Putting It To The Test...

Mos Generator / Stubb - The Theory of Light & Matter (2015)

If you've heard either Mos Generator or Stubb before (or really, most anything put out by HeviSike Records), expectations of some toothsome stoner rock should already be percolating in your brain; if you're new to any or all of them, this split makes for a very fine introduction, with each of the bands contributing three solid tracks.  Mos Generator takes the A-side, digging back through the decades for the psychedelic seasonings of their side, with fuzz-headed hard riffs getting melted all over by heated break-downs and syncopated spine-twitchers.  They do slide into a meaner angle with their last buster, "There's No Return from Nowhere", but here again is an introduction of sweeter melodies to even out the ride, cinching it up with a flourish.
For their part, Stubb get loose in a bluesier form, taking a 'my legs aren't working right now' sensibility in to channel the psychedelic influences through to the distortion and grooves of their half.  Mesmerizing and casually experimental, you can hear the guitarist's reluctance to let go of a riff's mutation when the time comes to fade out and move on.  The two sides add up to a satisfyingly diverse and deep-ended spectrum of stoner rock, released today digitally and on limited vinyl (red & black marbled from HeviSike, and white from the bands), so go ahead and pick up a copy if you've been wanting something to scratch a bleary-groove-wanting itch.
~ Gabriel

For Fans Of;    Isaak, Groggy, The Hunted Crows, Syreregn, Red Scalp

Mos Generator Facebook • Stubb Facebook • HeviSike Records • Stubb Twitter • Mos Generator BandCamp • Stubb BandCamp

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And So, It Spreads Outwards...

The Ripple Effect - Volume 1: Head Music (2012)

The music industry and the internet have had a shaky history together, mainly because of the degradation of the cd and vinyl by mp3 downloads. But it’s this kind of thing that reestablishes my faith in the relationship between the two. What started out as a simple forum created by two music lovers, Todd Severin and John Rancik , 5 years ago has evolved into a full on record label, radio show, and a kickass website. And now to celebrate this timely benchmark, they’ve released a compilation of the best tracks they’ve put on their site and some other tracks from their favorite acts that haven’t been previously been released. This is the first time that I’ve had to review a compilation for the blog and I think that when you’re listening to the album itself, you have a different approach critically than if you were listening to an album by just one band. You have to be more open to variety within the album, but you don’t have to worry as much about quality because these songs were specifically handpicked because they’re good. The compilation truly is great, filled to the brim with southern fuzz, gritty vocals, reverbed psych bits and awesome bass lines. I’ve been listening to this album for a couple of days, and because of it I’ve pretty much found out about 10 different bands that I now love, I’m sure you will want to research each one of these bands further like I did, and maybe even visit the ripple effect site. JUST DON’T FORGET ABOUT US HERE AT RIDE WITH THE DEVIL! Especially because we have a compilation of our own, so stay tuned at the end of the year for it. The compilation is apparently the first of many and it’s available for free on the site’s bandcamp page.
~Bernardo

 For Fans Of; Orange Goblin, Asteroid, Torso, Stubb, DeepSeaGreen

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Volume 1: Head Music (320kbps)

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Thick, Fat & Fuzzy Riffs Galore...

Stubb - Stubb (2012)

I love it when we actually get sent a physical copy of an album by bands, it somewhat reaffirms me that not all the music we deal with is harshly compressed and digitalised in some way. I like that. But what makes it all that much better is when you listen to the band and utterly love them within the first 30 seconds. This is the sort of effect that fuzz fanatics Stubb have on me, and if you're a fellow stoner psych enthusiast then they're bound to have the same result with you. If not then I'd hazard a guess there's something seriously defective with you.
So whats so great? Well... Thicker and heavier than a skip full of tar, its pretty easy to tell that this record was laid down in that time old and traditional analogue fashion. Good on them too! It's about time more bands started back pedalling against technology, to an extent at least. It just undoubtably sounds a whole lot better and this album is a perfect case in point. The majority of tracks are saturated in an awesome aura of fuzz, but where some stoner bands tend to rely on this as a subtle distraction to not a lot else going on, Stubb don't. Far from it in fact, because layered over the top is a constant and dominant wave after wave of classic rock influenced riffage. Sounding like a down tuned modern day Cream, each and every riff and lick is not only technically great but ridiculously catchy right from the opening track Road. The album looses pace a little at track 5 Crosses You Bear - an acoustic folky ballad number, but 2 minutes later the pace picks up where it left of and thunders into (for me) the best track of the eight; Hard Hearted Woman which seems to possess every classic rock element you can imagine. Fast stormy riffs merging into whaling echoey solos, tight bass and drum lines and vocals about debaucherous evil women.
So how much do you have to pay for this awesomeness? Well, if you're tighter than a ducks butt; nothing. But if you actually have a brain in you're skull you can and should pick this record up on the format it was truly born for. Yup, the good ol' chaps at Superhot Records have gone ahead and pressed an unspecified number on vinyl. I don't imagine they got a massive amount made up so I'd get one ordered sharpish!...
I have.

For Fans Of; Jimi Hendrix, Graveyard, Wo Fat, Asteroid, Stone Axe

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Stubb (320kbps)