Ad’Absurdum- Deep into the Nowhere (Acustic Disaster Records)
This is one of the early recordings by this Swiss instrumental psychedelic space rock outfit. It was a limited edition of 100 copies on vinyl and also CD-R. It features 6 tracks in 44 minutes (perfect for a vinyl record!). IT begins with the slow and psychedelic track, Anyway, you can do it! It sounds like melodica as the main solo instrument to start this off. Quite a sad feeling in this one. Deep is next and has this almost Spanish feeling to it but not quite and it slowly builds with the organ coming in and then the phased out guitar as it becomes more intense and you expect the track to really explode and take off but it never does. Orbit Trip is the most psychedelic track on the CD with some spaced out guitar along with the very melodic groove and melodic repeated guitar line. Later the organ comes on. Sadly the track is too short as I felt they were really starting to get going somewhere and it is faded out.. The next 3 tracks are 9, 13 and 12 minutes and this is where the band really has time to space out. Barbeque is first and starts slow but takes off with more intensity around 3 minutes. The same bass and guitar line is repeated during different parts but then strange synth or organ or guitar make different solo appearances to mix up the jam. Cool… Yesterday, I catched the Flu begins with some piano and distant drums that slowly become clearer as the rest of the space crew slowly filter into the sound. A lot like early Pink Floyd (1969) to start this track off. In the middle they sample something from a British movie or TV it sounds like, just a bit later it gets quite heavy. Fans of Circle will dig this. Small Stone ends this CD and is the most psychedelic and heavy of all the tracks. Great stuff. Please note, the order I reviewed it is the order on the CD-R and not the vinyl. Interesting to hear the early output by this Swiss band.

http://www.swissunderground.ch/adabsurdum

If you dig: Kraut Rock, Circle, post rock

Scott


Alchemist – Tripsis CD (Relapse Records/Target)
Go on, mention Voïvod in your press kit and you’ve got me hooked. Does Alchemist merit the comparison, then: To some extent, yes. They do have some of the same sci-fi psych sound, and they build up big, complicated songstructures that also smell a bit like Neurosis. The vocals, a standard growl, drag them a bit down, though. Alchemist draw on a lot of inspirations that I dig personally, but they fail to add their own personal touch to it. It’s still a good metal album, though.

http://www.relapserecords.com

If you dig: Voïvod, Mastodon, Neurosis

Jon A


Alpha Omega - The Psychedelometer (Alpha)
Alpha Omega are an Australian outfit and this is the bands 4th release since 2001 and follows up on the 3CD People of Earth, We Have Come to Blow Your Mind. I believe this is the band first real proper CD release. IT comes with a cool booklet with nice artwork and tells the story of the band being arrested for exceeding the galactic standard sonic safety level as measured by the Psychodelometer and being sent out into space to the prison planet for a million years of hard labor but the band make a daring escape and the CD tells of their adventures.. The CD is split into 15 tracks over 63 minutes. It is a dark psychedelic space trip! The opening track, Evidence, is quite crazy as it is like someone is turning a radio dial and intense music comes blasting out and then stops and starts again before a very Hawkwind like psychedelic rock jam with some distant distorted vocals are layered in the background. Intense and crazy stuff. Judgement is next and begins very spacey with some female speaking in the background but is taken over by the male vocal. Prison Planet is next and is slow in building but loads of layers of spaced out sounds including some flute playing.. Now the band Escape.. but the psychedelic sounds do not.. Your brain is slowly frying…. Satellite Man starts off a bit like the Golden Void by Hawkwind. Space Between, The Oracle (who is female) and That which is to come are all quite short 2, 3and 1½ minutes long with lots of spaced out sounds and spoken words or samples and effected guitar. Birth of a new Order is a more guitar oriented track but with loads of psychedelic stuff bubbling in the background. Crumbling Planets and Seeds of Revelation are too short pieces before the long 8 minute, the Eye. This is back to more heavy space rocking stuff with long guitar solos. Gathering of the Children is a fast paced track with a strangely effected vocal but then the track gets totally spaced out for 1½ mins and then back into the melodic fast paced track. Dead Systems is a spacey track that leads into the 9 minute Imsb that ends this psychedelic adventure. Quite cool and far out stuff…..

http://www.ozspace.com.au/alphaomega

If you dig: Farflung, Hawkwind, Acid Mothers Temple, Nik Turner

Scott



Amplified Heat - How do you like the sound of that? (Arclight Records)
This Austin, Texas band featuring three brothers is back with a new full length CD (10 tracks , 36 mins) and it rocks like a mutha! Again quite a cool raw production and in your face guitar. The CD starts off with a song with intense lyrics about fucking with a tough guy and sung a bit like Suicidal Tendencies. Rambler is quite a much happier track and quite catchy. Man of the Road I really like the way the guitar solo is mixed way up in your face. She drank that Wine is a slow and bluesy track and more of that down and dirty raw guitar! What went Wrong speeds things up a lot and has a real old school 50’s rock feel but a more aggressive riff. S.A.P.O. is a 37 second drum solo that leads into Moonshine, an acoustic (not completely) shuffle drinking song including hand claps! Through and Through is the longest track at 5 minutes and starts quite slow and moody again with some acoustic guitar but later a ripping raw and dirty distorted guitar solo. Great stuff. The title track is next and a nice laid back, down and dirty bluesy track. Amplified Boogie is an instrumental track and speeds things up again. The CD ends with Sickness, a slow blues number. All fans of down and dirty Texas Blues will dig this one for sure…

http://www.arclightrecords.com http://www.amplifiedheat.com

If you dig: Grady, Honky, down and dirty blues rock, ZZTOP

Scott


Annot Rhül - Lost in the Woods (Sulatron Records)
Annot Rhül is Sigurd Lühr Tonna together with his local musician friends in Trondheim, Norway, including some members of SEID. This new CD features his previous release (on a private CD-R only) entitled “Who needs planes or time machines, when there is music and Daydreams”. I reviewed this EP in Issue 33 of Aural Innovations so I will only focus on the 6 new songs, which are quite a different story… The opening track, Lost in the Woods begins with a very Pink Floyd vibe to it and it is a beautiful number. Elegant music. Ghost Children tells a terrible story but again is a nice Floyd like dream and space music. Deadly Nightshade is a 1½ minute instrumental break which leads in to Roses Blue, which has a dark and mysterious feel and thread at times but is also light and beautiful as well with mainly just guitar, keyboards and voice.. The EP ends with the amazing The Dark Lord, which is quite heavy space rock stuff, reminds me of the Apes of Glory but with the more melodic side of SEID thrown in. Great stuff for those who like Pink Floyd and Seid..

http://www.sulatron.com
http://www.annotruhl.com

If you dig: Pink Floyd, Seid

Scott


Atreyu – Lead Sails Paper Anchor CD (Roadrunner/Bonnier)
That’s a really poetic title, isn’t it? “Lead Sails” – wow, how did they come up with that one? I mean, you can just tell these guys are really sensitive types and all, they’re not just the brutal headbangers some might take them to be, oh no, these guys are totally in touch with their creative sides. Bet they ain’t afraid to cry, neither. Kind of to emphasize this emotional turmoil inside them, they add some melodic vocals and even a bit of keyboard to the music. Oh yes, they do. The thing that sets this album apart from the tons and tons of other albums being released this year absolutely identical to it, is that it has no idea what it wants to do: Starts out thrash metal, then goes emo core, before it does a bit of pop punk. Confusing, but not to the point of being in any way interesting or special.

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk

If you dig: Machine Head and No Doubt. At the same time.

Jon A


Bad Brains – Build a Nation LP/CD (Oscilloscope Records/Megaforce Records)
108 are back, Bad Religion has made a decent album, and Now Bad Brains are back with the original line-up – now don’t say the whole hardcore hype hasn’t brought anything good with it. Reunions and comebacks are always difficult, because they mostly disappoint, even the ones you’d think would be able to do it – just think of Helmet, one of the best bands ever that managed to come back as a fucking pop band! Not so Bad Brains: “Build a Nation”, their first proper album in more than a decade and their first with H.R. since “Quickness”, picks up exactly where that album left off. That is to say: Don’t expect anything like “Rock for Like” of “Attitude”, and you’re still gonna have to sit through the reggae sessions – to me, Bad Brains never was that great a reggae band. But once they get into their own special brand of hardcore, it’s Bad Brains, man! It’s blissful, it’s magic! This is a great little album from one of the greatest bands ever.

http://www.megaforcerecords.com

If you dig: Bad Brains

Jon A

Baby Woodrose - Chasing Rainbows (Bad Afro Records)
Lorenzo Woodrose is back with another Baby Woodrose creation. This new CD (probably the bands best) takes inspiration from the Dragon Tears project and mixes it with a more psychedelic flavour of Lorenzo’s influences from the late 60’s with some rock and roll. Think Chocolate watch Band, Strawberry Alarm Clock.. Some cool special guests including Tømmerclaus, Morton Aron, a Indian musician, and others are featured… The CD begins with the great psych-pop number Someone to Love. This will probably be the single as it is really catchy stuff despite the backwards guitars and really psyched out feel to the track.. I’m gonna make you Mine is also another catchy 60’s pop track with a lot of organ taking the lead… Let Yourself Go is another really 60’s go-go track with cool psych organ and a catchy groove and a psyched out guitar solo.. Twilight Princess really changes things and this is a really outstanding track with a lot of things going on in the sound and Lorenzo singing in a falsetto voice. Lilith is a short psychy track with some nice guitar and great bass playing. In your Life is the longest track at 6½ minutes and a trip to another universe with sitar, tabla drums, and a spaced out feel. The title track is next and I really like the effected guitar on this one and they way it mixes with the voice. No more Darkness is a ballad but a fast paced one… Dark Twin is another really cool psyched out track. Beautiful stuff… Renegade Soul is another tripped out track like Twilight Princess as Lorenzo and the band go to the dark side of your psychedelic mind! The CD ends with madness of your own Making, a laid back number with acoustic guitar and reminds me of some of the psych stuff of Bevis Frond. This is a fantastic CD and something completely different from what the band has made before.. dig it baby…

http://www.badafro.dk
http://www.myspace.com/babywoodrose

Scott

La Banda Trapera del Río – Comics y cigarillos /La paja del Diego 7” (Munster Records)
Munster Records continue their series documenting the early 80’s nascent Spanish punk scene. If the two previous releases, Mortimer’s “General Idi Amin Dada” and Basura’s “No seas lesbiana mi amor”, were primarily of historical interest and little more, with La Banda Trapera del Río we arrive at a band with appeal beyond the archivists. This is a fine piece of vinyl for ’77 punk enthusiasts / nostalgists, a good record.

http://www.munster-records.com

If you dig: 77 punk

Jon A


Bedlight for Blue Eyes – Life on Life’s Terms CD (SPV Trustkill/Target)
Why would a metal label release something like this? This is pop music. This is radio fodder. This is horrible. They’re from New Jersey, home state of Bon Jovi, and that’s the closest reference I can think of, and I don’t want to think of them any more, ever again.

http://www.spv.de

If you dig: Bon Jovi

Jon A

Black Rainbows – Twilight in the Desert (Longfellow Deeds Records)
From the Italian desert comes this power trio playing slow-motion space-/stonerrock in a way that resembles Norwegian WE. Both music and vocals has the same vibe - and this is really a compliment! I really dig the completely laid back style in most of the songs. Even the quite up-tempo track “Follow Your Patter” has an almost relaxed groove and a very cool spaced out part in the middle of the song. Although a typical power trio anchorman Gabriele Fiori also ads some cool synthesizer in the typical spaced out way - but without overdoing this. “Don’t trust” is actually a song driven by acoustic guitar all the way, but with a nice spacy progression. The song “Mind Revo” has a really tuff bottom layer from the rhythm section with tight drums and heavy bass. The album ends with the almost epic track “This Road” that rounds everything up. It starts as a slow mellow song and spans more than six minutes with short interruptions of sudden hard kicking bridges. Everything was recorded and produced in the bands own studio and this is the only minor problem. Production could have been better and the sound much wider. But in all this is a good solid debut. And as in spaghetti westerns there must be deserts in Italy …

http://www.theblackrainbows.com

If you dig: WE, Monster Magnet, Dozer

Tomsen

Bless the Fall – His Last Walk CD (Ferret Style Music/Target)
They just keep coming, don’t they: Emo metal band after emo metal band marching towards MySpace fame to the tune of MTV’s promise of dollars and reality shows. Of course, all of these bands will be blissfully forgotten in 2 years, left behind in the same dumpster with Cheap Mondays, which makes it somehow easier to endure for now. There’s not much to separate Bless the Fall from the rest: They suck, albeit perhaps in a slightly more classic metal way.

http://www.ferretstyle.com

If you dig: Raunchy, 36 Crazyfists, Killswitch Engage

Jon A

Blood Red Shoes – I Wish I Was Someone Better CDS (V2/Bonnier)
This is probably gonna be The Von Bondies of 2007-8, meaning they’ve got this one song every garage rocker is gonna love, but then they’ll find out that’s the only good song they’ve got, so they’ll start hating them, calling them fake, and then Jack White will beat up the singer and everyone will forget them. OK, so we only know the second part for sure: That this is a song every garage rocker will love, because it’s got everything to love about it. Only way to perfect would be to make it last just 2 minutes.

http://www.bloodredshoes.co.uk

If you dig: Von Bondies

Jon A

BloodSpoiled – Demo07 CD (BloodSpoiled)
Just because something like a typically “Danish” sound in death metal has become internationally renowned doesn’t mean every last death thrash band has to sound like HateSphere, and thankfully, BloodSpoiled don’t. This is quite new band that only just had its live debut this summer, and this is their debut demo, so they’re excused for being a bit rough around the edges. That said, I’m not sure I see much promise in what they do: It harks back to late 80’s / early 90’s death metal – the heyday, granted; but it’s very rough and primitive, yet not very brutal. Or it may just be a question of working a lot more on the material, trying it out live to see what works and what doesn’t.

http://www.myspace.com/bloodspoiled

If you dig: Six Feet Under, Atheist

Jon A

Bomb the Sun – Bomb the Sun (Kozmik Artifactz)
If the term epic should be used to describe any music, this is the music! Out of Swansea comes these four guys and if you want to come along they can take you for a journey to pleasureland. Bomb the Sun makes heavy trippy music for dreams or just for listening to with your eyes closed. This is nice complex soundscapes going on for ever and ever but always varied with breaks and rhythm changes. A song like “Your Blood is on My Hands” last more than 12 min and has more than 3 min of build-up with floating ebow before the song explodes into heavy trance-metal driven by bass and drums with the guitars floating on top and great hypnotic vocals. “Deh Na” is a more than seven min piece of proggy spacegroove with funky bass and great guitar work. This is a debut EP and the band is unsigned! That is crazy because these dudes play so fucking well they completely wipes out almost any competition when it comes to skills. Although it’s a completely different style of music this band reminds me of Colour Haze with the never ending ability to build upon the same riff and just progress forever. And like Colour Haze has Mani on drums Bomb the Sun has Dave who can also do magic with the sticks. I’m overwhelmed, I’m flat on my back, this is a masterpiece – mark my words as Jens would say …

http://www.myspace.com/bombthesun

If you dig: Isis, Colour Haze, Pelican

Tomsen

Lindsey Boullt - Composition (Lindsey Boullt)
Now talk about a superstar line up of backing musicians for guitar heroes. Let’s just say that the musicianship on this CD is pretty amazing and they play some great and intense music as well. It is for sure not just all guitar shredding although, you have a some like on the opening track Page Revisited… Jerry Goodman on Violin, Stu Hamm or Jon Herrera on Bass, Atma Anur or Jeremy Colson on drums, Peter Van Gelder on sitar, Derek Sherinian on keyboards, Mingo Lewis on Percussion and Sukhawat Ali Khan on vocals on one or two tracks.. This is a great mixture of jazz or metal or rock fusion. Taste the Hate is a totally amazing track with killer guitar, sitar and a cool Middle Eastern vibe. Farewell is a more laid back affair with some great melodic guitar soloing and nice acoustic playing but I did not really care for the keyboards, too new age sounding. Cleopatra’s Third Eye ends the CD and features some nice bass, percussion and a sitar piece at the end that leads into the intense guitar and back into the main theme of the composition. Great stuff.

http://www.lindseyboullt.com

If you dig: Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever, King Crimson, Joe Satriani

Scott

Boys Night Out – Boys Night Out CD (Ferret Style Music/Target)
Music for a parallel universe, one in which “alternative” means MTV2 rather than MTV and Nirvana revolutionized music. I’m sure BNO would work well for some people, it’s not like they’re horrible or even embarrassing at what they do – and I think I’m able to tell the difference: Somehow BNO sound more real, less desperately clutching for mainstream success than so many of their colleagues. Songwriting’s quite efficient, too – but that’s as fair as I’m gonna get, because ultimately, this is for someone else than me.

http://www.ferretstyle.com

If you dig: Foo Fighters

Jon A

The Brock/Calvert Project (Voiceprint)
This is a very interesting CD and rare now as the 1000 pressed are sold out. Robert Calvert, the poet and front man from Hawkwind, gave Dave Brock, the leader of Hawkwind, a cassette tape years back of poetry and it went to the family and back and in the end, with the help of current Hawkwind members, he put down some music to accompany the spoken words. The CD begins with First Landing on Medusa and is quite spaced out stuff with lots of weird sounds and no real music. The Sirens is next and has a laid back piano lounge groove and some female vocals before Calvert comes in. Lots of spacey stuff as well and Dave plays some cool delay guitar. Interesting arrangement. Ode to a Timeflower, is one that the band has been doing in recent times live with Dr. Dib’s doing the spoken words (he actually has replaced Alan Davey now in the band). The background music here though is something totally different and some poppy techno lite stuff but still spaced and psychedelic. Small Boy (The Swing) features Jason on piano and some sax playing by the synthesizer. Centigrade 232 is the first track that features the whole band with bass, drums, delay guitar and synths and has a nice laid back groove before the real space rock begins. This might be the only real rock tune on the CD. I really dislike Jason’s new age keyboard playing though and what is this rapping guy at the end?? Dance Steps is pretty spaced out and psychedelic. Cool. The Naked and Transparent Man gives thanks has quite a simple and very spaced out backing track with a slight middle eastern feel. The Cupboard is really funny. You should hear it. I won’t say more about this one. Long Time Friend features Dave singing and it is a quite nice spacey track like something that would be on one of Dave’s recent solo CDs. Letter of Complain to the Council and Locked In are listed as separate tracks on the CD but are actually one. This is a very laid back piece of music, simple and spacey. Some Sketches of a Hand ends this quite interesting and experimental CD.

http://www.hawkwind.com http://www.voiceprint.co.uk

If you dig: Dave Brock solo material, Robert Calvert

Scott

Buckcherry – 15 (Eleven Seven Music)
Buckcherry is another hard/sleaze/glam/we-wanna-be-the-new-Guns n’ Roses-band. The music is a mix of AC/DC, Black Crowes and Aerosmith and their looks are in the usual tattooed love-boy style. But contrary to the lot of that kind of bands Buckcherry actually delivers a cool and fresh shitload of songs. Everything is build upon old phrases and the same three to four chords – but it rocks in the kick-ass way. The lyrics are as stupid as they can get! Either singer Todd is extremely narrowminded and brought up in a trailer or otherwise he’s just so clever that he knows the audience to this kind of music likes songs about crazy bitches that fucks soooo good and power ballads about tuff guys trying to say “I’m sorry” without actually doing so. Anyway, this is a desent piece of rock ‘n’ roll mania made for partying on your baby’s pussy.

http://www.buckcherry.com

If you dig: AC/DC, Hanoi Rocks, Aerosmith

Tomsen

Burning Saviours - Nymphs and Weavers (Transubstans Records)
This Swedish band is back with their 3rd CD, the first on Transubstans Records. The band took their name from the Pentagram song and still clearly has this influence in their sound. The band mixes up their melodic doomy sound though with a bit of organ, acoustic guitars and melodic vocals. Looking after the Phyre starts off the CD with a fast pace and the retro sound of the band will be quickly noticed. The singer takes a bit to get used to and sometimes sounds quite strained like he is really singing at the edge or past his real range. Anyway, I got over it. Pondhillow’s Finest is a very melodic track and perhaps the one they try to get on the radio as it is quite catchy and a bit like Witchcraft.. no pop music here. It also features quite a nice organ solo and melodic guitar solo but far too short. The Spellweaver is has a hard guitar riff but also a lot of melodic elements to the music but with that light doomy feel to it. Woodnymph is a beautiful track with organ and flute. This has a nice dreamy feeling to the music. Dreaming of Pastries is a very fast track (for this record) and a great title. Signs is stealing a blues riff from someone, Mountain…perhaps… I know that riff. It is ok.. One of the heavier riffs on the record. Trinity is also on the heavier side. Hillside Mansion once again features the flute and is one of the best tracks on the CD. Well composed and a great feeling. Exposed to the Heat of Solace ends the CD and is one of the more doomy tracks. I have not heard the bands other CDs but this was pretty good and fans of Pentagram, Witchcraft, etc… will dig a lot of this..

http://www.recordheaven.net http://www.burningsaviours.com

If you dig: Pentagram, Witchcraft

Scott

City Sleeps – Not an Angel CD (SPV Trustkill/Target)
This is something like a companion album to another Trustkill album, Sick City’s “Nightlife”: Not only do the bands have similar names, both bands tell a photo story in the CD booklet of modern teenage alienation. Plus, both bands suck corporate pop cock. This, and I’m repeating myself here, but this is absolutely horrible. Music like this and the people who play it and the people who plug, they should all be drowned in shit. Oh wait, all things considered, they are. Fair enough then.

http://www.trustkill.com

If you dig: Britney Spears

Jon A

Crud – Devil at the Wheel (Full Effect Records)
Crud from Detroit plays industrial rock with inspiration from sleaze/glam rock – at least visionary. There’s nothing new and it’s not very original. Album opener “Reality” sounds like a leftover from Rammstein with a “Bang! Bang! Bang!” chorus. Other songs mimic NIN, Manson or Pigface. Crud is definitely more image than music. They completely overuse every sleaze cliché from the closet complete with a bandbabe flashing herself like a porn model and songs about fucking. If you’re into industrial you might find this record cool, but even for hardcore fans I guess there’s a lot more interesting stuff around. Best thing I can say is that this record is great for working out and has some cool artwork. I guess a liveshow is of interest …

http://www.myspace.com/cruddetroit

If you dig: Rammstein, NIN, Ministry

Tomsen

Cucumber Farmer – Empirical Research on Western Popular Music 1993-2006 2XCD (American Brothers)
They don’t want to be inducted into the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame. Figures, I mean, who would? Ramones, but then they sold themselves off to everything. Cucumber Farmers won’t trade in for easy success or a quick buck – they’re about as far from a quick buck as you can almost be without actually being crust. In a better world, a Finnish avant-garde prog band like Cucumber Farmer would have to look over their shoulders to check on fame creeping up on them, but for now, they can rest assured that they’ll stay in obscurity as long as they keep on doing what they do. And one should hope so, as what they do is brilliant.

http://www.americanbrothers.com

If you dig: Captain Beefheart, Neu!, Can

Jon A

The Devil Wears Prada – Plagues CD (Ferret Style Music/Target)
I’ve said it before, when I reviewed TDWP’s first album: How can you be metal, even of the weakest, MTV-lusty emo-sort, and name yourself after a chick lit bestseller? What’s going on in Dayton, Ohio?! I honestly don’t remember their debut album, but this is pretty ferocious with lots of screaming and mean riffing, but it’s all destroyed by the big, epic swathes of keyboard and singing – shit, that’s a Vocoder there! Isn’t this wave over yet?

http://www.ferretstyle.com

If you dig: Raunchy, 36 Crazyfists, Killswitch Engage

Jon A

Devotchka – How It Ends CD (Anti-/Bonnier)
This is the second album I get in my hands that looks exactly like a Lack album: Take a look at the cover to this one and compare it to “Blues Moderne” – the similarity is striking. Which made me favorably disposed towards this album before I’d even heard it, but musically, it couldn’t be much further from Lack’s early screamo effort. Devotchka is a roots band, or Americana band if you must, that mix in some Eastern European yearning here and some mariachi madness there. It makes them sound a bit like Gogol Bordello too, but only superficially, since Devotchka are way more melancholic and folksy. Nonetheless, this is a good album, even if it isn’t screamo.

http://www.devotchka.net

If you dig: Dakota Hill, Gogol Bordello

Jon A

The Donnas – Bitchin’ CD (Cooking Vinyl/Bonnier)
Big, dumb hard rock with a purple leatherclad ass on the cover – The Donnas don’t aim for no big sociopolitical criticism or nothing, they just wanna sing about partying and guys and partying with guys and partying without guys, and that’s it. Really. For 15 songs. Not even a song about cars or something, just those two themes treated from various perspectives throughout the album. It’s great, the riffs are big, everything’s in place, it’s an album that makes you want to drink beer and dance – and it takes some album to get me to dance. This is the one for the summer that wasn’t this year – this is the consolation prize.

http://www.cookingvinyl.com

If you dig: Danko Jones, AC/DC

Jon A

Drone – Misantropia (Demo EP)
Drone is a so-called art rock band who apparently wants to make up with contemporary pop music. Well, this is for sure not pop music. It’s floating soundscapes build upon the concept of describing a mentally ill person going through different stages of mind. Although the music is at times very beautiful, it is – to be honest – quite boring! I have given this record more listening than most other, but it won’t catch me in any way. Sounds like: depressed progressive arty farty rock with samples and choirboy like vocals …

http://www.drone.dk

If you dig: I have no idea …

Tomsen

The Durango Riot – Telemission (Fuzzorama Records)
Damned, this is a masterpiece! Durango Riot hits you right in the solar plexus from track one – and just keep on hitting. They are – off course – from fucking Sweden and this is in fact their debut album, and what a debut – where the fuck did they come from?! The formula is a lot of typical driving Swedish rock’n’roll blended with a little stoner rock and some punk. Great songs, great riffs and constant great hooks. Drumming is energetic and tight, bass-play is dirty and driving, guitarists are great with screeching solos – and the singing is so snotty you want to smack the guy. Most songs are testosterone filled bombs of energy, but they also know how to swamp ahead in the bluesy way. A song like “Drivers” starts out as slow blues with harmonica and then turns into a killer garage rocker with cool saxophones and then again back into slow blues driven by a distorted bass and the saxes chilling out in the background. “We’ve Planted a Bomb In Your Radio Station” is pure rock fury complete with sing-along chorus and I could go on and on like that with every song. What about an acoustic flamenco inspired guitar solo in the middle of the straight ahead rocker “Future 2036”?

God damn, I get chills all over and just have to say: Damned, this is a masterpiece!

http://www.durangoriot.com

If you dig: The Hives, Gaza Strippers, The Datsuns

Tomsen

Dzenghis Khan - Dzenghis Khan (Motorwolf Records)
Wow… we just saw this band from San Francisco play live and they totally blew us away! These young guys play really powerful late 60’s early 70’s style power rock! This has been captured fairly well on this vinyl record by Guy from Orange Sunshine. The band flew over to Holland this year and recorded this more or less live in the studio. The record begins with instrumental SnakeBite which will immediately throw you back to 1968 or 69 in some small bar in San Jose listening to Blue Cheer… A very authentic sound… Wild Cat slows things down but still plenty of guitar soloing and now the raw vocals as well. The Widow features some wild vocals and some down and dirty guitar as the track stretches out into slow groove before exploding back with the guitar riff. No Time for Love. Avenue A is a more stoner rock track. Side A ends with Against the Wall. Side 2 of the record is where the band really stretch it out and jam even more. Not that side A has a lack of guitar solos. I really liked the acoustic track that ends the LP as well. I think if you are really into Orange Sunshine, Blue Cheer and fuzz rock, you can’t go wrong and for sure check these guys out live as they really kicked our ass…..

http://www.myspace.com/dzenghiskhan http://www.leafhound.com

If you dig: Orange Sunshine, Blue Cheer, fuzz rock

Scott

Earthling Society - Tears of Andromeda (Nasoni Records)
This is Earthling Society’s 3rd record and in some ways it goes a bit more back like the first but it is also a progression in a more psychedelic spaced out way.. The sound is really fantastic on the record and they use only old vintage synthesizers on this CD and don’t at all go for an over produced sound but tracks that take you on a trip. The CD opens with Wromg which starts out very spaced before going into the track proper with the drums and bass and melodic and very spacey guitar taking the lead. Black Country Sorcerer is a mellow and very spacey and floating number that reminds me of early post-Syd Pink Floyd. Miss Liberty’s Morning Dew is a cool spacey funky track with some falsetto vocals and then it explodes in the middle with a great spacey guitar solo with the rest of the band just keeps gliding. Lucifer Starlight is an acoustic track and features deep in the well of your soul type vocals and plenty of spaced outness before kicking into space rock high gear as it gets very psychedelic. A Song for John Donne is a strange spacey track with flutes and all sorts of sounds and this leads into the 21 minute title track, Tears of Andromeda- Black sails against the sky. This track really takes you back to the early days of Krautrock and the Cosmic Jokers… Killer stuff.. There is also a short unlisted track at the end of the CD to surprise you…

http://www.nasoni-records.com http://www.earthlingsociety.co.uk/

If you dig: Pink Floyd, Ash Ra Tempel, Cosmic Jokers

Scott

Elektrum - In the Far Field (OHM)
It has taken the Danish- UK band Elektrum featuring Claus Bøhling (Hurdy Gurdy, Secret Oyster) over 10 years to finally make this studio CD. The CD is basically the band setting up in the studio in Aalborg, Denmark in April 2005 and playing their live set and recorded it. I think the other days were spent mixing. We get some of the songs they were playing in the late 90’s as well as one old Hurdy Gurdy song, Lost in the Jungle, one of the few songs with singing. The songs are all basically a bit of riffing but mostly Claus playing solo lead guitar. Amazing stuff. Crystal begins the CD and is a slowly bluesy piece with Claus playing a great guitar solo. Silence is next and has a bit of an eastern feel and you can really hear the great bass playing of Ian MacDonald as well. His soloing at the end of this song is amazing as the while band just kicks it up to high gear. Chakra is a more laid back track and almost dub at times. Claus plays a beautiful solo at the end. Lost in the Jungle, the old Hurdy Gurdy number is next. Dark Meet is one I have never heard before and begins with a bass line and then the drums and then finally Claus kicks in with some spacey whammy bar guitar and hammer ons as the track builds. Another great 70s hard rock solo at the end of this track. Skies Limit, another old song is next. This is a more laid back blues number until the middle when it totally takes off and gets funky and he rips off some more killer guitar. Platin has also been played for a long time and is another funky jammer and in the middle Ian and Claus put on djembes and have a little drum jam in the middle.. Yes.. they also do it here… New Land was one of the new songs they played a few years ago when Jeff King was playing drums in the band. He sadly passed away recently. Excellent song. Solid Underground is another old one and this has a great riff and the band rocks it hard as Claus rips it up on the guitar. The CD ends with Nearly There, the shortest track at 3 minutes. A great CD but the sound production is really dry sounding but the songs and the music are fresh and alive… If you like to hear some great guitar playing with a bit of a spacey edge at times, check out Elektrum. Great and solid playing by the rest of the band as well.. Can’t forget them…

http://www.myspace.com/elektrum http://www.stoneislandrecords.com

If you dig: Ozric Tentacles without the synthesizers, People into instrumental guitar jamming

Scott

Every Time I Die – The Big Dirty CD (Ferret Style Music/Target)
After sitting through ETID’s homevideo last winter, I expected to listen to about 10 seconds of this record before trading it in in the second hand records store across the street, but actually, this isn’t so bad once you don’t have to see the band members act like Jackass-wannabes while listening to the music. It’s awfully sleak and commercially appealing, for sure, but it’s also a lot harder than I remembered, most of the album going full throttle hardcore with good licks and loads of frustration. This is offset by a couple of r’n’r flavoured tracks like “Rendez-Voodoo” and “Buffalo Gals”, and the effect is good. This is the kind of album, I’m somewhat ashamed of admitting I actually quite like.

http://www.ferretstyle.com

If you dig: Sick Of It All, Black Flag

Jon A

Fabulous Disaster – Love at First Fight CD (I Scream Records/Target)
Fair has got nothing to do with it: Just as easily as I may slag their label mates Guajiro for playing melodic punk rock, just as easily Fabulous Disaster can win me over. It’s a purely sexist thing: Guys playing this kind of music to me are either MTV fodder or oi! yobs, girls playing it make me want to kick back and drink beer, thinking the world isn’t such a bad or terribly complicated place after all. Hooky, unabashedly melodic, energetic pop punk with female harmonies – this is summer music if anything is. Only let down is the uninspired of “20th Century Boy”.

http://www.iscreamrecords.com

If you dig: The Donnas

Jon A

Fall of Serenity – The Crossfire CD (Lifeforce Records/Target)
Amazing: I put on this record thinking of something else, heard the first few bars and thought, “oh, this must be some Lifeforce band”. And it’s not like I’ve heard that many records from said label, just that this so reminded me of By Night who made one of my favourite metal albums last year on Lifeforce. Though from Germany, Fall of Serenity sound very Scandinavian, and they’re proponents of the new wave of death metal. “The Crossfire” doesn’t have anything to really set it apart, though – it’s a good album, but not more so than so many other death metal records coming out these years.

http://www.lifeforcerecords.com

If you dig: Meshuggah, HateSphere, Mastodon

Jon A

Flyjam - FlyJam (Hungary)
This is a new Hungarian band and their debut 4 track EP (24mins). The band plays an interesting version of psychedelic space rock with female vocals. The CD begins with the instrumental track Deeper, which is an uptempo melodic space rock track with an intense synthesizer driving the track. It also features really nice melodic and spacey guitar. Next is Inner Space, a cool uptempo track which has cool Hidria like guitar and then the woman with a fantastic voice comes in. Sadly she just sings the same thing over and over and over but then she is not suppose to be the main focus of this space rock track. Exploration is probably the radio track. The singer she really is showcased in this track and it has a great psychedelic middle part. The last track, Born Again, is more laid back and spacey and also is heavily focused on the wonderful singing. Cool and interesting stuff…. Good future ahead if they don’t sell out!

http://www.flyjam.hu/

If you dig: ColorStar, Electric Groove Temple, Hidria Spacefolk

Scott

Full Blown Chaos – Heavy Lies the Crown CD (Ferret Style Music/Target)
Oh my. A practically naked, longhaired, muscular warrior king seated with his big, phallic sword strategically covering his groin. You'd be forgiven for mistaking this for a true metal record, you could even sneak it onto the shelves of a bookstore's Romance section, where it would blend in perfectly with all the Fabio covers - hey, that's entire new market to mine, full of 40+ women in dire need of some real men to take them, and they haven't even had a chance to tire of the tons of nearly identical metal core albums being relased these years. Menopause and metalcore - it even rhymes.

As said cover indicates, FBC are slightly more metallic than most of their gang, which means guitar solos and better riffs, and slightly less prone to shouting Dr. Phil's selfhelp rhethoric. The growling, however, is rather monotonous, a bit like Six Feet Under, and although the first few tracks here are a positive surprise - I seem to recall having dissed this band at some earlier point - it's not enough to make this the one metal core album to pardon the genre's stalemate.

http://www.ferretstyle.com

If you dig: Earth Crisis, Hatebreed, Pantera

Jon A

The Gourishankar - 2nd hands (Unicorn Digital)
The Gourishanker are a band from the Urals and play sometimes funky, sometimes heavy progressive rock but always coming back to very melodic elements like Gentle Giant or Genesis but then hopping off the expected road and going the other way only to come back to classic prog. The opening track is a great example of this and a great instrumental track. Most of the CD is actually instrumental. Endless Drama is next is also a little bit of everything. Very complicated music.. How do they remember all these changes from very poppy prog to almost heavy metal riffs. This track features the melodic voice of Vlad.. Queer Forest is again a quite complex number with a very melodic guitar solo. Taste a Cake is a short piano piece but with some violin at the end as well. The inexpressible Chagrin starts quite experimental and has some looped percussion-drums to start off this melodic piece that is almost some sort of synth pop thing but features some nice horns at the end. Not my favourite piece. SYX is next and is 11 minutes of pure 70’s prog instrumental rock (reminds of Kansas at the beginning because of the violin!). This track again takes very unexpected twists and turns. End…is actually not the end. The CD actually ends with the 18 minute Marvelous Choice. This long track is a trip through many genre of prog music including some electronica, dramatic keyboards and phrasing, soaring guitars and melodic moods. I should mention that the CD artwork is absolutely stunning and would be great on a LP. A bit disturbing but amazing stuff…

http://www.unicorndigital.com

If you dig: 70’s Prog rock

Scott

Graveyard - Graveyard (Transubstans)
Graveyard is a new Swedish band born out of the ashes of the cool band, Albatros. The band put out a really cool two track demo and this was now followed up by this great new CD. The CD begins with the amazing track Evil Ways. This one will really remind you of Witchcraft until the lead guitar kicks in that great psychedelic flavour from Albatros rises to the top. Thin Line is next is a cool 70’s rock number. A true retro sound. Lost in Confusion continues the line of melodic heavy groove rock. Don’t take us for Fools has a really cool bluesy riff and groove. This is one they should really jam out live. Blue Soul starts off quite spacey and has some piano and really highlights the cool and unique vocals. This is a killer moody track. Submarine Blues follows and picks up the pace but is a really short track. As the Years pass by is another one of my favourite tracks on the CD with a spacey guitar, nice smooth bluesy and psychedelic feel to it. Right is Wrong is another one of these bluesy smooth groove tracks with a cool psych rock part in the middle. Great stuff. The CD ends with Satan’s Finest and is another Witchcraft like track. Yes.. these guys will remind you a lot of the great Swedish band, Witchcraft, but they have a more psychedelic vibe.

This is quite an impressive debut. I hope to catch these guys live soon and see if they deliver the goods or not….

http://www.recordheaven.net http://www.myspace.com/graveyardsongs

If you dig: Pentagram, Witchcraft, May Blitz

Scott

Greenleaf - Agents of Ahriman (Small Stone Records)
This is the bands 3rd record as I recall and since it is a band made up of people from other bands, they rarely play live. I missed the one chance I had to see them at the Fuzzfestival in 2003. Anyway, it features some guys from Dozer, singer in Truckfighters, and some other guests as well. While some of the tracks are a bit mainstream, most of the record is really killer tracks (I could use with some more solos though). A great variety of stuff on here from the hard rocking jamming opening track Highway Officer to the organ driven and melodic Alishan Mountain (with the great guitar riff) to Black Tar, a more moody piece featuring the deep vocals of Peder Bergstrand. Ride another Highway features the singer from Dozer and makes this track sound quite a bit like Dozer, despite the bluesy riff that opens the track. Wonder why?? The Lake has a very melodic and cool groove and nice use of the organ as well. The title track is quite a dark track and really mixes things up and slows it down as well, for a bit.. Sleep Paralysis is my favourite track on the CD. It starts off with a nice bass riff and some spacey sounds slowly filter in until the really great guitar and groove begins. There is not a lot of singing on this track. Great stuff. The CD ends with Stray Bullet Woman, which is a blues rocker. Pretty cool CD.. Good job guys…

http://www.smallstone.com http://www.myspace.com/greenleafheavyrock

If you dig: Dozer, Truckfighters, Hermano

Scott

Guajiro – Material Subversivo CD (I Scream Records/Target)
What separates Guajiro from the bulk of melodic punk rock bands out there is they sing in Spanish and incorporate some Cuban Son. And that’s it, really. It’s neither worse nor better than the rest, only a bit cheesy at times with their Latin shtick, but it’s not something I can get into.

http://www.iscreamrecords.com

If you dig: Ramones, Social Distortion, Green Day

Jon A

Guy, McCoy and Torme - Bitter and Twisted (Retro Wrek Records)
Wow.. Thanks to Sue for turning me onto this.. In the early 80’s Bernie Torme was one of my favourite guitar players and then he seemed to disappear but here he is again teamed up with John McCoy on bass, who he played with for some years in the Gillan band and Robin Guy on drums who played with Bruce Dickenson and many others. These guys just went into the studio, plugged in and kicked out 11 heavy rock numbers. I was surprised how hard some of these numbers rock and the music really had a raw edge.. Bernie still has that tone and vibrato and his voice sounds nearly the same as 20 years ago. This is just simple down and dirty rock and roll, sometimes a little cliché but it rocks and is not over produced…. Check it out…

http://www.retrowrek.com http://gmtrocks.com

If you dig: Bernie Torme, Twisted Sister

Scott

Simon Gylden – First Man on Venus CD (National Masterpiece Library)
I think I know this guy from somewhere, although I have no idea where that might be, nor do I recognize the plentyfold photos in the booklet – but that means if I dis it completely, then I do so with the risk of having beer poured down my back at some show when I least expect it. So, OK, I’m not gonna be mean, not this time, and thankfully I don’t have to. I can’t say I like this album or anything, but it’s not as embarrassing as a project this personal could be. Obviously, Simon Gylden is talented – and obviously, he’s aware himself of that, sending us an autographed copy for review, which takes some chutzpah or just plain shamelessness. That said, I’m not sure this album isn’t a bit outdated: The whole playfully experimental singer/songwriter thing seems to have been already extensively covered and bludgeoned to death by Beck and Sparklehorse.

http://www.simongylden.dk

If you dig: Beck, Sparklehorse

Jon A

Heaven and Hell - Live at Radio City Music Hall (SPV/Target)
I guess everyone who reads this knows that this is the reunion of the DIO Black Sabbath Line up. What is unique is that they only play DIO era Sabbath songs and a damn cool selection of tracks as well and amazing sound as well. Interestingly, I think the 5.1 DVD has superior sound to the normal 2CD version. Anyway, all fans of the DIO era Sabbath will dig this and for those who were too young or missed out on seeing Sabbath with DIO, you can check out the DVD. I was lucky to see them on the Mob Rules tour in 1982 and the Dehumanizer tour in 1992. We had tickets to see them in 1981 and the band was in town but Bill Ward quit the band that day and the show was cancelled.. We were seriously bummed out… Anyway… the highlights on the CD for me are the great version of I, Sign of the Southern Cross (with it’s crushing riff!), Falling off the Edge of the World and the long jamming version of Heaven and Hell. I think the two new songs are both excellent as well. Let’s hope these guys will make a full record again (it was just announced they will make a record in 2008). Seems they are having a great time..

http://www.black-sabbath.com

If you dig: Black fucking Sabbath, DIO

Scott

The Jon Hemmersam/Don Minasi Quartet (CDM Records)
This is quite an interesting paring of guitar players (Jon from Denmark and Don from the USA) and amazing bass (Ken Filiano) and drums (Kresten Osgood). All of these guys are amazing musicians who met up one day in Brooklyn NY for a jam. One day of rehearsal and then this one hour CD was laid down in just 6 hrs.. The CD was mixed in Denmark (LS Studios in Odense). The CD opens with Spirit and it cuts straight into a jam in progress and Dom plays the first solo followed by Jon and then Kresten (yes a drum solo!). It is very nice that in the CD tray they tell you the order of the soloist on each track. Spirit is a pretty fast paced track to begin and very Mahavishnu inspired. Conclusions is next and nearly 10 minutes in length and more laid back and more interactive guitar playing to start as opposed to highlighted soloing and then the intense interactions begin. You can hear in some of the phrasing how this track was originally written to have piano. I should mention there are great liner notes from Dom and Jon about each track and how they met and interact, etc.. Inside out is a very laid back piece and Ken takes the first solo on bass and is awesome.. wow… Woman is a ballad originally written by Dom in 1975 and features Jon on nylon string guitar. Beautiful piece. Birth was originally written for a cello quartet and features some intense acoustic playing especially in the middle section. September is another Jon ballad with Dom on 12 string guitar and Jon on acoustic nylon string. Don’t forget to listen to the bass..cool stuff.. Soundcheck is a short and strange like piece, the shortest one on the CD and quite challenging. It was also the real soundcheck of the instruments and headphones! Gentle was written for Dom’s wife and is a slow Bossa Nova piece with brilliant 12 string and acoustic guitars. The playing is very heartfelt. Latina Mia closes the CD and is a Latin inspired track where everyone gets to show off. While I have not mentioned Kresten much, he is also an amazing drummer. You can not go away without being impressed with this CD..

http://www.jonhemmersam.dk
http://www.domminasi.com

If you dig: Jazz fusion with a very unique twist

Scott

The Ken Hemsley Story - Blood on the Highway (Membran Music)
This new CD tells the story of what it was like to be in a very successful rock band (Uriah Heep) in the 70’s.. The ups, downs, highs and lows are all put into songs and music. The CD packaging is one of the nicest you are going to see these days with a fantastic fold out digipack design and beautiful booklet telling the whole story. He is joined by several guest vocalists, including Glenn Hughes, Jørn Lande, John Lawton, and Eve Gallagher. I actually prefer Ken’s voice the best. So what is the music like?? I wish I could tell you that it was like classic 70’s Uriah Heep but sadly it is not. IT is rock and roll for the older generation, who have softened with time. Melodic, radio friendly, rock music, mostly ballads. Don’t get me wrong, the playing is great and the songs are strong but it is just a little too predictable and routine. The opening track (This is) Just the Beginning and the next 4 feature Jørn’s very soulful voice and all the elements I just spoke of. It won’t Last features John Lawton, another very bluesy vocalist. Think Twice is a ballad and features the vocals of Eve Gallagher. These two interlude parts are quite interesting to have thrown in. Each is called Doom Scene 1 and 2 and is just short sentences. Fans of Ken will dig this stuff and if he could get on the American radio classic rock, there are half a dozen hits here and it tells a nice story as well. Okay, is a real Uriah Heep like rock song but it is the only one on the record that really rocks out! What you gonna do is another ballad and features Glenn Hughes. I did it all, another ballad, that had to be sung by Ken, of course.. The Last Dance is the longest track at 8½ minutes and features Glenn Hughes as well as string arrangement.

http://www.membran.net
http://www.geocities.com/%7EWonderworld/

If dig: Uriah Heep, Glenn Hughes, Ken Hemsley

Scott


Hopesfall – Magnetic North CD (SPV/Target)
I wonder if there’ll be an emo metal revival in 10-15 years, the way people are digging out their old Bay Are thrash records these days? Are some people actually gonna store an album like Hopesfall’s “Magnetic North” somewhere for more than a decade and listen to it regularly, or even just buy it now and listen to it a couple of times, then find it again in a decade and relive the glories of 2007? It’s hard for me to imagine, but then again, it’s hard for me to imagine why so many bands get into this kind of music. At least, Hopesfall add a more technical angle to the whole affair instead of just opting for the cheap pop copout. But anything good it isn’t.

http://www.spv.de

If you dig: It Dies Today

Jon A

In the Beginning - This is the Beginning (Elektrohasch)
In the Beginning is a UK based band that only existed for a short time in 1998-1999 and released this one record, originally on the Molten Records label in 2004. The band is most recognizable for this music was written and produced by Matt Bethancourt (Josiah). The original CD featured just 5 songs but here you get the added bonus of two live tracks not on the CD, presumed to be recorded on their only tour in 1999. I should also add that is now available for the first time ever on vinyl… Anyway, this is a totally amazing psych record with great jamming stuff like Blue Honey with the dual layers leads. The opening track Soul Revolution has a killer groove. Baby’s takin’ me for a Ride is a long, nearly 13 minute, psychy riff ride at first but then a drift back into the blues, like old Steamhammer. The Golden Whisper, an all instrumental laid back track ends the normal CD. Freedom Express is one of the two bonus tracks and is a 5 minute like jam and a noticeable drop in sound quality. The Sacrifice is only 2½ minutes and ends the CD. The bonus stuff is not that good but damn, the LP is amazing..

http://www.elektrohasch.de
http://www.thisisthebeginning.co.uk

If you dig: Josiah, Baby Woodrose

Scott


It Dies Today – Sirens CD (SPV/Target)
They just can’t help themselves, can they: “Hey, what if we throw in a melodic chorus here, and then I’ll growl the verse, wouldn’t that create some tension in the song structure?” It does create tension, son, but it’s not that kind of tension you’re aiming for: This is tense as in my-head-hurts-I-can’t-stand-one-more-record-that-sounds-like-this-take-it-off-die. Stop this now. Please. You’ve proven your point: You’ve made metal and hardcore accessible, you’ve made it appeal to girls, you’ve made boys wear make-up again, but at what price? Records like this, that’s the price. Stop it. Now.

http://www.spv.de

If you dig: Hopesfall

Jon A

Jet Jaguar - Space Anthem (Black Widow Records)
It is great to see these live recordings from the bands only tour in 2004 of the Southwest USA (El Paso, Phoenix, and Albuquerque) finally out. IT was 1½ years ago when I was visiting Charles that I first got to hear a lot of this amazing space rock CD or double vinyl LP set. Besides the best of the tour live material there are also some bonus unreleased studio tracks on the vinyl version and a few on the CD as well. The CD features tracks from all three studio CDs but most of the tracks, including the opening Autopilot are from the debut. If you have not heard this band before, think Hawkwind, Chrome, Helios Creed, Robert Calvert solo stuff… High energy space rock with a real electronic feel and spaced out vocals (inspired by Bob Calvert), flanged and phased out guitars and you have Jet Jaguar…. The version of Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun is truly excellent. In addition you get a studio version of the Amon Duul II track Archangel’s Thunderbird. Very well recorded and very psychedelic and I think the bands best release as you get a great selection of the bands tracks in really cool spaced versions. I should also mention the really cool artwork by Stefano!

http://www.blackwidow.it
http://www.myspace.com/jetjaguarrocksinspace

If you dig: Chrome, Helios Creed, Hawkwind

Scott

JS Fuck & the Hippies from Hell – Set på TV! (Bedre Musik Records)
Amazing how old some new albums can sound: With JS Fuck & the Hippies from Hell, Sune Køter from Guddommelig Galskab has made something as old school as an art-punk concept album about media manipulation and the emptiness of the entertainment industry. No shit. A few comments on police violence and rampant Danish nationalism make their way on here, too, and it’s not like I’d disagree with anything said on this album, it’s just very in your face and not very sophisticated. But apart from that, it’s a thrilling art-punk record, this one, owing both to Peter Peter, the mentor himself appearing on this record, K-town punk, and old Magazine.

http://www.bedremusik.dk

If you dig: The Bleeder Group

Jon A


Junior Senior – Say Hallo, Wave Goodbye (Crunchy Frog Recordings)
I guess the guys from Crunchy Frog threw this CD in our stack at the Bad Afro office as a practical joke?! Anyway – how is it? No doubt Jr Sr made it big with their debut album making the coke sniffing party people go bananas at the dance floor. And to be honest, this is actually really catchy songs with cool bass grooves and trippy synth. The singing is awful and I hate it, but also here I have to say that it works. I can’t say if this is better or worse than their last album, but I don’t think it matters anyway. If you like to party go buy it – or call me and you can have mine. To me it’s really annoying to listen to this 80’s disco-pop after less than 10 min …

http://www.juniorsenior.com

If you dick: Discotheques and hairdressers

Tomsen 


Life on Earth - Look!!! There is life on Earth (Subliminal Sounds)
Life on Earth! is a new band (project) of Mattias Gustavsson’s, from the Swedish band Dungen. Together with some fellow travelling kindred musical spirits (musicians from Dungen, The Works, Town & Country and Mia Doi Todd) he has created an album of 60’s inspired pop-folk psychedelia. Life on Earth starts off with a flute solo but is a quite upbeat track with congas, bass, guitars, special psych out effects (space echo). Cool song. Next is Sell your Soul to Me. City by the Sea is a real folk track with some cool psychedelic stuff mixed in. Life Turns Fast is a short spacey instrumental. Endless Variety has that really cool 60’s vibe and reminds me a lot of Mandra gora Lightshow Society. The band totally freaks out at the end and then this leads into a nice spacey acoustic piece that is not titled. That ends side A… Barefoot on Tiptoe is a mostly acoustic track with dual vocals (mixed with a bit like they are in another room, airy feel). Bubble of Magic is also acoustic but a more 60’s feeling Crosby Stills and Nash like track. You are There and After a few years we settled Down (they play spaced out stuff at the end of this track) reminds me of Nick Castro. Got Kids and Bought our First Car Right in between is a bit jazzy. Right in Between ends this pretty cool psychedelic rock-folk record. Good job.

http://www.subliminalsounds.se/DOK/about.html
http://www.myspace.com/lifeonearth1

If you dig: Dungen, Nick Castro, Mandra gora Lightshow Society, Crosby Stills and Nash

Scott


Lisabö – Ezlekuak LP/CD (Bidehuts)
This is probably the most PC record I’ve bought this year: Basque post-hardcore sung in Basque. Actually, I had Lisabö confused with another band, lo:muêso, when I picked this one up on vacation, but that’s my luckiest mistake for ages, because this is right up my alley. Lisabö sound a bit like our own Lack, only noisier (at least noisier than what Lack sound like these days), or our own MOB, only more hardcore (in fact, “Aukerak, Ankerrak” is almost identical to MOB’s “Fast Lane to Nothing”). This is intelligent, angular, catchy, angsty, melodic, frenetic, ecstatic – album of the year so far.

http://www.bidehuts.net

If you dig: Fugazi, Shellac

Jon A


Lotus Krokus - Drømmenes Formløse (Orpheus Records)

Lotus Krokus - Deva (Orpheus Records)
Lotus Krokus is the project of Danish flowerpower freak, Michael Marino. He has produced 2 records on the Orpheus label. The music is really special Danish folk. Recorded live at the commune where he lives this really captures the feelings of the hippie spirit. Drømmenes Formløse was released in 2005 and mostly just Michael playing acoustic guitars and other instruments with a few other people on other instruments on a couple of tracks. A good collection of happy, folky hippie music singing about some strange and interesting things. Deva, is his second record and musically more diverse but in the same vein. It starts off with Svysayer, a happy track with banjo, jew’s harp and hand drums and some funny lyrics. Et Eventyr follows in the footsteps and tells a nice adventure story. Natteraven features Palle (whos studio this was recorded) on organ. Nu Dorsen Vinden is a slower more blues and a bit dark track but still very melodic. Huest på Bakken is an off kilter track, a little jazzy and spacey with organ. Nattens sidste Time. This track is played with a small party going on in the background. You hear Michael or someone else try to shhhh people a bit. Happy song with flute and bongos as well. Ud over Kanten features some backing vocals and nice piano. The title track, Deva is a great instrumental track. I wish there were more tracks like this one. A real stand out. The LP ends with Danser med Snefnug. It is a trure winter ballad, beautiful and a bit spooky! A promising young Danish artist. Over all these are quite nice folk rock records and should appeal to a wide range of Danish people as it is not too psychedelic or strange and all sung in Danish. Quite happy music.

http://www.orpheusrecords.dk
http://lotuskrokus.mymusic.dk/

If you dig: Incredible String Band, Vindharpen,

Scott

Loxley Beade - Homogeneous Hump (DRACA)
Patrick OJ Moore is back with his 2nd Loxley Beade CD on a new label. Patrick contacted me years ago when we were still doing Burnt Hippie records and sent the coolest and most impressive promo package I had ever seen. I am really happy to see things are going well and the band have a new CD out. I can say that I think the band has grown on this record and it is more psychedelic than the previous one on Nasoni records.

The tracks are longer, more psychedelic and heavier at times. The CD starts off with Fatty Morgana P1 and P2. A great start off track that gives you tastes of what is too follow. Intelligent lyrics, good melodies and some psychedelic rock! Dromedary is more acoustic but a bit of wind and interesting use of others string instruments as the track slowly builds up. Nice deep bass line and the band really jam this one out. Sanctuary is mostly instrumental and quite spacey to start with and then all the different string instruments come into play. His whispery voice really reminds me of someone but I can’t place it now… Scooter has a really great groove to it and really builds up and then ends with a cello solo part. Nice.. Blistered is a shorter more straight forward melodic rock tune. The Chrysalis Cracked is a really cool uptempo psychedelic rocker. On the CD is says Frazzled by an SMS is next but it actually Waiting for the Day and it is a cool song with some nice flute and a bouncy bass line. Peter and Janie is next, a short mysterious sounding acoustic track. Frazzled by an SMS is a long and great psych rock track. You can hear this one on the Aural Innovations Radio even though it is called the wrong name on the show. This might be the best track on the CD. Everyone in the band really pitches in something interesting as the track travels forward. Melanie’s Roommate #4 is a short acoustic track to end the CD. The bands best effort yet… 5 out of 5!

http://www.loxleybeade.de

If you dig: Phideaux, Alice’s Orb, Nicholas Hill and the Universals

Scott

M:40 – Historiens Svarte Vingslag (Halvfabrikat Records)
It’s extremely fast, extremely uncompromising and yet extremely ordinary! This is crustcore complete with angst ridden vocals and lyrics about politics, despair and hopelessness – I guess! What still makes M:40 a little more interesting than most other crust bands is their ability to incorporate more complex elements of post-hardcore in some songs as in example “När Bomberna Faller”. M:40 is also tighter than many other grind-/crustcore bands and still they are furiously fast. The two singers seem to get a good workout trying to scream the most, but I don’t get much of the Swedish lyrics. Anyway, let’s start a riot …

http://www.m40.se

If you dig: Death Token, Grace Will Fall, Leadershit

Tomsen

Mammatus - The Coast Explodes (Holy Mountain)
The mighty Mammatus are back! I only just heard this band and really dug some of the stuff on the first CD. The opening track on this new one is part 3 of the Dragon of the Deep Saga and begins with some riffs that remind me of Colour Haze and Causa Sui but then the band just totally flips out at the end like Acid Mothers Temple, before it gets much slower, more stoned with vocals a lot like some of the YOB stuff. Pierce the Darkness is like a psych version of the Sword to start out but goes into like old school guitar psych like live On Trial meets Sundial, before it escapes into a calm ocean of sound and some organ as well. The Changing Wind is a acoustic piece that starts with some disturbing samples but has a nice vibe to it and some flute. The CD ends with the title track, The Coast Explodes and is another long adventure. Slow and stoned.. Cool stuff.

http://www.holymountain.com

If you dig: YOB, Monster Magnet (Tab25), Comets on Fire

Scott

Marble Sheep - Message from Oarfish (Fünfundvierzig)
The Japanese band Marble Sheep are back with their follow up to the excellent Gate of a Heavenly Body and featuring Sawada (drums, ex-Yura Yura Teikoku), Tak (guitar, ex. Dexied the Emons) and a new member Iwamotor (drums, KuruuCrew). All the songs are taken from their numerous studio sessions after December 2006. This is actually their 14th record. The CD starts off with the noisy track Tears, which builds up and really takes off over the 12 minutes with some intense guitar parts but no real soloing, just a wall of sound. Mana is next and here we get some dual psychedelic freakout guitar solos that were lacking in the first track. Raise the Dead is almost like a punk rock song, very raw and punky and only 2½ minutes long. Skull Cool is also short but begins with some dual soling and reminds me of the Pink Fairies. Egyptian Queen is another short raw track with some really in your face guitar soloing that just takes over the track every now and then. It’s Time is a strange one.. Saviour of Street has a much cleaner sound to start with and features some acoustic guitar (and organ) and is a very melodic and totally different track than anything else on the record. Saying that I should say, just about every track on the record is really different from each other. The CD ends with From the Centre, which is a psychedelic guitar freakout but actually quite controlled backline sound, compared with the Tears track which started the CD off. Another quite cool and interesting record. The band is on a roll; too bad they don’t come to Denmark on this new Europe tour in December 2007.

http://www.fuenfundvierzig.com
http://www.soho-net.ne.jp/users/ohr/index.htm

If you dig: Pink Fairies, Acid Mothers Temple

Scott


Maylene and the Sons of Disaster – II CD (Ferret Style Music/Target)
OK, so at least it’s not all emo metal at Ferret these days (which wouldn’t be fair to suggest any way: They did put out that excellent, if Christian, album by Zao last year): Maylene do their best to play raw and dirty death punk. It’s just not very dirty, some of it even sounds like D:A:D, which is a bummer for anyone. I suppose you could dig this if you were used to hearing only emo metal all day, but to me, this sounds contrived.

http://www.ferretstyle.com

If you dig: Backyard Babies, Turbonegro

Jon A

Menhiir – Dealing With Fuzz (Demo)
Wow – it’s hard to believe that these guys are still teenagers! Hailing from fucking Kungsör in Sweden this power trio rocks like grown men with big beards and tattoos. Menhiir plays heavy pounding stoner rock in the Californian skater stile like Fu Manchu. And they do it so well that it’s absolutely forgiven that they almost sounds like a clone. Production is fine with a really cool vintage distorted sound. Guitar solos are clear and very unique for a guy that young. It’s impossible not to compare this band with Kyuss that also came out of the desert as teens. Of course nobody ever comes close to Kyuss, but these guys have years and years to come - so beware! A song like El Hombre shows great skills for composing and has the most laid back groove I’ve heard in a long time and a great change in mood and progression – and the sound on the kick drum!! This is their second demo and it’s produced by Oscar Cedermalm of Truckfighters. I really hope that someone will pick up this band and give them the opportunity to make a full length record. Gimme, gimme – gimme some more!

http://www.myspace.com/menhiir

If you dig: Fu Manchu …

Tomsen

Monster Magnet - 4- Way Diablo (SPV/Target)
Ok.. Dave Wyndorf returns after taking a 1½ year break after an accidental overdose of over the counter sleeping medication. He had a lot of time to think and work on his lyrics for this record despite the fact that musically this was the most spontaneously recorded record the band has created in years with most songs belted out in just 1-2 takes with only modest overdubs. Dave had unleashed 13 songs in 53 minutes including one cover song by the Rolling Stones. The CD is a mixed bag of all kinds of rock and roll and shows that Dave has a few cards left up his sleeve, yet.. This is the new reborn Monster Magnet so open your ears and your mind and be receptive as this is not like anything they have done before. Dave, since he no longer plays guitar, he plays vocalist. He is singing nearly all the time on this record, leaving little space for guitar solos and jamming and spaced outness, so be prepared. The CD begins with 4 Way Diablo, a really excellent track with quite frantic singing by Dave, being chased by his demons. Cool guitar riff and quite raw sounding. Wall of Fire is a fast paced cock rock number but I really don’t like the chorus much.. You’re Alive has this kind of garage rock feel to it and is pretty low down and dirty. Blow your Mind has this slow catchy riff before the big wall of sound riff takes over. This one would have fit in well on Powertrip. Cyclone is old school psychedelic rock and the most spacey song on the record. Great track for those who dig stuff like Bummer and Third Alternative. The Rolling Stones track 2000 Light years from Home is a pretty cool psyched out version as well. No Vacation goes back to a more garagy 60’s pebbles type style of track but with a heavier riff. Dave is really pouring a lot of himself into the vocals on this one. I’m Calling You features some keyboards is a pretty moody piece. The last 3-4 records all seem to have a track just like this one. Solid Gold is a killer rock and roll track and probably the best along with the title track. Great stuff. Freeze and Pixelate is an instrumental track with a quite dark aura about it. Again, seems each record has one of these style tracks on it as well. A Thousand Stars starts with the loud drums and a quite personal track with a melodic but grungy guitar line running through it. I waited for the solo but it never came. Slap in the Face is a pretty funky at times but then a heavy stoner-metal riff kicks in and Ed gets to rip it up like the good old days. The CD ends with Little Bag of Gloom.. If you are MM fan, you will probably dig it dude..

http://www.spv.de
http://www.monstermagnet.net

If you dig: Monster Magnet

Scott


Mos Generator - Songs for Future Gods (Small Stone)
Mos Generator is back with their 4th CD release! I quite liked their previous CD released on Nasoni Records. The band is now on the Small Stone label. These guys are from the Seattle area and lay down some heavy rock and roll with a slight indie edge to it. The CD comes with an unlisted bonus track, a studio jam from way back in 2001. No time today to go through all the tracks like I would like to but fans of Black Nasa and Josiah will probably dig the rock these guys are laying down at the moment. I look forward to seeing them at Roadburn 2008…..

http://www.smallstone.com
http://www.mosgenerator.com

If you dig: Black Nasa, Atomic Bitchwax (later records), Josiah

Scott

Muletrain – The Ansar E.P. 7” (Beat Generation/Munster Records)
If there’s one thing me and my co-editor Jens can agree on, it’s that Muletrain is an awesome band. Gotta love this Madrileños that manage to sound like considerate gentlemen and give-a-fuck punks at the same time. This 7”, with the scariest cartoon depiction of a smiling José Maria Asnar, features two new songs and two covers, one obvious Discharge cover, one less obvious Ultravox, all done Muletrain style.

http://www.munster-records.com

If you dig: Motörhead, Zeke, Dwarves

Jon A

Nixon – Toit Productions Proudly Presents:
Five middle aged men from Frederiksstad in Norway that used to be punks back in the day, wants to punk out again. Even though the idea of going back to playing punk again is great, the result is not good! At best it sounds like a mixed bag of softy rip-offs from Dead Kennedys, Sex Pistols and Stiff Little Fingers. Being a middle aged conform ex-punk myself even I don't like the result. It's hard to point out what exactly makes it bad, but it must be the lack of true punk spirit and way too much newspaper-reading-wearing-slippers spirit. No matter how much you might like these guys and the idea of going back to their roots, this record is simply not worth buying. Rehearse, drink beers and have fun - but please don't put out another record!

http://www.nixonband.com

If you dig: Reunion concerts

Tomsen

Noidz - Water World (Som Livre)
Noidz is a project from Portugal. This is a 2 track CD single featuring 12 minutes of intense music. What a crazy yet really cool mixture of stuff it is. Aliennoidz Theme opens the CD and it is uptempo track like techno stuff but it also has a lot of guitar and other instruments as well. The track is a really cool mixture of stuff and always changing and evolving and it gets really cool when the heavier parts kick in that are almost like Death Metal and really rocks out before turning back into electronica. XXm Lightyears is next and sadly the last track on this short EP. Again, some heavy guitar is mixed with pure electronics but in a very cool way. The guitar line is a little cliché here at the mid part but I forgive him. Really excellent and unique stuff… I can’t wait to hear the full length record. Check out the web page.. Really cool design.

http://www.somlivre.com
http://www.noidz.net

If you dig: Eat Static, Shamanic tribes on Acid

Scott


Nora – Save Yourself CD (SPV Trustkill/Target)
Someone at SPV should take some seminar about matching music and cover art to avoid sending out mixed signals: Here’s an album called “Save Yourself”, which, according to the liner notes, is about just that, and still, through the CD booklet you get pictures of a kid being embraced by a light from above. I don’t get it. The album is fine, though, if nothing exceptional. Nora play some pretty tight, pretty ferocious metal in the vein of Mastodon, only less intricate, more workmanlike – a bit like Burnt By The Sun, with whom they share members.

http://www.spv.de

If you dig: Mastodon, Burnt by the Sun

Jon A

Nucleus Torn - Nihil (Prophecy)
Nucleus Torn is a Swiss band and this is a re-release of their original digipack CD put out in 2005 in only 500 copies. The band is lead by Fredy Schnyder and joined by 6 other musicians, including male and female vocalists. The music is a strange and unique mixture of dark, folky and heavy music. The CD begins with the acoustic track Glass Spirit with a very folk feel to it and female vocals and ending with some nice piano. This contrasts with Traveller’s Rest, which begins quite mellow with cello, acoustic guitars and male vocals but the track slowly builds up and then goes almost silent in the middle before exploding again. Night’s Grave is a 2 minute piano piece that leads into Summer Bled, which has a very ominous feel to it and quite interesting spacey ending. Close is a spoken word piece by Maria. The Sunclad is a very beautiful piece of music. The CD ends with the very intense Peregrina Sublime. The band is currently finishing up their follow up LP to be called Knell and released this autumn (2007).

http://www.prophecy.cd
http://www.nucleustorn.ch/

If you dig: Nucleus Torn

Scott

Orange – Escape from L.A. CD (Hellcat/Bonnier)
“Oh look, punk is fun again” it says in the booklet for this one. Fine, can we go back and be serious now? Horrible melodic pop punk from the Sunshine State – this is Europe, you know, we’re too dour and academic for this kind of music. Music to rape prom queens to.

http://www.orange-band.com

If you dig: Good Charlotte

Jon A

Ornah-Mental - Take Time Out (Herzberg Verlag)
This is quite an interesting German band. This is the bands 3rd CD. The band is primarily a 3 piece with Drik on guitar, keyboards, bass, groove building and Carsten on all sorts of drums and Leander on electric space guitars on tracks 3,4,6 and 10. The music is a interesting mixture of different kinds of ethnic music and dub with primarily acoustic guitar. Elevando, the opening track is a combination of like Spanish guitar, strange electronics, and dub. Piece by Piece is quite funky and spacey and have quite a lot of lyrics after the track gets going. Spaced… I won’t go thru all the tracks but there is a lot of very cool music. If you are adventurous and like Spanish, south American like music mixed with spaced sounds and this strange dub element thrown in, then check these guys out.. They are in their own world…..

http://www.herzbergverlag.de
http://www.ornah-mental.de

If you dig: Embryo, Transglobal Underground

Scott

Outer Space Experiment - S/T
Outer Space Experiment are a new band from Lapua, Finland. The five piece band features guitar, bass, drums and two keyboard players, one of who sings on a few tracks ut most of the CD is instrumental.. This is not an official release but a CD-R featuring 8 tracks that I think the band is or will be selling shortly. The band play a pretty laid back, almost ambient version of spacey music. It never really rocks out, except perhaps the last live track, Jurassik. Too Many Neighbours living next Door starts things off and it has a cool guitar riff and different keyboards play in and out of the sound. Very melodic stuff. Riff reminds a bit of Seid. Plenty of really funny lyrics on this CD. Osespheres is a 3½ minutes very groovey synth driven instrumental number. Brains Musculating begins very much like an ambient space experiment but then builds up with some very dramatic keyboards and voices (from the keyboards), like we are at the Olymipics or something, then it suddenly gets really heavy towards the end. Kiellettyeks is slow and spacey and very melodic as well with some nice lead synth playing followed by a guitar solo on this track. It later gets a bit jazzy and there is some trading back and forth of solos... are the horns real or synths?? YOu decide... Enter the Galaxies begins with some electronics and maintains a laid back drive as it has lots of spacey synths. Sipulipippuri is a funny track about having a skateboard! The CD ends with the nore upbeat live track, Jurassik. A pretty cool new band.... Check them out..

http://www.oseband.co.nr

If you dig: Seid, Taipuva Luotisuora,

Scott

The Perfect Rat – Endangered Languages (Alone Records/The Stone Circle)
This is a very special line-up! Mario Lalli, Gary Arce and Bill Stinson are well know musicians from the desert rock scene and bands like fatso Jetson, Yawing Man and Ten East and involved with all the fame-boys like Josh Homme and Brant Bjork. Beside these guys you have Greg Ginn on bass (Yes, Black Flag and SST), Tony Atherton (Mojacks) on sax and Jack Brewer (Saccharine Trust) doing spoken words and poetry! Everything is the result of some jam sessions held back in 2005 and is now out on Alone Records. So what came out of this special blend of musicians? Well, a jazzy bass and rocking drum lays the ground for Mario and Gary’s guitars that simply floats all over spreading a patchwork of heavy psych. The saxophone adds to the jazzy feel and mixes fine with the guitar work and on top is Jack Brewers strange nervous and weird voice delivering lyrics by L.A. poets Steve Abee, Florence Raush Ehlers, Dennis Cruz, as well as one of his own. It’s a very beautiful record reminding of Dan McGuire’s Jamnation although the vocal is less harsh and the music is more relaxed and jazzy. Wow, there’s always something interesting going on in the desert!

http://www.myspace.com/theperfectrat
http://www.the-stone-circle.com

If you dig: Jazzy desert rock with spoken words

Tomsen

Peyote Mothership - First Landing (C9 Productions)
Peyote Mothership is a new UK band with ex-Magic Mushroom members teamed up with some younger psychedelic rock folk to create their brand of space rock. This EP features 4 tracks in 24 minutes. I can’t, I wont is the opening number and quite a rocking and spacey track that really reminds me of a mixture of the hard rocking Magic Mushroom band meets Omnia Opera. Great song with some spacey guitars. Quite psychedelic stuff.. Circles is quite melodic and Christina sings in a more melodic style. This is the bands short 3 min psych pop track and features a nice lead synth solo. Mary Jane begins very spacey, ala. Hawkwind, before the guitars take the track off into space. The organ in the middle section really makes this one sound like Hawkwind. The EP ends with Reply, also the longest track and the most spaced and psychedelic as well. A lot of peyote juice put into the mix of this one… My only complaint with this EP is that the sound mix could be much better. The vocals are often mixed far too loud. I really look forward to the bands full length record…

If you dig: Magic Mushroom Band, Omnia Opera, Wobble Jaggle Jiggle, Hawkwind

Scott

Phideaux - Doomsday Afternoon (Bloodfish Music)
What can I say… this band is really amazing and has produced another stunning record. The lyrics are deep, heavy and potent and the music highly emotional. What else do you want from a progressive music record? You get all the lyrics and some really cool paintings that are related to the material inside. The CD begins with the 11 minute Micro softdeathstar, which is a totally amazing emotional rock track with powerful powerful lyrics. I can hear this track over and over and it still sticks under my skin and sucks me in… The instrumental Doctrine of Eternal Ice is a short track with a great lead synth to start the track off and some great keyboards, very symphonic but then also quite mid eastern and then the trumpet, this is repeated then the guitar solo and then it comes down to piano and fades into Candybrain with its swirling keyboards, acoustic guitar, flutes and happy vibe. Crumble is a piano and vocal piece (beautiful stuff) which leads into the Doctrine of Eternal Ice Part 2. This track is an interesting contrast with the themes from part one repeated and some quite dark lyrics about Satan’s Angels… You have to read all the lyrics to get the deeper meaning in the story lines being told. Great keyboard playing. Thank you for the Evil is a long 9 minute track with great instrumentation of dulcimer, violin and just great playing from the whole band in this sort of dark and dreamy but beautiful piece of music. This leads into the Wasteland of Memories, which brings back a happier mood borrowing a lot from classical music. Crumble is repeated at this point in the CD but it is not exactly the same and features the female vocals of Ariel. Formaldehyde (some of it really reminds me of Yes with some Jethro Tull and Marillion throw in!) and microdeath softstar take up the next 23 minutes and finish off this amazing musical adventure that mixes rock and a lot of classical music influences into a potent stew. All the band gets to show off, have fun and play cool solos in the last track as well. Lyrically a brilliant record. Wow….

http://www.bloodfish.com

If you dig: Beatles, Marillion, old Genesis, Yes

Scott

Poison the Fall – Versions CD (Ferret Style Music/Target)
This is what emo metal should sound like: Not the quick buck promised by shameless suicide romantics and cheap pop cop-outs, but sincere and soulful, sounding as if they actually aim for something deeper than just getting into the torn stockings of goth chicks. Sure, Poison the Well aren’t gonna win over the old school skeptics with this album, it’s too melodic, too melodramatic, too emotional, too sensitive, but if, like me, you have to wade through tons and tons of albums striving for the same heights, it’s nice for once to hear someone do something original with it. They even have trumpets on it, which is almost always a plus. This could go down well with those into the (few) quieter moments in Converge, and it’s good for the kids, too.

http://www.ferretstyle.com

If you dig: Planes Mistaken for Stars

Jon A

Polytoxicomane Philharmonie - Pot Rats 7” (Nasoni Records )
This is the newest release by the band and it features a couple of Zappa songs performed in really cool ways! The picture disc record is also really beautiful and sure to be a collector’s item! The A side starts with Grandchild of Mr. Green Geenes and features a really great wah guitar solo. The male and female vocals also give it a different feel than the original. Next up is the classic Peaches en Regalia. The band makes quite a cool and psychedelic version of this song. Frank Zappa fans will most likely greatly approve. Great stuff.

http://www.nasoni-records.com
http://www.polytoxicomane-philharmonie.de/

If you dig: Frank Zappa, Capt Beefheart

Scott


Polytoxicomane Philharmonie - Drosophila Road (Nasoni Records )
I have to say this is probably the coolest CD packaging that I have seen this year. IT is a really cool fold out sleeve with great artwork and a cool tall thin booklet telling the story of the fly, Ned Busckii. The CD or LP is composed of 5 long tracks, the shortest is 6 minutes. The music begins with a buzzing fly as Opinion takes off. It is a slow track that tells a strange story but features some cool psychedelic rock, great horns and strange samples, telephone ringing, and a great guitar solo towards the end. Mini Rock clocks in at 9½ minutes and is quite jazzy to start and features a female voice (HM Fishli), which is a major contrast to the gruff and harsh voice of the main singer (Commander IM Crab) but this track is an interesting journey with cool horn solos, guitar solos and just a cool spacey vibe. Amazing music.. Late Train to Casket County is next and starts with some didgeridoo and Native American chanting and drumming as the track builds up but goes into some really spaced out stuff after a fairly normal middle part. Strange track… Sotto Voce is the 14½ minute really cool track that has great organ, horn and guitar playing. IT starts quite laid band with a horn solo but everyone gets to jam on this track. Great psychedelic vibe and some nice female vocals until the middle end part when the track gets quite strange for a while before the psyched out guitar ending. The CD/LP ends with The Mirrorman, which has a great groove and enough strangeness to fit in just fine with the rest of the album. This is a band that has really grown since the last record and really gone in a cool direction. It is jazzier but still strange psychedelic rock. Fans of Frank Zappa will quite enjoy this, if they approach music with open ears.

http://www.nasoni-records.com
http://www.polytoxicomane-philharmonie.de/

If you dig: Kraut Rock, Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart, Faust

Scott

Raging Speedhorn – Before the Sea Was Built CD (SPV/Target)
At last I’m pleasantly surprised by an album I didn’t expect much from: “Before the Sea Was Built” is a big, ambitious work. If not exceptional or revolutionary, it’s heartfelt and brutal. A lot of albums have come out in this vein this last year, and a lot of them have had a more personal touch than “Before the Sea Was Built”, that’s true, but a lot worse albums have come out as well.

http://www.spv.de

If you dig: The Ocean, Burst, Neurosis

Jon A

Ramesses – Misanthropic Alchemy CD (Feto Records/Target)
With all the doom, sludge, and stoner bands creeping out of their moldy, humid cellars these days in the wake of Mastodon’s success, it’s nice to still be surprised by how deep and heavy and satanic doom can actually sound. Dorset’s Ramesses are the men for that, their music sounding like a blend of rainy marshlands, black stout, and mass graves. Of course, that’s no big surprise with 2/3 of the band made up of former Electric Wizard members, but Ramesses’ real clou is vocalist Adam Richardson, whose snarling and gurgling growl brings back the early days of Carcass. In fact, what with the chaotic production, the down-tuned-beyond-tonal-recognition guitar, and that guttural belching, “Misanthropic Alchemy” sounds more than anything like Carcass’ “Symphonies of Sickness” played at half speed – and that’s a big compliment coming from a man who was scared shitless by first listening to that album as a teen. With the inclusion of “Ramesses Part 3”, which is possibly the best doom track I’ve heard this year, “Misanthropic Alchemy” is Ramesses’ most accomplished work to date.

http://www.feto-records.com

If you dig: Electric Wizard, Celtic Frost, early Carcass

Jon A

Rip KC – Spinguölf (Alone Records/The Stone Circle)
It’s hard to describe the beautiness of this music – and even harder to describe the music in itself! This Spanish trio plays some kind of laid back psychedelic rock with funky guitars and jazzy drums. They started out almost fifteen years ago as a hardcore punk band but has developed into one of the most trippy and inventive bands I’ve head in a long time. I can listen to this record over and over again and still get intrigued by the pure beauty of the dreamy soundscabes they deliver. It’s also hard to compare this band to anything else because they don’t really sound like any other bands in my book. What’s even more surprising is that they suddenly burst out in 1.20 min of psychedelic punk rock in the song: “Punk is Dead” – hell yeah, punk is so dead! Many of the songs are bound together by short trippy interludes which never seems misplaced. The last song called: “The Tree of Science” is a slow-floating masterpiece ending with a barking dog – and then as you think it’s all over a really freaked-out hidden track is revealed. Oh yeah, I want more, more, more …

http://www.myspace.com/ripkc
http://www.the-stone-circle.com

If you dig: Soft Canyon, Circulus, Saturnia
5/5
Tomsen

Revolution Mother – Glory Bound CD (Cement Shoes Records/Target)
How am I supposed to have anything relevant to say about music like this, when it’s painfully obvious I have next to no frame of reference to put it into context? This probably sounds like Social Distortion or maybe New Bomb Turks or something, but those aren’t bands I’ve ever dug really. It’s definitely music for the proud working class, for the proletariat, and despite what my pay check says, I can’t really claim to be part of that scene. There’s a bad cover of Sab’s “Hole in the Sky” on this one, that I can relate to, but not in a positive way, since it’s bad. The band also features alleged “skate god” Mike V, but sorry, that doesn’t bring me any closer to get into this. All things said, it’s not like it’s a horrible record or anything – it’s just not very inspired.

http://www.cementshoesrecords.com

If you dig: Social Distortion, New Bomb Turks

Jon A

Lee Rocker – Black Cat Bone (Alligator Records)
This is a very nice and cosy rockabilly record in the very traditional way but with a twist of Americana added. Lee Rocker is of course famous for being founding Stray Cats and this is his second album for Alligator Records as a solo artist. There’s nothing really original about the music but the musicians are highly skilled and the production is clean cut. Lee Rocker has a very “smooth” but masculine voice and luckily he doesn’t sound like Brian Setzer at all. It’s mostly downtempo tunes and the lyrics are about life in general as seen from the bar. There’s a cover of Dylan’s “One More Night” and the song “String Bass, Guitar and a Drum” brings back memories of Stray Cats at their hay days. Record closer is 1:28 min of “Free Bass” – and yes, he sure knows how to slap the bass. I can for sure recommend this record for anybody into rockabilly and I guess this is a cool one for the late hours at a party.

http://www.leerocker.com

If you dig: Stray Cats, Reverend Horton Heat, Eddie Spaghetti

Tomsen

Rotor - Rotor3 (Elektrohasch)
The mostly instrumental Berlin based band is back with their 3rd full length record. This time the record has been produced by record label owner, Stefan Koglek himself. Rotor is one of those bands whose records never really grab you the first time. If you are impatient, this is not music for you. The CD opens up with the short hard hitting Auf’s Maul? Great guitar riff. Rotor does not have many guitar solos, it is all about perfection and groove. V-Ger is a jazzy sort of number with some great interaction between the players. Rotor has a more melodic line running through it while still going back and forth between this really cool riff. The band is mixing it up all the time. Cool driving music. Hart am Wind reminds me a lot of some other earlier material. Umkehrschub is a great number and quite cool they put this keyboard stuff in at the end. Drehstrum is another one that really gets you hooked into the groove. Klar Schiff is a very short track only 2:17 and ends just as you think the band is getting worked up. Sounds a bit like the end of Band of Gypsies jam but a bit more complex. Kalstart is one of the coolest numbers with a really cool guitar sound to start and some interesting keyboard, that is quickly abandoned as the band really take off. The CD ends with the only long track on the CD, Transporter. IT begins more laid back and the guitar sound is not as distorted and it has a more mysterious and stoney feel to it. Great song.. If you like Rotor, you will for sure dig this one.. Perhaps their best.

http://www.elektrohasch.de

If you dig: Colour Haze, Karma to Burn, Bolero

Scott

Secret Saucer - 2nd Sighting (Dead Earnest)
This is the 2nd CD by US space rock super group with members of Quarkspace, Architectural Metaphor, Sun Machine, Hawkwind (Steve Taylor), Star Nation, and others.. They get together every now and then (this is from summer 2006 sessions) and do some jamming and afterwards put overdubs on and mix and here you have it. Really cool instrumental space rock… The CD begins with Liftoff and it has a very Hawkwindish (Angel of Death) feel to it and a lot of cool synths and guitar leads based on a pretty straightforward thumping bass line. All the Way to Outer Space is a track with really intense synths in the background of some great lead guitar playing by Steve Taylor. D-Walker is the longest track, almost 10 minutes and clearly a tribute to the late and great Doug Walker and it features 3 keyboard/synth players and bass and drums and trip Doug would have like to take.. Tranquillity Base features Greg (Arc Met) on lead guitar with bass and synths and some programmed drums. Beautiful guitar soloing.. Venture 91-200 is another tour de force with 4 synth players and a full band (guitar,bass,drums). It begins very spaced out but starts to take off around 3 minutes with Steve Taylor playing some great guitar. Untitled Dream is a 3 minute all synth piece with Paul from Quarkspace joining in. Disintegrator fades in from a jam in progress and has a bit of dark vibe to it and quite a different sound production from the piece so far on the CD (Different session???) and features Greg on lead guitar with some great delay guitar acrobatics. That is probably my favourite track on the CD! Integrator again features Greg on main guitar but he is joined by David Hess on Glissando guitar and some spaced out synths from Steve Hayes and Jay Swanson on piano (as the prominent soloist). A really cool groove on this spacey jam. Reflections features Greg on electric sitar and is an interesting spacey jam with a really intense bass mix (Billy is like playing lead). The Death of Time features a lot of players with three synth and 3 guitar players in this space jam with once again a Hawkwind flavour. . The CD ends with Night Sky. I am guessing we had many hours more of cool stuff to hear from the Secret Saucer… keep an eye out space rock fans.

http://www.geocities.com/secretsaucergroup http://www.btinternet.com/~deadearnest/intro.htm

If you dig: Hawkwind, Arc Met, Quarkspace, Oresund Space Collective

Scott

Sedated Angel – See the World Through Burning Red Eyes (4 track promo)
Sedated Angel claims to be the dirtiest stoner rock band in Denmark – and they must be since there are so few bands left. But that said this 4 track promo actually makes promise of the dirtiest stoner rock ever made in Denmark! The band comes from Kolding/Fredericia and made their first EP back in 2005 without any real notice. To me this is a brand new acquaintance – and a damn good one. Sedated Angel plays fucking heavy stoner rock with lots of killer guitar work. After Gas Giant called it quit and Stefan Krey vanished it’s nice to hear some guys who knows how to make a baby cry. “Burn” is a straight ahead heavy rocker reminding of Ronja and with a twisted ending. The song “Numb” has a nice complex song structure and shifts between being relaxed and aggressive. It’s so cool to hear a band with so competent musicians. It’s a tight 18 wheeler heading out of the door. Yeah, put your brain on the grill and get down with this band. Only real weak point might be the vocals, but that’s the same old, same old with stoner bands. The two guitarists takes turns singing and has quite different voices. I like the style and the rawness so who cares if it’s not pretty voices - and how does pretty fit with dirty anyway?

http://www.sedatedangel.com

If you dig: Brain Police, Roadsaw, Ronja

Tomsen

Sick City – Nightlife CD (SPV Trustkill/Target)
“Sick City” – that was a great song on David Holmes’ underrated “Bow Down to the Exit Sign” album featuring Bobby Gillespie on vocals. Thanks for reminding me of that one, I’ll just take this schmaltzy teenage wank emo crap off and listen to it, OK? Anyone gonna notice if I don’t spend time dissing another one of these records, of which a ton is made every week? Thought not.

http://www.trustkill.com

If you dig: Muse or something

Jon A

The Smell of Incense - Of Villages and Dotttles (September Gurls)
Wow.. what a great surprise this was! I thought that this Norwegian band had disappeared forever but no! It is nice to see they have followed up with another cool CD as well as using the same artist for the really cool artwork. I should also tell you that most of the text of the song, bar the last track is taken from other people mostly from the 18th and 19th century. Nice…. The CD starts with I Bumbles and Dragons, which has a really nice folky and ancient vibe to it but also some real rock guitar. Laughing Song is a very beautiful track with some nice pedal slide guitar and a nice spacey vibe as some weird and strange sounds filter into the track at the end. Next is the 10 minute Where Forlorn sunsets Flare and Fade which begins with some beautiful acoustic guitars. The track has a bit of a dark feeling to it at times, drifting from happy to sad but always beautiful and some nice psychedelic touches here and there. Song is a short 2 minute track. This is followed by the amazing The Golden Knot, which is very dramatic and features really cool organ and guitar parts to create a mysterious vibe. The Haunted Chamber (lyrics by Longfellow) is another 2 minute track and quite nice but no time for musical development. The last two tracks are 9 minutes each and the band really plays some cool music. I think that fans of Circulus will like this album a lot. Less rock music than on past records (except the last track!) but great psychedelic folk music. Please don’t wait so long to make the next one!

http://www.septembergurlsrecords.com

If you dig: Circulus, Jefferson Airplane,

Scott

Solskinsliv - De Sydfynske Alpedrendge (Orpheus Records)
This is an Old Danish band the existed between 1973 and 1975 but never released any records. Orpheus has released a real gem. Despite most bands of this time, these guys sung in English and not Danish. Most of the tracks are based on acoustic guitar with bass and drums but the tracks are mixed up and sound unique and different by the use of flute, violin, congas, jew’s harp and piano here and there. These guys really had a great folk rock sound and wrote excellent songs. I am most impressed with the record and highly recommend it! Vinyl only.. 500 copies.

http://www.orpheusrecords.dk

Scott

Sonar - Deltroid (Sonar Music)
Sonar are a new all instrumental ethno-psychedelic rock band from Hungary. I got turned onto them via myspace and they have just released this debut 4 song EP (20 minutes). Dubai starts the CD off and reminds me a bit of Hidria meets Colorstar like sound with some really nice delay guitars and a spacey funky groove. The track really takes off and gets spacey at 4½ minutes.. really flying space rock. Lama Boutique begins quite spaced out and then a really cool groovy song begins. It is really psychedelic with a lead synth that sounds like a voice and some great guitar. Central Station is a slow and melodic track (potential for the radio?) but still spacey and it slowly builds in intensity. The Title track, Deltroid, ends this short EP. This track has a really dirty distorted synth line that takes the lead but then the guitar player comes flying out and plays some killer stuff before they totally freak out in the middle of the track and then it becomes something totally different and back to the freak out. I really look forward to hearing a full CD by this new band.. Check them out if you are into spacey instrumental music.

http://www.sonarmusic.hu

If you dig: Korai Öröm, Colorstar, Hidria Spacefolk

Scott

Static Thought - In the Trenches (Hellcat Records)
Okay, this is some youngsters out of East Bay, California playing fast and furious punk 'n' punk with a very authentic attitude. This is NOT the ordinary Americana-pop-punk as Blink 182 and fucking Good Charlotte. The sound resembles some of the later U.K. Subs and maybe a little bit of Anti Nowhere League blended with faster old school hardcore/Oi as The Exploited and G.B.H. You could also say that they sound a little like Ranchid whom apparently is their Gods of punk. There’s even a cheesy cover of "Next to You" by The Police that succeeds because of the throated Lemmy style vocal. Musical skills are good and production is nice and clear but still ruff. So in all it's a pretty cool record making me feel like I'm 17 again!?! Conclusion is: if you dig jumping around high on German diet pills, this record is for you ...

http://www.staticthought.com

If you dig: Catchy old school hardcore punk

Tomsen


Sunburned Circle - The Blaze Game (Conspiracy Records)
This is some pretty strange and far out stuff but I would expect no less when you put Sunburned Hand of the Man and Circle in a studio for a few days… The opening track Majava is 7 mins and quite a lowfi track with not a lot happening but strange meanderings. Heinävelho is a 9 minute freakout of sorts that stars very much like the last track but has more strange vocals and sounds and it seems like the drums are going to take the track somewhere but they don’t. This leads directly into Vuoren Valloitus and the bass line is building up more but most of the sound is still in the background creating a special strange vibe. Now the guitars become more noticeable in the soundscape. Variksenpelätin continues in this slow and spacey place in the world with some guitar noodling here and there as the track builds but still this distant huge like recorded in a warehouse with metal siding sound prevails. Strange stuff.. A track with a very long Finnish name is next and here finally a more uptempo groove is building over the repeated bass line with keyboards and guitars noodling in the background while what sounds like a constantly shaking percussion instrument dominates. Bizarre. Lentävä Linnoitus is a sort of weird synth improve with a lot of other strange stuff happening around it. The last real track, Tappajahauki is a freakout track but still a strange production sound. If you really like just tripped out soundscapes of what sounds like people on a lot of drugs freaking out, check this out.. Fucking weird…

http://www.conspiracyrecords.com
http://www.circlefinland.com

If you dig: Circle, Sunburned Hand of the Man, Comets on Fire

Scott

Nikolai Vilhelm Tell - Før Lyset Forsvinder (Orpheus Records)
Nikolai, this is his first solo LP and takes you back to late 60’s with the cool organ sound and laid back vibe of the tunes. Some might remember Nikolai as the organ player in the short lived Danish band, Ghost Rocket. All the music is played by himself and Carsten Svendsen. It was recorded between 2002 and 2006. The record begins with Sov Sødt (and you can hear his son in the background). This is a long and beautiful track with a real late 60’s sound and feel. The organ is really great and gives you a taste of what will follow. Question No. 4 begins quite psychedelic and sounds a lot like Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd. Troldmans Lærling is a melodic instrumental track with great organ playing. Side A ends with Trippet which has some highly effected guitar and takes you back to the time of psychedelic rock in the late 60s. Side B starts with the instrumental title track and is slow and spacey and probably my favourite track on the record. It is quite repetitive but it really sucked me. Psychic Landscapes is a very short track and sounds like a piece of a cool jam. Too bad we don’t hear the rest. Det psychedeliske træ again will remind you of old Syd Barrett stuff. The LP ends with Pigen I Engen. Another beautiful song. This is quite a nice record. Only available on vinyl..

http://www.orpheusrecords.dk
http://nicolaivilhelmtell.mymusic.dk/

If you dig: The Doors, Pink Floyd (early), Alrune Rod, Spids Nøgenhat

Scott

Tiny y Son – Embracing Uncertainty CD (Chorus of One)
If someone claim to embrace “aggressions and melodies”, your bullshit detector should warn you we’re on emo territory here. Which means I've already reviewed this record a hundred times before and they’re gonna give me funny looks in the second hand records tore when I dump off another load of angst-ridden records. To be fair, Tiny y Son are better than so many other emo bands and their lyrics deal with other issues than teenage love and eyeliner. But a good record it isn’t.

http://www.chorusofonerecords.it

If you dig: 36 Crazyfists

Jon A

Tokyo Dragons – Hot Nuts (Escapi Music)
Who the fuck let Slade back in the game? I guess this was my first thought after listening to this record for the first time. This is hard rock in the good old way with strong references to the 70’ies. The record is produced by Kurt Bloch known from Mudhoney and Supersuckers. The band looks like a motorcycle gang from the mid 70’ties complete with denim wests and tuff-guy attitudes. The band has had a lot of success getting exposed and might have lived a little on the success of The Darkness who broke ground for this style of music. But Tokyo Dragons is not another Darkness rip off. They are dirtier, more real and still they stink of mainstream. This music is popish hard rock the British way. The song “If I Run You Run” has an intro riff that is total Thin Lizzy rip off. There’s also a cover of Todd Rundgrens “Couldn’t I Just Tell You”. I’m sure that the daily agenda for this band is: Wake up, drink beers, take drugs, play music, fuck groupies, get into fight, smash hotel room, fall asleep. And if you dig that, this is music for you.

http://www.tokyodragons.com

If you dig: Kiss, Thin Lizzy, Backyard Babies and so on

Tomsen

The Trassels - Mindbreak Motel (Wanton Records)
This is pretty standard garage rock with a punky attitude, but without much new added to the genre. But it's a decent record with a few standout tracks. The band plays tight and the vocal is pretty good. This is without doubt not a masterpiece, but the more times I heard this the more I liked it. Favourite track may be the twangy "Between You and Damnation". If you dig garage rock the Scandinavian way, this is an okay buy.

http://www.trassels.com

If you dig: Flaming Sideburns,

Tomsen

Tripping Horse – S/T (Poison Tree Records)
From Villach in Austria comes this tripping band with references to so many genres and bands that they must be called unique. It’s a strange mix of melodic hard rock, stonerrock and trash - even elements of symphonic rock shines through. A song like “Frightened Out of Heaven” is complete with strings, flutes, prog-metal riffs and hardcore vocals. The singing often reminds me of System of a Down and the proggy structures hints to Tool. Songs like “Cocaine” and “La Pistola” are up-tempo rockers with hit potential sounding like they were spat out of Nick Oliveri’s ugly mouth. This is for sure a band worth giving a listen. The complexity changes from track to track and no songs sounds like being cut from the same scheme. This album is a real ear-opener and it’s surprising that a band with such a grandiose sound has surfaced from out of nowhere. The album was recorded in Los Angeles after a tour in Guatemala (?!) and is produced by Noah Shain. Release date is February 2008 but can be pre-ordered through Poison Tree Records already.

http://www.trippinghorse.com
http://www.poisontreerecords.com

If you dig: System of a Down, Mondo Generator, Tool

Tomsen

Truckfighters – Phi (Fuzzorama Records)
Another Swedish band and another great album! This is the second full length from Truckfighters and the result is a sonic assault of fuzz-driven rock. The production took almost a whole year to finish and, well, the production is for sure great. The sound is very clear without getting too polished. The songwriting is strong and all instruments mix in well together. The band really takes a step forward with a much more varied blend of styles than previously. Take a song like “Chameleon”, it’s a 10 min slow psychedelic adventure ending with acoustic guitars and strings leading directly into “Dysthymia” that has a long slow build-up before some heavy riffing sets in and the song swirls between slow hypnotic groove and heaviness. “Warhead” pays great tribute to the sabbathish way of riffing and quietly drifts away at the end. This is a real fuzz monster and a go-getter for all fans of riff-rock.

http://www.truckfighters.com

If you dig: Dozer, Deville, Fu Manchu

Tomsen

We - That’s Why (She’s so Fine) 7” (Big Dipper)
WE are back after a long wait since the Smugglers record and this is the first single that has been playing in Norway since the summer. The full length LP, Tension and Release will be released worldwide in January 2008. That’s Why is a hard rocker with some great guitar (both dirty and psyched out) and a damn catchy chorus and some nice synths by Tariq. The B-side was recorded during the Smugglers session and is a cover version of the great Roky Erikson song, Cold Night for Alligators. They do a really brilliant version. This was previously only available on the compilation CD for the Oslo night club Last Train.. Great single on red vinyl.. I can’t wait for the next record. Only 300 numbered copies..

http://www.werock.org
http://www.bigdipper.no

If you dig: WE

Scott

Wicked Minds - Live at Burg Herzberg Festival 2006 (Herzberg Verlag)
Wicked Minds are an excellent Italian 70’s style rock band that totally recreates the sound and atmosphere of early mid 70’s Uriah Heep and Deep Purple with killer keyboard playing! The CD begins with the hard rockin’ From the Purple Skies and Witchflower (which you can see on the Burg Herzberg DVD). Elephant Store is a really long and funky jam from the bands first LP. IT begins as a jam before the singer kicks in and it has a great middle section with a spaced out guitar solo. Great song. Before the Morning Light begins with an organ solo and really highlights the organ player and also the guitarist later on. Through my Love begins with a guitar freakout but is the only weak song (In my opinion) on the CD. Return to Uranus begins with a Hammond freakout and the great bluesy riff kicks in and the band jam out for nearly 20 minutes! The CD and the show ends with Shadow’s Train, which is a real tribute to the spirit and sound of Uriah Heep. I think if you are a big Uriah Heep fan, you will also dig this band as they totally have the spirit of that great 70’s band. Enjoy!

http://www.herzbergverlag.de
http://www.wickedminds.net

If you dig: Uriah Heep, Vanadium, Deep Purple

Scott

W.I.N.D. - Live in the Land of Milk and Honey (Herzberg Verlag)
WIND are Polish blues rock band in the spirit of other power trios. You can really hear that this band is influenced by Gov’t Mule. The singer recently sat in and played harmonica when the MULE played in Warsaw this last summer! Anyway, this is their live set from the Burg Herzberg Festival 2005 and they rock out! Sadly they had a malfunction with the recording and the first set was lost but what you have left is quite good. The CD begins with the Elmore James classic, Dust my Broom. Next up is an original called Lucky Man. Fabio has a really cool voice and he totally reminds me of someone but I can’t place it right now. Not a bad blues rocker. Fake it reminds me a bit of Smokestack Lightning. Dance with the Devil is a real Gov’t Mule influenced track but also a great number but poor Jimi can’t really hold a candle to Warren in the guitar department (but few people can….). Taste It, is a more uptempo blues rocker and has a slightly meaner riff. Now the band start to stretch things out and the next 3 songs are all nearly 10 minutes or more, starting with Bad Luck Blues. This is a real blues song with Jimi’s best guitar work thus far on the CD. The Allman Brothers song, Whipping Post is next and man, this is a hard song to pull off as a three piece band and they do a decent version and totally jam it out for nearly 14 minutes. The show ends with the Jimi Hendrix classic Voodoo Chile. Pretty damn cool Polish blues rock band and a damn good live record.

http://www.herzbergverlag.de
http://www.wind-band.net

If you dig: Gov’t Mule, North Mississippi Allstars, Marc Ford

Scott


WintherStormer - Woodwork (Bajkal Records)
Wow… I had never heard of these analog synth enthusiasts before. It is primarly the Duo of Terje Winther and Erik Stormer (from Norway) utilizing their large banks of analog modular synths joined by some friends on guitar and various hand drums and percussion. They create some really cool deep space excursions like the old Alien Planetscapes material and Dave Prescott but with a much more hifi sound. Like Alien Planetscapes it is all improvised no midi, no prearranged musical structure, just the feel of the moment captured in time. The CD features 4 tracks ranging from the short 8 min Engraved to the 35 minutes Monochrome. The CD starts with Pure Analog Forever (Colour Haze and Witchcraft would agree with that statement!). Lots of really cool spaced out synths that come in waves before the space sound go in and it gets more and more complex and then totally spaced out in the middle with some great synth playing and later on some nice guitar as well and totally freaking out at the end. Great track. Musical equitation extracted from Firelogs is next at 17 minutes. This begins with some chimes and a siren like sound and stays in slow and spaced out mode for a while and then gets quite mysterious and dark around 6 minutes and goes through a lot of changes but stays deep out in space. Engraved is next and almost like a band track with drums and some powerful guitar and great lead synths. What an amazing synth sound they get…. Monochrome is the 35 minute trip and will remind folks of Tangerine Dream for sure. I can’t wait for these guys to get back into the studio as this is some of the best electronica I have heard in a while.

http://www.wintherstormer.no

If you dig: Alien Planetscapes, Tangerine Dream, Brian Fowler, Klaus Schultze

Scott

Andre Williams with the Goldstars – It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Want to Rock and Roll / Fight for Your Right (to Party) 7” (Munster Records)
It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock’n’roll, but the way down is even longer, harder, bitterer. Andre Williams knows this, having already once watched his career go down the drain through the 80’s and 90’s, until he was lifted out of his hole and reinstalled on his rightful throne by Mick Collins with the late 90’s albums “Silky” and “The Black Godfather”. This 7”, though, however promising the concept of Williams covering the AC/DC and Beastie Boys classics, shows the ageing soul man in poor shape: His voice isn’t up to it any longer, and the result is tame and rather embarrassing, I’m afraid.

http://www.munster-records.com

If you dig: Dirtbombs, Jon Spencer

Jon A

Wisdom In Chains – Class War CD (A-Team/Alveran Records/Target)
The mere idea of mixing metalcore with gangsta hiphop would be enough to make just about everyone I know snicker, starting an album with machinegun fire and dedicating it to someone called Mikey “2-Fist” Hicks would have them rolling on the floor laughing. Listening past the opening hiphop beats, which stop soon enough, wouldn’t make them change their minds: This is pretty dumb macho hood-style bullshit that would probably go down a lot better with the mean pushers on the corner than with my elitist crowd. Not to imply that WIC don’t know how to put together a decent mosh core song and even vary them a bit, it’s just too thickheaded to me.

http://www.myspace.com/ateamdistribution

If you dig: Biohazard, Agnostic Front

Jon A


Witchcraft – The Alchemist (Rise Above Records)
These guys were supposed to grow up in the seventies and hang on street corners wearing denim clothes and driving Kreidler mopeds. Oh yeah, those were the days! No, honestly - Witchcraft is capable of creating music that is so authentic that it actually sounds like a band from 1973. It’s on one hand built upon Sabbathish riffs and with a style of singing resembling Ozzy. On the other hand it’s softer, more hippie-like and quite unique. The production is smooth and clean and yet so very vintage due to the analogue recording. The song “Leva” is with Swedish lyrics and gives associations to other Swedish bands like Svarta Pan and Abramis Brama. I would love more songs in Swedish especially because this one tends to have less old school doomish clichés than the ones song in English. Not that I really care, but still … “Remembered” has a nice laid back sax solo fitting so well with the feel of the 70’s. Last track is an 11 min long epic song called “The Alchemist pt. 1/2/3” complete with flute in the first slow build-up. This is third time around for Witchcraft and though it’s less cocky than their previous releases, this is a brilliant record and another step forward.

http://www.myspace.com/witchcraft

If you dig: Abramis Brama, Svarta Pan, Pentagram

Tomsen

Wrong Side of Vegas - Dirty Jobs (EP)
Wrong Side of Vegas would like to play motor rock ala Stooges, MC5 or garage revival rock like The Hives. What they play is unfortunately traditional Danish radio-friendly college rock. Not much to say about that! No balls, no kicking ass and definitely not recommended for Lowcutters. But they will probably have a great career in Denmark with lots of airplay at P3 and jobs at the mainstream festivals.

http://www.wrongsideofvegas.dk

If you dig: The Breakers, Silver, Brian Adams

Tomsen

Xoo - Poison in the Name of Beauty (MG)
Xoo are a new UK Hawkwind inspired band lead by guitar player Kevin Perry (who also plays in the Hawkwind cover band Assassins of Silence. The CD-R (it is a real CD, they were just not ready when I got my copy) features 9 tracks, some of which are instrumental. They lyrics are mostly about quite socially concise and interesting subject matter, despite, some of the choruses being sung just too many times in a few of the songs.

The CD begins with Call of the Profit, a highly Huw Lloyd Langton style Hawkwind influenced instrumental track. Song of the Sandman is next and starts with a spoken word piece before and is a nice melodic track that would have fit nicely on the Hawkwind Xenon Codex record. She Ghost in the Machine starts with a woman speaking and then heads into the most catchy track on the CD.. Poison in the name of Beauty is quite nice melodic and spacey instrumental track with a prominent bass line that builds up the track nicely. Dark Matter
features both singers and again a very melodic and spacey track and Queen of Angels features some beautiful guitar playing, while both songs remind me of Darxtar. Merchant of Venus starts off a lot like Assassins of Allah but then goes into a different direction and is again quite melodic and almost poppy… SETI begins with some electronic sequences and the guitar slowly layers in. This is one of the tracks where the chorus is repeated a bit too much for me. The CD ends with Beauty, a short 2min electronic piece. Not a bad debut but not very original. A bit too much sounding like later 80’s Hawkwind. Some really nice tracks though..

http://www.alien8.co.uk

If you dig: Bedouin, Hawkwind, Huw Lloyd Langton, Dark Sun, Darxtar

Scott


Ironboss/Bad Preachers Split 10” (Rock and Roll Radio)
This is one of 3 in the beginning of a new series of split 10” records with really cool fold out Malleus artwork. Ironboss start things off with 4 fast paced tracks. The band hail from Maryland and are helped out by Wino on the last track, Walk like a Man. These guys remind me a bit of Drive by Shooting from Berlin. Walk like a Man is a nice old school hard rock track. Bad Preachers from Belgium also kick out the jams with 5 short tracks. These guys are a bit like a more heavy metal version of Charged GBH (not quite as fast) at times. Travelin’ Man even features some harmonica over its hard driving rhythm. Born in Flames is the best track on the side but all are strong tracks. These guys are a cool new band, for me..

http://www.rocknrollradio.org
http://www.ironboss.com
http://www.badpreachers.tk

If you dig: Drive by Shooting, Charged GBH

Scott

Monkey3/Hypnos 69 Split 10” (Rock and Roll Radio)
This is one of 3 in the beginning of a new series of split 10” records with really cool fold out Malleus artwork. The first side features the Monkey3 track, Once upon a time in the West, which was also on their latest CD. So nothing new here but still a really cool track. Hypnos 69 give two unreleased tracks and this is what makes the record worth owning. Vandetta has that typical Hypno groove and is a real rocker, while Hide from the Sun is a more moody track.. Nice thick vinyl and great sound on these.

http://www.rocknrollradio.org
http://www.hypnos69.be
http://www.monkeythree.com

If you dig: Hypnos 69, Colour Haze,

Scott

Los Natas/Cabron Split 10” (Rock and Roll Radio)
This is one of 3 in the beginning of a new series of split 10” records with really cool fold out Malleus artwork. The Argentinean band, Lost Natas, provide us with two unreleased tracks. The first is a cover of the Kyuss song Allen’s Wrench. As Los Natas were almost a Kyuss cover band in the beginning, they put in a strong one on this track. Highway Sun is a remixed version of the song from the Toba Trance CD and also quite Kyuss influenced. Cabron are a Belgium band and although they have been on the scene for some years, this is actually the bands debut material. It features 3 songs from their demo CD from 2003 but it was remixed in 2005. Burden is a high energy stoner track with a strong rhythm hard drive and a sort of indie rock chorus like part. Parascending features some really cool playing by the band and is instrumental. Backlash is almost like stoner pop. Cool stuff.. I guess that these records are going to be highly collectable!

http://www.rocknrollradio.org
http://www.cabron-band.tk
http://www.losnatas.com

If you dig: Kyuss, Los Natas, Dozer

Scott

Wardance/Penalty Time – split LP (Assel Records)
Sometimes, you just need a good crust record to assure that all other music pretending to be punk is just fake commercial crap. It took me a long time to actually get to like crust, but I can appreciate some of it for it raw will and its message. Even if they have a song called “Shop Till You Drop”. Of the two, Wardance are more metal, but both bands hark back to classic 80’s hardcore. Highly recommended for everyone pissed off with the right wing government taking another term in office.

http://www.assel-records.de

If you dig: crustcore

Jon A

V/A – Road to Nowhere (Poison Tree Records)
This is a compilation with well known bands like Fu Manchu, Mondo Generator, Brant Bjork and Burning Brides but also some less know acts like The Sammies, Dig and Leech. Not much to say about the mix but it’s like Poison Tree plays it a bit safe with Fu Manchu and other bands that are common knowledge. On the other hand there’s a previously unreleased track with Winnebago Deal and it’s cool with the tracks from the less well known bands. Interesting is that Danish retro rockers Baby Woodrose has been picked and are represented with “Kitty Galore”. But it’s even more interesting that Ruben Romano’s project The Freeks is finally available for listening. Unfortunately it’s the same song that’s streamed on The Freeks’ myspace page and it’s just the short instrumental song “The Go Go Get”. The Freeks is a collaboration between different well known stoner rock icons like Ruben himself (Fu Manchu, Nebula), John McBain (Monster Magnet, Wellwater Conspiracy), Scott Reeder (Kyuss, Unida) and even Lorenzo Woodrose lends vocals to one of the songs. It’s a nice compilation and the songs picked are very good, but except for a few I guess most stoner freaks could have made this mix themselves. Anyway, Poison Tree Records is a nice new acquaintance and I hope they’ll get the chance to put out the full Freeks album. I’m waiting in eager!

http://www.poisontreerecords.com

If you dig: Stoner Rock ad libitum

Tomsen

V/A -Trip in Time Vol. 2 (World in Sound)
This is the 2nd volume in these really cool psychedelic rock compilations which features all unreleased material by a great range of bands and is highly recommended for those into psychedelic rock, especially the German underground scene. The bands featured on this double CD are: Obskurin (instrumental version of the Misfits song, Die Die my Darling), Crystal Caravan, El Cuy, Les Trees, In the Company of Wolves, To get her Together, The Magnificent Brotherhood (featuring old members of Liquid Visions), The Shivas, The Illiad, Jayahdeva, Treacle People (with a live track), Serpentina Satelite, La Ira De Dios (live version of Nave Femix), Embryo jamming with Karmic Society (24 minutes long!), Karmic Society, Oozing Goo, The Invisibles and the Swedish band, Drahk von Trip end the CD with the great unreleased track Kortenette (actually recorded by me in Malmö in June 2006). Sadly, they have broken up now. Over 2hrs of really cool music from a wide range of mostly German bands and a few others not from Germany.

http://www.tripintime.de
http://www.worldinsound.de

If you dig: German Underground Psychedelic rock!

Scott

The Bo-Weevils : Anthology 2CD (Off The Hip)
This Melbourne garage combo has been around for over 20 years, and this impressive 2disc comp offers a solid introduction to the band. Disc 1 consists of studio tracks of their 5 albums, while the 2nd includes previously released and unreleased live cuts, b-sides and rare tracks. The flavors go from garagerock, freakbeat, psych to jangly pop. It's probably too much music (150 mins!) for a Bo-Weevils rookie like me, and many tracks are a tad too lightweight and bland for my taste, but other the other hand you get an idea of which albums to invest in, and that's the main appeal of this release which comes with a neat 20 page booklet w/notes from original member Neil Rogers. Don't confuse this band with the Liverpool group of the same name.

http://www.offthehip.com.au/

If you dig: Hoodoo Gurus, New Salem Witch Hunters, Died Pretty

Jens


The Branded : She's My Woman/I'm Branded 7” (Raven's End Records)
Lea Tea of Thee Exciters and a couple of Malmö citizens are behind this sublime garagerock combo. Their debut single expertly embraces 60s garage beat punk ala Back From The Grave and the delicious lo-fi raunch of Thee Headcoats with some tasty Link Wray twang. Two killer cuts that no true garagepunk can or should live without, recorded in glorious mono, of course. Please come by Copenhagen again, guys!!

http://www.myspace.com/therealbranded

If you dig: Back From The Grave garagepunk, Billy Childish, Downliners Sect

Jens

Brutal Knights : Living By Yourself - Tour Picture 12" (P.Trash Records)
Seven short raging punkcore blasts from Toronto's finest on something as rare as a picture disc LP. Although it's not as sublimely produced as their Jay Reatard-mixed album "Feast Of Shame" (my pick of the year), it's still a sexy volatile kick to the head, Brutal Knights style. Lotsa sarcastic snotty wit spiced with thrasy speedy energy outbursts. A must for BK fans! See interview elsewhere in this issue.

http://www.myspace.com/brutalknights
http://ptrashrecords.com

If you dig: Negative Approach, Zeke, Poison Idea

Jens

Johnny Casino & The Secrets : Cowboys And Indians EP CD (Off The Hip)
The Mr. Casino is one busy bee with projects like Asteroid B612 and Easy Action among others, this outfit covers a more varied ground. The title track is from the "New Clothes Old Shoes" album, while 4 remaining tunes are unreleased. R&B, drunken rootsrock and basic rock'n'roll all get the Casino treatment with the help of some seasoned Aussie vets of Hoodoo Gurus and Celibate Rifles. The gem here is an sensational rawass version of the old Box Tops soul hit "The Letter".

http://www.offthehip.com.au/
http://www.myspace.com/therealjohnnycasino

If you dig: Replacements, rootsrock and cold beers

Jens

Wild Billy Childish And The Musicians Of The British Empire : Punk Rock At The British Legion Hall CD (Damaged Goods/Kick Music)
Yet another album from the Britain's most active rock'n'roller since the the late70s, and blimey, it's yet another almost flawless exercise in primitive r&b punk. Billy's previous outfit, Buff Medways, was a bit more focused than TMOTBE and probably a tad more superior in their excellent The Who mod-ish antics, this combo (incl. his wife Julie on bass) seems to cover every genre he dabbled in through the decades thus losing a bit of an edge. Still, it's a must for every Childish worshippers and not a half bad to start for rookies. For the very first time Mr. Childish gets a Danish distributor, way to go, Kick Music!

http://www.damagedgoods.co.uk/
http://www.theebillychildish.com/
http://kick.dk/

If you dig: Billy Childish, what else?

Jens

Electric Eel Shock : Transworld Ultra Rock CD (Double)
Always been a huge fan of these Japanese hardrockers live shows, but sadly the trio always had a fierce struggle of getting that animalistic energy down on wax. "Transworld Ultra Rock" is probably their most mainstream sounding release yet, it's produced by Judas Priest/Scorpions man-behind-the-knobs (hehe) Attie Bauw who sorta tamed the beast that is Electric Eel Shock, which is both a blessing but mostly a curse. It's still 'Heavy Metal Rock'n'Roll' but more in the clean-cut verison of the recent Danko Jones record. There are way better Japanese r'n'r acts out there, starting with Church Of Misery. A disappointment.

http://www.electriceelshock.com/

If you dig: Danko Jones, Fu Manchu, AC/DC

Jens

Flying Over : Danger Boy 7” (Frantic City/Shit In Can/Adrenalin Fix)
The a-side sports two rad fast punk/rock'n'rollers not unlike The Stitches or TV Killers with a touch of those Rip Off bands, while the flip "I Wanna Destroy You!" is a great midtempo snotfest. Nothing you haven't heard before, but this shit is solid as Lee Marvin kickin' butt in a Noir flick. Flying Over has been around for 10 years and have previously released the "Rockin' Frenchies" album including an Infections cover!
Clear vinyl limited to 500 copies.

http://www.myspace.com/flyingover

If you dig: Stitches, TV Killers

Jens

The Goldstars : Purple Girlfriend CD (Pravda Records)
'The holy trinity of the Farfisa organ, the fuzzed-out guitar, and the wailing voices of American kids trying to sound like British kids trying to sound black.' Well, they ain't bullshittin' ya, buddy. 60s Yardbirds stomp and Nuggets raunch celebrating at a Stax dance party, so git yer groove on! Boss tunes from a Chicago boss garagerock act. "Purple Girlfriend" is their 2nd album, buy...or don't, it's your loss.

http://www.pravdamusic.com/
http://www.thegoldstars.com/

If you dig: Maggots, Chesterfield Kings, Cynics

Jens

Robert Gordon & Chris Spedding : It’s Now Or Never CD (RYKO)
Mr. Gordon has been struttin' out rockabilly since the 70s (a few albums with the immortal Link Wray), and Chris "Motorbikin'" Spedding even longer, mostly pubrock with the likes of Dave Edmonds. I saw'em last winter deliver a pretty good show of many oldies but goodies, and this is of course a 30th anniversary of the death of Elvis, featuring only songs The King sang. The two gentlemen are accompanied by Elvis' former backup singers, The Jordanaires. "It's Now Or Never" is of course at risk of drowning in the flood of Presley tributes, but Robert's voice is in excellent shape and so are the licks of Chris, making this a worthwhile release for others than Elvisphiles.

http://www.rykodistribution.com/

If you dig: Robert Gordon & Elvis

Jens

Heavy Trash : Going Way Out With.. CD (Cruncy Frog)
2nd album by Jon Spencer and Matt Verta-Ray (Speedball Baby), and as with their 1st this also also takes a rockabilly approach, Sun Records style, although this time it's a bit more countryesque and laidback. People only familar with JSBX should that this isn't a hip 'deconstruction' of rockabilly and C&W but a soulful and heartfelt tribute to that 50s Memphis sound by two extremely capable musicians. Godlike country rockers The Sadies also help out on half the tunes, and some are recorded in the famous Toe Rag Studio in London by garagerock legend Liam Watson. "Goin Way Out" is a stompin' hoedown for city folks - highly recommended for y'all.

http://www.crunchy.dk/

If you dig: Sun Records rockabilly, Johnny Cash

Jens

Hellacopters : The Same Lame Story 7” (Bootleg Booze)
Apparently this is the swansong of the Swedes, which is kinda sad, I think, although I never cared much for what they made after the immortal "Supershitty To The Max" debut album. After their Stooges/Motörhead/MC5 period they went Lynyrd Skynyrd and then Cheap Trick powerpop, with very mixed results. "The Same Lame Story" is a decent powerpop punky song, and the flip is a take on Electric Frankenstein's "It's All Moving Faster". It's a pretty good release but nothing earth shaking. Mayby it's best Nicke & Co. throw in the towel now, since I kinda prefer his The Solution and Death Breath projects. Thanks guys.

http://www.bootlegbooze.com/

If you dig: Late period Hellacopters

Jens

High On Fire : Death Is This Communion CD (Relapse)
The new HOF album might not be as bonecrushin' as the "Black Blessed Wings" monster, hey Mike Pike even 'sings' in certain tracks, but it's still a righteous LOUD-AS-FUCK metal behemoth that's leagues above the competition. The Jack Endino production really benefits the ungodly drumming of Des Kensel in the sonic mayhem that is "Death Is This Communion". A tune like "Rumors Of War" sounds like Motörhead worship in the most extreme form, but it works for me. The doomy titel track, which I've played several times on Lowcut r'n'r radio, is probaby my fave. Former Zeke bassist Jeff Matz has replaced Joe Preston but Jeff does a damn fine job on this album. The only flaws I can think of are the acoustic attempts that don't really fit in. Otherwise this album is a must for anyone who are tired of lame hasbeens like Metallica or Megadeth - High On Fire are the new Kings of heavy metal! This is a promo cd, there's also a cd version with dvd.

http://www.relapse.com
http://www.myspace.com/highonfireslays

If you dig: Slayer, Motörhead, St. Vitus

Jens

The Hip Priests : Tight 'N' Exciting LP (Bootleg Booze)
These filth mongers from Nottingham sport ex-members of X-Rays and The Divine Brown, and as expected The Hip Priests excel in sleaze punk'n'roll with the sophisticated tactfulness of GG Allin and Lemmy. Horny as hell, these fuckers take no prisoners in their quest for kicks, and thankfully the songs can more than backup the wreckless attitudes. Imagine Turbonegro and Dwarves with equal amonts of Detroit r'n'r and Zodiac Mindwarp glam, then buttfuck it with some '77 punk, and you're sorta there. Massive! Half of the 12 tracks are from their debut EP "Numbers Of The Priests", and the rest are just as fierce, only the production of "Tight 'N' Exciting" is superior to the EP. Highly recommended. See interview elsewhere in this issue!

http://www.bootlegbooze.com/
http://www.myspace.com/hippriests

If you dig: early Turbonegro, Dwarves, Stooges

Jens

His Electro Blue Voice : Fog/Das 7” (S-S Records)
Mucho strange 'punk' from this Italian combo, too noisy and rockin' to be strictly labelled goth or post-punk, yet too weird for your average punkrocker. Dark, intense, trippy, distorted and irrational. I can't quite explain His Electro Blue Voice but goddammit, I love it! And so will fans of Jay Reatards' less punky projects and maybe Human Eye.

http://www.myspace.com/hiselectrobluevoice
http://www.myspace.com/ssrecords

If you dig: Nightmarish spacy prog punk

Jens

Los Imposibles : Vna Vez Mas CDS (Bittersweet Recordings)
Three tracks of ultra catchy 60s mod/freakbeat/psych pop meets 70s powerpop, sung both in english and spanish. Los Imposibles hail from Madrid, and I'm sure they are a riot live, on record they might need to expand influences to find a identity of their own. Still, this is so cheerful that you have to be pretty grumpy not to shake your hips and move your feet to the beat. Kinda like a more radiofriendly version of Dr. Explosion.

http://www.myspace.com/losimposibles

If you dig: The Men, The Creation, Any Trouble

Jens

Legendary Shack Shakers : Swampblood CD (Kick Music)
Col. J.D. Wilkes and his wild rootsrockers are back again! After two crazyass and super eclectic albums, "Believe" and "Pandelirium", Th' Shack Shakers focus a bit more on country, gospel, bluegrass, blues, and rockabilly on this platter that fans of Southern Culture On The Kids and Creedence Clearwater Revival should relish in. Kinda like "Cockadoodledon't" revisited. The titel "Swampblood" isn't lying since we are treated with killer swamp rock, LLS-style, which of course means there's still a lotta punkrock energy in these 14 cuts. And J.D. Wilkes again shows the world he's the best damn harpplayer around today. If you haven't witnessed a LSS show I truly feel sorry for you! As Jello Biafra sez about J.D.; ""The last great Rock and Roll frontman."

http://www.cockadoodledont.com/
http://www.kick.dk/

If you dig: Southern Culture On The Skids on rocket fuel!

Jens

Roy Loney And The Longshots : Shake It Or Leave It! CD (Career Records)
Former Flamin Groovies legend Roy Loney continues his 30 years solo career with yet another solid rock'n'roll record packed with swamp rock, rockabilly, garagerock, r&b and of course pubrock which inspired a lotta Brit artists in the mid70s. Mr. Loney had many loyal followers over the years like Little Steven and Kim Salmon. Radio Birdman founder, Deniz Tek, plays guitar on the album and co-produced it. "Shake It Or Leave It" is basically a celebration of everything that's cool about American r'n'r during the last 50 years. I probably prefer his old backing band, The Phantom Movers, but The Longshots are pretty awesome as well making "Shake It" a worthy sequel to their previous "Drunkard In The Think Tank" record.

http://careerrecords.com/

If you dig: Flamin Groovies, Fleshtones, Dr. Feelgood

Jens

The Mess Makers :Wipe Your Face CD (Off The Hip)
Rawass garagefuzz, Aussie-style, with ex-members of Crusaders, Unfuckable, Clear Spots etc. Nuggets 60s punk and '77 punk get a hectic workover that recalls early Makers. A track like "Expert On Everything" is one of the best r'n'r tunes I've heard all year, and it's of course a hit on Lowcut r'n'r radio. The CD offers 12 songs, and the same 12 cuts in mono for your listening pleasure. Another winner from Off The Hip!

http://www.offthehip.com.au/
http://www.myspace.com/themessmakers

If you dig: Celibate Rifles, Crusaders, early Makers

Jens

P.A.F. : Fingerprints, Medicine CD (New World Of Sound/Barely Auditable Records)
Many are probably familar with Scott Rosenberg of Pink Mountain, this project of his is deeply devoted to rural American folk & blues but they got their own little noisy twist on things. Most of songs are recorded live in studio, and there's cool improv vibe to the 8 tunes. The trio is hard to compare to other acts, especially in the alt.country/americana genre, but I'm sure works way better on a stage. "Fingerprinits, Medicine" is P.A.F.'s first album, a new record "Pheonix" is probably out by the time you're reading this.

http://www.myspace.com/paf
http://www.barelyauditable.com/

If you dig: Soulful and noisy folk blues

Jens

Dax Riggs : We Sing Of Only Blood Or Love CD (Fat Possum)
The label is Fat Possum but this sure ain't a typical delta blues release even though Mr. Riggs hails from Louisiana. For some reason this gloomy death obsessed record recalls the likes of Nick Cave, Wovenhand, Mark Lanegan and Beasts Of Bourbon. Beautiful yet nightmarish, both heartfelt, poetic AND balls-out rockin', "We Sing Of Only Blood Or Love" offers many different moods. Goth Blues? I dunno, but this record keeps on growing on me. High recommended!

http://www.fatpossum.com/
http://www.myspace.com/daxriggs

If you dig: Nick Cave, Wovenhand, Mark Lanegan, Beasts Of Bourbon

Jens

The Ripoffs : European Tour Single 2007 7" (Squoodge Records)
Got this fucker at the The Ripoffs show at Rotterdam Rumble. Three live tunes ("Fed Up", "Ugly", "She Said Yeah") from a 1995 at Emo's (Austin, Texas) with Motards. Lotsa verbal abuse in between songs from Greg Lowery, Shane White, Jason White and Jon Von - just like their reunion show in Rotterdam! The sound quality is decent, and of course a must for all fans of the primitive punkrock of the glorious Ripoffs. Sadly this copy isn't mine, since I'd it signed by Greg as a gift to Mads of Cola Freaks. Man, what a nice guy I am!

http://www.myspace.com/therealripoffs
http://www.squoodge.de/

If you dig: Supercharger, Zodiac Killers, Infections

Jens

Seminal Rats : The Essential 1984-91 CD promo (Bang! Records)
This Melbourne cult band's releases has always been pretty hard to find, but thankfully that has changed with Bang! Records and this double album/2CD (sadly the promo is only 1 cd). Seminal Rats excel in rough garagepunk taking cues from Stooges, Radio Birdman and The Saints, slap it around and throw it back at ya with excessive force. Caveman punkrock'n'roll, baby! One of the very best anthologies of the year - so c'mon and join the rat race!!

http://www.myspace.com/seminalrats
http://www.bang-records.net/

If you dig: Saints, Bored!, Radio Birdman

Jens

Shelby Wolf : Itches & Ditches promo EP CD
Out of the ashes of Bondage Corporation comes this similar boogie rawk monster that reminds me a bit of Raging Slab. Five tracks of damn impressive hardrock with influences from 70s southern rock, blues to Stoner metal. Copenhagen should be fuckin' proud of possessing such an jewel as Shelby Wolf. They will be supporting Peter Pan Speedrock at Stengade December 20th, so do check them out! I did recently at Dragens Hule, but were too drunk to remember any details, but it was so awesome that I lost my cell phone in my drunken worship.

http://www.myspace.com/shelbywolf

If you dig: Bondage Corporation, Raging Slab, Black Oak Arkansas

Jens

Slow Gun Shogun demo CD
Stoner Country Blues? AJ has been involved in many Chicago punk and metal band, this is his one-man-band. His love for the likes of Hank Williams Sr, Gram Parsons as well as Mudhoney is spread out pretty neat on the 6 tracks which includes the Waylon Jennings cover "Lonesome, On'ry And Mean". I really dig it, but as with many one-man studio projects you kinda miss the feel of a real band. Looking forward to hear from AJ.

http://www.myspace.com/slowgunshogun

If you dig: Waylon Jennings, Neil Young, Lazy Cowgirls

Jens

Snake & Jet’s Amazing Bullit Band : X Ray Spirit CD (Crunchy Frog)
For some reason I've missed all the hoopla surrounded this Copenhagen band which surprises me cuz this ain't bad organ-fueled garage pop. There's a lotta weird 'hip' sounds injected in their music, that might turn off garagerock puritans, but it's comes across sounding both fresh and retro-esque. It's sorta makes sense with Snake & Jet's Amazing Bullit Band on the same label as Powersolo. Now I just need to see this interesting band on a stage that all the youngsters are into.

http://www.crunchy.dk
http://www.myspace.com/snakeandjet

If you dig: A less rockin' version of Cato Salsa Experience, JSBX with more synth

Jens

Snazzy Boys : Play Your Bollocks With... 7" (Rijapov Records)
Snappy 77' punk with lotsa attitude and pop sensibilities in the right amounts. This is the Italian combo's 2nd single and so far they can't do wrong in my book. Ripjapov Records has also released gnarly stuff by Wrists and Wax Museums - so you know this is cool shit, daddy-o! AW RIGHT?

http://www.myspace.com/rijapovrecords
http://www.myspace.com/snazyboys

If you dig: Marked Men, Briefs, Buzzcocks

Jens

The Urges : Psych Ward CD (Off The Hip)
I've been a huge fan of this Dublin combo since I saw'em at Primitive Festival 2006 and somebody gave me a promo single with'em. So when I received their debut album I knew I was in for a treat. Well, what happened? "Psych Ward" completely knocked me off my ass! Definitely my pick for the garagerock album of the year! 60s psych punk is expertly mutated with the very best of 80s garagerock, and...I'm speechless, just buy the damn record if you want experience the cream of the crop of today's garagerock!

http://www.offthehip.com.au/
http://www.myspace.com/theurges

If you dig: Music Machine, Fuzztones, Seeds

Jens

White Flame : American Rudeness CD (Munster Records)
Spanish label Munster has dug up a 1978 album that never got any distribution way back when, and yes, it's sort of a gem. White Flame was formed in the early 70s in Connecticut by two highschool friends whose love for junkie rock ala Velvet Underground, NY Dolls, Stooges mixed with humorous Zappa-like lyrics is pretty obvious on "American Rudeness". It's uneven as hell, but also very contagious 70s artifact. The titel track was written in 1975, so all you proto-punk fans out there should check out these cats.

http://www.munster-records.com

If you dig: Early 70s Lou Reed, MC5, Kim Fowley

Jens

The Wrists : MK Ultra 7" (Rijapov Records)
Desperate new wave-ish punk that the Jay Reatard minions should sink their teeth in, immediately! Tense, angry, noisy, yet strangely catchy stuff from the Lone Star state with a personnel of 2 basses, 1 synth, and 1 drum. The single's cowboy cover art recalls old Devo/Butthole Surfers sleezes. Anywayz, I love this band, so will you!

http://www.myspace.com/thewrists
http://www.myspace.com/rijapovrecords

If you dig: Jay Reatard, Urinals, Human Eye

Jens

V/A Something Fierce / The Hangouts split 7" (Manic Attack Records)
Houston punks Something Fierce do two songs ("Teenage Ruins" and "The Pirate Stomp") and go for that classic Marked Men thru the way of Buzzcocks '77 sound that impossible not to shake yer ass to. Fuckin' A-grade stuf! Hangouts, another Texas outfit, sports similar '77 cojones although a bit more aggressive neo-hardcore-cum-Avengers sound fronted by awesome singer Nikki S. So there, two excellent Texas groups, four killer tunes, pink vinyl - what are you waiting for, dummy? BUY!

http://www.myspace.com/thehangoutsrule
http://www.myspace.com/somethingfiercehouston
http://www.myspace.com/manicattackrecords

Jens