ALBUM REVIEW: Orange Goblin, "Science, Not Fiction"

By: Richard Maw
 
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: July 17^th, 2024
Label: Peaceville Records

“Science, Not Fiction” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. The Fire At The Centre Of The Earth Is Mine
2. (not) Rocket Science
3. Ascend The Negative
4. False Hope Diet
5. Cemetary Rats
6. The Fury Of A Patient Man
7. Gemini (Twins Of Evil)
8. The Justice Knife
9. End Of Transmission
10. Eye Of The Minotaur (Bonus Track)
 
The Review:

Orange Goblin return, after a lengthy few years between albums and once again prove why they have become- effectively- the Motorhead of their chosen genre. Each album delivers what you want, but, unlike the mighty ‘Head the breaks between records make each Orange Goblin album an “EVENT” and not just ‘another’ album.
 
Founding bassist Martyn Millard has departed- some years ago- and has been replaced by Harry Armstrong (Blind River), elsewhere Joe Hoare, Chris Turner and Ben Ward are as solid, dependable and recognisable as ever. The band sounds so strong here and the enthusiasm and care put into this album really comes through in the songs.
 
From the opening bass riff of “The Fire at The Centre Of The Earth Is Mine” to the closing “End of Transmission”, the band is rocket propelled, jet fuelled, firing on all cylinders and burnin’ up the atmosphere. It’s an assured set of performances and songs.
 
In between the opener and closer, the band don’t put a foot wrong. This is a very strong record from front to back, advance track “(Not) Rocket Science” is brilliant, “Ascend The Negative” is superb, “Cemetery Rats” is speedy and shows the punk side of the band, The Justice Knife is dark and harrowing and the aforementioned “End of Transmission” is as good an epitaph for the band as any they have ever written.
 
Throughout, Joe Hoare puts in a man of the match performance (again) with tasteful and song-serving playing. Ben Ward, a man reborn, is on gruff and powerful form. Ben’s battles with alcohol, depression and his health have been documented by the big man himself on social media, but now he is lean and mean, counting his calories and training hard. Truly, he has become a man remade and his muscled appearance matches the strength of his vocals here.
 
The band’s recent performance at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds for the album launch was one of the best times I’ve seen the band; they were on top form and dealt out a set of new and old tracks which displayed their experience. It showed that the band are at the top of their game.
 
The mix of stoner, heavy rock, punk, Motorhead infused swagger and darker influences from more extreme genres on this album works beautifully. Hopefully, the band won’t wait so long until the next album- but if this is to be the last one, or even the last one for a few years, the band can and should be very proud of what they’ve achieved here. It’s a rare band that has no bad albums in their catalogue, but Orange Goblin join Motorhead, Overkill, Death, Bolt Thrower and a handful of others who can make that claim.  A must listen.
 
“Science, Not Fiction” is available HERE

Band info: facebook 

ALBUM REVIEW: Astrosoniq, "Big Ideas Dare Imagination"

By: Victor Van Ommen

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 02/06/2018

Label: Van Records

“Big Ideas Dare Imagination” DD//LP track listing:

1). King

2). The Great Escape

3). Mindless

4). KEPPRA!

5). Vision Factor

6). Freezen

The Review:

A year ago, Astrosoniq lost a close friend and sometimes band mate. His name was Bidi. He was a guy who clearly made an impact on the heavy rock scene of The Netherlands and beyond. As a tribute to their fallen brother, Astrosoniq took to the studio and made this, their new album, “Big Ideas Dare Imagination.” The band brought in many friends to participate in the making, writing and performing of this album. It’s a group effort. It’s an album the band and their surrounding community needed to make.

Astrosoniq has been around for quite some time. The amount of recognition that they’ve received for their work is arguably underrated. Albums such as “Made in Oss” (technically an EP), “Son of A.P. Lady” and my personal favorite, “Speeder People” are incredibly adventurous. These albums push the borders of every genre in existence – yes, even that one – and they make it work. Doomy jazz with a country twang? The Wizards of Oss master it.

Surprisingly enough, this new album is not as adventurous as the band is known to be. Each song on here is a rock song- sometimes metal, sometimes stoner – but the adventure factor is missing. The experimentation can be heard when it comes to song structures and the addition of a saxophone, for example, but the wild ride Astrosoniq is known to offer just isn't here. For me, as a fan of the band, this took some getting used to.

So I wondered - does the passing of a friend call for a wild adventure? The slow, weirdo hook of opening track “King,” certainly doesn’t think so. It makes its point just fine. The rolling bass and passionate vocals of “The Great Escape” also see no reason to fly off the handle. It’s a sturdy song, just as the straight up rockers of “Mindless” and “Keppra!” are pretty cool songs. Album closer, “Freezen,” is the weirdest and most refreshing track, even if it is just leaning on 1 idea the whole time. So the songs are good. But where does this album fit in the Astrosoniq discography?

I’m left with mixed emotions here. Astrosoniq have made an album that’s close to their hearts. That’s obvious. The passion, courage and heartfelt emotion are certainly present in these 6 tracks. Involving guest musicians was a good move. Bidi made an impression on many people, so it’s a no-brainer to involve these people when making a tribute to the guy. At the end of the day, though, “BIDI” doesn’t gel as an album. Each song very much stands on its own, almost to the point that “BIDI” sounds like 6 songs made by 6 bands. However, considering the context of the album, this isn’t a critique in the slightest. This is the album that Astrosoniq needed to make. This is the adventure Astrosoniq needed to take. The listener will just have to approach these songs with an open mind.

“Big Ideas Dare Imagination” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

REVIEW: Howling Giant - "Black Hole Space Wizard: Part 2 [EP]

By: Ernesto Aguilar

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 25/08/ 2017

Label: Independent

For such a new outfit, Howling Giant brings sophistication to the lyrical and musical aspects that you might not expect. The result will astonish those fans who have been eagerly awaiting this sequel.

"Black Hole Space Wizard: Part 2" CD//DD track listing:

1. Henry Tate

2. The Pioneer

3. Visions

4. The Forest Speaks

5. Circle of Druids

6. Earth Wizard

The Review:

Nashville, Tenn.'s Howling Giant, a relatively new addition to the stoner rock lexicon, has generated high hopes early. The first EP in this thematic series gained reams of positive reviews. Such coverage was earned fairly. Part One of the story was quite fuzzy, as well as robust, and drew comparisons to Electric Wizard, among other performers.

Yet can "Black Hole Space Wizard: Part 2" draw the same lofty praise as the initial recording?

The concept recordings – it is still a bit unclear if the story will carry on into a third EP, or more than that – tell the tale of humankind's rise and ultimate vanquish through the eyes of a protagonist. Such a heady vision can easily collapse under the weight of presenting that depth of a story with any hope of coherence. Howling Giant indubitably plumbs this mythology, but make it clear the music comes first. Arrangements are dexterous and vocals plaintive when needed, urgent the next. For such a new outfit, Howling Giant brings sophistication to the lyrical and musical aspects that you might not expect. The result will astonish those fans who have been eagerly awaiting this sequel.

Howling Giant has garnered a lot of support for its sound and been likened to bands like The Sword. Although you can hear many classic-tinged acts in Howling Giant's sound, repeated listens may conjure diverse parallels. The album's opener, "Henry Tate," for example, has a sound and vocal delivery reminiscent of NoMeansNo circa "The Day Everything Became Nothing." Given NoMeansNo's pioneering post-punk bona fides, that comparison is a high compliment, but it gives you a glimpse at how deceptively talented this young band is on the new release.

The new music seems like an impressive leap from Part 1. The washed-out vocals get a much better mix this go around. Drumming here is standout. The storyline, without spoiling anything, is furthermore going to keep you listening, especially if you enjoy a story with your songs. All said, Howling Giant demonstrates early accolades were deserved.

"Black Hole Space Wizard: Part 2" is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Tronald - "Tronald"

By: Ernesto Aguilar

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 30/09/2017

Label: APF Records

…combining distorted guitars, chugging bass and flicks of vocal melody trapped under a crushing boulder of decomposing blackened death metal. It is raw and piercing in a fashion you cannot reasonably expect on a debut. But there it is, moldering for your delight.

“Tronald” CD//DD track listing

1. Tronald

2. Boss Keloid Are Shit

3. Obelisk Ov Hash

4. Dalnort

5. Gains (Prelude)

6. Vegan Gains

7. Get Your Grubby Little Hands Off My Bennell

8. Burgled Senseless

The Review:

Over the next four years, it is all but assured that you will hear the voice of U.S. President Donald Trump a lot more in extreme music than you ever thought possible. Some of it will certainly be based in outright opposition; there have been a trickling of music thus far critical of the new Commander in Chief by everyone from Prophets of Rage to rapper YG, whose "Fuck Donald Trump" last year gained the California native a lot more notoriety than he previously had. However, much more from metal will surely be inspired by Trump's strongman persona. His over-the-top threats and flowery promises from a world leader are the stuff of Megadeth and Queensryche concept recordings. Hearing President Trump's bluster on "Danlort," off Tronald's self-titled debut, you may be reminded that this period could musically be a very long four to eight years.

The specter of power is one that metal has reflexively rebelled against, whether it is the doctrines of organized Christian faith, authoritarians of every stripe or the stricter social norms that define mainstream culture. Usually such aggression is answered with the sort of musical force that only metal can deliver.

For you, "Tronald" may be just that kind of soundtrack. No stress if you are already at peak-Trump, peak-knee or whatever outrage is happening at the second. The Manchester, UK namesake do not come across as an expressly political collective. Tronald is, however, well suited to deliver an assertive and uncompromisingly heavy recording. Just as exciting, the listener gets treated to an inventive group with a fiery first outing in its new self-titled release.

What makes Tronald so engaging to catch is the diversity of its approach. Ticking in at just under 20 minutes, the eight tracks on "Tronald" are one of the more interesting collections you will hear this fall. From practicing a chorus to the previously mentioned Trump snippets, Tronald mixes in its doom and sludge-heavy style a healthy dose of experimentation. Whether it is a hardcore/thrash chord or two in "Vegan Gains" or grinding pace of "Bennel," you hear a band that is crafting what it may eventually be in the future. Right now, Tronald does many things quite well, at least in small spurts – more than half the cuts are less than two minutes. Long enough to be intriguing, but short enough to make you wonder what comes next.

On "Obelisk," Tronald's longest song, you get perhaps a better sense of what the quintet is capable of. The doom track creates a humid scene around it, one that combines distorted guitars, chugging bass and flicks of vocal melody trapped under a crushing boulder of decomposing blackened death metal. You get the picture. It is raw and piercing in a fashion you cannot reasonably expect on a debut. But there it is, moldering for your delight.

Discerning fans will count several influences, and Tronald does not break particularly new ground just yet. However, the band gets off to a rousing start. And one has to feel optimistic about its future.

"Tronald" is available here:

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

My Sleeping Karma - Moksha (Album Review)

My Sleeping Karma

Moksha

Napalm Records

29 May 2015

Moksha Tracklisting:

1. Prithvi

2. Interlude 1

3. Vayu

4. Interlude 2

5. Akasha

6. Interlude 3

7. Moksha

8. Interlude 4

9. Jalam

10. Interlude 5

11. Agni

The band:

Seppi - guitars

Matte - bass guitar

Steffen - drums

Norman - soundboard

Review

To say My Sleeping Karma floored me with their previous album 'Soma', is definitely the understatement of the century. An unknown band to me at the time, these four guys from Aschaffenburg, Germany, have been with me ever since because 'Soma' quickly turned into a go-to band for me. What i mean is regardless what frame of mind I'm in, My Sleeping Karma rstores the calm in me, they bring order solace. They pick me up when I'm down and they inspire me when I get stuck and can't move forward. What more can you ask for in life? Therefore, I was more than thrilled to be given this opportuniy to listen to and review their fifth opus, 'Moksha'.

Never before has an album lived up so much to it's title than 'Moksha'. Taken from Indian religions and philosophies, it means emancipation, liberation or release and that's exactly what My Sleeping Karma's new wax brings. Every time I listen to it, I feel set free, invigorated, happy and like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Why I don't play it every day before work is beyond me, since it would make each day so much better. Oh well, I might learn one of these days...right!

Built up like it's predecessor, 'Moksha' consists of "regular" songs and interludes, and the interplay between them is nothing but magic. It keeps the ebb and flow of the songs moving perfeclty, creating wonderous atmospheres. Come to think of it, the music is actually arranged akin to classical music. True, we're talking about instrumental music, where the instruments and the arrangements have to be in such a way that they elegantly and easily convery the story line. And this is where My Sleeping Karma excels. Having always taken inspiration from especially, but not necessarily, Hinduism in their quest for enlightenment, arranging their music just like classical works wonders. That and being amazing musicians!

Retaining their transcendental, psychedelic and hypnotic sound that I love so much on 'Soma', there is one significant change. Occuring occasionally, the band step off their beautiful magic carpet ride and explode into balls out led-heavy metal. This happens already in opener 'Prithvi' which starts off in full tilt, having me think for a moment that My Sleeping Karma have left their wonderful sound. I couldn't be more wrong! The heavier moments are just added for extra flavour and definitelt heightens the album. I guess it's what you call natural progression and man, it doesn't get much better than this.

What can I say? My SLeeping Karma are one of those rare bands who follows their own path 100% and that's called freedom and liberation. Add excellent instrument skills to this and you have 'Moksha'. Rarely will you find a band or an album this good. We all make our own decisions but I urge you to seek out this band and follow in their foot steps. Your life will be so much better for it!

Words by Håkan Nyman

Thanks to Mona, Jon and Andy at Napalm Records for the promo. Moksha will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from Napalm Records on 29^th May 2015.

For More Information

Official | Facebook

Deep Aeon - Temple Of Time (Album Review)

Album Type: Album

Date Released: April 04th 2015

Label: Shithead Records/H42 Records

Temple Of Time - Track Listing

1.Element 24

2.High Trip King

3.Floating

4.With That Priest On The Back Seat

5.Noises From Aeon

6.River

Review:

Time for some good old fashioned Stoner Rock where the grooves and riffs are matched by some great hard-rocking vocals. Deep Aeon may not sound the most original of Stoner Rock bands but that doesn't stop them being an exciting band to spend 30 mins of your day with. As their debut album - Temple Of Time - is a thrilling and action packed ride from start to finish.

Deep Aeon get straight down to business with the heavy blues/stoner rock track - Element 24 - that sees the band in full confident mood with a great outlook on all things Stoner Rock. It's also good that the band have written great and often humorous lyrics to match the music that will leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling inside. If you're a fan of Old-School Desert Rock/Stoner/Fuzz Rock then Deep Aeons is the band for you and you can hear various nods to Kyuss, Truckfighters and Fu Manchu. It may take time to get used to the vocals but you can't deny what a great singer he actually is.

Second track - High Trip King – offers more of the same good time high energy vibes of the opening track though with Deep Aeon bringing a slice of psychedelic rock to the action. Deep Aeon know what needs to be done to entertain the heck out of you. This is good old fashioned Stoner Rock that's made for one thing. Mainly to get you into the mood to rock out and they succeed on all levels. The instrumental work is superb through out as the band have a keen talent for writing impressive riffs.

The rest of the album follows the same template as the opening two tracks and that's a good thing. You can enjoy the rest of the ride as Deep Aeon have a few more great tunes for you to check out - Floating, Noises From Aeon and the last epic track - River. River is possibly the standout track of the whole album as the band decide to let fly with heavy fuzz/blues/stoner rock mayhem to end the album on a loud finish. This album may not be high on originality but it's still a great album for you to check out.

Shame there isn't a couple of more songs on the 'album as it could have done with a couple of mores to expand Deep Aeon's sound. Other than that give this album a spin and you will be rewarded with 30 minutes of top class vintage stoner rock music. Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Thanks to H42 Records/Shithead Records for the promo. Temple of Time will be released on CD/DD/Vinyl from Shithead Records/H42 Records on April 04th 2015.

Words by Steve Howe

For More Information

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Familiars - S/T (EP Review)

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 19/8/2014

Label: Bandcamp

‘Familiars’ DD track listing:

1). Fire in the Sky

2). Beyond its Reach

Members:

Kevin, Ken, Jared & Jon

Review:

Familiars come flying by with a digital two-song release nestled sonically within Dozer’s stomping ground. No, Familiars aren’t Swedish, they’re Canadians, but they have an American-via-Sweden feel to their rawk and execute it very well. So don’t be surprised when “Fire in the Sky” opens with a liberal use of crashing cymbals and loud tom hits. The crunch of the guitars drive this bad boy home and the four string takes center stage in “Beyond Its Reach,” adding a tasteful bit of raunch to the whole shebang.

For stoner rock, these are perhaps *ahem* familiar characteristics, but the major attribute for this band is the melancholy delivery of the vocals; imagine a subdued Chino Moreno hanging out in the backseat. With no more than two songs available for the listening public there’s not much more to say about Familiars other than that a full length debut is certainly something to look forward to.

Words by: Victor van Ommen

You can pick up copy here.

For more information:

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WAINGRO - S/T (Album Review)

Album Type: Album

Date Released: 30^th November 2014

Label: Self Released

WAINGRO – S/T – Track Listing

1.Firebird 02:58

2.Bathed In Tongues 02:38

3.Tailwind 03:43

4.Matador 01:04

5.Ride 04:33

6.REKALL 03:42

7.Force Fed 02:57

8.St. Regis 00:36

9.Black Dawn 04:54

10.Arboria 00:45

11.True North 03:05

Members

Brian Sepanzyk – Guitar/Vox

Nate Pennell – Bass

Benjie Nesdoly – Drums

Review:

Waingro class themselves as a Loud Stoner Rock Band. Though to label them under that genre, you will be missing the point, as there is so much more to Waingro’s music. Named after a character from 1995 Michael Mann crime thriller – HEAT. Waingro are a band who offer a more violent and bombastic approach to Stoner Rock with the emphasis on noise and destruction. Their S/T debut album is 31 mins of pure chaos from start to finish as they blast their way through tales of Punk and Sludge based fury that sees Waingro as future stars of the Canadian Heavy Rock/Stoner Rock scene.

Opening track – Firebird – is a snarling beast of track waiting to rip everything to shreds. The band is primed for action and fly out of the traps with fast-paced, loud and angry riffs that will pound you into submission. The punk drenched fury of lead vocalist adds a more hardcore edge with Waingro showing early on that these guys are not to be messed with. Sounding like a more Stoner Rock orientated version of Cancer Bats as these guys seriously know how to write a mean hard-rocking tune you will be singing from the rooftops.

Second track – Bathed In Tongues – is more of the same chaotic battering ram style of Stoner Rock to cause damage to your hearing to. It is packed full of vibrant and violent energy that is dangerous as it is addictive. The Stoner Vibe takes a more a disturbing turn as the vocals and lyrics are a bit more sinister. Though you cannot help enjoying, the huge riffs Waingro have written here. It maybe just me but I can start to hear a slight Clutch influence though played at a faster pace. Could be just me as I am feeling the after-effects from the musical beating that Waingro are putting me through.

Third track – Tailwind – sees Waingro slowing down some of the punk based aggression from the previous two tracks. It is still one mean and loud affair you cannot hide from. With Waingro slowing things right down, you start to notice other things such as melody and lyrical content. The riffs are spectacular on a loud and noisy scale. This song will soon get your heart pumping, as Waingro take no prisoners with their own brand of Stoner Rock Justice.

Fourth track – Matador – is a 60-second instrumental Sludge/Stoner Rock burst of Punk Rock aggression that has tons of melody and heavy riffs despite the short run time. Shame this track was not extended by another minute or so. The first four tracks should give you a good impression what this album is all about. Waingro. The remaining seven tracks will leave you breathless through out as the band unleash a heavy storm of brutal based Stoner Rock riffs. You will be floored by the heavy dangerous riffs of REKALL, Force Fed and Black Dawn.

Waingro have delivered an album packed full of great ideas and where the Stoner Rock is summed up as BRUTAL. There is no escaping from the fact that Waingro have something special about them. As they have the sound and vision to turn some heads within the Hard Rock/Stoner Rock scene.

Brilliant and Highly Recommended.

Waingro S/T debut album is available to buy on DD/CD/Vinyl from BandCamp now.

Words by Steve Howe

For more information:

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Mexicoma - Obsidian Monolith - Album Review

Mexicoma

Obsidian Monolith

Self-released, LP version released by Kozmik Artifactz

9 November 2013

The songs:

1. Keep Me Alive

2. Mortified

3. Supersonic Speed

4. Alien Radio

5. Room 101

6. Island Of Ghosts

7. West of Memphis

8. Abyssus Abyssum Invocat

9. Bored Beyond Belief

The band:

Magnus Olsson - vocals

Olle Sjölund - guitar

Peter Norstedt - guitar

Niklas Viberg - guitar

Charlie Dahl - bass guitar

Oskar Melander - drums

Straight out of the white desert that is northern Sweden, Umeå's Mexicoma has just released their second full-length Obsidian Monolith'. I always thought vast expanses of forests covered that are covered in snow for almost half the year brought out bleak, harsh and evil music, but I was wrong. Mexicoma are going full tilt stoner but with a twist. Instead of following genre rules, they step outside the box and in the process expand this particular style in a way I didn't think was possible. One thing that separates the band from most stoner bands is singer Magnus Olsson. He has none of the usual crooning, swaying and whispering kind of style which heavily favoritized desert singers. No instead he's like a pitbull on the loose with a set of Lemmy-balls and it works great! Another important aspect that elevates Mexicoma is the almost total lack of fuzzed out instruments. They appear on occasions but the band has opted to let their big fat riffs have an organic and in-your-face approach...and I love it.

'Keep Me Alive' is probably only one of a couple of songs that gets close to traditional stoner rock. Full throttle from the get-go a super nice rhythm guitar allows the rest of the music freedom to rock hard...and rock hard Mexicoma does! A combination of Motörhead's brutal riff and drum tendencies and Thin Lizzy's guitar harmonies puts 'Mortified' up there in the league of fantastic songs. Amazing that's all I'm saying. 'Supersonic Speed' brings down the speed a bit letting the stoned psychedelic leanings shine through and it's a good, trippy and spacey tune. A bit of Monster Magnet shows it's face in 'Alien Radio'. Fuzzed out guitars, slower tempo but heavy as hell it is both trippy and and punishing at the same time. Dark and foreboding the unrelentless 'Room 101' brings enough riffs to blow Mother Earth to smithereens. Fan-fucking-tastic, you hear!

Starting out kind of schizophrenic, once Magnus belts out 'Island Of Ghots' turns into one of those songs that builds up slowly to have simply pounded you into dust once it's over. A bluesy feel envelopes 'West Of Memphis' throughout mixed with balls-heavy rock it tells the story of the West Memphis Three. A dark depressing tale indeed but the song is really good. The "strangest" song on the album is 'Abyssus Abyssum Invocat'. Claustrophobic and intense is the best explanation I can come up with, and I mean that in the best possible way...if claustrophobic is good, hmm? A deranged guitar line soares above the heavy riffing rhythm guitars which creates all these strange feelings. And all is intensified by Magnus' gravely and brutal voice. My promo copy contains the vinyl version-only track, 'Bored Beyond Belief'. And I suggest you get the LP because ending with this one is a smart move by Mexicoma. They switch between tempos where the verses are slower while the choruses just explodes with the band's take on heavy-ass modern electric blues. A great song if there ever was one!

Being introduced to Mexicoma was very nice and I am happy to know about them. Too many times, really good bands are ignored in favour of fad-of-the-day bands with no substance at all. So to be given 'Obsidian Monolith' by the boss certainly made my day especially since they are fellow Swedes. I recommend you check out their two previous releases, the self-titled full-length debut and the EP, 'Supervoid'. Apart from being great musicians the fact that they are reinventing a genre - sort of - is worthy of praise and recognition, more so since it's done in an awesome way. Get off your asses and get your copy now and join the Mexicoma revolution!

Written by Håkan Nyman

Thanks to Bilocation Records for sending us a promo to review. Obsidian Monolith is available to buy on Digital Download and Vinyl Record.

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