The Atomic Bitchwax “Force Field” Album Review + Stream…

Written by

THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX

Force Field – Vinyl // CD // DD // Merch

TeePee Records: released December 7, 2017

Reviewed by Ric “Suisyko” Dorr

Formed:  1993

Current Members:
Chris Kosnik – bass, vocals (currently of Monster Magnet, formerly of Godspeed and Black NASA)
Bob Pantella – drums, percussion (formerly of Raging Slab, currently of Monster Magnet, Riotgod, Cycle of Pain)
Finn Ryan – guitar, vocals (formerly of Core)

Previous Releases:
The Atomic Bitchwax (1999)
TAB-2 (2000)
Spit Blood EP (2002)
TAB-3 (2005)
Boxriff EP (2006)
TAB-4 (2007)
The Local Fuzz ‘single’ (2011)
Gravitron (2015)

 

 

Review:
Veterans all, referring to the members of this long-running unit, that all started as a side-project in the summer of 1999 and has since evolved into this raging storm comprised of three forces that meld seamlessly into the animal that stands before us, represented by the band’s seventh offering, “Force Field”.

Twelve songs and thirty-four minutes make up this release and is by far the strongest release yet from The Atomic Bitchwax aka TAB, bringing all of the honing, sharpening and precision born of endless touring here in the States and internationally over the last 18 years together to blast you out of your seat as never before. Having been previously described as a band that ‘specializes in high-octane, 70’s based hard rock, space rock and psychedelia’, TAB has taken that base formula from the edge of the century and brought it to the front in ALL of it’s sonic glory.

From the drum intro of “Hippie Speedball” through the histrionics of “Humble Brag“, there is no lack of bravado tinged with sheer brilliance of power chords, psycho-quick time shifts, hyper-rumbling bass lines and all of the lyrical twists and turns we have come to love and expect from TAB and tracks such as “Tits And Bones” fill that order with ease. Closer “Liv A Little” let’s those 70’s root fly high with the keyboard fills and an over-modulated vocal line that brings you to the sound and feel of what is must have been like at a T-Rex crowd with the energy that is necessary for the listeners of this century.

Band Pic

 

Two stand outs to me from this instant classic and MUST-HAVE for the long-time fans and the ones just discovering this trio are “Super Highway” with it’s phase-shifted drum intro into a high-speed jaunt with lyrics to match is one of those songs that begs to be played at full-volume and gets your heart racing alongside, trying to keep pace and would be a great track to feature as the lead off, in MY opinion.  The second is “Fried, Dyed and Laying To The Side“, an instrumental romp that allows each guy to shine in their own mastery of their individual ‘weapon’ which only brightens the genius of this release.

If you were expecting something closer to a Monster Magnet record, hope you weren’t too disappointed. While the interweaving and endless touring with each band has not stopped and will more than likely not change anytime soon, The Atomic Bitchwax have proven time and again that they are their OWN entity and their finest-hour to date is upon them with “Force Field”. See ’em if they come anywhere close and convert the ‘unknowing’ in your circle.

Let it roll endlessly and keep it LOUD!!

Black Space Riders Releases New EP “Amoretum Vol. 1” – New Video + Links!!

Written by

Black Space Riders

Video Feature:   Another Sort of Homecoming

Amoretum Vol. 1 – Vinyl // CD // DD

Release Date: January 26, 2018

 

 

Amoretum_Album Cover

 

 

German Riffonauts BLACK SPACE RIDERS will release new EP Amoretum Vol. 1 on January 26, 2018. The LP can be pre-ordered on all digital platforms, including Bandcamp, as well as at www.blackspaceriders.com/shop

The album flows from song to song as if from a single cast. The listener wonders after 45 minutes whether everything is really already over, and wants to go back to the beginning again immediately.

But of course everything is not over after 45 minutes in the world of BLACK SPACE RIDERS. The band also announces a second chapter for 2018 … Amoretum Vol. 2 is waiting for us, while we are looking forward to Amoretum Vol 1.

Track List:
Lovely Lovelie
Another Sort of Homecoming
Soul Shelter (Inside of Me)
Movements
Come and Follow
Friends Are Falling
Fire! Fire! (Death of a Giant)
Fellow Peacemakers

BLACK SPACE RIDERS are:
JE: Lead Vocals, Guitars, Organ, Piano, Electronics
SEB: Lead vocals, Keyboards, Electronics
C.RIP: Drums, Percussion, Didgeridoo
SLI: Guitars
SAQ: Bass Guitar
MEI: Bass Guitar

http://www.blackspaceriders.com/

Distribution partners:
Germany/Austria/Switzerland: Cargo Records

USA/ Canada:  MVD Entertainment

UK:  PHD (plastichead distribution)

BeNeLux:  Suburban records

Scandinavia: Border Music

Italy: Goodfellas

Hobo Magic “The World Today” Album Review + Stream…

Written by

Hobo Magic

The World Today – Limited Vinyl // CD // DD

Desert Highways – Released: September 14, 2017

Reviewed by Zachary “+Norway+” Turner

 

Lineup:
Connor Mitchell – Guitar/Vocals
Jake ‘Greasy’ Bennett – Bass Guitar
Carter Veltmeyer – Drums / Percussion

Previous Releases:
2013:  Single –  Tides of the Astral Sea
2014: full length Self-Titled album Hobo Magic.

Tracklist:
Follow The Holy Riff 06:44
Hobo Magic 06:48
The Poet 04:32
The World Today 06:28
Frostbite 07:40
Lady Of The Groove 09:27

 

 

Review:

Hobo Magic are Stoner Rock band from Noosa, Australia.

But classifying them as just stoner wouldn’t give you a true description of what you are going to hear.  The band use their influences of Black Sabbath, Blues, some Jazz rhythms and at some points even Metal.

Track-By-Track Breakdown:

This whole album is very similar and in the sonic universe of Sabbath’s Paranoid and Master of Reality era. As you listen along you will hear it too. They stay very much in the time period and sounds that can be produced in that time.

Pro Band Pic

Follow The Holy Riff
Which should be subtitled “Children of the Groove”, is a groovy tune. Most of the song is spent on keeping an almost sludgy repeating riff (which might be the holy riff) with breaks in between of a melodic reverbed guitar and great slow solo. The time scale shifts continually but they never sound like they are interrupting the flow of the jam.

Hobo Magic
This song is less “intense” than the last. It starts of sludgy but slowly picks up pace and becomes faster. It isn’t a heavy but still has a repeating riff and it revs up and up until the ending much like the guitar began at the start of the song. After 1:50 the jamming starts now that the almost warm up sounding beginning.

The Poet
The Poet starts off very strangely in contrast to the previous two songs; there is no distortion. This song is more of a melancholy tune, there is just a slow revered riff with slow and vocals that are a little distorted making the song feel cold.

 

Limited Wax

 

The World Today
The title track is a shift from the previous and is back to the norm that the first two tracks set us up for. It is also the most Sabbath sounding sound, the shouted high(er) pitched vocals, more of a jam song with little bits of vocals. Ask a simple question… About the world today. This track straight rips!!

Frostbite
This song is more like the first one; the tempo/timescale change quite a bit, and is a repeated bit with subtle changes. It even has moments that sound close to The Poet. The vocals are processed in a similar way. The song is almost eight minutes and feels like it. Kind of slow, like frostbite.

Lady Of The Groove (Favorite)
This song is a LOT like “Children of the Grave” (I’m pretty sure they meant it to as well.) The song also works as a way to remind and wrap up all the previous motifs that were in the past few songs. This is a great way to wrap up the album for just that reason.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————

In a way they are like a band named Magma. Hobo Magic are sticking to the mythos that they have created; all about the groove, the story of the lady finding and jamming to the groove, even their Facebook is curated in a way to complement the mythos just look at their About Us page.

Like I mentioned before, Hobo Magic are descendants from that 1970-1 period of Black Sabbath and they work really well in changing it into their own thing, different riffs, story, and singing. If you are a fan of Sabbath‘s 2nd and 3rd albums then you will definitely DIG this album.

Funny Band Pic

Stream the album on Spotify or Bandcamp.

Buy and download from Bandcamp HERE.

Extra Links:
https://open.spotify.com/album/6EbXoNDAnLI7GYepgfUNqn

https://hobomagic.bandcamp.com/album/the-world-today

https://www.facebook.com/pg/hobomagicband/about/?ref=page_internal

www.deserthighways.com

https://hobomagic.bandcamp.com/track/tides-of-the-astral-sea

https://hobomagic.bandcamp.com/album/hobo-magic

Mother Mars “On Lunar Highlands” Album Review + Stream + Music Video…

Written by

Mother Mars

On Lunar Highlands – CD // DD

Pepper Shaker Records – Releases December 6, 2017

Reviewed by Eric Layhe

 

 

Lineup:
Frank Attard: Drums, percussion, Clavinet, synth, meandering chaos
Paul Attard: Guitars, bass, synth, banjo-mandolin, piano, organ, complications
Dave Schembri: Vocals, harmonica, mellow vibes
Matthew Slager: Lead guitar on ‘Never Fail’

Tracklist:
Wrecker’s Reunion Ball (5:00)
Lost Planet Airmen (4:34)
Bean Stalkin’ (0:28)
Thought It Best To Cut You Loose (5:33)
Soap Bar Pick-Up Joint (3:41)
The Stalwarts of Saltwort Castle (9:31)
The Working Mind of the Creator (3:44)
Woodhollow Green (12:55)
Bean Stalkin’ Again (0:56)
Never Fail (4:13)
Bigger Than Fear (5:44)
On Lunar Highlands (8:35)
The Heavy Hand Of The Destroyer (4:14)

 

 

Review:
Sludge Metal can go in any one of many directions, and one of the most interesting just may be the original: The variety of Sludge both invented and perfected by Black Sabbath. That particular brand of Sludge Metal is heavily Blues-influenced and totally unafraid to incorporate highly experimental elements like irregular time signatures, tempo changes, and long complicated instrumental sections in a manner that is almost progressive. This style of music has existed since the late 70s and one of its latest disciples is Australia’s Mother Mars, and they exemplify it fantastically in their newest release, On Lunar Highlands.

As a listener will easily pick up on while making their way through the album, Mother Mars makes no attempt to pigeonhole themselves. They open with some sludgey goodness on “Wrecker’s Reunion Ball”, but they weave their way through several different styles like early-era Queens of the Stone Age-style desert rock on “Lost Planet Airmen” Psychedelic Folk on several songs, most prevalent in the interlude “Bean Stalkin’” and its brother-in-arms “Bean Stalkin’ Again”, and expertly execute a song that sounds like a long-lost B-side from Black Sabbath’s Paranoid in album high point “The Stalwarts of Saltwort Castle” (stream below).

While Mother Mars is an extremely skilled band, they really show their true talent when their songs are heavier and longer. When Mother Mars give themselves room to breathe, their songs gain an organic energy that is nearly second to none, especially when they decide to allow themselves what is a particularly decadent instrumental section full of guitar solos, bass riffs, and plenty of interplay between the band’s members.

Additionally, there are only 3 members of Mother Mars, though you’d never guess it from listening to them. These Heavy Space Rockers are incredibly adept at filling a space with as much noise as it needs to sound full and heavy without making it sound unnecessarily chaotic. It is chaotic, to be fair, but as Mother Mars proves, chaos is not always directionless. As the band simulates what can only be described as the sonic equivalent of a Solar Storm, they always make sure to include a clearly understandable sense of direction, as the songs always make sense, as a band full of gentlemen this talented should. If you are interested in Bluesy, Spacey, Sonic-adventurous Sludge Metal, and you have 70 minutes to kill, look no further than Mother Mars’ “On Lunar Highlands”. It is skillful, it is eclectic, and most importantly: it is heavy.

Album Logo

Rex Brown “Smoke On This” Album Review + Music Video +Video Interview…

Written by

REX BROWN

Smoke On This… – Vinyl // CD // DD

Entertainment One – Released – July 28 2017

Reviewed by Ric “Suisyko” Dorr

Line Up:
Rex Brown / Lead vocals, Rhythm guitar , Bass
Christopher Williams / Drums
Lance Harvill / Guitar, collaboration
Peter Keyes / Piano

 

Review:

When I first heard about this record coming out, I had ZERO idea what to expect, what with Rex Brown’s extensive and prolific career that is right around 30+ years along and kickin’, could be anything, right?? Would it be the hyper-power of Pantera, or some countrified shredding like Rebel Meets Rebel with David Allen Coe?? Maybe the stoner grooving of Superjoint Ritual or even the ‘Pepper‘d tone of Down or possibly something closer to the progressive speed of Kill Devil Hill?? My mind was reeling as I hit ‘play’ for the first time on this album…

The familiar click of a Zippo lighter and I hear “Smoke on this…” before being greeted by a power-punch of guitar/bass and cymbal hit hard as opener ‘Lone Rider’ jumped out of my speakers in welcome thunder as Rex‘ voice took form hold with a tale of pure rock-n-roll introspection, complete with guitar solo intact. This is NOT metal as you may have been expecting and Rex himself has said he is not catering to the expectations of anyone, doesn’t give a fuck what anybody says as he is doing this for HIM and if anybody wants to ride along, get on.

‘Crossing Lines’ is a slower tempo’d excursion into how to “Give it all for nothing’ reminding you there is no one else to blame as this bluesy tale flows along with a complexity that is smooth as glass and there is no escaping how the crackling, crunchy voicing lace their fingers into yours as this guitar slinging legend re-introduces himself to you and opens his veins with each song, letting you look through his eyes to get another take on his life experience seasoned perspective in a way he has not offered before. ‘Buried Alive’ is the confessional Rex used, to give us the story of how he dealt with his own loss of Dimebag Darrell and is simply stellar from first note to last, where ‘Train Song’ lets Rex point out that “We all  get away underground, so, here we are, now find a way to calm down…” with a tone that lets you know he is not fucking around.

‘Get Yourself Alright’ is an outright pure stoner-feel romp where Rex asks directly, “What are you waiting for?” and will have you wondering the same thing with the multi-layered vocals spinning all around you, showing that the mastery being given in the purest form possible, is indeed just WHAT we have been waiting for, just as ‘What Comes Around’ is an even sharper tale from within the soul of honesty and reflection laced with enough emotion to get the point across clearly, just as ‘Best Of Me’ opens melancholy in feel as we hear of the “Shadows of myself beside me” and the chorus hits with power chords ringing, shifting back to the soft touch, even as a slide guitar rings echoes in the background as you are beckoned to ‘Stop… look round.”

Genre-blurring is something Rex has been doing his whole career and with this album, not only do we get to feel the bombastic, guitar driven swagger of rock-n-roll, but there is southern rock here as with ‘So Into You’ with the double Skynyrd-slide harmonies that make up the body of the backwall, and the surprising yet SO cool funk flavor of ‘Grace’ with it’s jangly 70’s sounding guitar line that is a great song in tones, composition and arrangement and the mix just WORKS on every level.

Standout track from this one for me, if I HAVE to pick one, would be ‘Fault Line’ in that Rex has said that he really ‘found’ his voice with this track and once he had it, he knew he could indeed step out front and made the rest just come together. The reach is well within his grasp and hopefully will lead to much more out of this man that so many of us have known of for so long.

In my opinion, he did what a true virtuoso does by metaphorically opening his veins to pour his very essence into these creations and this record is that deep and personal of a gift as he steps through so many doors to deliver on each track. Saying that his motto these days is to “Shake some shit up”, he has certainly delivered here and says this is about musical freedom and fun and puts forth that he’s got SO MUCH more in him and is quote “Just getting my feet wet” Enquote.

Find this ‘train’ and GET ONBOARD, drag all you know with you onto and witness it in a live setting if you get the chance… keep it LOUD!!

To quote him directly, “You’re only as good as your word, and your word better be good.”

Rex Brown Talks about “Smoke on This…”

The Midnight Ghost Train “Cypress Ave.” Album Review + Tracks Stream + Video…

Written by

THE MIDNIGHT GHOST TRAIN 

Cypress Ave. – Limited Vinyl // CD // DD

Napalm Records – released July 28, 2017

Reviewed by Ric “Suisyko” Dorr

 

Formed – August 1, 2007

Location – Topeka, KS USA

Band Members
Steve Moss – Guitar / Vocals
Brandon Burghart – Drums
Mike Boyne – Bass

Previous Releases
“The Johnny Boy” EP (2008)

“TMGT-S/T” (2009)

“Buffalo” (2012)

“Live At Roadburn” (2013)

“Cold Was The Ground” (2015)

 

Review:

Almost ten years in the making. Steve enters the arena with long-time friend and drummer (and one time bass player of TMGT) Brandon alongside and featuring a solidified line-up, now anchored by Mike who now shows a tenure of over 4 years on bass (not an easy feat for this band). Some of the BEST yet from this powerhouse three piece is what this record, the fourth full-length release from The Midnight Ghost Train, represents. 10 songs that clock in at just under 45 mins and this time out, The Midnight Ghost Train has decided to run the complete gamut of musical styles, not limiting themselves to anything in particular. Usually thought of for their blues-heavy/stoner/doom groove they established more and more with each previous release, with this album we have it all and then some as you may not have expected.

Opener and lead-off single ‘Tonight’ is a great example of the focus being used with it’s soft guitar opening before the power chords hit you right at 30 seconds and we hear Steve’s voice with “I got some time to kill, and you’ve got someone to bring my head down, ’cause I’ve been spinnin’ round'” and we’re off on what could very well be the most cohesive and coherent offering to come from this unit. The frenetic bass line that starts off “Red-Eyed Junkie Queen” belies the pace that this tale sets off on and the staccato bends are the perfect backdrop for this romp-fest of hammering drums, pummeling bass and enough distortion to scrap your knuckle son as this tale of rolls on, where ‘Glenn’s Promise’ hits with a muted tempo that lures you in with equally muted chords until at 26 seconds in, the fullness returns, thick enough to knock you down as Steve’s gruff vocals tell of ‘Promises, promises, you’re taking….” and the galloping drumline grabs you by the arm and guides you along the way and the fury keeps building with the pace and by the time the solo section hits, you are already in full-force headbanging mode and there is no escape wanted. The sheer structure of on the foundation TMGT has built with their previous outings is solidified and as each brick is placed with each note, the resulting structure is stronger than before.

‘Bury Me Deep’, opening with a lone guitar progression, further exemplifies that these songs seem more rooted in a depth that while not missing before, has now been brought to the forefront to let us see that these three are beyond ready to take their place in the lexicon of pure ROCK-N-ROLL bands that refuse to be pigeon-holed into any one genre, preferring to show their muscle tackling many song-styles with the strongest songwriting to come from this camp yet.  ‘The Watcher’s Nest’ has one of the softest, almost soothing intro’s and the tempo is awash with ride cymbals before we get told that ‘We’re going down, down into the light’ and you are moving again and then another quick pause… and back to the slow even shuffle before another blast of the chorus that lead to an astral wah’d solo burst that adds even more to what is already so manner layers of flavors that each permeate through yet meld together in the most cohesive amalgam possible.

The next thing you know, it is a complete 180 to what is almost a LEON REDBONE meets TOM WAITS salute with a love song that is pure TMGT is essence and delivery and you can’t help but smile as this tale of passion unfolds. ‘Lemon Trees’ is a more familiar flow with a seemingly softer jangly approach that is equal parts hart and soul that moves you through, following this tale of pressure that holds attention tight, following each word to get the whole picture.

Pro Band Pic

The final four tracks each lend themselves to show even more virtuosity and flexibility in flavors they can pull off seamlessly at whim. ‘The Boogie Down (featuring Sonny)’ is almost CAKE meets The BOSSTONES and the result is upbeat, where ‘Black Wave’ opens in pure spaced-out stoner bliss complete with a bass line that is soft as a feather pillow and massive in presence at the same time with this introspective analysis that is as enveloping as any other track on here. ‘The Echo’ is almost a cowboy-western song with the galloping pace of the drumline, the perfect progression that make up the body in a KARMA TO BURN structure that punches hard to the chest before the pace shifts back in a hypnotic use of sustain and lingering chords that wrap all the way around your brain stem and no restraint given.

As the fuzzed out bass fades, it is perfection indeed before we hear what can only be an almost ED GEIN voicing in this dark closer that stands out for ME as pure brilliance.  It showcases just how maniacal in tone and darkness of delivery as you can almost see his smile asking these sardonic questions pushing you to the edge of your seat, waiting for the next as this collection of three spirits shows that they have reached a new depth in composition and arrangement. They are tighter than ever before and with the newest production values that have been used in abundance, it is clear that the rest of the world needs to catch up and jump onboard with the pinnacle to this point that these guys show they are at.

Buy it YESTERDAY, play it for every pair of ears you encounter, support them LIVE if they come anywhere close and keep it LOUD!!

VULPTURE “Self Titled” Album Review + Stream…

Written by

VULPTURE

Vulpture (“S/T”) – Digital Download

Self Released – April 20, 2017

Reviewed by Ric “Suisyko” Dorr

 

Formed – 2015

Location – Madrid, SPAIN

Members
Diego
Maud
Vicente

This “Self Titled” EP is the first outing for this three piece outfit and is made up of 4 tracks clocking in at 26+ minutes and from front to back. VULPTURE has put together some of the most raucous guitar progressions, thunderous bass lines and hammering drums keeping absolute syncopation in place combined with a vocal split between drummer and guitarist that works pretty well; already demonstrating a flexibility that a lot of their counter-parts do not possess yet. When asked to describe themselves, the collective answer was, Quote “After attempting to play with different musicians, Diego Maud and Vicente met up for practice for the very first time at the end of 2014. After slowly narrowing it down to 5, and then 4, until finally this power-trio locked in and so was the birth of Vulpture, a rock and roll mixture of doom spirit, walking in the desert of stoner, looking towards the heavy psych skies.” Enquote. Referencing those that did not quite make the cut, it has been said that, “On the other side of that universe, the ex members just decided to set up a cheap clothes shop.”

A ‘fitting’ fate seems the obvious response…

 

Live Band Shot

 

Opener ‘Wasteland’ opens with all the ghostly doomish power chords you could want before 30 seconds in, a light hammering tap on a ride and open notes rattling ribs enter before at the minute mark, all three jump in and we’re off for this ride across the aforementioned psych-skies in a 70’s style jam that sets the stage for this record that churns along until the first word hits at 2:49 in with an attention-grabbing snap-vocal, gruff as can be and by the time the last section opens with a screaming solo, it is clear they are firing on ALL cylinders.

‘The Oath’ comes on at a slower pace but twice as thick and even heavier in tone and the swarming bees of staccato guitar notes is mesmerizing leading to the vocal break and the time shifts and fills being held high by the precision bass playing that gives support in spades. This allows the other two members to take this, and really EACH song here, to the highest plateaus of clarity in expression and delivery of their individual parts and the collective result is full-on rock-n-roll purity.

‘Fuzz Cloud’ is even more of the same with an added sneer in the speed and fury that keeps you moving along in pace, even after the two-minute mark when the tempo slows, bass steps to the front over drum fills that are the perfect punctuation before the power chords are back punching the air full of holes, leading the the last section that gets as dark as night and ugly in the best sense of with the meanderings of each member and it is stoner-bliss all the way to the end as they crank it back up to full speed.

Closer ‘Rocky Road’ has this lower tempo opening filled with harmonic bends and swithing to that churning heaviness and back with the underlying rhythm section giving all the room needed to keep your head moving in perfect time before the vocal explodes across the front. Maniacal laughter and all, further proving the versatility of each member.  They fit together as so many puzzle pieces and if this is any indication of what we can expect from Vulpture, I can hardly wait for more!! The production is that ‘live in the studio’ feel and is perfect for this serving as it were.

Get it NOW, share it with ALL in your personal realm and go support them live if you are given the chance… keep it LOUD!!

Band Logo

Brock Davisson “Outtakes From The Soul” Album Review + Live Video…

Written by

“In Case You Missed It Series” – Episode 3

BROCK DAVISSON

Outtakes From The Soul – CD (sold out) // DD – CD Baby

Self Released – 2015

Reviewed by Ric “Suisyko” Dorr

 

Location – Marietta, Ohio

Released in 2015, BROCK DAVISSON has poured his soul into each of these 9 tracks that offer insight into the man himself and over these 33+ minutes, we are given the chance to ‘see with his eyes’ through his fingers. When asked to describe himself, he stated “I’m 4’4″ tall in a wheelchair from club foot and dwarfism and my entire life purpose is music. Without it, I don’t exist.” He has won 3 ‘CA HOUSE MUSIC’ guitar competitions so far in Parkersburg, West Virginia, came in 2nd in few others, and has won a few online guitar/music contests as well.

Mixing dirty blues into out-right rock-n-roll and then shifting into flat-out instrumental-bliss, all mixing perfectly together in flow from the first notes of title track ‘Outtakes From The Soul’ to the closing section of closer ‘If Only’ with a pinnache and attention to detail that makes this album a must have. No two songs sound alike on this but the ‘touch’ on each is the same, from the core of his being and that shines with every note.

brock-davisson-lge

Two songs in particular stand out to ME, the first being instrumental ‘Vagrant’ with it’s slow blues fire smoldering with the clean-tone leads that permeate this heart-string-puller.  Then there is ‘Tremors’ where we are reminded that “God is a safe-place to hide, ready to help when needed.” over a mid-tempo pace that allows Brock to demonstrate his mastery of his ‘over-the-neck’ technique that has been his method of playing all along. I have been blown away by how incredible each offering Brock puts out via his Facebook page and his YouTube channel is in originality and prowess. He has done things that are heavy as all get out to as soft as a kitten’s fur, ALL showing just what can be accomplished with dedication and love and his heart is open and poured deep into every crevice of every measure played.

WELL worth a revisit if you are already a fan, a MUST-HAVE for the rest of the world!! Get it NOW if you don’t already have it and share it with the rest of YOUR world and KEEP IT LOUD!!

Links:
https://www.discogs.com/Brock-Davisson-And-Friends-Outtakes-From-The-Soul/release/7400856
https://www.facebook.com/Brokstar

MUSICIANS ON THIS ALBUM:
Brock Davisson “all tracks except track 9, only lyrics”
Andy Holbrook “track 2,3,4,5,6,7,8”
Courtney Holbrook “track 8”
Michael Francis “track 2,7”
Todd Schexnider “track 4,6”
Jeremy Harmon “track 2,4,5,6,7”
Daniel Everson “track 5”
Jeremy Mayle “track 9”
Robert Lawson “track 3”
Greg Lester “track 8”

The Brockstar Empire Has Begun…

CACHEMIRA “Jungla” Album Review & Stream…

Written by

CACHEMIRA

Jungla – Vinyl // CD // DD

Heavy Psych Sounds – released May 12, 2017

Reviewed by Ric “Suisyko” Dorr

 

 

Formed – August 2015

Location – Barcelona, Spain

Band Members –  Gaston Lainé · Guitar & Vocals / Pol Ventura · Bass & Vocals / Alejandro Carmona · Drums

This three man-band is steeped DEEP in the 70’s acid-head/stoner fuzzed out and wah’d up rock-n-roll sounds of guitar driven spaced out soloing and insane twists and turns in tempo as any progressive maniac lives for.  They list their influences from “the hard blues bands, fuzz sounds and wah wah of the 70s, with some space rock spirit” and wave that flag proudly as these five songs show.

 

Live Band Pic

 

Don’t let the name fool ya, translating as Cashmere, there is nothing soft about CACHEMIRA.  Songs like ‘Sail Away’, tell a tale full of multi layered guitars and keyboard overtones with that driving shuffle tempo of “When the sirens….”, instrumental ‘Oeverture’ with the stoned out bliss-filled meanderings of a good mushroom-flashback.

‘Goddess’ rips from the gate in fuzzed out full force for the first minute, slowly fade out to guitar warbling and wash cymbals galore and a jazz runs fill the air as we are given the tale of one as “She has been since the beginnings of time…” over the course of 8-minutes plus for this opus.  The advanced single (released in January 2017) ‘Overpopulation’ has that almost MOXY 70’s feel with the frenetic opening that has that roll that players like JOE WALSH loves to use still that seemed to have been perfected “back when” before the story unfolds about how we, i.e. mankind, is “Out of control…”

 

 

The “stand-out” track on this one for me is the title track ‘Jungla’ with it’s glorious fast-paced beginning that jumps right into gear with all the virtuosity from each member cranked beyond maximum to give one of those songs that just consumes you from the inside and you want more and more. If any of them get a video treatment, I would vote for this one to be the single for. Get it NOW, share it with every body and see ’em live if they come to your shores as I have a feeling they are one of ‘those bands’ that make each show a party to be remembered… and as always, keep it LOUD!!

Band Pic

WhiteNails “First Trip” – Album Review & Stream

Written by

WhiteNails

First Trip – CD // DD

Magnetic Eye Records – Releases May 26, 2017

Reviewed by Ric “Suisyko” Dorr

 

 

Formed – 2016

Location – Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Members – Darcy – Vocal, Danahé – Guitar, Taylor – Guitar, JP – Bass, Vince – Keys, Maxx – Drums

Self described as “Six dudes with an appetite for LOUD, HEAVY rock-n-roll” that were brought together by a mutual love for BLACK SABBATH. Labeled as a stoner rock band, they list as influenced by the sounds of PENTAGRAM, Black Sabbath and KYUSS, WhiteNails add an edge of a psychedelic visual touch to their performances and we end up with the first offering in the form of the EP  ‘First Trip’.

 

Pro Band Pic

 

Citing an evening of “…a few beers and shots of whiskey”,  they decided they needed to throw on the guitars and see what kind of noise would come forth. End result is eight songs clocking in just over 41 minutes and is filled with all of the trappings and then some of the kind of music that you HAVE to crank up and raise your ‘favorite beverage’ to and just MOVE. Twin guitars, thick-sliced bass line, heavy-handed drummer with enough splash to soak you through and a vocal range from punk-screams to heart-ripped vibrato, WhiteNails has brought it all to the table with this release. From the first pick slide of ‘Shanghaied’, the tone is set and the pace is rolling as you are the “Next in line…” The air gets darker as the guitar gets even thicker, screaming tortured wails and screams over hyper fuzzed chords catching in the sudden fade that runs straight into a VERY Sabbath sounding progression of palm-muting accented by that hauntingly smoked-up and hazy soloing that makes up the first minute and a half of ‘Done And Gone’ that chugs along like a train. ‘Dead In Time’ is full-on power-sludge glory featuring guest Gab Shonk and has that triple-roll tempo that forces you to keep up and then gets as smoke-filled just past midpoint again and for the last section, back to full slam…

Live Pic 3

‘In My Blood’ comes out faster and has that KYUSS vibe for real giving a nod to their mentioned influences where ‘Damn Judas’ is more of a power anthem hitting with full presence of attitude and staggered guitar notes in your face. ‘Silver Linings’ is slower in entry but there is zero shortage of power chords here. ‘Brazen Bull’ begins with a fast drum roll and jumps into more of the tortured guitar lines that take hold and don’t let go. This gets us to my personal favorite ‘The Crooked Lake’ . This track is different from the rest yet shows a complete summation of the first seven tracks brought into this over seven-minute opus. Slow fade in, each musician’s presence viable in the aggregate perfection that is this entire composition. One of those that grabbed me in my chest and I didn’t want it to let go, even as the end hit. I would hope this is one of their live signature songs and could EASILY end up being one of those 20 minute encore songs… and not ONE person would want it any other way.

For a first outing, all I can say is HOLY SHIT!! If this is any kind of signification of what is to come from these guys, HELL yes, bring it!! Get this one when out comes out and support them live if you get the chance and especially keep this one LOUD!!