STB
Records are at it again, a label started on whim back into 2012, Steve has
taken the label to another level, with their boutique branded vinyl
releases. Following their debut release
with Dopethrone’s ‘Demonsmoke’ they have attracted a cult following, and just
like any reputable brand, there is increasing demand for their product. Indeed, STB are in the enviable position having all their releases sell out thus far.
No mean feat in an oversaturated musical climate.
For
their latest vinyl release, STB Records are preparing to release Curse
The Son’s second record, ‘Psychache’, self professed as ‘The Sound of dinosaurs
walking the Earth’, this is arguably the label’s favourite release so far, with
STB Steve proclaiming ‘from the first riff of ‘Spider Stole The Weed’ he knew
he wanted to release it. This is merely
my opinion of course, and I’m told by my wife that it is never nice to have
favourites (I refer to our kids, haha) but in terms of releasing ‘Psychache’ patience
and timing appeared to be the key in terms of signing the band, given the
apparent interest in Curse…. from a
number of other suitors. What is clear
to all, who have bought or seen STB releases, is that the quality of the
product is exemplary, making Curse The Son’s decision to sign for them a no
brainer when it came to the crunch.
Steve at STB Records has made no secret of the fact that his label may
well be a stepping stone for bands to move onto something bigger, however what
a band will take away from STB Records is a superior quality vinyl
release. It will come as no surprise
then, when you read the following pressing information for ‘Psychache’
STB
Record is presenting 3 separate releases with a grand total of 300 copies in a
variety of formats. For the purpose of this
review, ill be looking at the Standard Edition, which is limited to 125, it is
a tri-colour vinyl of bone, black and grey, with a heavy duty gatefold
jacket. Next up is the OBI Edition,
limited to 100 pieces; this edition is black in ultra clear vinyl with blood
red splatter with gatefold jacket.
Finally, is the most sort after, and this is the Die Hard version,
limited to 75 pieces, this edition comes in a unique bone and classic black
colour with blood red splatter, also housed in an kick ass gatefold. The Die Hard also comes with exclusive alternate
artwork.
If
we rewind back to the tri-colour vinyl and this release in general, it is safe
to say that by offering high standard or indeed setting a bench mark for which
you’re judged, there is pressure to maintain that quality and with this
release, STB records have perhaps surpassed what has come before, at the very
least ‘Psychache’ retains that superior quality. Indeed to maintain quality or surpass ones
self, in terms of production, ultimately this leads to more expenditure from
the label. Take the gatefold for
example, the second release from STB records to come in this format, there is an
additional cost attached. From my
perspective as a customer, this is what I want, I’m a big fan of this format
and It pays off because it offers more, you have that striking cover art, a
twisted psycho straight from the pages of a Hanneke script and you open it up
to fantastic live shots of the band in black and white, with a very slight
tinge of green on one of the preamps. Looking closely you can also see faint
pictures of a baby doll and some demented clown not to dissimilar from a ‘Saw’
movie. The attention to detail is subtle
and in keeping with the vibe of the record.
Onto
the vinyl then and having researched the process of the tri colour vinyl, there
seems to be a knock on affect in terms of cost.
Ultimately, pressing tricolour is more complicated, rather that a press
of an original ‘black record’ being entirely automated, there is more emphasis
on manual labour, with the vinyl biscuits that go on to be pressed into a
finished product, having to be individually sliced into pieces and then
reassembled into a multi colour biscuit, and manually inserted into the
press. That is my understanding anyway. In summation there is nothing standard about
this standard edition. Ultimately, STB
Records continues to mix things up and reinvent the brand, whilst keeping
prices affordable. ‘Psychache’ is
another example of a unique and top quality product issued by the folks at STB,
let’s hope you feel the same when it goes on general release.
Onto the music, but before we do, Let us think about the word ‘Psychache’
for a second, what springs to mind? In terms of this review, probably nothing
more than an album title for Curse The Son’s excellent 2nd record. However in the interests of research, ‘Psychache’
was borne as a concept to help explain suicide, the defining characteristics of
which are, psychological pain of the mind and an individuals ability to cope.
It is heavy subject matter indeed and whilst I am not certain if
this was a concept for which the record it based, for me the music of Curse The
Son is perfectly juxtaposed against these themes, in the sense that our ability
to cope with things stems from our need for catharsis. ‘Psychache’ is the perfect anaesthetic to
these dark themes, a tonic borne from the bong water of sabbathian worship, it
discharges pent up emotions and stress, purging the listener by the power of
the riff. So sit back, take a swig of
jack, crank this shit and let the purgation commence. Curse The Son is bringing
Liberation through amplification.
From
the opening main riff to its finality, ‘Psychache’ is a burly and muscular record.
For me
you can almost trace the lineage of their music over the last 40 odd years, a
culmination of Black Sabbath, Candlemass, St. Vitus, Trouble, indeed the record
as a whole sounds vintage. It smoulders,
the fire from the riffs burning thick with fuzzy smoke, suffocating and dense,
interlocked with seething drum rolls and warm combustive bass tones, creating a
sound that is representative of their influences and retaining a quality of its
own. This vintage is some of the best of
its kind in 2014 and worthy of reverence. A venerable composition enshrined in
wax.
Words:
Aaron Pickford
