Rainbows Are Free - Head Pains (Album Review) And Song Premiere Of COVERED IN DAWN

Release date: November 29^th 2019. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Head Pains – Tracklisting

1.The Sound Inside

2.Electricity on Wax

3.Shapeshifter

4.Covered In Dawn

5.Lady of the Woods/Psychonaut

6.The Nile Song

7.A Penny's Worth

8.Eunice

Members

Brandon Kistler - Vocals

Richie Tarver - Lead Guitar/Synth/Backup Vocals

Joey Powell - Guitars

Jason Smith - Bass/Piano

Bobby Onspaugh - Drums/Auxiliary Percussion

Review

Head Pains is the new album from Psychedelic Stoner Rockers – Rainbows Are Free – and this is my first time listening to the band. I have heard of the band before but never give them my full attention until this album. Rainbows Are Free are considered a Stoner Rock/Metal band but that only tells a small part of the band’s story. As they play a lot more different styles on this album such as Grunge, Space Rock, Hard Rock and Progressive Rock.

Head Pains is an album that takes many wild creative chances with not only the music but also the production and lyrics as well. Rainbows Are Free are a force of nature of this album with lush psychedelic sounds leading the way and then the band move into another unexpected direction. So be prepared for an album that’s not afraid to creative risks and maybe frustrate you along the way and still demanding your full attention.

Opening song – The Sound Inside – is a heavy and atmospheric style of Psychedelic Stoner Rock with Grunge influences appearing from the start. The Ambient Post-Stoner grooves remind myself of early Monster Magnet in many ways before the band settle for their own stylish brand of Stoner Rock. The vocals have a classic Grunge feel but soon turn into a heavier Stoner based presence with a gloomy outlook. The music is what sells this song with the band playing a stunning array of Stoner Rock/Metal grooves.

Second song – Electricity On Wax – is where the band start playing an unexpected and highly experimental style of Stoner Rock/Metal with the vocals having quite an Alternative feel to them. The music taps into that familiar Monster Magnet Space Rock riff but soon changes into the band’s own style of high energy based music.

Third song – Shapeshifter – opens with a Doom/Drone sound before Rainbows Are Free play a more classic style of Stoner Rock with echoes of that early Doom/Drone groove starting to settle in the background. The song leads upto a heavier style of music for the final few moments. It’s good to hear the band playing a more restrained style of music for the majority of the song. The heavier moments are exciting to hear but I enjoyed the first half of the song more.

Fourth song – Covered In Dawn – is one of the standout songs on the album as everything fits right into place with excellent vocals matching the groovy psychedelic sounds for a more spaced out effort from the band. The vocals are different and quite refreshing on this song.

Rainbows Are Free are just as exciting on the second half of the album with songs such as: Lady Of The Woods/Psychonaut, Nile Song and Eunice leading the way for the band to experiment with their Stoner Rock/Metal sound even further.

I can’t compare this album to the bands previous output as I haven’t had the chance to listen to them yet. Though I can say as a first time listener that Head Pains is a challenging album to listen to but it’s also one that’s a refreshing change of pace from the usual Stoner Rock/Metal albums currently doing the rounds. Rainbows Are Free play by their own rules and this album proves why you should invite yourself to the band’s crazy and unique sounding world.

Words by Steve Howe

You can hear a premiere of the new song Covered In Dawn with this groovy video premiere.

Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR for the promo. Head Pains will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Argonauta Records from November 29^th 2019.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

DROID - Hyperreality (Album Review)

Release date: November 22nd 2019. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Hyperreality – Tracklisting

1.Mind Collapse

2.Mouth of the Hound 08:15

3.Fertile Crescent

4.Divine Ascent

5.Thunder Mountain 06:28

6.Ant Queen

Members

Vocals/Guitar: Richard Iskov

Vocals/Bass: Will Haines

Guitar: Tim Wooltorton

Drums: Jeremy Kaye Simmons

Review

Hyperreality is the new album from Psych Doom/Stoner Rockers – DROID – who take an interesting approach with their music. As the band add a more layered and distorted style of FUZZ to their music. The album is quite downbeat with its stylish take on Stoner/Doom Rock. The psychedelic element of the album is quite involving in places with the vocals taking time to fully shine through.

Opening song – Mind Collapse – starts the distorted FUZZ sounds with a song influenced by Black Sabbath and Uncle Acid but with more menacing Sludge elements appearing. The album has its fair share of fast-paced riffs with a few epic guitar solos along the way. The distorted parts of the song are quite distracting at times but allow DROID to have a more aggressive presence as well.

Second song – Mouth Of The Hound – opens with a playful Doom based riff which slowly becomes heavier and adding different layers of Heavy Stoner Rock/Metal. This song has a deliberate seventies classic rock atmosphere with the band adding modern Psychedelic Stoner Rock grooves to the mix. The heavy guitars are aggressive and volatile throughout the song. This is perhaps the heaviest track on the album and shows DROID at their absolute best on the album.

Third song – Fertile Crescent – is another song where the band make the listener question their grip on reality with stylish Doom/Stoner sounds with a slight progressive edge. DROID push their sound even further with a gloomy ambient rhythm keeping things highly experimental. The vocals have an extra layer of heaviness to them which makes this song one of the most psychedelic offerings on the album. It’s quite an intense song to listen to and to fully understand but the heavy riffs save the day yet again.

DROID continue with their fascinating journey into the realms of Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Rock on the second half of the album.

Things become even more weirder with songs such as: Divine Ascent, Thunder Mountain and Ant Queen allowing DROID pushing their own creative boundaries with surreal lyrics, trippy vocals and ambient sounds all vying for your attention amongst the heavy sounds of Hyperreality.

There is a lot more going on with this album than you initially expect. As DROID have included many different themes and ideas throughout the album. So expect the lyrics and vocals to go completely leftfield just for the sheer fun of it all. Though the music is constantly heavy and engaging from start to finish. This is a superbly produced album and one that will entertain you with its wild style of Doom/Stoner Rock

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

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Stone Priest - Pallor Mortis (Album Review)

Release date: October 30th 2019. Label: Helmet Lady Records. Format: DD/Vinyl

Pallor Mortis – Tracklisting

1.Take it Back 07:02

2.Warped 03:25

3.Doomsday 03:10

4.Time Takes All 05:32

5.Dwarf 02:16

6.One For The Money 04:34

7.Rotten Blarney Stone 05:35

8.Ash To Dust 04:45

Members

Harold Pollinger - Keys, Vox

Shea Rayhn - Drums, Vox

Christopher Delmont - Guitar, B/U Vox

Larry Gartley - Bass

Review

Pallor Mortis is the 2^nd album from Buffalo, New York, Psychedelic Stoner Rock Riff Wizards – Stone Priest – and it’s a major step-up in quality and progression from their 2016 debut album. The band have used their time well in creating a sonically pleasing and complex Psychedelic Stoner Rock album that reminds myself of Black Sabbath and Deep Purple in places.

Stone Priest use a collective mix of Psych, Classic Rock, Prog Rock and Stoner Rock for the majority of the songs with some epic grooves along the way. The album has a deep love and appreciation for 1970’s Hard Rock with a few different sounds being added for good measure.

Opening song – Take It Back – is the longest song on the record running past 7 minutes and it’s the best track on he album with Stone Priest laying the foundations of their blend of Stoner Rock with a Blues based sound holding everything together. The song is quite trippy with the different styles of music the band employ on this song. The eerie gloomy sounds that appear towards the song is a very cool touch indeed and the song almost becomes a spaced out adventure. Though the band keep things firmly grounded with a Deep Purple influence to lyrics of the song and for the main themes of the album.

Second song – Warped – opens with a more experimental sound with pianos and ambient noises being added to Stone Priest’s trademark sound. The song is quite clever in places though the vocals do take time to fully settle down. The 1970s trippy atmosphere is the strongest part of this song with the riffs a close second. Another quirky and wonderful sounding song from the band.

The album is quite bleak in places with the title Pallor Mortis meaning “the first stage of death” and this allows the band to create a concept album of sorts with slightly depressing and bleak lyrics adding a more Doom based atmosphere to the album.

The album zips along at a cracking pace with the band playing through a stunning mix of different songs with dark and twisted results. Songs such as Doomsday, Time Takes All, One For The Money and Rotten Blarney Stone are the other standout songs on the album. You can expect to hear the heaviest riffs on these songs with a few surprises along the way.

My only complaint is that the album isn’t the best produced album out there. As it sounds too raw for me in places. However, Stone Priest have released a superb album that has a dark and complex side to it amongst the Psychedelic weirdness of it all.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Pallor Mortis is available to buy digitally now. The vinyl will be available to buy from November 2019 via Helmet Lady Records.

Links:

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SOLACE - The Brink (Album Review)

Release date: December 13th 2019. Label: Blues Funeral Recordings. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Brink – Tracklisting

1.Breaker of the Way

2.Desert Coffin

3.Dead Sailor's Dream

4.Waste People

5.The Light is a Lie

6.Crushing Black

7.Bird of Ill Omen

8.Shallows Fade

9.The Brink

10.Until the Last Dog is Hung

11.Dead Sailor's Reprise

Members

Tommy Southard - Guitar

Justin Daniels - Guitar

Goins - Vocals

Mike Sica - Bass

Timmy Gitlan - Drums

Review

Doom Metal Legends Solace return with their first album in almost a decade with THE BRINK. A 70 minute plus album which sees the band on stunning form. The band play a classic style of Doom/Stoner Metal with influences such as NWOBHM, Prog Rock and Psych Rock appearing on the album. Solace have had numerous line-up changes through the years and this album doesn’t suffer from that at all.

The Brink has a deep rich progressive sound that feels like it’s coming from a completely different band at times. Can we call The Brink a comeback album. As it feels Solace feel more ALIVE and HUNGRIER than ever. The album has 11 songs and all showing SOLACE deep love and appreciation for DOOM METAL and HEAVY GROOVES.

The opening 2 songs – Breaker Of The Way and Desert Coffin – show how the rest of the album plays out with classic sounding Doom/Stoner Metal riffs that have a timeless quality to them. The album has a deep nautical theme to it that allows SOLACE to let their musical imagination run wild with vivid creativity.

The majority of the songs run for about 5 mins to 7 mins each and each contain spellbinding lyrics, hypnotic riffs and awesome vocals to match. The album has some of the best Doom Metal riffs you’ll hear all year. SOLACE feel most live on the 2^nd half of the album as that’s where some of the heaviest tunes appear and lead vocalist Goins being on majestic form as well.

The standout songs are Dead Sailor's Dream, Waste People, Crushing Black, Shallows Fade and Dead Sailor’s Reprise. The production is as epic as the music itself. SOLACE have never sounded so good. So this is definitely the best sounding album of their career.

The Brink never outstays it’s welcome despite the 70 minute plus runtime. I wanted the album to go on for much longer as the album is packed full of incredible songs. This album feels like a greatest hits album than a collection of new songs. All instantly recognizable which will have you coming back for more.

SOLACE have released a classic Doom/Stoner Metal album with The Brink. It’s everything you want from a Doom/Stoner Metal record. This is perhaps the “DOOM METAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR”.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Jadd at Red Lead PR for the promo. The Brink will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from December 13^th 2019 via Blues Funeral Recordings.

Links:

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Pseudo Mind Hive - Of Seers And Sirens (Album Review)

Release date: October 25th 2019. Label: Salty Dog Records. Format: DD/Vinyl

Of Seers And Sirens – Tracklisting

1.Sails at Dawn 04:13

2.The Dreamer's Burning Door 04:25

3.Of Seers and Sirens 06:36

4.Solstice [Bonus Track] 05:51

5.Gaze of Ptolemy 09:16

6.Equinox 08:13

7.Broken Colours 08:09

Members

Jack Ainsworth: Bass Guitar/Vocals

Samuel Drew-Rumoro: Drums/Vocals

Christopher Hockey: Guitar/Lead Vocals

Jesse Joannou: Organ/Synthesisers/Vocals

Mark Vincini: Guitar/Vocals

Review

Of Seers And Sirens is the new album from Psychedelic Stoner Rockers Pseudo Mind Hive and it’s my first main exposure to the band. The band did release a debut album last year which completely passed me by. Shame on me for that mistake. I wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice with their new album. As this is one of the best Psychedelic Stoner Rock albums of the year.

Pseudo Mind Hive bring an album that’s packed with rich ideas and heavy grooves that transcend the Psychedelic Stoner Rock spectrum with the band adding a Spaced Out and Cosmic Groove. Inspired by bands such as Black Sabbath, Hawkwind and Uncle Acid but with the band in full control of their own destiny.

Opening song – Sails At Dawn – is a lush sounding Space/Stoner Rock song with the band adding a heavy amount of theatrical Psychedelic tendencies along the way. The song has a heavy FUZZ atmosphere burning in the background that allows the band to embrace the seventies Hard Rock/Psychedelic Rock scene with supreme confidence. The vocals are excellent and have quite a vintage feel to them.

Second song – The Dreamer’s Burning Door – offers a more Blues Rock influenced style of music that reminds myself of GEEZER in many ways. The band are perhaps influenced by Black Sabbath the most on this song whilst playing their own highly infectious style of Psychedelic Stoner Rock with flashes of Doom Rock adding a heavier sound to the album.

Third song – Of Seers And Sirens – is a more classic sounding Doom/Fuzz/Stoner Rock odyssey with the band playing different strands of Psychedelic Rock as well. This is perhaps the gloomiest song on the album with the excellent vocals and lyrics all having a darker feel to them.

Fourth song – Solstice – is an epic sounding instrumental song. As the band play a stunning blend of Post-Doom and Heavy Psychedelic Sounds for a more expansive and adventurous song that also has eerie Ambient based noises for one trippy wild ride. The instrumental work is simply marvellous on this song with Pseudo Mind Hive not afraid to use more of their creative freedom on this song.

The final three songs – Gaze of Ptolemy, Equinox and Broken Colours – is where the band venture into the world of Progressive Rock with these songs all lasting past the eight-minute mark. So you have twenty minutes of finely played of Psychedelic Stoner Rock/Metal with strands of Post-Doom and FUZZ riffs with fantastic lyrics to match.

Equinox is perhaps my favourite song on the album. As it goes down through many different musical routes such as Classic Rock, Prog Rock and Stoner Rock that contain some of the heaviest sounds and riffs of the entire album.

Of Seers And Sirens is also bolstered by amazing production values which gives the band a loud and heavy clear sound from start to finish.

As I stated earlier in this review, Of Seers And Sirens is one of the best Psychedelic Stoner Rock albums I’ve heard this year and will no doubt claim a place on my best albums of the year list. This is a must have album. No question.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

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KAL-EL - Witches Of Mars (Album Review)

Release date: October 04th 2019. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Witches Of Mars – Tracklisting

Anubious

Witches Of Mars

GG77

Incubator

Moon Unit

Cocaine (J.J. Cale Cover)

Members

Captain - Vocals

Doffy - Guitars

Josh - Guitars

Liz - Bass

Bjudas - Drums

Review

Witches Of Mars is the new album from Sci-Fi based Stoner Rockers KAL-EL and it sees the band continuing with the sound they’ve played over the last few albums. Though now with a heavier and progressive Doom Rock/Metal twist. The album is a winning combination of Hard Rock, Stoner Rock, Psych Rock and Space Rock which KAL-EL are widely known for.

Witches Of Mars has a darker perspective which I didn’t expect. You can instantly tell from the excellent opening song Anubious which sees the band play a more distorted style of Stoner Rock/Metal. The vocals are buried under a layer of heavy distortion with the heavy guitars having a more grizzled feel to them. The song moves at a steady pace with the Spaced Out and Psychedelic elements leading the way. The song can be quite gloomy in places with the eerie ambient sounds KAL-EL have added to this track.

Second song – Witches Of Mars – carries on with the dark twisted noises lurking in the background before the familiar heavy guitar tones fully take over. This is one of the heaviest songs on the album as KAL-EL relish in bringing a more destructive style of music to their overall sound. The vocals have a certain Ozzy Osbourne influence to them. Everything else just moves onto a heavier style of Psychedelic/Space Rock that’s quite epic in places.

KAL-EL continue playing this heavier and darker style of music they’ve adapted for this album with epic SCI-FI based storytelling becoming a thrilling spectacle at times. The music is constantly engaging and action-packed with the band moving to many different styles of Psychedelic Stoner Metal that should keep long-time fans of the band superbly entertained from start to finish.

Songs such as GG77, Incubator and Moon Unit perhaps contains some of the heaviest and progressive spaced out sounds on the album. So be prepared for a lot of NOISE coming your way on this song.

The band have included a superb cover of J.J. Cale classic song COCAINE which was released last year. KAL-EL have worked their magic on this song with the band turning a 3 minute song into a Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal cover that runs past the 7 minute mark. The cover is one of the most inventive covers I’ve heard in a very long time. So KUDOS to the band for doing something different and succeeding on every level.

The album will be a fitting legacy to long-time bassist – Liz – who is sadly leaving the band due to health issues. Liz will be sadly missed by the legion of KAL-EL fans across the globe including myself. As Liz was an integral part of KAL-EL’s sound thanks to amazing skills on the bass. Whoever replaces Liz will have big shoes to fill. No doubt.

Witches Of Mars is a devilishly wild ride that sees KAL-EL take many creative risks with their music and producing one their best and most adventurous albums to date.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR for the promo. Witches Of Mars is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Argonauta Records.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

TUSKAR - The Monolith Sessions (EP Review)

Release date: November 8^th 2019. Label: Riff Rock Records. Format: DD

The Monolith Sessions – Tracklisting

1.The Tide 08:00

2.Into The Sea 05:05

3.Beneath 05:03

Members

Tom Dimmock- Guitar

Tyler Hodges- Vox & Drums

Review

UK Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal Duo – TUSKAR – return with a new Live EP called The Monolith Sessions. The EP features live versions of TUSKAR classics The Tide and Beneath which both featured on last year’s acclaimed EP – The Tide, Beneath The Wall. The EP is joined by a new song called Into The Sea.

The EP is a rough and ready sounding Live EP which demonstrates the full angry power of TUSKAR who play a pulverizing sound of Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal with a ferocious Hard Rock edge. The music is fast-paced, manic and doesn’t give a FUCK who it upsets. It’s quite cool hearing The Tide and Beneath performed live and they sound quite different to the studio recorded versions that were released last year.

The new song Into The Sea is quite good indeed with the band playing a non-stop style of Sludge/Stoner Metal grooves with a dark twisted edge to it. There is a lot of guitar reverb and feedback on this song which makes the song quite distorted in places. The song is not the most original but TUSKAR play Into The Sea with angry conviction whilst offering a few epic progressive guitar riffs along the way.

The Monolith Sessions is another welcome release from TUSKAR who are slowly proving to being one of the best upcoming bands within the UK Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal scene. I’m hoping a full length album isn’t too far behind. As I’ve said this before with TUSKAR but I want to hear what these guys can do on a full length record. As an EP is not long enough to contain the heavy whirlwind sounds of TUSKAR.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Richard at Sheltered Life PR for the promo. The Monolith Sessions is available to buy now everywhere digitally via Riff Rock Records.

Links:

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