Burning Fields Forsaken...

The Slow Death - Siege (2021)

Hailing from Australia, this death/doom quintet has some common ground leading up to their current incarnation. Not only is this the fourth non-split album to come from The Slow Death, but three of the members are also in Horrisonous and Illimitable Dolor, with the two vocalists (one of whom also handles keyboards) having been plucked from Muskrat and Oracle of the Void. With the shared history between the main instrumental members, you'd expect to find this project approached with a strong sense of purpose, and just from glancing at the track times, that suspicion seems borne out. Totaling just over an hour, split between four songs, it's clear that the band has their ambitions set high,

Opening track “Tyranny” leads into its body with a lush intro, strings and keys drifting over each other in a dreamlike softness. Of course, it's not too long before a harder edge shows itself, as the bassist steps in with a staunch riff and gliding resonance, eventually joined by faster guitar and one of the vocalists (Mandy Andresen), who provides an earthy vibe not dissimilar from early Windhand or Jess And The Ancient Ones. That warm vibe is counter-balanced by the deeper growls from second vocalist Gamaliel, allowing the band to give a more human than usual manifestation of the death/doom contrast. Where Andresen's vocals might be put against chugging guitar, Gamaliel's might find some lightly plucked acoustic string backing, and so on. It's a clever and compelling approach to the music, but even beyond that clear hook, the songs are structured with care. Lengthy as they are, the numerous sections within the songs manage to avoid dragging. Instead, there's both emotion to savor in the moment, and the anticipation of the next shift, with the assorted movements flowing smoothly into one another.

The band also brings a pleasing variety of tonal and timbral qualities. Even within the opening track, the guitars shift their moody presences around from menacing, to meditative, to mournful, and more. While there's not the sort of overt time signature jumping and staggered rhythmic play that might make your mind jump to prog, there's certainly some progressive spirit animating the musicians' approach to the song-writing. Take “Famine”, for example, which alternates a rolling, almost Iron Maiden-ish rhythmic pull (down-shifted to doom gear, of course) with slower, more somber sections. Not a new trick for doom, but the band deploys it wonderfully, returning to the harder riff each time with increased ferocity, chewing right through the song's thirteen minutes. Even if you're not intent on picking apart the songcraft, it's easy to sink into their deep grooves and savor the work put into them. All together, it's an excellent and impressive piece of work. If you're in search of thoughtfully crafted doom, don't let this one go unheard.

~ Gabriel

For Fans Of; Bell Witch, The Fateful Hour, Heavydeath, Ksyatriya, Ufomammut

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The Slow Death - Famine

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Don't Look Down...

Night Goat - Burning Bridges to Light the Way (2020)

On Night Goat's third EP (following the simultaneous release of their Chicken and Egg records), the Australian group has put together just under half an hour of material, with a conceptual emphasis on the deteriorating state of the world.

Opening with “Simulacra”, the group works a slow and atmospheric groove between the bass and drums, with smokily sensuous vocals wrapping their way around the progressions. Restrained toothiness on the bass' riffs gets to come out and play in the bridges, with guitar-work and rougher singing joining in once that side's been uncovered. As things continue to develop, both sides entwine and branch off again, making for an opener that impresses with its technical panache as well as the emotiveness of the playing.

“Negative Crepe” (presumably a play on the similarly-titled Nirvana track) picks up from that high note, shifting back to the slow and moody vibes for the most part, though they do find room for some heavy and hard hits on the up-shift. It's more of a tonal trip than a rocker, but they put in such good work, it hardly feels like they're taking it easy. “Anchorite” takes over from there with a broody, simmering lead-in that practically tingles with foreshadowing. And the song delivers, working its way back and forth on intensity escalation, teasing listeners deeper into its web, edging them on with ominous build-up and leaving them eager for whatever may come.

Finally, “The Last Human Sound...” brings a conclusion that builds from the mix of melancholy and anticipation preceding it, delivering the longest song on the EP. Working a rising tension and swelling guitar presence, the band unfurls a track that I have to imagine takes on a spirit of its own in live performances. Despite its length, it's maybe the easiest listener on the EP, thanks in large part to the careful handling of the main melody. All in all, a very respectable release from this crew, and one with some deceptively sharp hooks to get lodged in the back of your mind.

~ Gabriel

For Fans Of; Acid King, Jess and the Ancient Ones, Stonerror, Wicked Lady, early Windhand

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Night Goat - Simulacra (320 kbps)

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Comforting Alien Skies...

Velvet Trip - Velvet Trip & The Six Moon Skies (2019)

Hailing from Sydney, Australia, the four-piece group of Velvet Trip are debuting with this EP, following a tease in the form of the “Take Control of Your Mind” advance single. Leading with the lengthily-titled “All My Life I Was 12ft Tall & Told My Tales Just the Same”, the group's psychedelic blues rock gets unfurled in flavorful form, with the earthy guitar tones and chill but energized drumming joining the solid bass and muted keyboards to form a deep soak of warm vibes. The singer leans towards Jimi Hendrix's friendly roughness in his inflection, but keeps it at a level of acknowledgment, rather than imitation, while the keyboardist gets to brandish a bit of Ray Manzarek riffage in the breakdown.

After a resurgence of energy for the finish, the intro track gives way to a more grounded groove as “Voodoo Cosmic Girl” picks up. Swinging between relatively locked-down rocking for the vocal sections and cutting loose in the interstitial instrumentals, it's clear that the band are having a lot of fun with the tune. Add to that the detail that each of the tracks are live one-run takes, and things get even more impressive, with the fine hooking of the players throwing lead lines to each other, catching them and expanding in fantastic style. The shift to “Take Control of Your Mind” comes so smoothly that you may not even catch the change-over without your eyes on the player, but it shifts into an even tighter riff swirl, with the echo effects in the later part of the song accentuating its hypnotic qualities.

In the EP's second half, “Hurricane” offers a quick (two minutes and change) keyboard-driven groover that emulates its name-sake by gradually intensifying, with spots of relative calm making the wilder parts strike that much harder. At seven minutes plus, “The Six Moon Skies” takes place as the EP's longest song, and the rambling riff explorations get their fullest indulgence here, as you might expect. It also shows some of the tenderest emotional pieces from the group, with some stripped-down bridges playing up the melodic emphasis to beautiful effect. The ride out of it and into the closing track offers some truly lush work to savor, and should recapture the attention of anyone playing it as background material.

Lastly, “The Man from the Blue Sun” starts off with a slow burn cruise, the drums picking up momentum and power, and eventually pushing things to where a guitar solo can lay in its piece, and guide the way to the high-flourish finale. It puts a nice cap on an all-around impressive set, with the debut and live-take qualities making things even more dazzling. Fans of psych rock, do yourself a favor and be sure to keep an ear on this band after you listen to the EP for yourself.

~ Gabriel

For Fans Of; Acid Elephant, Farflung, Frank Sabbath, Frozen Planet....1969, Third Ear Experience

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Velvet Trip - Voodoo Cosmic Girl (320 kbps)

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Cozy Stellar Digs...

Frozen Planet....1969 - Meltdown on the Horizon (2019)

Coming less than half a year after the 'bonus track' EP of The Mystery Wheel, FP69's latest album shows the Australian three-piece rolling right along in high spirits and strong form. Popping off from the start with a 22-minute heavy psych monster jam (“Rollback”), the band cruises through mazes of reverb and mile-deep grooves, guided by clear-toned guitar noodling and propelled by Frank Attard's excellent work on the drums. Things are kept trippy and fun, the riffs are so thick you can practically sink your teeth into them, and the energy makes the third of an hour just fly by before you know it.

Slipping neatly into “Bellhop Shindig”, FP69 let loose with more intensity and distortion in their rocking. While the improvisational qualities are still evident, throttling back to about a third of the opening song's length leads to a more focused ride, with the circling around the main riff creating an almost centrifugal compulsion. Flowing from there to the more laid-back, bluesy “Dandy Chai”, the album builds a sense of moving from near-chaos into more orderly arrangement, all while teasing a potential return to the rambunctious.

And with closing track “Sunset Variations”, which runs a quarter-hour by itself, that nuttiness does indeed rear its head back up. Keeping up the mellow vibes of “Dandy Chai” for the initial segment, more and more psych wildness seeps in as the song progresses. A midway fade-out doubles as a fake-out before the band rides back in on a tear of guitar, and grooves their hearts out until the eventual end. For fans of FP69, it's a sweet treat, delivering almost an hour of in-the-zone action. Those new to the group may want to start with something offering more easily digestible serving sizes, though, at least until they get a sense of how the stuff goes down. Either way, it's another chunk of excellent work from this always-reliable crew, so if you want a physical copy, you'll need to act now.

~ Gabriel

For Fans Of; Fatso Jetson, Mondo Drag, Mother Engine, Pangalactic, Terminal Cheesecake

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Frozen Planet....1969 - Bellhop Shindig (320 kbps)

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Turning Through Time...

Frozen Planet.... 1969 - The Mystery Wheel (2019)

Spawned in the recording sessions for their 2017 album Electric Smokehouse, Frozen Planet.... 1969's The Mystery Wheel is a single 26-minute jam taking listeners through the riffs and grooves filling the Australian band's heads at the time. Heavy and psychedelic, with swanky guitar wonking it up with hard-plugging bass and funky drumming sliding about the place, the jam keeps a wonderful unpredictability alive for its run without slipping into aimlessness or wankery. Maybe the most impressive part of it is the sense of how well-tuned to each other's ideas the band members are, with one laying down the opener of a new tangent and the others near-immediately hooking into supporting meshes. Slips into chiller territory handled well, with the quiet mood studies bearing a goosebump-inducing intensity you wouldn't necessarily expect from an improvisational session, but there you have it. Between the slick grooves, heady psych pumps, talent show-casing, and staunch coolness, it's a little chilling to imagine that this piece of work could have remained tucked away in the band's vault. Thankfully, now that it's out in the light of day, FP69 fans have an extra piece of excellence to enjoy. And if you're new to the band, it's not a bad place to start, as long as you recognize that you're jumping into the deep end with them.

~ Gabriel

For Fans Of; Deep Purple, Groggy, Iron Butterfly, Mondo Drag, Stonerror

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Frozen Planet.... 1969 - The Mystery Wheel (320 kbps)

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Wrestling For Brainanas...

Groover von Kruger - The Scientist and the Monkey (2018)

With seven years between their debut release and this follow-up, it's not too bold to assume that most of you readers are unfamiliar with the Australian group of Groover von Kruger. It's also not much of a stretch to assume that our regulars are happy to check out new stuff, though, so I feel pretty well-assured that the band's hard and funky rock blend will be well-received.

Kicking off with the lively “Dynamite”, the band quickly establishes their flexibility and riff control, before moving into the dirty groover of “Pussy and Pancakes”, which slows things down for a saucy swing through a Spinal Tap-ish push over the top, while the tones go hard bluesy before jumping into retro shredding for a spell.

The title track picks up from there with a bouncier wailer bringing the bass to the fore, playing with dancy beats and high-tension guitar to build an atmosphere which gets neatly overturned by the following song, “Magic Beans”, which takes a lounge-band vibe and undermines it with tongue stuffed nearly through the cheek wall, letting an instrumental groove roll slowly along, with pit stops for announcements in Italian. Lastly, “Already Gone” pulls some of that atmosphere along by way of its casual piano, but spruces it up with funky licks and proggy twists, drawing it out into a fine finish.

There's a surprising amount to digest in these five tracks, and hopefully it won't take the group quite so long to craft their follow-up. Check out the EP yourself, and let the band know you want more if it tickles your fancy.

~ Gabriel

For Fans Of; Frank Sabbath, The Heavy Co., Mondo Drag, Stone House On Fire, Stonerror

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Groover von Kruger - The Scientist and the Monkey (320 kbps)

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Stellar Strolls And Stompdowns...

Mother Mars - On Lunar Highlands (2017)

Like the rest of Pepper Shaker Records' line-up, we're big fans of Mother Mars here at The Burning Beard, even if their Australian location does preclude us from catching them live.  So it was a jolt and a thrill to hear that the heavy psych group has another album coming up, and we jumped at the chance to give it an early listen.  And while it's been a couple of years since their last full release, the very fine Black Coffee and Good Advice EP (and four years since their last album, Steam Machine Museum), there's no rust to be heard in the quartet's jammy performance as they launch right into a groovy roller with “Wrecker's Reunion Ball”, getting down and turning it out.

And as they ride on, Mother Mars show that they've been brewing up plenty of new tastes for their fans, while staying true to the fuzzy funkiness and bluesy bent (not to mention a strong shot of spaciness) that makes their heaviness so damn enjoyable. Whether cruising along on a steady riff or blowing it up into expanding madness, the band keeps a through-line of deep-toned rock going, balanced with enough exotic elements to help them stand out even more from similar acts. There's chill material, fiery stuff, goofy fun, and serious rock. Whether you're new to the band or a long-time listener, you're gonna have a good time with this album. Don't miss it, you hear?

~ Gabriel

For Fans Of; Crown Larks, Frozen Planet....1969, JPT Scare Band, Mondo Drag, Weedeater

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Mother Mars - Soap Bar Pick-Up Joint (320 kbps)

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Breaking The Burden...

Yanomamo - Neither Man Nor Beast (2017)

It's been a while since we last heard from the Australian crew of Yanomamo, but with their first full album (scheduled for release on CD and vinyl on October 20^th), they've returned in fine form, bringing a bevy of heavy riffs to bear in a set of eight sludge-soaked songs. A choice sample from Caligula kicks off the festivities in “Blood Red, Black God”, from which the band unrolls a slow-beating assault with a sly streak of humor. They work the bass low and dirty, the drums hit hard, and the vocals are suitably grimy, with little flab or redundancy to the songs. I did find myself wanting some more feedback nastiness, but I always want more of that in my sludge consumption.

Yanomamo strike a good balance between that mean leanness and thick, tarry grooves, bringing the album in at a respectable (and vinyl-friendly) forty-five minutes or so. There's a clear stylistic continuity between the songs, but there's also a fair amount of experimenting within that stretch, with the use of flanging strings adding some of the most distinctive tones to the proceedings. Hit this up if you've been seeking some gnarly sludge with strong grooves, and rock well once you've got it.

~ Gabriel

For Fans Of; Attalla, Grey Widow, Meth Drinker, O.D.R.A., Open Tomb

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Yanomamo - 10,000 Hooves (320 kbps)

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Orbits And Outgrowth...

Frozen Planet.... 1969 - From the Centre of a Parallel Universe (2017)

It should be no secret that we're big fans of FP69 here at TBB, as they always bring excellence with their heavy psych rock.  With this latest record, the Australian crew have again brought the magic thunder to bear, funking around on thick jammy grooves and swirling up their guitar tones with savory finesse.  Oozing bass waves and snaky drum patterns keep the songs driving forward, and while the tunes take some rambling routes, they rarely lose the momentum and undulating pulse that the band's chemistry and amped-up weight generate.

At only five tracks (and one of those an intro that lasts about a minute), it does feel like a shorter album than the band's usual fare.  But part of that is down to the smooth flow of the music, as they still hit nearly three-quarters of an hour between the other four tracks.  It's hefty stuff, but also disarmingly frisky, carrying a jazzy feel of improv and interplay between the musicians, and doing a stunning job of sweeping listeners up in that energy.  And with the last track, “Ancient Wings Taking Flight”, FP69 really capitalizes on that captivation, churning up and smoothing out their riffs until you've gotta just float along on the waves.   It's the sound of a band in their prime not settling for the familiar, and the pay-off is fantastic.

~ Gabriel

For Fans Of; John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, JPT Scare Band, Mondo Drag, Reptensol, Ten Years After

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Frozen Planet.... 1969 - Through Hell's Kaleidoscope, Parts I & II (320 kbps)

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Stricken But Strong...

Illimitable Dolor - Illimitable Dolor (2017)

Making their debut with this album, Illimitable Dolor are an Australian band, spun out of The Slow Death to pay tribute to the death of their vocalist, Gregg Williamson. Furnishing a solid modern doom base with touches of death metal in the vocals and gleams of funeral doom in the pacing, emotion, and understated melodies (plus the organ-styled keyboards), ID have put together an album that's fully self-contained while also offering appreciable depth of content.

Though there's plenty of time given to the guttural vocals, the band builds atmosphere and follows riffs through numerous instrumental passages, allowing the somber mood to mature, seep in, and affect listeners' own emotions, assuming they're giving the music the attention it deserves. It's one that's tough to analyze, being suited more to simply being soaked in as an experience, but that's not to say that ID slump any on the song-writing front. As they and their instruments groan through the album's course, there's a broad slice of the metal spectrum explored along the way, made more impressive by how firmly each style is slotted into the music. It's an album well-suited to use for delving into your own depression, or for riding along with the band through theirs. That the songs can linger on in memory on the strength of their tunes is a plus, and hopefully the group will continue on to create something pursuing the melodies, without their grief holding onto them quite so tightly at that point.

~ Gabriel

For Fans Of; Bell Witch, Jupiterian, Sunwølf, Thergothon, WarHorse

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Illimitable Dolor - Comets Dies or Shines (320 kbps)

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Cool Guys With Cool Hotpants....

Totally Unicorn ~ Dream Life (2016)

Sometimes we all love a little something thats a bit discordant and out there. My personal vice when it comes to weird and wonderful finds is Australia's own Totally Unicorn.
Brought to my attention by an Aussie friend of mine while I was Thailand, I was shown the video for their song Cool Dads With Cool Sons while sat next to an elephant, in blazing heat drinking my 8th bottle of Chang. I know those details aren't entirely required, but when you watch the video it really helps paint the picture of what a surreal predicament I was in.
I will prefix this whole thing by stating that I'm not a massive hardcore fan. Whether it's the overly pretentious band members or the often discordant nature of the music, I don't know. I've never quite been able to put my finger on it. That being said, this is where Totally Unicorn stand a good few paces from that particular crowd. If you viewed even so much as 10 seconds of the video above this will already be brazenly apparent to you. If you've yet to, well maybe such song titles as "Umm, Yeah We're The Gay Metallica" and "Let's Spice Things Up With Laser Swords" gave it away?... Or maybe the fact that they released an EP called 9inches and pressed the vinyl in the shape of a dick (yeah, it totally looks as awesome as it sounds). Either way, it's safe to say that Totally Unicorn as about as far away from the conventional straight edge hardcore scene as it's possible to be without dabbling in acoustic folk music. Although I wouldn't put it past them. Still, it's a damn good refreshing change to find a band that don't even contemplate taking themselves remotely seriously. While listening to the music alone doesn't instantly convey this image, in typical Aussie style the guys certainly have fun at the top of their agenda. Yeah, not all of you are going to dig it, but I defy any of you to say that you wouldn't want to catch these chaps live or be at a house party with them. I can just picture it now... Them rocking up to the front door with a crate under each arm, before you later discover that one of them has buttered the cat, another shat in the washing machine and that they've superglued their latest album into the cd player.
The only trouble with Totally Unicorn is the fact they're damn hard to describe, other than that they're the musical equivalent of Marmite, you're either going to love them or hate them (apologies if that analogy gets somewhat lost in translation). It's tongue in cheek hardcore essentially, but you really should go and check them out and make you're own damn mind up.
Dream Life is out later this week and although it may not be in the shape of a giant phallic, this new release will still be an absolute belter. Head on over to their bandcamp and check out some of the preorder bundles on offer!
Go on, go!
~ Jay

For Fans Of; Nasum, Cult Of Luna, Sourvein, Swarm Of Spheres, Gay Paris 

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Music for Cauldron Lovers...

Devil Electric - Vol I (2016)
 

Come on kids.  Let's go listen to some music that makes you want sacrifice a goat and draw a pentagram with its blood to conjure the dark lord.  It'll be fun. 

Devil Electric are an Australia doom metal outfit who are extremely new but have already gathered some buzz on the Melbourne charts, shared with the likes of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.  They're comprised of Pierina O'Brien on vocals, Cristos Athanasias on guitars, Tom Hulse on bass, and Mark Van De Beek on drums.  They're here for liquor from a chalice that's bubbling while emitting smoke and blood.  This is their two-track debut, appropriately named Vol I. 

Slow doomy and buzzy chords consume opening track "Devil's Bells".  The drum beat pummels with daring execution that almost resemble a fist beating against a table.  Desperate vocals cast away any notion of a redeemable lifestyle in favor of a chance to meet with Satan himself.  "The Dove and the Serpent", arguably the more Satanic in theme, adds a level of blues to the doom with Pierina's vocals echoed by a deeper voice resembling a possession.  The guitar of Cristos and the drums of Mark are constantly going beat for beat trying to outdo one another until they almost hit a brick wall with the song's abrupt end. 

Vol I is comprised of only those two tracks, but the entire EP, The Gods Below, contains two additional cuts entitled "Confusion of Mind" and "Holy Ghost" where we find Devil Electric dwelling even deeper in the abyss of madness.
~ Richard
 

For Fans Of: The Dead Weather, Kadaver, Black Sabbath (13 era), The Kills, SubRosa

 

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Storm Meets Thunder...

Desert Storm / Suns of Thunder - Split 7" (2016)

H42 Records have long been in the habit of supplying solid 7" split records, and I'm happy to say that this latest one continues that trend of quality and heavy tunes.  On the A-side, we've got Desert Storm playing "Signals From Beyond", a groove-focused piece of desert rock (surprising, right?).  Husky vocals and pedal-treated guitar tone mesh with some thumping drums to get the job done, rolling along on the main riff's rhythm while throwing in a few twists, with a crunchy break-down or two lying in wait.
Over on the B-side, "Earn Your Stripes" is performed by Suns of Thunder, playing in a similar style, but with a little more alternative rock in their DNA, sort of a down-tuned Soundgarden or Audioslave, with clearer vocals and sharper string tones.  The 7" is available in a traffic light set (100 each on translucent green, yellow, or red, plus 50 on clear), with the official release date popping tomorrow (that's the 29th of April, just to be clear).  If you want some alt-ish hard rock with a stoner rock dip, be sure to check it out.
~ Gabriel

For Fans Of;    Acid Western, Bones of Mary, DATURA4, Father Sky, Mangoo

H42 Records Facebook • H42 Records Website • Desert Storm BandCamp • Suns Of Thunder BandCamp • H42 Records BandCamp

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Dread, Death & Doom...

The Maledict - Dread (2015)

With about an hour's worth of tunes to it, this debut album from Australian crew The Maledict is a powerful step forward from their 2013 demo Salvation in Yielding.  Running majestic-sized doom metal powered by death metal craft and chords, both old-school and modern, the group brings somber musings on mortality together with high-octane shreds, thunderous beats, and savage bass-lines, and makes it work damn well.
The track titles also do a solid job of reflecting the fusion of styles, with names like "Column of Voracious Souls", "Deadened Eyes to the Horizon", and "Tenebrae" (c'mon, gotta give bonus points to a metal song sharing a name with a Dario Argento film) providing grandeur to match the music.  There's also some sharp attention to album-crafting going on, opening up in long songs for the first few tracks to establish a heavy base, tossing in a few shorter ones here and there, and anchoring things with monster-sized jammers around the mid-point and end.
As the album continues, the atmosphere and power built up by the band only increases, with compositions that'll give you chills before spinning around into ravaging assaults.  The last track does a great job of pulling in stuff from previous tracks, adding in new spine-grabbing tricks, and culminating in a powerful blast, all of it without seeming bloated or forced.
The Maledict have done a great job of establishing their chops and inclinations with this album, and hopefully it'll get the wide attention it deserves.  Very highly recommended to metal fans of any stripe, consider this a retroactive 2015's Top 20 entry.
~ Gabriel

For Fans Of;    Earthling, Heavydeath, Necrophobic, Uroboros, Weapon

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The Maledict - Frozen (320 kbps)

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Ride The Tide...

Lint - Fleeting / Into the Tide (2015)

The Australian fuzz rockers of Lint are back to give their fans a treat with this pair of songs, which together constitute over a quarter of an hour's worth of psych-tinged desert vibes with a grungy edge.  Playing with strong energy and aggressive riffs, the trio of Lint show that they're still going strong after the release of their 2013 LP Existence (our review for which can be found right here), delivering some tasty grooves and mellow bridges put together with care.
Those who've been waiting for something new to emerge from the group since the album will be pleased by what's on display with these two songs, and while a larger release is (hopefully) on its way, there's enough replay value to these tracks that (as long as you don't leave it on loop) you shouldn't burn yourself out too soon.  Just let the band take you off on this rumbling trip, don't get freaked out when they start yelling, and you'll have a good time.
~ Gabriel

For Fans Of;    Alice in Chains, Hemptress, Hijo de la Tormenta, RHINO, Tuber

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Lint - Into the Tide (320 kbps)

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Not Necessarily Sober...

Mother Mars - Black Coffee And Good Advice EP (2015)

It's been a while since we've heard from Mother Mars, as their last EP (Claimed by the Cloner) popped up back in 2014, and their last full album (Steam Machine Museum) was in 2013.  Happily, they're back in fine form with this new three-track release, brandishing a harmonica and other bluesy touches to their heavy rock style.  The title track is a loose-hanging chunk of friendly bleariness and fat-tubed riffing, done as an instrumental alternate take for the closing song.  In between, "On The Trail (Short Trip)" picks up to higher energy with some hooky grooves, frenzied guitar-work, and spacy beams of energy conveyed by synths and pedals.
At eleven minutes of run-time, it's primed for a 7" release (though they'll need to do the two "Black Coffee"s back-to-back on the same side if they go that route, and as of now, the band says it's digital-only), and a reassuring reminder that Mother Mars have their heavy/psych/space/desert grooves fully intact, with some new tricks to show once their next LP rolls out of the dunes.  Until then, tuck this into your ears and have a good time.
~ Gabriel

For Fans Of;    Blackout, Frozen Planet....1969, Powered Wig Machine, Queen Chief, Slow Season

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Mother Mars - On The Trail (Short Trip) (320 kbps)

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Rich With Grief...

Earthshine - Doomed to Wander and Never Die (2015)

Spanning ~45 minutes across six tracks, this debut album from the Australian band of Earthshine makes for quite an impressive entrance.  Building on a broad doom metal base, the group emphasizes atmosphere and slow, haunting riffs, with growling vocals which work to strengthen the music instead of just roaring over it.  The percussion and groaning strains of the strings come together with some excellent chemistry, and while the vocals are done well, the singer kindly steps back from time to time so that Earthshine can show off their skills with slow-churning power.
There's something that's difficult to place a finger on in the mixture of styles Earthshine uses on this album - a sort of jazziness to the break-downs, some faint psych rippling to some of the grooves, and a lean post-metal readiness with experimentation shaping the songs are all in there, but there's something practically ineffable as well.  It's tempting to just chalk it up to their musical character, vague as that might be, but that would be short-selling how fascinating they can be.  Whether trying to pick apart their writing-process decisions or just soaking in the results, it's an engaging and absorptive experience.
Similarly, I don't want to shrink the impact this album has in its own standing, but I am damn excited at just the idea of where the band will be with their next album, given how much range and potential they show here.  If atmospheric doom metal is in any way to your liking, check this album out.
~ Gabriel

For Fans Of;    Bell Witch, Have A Nice Life, Reptensol, Venus Sleeps, early Windhand

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Earthshine - Forest of Illusions (320 kbps)

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Powerful Ascent...

Skullcave - Climbing EP (2015)

This second EP from the Australian trio of Skullcave takes doom, swirls in some grungy hooks, then gives it a stiff shot of psych-like fuzz and feedback concentration.  It all works out to something with a taste running near heavier-than-usual stoner metal, but with enough odd twists worked in to keep things unpredictable, even on repeat listenings.  The six resultant tracks pack a stormy atmosphere into their run-time, shifting neatly between bone-breaking viciousness and fuzz-brained drifting, and in the process, getting things cooked up nice for whenever they decide to pull out a full album.
And, in a nice show of structural sense, they save their wildest stuff for the last two tracks, with "(Falling)" building into "Climbing" in superb style.  Biding its time until the need for Hell to break loose arrives, this pair of songs nearly steals the whole show, but it also builds so well on the previous songs that it's hard to pull them apart.  Check this EP out, by all means, but really do yourself a favor and listen to it in full.
~ Gabriel

For Fans Of;    Alice In Chains, Lesbian, The Munsens, Snail, Wolf Blood

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Skullcave - Wishing You Went Missing (320 kbps)

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Darkest Psych From Down Under...

Comacozer ~ Deloun / Sessions LP (2015)

 Combining the two previous EPs from Comacozer into a single vinyl release, Headspin Records is giving you a little taste of what's to come from the Australians. Who already have the plans in place for recording and releasing a brand new LP. If you've never heard the spaced out, dark psychedelia that this band exudes, then this is the perfect starting point. The band puts down mellow and heavy grooves that always incorporates a sweeping undertow at some point in the track. Like with "Nebula Dawn", the song starts off cool and relaxed, within a couple of minutes the listener is drowning in swirling guitar fuzz tones and the crashing waves of drum rhythms. After opening up with an airy guitar line that floats along for a couple of minutes is joined by the rest of the band, filling the depth of the sound with mass amounts of fuzz and distortion, backed with a rumbling yet subtle bass line, and strong, steady drum parts. It adds a heavier dimension to the song while still retaining the spacey ether vibe that dominated the first minutes of it. The final five minutes drive forward in that same way, seemingly drawn by the gravity of an immense celestial object. Now, if all of this sounds intriguing to you, you're not alone by any means. With vinyl pre-orders going on there are only a few of each variant remaining, so if you have plans on getting one it wouldn't be the best plan to wait until the September 1st release date.
~Skip

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(Ok, a small pretext - I hadn't realised Skip had already covered these guys and having had the LP just turn up I felt compelled to put my two cents in, so heres an update)

It's been a while since I've discovered some good old space rock, which lets face it, is a bloody sacrilege. Having recently rediscovered both Dozer's and Nebula's back catalog I've had an unquenchable yearning for more. So Australia's Comacozer couldn't have really appeared at a better time for me. Having to wait for the infernal snail mail to deliver me this album on delightful green wax was truly a trial. Alas, it has appeared and I can finally give this thing the maiden outing it deserves.
The album itself is split into two, Deloun and Sessions, with nearly a whole year between the two recordings. Amazingly enough, with prior knowledge you'd never really guess. More importantly, the pace remains consistent and the album plays through flawlessly. Something even some of the most seasoned bands would be album to pull off. I don't know whether or not the recording was especially mastered for vinyl, but goddamn it sounds fantastic! Comacozer's mix of classic space rock and dark instrumental psych create an atmosphere that you could physically bathe in. Sure, you could just sit in front of your computer and let iTunes go through the motions, but that really wouldn't do Deloun justice. No, for the full physical effect, knock all the lights off, spark up a fat one and lie on the floor between your speakers. Now, if you can also swing by Ikea and pick some of those colour changing led lights then you'll really be in for a treat. I've no doubt a skylight at night would be even better, or hell, just being outside. Unfortunately I don't have the first, and as for the latter - it's currently November in England, you do the math. But if you can get most of these elements in place I've no doubt that you'll have a dopey smile on your face before the opening track Cosmic Hypnosis begins to fades out. The thick bass lines and psychedelic licks really do draw you into a hypnotic like state and proceed to crash over you like waves of psilocybin.
~ Jay

For Fans Of; Frozen Planet....1969, Gallileous, Oceans of Titan, Dozer, Nebula

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The She Beast Roar

She Beast ~ Felch Queen (2015)

 Australia's She Beast doesn't have any positive themes in their music, in fact, it's pretty much the opposite. Some tracks are long, despondent jams, with droning riffs that don't hit you so much as smother you. Other songs they've made available are fast, driving sludge metal tracks that beat you senseless in the duration. "Felch Queen" is one of the first types I mentioned, opening up with some long and ground rumbling notes, the drums kick in and the track never really moves any faster than at that very moment. The drum rhythms keep driving the song forward, while pulling the sludgy guitars along with it. The sonic equivalent of a getting drug through a field of broken glass by a man with one leg, a painful time spent in a jagged hell. The vocalist screams and growls the song's lyrics, appropriately sounding like the wails of a dying man. I mean all of this in a positive manner of course, if you're a fan of twisted and gnarly sludge metal like me, this band will please you in all the right ways.  If you go to She Beast's bandcamp page though, you won't find any full albums or EPs, just individual songs. But when you put them all together, they work pretty well, and would make a damn heavy demo. 

~Skip

 For Fans Of; EyeHateGod, Buzzov*en, In the Company of Serpents

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