2018
It's like Grunge and it's really good.
Saturday, October 13, 2018
Friday, October 12, 2018
Spaceslug - Eye The Tide
2018
Mostly laid back progressive jammy stoner, but they get heavier and uglier on a couple songs. Good stuff.
Rough Spells - Modern Kicks for the Solitary Witch
2018
Vocals similar to Ann Wilson singing for a darker rock band. Catchy stuff.
Pushy - Hard Wish
2018
70's rockin' on the boogie rock end of things, but there's a lot to take in here and it's pretty easy goin' rockin'.
Maggot Heart - Dusk to Dusk
2018
Man this is rock/metal first and foremost. It's catchy and there's there angular Voivod type guitar riffs and there's a 80's gothic element sneaking in there. Killer dark rock record.
Luger - Hellraisers of the Wasteland
2018
The album starts out speedy NWOBHM style, but turns into heavy stoner metal, and sleazy bluesy metal and eventually returns to evil Thrash metal. Cool album.
Kingnomad - The Great Nothing
2018
The Great Nothing is the second album from Sweden’s Kingnomad. A 42 minute trip from the inner workings of your mind to the outer reaches of the universe. Opening with some Beach Boys-esque harmonies the tone is set for your upcoming flight. A journey of emotions, cautiousness, enthusiasm…you’re constantly propelled forward through space and time. There’s also foreboding and mystery. The vocals are soothing and always comforting. You never have to worry Kingnomad is always in control. Sweet production that serves the music perfectly. Progressive rocking that is a pleasure to listen to and never a chore. There’s Jazzy rock elements that are soothing and dreamy, you just along with. Kick back in the back and let Kingnomad do the interstellar driving.
Imperial Triumphant - Vile Luxury
2018
Avant Gard Black Metal with Jazzy Hitchcock like samples between songs. Pretty awesome.
Hound - Settle Your Scores
2018
Tasty retro rock. Catchy and dark and rocking. Like Led Zeppelin with a Hammond. Does that make them like Deep Purple? A top release from 2018!
Chubby Thunderous Bad Kush Masters - Come and Chutney
2018
Heavy heavy, like Bongzilla, Weedeater. Screechy vocals and jam outs. Pretty killer record.
Brimstone Coven - What Was And What Shall Be
2018
Retro Rock that's very good. Occult rock. Smooth, smooth harmonies. One of the best albums from 2018.
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Blue Oyster Cult - Secret Treaties
1974
Great album with great compositions and great playing. Bizarro lyrics. These guys are really creative and eclectic. It all really comes together on this album. When I try to think of other bands that are similar I can't really, except bands I don't really care for, something like Frank Zappa or some progressive rock bands from the 70's. B.O.C. really synthesize the weird, out there music of the early 70's. Fine tune and make it digestible. Even though it's complicated it's pleasant to listen to.
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Blue Oyster Cult - Tyranny and Mutation
1972
Eclectic rock from 1972. This is heavier and darker than the first album. Still not approaching the all out heaviness of Zeppelin or Sabbath...they're closer to Yes on this one. They're leaving behind the sillier psychedelic bits and getting into that progressive vibe. Well crafted songs that sound great and are performed great. Oh yeah, and scary creepy lyrics that are not sung in an intimidating way.
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Blue Oyster Cult - Blue Oyster Cult
1972
This album is really, you know, it's really early in the big picture. 1972! It's not full on heavy like Sabbath or Zeppelin. It's more eclectic with really good playing, lyrics and overall sounds. The production is a bit on the murky side. Closer to Bowie, The Doors, The Who, Pink Floyd... but not sounding like any of those bands. It's like half super awesome and half psychedelic weirdish rock that reminds me of a bunch of obscure early 70's bands that fell by the wayside. The difference is B.O.C. is a really good band. This album is very enjoyable to listen to.
Friday, September 28, 2018
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Secrets of the Lost Empires - Secrets of the Lost Empires
2018
Bluesy progressive stoner metal. Good stuff. These guys are from Arizona.
Dying Hydra - Dying Hydra
2018
Heavy sludgy rockin with gruff vocals. Remind me of old Mastodon a little bit.
Friday, September 21, 2018
Rainbow - Difficult to Cure
1981
I remember when Can't Happen Here used to be in semi heavy rotation on MTV...these songs are pretty "commercial" and every time I'm about to give up on a song, for being too wimpy, here comes the guitar solo (or keyboard solo) and all of a sudden I'm diggin' it. Into the chorus and I'm like, all smiles. Then the whole process starts over on every song.
Thursday, September 20, 2018
Starlight Ritual - Age of the Universe
2016
Killer Metal with killer vocals. Three song e.p. Excellent!
Witchskull - Coven's Will
2018
Rockin' doom with a variety of influences. One of my very top favorite releases from 2018.
True Believer - My Satan
2018
Occult rock meets old school metal with great vocals. Only a three song demo. Reall, really good stuff.
Tripp Hammer and the Water Wheel - Something Strange & Sharp
2018
Bluesy psychedelic rock somewhere in the neighborhood of All Them Witches and the White Stripes. This is good stuff and they're from Massachusetts.
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Rainbow - Long Live Rock 'N Roll
1978
I've never been able to get into this one like. They're a great band and there are great songs on here. It's not as engaging as Rising where I can really get into that one, and even more of the first. This feel like background music that's pleasant enough to listen to while I'm doing other stuff. Not really feeling The Shed or L.A. Connection...I don't get stoked on this one like the first two. It's still Dio, which also makes it better than A lot of other bands. Sensitive to light, I don't know man this album feels like quite a slide from Rising. Rising was like they were charging into the future pushing the boundaries. This is a step backwards...except for, you know, Kill The King and Long Live Rock 'n Roll.
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Superseed - Superseed
2018
Catchy polished rock like the Foo Fighters or something. This album has 16 songs and is an hour + long.
Unholy Slough - Chthonic Ritual
2018
Really slow and heavy lo fi Doom. With occasional blackened vocals and some cool guitar leads.
Let The Stick Burn - Wicked, Raw and Unprepared
2018
This is some enjoyable straight ahead rocking. Sounds like a lost 70's jem with a little bit of a Nirvana vibe.
Bongripper - Terminal
2018
The band is called Bongripper. There is two songs. One called Slow, that is 25 minutes long. The second song is called Death. It's 18 minutes long. It's mosstly crushing heaviness, but there's mellow parts too. It's all really well done. No vocals.
Black Helium - Primitive Fuck
2018
Trippy psychedelic fuzz heavy big jams. and heavy riff rockin. and stoner rockin. and bluesy heaviness. This a good record. These guys are from the UK.
Monday, September 17, 2018
Ancient Lights - Ancient Lights
2018
Instrumental psychedelic jams that leave the atmosphere and continue on to deep space. Heavy not whimpy.
Richie Blackmore's Rainbow - Richie Blackmore's Rainbow
1975
Not quite a five star album, but Dio makes the couple weaker tracks seem even better than they are. Some straight up rock and roll classics on here. A 1975 release that really does bridge 70's rock to what would come in the 80's. Awesome record.
Saturday, September 15, 2018
Harlots Grip - Harlots Grip
2018
Early 80's Metal. Four songs 20 minutes. Good stuff. These guys are from Ohio.
Thunder Horse - Thunder Horse
2018
Thunder Horse is a Doom Metal band from Texas and they rock! I wasn't sure at first, but this has really grown on me. The vocalist really has something to say. A favorite of mine from 2018.
Yob - Our Raw Heart
2018
Yob is one of the all time great Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal bands. You can't go wrong with any of their albums. There's a heartfelt honest quality to their music that really connects with fans. "Yob is Love" is a saying that's been going around these internets for more that a decade. On this album it shows more than ever. Trvia note, singer/guitarist Mike Scheidt suffered a life threatening illness around 2017. This album was written while he was recovering. So, you might sense more of a somberness than usual here. Record of the year 2018.
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