A Year in Review: The Psychedelic Sonic 6 of 2015

By: Aaron Pickford

The Sludgelord’s ‘Sonic 6’ for 2015 is compiled based upon page views alone and calibrated into the list below, so check out the Psychedelic “Sonic 6” for 2015 (full reviews can be viewed by clicking the artwork and total views since the date of publication are highlight in red). 

6). Snail – “Feral” (597)

As far as tone and mood are concerned, “Feral” is far from untamed. To the touch, these eight cuts are smooth, the production doing what it needs to do to keep this beast domesticated. At the end of the day, though, this beast is hard to ignore, which is the justification for the album’s name.

5). Colour Haze – “To The Highest Gods We Know” (879)

Whether the band is up on stage nonchalantly kicking ass or their records are spinning on a turntable, Colour Haze is one of few bands that has consistently produced music of quality and integrity. “To The Highest Gods We Know” is no different. Though this album may not fully exemplify the band due to its short running time, it is an album that will stand proudly as the latest addition to the Colour Haze discography.

4). Weedpecker – “II” (913)

Weedpecker have created a sonic experience that demands your full attention as this is one of the most powerful Stoner Metal albums you'll hear all year. II is a contender for one of the albums of the year. Brilliant.

3). Sacri Monti – “Sacri Monti” (1091)

Sacri Monti's debut album is one that surprised me in a big way. Yeah it did take around 4 to 5 listens to fully appreciate the whole experience. So expect to take your time with this album. All in all Sacri Monti have created a stunning debut album.

2). My Sleeping Karma– “Moksha” (1421)

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!

1). Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats – “Night Creeper” (1737)

If the record will be met by their adoring fan base with the same hype and admiration 2011’s insatiable ‘Blood Lust’ was, or be deemed as an adequate successor to the robustness of ‘Mind Control,’ only time will tell. What we do know, however, is that it’s another impressive release from this consistently unique and enrapturing Cambridge quartet.

Reviews featured in this article were written by: Victor Van Ommen, Steve Howe, Hakan Nyman, Philip Weller

The Sludgelord Sour 16 for June 2015

Welcome to The Sludgelord’s Sour 16. Each month, you the reader are unwittingly compiling a list of the top 16 records of the month, covering all genres of metal, but predominately the best the doom, sludge, stoner-psychedelic genres have to offer.

Is it chart? Not really.  It is merely the 16 records you guys have been most interested in over the last month and you have been checking out on this very page.

So here is the The Sludgelord Sour 16 for June 2015, the 16 records you’re most looking forward too or are currently checking out.  Check em out, spread the word and perhaps revisit some records you may have overlooked.  

The results are compiled based on page views alone and calibrated into the list below. So without further ado, this is the Sour 16. So until next month, roll up, kick back, chug a beer and Hail the riff! All review links, are held under the artwork.   

16).      GodSleep – ‘Thousand Sons of Sleep’ (249)

“Thousand Sons of Sleep” is a deep and complex record with a lot to offer.’

Full Review

15).      Oxen – ‘The Vanishing’ (260)

‘The Vanishing’ demands your full attention as it's one of the years most exciting and thrilling debut albums you're likely to come across.’

Full Review

14).      Nightslug – ‘Loathe’ (262)

‘It’s a hellacious racket from moment one, but it’s also exceedingly catchy and memorable.’

Full Review

13).      OHHMS – ‘Cold’ EP (265)

‘Cold is a brilliant record and stands out as a potential Album/EP of the year.’

Full Review

12).      Sons of Huns – ‘While Sleep Stay Awake’ (281)

‘Sons of Huns set themselves apart from the competition by taking influences from the past but making their music sound current and vital instead of a lifeless recreation.’

Full Review

11).      Connoisseur – ‘Stone Violence’ (277)

‘Imagine if you will, Hatebreed if they were pissed off about a bad weed supply’

Full Review

10).      Grusom – ‘Grusom’ (290)

This is a very cohesive debut

Full Review

09).      Lo! – ‘The Tongueless’ EP (294)

‘At once both heavy and sparse, dense and expansive, they are a hardcore paradox that make music that is a true experience.’

Full Review

08).      Church – ‘Unanswered Hymns’ (296)

’With a very solid debut elegantly combining all the main elements of a great doom record, Church truly might already have themselves one of the genre’s opera magna.’

Full Review

07).      Death Alley – ‘Black Magick Boogieland’ (297)

‘There are riffs the size of continents flying by; the vocals take full advantage of their role, and the band gels, jams, and jives.’

Full Review

06).      Ommadon – ‘Empathy for the Wicked’ (309)

‘If being bombarded with sludgy evil riffs is your thing...or getting absolutely pulverized and driven into the pavement by colossal thundering drums until your body collapses, this release is perfect for you.’

Full Review

05).      Goatsnake – ‘Black Age Blues’ (313)

‘There can be no doubt that this record will feature on many end of year lists and deservedly so.’

Full Review

04).      Rosetta – ‘Quintessential Ephemera (321)

‘The whole album is expansive and ethereal in its delivery and production’

Full Review

03).      Lightsabres – ‘Beheaded’ (332)

‘Beheaded is a full-throttle, kick-ass Stoner Rock record’

Full Review

02).      Sacri Monti – ‘Sacri Monti’ (396)

‘This album is an exciting psychedelic ride from start to finish’

Full Review

01).      High on Fire – ‘Luminiferous (589)

‘This album is so fucking good, if you do not get it, you are a dum dum’

Full Review

SACRI MONTI - S/T (Album Review)

Album Type: Full-length

Date Released: 24^th July 2015

Label: TeePee Records

Sacri Monti – S/T - Track Listing:

Staggered In Lies

Glowing Grey

Slipping From The Day

Sitting Around In A Restless Dream

Ancient Seas And Majesties

Sacri Monti

Members:

Brenden Dellar -Guitar

Dylan Donavon- Guitar

Anthony Meier- Bass

Evan Wenskay- Organ, Synth, Echoplex

Thomas Dibenedetto- Drums

Bio:

California psychedelic heavy rock champions SACRI MONTI blaze a scorching trail of superb shredding and smoldering riff-o-rama on their Tee Pee Records debut. Roughly translated as "Sacred Mountains", SACRI MONTI blazes a scorching trail of superb shredding and smoldering riff-o-rama on their impending debut. The record is a searing smorgasbord of muscular rock that boils '70s guitar rock down to its purest essence while simultaneously skyrocketing a pathway towards the future of molten heavy psych.

The five-piece, which features drummer Thomas Dibenedetto of JOY and Radio Moscow bassist Anthony Meier in its ranks, will drop its self-titled debut on July 24. Boasting a sound best described as "a mix of early 70's underground hard rock, with psychedelic and krautrock elements", SACRI MONTI joins a blooming Tee Pee roster that includes fellow San Diego associates Harsh Toke, JOY and the genre's founding fathers, Earthless.

Fingers bleed, eardrums implode and craniums collapse when SACRI MONTI cranks up its bitchin', blistering buzz. Tune in, turn it up and BURN!!

Review:

Sacri Monti's style of Hard Rock is firmly rooted in the 1970s. Shades of Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Hawkwind and Led Zepp all play a major part in shaping Sacri Monti's sound. Though the band do like to shake things up with slabs of Krautrock as well. Sacri Monti is made up of members of Radio Moscow and JOY. So if you're into those two bands then Sacri Monti is going to win you over in a big way. It took me a few attempts to actually warm up to Sacri Monti's style of Psychedelic Rock as I've been so out of the loop with Psychedelic outfits such as Sacri Monti.

My initial thoughts there are a ton of great ideas struggling to get out as Sacri Monti pack a lot of different styles where it felt it was getting bogged down by the high amount of different noises and riffs that the band have created. Then around the 3rd or 4th listen I started to enjoy the album more. Opening track - Staggered In Lies - starts rather quietly before strands of vintage Psych Rock start to appear and playing subtle hints of 60s/70s guitar worship. It becomes ever so louder as time goes by and once the groovy organs kick in then this album finally comes alive. The vocals have an early Roger Daltrey vibe as the spacy synths and noises almost drown out the impressive vocals.

Though that's Sacri Monti's style of music as the vocals are constantly in the background and the space rock/psych rock sounds are the main attraction here. Shades of Psych Rock legends - Earthless - can be felt here as Sacri Monti play some exciting jam-based riffs. Sacri Monti have included some heavy doomy moments within their The Doors inspired organs and synths. That's the vibe you will pick up from the opening song and with 5 other songs to listen to, Sacri Monti have a few surprises coming your way. 

Second track - Glowing Grey - is a heavy psychedelic offering with plenty of fuzz and guitar reverb feedback that creates an unsettling feeling with the riffs being played at maximum levels for a groovy distorted ride. The vocals blur between the lines of reality as they drift from dimension to the next. Though it's the crazy psychedelic riffs that grabs your attention and never let’s go. Yeah. I dig this album a lot and I can see why TeePee Records signed them to their roster as they have the perfect balance between the classic 60s/70s sounds and the more modern day hard rock sensibilities.

Third track - Slipping From The Day - has a few psych freakouts that would make Jimi Hendrix proud. It's one of the albums strongest tracks and one that I can see the band playing to a hypnotic major Psych/Stoner Rock festival crowd such as Freak Valley. I wouldn't be surprised to see Sacri Monti appearing at festivals such as Desertfest, Freak Valley and other great festivals of that ilk. This album is going to win Sacri Monti a huge wave of followers within the Psych/Stoner Rock scene. This album is an exciting psychedelic ride from start to finish especially when the 2nd half of the album starts as Sacri Monti become crazily inventive with their music and ideas.

Fourth track - Sittin Around In A Restless Dream - which wouldn't go a miss from an Uncle Acid album. Crazed space rock sounds from both the guitars and organs provide another psych freakout session with the band having the time of their lives. Once fifth track - Ancient Seas And Majesties - has finished weaving its trippy 60s inspired magic spell you're wondering where the band will take you next. Well you ain't heard nothing yet as Sacri Monti turn their attention to the world of Progressive Rock with the wonderfully creative 12 minute plus song - Sacri Monti. It's the albums standout song where the band will take you on a final epic journey where the lines between fantasy and reality become blurred. Jam-based riffs are the main order of business with Sacri Monti weaving different majestic styles of rock to leave you in a blissful hard-rocking state.

Sacri Monti's debut album is one that surprised me in a big way. Yeah it did take around 4 to 5 listens to fully appreciate the whole experience. So expect to take your time with this album. All in all Sacri Monti have created a stunning debut album.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Carl at Action PR for the promo. Sacri Monti - S/T will be available to buy from TeePee Records on July 24th 2015.

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