Moon Coven - Amanita Kingdom (Album Review)

Album Type: Full-Length

Date Released: 15/01/2014

Label: Transubstan

Amanita Kingdom CD/DD/LP track listing:

1). Ruler of Dust
2). Amanita Kingdom
3). Amanita Kingdom II
4). East
5). We Were Conquerors

Bio:

Moon Coven is a five piece psychedelic stoner rock band hailing from the town of Jönköping in the southern parts of Sweden. From the ruins of various bands, Moon Coven was formed in the summer of 2012 with the members David Leban - Vocals & Guitar, Fredrik Dahlqvist -Drums, Axel Ganhammar - Guitar, Oscar Johansson - Bass & Vocals and Justin Boyesen - Guitar.

After the summer of 2012 the song writing really began and in the beginning of 2013 Moon Coven started recording. After some problems resulting in a break in production Moon Coven’s self - recorded debut EP/Album “Amanita Kingdom” was done 6 months later in June of 2013.

Amanita Kingdom was released on Transubstans Records in January of 2014. With its repetitive slow stoner rock riffs and mesmerizing psychedelic vocals it got critically acclaimed

Moon Coven is:

David Leban | Vocals & Guitar

Fredrik Dahlqvist | Drums

Axel Ganhammar | Guitar

Oscar Johansson | Bass & Vocals

Justin Boyesen | Guitar

Review:

In case you’re unaware, an Amanita is a family of mushrooms that is generally very poisonous, but if the right one is found and consumed, a beautiful trip awaits. You could say that this same phenomenon applies for music, too; there are copious bands out there, many who sound dangerously alike, but if the right one is found then, well, a beautiful trip awaits. That is exactly the case with Moon Coven’s debut album ‘Amanita Kingdom’.  Upon first glance, it fits right in there with other Black Sabbath worshippers and they could start a party opening up for Uncle Acid, but rather than steering clear of them in fear that they’re just another stoner rock band, do yourself a favor and take them in.

Go for a leisurely stroll and get lost in Moon Coven’s beautiful, lush kingdom. Enjoy your time here; appreciate the beauty of the guitar solos that aggressively rise from the ground like bean stalks, twisting amongst themselves and getting lost in the task at hand. Come take a seat at the foot of the bean stalk where a blanket is sprawled out and has become home to a group of long haired ladies basking in the sun, eating freshly picked grapes as they laugh the day away to the tune of the two-part title track. Allow the Moon Coven sound, which is warm, sturdy and frequently dancing around a circular guitar riff, to wash over you. Close your eyes and focus in on the guitars as they spin around your eyelids like a kaleidoscope.

Once the sun sets and the temperatures start to drop, everyone in the kingdom comes together with blankets and Jagermeister by the fire pit. Though the album opener could have also closed out the album thanks to it’s sturdy, anthemic plodding, Moon Coven instead choose to unabashedly revel in the 70’s and calm things down with the psych-folk tune called ‘We Were Conquerors.’ Those around the fire huddle together and think back on the day, lazily singing along, as the melody drifts away into the darkness.

‘Amanita Kingdom’ is something special. It is simple, straight forward, and unassuming without rehashing the same stuff you’ve heard time and time again. The band is very talented and confident, playing with the dynamics of their songs and taking the time to do so. Considering that Moon Coven was able to deliver something of this caliber on their debut album, it surprises me that there hasn’t been more talk of this band in 2014.

Words:  Victor van Ommen

You can pick up a copy here

For more information:

Facebook | Bandcamp

Burning Saviours - 'Your Love Hurts Like Fire' Official Stream

‘Unholy Tales From The North’ is Burning Saviours fifth album. This is nothing new and revolutionary. This is just pure retro sounding doom. This album is a bit heavier than the previously released albums, but fear not - it still has that typical Burning Saviours sound to it.

For fans of ELECTRICWIZARD, UNCLEACID & THEDEADBEATS, BLACKPYRAMID

RELEASE DATE (WORLDWIDE):28/1/2015

Somali Yacht Club - The Sun (Album Review)

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 16/9/2014

Label: Robustfellow / Transubstans Records

‘The Sun’ CD/DD/LP track Listing

1). The Loom (08:20)

2). Sightwaster (08:02)

3). Up In The Sky (08:12)

4). Signals (10:52)

5). Sun (7:19)

Bio:

Somali Yacht Club is a stoner rock trio from Lviv, Ukraine. The band mixes elements of stoner rock, psychedelic rock, shoegazing and post-metal in their music.

Formed in 2010 as a jam band, they evolved quickly to a main band for its members. In August 2011 they self-released their first four-song EP “Sandsongs”.

In late 2014 Somali Yacht Club are releasing first LP ‘The Sun’ on Bilocation Records. They played numerous shows in Ukraine and shared the stage with Red Fand, The Machine, Stoned Jesus, Belzebong, Bong and many others.

The Band:

Mez | Guitar, vocals
Artur | bass
Lesyk | drums

Review:

Somali Yacht Club definitely were able to make an interesting genre mash-up with their newest full length, ‘The Sun’. Until this point all they had out there was their debut EP, ‘Sandsongs’ from 2011 and a single they put out last year. As a fan of both those releases, this newest one was certainly a surprise. While their earlier albums were very riff laden, fuzzed out, to the point stoner metal, ‘The Sun’ is a much more abstract piece of work. The goal of this clearly is different from their earlier releases- it’s about half as heavy, half the speed, but with twice the amount of thought put into how the album would work as a whole.

After listening to the first track, I thought I had about settled into the album. It seemed like one of those openers that would define the whole album. That nice, atmospheric opening track prepares the listener for a contemplative, almost relaxing experience. The main riff is catchy, but not too in your face. There is a lot of background noise throughout the whole song, a lot of effects, and those great trippy vocals chanting “I can feel it in my bones” over and over.

The fact that Somali Yacht Club started as a jam band becomes very evident by the second and third tracks. This is where they start to go all over- you can tell that a lot of this was written just during a straight up jam session- riffs that came right from the heart without an excessive amount of thought put into them, and even some dub sections. However, it also avoids being incohesive as a lot of jam bands can be- it is still a very well arranged album that flows throughout.

They definitely took a risk with this album- there are so many points in the album that they could have easily just taken the easy route (which they may have done on their first EP) and just gone from one to another, keeping the same attitude the whole song, but ‘The Sun’ has a multitude of attitudes and emotions going on.  ‘The Sun' manages to find the perfect middle ground of psychedelic rock. Just the right amount of riffs, right amount of abstract atmospheric jamming, the vocals are relaxing, but intense and emotional at the same time. There is so much emotion on this album that I feel like you could listen to it in any mood and relate to it. They manage to be all over the place, but still not sound frantic and unorganized.

All-in-all, a great, well put together album. Go spend the 5 bucks and get it on Bandcamp.

Words by: Alex D.

You can pick up a copy here and here

For more information:

https://somaliyachtclub.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Somaliyachtclub

Skånska Mord - S/T EP (Review)

Album Type: EP

Date Released 03/11/2014

Label: Transubstans Records

‘Skånska Mord’ Vinyl tracklist:

1). Illusion (04:13)

2). Leaving (03:57)

3). A Room Without A View (04:19)

4). Black Salad (03:42)

Bio:

If you missed out on SKÅNSKA MORD's earlier releases - you can't let this one slip thru your fingers. This is their first release on Transubstans, a 4 track EP released on black / solid white 12'' vinyl. Recorded at Lemon Recording Studios with engineer Martin Ekelund, this EP is the brilliant follow-up to their two critically acclaimed albums "The Last Supper" (2010) and "Paths To Charon" (2012).

Once again, SKÅNSKA MORD proves the winning concept of blending one of the strongest voices in Swedish rock history together with the dynamic, blues, psychedelic and hard-riffing tunes that practically steams 70's groove.

From the opening track "Illusion" to the fantastic cover of JANNE SCHAFFER's "Black Salad" (with a guest appearance by JANNE SCHAFFER himself), you will for sure get your dose of the "pick me up" SKÅNSKA MORD always deliver.

The Band:

Jan Bengtsson

Petter Englund

Patric Carlsson

Patrik Berglin

Thomas Jönsson

Review:

Skånska Mord’ self titled debut is a short but sweet blast of 70s rock. Beginning with the straightforward rocking opener “Illusion” of which the highlight is a rip roaring guitar solo at the end and some blistering leads during the main parts of the song. As the track progresses these guys sound a lot like a less weird Mammoth Volume.

Harmonica!!??! But yes! Beginning with a cool swingy guitar chord section moving into a slow blues jam the second track “Leaving” has some really slick song writing shifts. The transition from the verses into the bridge section is really well done and despite being a blues track it doesn't really feel like a typical 12 bar blues. The third track “A Room Without A View” begins with a guitar line that wouldn't necessarily be out of place in a 70s Isley Brothers track. Some nice smouldering atmosphere into the heavier chorus sections, when the bridge hits, it's a totally different kind of change then present on the rest of the album and is a nice touch.

The most blatantly 70s influenced track, is closer “Black Salad” which begins with rolling stuttering drum fills and big guitar riffs. Moving into some driving slightly funky bass with some nice lead guitar melodies then consolidating back into riffs. This track wouldn't be out of place on the Captain Beyond S/T or even Grand Funk Railroad's earlier works (before they turned into pussies). An instrumental track, the guitars shine here with some nice freakouts. The production on this record is pretty damn good and everything is clearly audible and it sounds retro without the bad parts of a retro production. Check it out below.

Words by: Chris Tedor

You can pick up a copy here

For more information:

https://www.facebook.com/skanskamord