Ecstatic Vision - 'Sonic Praise' (Album Review)

‘Like Sleep jamming with The Heads whilst Dave Wyndorf tempts you to join him on the ride of your life’

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 26/06/2015

Label: Relapse Records

‘Sonic Praise’ CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Journey
2). Astral Plane
3). Don't Kill The Vibe
4). Sonic Praise
5). Cross The Divide

Ecstatic Vision:

Doug Sabolick | Guitars / B3 / Vox
Michael Field Connor | Bass
Jordan Crouse | Drums / Percussion 

Review:

Philadelphia trio Ecstatic Vision claim they got together in order to "play what they wanted to hear". After listening to “Sonic Praise”, it seems they wanted to hear heavy, mind-altering psychedelic rock of the highest order, which is fine by me.

The band combine hypnotic krautrock grooves, scuzzy garage rock and fuzzed-out stoner rock to devastating effect across the five tracks on offer here. “Journey” kicks things off in fine style, like Sleep jamming with The Heads whilst Dave Wyndorf tempts you to join him on the ride of your life.  Douglas Sabolick’s vocals are a key element of Ecstatic Vision’s sound. The relentless cosmic repetition of the music is enough to transport you to a higher plane, but it’s the shamanic vocals that convince you that there is nothing cooler than following the band on their voyage into oblivion. 

Another key element of the band’s sound is their rock-solid rhythm section. Every song is based on minimal bass and drum patterns which, once locked in, seem to drive on to infinity, raising the intensity of the guitars and vocals around them. This is particularly evident on epic album highlight “Astral Plain” as riffs ebb and flow before building to one last freak-out with added wailing sax. As the album progresses, the bands attack seems to tighten. The final track “Cross The Divide” is focused around a single chord but still reaps maximum rewards.

“Sonic Praise” is an impressive debut from Ecstatic Vision that should have a broad appeal to fans of heavy riffage, blissed-out psych rock, hip-shaking rock’n’roll and everything in between.

Words by: Charlie Butler

‘Sonic Praise’ is available here

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Listen: Ecstatic Vision on Bandcamp

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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Kaleidobolt - S/T (Album Review)

Album Type: Full-length

Date Released: 15 May 2015

Label: Pink Tank Records

Kaleidobolt - S/T - Track Listing:

1.ROCKET TO THE MOON 06:38

2.MOMENTUM 07:34

3.INTO THE CREVICE 05:23

4.LISKODISKO 07:41

5.MOUNTAIN MAN 04:54

6.SHOWDOWN 09:51

Members:

Sampo &

Marco &

Valtteri

Review:

Here's a band that lives, breathes and worships everything 1970's Classic/Hard Rock. If these guys had access to a time machine they would permanently move to the 70s as their music is steeped in 70s style musical philosophy and theatrics. I'm talking about another groovy band from Finland called - Kaleidobolt. Their S/T debut album is a celebration of legendary bands past of present. Kaleidobolt play a style of classic/hard rock that includes vibes of Doom, Proto Rock, Krautrock and even Space Rock. It's a trippy and mesmerizing affair at Kaleidobolt offer an exciting 42 minute ride of thrills and spills. Or should that be of riffs and even greater riffs.

Opening track - Rocket To The Moon - lays down the groundwork for the rest of the album to follow and it's a majestic tale of 70s inspired riffs with a hint of Blues running through its veins. The vocals are pitched at the right level to stand on their own accord as Kaleidobolt are in full confident mood. If you're a fan of The Vintage Caravan then you're going to dig these guys a great deal. They have a whole lot in common with each other though Kaleidobolt's music is more DIY based as the music feels it's been recorded on true analogue equipment.

Second track - Momentum - is a fast paced number where the band decides to add a distinct Surf Rock approach and it's a refreshing sound that's rather inventive especially when Kaleidobolt venture into Space Rock surroundings. The song has a dreamlike quality that puts you into a hypnotic trance; well until the band add a heavier thrashier style of guitars towards the end of the song. I wasn't expecting that at all. Well played Kaleidobolt, well played.

Third track - Into The Crevice - starts off with an acoustic guitar solo before a psychedelic rock explosion breathes life into the song for one heavy and loud experience. People may think this isn't the most original of sounds but Kaleidobolt are more about the sonic experience as its one heck of an exciting album to listen to. Fourth track - Liskodisko – opens up with a jazz based battle between the band members and it's an exciting premise with beautifully played instrumental work for everyone to hear and feel. Kaleidobolt return to their normal approach of heavy psych riffs as this turns into one of the albums finest and exciting tracks.

The 2nd half of the album follows the same path as the first though Kaleidobolt have more than enough talent to surprise you with a sublime riff that you wouldn't expect especially on the final epic track - Showdown. Though before Showdown, the band unleash all their anger and fury on the albums heaviest track - Mountain Man. I hope the band include that style of music on future releases as it really suits their sound.

We now come onto Showdown, a glorious 10 minute psychedelic kraut-rock/stoner/space rock extravaganza. As the band leave you with a lasting impression that they are here to stay for the foreseeable future. Kaleidobolt’s debut album is a blistering effort that will win many fans within the Hard Rock domain. Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Jan at Pink Tank Records for the promo. Kaleidobolt S/T debut album is available to buy now on DD. Vinyl Record will be released through our good pals Pink Tank Records around July/August 2015.

Words by Steve Howe

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Zombi - 'The Zombi Anthology' (Album Review)

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 21/04/2015

Label: Relapse Records

‘The Zombi Anthology’ CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Sequence 1

2). Sequence 2

3). Sequence 3

4). Sequence 4

5). Sequence 5

6). Sequence 6

7). Sequence 7

8). Sequence 8

9). Sequnce 8 (Alternate Version)

10). Gemini, Pt. 2

11). Twilight Sentinel

12). DMC-12

Zombi is:

Steve Moore

A.E. Paterra

Review:

For fans of late 70's, early 80's horror and sci-fi movies, Zombi provides the ultimate soundtrack to a time when good guys and bad guys alike had mullets, dangly ear rings, and lazer sights on their pistols.  A time when cars exploded for no reason and international terrorists stole floppy disks containing industrial secrets and sold them to the highest bidder. A time when karate could solve all your problems and the undead walked the streets at night. If you enjoy Lamborghinis jumping hundreds of feet, landing unscathed, or motorcycles traveling through time, then listen to any Zombi record.

Zombi is a Pittsburgh-based instrumental duo, featuring Steve Moore on Keyboards and bass guitar, and Anthony Paterra on the drumset. The band is inspired by movie soundtracks of the past, think John Carpenter meets Neil Peart. Collecting tracks from their first 2 EP's, the Anthology is now available for the first time on vinyl, thanks to Relapse Records. 

The keyboards are thick and lush, but the virtuoso drumming of the band's later recordings is largely absent.  Instead, the first 9 tracks feature simple programmed drum loops that serve as a basic accompaniment to the eerie keyboard arrangements. As an avid Zombi fan and regular listener of their other albums, I was a bit thrown by the lack of a live drumset on this release, but once my ears adjusted, I could appreciate this album for what it is: a document of a great band in its early stages and the soundtrack to a non-existent horror/sci-fi movie.  The movie would be dark, low budget, gritty and violent, set in a dystopian future. There would definitely be cyborgs-- maybe an army of zombified cyborg hybrids with lazer cannons on their shoulders.  There would be creepy chase scenes through dark labyrinths, heads exploding, and karate, lots of karate.

The opening track, "Sequence 1," is a creepy, slow-paced piece in the lower register that conjures images of reanimated corpses lumbering through dark alleyways. I could see myself cranking this one on Halloween to scare the pants off young trick-or-treaters. As you progress through the album, each song could be the background music to a different movie scene. A slow pan through the laboratory of an evil corporation, then protagonists desperately climbing through airducts, with zombies clawing at their heels. You get the idea.

The final track on the album, "DMC-12," launches in with a furious prog-inspired drum assault. This is the kind of drumming you find throughout their later albums: fiery, thoughtful, and perfectly executed.  It's a truly fun album that serves as a solid prequel to the band's first official release (and my personal favorite), 2004's ‘Cosmos’. If you've ever seen a Dario Argento film or Tom Selleck's Runaway, you'll understand what this album is trying to achieve. I can't wait to pick this up on vinyl.

Words by: Doza Hawes

‘The Zombi Anthology’ is available here

For more information:

Like: https://www.facebook.com/ZombiBand

Listen: https://zombi.bandcamp.com/album/the-zombi-anthology

Tweet: https://twitter.com/zombiband

Trottoir - erste (f​/​m​/​n) - (Album Review)

Album Type: Album

Date Released: 31^st Jan 2015

Label: CD – Self Released. Vinyl - Adansonia Records

erste (f​/​m​/​n) – Track Listing

1. - 1

2. - 2

3. - 3

4. - 4

5. - 5

Bio

A plumber, a jazzer and a singer are building a house. And three musicians with a drumset, a guitar and a bass are standing in self-forgotten manner in front of the house. On a Trottoir. And they're playing the self-invented Mannheimer Hartkraut, a mixture of Krautrock, Post Rock, Space Rock and their own artistic origin.

Members

Martin Feige (Guitar)

Daniel Schwarz (Drums)

Jonathan Sell (Bass)

Review:

Time for a change of scene for myself at Sludgelord. It's been a long time since I ventured into the world of Krautrock and now here I am making my first visit in a very long time for Trottoir. A Space Rock/Post Rock/Krautrock collective where the music has a slighty jazz organic feel.

Their debut album - erste (f/m/n) – is a purely instrumental rock affair with the band adding huge volumes of noise. There are traces of Stoner Rock running through out the album though it's the more jazz/space rock vibes that make this album such a thrilling ride. The tracks are individually titles from 1 to 5 so you don't have to worry about the meaning of the songs. Sit back and enjoy the ride at Trottoir have created some heavy pounding and exiting riffs for you to experience.

Four of the albums five tracks are epic songs running from 9 mins to almost 14 mins in length. So Trottoir love their progressive rock passages which gives their music a more intelligent feel as they slowly build the riffs with layers of noise, synths and a whole lot more space-rock goodness. Shades of Karma To Burn and Pelican can be heard as direct influences but also elements of the 60s/70s legendary German Krautrock scene. Which isn't too surprising as these space riffsters are from Germany.

It feels that Trottoir have made this album to be listened as one complete song and not broken down into 5 individual parts that the album actually is. If I have to pick out my fave songs or moments from the album it has to be songs 2, 3 and 5 as those are the loudest and most intense parts of the album. Trottoir even venture into progressive metal territory on song 3. It has a great collection of breakdown beats and noises with a healthy sideline in loud experimental rock.

The album runs for around 51 minutes or so and it will appeal to all fans of Instrumental Rock/Metal. If you dig Jazz, Space Rock, Post-Rock, Stoner Rock, Psych Rock, Krautrock then Trottoir's debut album is the one for you. It's an exciting and fresh take on all things instrumental rock. It's good to see a band such as Trottoir trying something different and playing to their musical strengths for the whole world to see. erste (f/m/n) is a thrilling album and one I recommend very highly indeed. Awesome stuff.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Daniel for the promo. erste (f/m/n)  will be available to buy on CD from the Trottoir's BandCamp Page and on Vinyl from Adansonia Records from January 31^st 2015.

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