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

Hooded Priest – The Hour Be None

Author: Tamino Freitag

Band: Hooded Priest
Album: The Hour Be None
Genre: Classic Doom Metal
Label: I Hate Records
Release Date: December 12, 2017
Listen & Buy: JPC, Amazon, Spotify, iTunes, Bandcamp
Social: Facebook
Website: hoodedpriest.org

Understatement isn’t really this band’s cup of tea, seeing as they describe themselves as a „seminal part of the European Doom Metal scene“ – and by all means, Hooded Priest are not a bad band! Their second album „The Hour Be None“ is not a record any real doomhead would dislike; it’s just probably not one that will see the inside of my CD player very often, with all those great albums by other bands around. Luther is a great vocalist, and the production is crisp and natural, yet the songs themselves do not really get to the point – they go on and on without a real satisfying climax. Nobody will be disappointed, but nobody will be blown away by this, either.

February 15, 2018 Add Comment

Borracho – Riffography

Author: Andy Miller

Band: Borracho
Album: Riffography
Genre: Stoner Rock
Label: Ripple Music
Release Date: December 8, 2017
Listen & Buy: JPC, Amazon, Spotify, iTunes, Bandcamp
Social: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter
Live: –
Website: borrachomusic.com

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Washington DC’s Stoner Rock juggernauts Borracho are back with “Riffography”, a collection of rarity tracks from the last ten years. Released on the back of Atacama, it’s a great collection with a Scorpions cover and it really highlights what the band is about. Loud, fuzzy, groove-filled riffs with powerful vocals. This trio of hard rocking dudes had a busy twelve months. The band is a powerhouse, weaving grooves everywhere they can. Plenty of cowbell, and big thick chunky riffs to keep your head spinning for days.

February 10, 2018 Add Comment

Wolf Counsel – Age Of Madness / Reign Of Chaos

Author: Sammy Fröbel

Band: Wolf Counsel
Album: Age Of Madness / Reign Of Chaos
Genre: Doom Metal
Label: Czar Of Bullets
Release Date: November 17, 2017
Listen & Buy: JPC, Amazon, Spotify, iTunes, Bandcamp
Social: Facebook, YouTube
Live: –
Website: wolfcounsel.net

The birth of this band was as slow as their riffs are: Wolf Counsel needed almost twenty years to form a band out of their first ideas. But it was worth it. With their third record “Age Of Madness/Reign Of Chaos” the quartet serves finest slow Doom. The Zürich-based ensemble combines well-known Doom attitude with slow and heavy riffs, lingering drums and the deep growling vocals of singer Ralf W. Garcia. Fans of Orange Goblin and Saint Vitus will find this record interesting and Sabbath fans get their ice cream with the second track “Semper Occultus”, which contains a “Paranoid”-esque intro, groovy riffs and an epic guitar solo towards the end.

January 11, 2018 Add Comment

Black Sadhu – Gayas Revenge (EP)

Author: Sammy Fröbel

Band: Black Sadhu
Album: Gayas Revenge
Genre: Stoner Metal, Horror Doom
Label: Self-released
Release Date: August 28, 2017
Listen&Buy: Bandcamp
Social: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
Live: –

Hailing from the capital of Germany, Black Sadhu deliver the perfect soundtrack for your next midnight ceremony. Dark and slow Doom riffs meet spacy effects paired with a deep frightening voice, which could belong to an ancient archpriest. With “Gayas Revenge” the Berlin-based foursome released their second EP already. Black Sadhu describe their sound as Horror Doom, which fits perfectly. You’ll get psychedelic Doom with ritual-like vocals and even Black Metal moments, which can distract from the music itself sometimes. You can’t file this record under any existing genre, but I bet that if you put Orange Goblin and Saint Vitus in a mixer, this EP would be the result.

December 14, 2017 Add Comment

Nuisance Of Majority – Savage Ritual

Author: Tamino Freitag

Band: Nuisance Of Majority
Album: Savage Ritual
Genre: Punky Thrash in suede shoes
Label: Backbite Records
Release Date: September 22, 2017
Listen & Buy: JPC, Amazon, Spotify, iTunes, Bandcamp
Social: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
Live: –

Nuisance Of Majority hail from the city of Kiel in Northern Germany and have been around for 15 years already – yet they still manage to sound hungry and pissed. The band’s style ranges from more traditional Stoner Rock to real punky, technical Thrash Metal and Hardcore. The singer especially stands out, as he reigns over the often times hectic riffs with a voice similar to Lamb Of God‘s Randy Blythe, while showcasing a classic, warm singing style in the songs, too. The songwriting could sound a bit more homogenous all in all, but this album is a cool and original addition to every collection.

November 7, 2017 Add Comment