

2019 is VAREGO’s 10^th anniversary as a band and on this form I can hopefully see them for a very long time to come. I, Prophetic proves that VAREGO are one of the best Progressive Sludge Metal bands that the Italian Sludge Metal scene has to offer.

If you’re a fan of Mastodon, Baroness and Neurosis but with the sludge riffs steeped in classic sounding 70s Prog Rock then this is the album for you.

Overall, this album is a highly intelligent and complex sounding album that leaves you wanting more.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Argonauta Records and Mona at All Noir PR for the promo. I, Prophetic is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via ArgonautaRecords.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Methadone Skies Announce New Album - Different Layers of Fear - And Premiere New Song With MANOS

Methadone Skies are an independent, psychedelic rock quartet from Timisoara, Romania. Active since 2009, the group has released 3 full length records and one EP so far. Each affair shares its own musical direction, often leaning into post rock, stoner, doom metal and/or progressive territories. There were never any boundaries set, so each album is the sum of various influences and constant jamming. 2019 also marks the 10th anniversary of the band and the best way to celebrate it is by playing gigs and unveil new music.

Thus, on May 10, 2019, the band will release their 4th studio album, Different Layers of Fear through their own imprint, Haywire Records as 2LP, CD and DD. Featuring 7 songs that stretch over 72 minutes, this is undoubtedly the most diverse and grandiose effort so far. From post rock, psychedelic, progressive, stoner to doom, these songs represent everything Methadone Skies is about without losing the sonic identity.

Different Layers of Fear was recorded at Consonance Studio in Timisoara in October - December 2018 by Edmond Karban, Cristian Popescu & Andrei Jumuga (all members of dordeduh, Sunset in the 12th House), then mixed and mastered by James Plotkin at Plotkinworks in December 2018 - January 2019. Additional keyboards and synthesizers were added by Marius Muntean (The Thirteenth Sun, Black Water) and on ‘A Glitch in the Sun’, the band collaborated for a second time with Davide Straccione (Zippo, Shores of Null), who recorded vocals for the song (his first featuring was on ‘Tatabong’ from Eclectic Electric, released in 2014). The illustrated artwork & layout were done by Mihai Manescu (Obsidian Nibs). 

To get you into the mood for the new album you can listen to an Exclusive Song Premiere of their superb new single - MANOS - from their upcoming new album.

Tracklisting:

Where Were You When We Were Into the Void
God Help Us All
Focus
Contra
Ol’ Painless
A Glitch in the Sun (feat. Davide Straccione)
Manos

Methadone Skies toured different areas of Europe and played festivals such as Lake on Fire, Exit Festival, Revolution Festival, Pietrasonica Festival, Tube Cult Festival, E-Lite Culture, Rockt den See, Robustfest among others, sharing the stage with renowned acts like Samsara Blues Experiment, My Sleeping Karma, Motorpsycho, Yawning Man, Belzebong, Stoned Jesus, 1000MODS, Toner Low and many more. 

This Spring they will embark on a Romanian mini-tour, as well as a string of shows in Hungary, Serbia, Germany and Austria. More will follow.

Methadone Skies are:

Wehry – guitar
Mihai – bass
Retea – drums, percussion
Casi – guitar, E-bow

Links:

https://methadoneskies.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/methadone-skies
https://www.facebook.com/MethadoneSkies/