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Showing posts with label 11 is one louder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 11 is one louder. Show all posts
As
we (Limb) get ready to release our third album “Saboteurs of the Sun...” (available here) ...I thought I'd chat about some of our influences
who didn't need modern distortion to get heavy.
A
lot of people who read this will already be very aware of these artists and in
writing it I thought 'if I were to read
this would I find this kind of thing patronising'? Then I realised that if I
hadn't heard of some of these people I wouldn't be able to appreciate the music
we have today, so here's to them... The scoundrels, cads, olden day punks who
said 'fuck you, I won't do what you tell
me' and started something that we can still see / feel today in the roots
of all that is sonically heavy.
So
even if you've heard all these before, click the links and refresh your memory
while we look back and take our hats off to the men and women who carved out
the path we now tread!
1 Screamin' Jay Hawkins (1929 - 2000)
If you like Alice Cooper, Marilyn Manson,
Ghost, Kiss or any other shock
rockers then you have this man to thank! Before heading to tinkle the ivories,
he would emerge from a coffin onstage and wore gold and leopard skin costumes
and had voodoo stage props, such as his smoking skull on a stick (called
Henry). Alongside all his stage antics he had scream (hence the nickname) that
would give Noddy Holder a run for his money.
Check
Out – “I Put A Spell On You”
2
Jerry Lee Lewis (1935 - Present)
The 'killer' as he is known (and nearly for very good reason, he tried to kill
Elvis, look it up) is a controversial figure and no mistake. He is a wild and
unbridled force of nature and pushed rock and roll to its limits at a time that
America just wasn't ready for it. He once shot a gun to wake up tired party
goers who couldn't keep up with him. Any live performance of his will give you
a good indication of how energised he was. Also, he played piano like he'd made
a deal with Lucifer himself. (you can still catch him live if you're in the
states)
Check
Out – “Wild One”
3
Richard Wagner (1813 - 1883)
Way before the metal zone pedal (or the DOD grunge for that matter)
there were people who were determined to get tone henge blasting so had to be
inventive. How I hear you cry? Load the bottom end of your orchestra with
things like the 'octobass' a giant version of the double bass played
with a bow that would make even SunnO))) smile
(ok maybe not, too doom!). Richard Wagner was the king of heavy back in
the day, those days being the middle of the 1800's. He was rattling the rafters
way before Boris came along and showed us how to get a bass tone that would
rattle your teeth straight down your neck!
Check
out – “Entrance Of The Gods Into Valhalla”
4
Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915 - 1973)
So... A white Gibson LesPaul SG with
three humbuckers sounds like something Zep or
The Darkness might bust out on stage but long before all that
came a gospel rock whirlwind in the shape of
Sister Rosetta Tharpe and man could
she play. She cemented her place in rock and roll history when she embarked
upon a European tour with Muddy Waters in 1963
(her UK debut was in Manchester) she noted as an influence by prominent British
guitarists such as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Keith Richards
Check Out – “Up Above My Head”
5
Lead Belly (1888 - 1949)
Here
we have Lead Belly a ne'er do well, moonshine
swilling multi instrumentalist who saw his fair share of hardship which lead
him to sing about women, liquor, prison life, and racism. He was also known to
write songs about people in the news, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Adolf
Hitler and Howard Hughes. You might know him best from Nirvana's
cover of “My Girl (where did you sleep
last night)”. They don't come much rougher round the edges than Lead Belly and if you scratch the surface of his prolific
song library you'll find it paints a picture of man who lived hard and played
harder.
UK-based death metal
titans ABHORRENT DECIMATION released
their new album “The Pardoner” on
July 28th via Prosthetic
Records to rapturous applause.
Conceptually,
the new album is an in-depth exploration into "The Pardoner", English poet Geoffrey Chaucer's most depraved
and deceitful character from The Canterbury Tales. "The Pardoner" is a religious fraud
and hypocrite who preaches against the love of greed, yet whose own love of
wealth enabled him to profit off the sins of others. He claimed to work on
behalf of the clergy, selling spiritual forgiveness for one's sins in the form
of his pardons, which included forged "official letters" from high
ranking church officials absolving one of their sins and bones and crystals
blessed with healing powers. In Chaucer's story, "The Pardoner" tells a harrowing tale of three men whose
materialism becomes the death of them.
It is the bands most inspired, charismatic and dominating material to date and with
band set to hit the stage at Bloodstock Open Air Festival this weekend, we
invited the band to talk about their top picks for festival and bands to look
out for. So come with us as we take our weekly trip
into the extreme and turn the volume all the way up to eleven.
THURSDAY
The Infernal Sea
If you are going to watch any band on Thursday,
watch The Infernal Sea. We have toured with the guys a few times and
there is just something so visceral and eerie about this lot, it a real package
band. The sounds, the look, the vibe. Go and find out for yourself. PLUS they
are unveiling a new look at the festival. Go and check them out.
FRIDAY
Decapitated
This band is hugely influential to us and one we look at with great respect. I have only seen them live once myself, a few years ago – maybe 2011. So I would be very interested in seeing the guys again, playing some of the killer new album ‘Anticult’. But for me, you can’t beat ‘The Negation’/‘Organic Hallucinosis’ era.
Soilwork
Back in the day, I loved this band dearly. So purely for nostalgic bliss, I will go and check them out. Unlikely they will play any of the stuff I know as its 10+ years old now but still, well worth checking out.
Whitechapel
Another band that has made an impression on us over the years. Not so much a fan of the newer stuff but they still slay and hold it down very well. In fact, we are playing a Bloodstock warm up show with them Thursday 10thAugust at The Underworld in London.
Inquisition
I’ve seenInquisitiononce before and it blew my bloody socks off. Just super moody and a great atmosphere. If you like your Black Metal a little on the primitive side, go and check em out.
Ashen Crown
These guys did a great job of winning Metal To The Masses for a slot on the New Blood Stage. As far as new blood goes, we look forward to seeing how they handle themselves on the sacred NB stage. We know what it means to play that stage and how it feels before you head out. So we wish them the best of luck and hope they have a great crowd for when they go on.
SATURDAY
Hatebreed
Again, another act that sparks off pure nostalgia for some us. I stopped keeping up with them after ‘The Rise of Brutality’ but I know they are a great live act and Jamey really brings the good vibes when he’s on form. I look forward to feeling 15/16 for half an hour.
Fallujah
I know Cooke really loves these guys. So we will all no doubt head over and watch them when they hit the Main Stage on Saturday. We played on the same bill as them last year and they were unlucky with the sound quality. So I look forward to seeing them in the BOA set-up, which in the main, has always been pretty good for sound for an open air.
Abhorrent
Decimation
You’ve got to come and see us. BOA 2014, was such a great show for us on the New Blood Stage. Now we have been invited back onto the next stage up, The S.O.P.H.I.E. We can’t wait to come and smash some heads in with a set exclusively full of material from our new album ‘The Pardoner’. We’ve been quiet on the show front for a little while and with our best line-up ever, we are ready to return with a big performance at the festival.
SUNDAY
Obituary
I’ve seen Obituary a bunch of times and every time, I bloody love them a little more. The anticipation of waiting for Tardy to come out, with his luscious golden mane and release the almighty “bee-ki-uuuugh
Courtesans
Goth Pop? Whatever it is, it’s done well. Truly sultry. Great vibe and well formulated songs. I think it will make a nice break for most ears over the long weekend.
Former Sadgiqacea vocalist/drummer Fred Grabosky
brings us his new project God Root and
what a project it is, following up their 4 track EP released last year, the
band have roared back with their debut full length released on the 11 July and
to put it simply, “Salt and Rot” is one of the best records we’ve heard this year,
and a uniquely disorienting listen. With
its balance of inhuman tones and ritual chants, it feels simultaneously outside
of history and utterly indebted to it.
Packing such epic arrangements into a 33 minute record feels impossible,
as lesser acts have failed to deliver similar ambitions into double disc
efforts.
As
with Sadgiqacea, these Philadelphia avant-garde
sludge shamans accentuate the heavy parts with quiet moments to create
their own brand of primitive and tribalistic sludge, with doomed cinematic
soundscapes. Each element is added very carefully as to not over saturate
the compositional structure of the record, with songs often building tension
until you are served with a crushing finale.
Today
with the album but a few weeks old, we invited the band to talk about the
lifeblood of all bands worldwide, the might of the riff. So come with us as we take our weekly trip into the extreme and turn the volume all the
way up to eleven, as God Root choose some of their favourite riffs
of all time.
“Each
of us has immense respect for the song writers who push riffs with their
hearts. We like to think we take after that mind set in our own writing. We
want to feel it. “Salt and Rot” contains a lot of riffs that we really feel in
our loins. Here's a list of some of all-time favourite riffs that we've been
inspired by and aspire to live up to”.
The
Mars Volta
– “Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt” (chosen
by Jordan)
I
can't think of a band that mixes intricate guitar parts and noise any better
than The
Mars Volta. At 3:40, after being taken on what is already an insane
sonic journey, the song quiets and out of this King Crimson-esque mellotron
part starts to bubble this stumbling, idiotic riff that sounds like it's had a
little too much to drink. The riff seems like it was written by a toddler
smashing their toy truck into a step sequencer at first but then you start to
realize that this is a riff and "oh shit, it's angry." before you
have enough time to say "I get it" this phaser of death swallows it
up and the rest of the band joins back in to form this ultra-noisey super
groove.
Runner up: “Red” by King Crimson
The Melvins
– “Boris” (chosen by Ross)
This riff is the grandpappy of 10,000 bands and 100,000 songs. A riff you name
your band after. A riff I named my cat after. A riff so heavy you laugh at it
when you first hear it. Like "what the fuck is this... he's basically
playing 3 notes for 9 minutes." And then you find yourself craving it.
Always wanting more. Chasing that riff dragon. But no other riff comes close.
Never like that first time. Extra props to the live version with the Big Business
boys joining in for insane 4 part harmonies.
Runner
up: “Christbait Rising” by Godflesh
Morbid
Angel – “God of Emptiness” by (chosen
by Keith)
The opening riff of this song is perfect. The snaking, unpredictable, and
totally crushing guitar immediately conveys blasphemy and total evil. Morbid Angel
has a way of finding the perfect "wrong" notes in their riffs and it
makes them sound completely sinister and alien like pronouncing the name of
some ancient Lovecraftian beast. It's just the most pulverizing thing I've ever
heard.
Runner up: “Sight Beyond Sight” by Rwake
Neurosis – “The Doorway” (chosen by Fred)
This
is kind of a no-brainer for most people that love heavy music I guess, and
maybe even an unoriginal answer to some, but I don't care. I honestly would
like to lump this whole damn song into one "favorite riff", but if I
had to choose a specific riff in this song, it would have to be the breaking
point riff with an epic crash at 3:20 in. This riff is so damn good it's
stupid. It's set up perfectly to pummel you after 3 minutes of 2 swirling riffs
that seem to send you into a daze from violent electric shock. A haunting and
intense stupor washes over you as you hear both Scott and Steve bark and howl
at you...and then it hits. Holy fuck, it's like the earth is being split open
only to send your body hurling into the abyss. As you're free falling through
the earths core at disgusting speed, the mid tempo riff evolves with clever
harmonic palm mutes...and then you're legally dead, you smash into the surface
below, but the next riff violates your obliterated corpse even further... the
song is an all out assault on the psyche for a solid 7 minutes. I have so much
love for this band, this album and this riff.
Runner
Up: “Set the Controls for the Heart of
The Sun” by Pink
Floyd
James
Brown
– “Ain't it Funky Now” (chosen by Joe)
The
teeth-grinding single mindedness that this riff is played with is something I
think about a lot. The whole rhythm section is on board with that attitude and
the tension is physical. The way they just lean into it unceasingly for minutes
at a time never fails to make my muscles tense up involuntarily. This riff is a
great example of the power of sheer repetition in music.
Runner
up: “Journey Into Satchidananda” by Alice Coltrane
On
20/07/2017, hotly tipped Psych Rockers, Hair of the Dog returned with “This World Turns”, their third studio album and their most
experimental and adventurous album to date.As with previous albums, “This
World Turns” acts as a snapshot of the bands life
experiences, but this time it focuses on themes of maturity, responsibility and
reflection
Psychedelic
Blues, classic rock, hard Rock all are present and correct, harking back to
memories of when Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple, Led Zepp and certain Black Sabbath
ruled the airwaves. Indeed if you dig the classic guitar sound of the 70s then
you’re going to be in luck, because Hair of the Dog (a
nod to Scottish classic rock band, Nazareth
and a cheeky wink to the trio’s indulgent drinking habits) has you covered.“This World Turns” sees Hair of the Dog
yet again crank up the intensity and maturity of their sound to deliver an
album that is truly of another world.The tone
of the record is undeniably loud and heavy, but incorporates an atmosphere
which is vibrant, full of energy and represents a band with a very bright
future indeed.
Today
with the album but a few days old in the ether of doom, we invited drummer Jon Holt,
to kick back and talk about another of his great passions skateboarding, as we as we take our weekly trip into the extreme and turn the volume all the
way up to 11.“This World Turns” is available here
Heavy music
and skateboarding have been in my life for a long time. Both go hand in hand
with each other. Both are outsiders, both are aggressive, both like to have a
good time. Combined in a video part, music and skateboarding can create a
visual and aural Gama bomb of awesomeness which will get you hyped to do almost
anything; jam with your band, shred a curb or just get the hoovering done
finally. So read my brief appetisers watch the links and then grab your Dyson
and get some!
Arto Saari
The first
and last parts of a skate video are the biggies. And Starting us off with an
absolute banger at number 5 is the first part from Es year 2000 classic
Menikmati.The skater is Arto Sarri. The
song is “Testing” by CKY.
On the most basic of analytical levels you could just say that this video part
is absolutely insane and be done with it. The energy of the skating matches the
energy of the song perfectly. Arto comes out swinging and goes for death on
numerous occasions. The instrumental smash to the senses that CKY
deliver with “Testing” almost sounds
how skateboarding feels like. On a deeper level I feel that this part
represents the underdog. Sarri was then and always will be a skateboarder’s
skater but at the time he was not as big a name as some of his Flip and Es
teammates such as Tom Penny, Geoff Rowley and Sir Eric of Koston. And then
there’s CKY
who will always be synonymous with a certain Jackass. But with this video part
Sarri and CKY
claim a rightfully deserved glory. Sarri definitely received the recognition he
deserved after it came out and went on to become one of skateboarding’s most
respected skaters.
It’s a blue
collar video part; you can tell Sarri worked hard for it. Cried tears of
frustration, sweat buckets and bled for it. CKY would not have had much in
the way of creative input into the part if any, however I am sure that they
would have been hyped that the song was used in this part which is now deemed
as a classic in its own right. As much as the part is a violent and aggressive
piece of skateboarding, the upbeat nature of the track gives the whole thing a
celebratory feel and you can’t help but get swept up in the infectious energy
of both skater and song. And that is what happens why skateboarding and rock
music collide. A classic part from a classic era of skateboarding.
Greyson Fletcher
We bid a
fond farewell to the silky skills of 2000 era Es street skating and say hello sailor to
the bearded bowl basher himself, Mr Greyson Fletcher. This is his first Pro
part for Elements called, “In Perdition” which was released in October 2015. It
begins with the ominous sounds of darkness as Fletcher floats in and out of a
vast concrete monolithic snake run. The drone then gives way to riffs, riffs
provided by Bolt
Thrower. Yes, please! Now whereas with Sarri and CKY
the marriage shouldn’t work but does, here with Greyson Fletcher and Bolt Thrower
you have a perfect natural match. Fletchers style can be simply described as
controlled chaos. Not the most technical wizard ever to roll on four wheels but
there is no denying that he knows some dark arts. Some of the skating in this
video part is literally death defying. He defies death. Straight up looks death
in the eyes and says, “Not today death, old buddy, old pal! I have some more
one foot ollies to knock out before we’ll be seeing each other!” It is a heavy,
heavy part with a crushing soundtrack and the whole thing makes you want to
crack a cold beer grab your board and go realise you’re not Greyson Fletcher.
Chad Fernandez
For those
who don’t know, this is how it works; you watch a skate video for the skater or
the team that you like and for the skating you know will be insane. You hear
the songs and you either know them and think nice choice or you don’t know them
and think, who the bloody hell is that? That song is fucking awesome sausages.
This is how it went down with my next choice; Chad Frenandez’s part from
Globe’s Opinion. This video features the master stroke of White Zombie’s “Thunder Kiss 65” as a fittingly crusty
soundtrack to the crusty but stylish manoeuvres of Mr Frenandez. I could
probably just stop writing here and let you click the link, as this part just
needs to be seen and heard. However, I shall impart this advice on to thee
instead; “Thunder Kiss 65” is now a
personal classic of mine and that style of rock or metal is what I listen to
the most. This is all because of this skate video part. To be honest if I think
about it, this skate part can really take the credit for being a musical seed
in my inner consciousness. Which evolved over the years into darker and heavy
matter. Without this part there would be no White Zombie and therefore I’d
never know what stoner rock was and then never care to listen to Down
and Pantera
and then look back to their ancestors in Zeppelin and Sabbath and then we would never
have Hair of
the Dog…so really without skateboarding and this video part there
would be no band for which I am writing this top 5 to promote on social
media…mind blown…So, don’t make that mistake! Watch this video part and bang
your head along to the early stoner riffs which can open the doors to the whole
kingdom of riffery!
Riley Hawk
Penultimate
rocking skate part goes to Riley Hawk and his part in Transworld
Skateboarding’s 26th full length skate video, “Outliners” released in August 2015. It’s a modern part but Riley
Hawks style and musical tastes mean it is steeped in retro fuzzery and riffs
for days. Those riffs are provided by Sacri Monti, a band I did not know of until I
watched this part back in 2015. After a quick google and a search on my music
streaming platform of choice, I have their album at my fingertips and I can say
this to those bothering to read this that it’s a beast. It’s trippy and fuzzy
but also knows when to be slow and heavy. Go find out about the band and give
their self-titled album a listen. I do not obviously know for sure but I can
imagine Hawk chose this song himself. He has used Sabbath in previous parts and
other retro or actual 70’s stoner rock type tunes. He looks like a guitarist in
a 70’s rock band and IS actually the guitarist in a band which plays retro rock
called Petyr,
as yet not released on my music streaming platform unfortunately but I will be
looking out for them! The part is a solid, shredders gnar fest. It feels hot
and dusty just like the song and Hawk blasts through difficult trick after
insane mind bender like he was just ollying up a curb. He is definitely one of
my favourite modern skaters. For his skill, his style, his musical influences
and humble persona. This part is a prime example of the new guard tipping the
hat the the old guard but at the same time progressing forward into the future
of both skateboarding and rock music.
Geoff Rowley
Last but by
no means least - because basically you can just forget everything I have just
written and all the other videos I have made you watch and just press play on
this last one cause it’s the fucking best thing ever – is Mr Geoff Rowley. It’s
not a part as such but an advertisement; an Airwalk ad (remember when Airwalks
were everywhere!) This is mid to late 90’s footage which I first saw in a 411
video I had when I was around 13 or 14. I had just started skateboarding and
411 was a VHS magazine which opened our naive Aberdeenshire dwelling eyes to
what skateboarding was over in its spiritual home of California. This 30 second clip of Geoff
Rowley was all I needed to consolidate what I already suspected; I fucking love
skateboarding and I fucking love a good heavy riff on a guitar! In those 30
seconds it not only conveys more danger, rebellion and cool as fuckness than
all the rest of my top 5, it also makes you want to skate more or grab a guitar
or start a band or just go out and fucking live more!
It’s like
visual and aural coffee, when I’m not feeling it some days I’ll just watch this
clip and it lifts me out of my funk. There is a heat to the footage, it’s
dowsed in summertime, making you yearn for those lost adolescent days of just
hanging with your mates, drinking some beers, skating and listening to good
music. It is heavy music and skateboarding in perfect unison. That music is the
opening riff from “Sink with Kalifornija”
by Youth
Brigade. The skater is Rowley. And the rest is history…
Taking their name from one of the darker tracks of
the Deep
Purple catalogue, Demon Eye consists of four men, two New
Yorkers, two Southerners, and one shared love for old school metal, yes Demon Eye are back folks, indeed news of an
impending third offering pleases us very much around there parts, having
fallowed the upward trajectory of this stellar act since debut “Leave The Light” (review here)
hit are decks back in 2014.Be sure to
mark the date in your diary because “Prophecies
And Lies”will be
released on August 11th and that means another superior dose
of their classic rock, proto metal and traditional doom.
Demon Eye’sheavy grooves and thunder rhythms channel the doom
and crush of Black
Sabbath and Pentagram, and the fist banging shred of early
‘Maiden.
You
could say that Demon
Eye represents the flowering of an American take on the spirit of
the Scandanavian Retro Rock bands. Combing the warm vibes of 70's jams by
Deep Purple,
Black
Sabbath, Mountain and others with a rough and ready
smattering of the early metal roar of Pentagram and Pagan Altar thrown in for good
measure.
Their story is an odd one. The band that would
come to be known as Demon Eye began life as a seventies tribute /
cover band Corvette
Summer whose "set
generally includes the music of: Thin Lizzy, Humble Pie, Led Zeppelin, Deep
Purple, Blue Oyster Cult, Kiss, UFO, Alice Cooper, Free, ZZ Top, and many, many
more..." (Source).
So the ingredients were all there to begin with. Meanwhile, it turns out
frontman Erik Sugg has made quite a name as an incredibly popular children's
entertainer in the Raleigh,
North Carolina area, teaching
toddlers how to read through the power of rock & roll, and if you don't dig
the hell out ofthis story,
you simply have no soul. None of this however, suggests that the band
would blast into the doom rock world with an absolute scorcher of a debut E.P.,
which was released in early Spring of 2013. The eponymous E.P. generated
a decent buzz and those with one ear closer to hell didn't fail to notice.
One of those folks was Jorn, owner of Souseller
Records. The label who would go on to issue Demon Eye's
full-length debut, 'Leave the Light'
and 2015’s critically lauded sophomore release “Tempora Inferalia” (review here).So with the release date of “Prophecies and Lies” drawing ever
closer, it gives us great please to welcome band the onto the pages of THE SLUDGELORD
with a brand new and exclusive track “The
Redeemer” which you an stream below. Folks new to the band, we envy you and
if that describes you, you have to get your hands on this album if you would
answer "yes" to any of the following questions:
Do you like the demonic smirk of evil and forbidden
good times?
Do you like heavy guitars with shredding leads?
Do you like uptempo doom boogie music with catchy
choruses and clean vocals?
Not
only that, if the excitement of that new track wasn’t enough, we recently
caught up with front man Erik Sugg to talk us through some of the bands own
personal favourite albums.Which you can
check out below the track stream.Double
the dose double the riffs.Demon Eye welcome
back, you are truly knights of the sound table, we love you and you should
too.
Iron Maiden - "Live After Death"
This
is Larry's pick. What is there to say? It's classic. Amazing heavy metal that
has stood the test of time for several generations and will continue to do so.
Top notch song writing and incredible playing. It was pretty amazing being a
kid in the '80s and being exposed to Maiden as contemporary band. They were larger
than life and made their music epic for fans of hard rock and metal everywhere.
Queensryche - "The Warning"
Bill,
Demon Eye's
drummer, is a huge fan of this era of Queensryche. It's great classic metal from an
early period of the band before they began the more experimental portion of
their career during the latter half of the '80s, (the more heavily produced,
thematic albums.) A lot of folks in the metal community seem to share pretty
strong feelings about Queensryche, but this album stands up. If you
slept on it, you should go back and give it a listen.
Deep Purple - "In Rock"
We
seem incapable of not discussing Deep Purple during interviews, ha. A huge
influence for the band, obviously, and this record is certainly one of the best
things they ever did. It slams, through and through. Everything from the heavy
opening riffs to "Speed King"
to Ian's valkyrie-shrieking in "Child
in Time," to the almost MC5-ish "Flight of the Rat." I own three different vinyl copies of
this, (my listening copy, my back-up copy, and a picture disc version.) It's
one of my favorite records of all time. I was stoked to see a recent interview
with Ritchie Blackmore where he stated it was one of his favorite things the
band ever did.
Judas Priest - "Sad Wings of Destiny”
Paul
chose this one. If it were the only Priest record in existence, they'd still be
metal gods. It's really interesting this album was released in 1976 because
that's around the time when punk started kicking off, but it still granted the
band a huge audience and opened the doors for the pending NWOBHM scene.
Generally Sabbath
and Deep Purple
are the bands credited in making the musical transformation from heavy blues
towards a more classical moding style. That sort of thing ultimately became the
blueprint for the traditional heavy metal sound. Tony Iommi and Ritchie
Blackmore may have been the first guitarists to introduce that style to heavy
rock, but Priest
were the ones who really set that sort of thing into stone with this record. It
will always hold up.
Witchcraft - "Witchcraft"
I
can't not express enough how much this band means to me. When I heard Witchcraft's
debut record back in the mid '2000s it stopped me dead in my tracks. It was
everything I loved about vintage heavy rock and it was traditional doom metal
like Pentagram
and Candlemass,
but it wasn't over-driven nor downtuned. It was very clean and crisp, but still
sounded heavy and evil. I kept Witchcraft's sound and their techniques in my
mind when I first started writing songs for Demon Eye. I didn't want to
sound like them, but I wanted to achieve the same "less-is-more" kind
of power they were achieving. I don't know much about Magnus Pelander as an
individual, (he's a bit of a mystery to American fans,) but I will always
admire his imagination and his stunning songcraft. I will buy everything he
ever releases, Witchcraft
and solo releases, for the rest of my life and for as long as he's releasing
them.
