ELDER - Omens (Album Review)

Release date: April 24th 2020. Label: Stickman Records (EU) and Armageddon Label (US). Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Omens – Tracklisting

1. Sanctuary

2. The Falling Veil

3. Staving Off Truth

4. Blind

5. Sonntag

6. Thousand Hands

Band Members:

Nicholas DiSalvo – Guitar, vocals
Jack Donovan – Bass
Michael Risberg – Guitar, keyboards
Georg Edert - Drums

Review

Omens is the new album from Psychedelic Stoner Rockers - ELDER - and is perhaps their most diverse and creative album yet. With the band focusing more on 70s Prog Rock delivery to embed their trademark Psych Doom/Stoner Rock grooves with. Since 2017’s - Reflections Of A Dying World, the band have had a change in personnel and the music feels like it has evolved compared to their previous albums.

ELDER are known for their powerful and dynamically heavy Progressive riffs and they are included on this album but maybe not how you would originally expect. The band have focused on creating a more cinematic experience for this album and it will take multiple listens to get the full effect of what ELDER are trying to achieve here.

The band rely more on Post-Rock and Progressive Rock elements unlike ever before though the band never forget their Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Rock roots and this allows Omens being a more sombre and emotional experience.

Opening song - Omens - shows the new world of ELDER whilst remaining true to their classic sound but it’s the more “new-age” sound that impresses the most. As this song is quite diverse with its many different levels of Progressive Rock. Lead vocalist - Nick - puts in a stunning vocal performance that feels like his most mature performance to date. However, the riffs are the standout here with ELDER showing a real aggressive attitude in their music towards the end of the song.

Most of the songs run between 10 to 13 minutes each and the 5 songs explore the Progressive Stoner Rock genre with rich creativity that only ELDER can deliver.. With each song containing a different spin on the Stoner Rock genre that only draws you into ELDER’s fantastical world.

Second song - In Procession - carries on the Post-Rock/Prog Rock dynamic with a more innocent outlook especially with the lyrics and Nick’s superb vocals yet again. The Psychedelic and Ambient Sounds is pure 70s Prog Rock Excess and Indulgence but it works superbly well into the overall creative aspect of ELDER’s music. There are heavy riffs included on this song and the song does become more addictive when the heavy grooves appear.

The other 3 songs on the album - Halcyon, Embers and One Light Retreating - carry on ELDER’s mission of creating a new identity for themselves with Heavy Progressive Stoner Rock riffs merged with beautiful poetic lyrics that gives Omens a more daring and dramatic feel. Halcyon and One Light Retreating are the standout songs on the album for myself personally. As I felt more emotionally connected to these songs with the intense music moving in many different directions.

How does Omens compare to ELDER’s previous albums. The album is perhaps more challenging to listen to and I believe that is the intention with Omens. ELDER wanted to show the world how they moved in a different musical direction and they have with Omens. Though, they’re not afraid to go back to what made the band so highly admired in the first place and that’s playing some of the best Psychedelic Stoner Rock sounds of the past 12 years.

Omens allows ELDER once again to prove why they’re one of most respected and highly admired bands within the current Stoner Rock/Metal scene.

You will need time to fully admire and appreciate this album. Some folks maybe disappointed by the album when you listen to it first. I was hesitant at first but it’s slowly becoming one of my favourite albums by the band. Or up there with LORE and Dead Roots Stirring.

Overall, Omens is another wonderful album from ELDER and will no doubt end up being acclaimed as one of the best albums of the year, or any year for that matter.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR and Lisa at Hold Tight for the promo. 

Omens will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl now from Stickman Records (EU) and Armageddon Label (US).

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LESSER GLOW: New Track The Great Imitator Now Streaming From Their Upcoming New Album - Nullity

LESSER GLOW was born from an ever growing sea of noise, swirling together the sounds of humanity into a churning vat of anonymity, in which as individuals, sometimes we are drowning.

The Boston five-piece's debut album “Ruined” made waves in 2018: a “felicitous nihilistic debut coup” (Metal Hammer) containing “the best doom single of the year” (Visions), making “the excitement of what they might come up with on their sophomore release nearly unbearable upon first listen” (Ghost Cult).

Well, here it is: “Nullity” brings an undeniable heaviness, with lyrics and music coexisting in the same beautiful, dynamic and volatile space. Heavy but not excessive. Massive yet not gratuitous. Meticulous. Focused. Direct.

“We wanted to make the record sound more forward and driving, while implementing a lot more movement into the sounds and mixes. Pull the drums forward. Up the grit a bit more. Give the record more teeth in the heavier moments and more lush space in the melodic and ambient passages. We gave ourselves a lot more time in the studio to track this one over all, diving deeper into tones and choices along the way and leaving time for plenty of experimentation and improvisational passages written in the studio. Overall our approach was consciously much more immersive this time around”, comments guitarist Andrew Nault.

“Nullity” is based around the concept of human beings existing on earth as parasites. The scope both widens and focuses throughout the course of the record, touching on creation myths, existence within nature, interpersonal and internal struggles, and finishing out with the mass extinction/cleansing of mankind.

The idea of LESSER GLOW grew as a response to the unrealistic progression of heavy music in recent years... generally feeling over-technical, over-produced and sometimes entirely fake.

“I was caught in a major 90s binge, listening to a bunch of stuff like Unsane and Failure, and feeling like that raw, palpable energy and songwriting was slipping away from modern heavy records”, comments Nault. “I was tired of genre-choked bands, and missed hearing songs instead of riff parades.”

The lineup of the band came together organically, “though now the combination of individuals feels incredibly fortunate”, comments Nault. 

Alec is the sound engineer of Chelsea Wolfe, Ben is the manager of Cambridge, MA's finest live venue Sinclair, Seth is a session drummer and music teacher and Andrew is not only the guitarist in LESSER GLOW, but also session drummer for electro-post-hiphop outfit Arms And Sleepers. The fact that all members are experienced professionals is a restraining factor (when it comes to aligning schedules), but it has also helped the band stay focused on the essentials.

With their upcoming sophomore album “Nullity”, Lesser Glow rips open a massively wide and confident blend of traditional doom meets melodic metal, paired with the likes of hardcore, post hardcore, noise rock, post rock and beyond. Molding all these into one cohesive mix, LESSER GLOW stand out as a refreshing and unapologetically brutal take on heavy music.

Lesser Glow

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Hair Of The Dog - It's Just A Ride (Album Review)

Release date: April 3^rd 2020. Label: Kozmik Artifactz. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

It’s Just A Ride – Tracklisting

1.It's Just a Ride 06:48

2.Run & Hide 03:40

3.She Was 06:28

4.We the Cancer 09:03

5.Will They Forgive Us? 06:16

6.The Writing on the Wall 07:41

Members

Adam Holt - Guitar/Vocals

Jon Holt - Drums

Iain Thomson - Bass

Review

I kinda expected Hair Of The Dog’s new album – It’s Just A Ride – to partially use a speech by legendary and much missed comedian – Bill Hicks – and the album does open his with his classic “Just A Ride” monologue for the stunning opening title track. What follows next is the band getting down to business of playing a more stripped back style of 70s Prog/Stoner Rock with a heavy blues groove that has shades of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath attached.

This album is less polished than their previous 3 albums and sees the band returning to their Hard Rock roots with a more simplistic approach especially where the production of the album is concerned. That’s not a bad thing and the album does sound great but with a vintage quality to it all. It’s Just A Ride flirts with dangerous Hard Rock Riffs and Soulful Melodies matched against the Classic Rock vocals of Adam Holt. The album does move into Psychedelic Stoner Rock territory and these provide the albums heaviest and finest moments which sees Hair Of The Dog call on their many years of experience of playing together and put to great use.

If you dig the heavy and hazy classic sounds of 70s Psychedelic Rock and Hard Rock or if you’re a long-time fan of the band then you know what to expect from these guys. Hair Of The Dog always deliver the goods and this album is no exception with the band writing a fine array of different styles of music to drown your soul and hearing with.

The other songs on the album such as: Run & Hide, She Was, We The Cancer and The Writing On The Wall, impressed myself the most with Hair Of The Dog exploring a different side that I hadn’t heard before. Screeching Progressive Guitars on Run & Hide offer a more experimental sound whilst retaining the trademark Hair Of The Dog sound.

The album is quite dark and daring especially with the lyrics written for certain parts of the album though it’s the music that always impresses the most.

Hair Of The Dog are continuing their excellent relationship with Kozmik Artifactz for this album and those guys like Ripple Music are one of the best labels releasing quality albums time and time again. Though, this is a review for Hair Of The Dog stunning new album.

It’s Just A Ride is a superbly made album that allows Hair Of The Dog to move their music into new musical territories and one that leaves you wondering where do the band go from here. Have they reached their creative peak. Let’s hope not….

Hair Of The Dog prove once again why they’re one of the standout Psychedelic Stoner Rock bands from the Underground Stoner Rock scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Kozmik Artifactz for the promo. It’s Just A Ride is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl now via Kozmik Artifactz.

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Ethyl Ether have unveiled the eerie video for their track Therapy?

Cape Town based psychedelic alternative rock band Ethyl Ether have unveiled the eerie video for their track Therapy? taken from their upcoming album Chrome Neon Jesus which releases on the 15th May 2020. 

. The band formed just over 3 years and have been gigging regularly around Cape Town’s music venues as well as releasing 2 albums ’The Pleasure Room' and 'Museum Of Human Error' plus a live ep 'Into Chaos'.

For the new album their sound has toughened up and they’ve added a load of psychedelic textures. They explore the darker, grittier side of life and reflect their experiences and observations on everyday living.

Vocalist and guitarist Andrew Paine comments on the track, "Therapy? is a song about our inability as humans to be content with what we have...always wanting more"

The band was unable to get together to shoot a video due to a countrywide lockdown because of the current covid-19 pandemic, so they used a montage of clips taken from classic and cult horror and thriller films. 

“The footage was chosen for the way it perfectly captured the menacing tone of the song and enhances the audio experience for the viewer” comments Andrew who edited the video.

Watch the video for here https://youtu.be/PPqTxnvReaw

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Ocean Chief - Den Tredje Dagen (Album Review)

Release date: April 17th 2020. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Den Tredje Dagen – Tracklisting

1. Den Tredje Dagen

2. Hyllningen

3. Dömd

4. Den Sista Resan

5. Dimension 5h

Members

Tobias Larsson

Björn Andersson

Christian Sandberg

Magnus Linhardt

Review

This is a very nice surprise, indeed. Things have been very quiet over at the Ocean Chief camp to the extent I thought they had buried their hatchets and let the Valkyries guide them to Valhalla. After all, it's been 6 long crazy since Ocean Chief last album, the excellent, 'Universums Härd'. And we certainly need their bottom-heavy, remorseless and unforgiving sludgy doom in the crazy times we now live in. Especially since the new album, 'Den Tredje Dagen', is so fucking great!

Already in the opener, 'Den Tredje Dagen', the title track, Ocean Chief makes it clear that they aren't playing around. Slow, imposing and crushing just the way this band have been and always should be. The only difference from before is that they are even more immersed in what they want to do and how to sound. They've nurtured their past and let it mature for six years and the end-result is explosive already after the first song. Next out is ‘Hyllningen’ which, in its almost 12 minutes, starts out minimalistic, eerie and forlorn. Slightly slower than the predecessor the pace increases somewhat, but not much, and moves back and forth perfectly with what’s going on in the song. 

‘Dömd’ follows and holds on to the tempo of ‘Hyllningen’. However, it is even more punishing than the two previous compositions. ‘Dömd’, sentenced in English, really brings forth the anguish of being sentenced either to banishment from you village and clan or death, where the former is far worse in the worship of the Norse Gods than losing your life. The torment the antagonist goes through here is palpable and probably my favourite track. Clocking in at over 15 minutes it shows another great trait by the band. They know how to keep everything interesting and captivating through long compositions and that is rare.

The LP version ends with the ethereal and peaceful, ‘Den Sista Resan’. Instrumental and serene it follows the antagonist on the final journey after death to wherever his last resting place will be. By far the least brutal and punishing song on the album, in fact, it has a very calming effect on the listener. ‘Dimension 5’ rounds out the CD version and for long spells it follows ‘Den Sista Resan’. There are parts where the bone crushing intensity comes to the fore but keeping with the other track it is like our antagonist is marveling at his final destination. Fear and joy run amok with in him.

The way the title track opens this fantastic album up is indicative how the rest of the songs play out. They are all brutally heavy, completely or in parts, of course with the exception of ‘Den Sista Resan’, with subtle changes here and there. And that’s a big part of Ocean Chief’s beauty. As hypnotic and punishing as they can be, the guys know when to break the spell suddenly and immerse the listener in all the forces of the Allfather, Odin. And there’s nothing you can do but to let everything run its course and let the music work its magic on you. Absolutely fantastic, guys…..and welcome back. You’ve been sorely missed!

Words by Håkan Nyman

Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR for the promo:

Den Tredje Dagen is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via ArgonautaRecords from April 17th 2020.

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Mammuthus - S/T (EP Review)

Release date: March 04^th 2020. Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Mammuthus – S/T – Tracklisting

1.Without You 03:00

2.Backdoor 03:13

3.Bloodworm 03:44

4.Something New 03:39

Members

Matt Bradford (Bass)

Rob Dring (Drums)

Josh Micallef (Guitar, Vocals)

Review

New Zealand Stoner Rockers – Mammuthus – show a lot of promise with their debut self-titled EP with their style of Stoner Rock which has elements of Sludge Rock, Fuzz Rock, Desert Rock and Psychedelic Rock to allow the band have quite a rich and thick sound that you wouldn’t expect. I wasn’t expecting Josh vocals to be quite so melodic. I was expecting a more grizzled and heavier style of vocals but I was majorly surprised by that and he delivers a wonderful “Stoner Rock” type performance on this EP.

Mammuthus blast their way through the 4 songs on the EP with supreme confidence and you wouldn’t believe this is their debut EP. As this feels like a band who have been releasing killer records for years on end.

The 4 songs are quite short all running under 4 minutes each but it’s a winning sound with KYUSS and TRUCKFIGHTERS being a major influence on the band but the band still show they have some impressive ideas of their own when merging the Desert/Psych Rock groove with a dirty Sludge Rock atmosphere.

The guitars are frantic and full of delicious “FUZZ” especially on the superb two opening songs – Without You and Backdoor. The final two songs Bloodworm and Something New amps up the Stoner Rock/Metal atmosphere with Mammuthus paying homage to the Godfathers of Stoner Rock such as KYUSS and FU MANCHU.

Mammuthus feel like they have a lot more cool stories to tell and I wanted this EP to be on much longer than the 13 minutes that it currently offers. As they’ve released a well-crafted and superbly entertaining EP that delivers on all fronts in the RIFFS DEPARTMENT...

Words by Steve Howe

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Brass Owl - State Of Mind (Album Review)

Release date: April 10^th 2020. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

State Of Mind – Tracklisting

1.Land Shark 04:39

2.Deuce Face

3.Hook, Line, and Sinker

4.No Filter/Stay Trendy

5.Side Effect

6.The Legend Of FUJIMO

7.Jive Turkey

8.Hoka Hey

9.Pale Horse

Members

Brian Tarter - vocals/guitar

Lonnie Buckley - drums

Review

State Of Mind is the new album from Brass Owl and their overall sound is quite an eclectic mix of different styles such as Hard Rock, Classic Rock, Stoner Rock, Grunge, Blues Rock along with Heavy Metal and Proto Metal sounds. They’ve been described as Heavy Classic Rock crossed with Acid Jazz according to the PR blurb that accompanied this release and I wouldn’t be lying that got me intrigued to see how this album played out.

State Of Mind is the perfect description for this album as it takes you along a trippy Psychedelic Blues/Hard Rock journey and you will have different states of mind listening to this album. Imagine the Blues Rock swagger of CLUTCH and ZZ TOP then merged with some heavy stylized 70s/80s Classic Hard Rock/Heavy Metal and you have a potent mix for a hugely entertaining album.

It’s by no means perfect but Brass Owl adapt a different identity and sound with nearly all of the songs of the album. The album is primarily powered by the band’s love of Blues Rock and the album goes into many different directions especially when the Psychedelic Jazz vibes of the album appear whilst still retaining a free-flowing and highly original heavy sound of their own making.

Standout songs on the album are: Land Shark, Deuce Face, No Filter – Stay Trendy, Side Effect and Pale Horse. As the band show their true creative power on these songs with excellent vocals and hard-hitting riffs that have a rebellious spirit to them all.

The instrumental work on this album shown by both Brian and Lonnie is outstanding throughout especially with the duo playing many different styles of music that you get a complete picture of what truly fantastic musicians they really are.

The production is very cool indeed though the more surreal Psychedelic Acid based parts do feel out of place at times but that could be the whole idea with that part of the album. Other than that minor complaint, Brass Owl are firing on all cylinders with their debut album and it’s one worth definitely checking out if you’re looking for a Stoner Rock album with a bit more craziness to it all.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Curtis at Dewar PR for the promo. State Of Mind is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from the band now.

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