A Year in Review: The Stoner Sonic 6 2015

By:  Aaron Pickford

Everyone gravitates to a favourite genre and each has its own merit, therefore I thought it would be a good idea to highlight, “six of the best” releases of 2015 within our most popular genres.  So today, as we reflect upon an awesome year of music in 2015, we present the Stoner “Sonic 6” for 2015

The Sludgelord’s ‘Sonic 6’ for 2015 is compiled based upon page views alone and calibrated into the list below, we will be presenting further lists during the lead up to Christmas, but for today roll up, kick back and Hail the riff!  Check out the Stoner “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). Godsleep – “Thousand Sons of Sleep” (625)

I think the reason why the record works so well is the musical chemistry which is fantastic. “Thousand Sons of Sleep” is a deep and complex record with a lot to offer. I’m recommending buying this record, the boys in Godsleep are quite good at what they do and this record proves it well.

5). 
The Midnight Ghost Train – “Cold Was The Ground” (685)

When they opened Desert fest last year, they were the band that I compared all other bands to and with the exception of Clutch, the conclusion was always the same; The  Midnight Ghost Train did it better. With this album already in my fixed rotation, 2015 is looking like it’s going to pan out like that one weekend in Berlin. Though music is not a competition, I’m curious to hear who will bring out an album this year that tops “Cold Was the Ground.”

4). Acid King – “Middle of Nowhere, Center of Everywhere” (712)

There are countless stoner and doom metal bands around in the modern era, however when you get a band like Acid King that have been around for over two decades, you have to feel a sense of excitement over a new release. They helped write the book of stoner/doom/fuzz rock emanating from the early nineties, and their new opus is one of absolute greatness. The eight tracks on, ‘Middle of Nowhere, Center of Everywhere’, flow majestically and organically. This is an album that will only mature and sound better each time.

3). Kult of The Wizard – “The White Wizard” (975)

Kult Of The Wizard have delivered a truly wonderful EP for everyone to check out. Lets hope their full length record is good as this as this band have potential to something very special in the years to come.  This is Outstanding.

2). 
The Atomic Bitchwax – “Gravitron” (979)

With ‘Gravitron’ the band has done a great job at solidifying their sound. Though familiar, it’s still fresh and hopefully the beginning of a long chapter for TAB. ‘Gravitron’ is an album on which you can hear the band having a good time and playing from the heart. There’s not a note out of place and even the instrumental cuts are worth their time. Here’s to a job well done for TAB.

1). Belzebong – “Greenferno” (1162)

‘Inhale in Hell’ honestly is just one massive slow chug fest, filling every available space with some ridiculous throbbing string torture with a sweet backing beat. It sounds akin to a giant walking the earth, simply moving things aside without noticing. True evil blues this band has summoned, and you the listener, shall reap their rewards! From that slow, massive chugging into feedback and staccato wah picking, they have no problems slamming you up against the wall and rifling through your pockets for some loose cash.

Reviews featured in this article were written by: Hunter Young, Victor Van Ommen, Steve Howe, Dominic Walsh, Theron Moore

Kult Of The Wizard - The White Wizard (EP Review)

Album Type: EP

Date Released: March 13^th 2015

Label: Self Released

The White Wizard – Track Listing

1.Tusk Of Mammoth 06:44

2.Olde Fashioned Black Magik 03:52

3.Plasma Pool 03:41

4.Black Moon 07:27

5.Devil Delight 07:19

Bio

Spit forth from the bowels of earth, Kult of the Wizard erupted in early 2013 in its first form and was captured as The Red Wizard. Written and recorded in a week, it’s a collection of songs about the burning destruction of man’s less than desirable habits. Less than a year later another form surfaced from the watery black depths and The White Wizard brought destruction to the shores. Carrying with it waves of monsters and ominous abode, The White Wizard explored the realm of space as it relates to a crushing watery grave. 

In 2015, the third form arrived, The White Wizard. Crafted with care and purity the album explores a tender subject of love. It’s in this form that Kult Of The Wizard resides physically. Tuned into their natural vibrations riff slingers, Aaron Hodgson and Ryan Janssen bring sonic devastation held steadfast by the drums of battle from Anthony Bierstedt. And just when you thought the bleak end was eminent, the soaring vocals of Mahle Roth bring life. Focusing their sound on aural landscapes each song becomes more about exploring the ride of the riff and less on a set form, presenting a live visual that takes the audience to a space outside of themselves and pushes their bodily resonances together into one unified form and experience.

Kult of The Wizard is a collection of human beings that set forth to bring different forms of Mother Nature to light. In each form a wizard presents itself and reigns down with all their force. Shaking mountains and bringing oceans to unrest, Kult Of The Wizard carves a path of destruction and life in hopes to bring favor to the powers divine.

Praise be to Gaia, the great creator, the great destroyer. All hail the riff.

Members

Guitars - Aaron Hodgson

Bass - Ryan Janssen

Drums - Travis Nordahl

Vocals - Mahle Roth

Review:

Kult Of The Wizard are getting a ton of praise within the Doom/Stoner Metal Community at the moment as a potential band to look out for in the future. And you know what – This band is something else. Damn!!! - Wait until the trippy occult based Stoner/Doom riffs on their brilliant new release – The White Wizard.

Truth be told I hadn't heard of this band and shame on me as they've released two stunning records before The White Wizard. Sure those two releases were purely instrumental and the band have recruited a kick-ass vocalist since then – Mahle Roth. The White Wizard is the dark and twisted result of bring Mahle to the group and it's a great decision as Mahle can sing. And I mean Mahle can really sing. Heavy, soulful and dirty blues rock vocals.

Mahle should be singing with a Blues Rock band not a Doom/Stoner Metal band such as this. The White Wizard is packed full of great moments to leave you begging for more. Fans of Witch Mountain will sure get a kick out of this band but it's more than good enough for Kult Of The Wizard to stand as their own band. If you're not moved by the Soulful Occult Rock based blues of Olde Fashioned Black Magic then it's best to check if you're still alive or not. This is a highly passionate and highly volatile number where Mahle's impressive vocals are more than backed up by the heavy sludgy doom and gloom guitar tones with great drumming to match.

The album is very dark, creepy and disturbing as the band create a rather unsettling atmosphere for you to embrace yourself with. 3^rd track – Plasma Pool – is purely ambient noises and soundbytes added together but it makes for one of the albums unsettling tracks. Nice work folks...

Though its' back to normal business on Black Moon. Another stunning blues drenched Occult/Stoner/Doom Metal musical odyssey that's packed with soulful riffs and vocals with a dark sinister edge. This song could be classed as a murderous creepy love song. As Mahle's vocals draw you in once more before devouring you with deadly precision. The band impressed me the most with the last song on the album. A cover of a Heart song no less. Truth be told, I hate Heart with a passion so I was worried when the band included a cover of Heart's supposed classic – Devil's Delight.

Damn, was I wrong. Kult Of The Wizard turn this song into a dark and nightmarish classic of their own. Who the hell knew that a Heart song would make a brilliant Doom/Stoner Metal anthem and that's what the band do. Make this song their own as they slowly build up the atmosphere with creepy blues rock driven occult riffs.

Kult Of The Wizard have delivered a truly wonderful EP for everyone to check out. Lets hope their full length record is good as this as this band have potential to something very special in the years to come. Outstanding. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

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