Duckhunters - Extinction Road (Album Review)

Release date: December 1^st 2015. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD

Fear Of Man – Tracklisting

1.Introduction to Extinction 00:27

2.Killer Croc 03:58

3.Dragooning 06:45

4.Last Broadcast 05:10

5.The Road 06:40

6.Exile 01:55

7.The Bill 05:47

8.Hands of Doom 08:48

Band Members:

Guillaume (Guitar)

Manu (Vocals)

Isidore (Bass)

Alain (Drums, backing vocals)

Review:

There's a lot that I admire about Extinction Road, the debut album from French Stoner Metallers – Duckhunters. I love the concept of it all. The whole word has gone to shit and this album tells the whole story. The following is from Duckhunters BandCamp page.

“The main highways have been blocked for months. As a result, traffic has been completely shut down in all the major cities. The planet is an ecological disaster. Climate change is now obvious. Heards of maddened beasts flee in total chaos.

In western countries, earthquakes have destroyed the main pipelines. An all-out war has been declared for resources. A growing rift separates North and South. Great nations are at war. Separatist clans fight constantly. Peace is nowhere to be found. Planes are stranded. Armies are paralyzed. Chaos reigns.

Madness is spreading like a plague. Mass riots have erupted across all continents. Entire stock markets crash one after the other. Banks are brutally flundered. The rich are entrenched behind mammoth walls. Poverty harvests victims by the hundreds every day.

Several cases of cannibalism have been reported. Famine hits. Diseases spread. Populations run. Nations are collapsing. Deserts expand. Survivors find refuge underground Man is no more. Nothing remains but the road."

OK that's a lot to take in for this album but it sets the scene for a thrilling Stoner Metal album. If you dig Kyuss, Unida and Los Disidentes Del Sucio Motel then this will appeal to you. From the opening grooves Killer Croc, Duckhunters will propel you into a dog-eat-dog world where the riffs are your only chance of survival. It's a trippy psychedelic affair with the band laying on plenty of FUZZ to immerse yourself with.

Manu's vocals may take some time getting used to but he's on confident form through out as the band play through a stunning set of songs such as Dragooning, Late Broadcast, The Road and the brilliant last song – Hands Of Doom.

Though I have to say the band ride their luck at times especially with their song – The Bill – as it sounds remarkably similar to Unida classic – Wet Pussycat. Maybe Duckhunters meant this song as an homage to Unida but you can't deny how very close to tone and structure the songs are. Then again, Duckhunters aren't the first band to be influenced by certain riffs and music nor will they be the last.

Apart from that minor complaint, Extinction Road is a superb debut album. It's on the final epic song – Hands Of Doom – where the band finally create their own sound and show what a great band they actually are. It shows that the French Stoner Metal scene is providing another great band to check out. I would hope that on the next album that Duckhunters will carry on the sound from Hands of Doom as they have the potential to release something special in the years to come. They're not their yet but the signs are encouraging as they do have some great ideas on this album.

If you're not bothered about the concept of the album and you're only here for the riffs then you will find much to admire here. As Extinction Road is a thrilling debut album that will appeal to all fans of Stoner Rock/Metal.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Mother Mooch - Nocturnes (Album Review)

Release date: November 13^th 2015. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD

Nocturnes – Tracklisting

1.This Tempest 04:49

2.Sinners 04:56

3.My Song 21 01:29

4.Into The Water 04:04

5.L.H.O.O.Q. 02:33

6.Misery Hill 04:15

7.Hive Mind 04:51

8.Out On The Western Plain 04:14

Band Members:

Chloë Ní Dhúada: Vocals

Sid Daly: Guitar, backing vocals.

Farl: Guitar

Danni Nolan: Drums

Barry Hayden: Bass

Review:

Ireland's Mother Mooch are an oddity. That's the best way to describe them. Their music defies convention as they don't fall under one category but a wide range of them. Blues Rock, Psych, Fuzz, Stoner, Doom, Desert Rock and even Grunge. Their debut album – Nocturnes – is an addictive slice of Heavy Rock music with Chloë's vocals being the centre of attraction. Don't get me wrong the riffs are fantastic through out but it's Chloë's soulful vocals that holds your attention from the start.

Opening track – The Tempest – is wonderful and weird sounding mix of Psych, Desert Rock, Blues, Grunge and Stoner Rock given a trippy modern makeover. The song and the whole album shouldn't really work but Mother Mooch pull this off with grace and style. The riffs have the right amount of power and excitement to put you in a hypnotic trance.

Second track – Sinners – is an almost seedy Blues Rock offering with the band going for an almost shoe-gaze approach and it sounds superb through out. It's not as heavy as the opening track but Mother Mooch revel in this almost stripped back delivery of what we call ROCK MUSIC. Chloë is on fine form once again as she packs a lot of power with her superb vocals.

Third track – My Song 21 – sees Mother Mooch venture into fast-paced Hard Rock/Stoner/Punk Rock territory that's catchy as hell. It's perhaps the closest Mother Mooch get into full party mood. An upbeat and rebellious offering showing another side to Mother Mooch.

Fourth Track – Into The Water – opts for a more classic 90s grunge sound with delicate vocals to match. It starts off rather quietly and slowly which gives Mother Mooch the chance to lay down some of the albums finest riffs.

The first 4 songs on the album should give you an impression on what to expect for the rest of the album. Though to Mother Mooch's credit they provide a few more surprises especially on songs such as L.H.O.O.Q, Hive Mind and Out On The Western Plain.

The final song – Out On The Western Plain – is an re imagination of Leadbelly classic song - “When The Boys Were Out On The Western Plains”. OK, a ton of other artists have covered this song in the past such as Rory Gallagher but Mother Mooch have given this classic song a Fuzz/Stoner Rock makevoer. And the results are impressive indeed. This version has a few spaced out riffs and I never expected that at all as I'm a huge fan of the original and Rory Gallagher version.

Nocturnes is an excellent debut album from Mother Mooch. It's a shame it's all over and done within 30 minutes as the album could have done with another song just to end it. Apart from that, Mother Mooch have delivered an outstanding debut album. Check out that awesome album cover as well.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Major Kong - Galactic Cannibalism (EP Review)

Release date: November 30^th 2015. Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Galactic Cannibalism – Tracklisting

1.Supercluster 06:17

2.Diabolic Mind Control 04:42

3.Morlock 05:34

4.Magnetar 08:22

Band Members:

Domel - bass

Misiek - guitar

Bolek - drums

Review:

One of Poland's finest Stoner Rock/Metal bands – Major Kong – return with their stunning new EP – Galactic Cannibalism. Major Kong have been releasing a string of acclaimed releases over the last 5 years now and Galactic Cannibalism is no different.

Major Kong offer 4 instrumental tracks of finely tuned Doom/Stoner Metal songs packed full of too many great riffs to mention. You should all know who Major Kong are, if you don't get with the program and check out the superb opening track – Supercluster. A sprawling psych based monster that will have you hooked with is continuous use of creepy doomy distorted violent riffs.

Second track – Diabolic Mind Control – sees Major Kong create a song drenched in loud reverb and feedback for perhaps the EP's standout track. It's deliberately slow-paced but that gives Major Kong the edge in creating an unsettling atmosphere of doom and gloom atmospherics.

Third track – Marlock – continues with the seedy stoner metal torture as the riffs are down-tuned all the way to hell. Play this one LOUD and embrace the darkness as Major Kong prove why they are one of Poland's finest Stoner Rock/Metal bands. It's a very bass-heavy affair with the guitars stripped back and playing in the background though the band return to their familiar set sound for the final few minutes or so.

The final song – Magnetar – is from their recent vinyl split with fellow Polish Stoners – Dopelord. It's another fine creepy offering from Major Kong as they offer more intense down-tuned doomy riffs to survive from. Major Kong show their psychedelic side on this song as they unleash some impressive guitar solos to end the EP on an almighty high.

Major Kong have released another great record with Galactic Cannibalism. Sure it doesn't change from their already winning sound though it does show the world that these guys are one of the best Instrumental Doom/Stoner Metal bands currently out there.

Galactic Cannibalism is available on to buy on DD and CD here.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Wounded Cross - Bonecrusher (EP Review)

Release date: December 05^th 2015. Label: Blackened Death Records. Format: DD

Bonecrusher– Tracklisting

Biocentrism

Bonecrusher

Ashes

Band Members:

Tommy – Guitars

Ian – Bass

Paul – Drums

Graham – Vocals

Review:

Wounded Cross is a Traditional Heavy Metal/Doom Metal Band from Rugby, UK who are about to release their superb debut EP – Bonecrusher. Wounded Cross take influence from a wide range of legendary metal bands such as Saint Vitus and Black Sabbath. Their debut EP – Bonecrusher – offers 3 songs running for a total of 12 minutes or so. If you're a fan of 70s/80s Heavy Metal tinged with Classic Doom then this is the EP for you.

Opening track – Biocentrism – is a fast-paced doom-laiden heavy metal affair with the band showing their love of music considered the golden age of metal. Wounded Cross bring their music bang-up-to-date with a few clever Doom Metal riffs and the twin guitars will have fans of Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden lapping this up like there's no tomorrow. Graham's vocals are lively through out though don't go expecting highly polished vocals as that isn't Graham's or the bands style. This is pure in-your-face HEAVY METAL.

Second track – Bonecrusher – is a bluesy take on Wounded Cross sound with the band opting for a more laid-back approach but it's still an exciting take on all things Doom/Heavy Metal. The guitars are played at a frantic pace aided by some superb bass playing by Ian who lays down a funky riff from time to time. Graham's vocals once again get the job done as he relishes being a hell-raising frontman of this highly talented band.

The final track – Ashes – sees Wounded Cross in a more reflective mood with music giving way more to Blues Rock, Classic Rock and a twinge of Psychedelia. It isn't too long before the band return to the world of classic Heavy Metal to give Ashes a thumping atmosphere it richly deserves. Graham's vocals are not as strong on this song compared to the other tracks but it's good to hear Graham trying something different.

The production is good through out the EP though there are a few moments where you expect the guitars to be slightly heavier. Apart from that minor complaint, Wounded Cross have created a superb and well rounded EP that should hopefully gain them some notice within the Heavy Metal/Doom Metal circles. The signs are promising for Wounded Cross that they have the potential to release a great album in the future. I'll be watching these guys with great interest.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Graham for the promo. Bonecrusher will be available to buy on DD from December 5^th 2015 via Blackened Death Records.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

HAG - Fear Of Man (Album Review)

Release date: January 08^th 2016. Label: DNAWOT Records. Format: DD/Vinyl

Fear Of Man – Tracklisting

Fear of Man

Kingdom O

Rainbow Dust

Trauma Yauma

Low

Metal Detector Man

White Lion

Beaten At Your Own Game

Wrong Bar

Band Members:

Tom – Drums

Robin - Bass

Ian – Vox/Guitar.

Review:

Has it been 5½ years since HAG released their S/T debut EP. Damn, it is. Well better late than never as HAG return finally with their debut album – Fear Of Man. A sprawling Psychedelic Punk/Sludge/Noise Rock odyssey with HAG proving they have something different about them. Though Fear Of Man won't be to everyone's tastes as HAG will frustrate and delight you in equal measure.

Opening track – Fear Of Man – is a noise rock driven number packed with a hypnotic Sludge Rock groove that will appeal to fans of Harvey Milk and Torche. It's a very down-tuned affair with Ian's vocals adding a gruff exterior to give HAG's sound a gritty lo-fi edge. It's a great song to open the album with but do go expecting the same sort of songs all the way through as HAG wisely change the mood from time to time.

Second track – Kingdom O – is a fast-paced distorted Punk/Sludge Rock kind of affair with the guitars slightly out of key matched with Tom's superb frantic drumming. Ian's vocals are quite different to the opening song as HAG blend different noises and rhythms for a song that feels out of control and pissed off from the start.

Third track – Rainbow Dust – is where HAG start to expand their sound as they unleash some trippy psych based noisy riffs. I can hear shades of early Soundgarden mixed with Kowloon Walled City noisy gloomy atmospherics on this song. Though it's the vocals that make this song one of the standout tracks as Ian's vocals have a certain grunge vibe to them.

Fourth Track – Trauma Yauma – is a song that promises so much but delivers very little. HAG create a few exciting riffs here and there but the song doesn't deliver on it's early promises. I really want to like this but this one bored me slightly. The riffs and vocals don't really come together on this song. Maybe it would have been better if the band left this song off the album.

That's my only complaint on this otherwise excellent album.

Fifth Track – Low – sees HAG return to the albums earlier Punk/Sludge Rock driven sounds that is pure ROCK AND ROLL. The lyrics have a rebellious feel to them which is what you would expect from a band like HAG. The psych noises deliver some thrilling moments to rock out to.

Sixth Track – Metal Detector Man – is perhaps the albums finest track as HAG delve further into their Punk/Sludge Rock psyche with the band taking their time delivering some blistering fast-paced riffs. This is perhaps the loudest the song on the album as HAG go all out in creating heavy sludgy riffs to lose yourself in.

The final 3 songs – White Lion, Beaten At Your Own Game and Wrong Bar – offer more of the same down-tuned Punk/Sludge Rock fury that you will find almost impossible to resist. Ian's vocals are impressive yet again though it's the riffs that hold your attention. The final song – Wrong Bar – is perhaps the song that has the potential to become HAG's trademark anthem as it's a brooding, heavy and psychedelic sludgy noise rock opus that will leave you in a hypnotic spell.

Fear Of Man is an exciting and superb debut album from HAG. We will be hearing a lot more from these guys over the next 12 months or so as the album will appeal to a wide majority of Sludge/Noise Rock fans. Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Richard at Sheltered Life PR for the promo. Fear Of Man will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl from DNAWOT Records on January 08th 2015.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

The Bendal Interlude - Reign Of The Unblinking Eye (Album Review)

Release date: April 1^st 2016. Label: Black Bow Records. Format: DD/Vinyl

Reign Of The Unblinking Eye – Tracklisting

Buckfast For Breakfast

Losing Things

The Unblinking Eye

Eframs Hands

Pints of Bodies

Creeks Gigantic

Triumph of Fortitudo

The Block

R.I.P

Band Members:

Tommy - Bass

Dave Archer - Drums

Stu Taylor  -Guitars

Nat Gavin - Vocals

Review:

Anyone who is a fan or riffs and heavy music in general is probably a fan of Black Bow Records. Over the last couple of years the label run by Jon Davis (Head Riff Wizard at Conan in case you were unsure) has steadily released a series of impressive and acclaimed releases, including Bast, Undersmile and Slomatics.

The Bendal Interlude are the next name you can add to that list now.

Their first full length "Reign Of The Unblinking Eye" was recorded under the watchful gaze of Chris Fielding at Skyhammer and mastered by James Plotkin, and as such the band have produced a record certainly worth the wait/weight. (You know.... Cos it's heavy)

The fantastically named "Buckfast For Breakfast" starts of with a sample that probably sounds all too familiar to a lot of us "I go to work, I punch a clock, I do the same thing day in and day out" then riffs. Riffs For Breakfast. The song takes of at pace on a riff with a massive groove and some seriously unpleasant vocals. It brings to mind early Iron Monkey but with a sense of urgency.

More of the same massive riffs, expressive drumming and those fucking filthy vocals follow on "Losing Things" and "The Unblinking Eye" It's like thrash had a fight with sludge. I'm not sure who the winner was though....

"Eframs Hands" is up next featuring some impressive dual guitars, blast beasts and by now what is becoming that trade mark groove. It's a ferociously heavy record, that doesn't let up and unlike so many of the bands doing the rounds at the minute (and this is absolutely not a criticism) keeps up a fairly frantic pace throughout.

"Pint Of Bodies" for me the standout track on the record (helped again by another ruddy brilliant name) starts of kinda like some black metal blast beats but being played by a hardcore band, before seamlessly merging into some delicious low tuned sludge and the first slower (but not slow) moment on the album.

"R.I.P" is the album closer and the longest track on the record and starts gently with a bluesy almost lazy riff, but around the minute mark the energy levels go up a notch and we're off into full sludge swagger being dragged towards the records conclusion.

A band that has been around for sometime now and a band that everywhere we go, people always speak about with high regard, but a band that perhaps isn't yet at the forefront of people minds when talking about great UK heavy bands.

Well, "Reign Of The Unblinking Eye" could and should be just the record to change that.....

Available from 1st of April via Black Bow Records.

Pre order your copy here http://blackbowrecords.bigcartel.com/product/the-bendal-interlude-the-reign-of-the-unblinking-eye

Words by Simon Ross Williams

Thanks to Dewar and Black Bow Records for the promo. Reign Of The Unblinking Eye will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Black Bow Records from April 1^st 2016.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Slomatics - Flooding The Weir & Kalceanna (Reissues) - (Album Reviews)

Release date: November 20th 2015. Label: Black Bow Records. Format: DD

Flooding The Weir – Tracklisting

01 I Mean You No Harm (part 1)

02 Running Battle

03 The Technique

04 Celeste

05 March Of The 1000 Volt Ghost

06 I Mean You No Harm (part 2)

Kalceanna – Tracklisting

01 Griefhound

02 By Thor

03 Mans Hands

04 Dirt By The Stooges

05 Meanwhile

06 Viking Sea

Band Members:

David : Guitar

Chris : Guitar

Marty Harvey : Vocals, Drums

Ex-Member Joe (Drums) originally played on both albums before Marty joined in 2011.

Review:

For the past decade, the purveyors of skullcrushing heaviness that are Belfasts Slomatics have been pounding audiences into dust with their all encompassing brand of slow and heavy doom. The bands new record label Black Bow records (which is run by Jon Davis of the mighty Conan) have reissued their first two albums 2005s Flooding The Weir and 2007s Kalceanna and gives fans who may have missed them the first time a chance to be blown away at the mindfucking riffs that are on show and with no remastering or anything like that on these reissues, this is Slomatics at their primal best.

The world of heavy music was introduced to the world of Slomatics in 2005 with Flooding The Weir, an introduction to the tortoise slow and elephant heavy sound that the band have become well known for. On most of the tracks on Flooding a The Weir, the vocals are few and far between but the bands music is just as effective without them (although the pained barks, when they do occur are a joy to behold) and the band just let the hefty music do the talking, the riffs, heavy as any you will hear and paced as if on mogadon are the focal point but are enhanced by the pounding drums and the sludgy dirge of the bass play a big part as well.

The album is bookended by I Mean You No Harm (Part 1) and I Mean You No Harm (Part 2), two substantial slabs of riffs and noise that both open and close the album perfectly and demonstrate perfectly the crushing Slomatics sound and with the likes of Running Battle, March Of The 1000 Volt Ghost and The Technique, Slomatics get the head banging and head melting blend of heaviness just right.

The albums highlight, the wonderful dirge of Celeste, starts off with a mournful into before those riffs swoop in and destroy all in its path and with the vocals sounding as if they were recorded in the pits of hell, it's doom laden goodness of the best kind.

By the time you have reached the end of Flooding The Weir with those riffs ringing in your ears, you will feel in awe at just how crushing the experience was and will want to experience it all over again.

Slomatics released the follow up to Flooding The Weir in 2007 and that album Kalceanna takes the foundation that was started with that album and turns everything up considerably. While the bands debut was clouded in fuzzy riffs, the riffs on Kalceaana are still fuzzy but a tad cleaner and are, if anything, even heavier than the riffs that defined its predecessor. Just listen to the opening riff for starters on first track Griefhound and you will hear them in action, the riffs are so heavy they could bring down tower blocks! The bass and drums are still as heavy too with the bass just as dirgey and filthy as in the bands debut and the drums just as pounding and when these three elements are brought together the results are devastating.

The likes of the heavy sludge of By Thor and the impenetrable force of Mans Hands are supreme lessons in how to do heavy music the right way and the magnificently titled Dirt By The Stooges is as slow and crushing as it gets. Album standout, Meanwhile starts as with an intro that is as beautiful as it is full of sorrow before all hell breaks loose and the sound of menace is unleashed throughout the song.

Kalceanna features more vocals on the album, a brutal set of vicious barks set to attack (best witnessed on Mans Hands or Meanwhile for example) and the bands none more heavier sound gets heavier as a result. The album finishes with Viking Sea, an epic 11 minute plus tidal wave of heaviness and doom and this song has to be the most complete encapsulation of the Slomatics sound and a fitting way to finish things off.

When you listen to these albums back to back you can see how Slomatics sound evolved and actually gets heavier and considering how heavy the band were to begin with, this is something to be in awe of.

Slomatics will have a brand new album out on Black Bow next year so while you eagerly wait for that sure to be monster of an album, sit back and let these first two albums devour you whole and appreciate the beginnings of one of the heaviest bands Britain has ever produced.

Words by Gavin Brown

Thanks to Dewar and Black Bow Records for both promos. Kalceanna and Flooding The Weir are available to buy on DD  via Black Bow Records on all digital platforms now.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp