Howling Giant - The Space Between Worlds (Album Review)

Release date: September 27th 2019. Label: Blues Funeral Recordings. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Space Between Worlds – Tracklisting

1.Comet Rider 04:30

2.Nomad 05:10

3.Ghosts in The Well 02:42

4.The River Guide 05:43

5.Ice Castle 04:37

6.Cybermancer and The Doomsday Express 04:04

7.Everlight 07:57

8.The Orb 07:08

9.Stone Giant 06:17

Members

Sebastian Baltes – Bass/Vocals

Tom Polzine – Guitar/Vocals

Zach Wheeler – Drums/Vocals

Review

The Space Between Worlds is the eagerly awaited new album from Psychedelic and Spaced Out Stoner Rockers – Howling Giant. The band have been making a name for themselves over the last few years with their blend of intergalactic based tales of Psychedelic Stoner Rock/Metal. Taking influence from bands such as Elder, Baroness, Summoner and Mastodon but putting their own spin on the Psychedelic Stoner Rock/Metal sound.

This album is a concept album which allows Howling Giant to weave a totally out there story that fits in with their Psychedelic Heavy Grooves with strands of Progressive Rock holding everything together.

The album has an easy-going atmosphere which allows the band to draw the listeners in with their blend of Spaced Out Rock with opening song Comet Rider setting the whole tone and atmosphere for the whole album. The vocals can sound quite “poppy” in places but it’s quite an addictive style of vocals from who is the main vocalist of the band. It’s hard to tell as the band all share vocal duties through different stages of the album. There are some fantastic vocal harmonies that form some of the best parts of the album.

Songs such as Nomad, Ghosts In The Well, The River Guide, Cybermancer and The Doomsday Express – all show the natural progression Howling Giant have made from releasing their acclaimed EP’s over the years. Howling Giant build epic stories through each song and the powerful Psychedelic Stoner Rock/Metal riffs bring those lyrics to life with vivid imagination.

The music is the main selling point with Howling Giant playing some of the best spaced out grooves you’ll hear this year. The album can be exceptionally heavy one moment and quite peaceful the next with the band adapting Ambient Post-Rock passages for certain parts of the album.

The standout part of the album has to be the final 3 songs – Everlight, Orb and Stone Giant – as everything comes together for a truly cinematic sounding experience with epic riffs from start to finish.

Overall, Howling Giant have released an epic sounding album with The Space Between Worlds that makes this one of the best albums of 2019. You’ll be insane to miss this huge sounding album.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Jadd at Red Lead for the promo. The Space Between Worlds is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Blues Funeral Recordings now.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

1968 - Live In Los Angeles (Album Review)

Release date: September 11th 2019. Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Live In Los Angeles – Tracklisting

1.Temple of the AcidWolf 04:58

2.Blackwing 04:24

3.Wardogs 04:25

4.Devilswine 05:03

5.Fortuna Havana 06:59

6.McQueen 09:26

Members

Jimi - Vocals

Sam Orr - Guitar

Bear - Bass

Dan - Drums

Review

Live in Los Angeles is the new live album from UK Psych Stoner Rockers – 1968 – from their recent USA Tour which the band went down a storm with US audiences. Well, especially from the sound of this huge sounding live recording from the world famous venue - “Whisky A Go Go”. The band play a stunning set of their most well known songs such as – Temple Of The AcidWolf, Wardogs, Fortune Havana and epic sounding song- McQueen. The band include a new song – Blackwing -on this album and it’s a very good song indeed.

There are no hidden surprises on this album and you’ve perhaps heard all of the songs before. Though it’s good to hear what 1968 sound like on the live stage. This album has been Mixed and Mastered as close as hearing the band actually on stage. The album isn’t the best produced but it draws you into the murky atmosphere of the world famous venue.

1968 play a greatest hits set-list on this album. They have to especially with this being their debut USA Tour. They have to let the audience know what the band do on the live stage and they don’t disappoint. As you can hear the audience lapping up the entire show. It’s a precise 36 minute show but it succeeds in doing what a top-notch live album should do. Mainly to entertain the listener with the band’s most well known hits and playing their hearts out. 1968 succeed here with Live In Los Angeles as they leave the audience wanting more especially after the bombastic last song – McQueen – which is the best song on this album.

Live In Los Angeles is the perfect introduction to one of the best upcoming bands from the UK Psych Stoner Rock/Metal scene. Expect huge sounding Psych Rock, Stoner Rock and Classic Rock from 1968 but with a modern sound flowing through from start to finish.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

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Sorry For Nothing - Protect And Survive (Album Review)

Release date: September 27th 2019. Label: Self Released. Format: CD

Protect And Survive – Tracklisting

Volt Grabber

Man On Fire

Apocalypse Sometime

The Fog

Meet Helmut

Protect And Survive

One Cross Each

Burn Channels

Snakeoil

Dig For Victory

Iron Hands

Members

Rob - Guitar/Vox

Stu - Bass

John - Drums

Review

Protect And Survive is the new album from UK, North East Stoner Rockers – Sorry For Nothing. This is the band’s first new album in 8 years since their 2011 record – Psycho Monster Resurrection. I have a long history with the band. As this is the band that made me started blogging back in 2011 in the first place and the main reason I created The Sludgelord blog. Mainly to review their 2011 album.

I’ve know the guys for a long time and the guys are a hugely talented bunch with a dedicated fan-base within the North East of England. The band take influence from CLUTCH, BLACK SABBATH and MOTORHEAD with elements of Punk Rock being woven into their musical DNA.

Protect And Survive is quite different to their previous albums. As the band have evolved into a more harder style of Stoner Rock/Metal with it’s uncompromising and bleak lyrics allowing the band to add a more aggressive tone to their overall sound. The production is quite raw and stays bleak throughout the album. This is very much a DIY album and that has served Sorry For Nothing very well down the years.

The album gets off to a cracking start with Volt Grabber and Man On Fire seeing the band play different sounds and genres with Hard Rock, Blues Rock and Stoner Metal being the main order of business. CLUTCH based vibes can be heard on these songs with the raw Punk Rock sound allowing lead vocalist Rob singing bleak vocal passages with an almost gloomier approach. The vocals feel and sound very real and have an unpolished feel to them. It’s good to hear and shows that the band aren’t afraid to play a more “real” Stoner Rock/Metal sound compared to more famous artists/bands within the Hard Rock/Metal community.

Protect And Survive is Sorry For Nothing’s longest album yet clocking near around 60 mins. Maybe the band could have cut one or two songs for a more precise listening experience. However, there is a lot of great sounds to be found on this album especially on the later songs such as: Protect And Survive, Once Cross Each, Burn Channels and Iron Hands which is perhaps the standout song on the album.

Sorry For Nothing are not doing anything groundbreaking here. However, the band have released a superbly produced record that offers fans of the genre a multitude of different grooves throughout the album and this will please the most jaded of Stoner Rock/Metal fan.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Official | Facebook | Twitter

The Great Beyond - S./T (Album Review) and Video Premiere Of OUT OF TIME

Release date: January 25th 2019. Label: This Charming Man Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Great Beyond – S/T – Tracklisting

1.The Great Beyond 03:43

2.Slip Away 03:48

3.I'll Do It Again 02:58

4.Out Of Time 02:49

5.The Ride 04:31

6.Maddest Man 02:59

7.Quit 02:48

8.Trapped In The Net 04:09

9.Living Shadows 04:30

10.zThe Patient 05:42

Members

Leon Runde - Vocals & Guitars

Daniel Himmelberg - Bass & Vocals

David Aaron Mrohs - Drums & Vocals

Review

I missed The Great Beyond self-titled new album when it was released back in Jan 2019. As I went on my self imposed hiatus with the blog earlier this year. Now it’s time to for a review of this cool sounding album. As it surprised me in many ways.

The Great Beyond is influenced by 70s Hard Rock and Heavy Metal with flourishes of Psych Rock, Classic Rock, Stoner Rock and Doom Rock thrown in for good measure. If you dig KADAVAR then you should check these guys as they play a similar style of music with the RETRO style grooves allowing the band to play top-notch classic sounding riffs from start to finish.

The vocals from Leon feel inspired by the legendary lead singers of 60s/70s Hard Rock. He’s majorly confident and a little bit cocky on the majority of the songs held on the album. It’s a good thing as The Great Beyond sound like genuine rock stars on this album and they have the riffs and songs to back up their immense talent.

I admire the “Thin Lizzy” style guitars that appear on songs such as The Great Beyond, Slip Away, I’ll Do It Again and Out Of Time. You can hear shades of Black Sabbath in their music as well as the band almost go for a classic Heavy Metal sound that allows the band to create some highly original music of their own.

The Great Beyond do stick to a similar formula and style of music for the rest of the album. However, that doesn’t stop The Great Beyond having fun with their music and playing an addictive style of music if you’re a fan of Classic Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal.

My advice – Get stuck in with this excellent sounding album and you will have an absolute blast with these guys.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

We a premiering the new video Out Of Time from the album. Thanks to Chris at This Charming Man Records for the details.

The band have this to say about the new video:

"Out of Time” is an ode to Mother Nature and an emergency call to all earthlings. Since mistakes have always been realized afterwards, a change is more urgent than ever. Love, respect and awareness for this beautiful planet and it’s inhabitants is the message of this song!

Links:

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The Cosmic Dead - Scottish Space Race (Album Review)

Release date: September 27th 2019. Label: Riot Season Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Scottish Space Race – Tracklisting

1.Portal 20:57

2.Ursa Major 18:23

3.Scottish Space Race 11:54

4.The Grizzard 24:08

Members

Tommy Duffin

Russell Andrew Gray

Omar Aborida

James T Mckay

Review

Psychedelic Space Rock Collective – The Cosmic Dead – return with their extremely heavy and progressive new offering – Scottish Space Race. I will admit I’ve not been the biggest fan of these guys but even I will admit defeat and say that this album is a sublime and noisy affair that does everything right within the Space Rock genre.

The album is wild and extremely inventive with the different sounds and textures the band have included on the record. The 4 tracks on show here are epic in every sense of the word with the shortest track running for 12 minutes. The other songs hit around or past the 20 minute mark. So be prepared for a very lengthy affair with Psychedelic Sounds, Loops and other cool effects The Cosmic Dead can lay their hands on.

My favourite songs are Portal and The Grizzard. As the band show a wild inventive streak on these two songs and bring a whole level of noise I wouldn’t expect from a Space Rock band. It’s not all Space Rock grooves as the band add elements of Psych Rock, Sludge Rock and even moments of Doom on certain parts of the album. This is perhaps the band’s heaviest release to date and the band have added new members with Tommy Duffin of Headless Kross fame adding a more frantic and powerful style of drumming to The Cosmic Dead overall sound.

Will this album be for everyone. That’s hard to say. If you’re already a fan of the band then you’re going to lap it up. The more casual fan may find this album very hard going but I recommend you stay the course as you will be rewarded with a deeply engaging experience that only The Cosmic Dead can deliver.

The overall sound and production of the album is quite intense but it matches the raw atmosphere that The Cosmic Dead play throughout the album. The album can be too clever for it’s own good at times but that’s my only complaint on an otherwise superb and highly adventurous album.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Album Premiere of VIRCATOR New Album - ARCANO

Portuguese experimental rock band Vircator are set to return with their third, full length album on October 4th via Raging Planet. Titled Arcano, on their upcoming record the four-piece collective takes a new step on experimenting dimensional dramatic instrumentals, searching for new sounds, emotions and textures, and exploring the polarity of quiet and loud, complexity and simplicity, ugliness and beauty to the same time.

Vircator's sound is a powerful and emotional ride that takes you deep into the human conscience, balanced by calm and sweeping moments. But Arcano is even more than just an emotional introspect searching: It's inspired by the cult of the plants and spiritual cure of the human conscience according to the ancestry.

“The acknowledgment of the plant power and spirituality is numb, and we wanna invite you on a trip to the past where our ancestry lived together with mother earth.“ The band explains.

Co-produced by renowned Pedro Correia at Studio B, Vircator were able to capture this broad tonal palette and wide array of emotional motifs into a powerful journey through the tumultuous corners of human existence.

You can hear the album in full with this exclusive premiere thanks to Mona at All Noir PR. 

Album Release: 04.10.2019, Raging Planet

Formats: LP, CD + Digital

Vircator is:

Pedro Carvalho – Guitar
Gustavo Ribeiro – Guitar
Marcelo Peixoto – Bass
Ricardo Pereira – Drums

For More Info Visit:

www.facebook.com/Vircator
www.vircator.pt
www.vircator.bandcamp.com

Ancient VVisdom - Mundus (Album Review)

Release date: September 27th 2019. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Mundus – Tracklisting

Human Extinction - 4:14

Plague The Night - 3:11

I Am Everywhere - 2:09

Will To Destroy - 3:17

For The Glory Of The Grave - 7:26

Desensitized - 3:43

Severed Ways - 3:50

Edge Of The Abyss - 3:41

Review

Mundus is the new album from Occult Rock Specialists Ancient VVisdom and sees the band continue their working relationship with Argonauta Records who helped released their last album 33 back in 2017. Mundus sees the band return with a more grown-up and mature sound compared to their previous albums. Their earlier “folk-doom” sound has grown into a more adventurous Doom/Grunge hybrid style of music with elements of Hard Rock and Prog Rock offering a nightmarish vision on certain parts of the album.

I’m going to say this now but this is my favourite Ancient VVisdom yet with the gloomy guitars offering a different side that we haven’t heard from the band. This album sees Ancient VVisdom write some of the heaviest sounds of their career and the song-writing is so damn good and almost poetic especially on the excellent opening song – Human Extinction.

Human Extinction gives you the perfect glimpse on what to expect on Mundus with groove-laiden riffs that flirt between Doom Metal, Hard Rock and elements of Sludge Rock appearing here and there. The vocals from Nathan are bang on form adding a world-weary experience to the band’s overall sound. The sound can be quite claustrophobic in places but it’s an inventive sound that invites listeners into Ancient VVisdom’s dark world.

The album moves at a brisk pace with the following two songs – Plague The Night and I Am Everywhere – which sees traces of their earlier Acoustic Folk Rock sound make a brief appearance especially on Plague The Night. Mundus has a nihilistic feel and maybe too dark for some. However, Ancient VVisdom have never been in the business of writing uplifting songs. It’s not their game and never will be.

Mundus does surprisingly have a few moments of hopeful grooves and vocal passages from the band that will leave you wanting more.

The standout song has to be the 7 minute epic – For The Glory Of The Grave – as the band have more time to fully expand on their trademark sound and try different things as well. The song instantly draws you in with it’s dark themes and narratives and it’s easily up there with some of the best music the band have created to date.

The production is bang-on point and is excellent from start to finish with the band offering their best sounding record to date.

I don’t know what needs to be said about Mundus. It’s a thrilling record that ranks as Ancient VVisdom’s best album to date and it will be good to see where the band go from here in the future. If you’re looking for an Occult Rock/Doom Metal album that dares to be different then look no further. Ancient VVisdom have all bases covered here.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

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

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp