Miss Lava - Red Supergiant (Album Review)

Album Type :  Full Length

Date Released : 23/7/2013

Label : Small Stones Recordings

Red Supergiant, album track listing :

1). Desert Mind 04:05
2). Lay Down 03:33
3). Feel My Grace 03:15
4). Ride 04:11
5). Crawl 03:32
6). Hole To China 04:50
7). Catch The Fire 03:24
8). Murder Of Crows 03:45
9). Motel Neon 03:45
10). Yesterday's Gone 04:24
11). Red Supergiant 03:55

Bio :

2013 looks to be the year in which the country of Portugal will finally score a significant footprint on the global stoner rock map, thanks to Lisbon's self-described “authentic rock’n'roll disaster band”…

…Miss Lava to you.

Not that the quartet comprised of vocalist Johnny Lee, guitarist K. Raffah, bassist S. Rebelo and drummer J. Garcia, was born just yesterday.

In fact, Miss Lava has been snapping guitar strings, bashing drum skins, and tearing shins across the floorboards of European stages for half a decade already; having inaugurated their recording endeavors with a self-titled, blood-red vinyl EP in 2008, and quickly followed with their debut full-length album, Blues for the Dangerous Miles, towards the end of 2009.

These precocious portents of pulverizing power – fueled by more mega-riffs than Portugal had spawned since at least the inquisition – quickly gained Miss Lava domestic recognition via Loud Magazine, which named …Dangerous Miles one of the year’s top 5 Portuguese records, backed up by its readers, who also voted them one of the country’s top 5 bands.

2010 also witnessed the group’s first international forays via two UK tours, which were followed in August of 2011 with a show at Los Angeles’ historic Whisky a Go Go, and, in late 2012, the announcement of a globe-spanning deal with Detroit’s Small Stone Records that will see the release of Miss Lava’s sophomore album, Red Supergiant, in March 2013.
 

The Band :

Johnny Lee | Vocals
J. Garcia | Drums
K. Raffah | Guitars
S. Rebelo | Bass

Review :

From the outset, this band is definitely out to rock you brain and mind with fully fledged Stoner grooves. ‘Desert Mind’ kicks off with a classic stoner riff that gets your feet stompin’ in no time. The vocals are killer throughout. There’s a clever rhythm change in the bridge that lets the listener know that these guys aren’t just trying to rehash the tried and tested formula, but shake it to its core. ‘Lay Down’ follows this with a similar vibe until the bluesy middle section, before pummelling once more with those big riffs. ‘Feel My Grace’ starts with a very cool groovy riff that sounds like it would be an immediate crowd pleaser in a live setting. Johnny Lee’s vocals are once again very complimentary to the groove laden music underneath.

‘Ride’ picks up the tempo with a flat out riff assault before easing up dynamically in the verse. The chorus is full of energy which again sounds like it would slay live. K. Raffah’s guitar tone is spot on for this brand of stoner rock, which culminates in a tasty lead break near the song’s end.

By track five, it’s clear that Miss Lava is all about bringing the big riff vibe. ‘Crawl’ is another excellent song that is full of energy. There are some tasteful dynamic breaks which allow the bass some breathing space. But it is ‘Hole to China’ where the bass breaks free more so, permitting some more psychedelic guitar textures to be explored, whilst retaining the bluesy stoner atmosphere. The song is a beast which unfurls its claws as it goes on.

The song writing on ‘Catch The Fire’, ‘Murder Of Crows’, and ‘Motel Neon’ follows Miss Lava’s high standards, as any fan of the genre would find heaps of inspiration here. The drumming throughout the whole album is great; pounding away, keeping those rock solid grooves grounded. The album’s penultimate track is ‘Yesterday’s Gone’ which has an uplifting ambiance, at the same time as being crushingly heavy. The song culminates in a fully-fledged riff fest. The title track ‘Red Supergiant’ closes the album perfectly, slowing down the riff roller-coaster to discover more psychedelic tones, relaxing the listener after the riff induced hysteria that preceded it. A perfect end to a thoroughly enjoyable album!

Please check out this band, highly recommended for fans of the Stoner Rock genre!

Words by : James Thorne

You can buy it here

 

 

For more information : 

https://www.facebook.com/MissLavaOfficial

http://www.misslava.com/
http://misslava.bandcamp.com/

Rising - Abominor (Album Review)

 

Album Type : Full Length

Date Released : 4/11/2013

Label : Indisciplinarian Records

Abominor, album track listing:

1) The Disdain 04:34

2) Reproach 03:11

3) Vengeance is Timeless 03:53

4) The Hill Below 03:54

5) Leech 04:45

6) Suffering Nameless 03:53

7) Broken Asunder 04:08

8) The Malice 04:47

9) Gaunt 05:53

 

Bio :

In 2009 the Copenhagen based metal trio RISING hit the underground hard with its heavy, melodic and organic sludgy metal. The band’s two first releases – the eponymous S/T debut EP from ’09 and the “Legacy of Wolves” single from ‘10 - were both released DIY, but nonetheless widely recognized by international press and heavy music fans alike. Backing those early releases, the band toured Europe twice and played Roskilde Festival (DK) in 2010. In 2011, RISING signed to the German heavy music label Exile on Mainstream, whom released the band’s debut album “To Solemn Ash” the same year. The album is a 49 minute long epic showing the band’s talent for writing vast, metallic anthems while executing the material with fierce attack and sharp production.

In the year following the release RISING played more than 50 shows throughout Europe, here among two full European tours, a Swedish and an Irish tour and not the least festival performances at Copenhell (DK) and Hulstfred (SE), while rounding of 2012 co-headlining the extensive Danish MTV Headbangers Ball Tour. After the tour, the band committed itself to song writing and preproduction before finally recording their second album in April/May 2013 with producer Jakob Reichert Nielsen, whom also recorded “To Solemn Ash” and the S/T EP.

 

The new album entitled “Abominor” contains nine tracks running 39 minutes displaying a faster, more aggressive and gritty side to the band. From the beginning of the song writing process the band envisioned a somewhat harsher and loose album - a reaction to and a development from the more epic and melodic heavy metallic songs of “To Solemn Ash”.

This shows in the material which incorporates punk and crust influences, not at least aesthetically, while remaining true to the heaviness and melodic sense that has been trademarks for RISING from the beginning. Thematically “Abominor” departs from the band's first album by addressing multiple subjects of darkness, grief and violence. More personal and earthbound than previously, the lyrics depict the frail nature of man; the cowardice and the valor, the hope and the despair that sets the stage for man's interaction and his place in the natural (dis)order.

 

The Band :

 

Jacob Krogholt | Guitars/Backing Vocals

On this release :

Jacob Krogholt | Guitars/Backing Vocals

Henrik Hald | Bass/Vocals

Jacob Johansen | Drums

Review

‘Abominor’ is the band’s debut release on ‘Indisciplinarian’ records. It is a bludgeoning statement of intent from the band as they meld together various Sludge and Hardcore influences in the opening track ‘The Disdain’. The vocals are raw yet melodic, which really suits the frantic, atmospheric vibe laid down by the rhythm section. In contrast to the first track, ‘Reproach’ begins with a pseudo stoner groove, before pounding drums and apocalyptic vocals take us over the cliffs of oblivion. A short but sweet song, that really grooves.

‘Vengeance Is Timeless’ provides more skull crushing heaviness, as well as a tasty guitar lead to spice things up. ‘The Hills Below’ sounds like it would go down great in a live setting, as it has that ‘anthemic’ quality. The vocals once again manage to tread the fine line between barbaric and melodious.

In many ways this is quite an uplifting release, as the heaviness is nicely balanced with up tempo rhythms, as in ‘Leeches’ which begins with slight feedback, before devastating the listener with its Primordial style riffs. The guitar is fantastic throughout this song, with some groovy riff breaks and a cool complimentary lead. ‘Suffering Nameless’ carries on from this with a High On Fire style forage into Stoner Doom. ‘Broken Asunder’ is a thrash groove beast, which follows all the hallmarks of a great song. The guitar solo blends seamlessly into the musical arrangement and reinvigorates the almost 80s metal on steroids sound.

The album closes with the dual assault of ‘The Malice’ and ‘Gaunt’. The former is the type of crusty doom we’ve come to expect. More head pounding riffs, and face melting leads! ‘The Gaunt’ closes the album in fine style. The longest song on the record, features more twisting guitar, powerful vocals and possesses a super cool vibe. The bridge gives us one last moment to take a breath, before building back up the main riff motif until closing out with a distant sounding riff. Sign of things to come? I sure hope so!

 All in all, ‘Rising’ have released an impressive album, which straddles the doom/sludge template, but with an extra slice of the band’s own brand of atmosphere and chaos. Thoroughly recommended for fans of High On Fire, Beastwars, and Mastodon. Get it now!

Words by : James Thorne

You can buy it here
 

For more information :

http://rising.bandcamp.com/

www.facebook.com/risingdk

www.indisciplinarian.com
www.facebook.com/indisciplinarian
www.indisciplinarian.bandcamp.com

Sasquatch - IV (Album Review)

Album Type : Full Length

Date Released : 24/9/2013

Label : Small Stone Recordings

 

IV, album track listing :

1) The Message

2) Eye Of The Storm
3) Sweet Lady
4) Money
5) Smoke Signal
6) Wolves At My Door
7) Me And You
8) Corner
9) Drawing Flies

Bio :

After bursting onto the stoner rock scene with, not one, but two, closely packed studio albums (conveniently named Sasquatch I and II) in 2004 and ’06, the power trio went subterranean until 2010 before resurfacing with a new lineup and propulsive third opus (entitled, you guessed it, III), to the relief of many impatient fans and the Small Stone Records Board of Directors.

More importantly though, this career-establishing trilogy managed to seduce consumers and critics: beginning with the debut’s roaring-down-the-highway riffs, hypnotic grooves and occasional forays into southern rock; continuing with the sophomore LP’s increasingly focused, hook-laden hard rock classicism (standout “Barrel of a Gun” lacked only payola to become a massive radio hit); and culminating in the third album’s heightened states of fuzz-distortion and earth-rumbling power chords, capable of reducing Marshall stacks to so much plastic pudding.

All the while, Sasquatch steadily brought their advanced heavy rock ‘theories’ to the people, as they demolished stages across the globe alongside the likes of Blue Cheer, Nebula, Unida, Solace and Fatso Jetson, to name but a few. Most recently, the band was sighted marauding across Europe with Small Stone label mates Roadsaw & Dixie Witch.  Meanwhile, Sasquatch’s music has been tapped to soundtrack everything from movies (Jersey Girl), to television shows (FX’s Sons of Anarchy, A&E's Dog The Bounty Hunter, the

CW’s The Supernatural, and MTV’s Viva La Bam), to video games (NHL 2005, American Chopper, and Monster Garage).

Now the time has finally come for Sasquatch members Keith Gibbs (guitar, vox), Jason Casanova (bass) and Rick Ferrante (drums) to deliver a brand-spanking new album, whose chosen title – IV – was as inevitable as the urgent need shared by discerning fans of superior, song-oriented rock to HEAR IT – and pronto!

The Band : 

Keith Gibbs |Guitar, Vox
Rick Ferrante: Drums | Percussion
Jason Casanova | Bass, Filing, Red tape

Guest vocals on "Smoke Signal" courtesy of Gaff.
Guest guitar swirls on “Smoke Signal” courtesy of Hammy.

Review

Sasquatch’s fourth album, classically titled ‘IV’ showcases top drawer song writing, groove-laden riffery, and exceptionally fat bass. The opening track gets the foot stomping right away with ‘The Message’. A clear and concise message is delivered indeed; that Sasquatch ROCK! The second track is where things start to get interesting however. ‘Eye of the Storm’ begins with a spiralling riff that tonally is a great example of the California sound. The vocals are absolutely brilliant, melodious, catchy, and full of doom.

 ‘Sweet Lady’ is one groovy blues! Opening with a funky wah-drenched riff, Sasquatch lay down a huge groove, with some real warm tones. Keith Gibbs’s guitar tone is nothing short of incredible for this genre, and his bluesy vocal delivery gets stuck in the head easily. ‘Money’ is another sludge/stoner behemoth, with earth shattering bass and pounding rhythms.

‘Smoke Signal’ features a guest vocal from Marc Gaffney and man does he deliver a fine performance. The riffs are super heavy, and loaded with power while the band creates a psychedelic cacophony at the songs climax. Next track, ‘Wolves At My Door’ picks up the tempo nicely, with hard rocking riffs and leads. The vocals fight alongside the guitar at points but in a good way, because tension is always followed by release with the swirling guitar leads taking off at the end of the chorus! ‘Me and You’ is another fine bluesy track. The importance of classic rock song writing shouldn’t be underestimated and the band has nailed this.

The album closes with two fantastic tracks. ‘Corner’ features some steam rolling riffs that would be the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon’s drive along route 66. ‘Drawing Flies’ begins with a phased out riff that culminates in a slow open groove. The singing on this album has been very impressive, capturing all the important balance between catchiness and heaviness. The fact is every instrument on this album sounds great!

I thoroughly recommend this album to anyone who is a fan of the Stoner/Sludge/Doom genres, as well as Rock music in general, as Sasquatch have recorded something to please everyone!

 

Words by : James Thorne

You can buy it here

For more information :

https://www.facebook.com/sasquatchrocks