HEADS. – Collider

Author: Andy Seibt

Band: HEADS.
Album: Collider
Genre: Noise, Post-Punk
Label: This Charming Man Records
Release Date: April 6, 2018
Listen & Buy: JPC, Amazon, Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes
Social: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
Live: –
Website: headsnoise.com

Post-Punk and Noise freaks, behold! The mighty HEADS. present their second effort “Collider”, and its a total blast; a ten-song-beast, creating images of dusty badlands, guided by the narrative voice of Ed Fraser, which is part of the uniqueness of HEADS. songs. Hit the title track “Collider” and let it soak you in and prove the greatness of this record. The guest appearances by Kevin Whitley, Luc Hess, Emilie Zoë and Fabian Bremer contribute greatly to the album’s character.

May 24, 2018 Add Comment

The Watchers – Black Abyss

Author: Sammy Fröbel

Band: The Watchers
Album: Black Abyss
Genre: Heavy Rock
Label: Ripple Music
Release Date: March 9, 2018
Listen & Buy: JPC, Amazon, Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes
Social: Facebook
Live: –
Website: –

The art of being a supergroup is to create something new out of the previous work with other bands. This is what The Watchers did with their second release “Black Abyss”. You can hear the influence of Orchid, Spiral Arms and Black Gates in every single note since the San Francisco/Bay Area-based foursome delivers heavy Rock riffs with a badass attitude. Unfortunately, The Watchers are not very innovative. Some dark moments here, a great guitar solo there, but all in all “Black Abyss” sounds like the typical Hard Rock album: a load of guitar solos, fat riffs and succinct vocals. The concept seems to work. The Watchers are touring all over the USA, together with bands like Saxon.

May 24, 2018 Add Comment

Arms and Sleepers – Find The Right Place

Author: Felix Hølter

Band: Arms And Sleepers
Album: Find The Right Place
Genre: Electronic, Trip-Hop, Instrumental , Hip-Hop
Label: Pelagic Records
Release Date: April 13, 2018
Listen & Buy: , Amazon, Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes 
Social: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Live: –
Website: armsandsleepers.com

Yeah, this is definitely not Sludge and although I’m no expert for electronic music, I have to tell you that Arms And Sleepers new album “Find The Right Place” is absolutely worth a listen. Ambient Hip-Hop beats meet relaxing melodies and lyrical rap samples, making you feel like you’re tripping on acid a whole night. Get yourself some saggy jogging pants, your favourite XXL Sleep shirt and scrape the remains out of your grinder to chill the shit out of this fabulous record.

May 24, 2018 Add Comment

Melvins – Pinkus Abortion Technician

Author: Sammy Fröbel

Band: Melvins
Album: Pinkus Abortion Technician
Genre: Experimental, Sludge, Noise Rock
Label: Pias UK / Ipecac
Release Date: April 20, 2018
Listen & Buy: JPC, Amazon, Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes
Social: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Live: –
Website: melvins.net

There are so many ways to describe the great Melvins and none of these words will ever describe them more perfect then “restless”. The combo around Buzz Osbourne cannot let a year go by without releasing a new record – their newest masterpiece is called “Pinkus Abortion Technician”. To realize it, the trio got Butthole Surfers bass player Jeff Pinkus involved. We know the Melvins’ line-up with two drummers or two guitar players, but two bass players are something innovative for the band. The record itself is a variation of new songs and covers. The opener “Stop Moving To Florida” is a combined cover version of the James Gang song of the same name and the Butthole Surfers’ song “Moving To Florida”. A Beatles track is as well part of the album as the band’s own songs, which breath the well-known brute-noise sound of the Melvins. Even if you’re not a fan already, you should definitely check this record out and become one.

May 9, 2018 Add Comment

Besvärjelsen – Vallmo

Author: Felix Hølter

Band: Besvärjelsen
Album: Vallmo
Genre: Psychedelic Rock, Doom Metal, Folk
Label: Suicide Records
Release Date: March 27, 2018
Listen & Buy: Amazon, Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes
Social: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Live: –
Website: –

Once more a Swedish band manages to deliver a piece of great music. There must be something in the Scandinavian air – maybe some haze in the Northern sky? (Sorry.) Besvärjelsen means “conjuring” and it’s truly like magic, how this band is combining some of the best psychedelic Doom riffs, melodies and beats in 2018. Mainly spreading Black Sabbath and Candlemass vibes, Besvärjelsen also add Folkish parts to their music. Hexvessel fans will like it!

May 9, 2018 Add Comment

Phantom Winter – Into Dark Science

Author: Meredith Schmiedeskamp

Band: Phantom Winter
Album: Into Dark Science
Genre: Post-Metal / Doom
Label: Golden Antenna Records
Release Date: March 2, 2018
Listen & Buy: JPC, Amazon, Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes
Social: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter
Live:
Website:

Phantom Winter are known for creating dark and noiseful songs described as “Winterdoom” since their first album back in 2015. Following the tradition of „Cvlt“ and „Sundown Pleasures“, their third record „Into Dark Science“ is build on a sociocritical background and is difficult to conceive without looking at the linernotes and quotes from (feminist) writers and thinkers. On the musical side, the material is really demanding and doesn’t feature an overwhelming punch-in-the-stomach piece like “Bombing The Witches” from “Sundown Pleasures”. Blast-beats are appearing more frequently and the screams are scratching on the edge of edurability. Nonetheless, „Into Dark Science“ is very powerful and wipes out every inch of blooming flowers in spring.

May 9, 2018 Add Comment

Black Rainbows – Pandaemonium

Author: Tamino Freitag

Band: Black Rainbows
Album: Pandaemonium
Genre: Stoner Rock
Label: Heavy Psych Sounds Records
Release Date: April 6, 2018
Listen & Buy: JPC, Amazon, Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes
Social: Facebook, Twitter
Live: ADTicket
Website: theblackrainbows.com

With their last full-length, Italian fuzzers Black Rainbows disappointed a little and my hopes for „Pandaemonium“ were rather low – boy, had I been wrong! This new release feels much different: it has a brilliant production, songs that are on point, have good hooks and an overall more focused feel to it that will excite even fans, who felt a bit let down by the band recently. Probably one of the biggest surprises this year and a very fine mix of classic Stoner grooves, fat riffs and a pinch of spaced out star-fuzzery.

May 1, 2018 Add Comment

Death Alley – Superbia

Author: Sammy Fröbel

Band: Death Alley
Album: Superbia
Genre: Proto-Rock, Prog-Rock, Retro-Rock
Label: Century Media Records
Release Date: March 23, 2018
Listen & Buy: JPC, Amazon, Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes
Social: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
Live: –
Website: deathalley.nl

The Dutch Retro-rock outfit Death Alley is back in game. With their second album “Superbia”, the foursome brings some groove on your record player. The band wanted to evolve their style after releasing their debut “Black Magick Boogieland”. This came out pretty good since their Prog Rock influences come out more clearly now. In the opener “Daemon”, they combine dark grooves with hymnic parts á la King Crimson and their trademark riffs. In “Murder Your Dreams” you’ll hear elements of the members’ Punk Rock past. Unfortunately, the other side of the coin of having an own recognizable sound, is the danger of repetition. Sometimes you get the feeling, that everything sounds pretty similar. This does not necessarily have to be a bad thing since we all listen to our favorite records over and over again. If you’re looking for the darker little brother of the Hellacopters, you should give “Superbia” a spin.

April 23, 2018 Add Comment

Leechfeast – Neon Crosses

Author: Felix Hölter

Band: Leechfeast
Album: Neon Crosses
Genre: Sludge
Label: Dry Cough Records, Rope Or Guillotine, Hellas Records
Release Date: March 30, 2018
Listen & Buy: Bandcamp
Social: Facebook
Live: –
Website: –

Three years after their unholy split with legendary Meth Drinker, Leechfeast offer some new music that crawls through your ears like mud. One cannot even imagine how this piece of extremely slow, harsh and heavy music called “Neon Crosses” was born. Leechfeast let you suffer from their deepest, drone-like riffing containing steady and epic melodies. The vocals alternate between reverberant screams and deep clean passages, which create a sacral feeling. All in all, Neon Crosses is one of the must have releases in Sludge music this year. Get it and sacrifice some herb while listening to this record!

April 23, 2018 Add Comment

Killer Boogie – Acid Cream

Author: Sammy Fröbel

Band: Killer Boogie
Album: Acid Cream
Genre: Fuzz Rock, Retro-rock
Label: Heavy Psych Sounds
Release Date: March 9, 2018
Listen & Buy: JPC, Amazon, Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes
Social: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter
Live:-
Website: –

The summer is coming and what else could be better than hanging out in the park with some nice “Acid Cream”… uhm … I mean ice cream! Killer Boogie’s new record “Acid Cream” is the perfect soundtrack for both. The trio delivers extremely fuzzy Vintage Rock sound with a lot of groove. It doesn’t sound too far-fetched that the creative process behind this record was influenced by the one or the other drug. What’s good for Black Sabbath, can’t be bad for Killer Boogie. “Acid Cream” is a perfect mixture of 70’s Fuzz Rock, Garage Rock and Blues. If you’re on the hunt for a band that sounds similar to Radio Moscow and Fuzz, this record is just perfect for you.

April 11, 2018 Add Comment