ALBUM REVIEW: The Air Turned To Acid, "Black Zen Instruction"

By: Chris Bull

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 20/12/2018

Label: Independent

'Black Zen Instruction' is a superlative of sorts, used to describe the unearthly, off kilter song structures and relentless brutality this band bring to the table.

“Black Zen Instruction” DD track listing:

1). 4 Combined

2). Hounds

3). Pinstripe Grey with Party Welts

4). Anketell Brewer

5). It’s A Long Walk to Coney Island

6). Gutterpunk

7). The Tent Murders

The Review:

I'll admit it; I absolutely love The Air Turned To Acid. As human beings, they rank highly as some of the most genuine and friendly I've met. As musicians, they're phenomenally talented and oozing with the kind of creativity that most bands can only dream of, churning out riffs that will have guitarists saying 'why didn't I think of that?'

'Black Zen Instruction' is a superlative of sorts, used to describe the unearthly, off kilter song structures and relentless brutality TATTA bring to the table. For a debut album and their 2nd proper release after the 2015 split with Tides Of Sulfur (my band, coincidentally), this is stomach churningly good. The tempo switches on 'Hounds' and the ferocity of 'Pinstripe Grey With Party Welts' makes it hard to comprehend how TATTA, a band that rehearse only a handful of times a year, can sound so cohesive and focussed. Vocalist Rich Repper brings a Eugene Robinson like unpredictability, most notably to tracks like 'Anketell Brewer' and 'Gutterpunk', howling, growling, screaming and barking like a man possessed while knowing when to let the guitar work of Will Saunders and Leo Stuart shine through with their mathematical view of sludge riffs and jarring disharmonies a key component of their sound. Just listen to 'The Tent Murders' and you'll understand why this band is deserving of the phrase "criminally underrated".

The Air Turned To Acid are a band who are often overlooked and underappreciated in today's metal world. By no means is this a slight on them, they out play and outperform many of their peers and offer something truly different in heavy music, something that is sorely lacking. Do yourselves a favour; listen to this right fucking now!

“Black Zen Instruction” is available HERE

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: KEN mode, "Loved"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 31/08/2018

Label: Season of Mist |

New Damage Records

Few records will match the sheer rage and intensity of “Loved” this year. Almost 20 years into their existence, KEN mode have released their finest work that sets the bar for riff-heavy noise rock in 2018.

“Loved” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Doesn't Feel Pain Like He Should

2. The Illusion Of Dignity

3. Feathers & Lips

4. Learning To Be Too Cold

5. Not Soulmates

6. Very Small Men

7. This Is A Love Test

8. Fractures In Adults

9. No Gentle Art

The Review:

Winnipeg trio KEN mode make a welcome return with new LP “Loved”. It is by far the nastiest entry in their impressive body of work and all the better for it.

The album screams into life with “Doesn’t Feel Pain Like He Should”, a feral burst of sludged up noise rock that sounds like Unsane plugged into the mains. KEN mode have always dealt in a potent blend of churning low-end rumble, razor wire guitar lines and frantic vocals but they have never sounded as livid and visceral as they do on “Loved”. “The Illusion Of Dignity” continues the carnage, this time raising the intensity levels with furious squalls of saxophone at the track’s climax. Somehow the band manage to maintain this frightening level of ferocity through “Not Soulmates” and “Very Small Men” while introducing some touches of Botch style math rock into the fray.

“This Is A Love Test” provides some welcome respite with passages of quiet restrained menace bolstered by more saxophone, this time providing unsettling melody. These periods of calm only serve to emphasise the abrasive attack when the band kick back into high gear.

After eight tracks of seething rage, KEN mode somehow manage to save their hardest hitting track for last. “No Gentle Art” is a masterclass in slow-burn build and release dynamics, rising from a barely audible bass pulse and muttered threats into an utterly devastating one chord onslaught riddled with screams, feedback and wild saxophone noise. The music is the perfect match for Jesse Matthewson’s repeated howls of “STOP GIVING ME HOPE”, the sound of all dreams being ground into dust.    

Few records will match the sheer rage and intensity of “Loved” this year. Almost 20 years into their existence, KEN mode have released their finest work that sets the bar for riff-heavy noise rock in 2018.

“Loved” is available to preorder/buy here & here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Timeworn - "Venomous High"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 02/06/2017

Label: Fysisk Format

Some of the most engaging moments on “Venomous High” come when Timeworn move slightly away from their core sound.  “All Chiefs” finds the band at their most unhinged as they unleash an arsenal of spidery math-metal riffs with breakneck rock’n’roll abandon. Anyone missing Swiss behemoths Kruger will find a lot to enjoy in this killer track. “Venomous High” is a fine offering from Timeworn that takes an array of well-worn modern metal influences and blows them up on a grand scale.

“Venomous High” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Measure of Gold

2). All Chiefs

3). The Trail

4). Black Peak Blues

5). The Infectious Gloom

6). Ur Syntax

7). Night of Owls

8). Traitors to the Crown

9). Venomous High

The Review:

Timeworn’s new LP “Venomous High” is a slab of burly Mastodon-style complex sludge injected with a shot of post-rock grandeur. The albums production is perfectly pitched to capture the Oslo quintet’s strengths – smooth and polished enough to distil their rich melodic side but nasty enough to harness their weighty crunch. Opener “Measure of Gold” display all of these elements over seven epic minutes and provides a strong foundation for the bands sonic explorations over the rest of the album. “The Trail” provides a welcome moment of calm in the form of a brief piano-led instrumental that acts as an extended introduction to the hulking “Black Peak Blues”. The slowest and heaviest track on the record, it is both crushing and darkly melancholic

Some of the most engaging moments on “Venomous High” come when Timeworn move slightly away from their core sound.  “All Chiefs” finds the band at their most unhinged as they unleash an arsenal of spidery math-metal riffs with breakneck rock’n’roll abandon. Anyone missing Swiss behemoths Kruger will find a lot to enjoy in this killer track. The band bring some no nonsense stoner rock attitude to “The Infectious Gloom”, particularly in the infectious refrain that carries a little bit of Clutch’s swagger.

“Venomous High” is a fine offering from Timeworn that takes an array of well-worn modern metal influences and blows them up on a grand scale. It is a record that could have a wide appeal while remaining true to its underground roots.

“Venomous High” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: The Ditch And The Delta - "Hives In Decline"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 12/05/2017

Label: Battleground Records

The Ditch and The Delta’s sound is a killer blend of fret-mangling math rock and stoner doom aggression. They strike a perfect balance between complexity, melody and no-nonsense gnarly heaviness.

“Hives In Decline” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Hives In Mind

2). Fuck On Asphalt

3). Sleeping Dogs

4). Dry Land

5). Till Body Quits

6). Mud

7). Dread Spectacle

The Review:

Salt Lake City Trio The Ditch And The Delta are set to make a lot of people sit up and take notice with new LP “Hives In Decline”.

The first riff of the title track rips through the calm introductory drone like Keelhaul blazing through High On Fire’s backline. This sets the tone for the rest of this exhilarating album. The Ditch and The Delta’s sound is a killer blend of fret-mangling math rock and stoner doom aggression. They strike a perfect balance between complexity, melody and no-nonsense gnarly heaviness.

“Fuck On Asphalt” channels the epic sludge of early Baroness and Kylesa to fine effect. The mid-section where the band provide slow motion backing to twin searing guitar solos particularly highlights the genius at work here. It should sound like an overcrowded mess but somehow all these disparate elements are brought together in seamless fashion.

“Dry Land” provides some mid-album riff respite with a short, quiet instrumental complete with slide guitar flourishes that add a weird but cool country edge. The second half of the album then roars into life with “Till Body Quits” and “Mud”. Both tracks see the band widen their sonic spectrum to include more spidery guitar lines, melodic tapping and hints of the Hydrahead School of metallic hardcore.

The record closes with “Dread Spectacle” where The Ditch and The Delta add a healthy dose of Neurosis style cathartic doom into the mix. When the track breaks down to sparse guitar and Kory Quist’s weary vocals it recalls Scott Kelly at his ragged best.

“Hives In Decline” sees The Ditch and The Delta takes a number of well-worn influences and breathe new life into them to create an addictive blast of intelligent sludge. An essential purchase for all riff aficionados.

“Hives In Mind” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

REVIEW: Ilenkus - "Hunger" (EP)

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: EP
Date Released:  19/10/2016
Label: Independent

 

 

Ilenkus deliver a whirlwind blur of off-kilter riffage, pummelling blast beats and finger-mangling fretboard gymnastics.  Once the dust settles you will feel battered and bruised, but with a nagging urge to subject yourself to the pain all over again. 

 

“Hunger” DD track listing

 

1). Hunny Bunny

2). Pretty Secret

3). Exhume

4). The Romantic

 

The Review:

 

Galway quintet Ilenkus deliver an impressive riffs-per-minute ratio on new EP “Hunger”. The band tears through four tracks of breathless mathematical mayhem in just under fifteen minutes. Once the dust settles you will feel battered and bruised with a nagging urge to subject yourself to the pain all over again.

 

“Hunny Bunny” starts proceedings with a whirlwind blur of off-kilter riffage, pummelling blast beats and finger-mangling fretboard gymnastics. The effect is like a more ragged Dillinger Escape Plan with their clinical precision blunted by ugly sludged-up fury. “Exhume” is a similarly intense affair opening with a wild collision of blown out post-rock and grindcore worthy of Cult Leader. From there things take a progressive turn into weirder, spacier territory without relenting on the vitriol.

 

Even when Ilenkus slow the tempo, there is no let-up in heaviness and complexity. “Pretty Secret” opens with a crushing needle-skip chug before exploring quieter sections of restless math-rock. This builds to a lumbering, doom finale that provides the EP’s most punishing moment. “The Romantic” sees the band dabble in churning noise rock groove, shards of serrated guitar providing an odd respite before the track once again plunges into a cauldron of molten rage.

 

“Hunger” is an exhilarating ride that takes in more twists and turns than most bands squeeze into a career. Hopefully it won’t be too long before Ilenkus return with an album of glorious chaos.

 

“Hunger” will be available here

 

Band info: FACEBOOK || TWITTER || INSTAGRAM || BANDCAMP || SOUNDCLOUD

Disastroid - "Love Is What You Bring On Home" 7inch (Review)

By: Victor Van Ommen

Album Type: 7inch

Date Released: 22/01/2016

Label: Independent

“Love Is What You Bring On Home” 7inch/DD track listing:

A). Love is what you bring on home

B). Gadabout

The Review:

If a band who makes math rock and is able to do so without alienating those who aren’t musicians, then they’re doing a pretty good job. Now with four releases under their belt it’s safe to say that Disastroid is such a band. By the time this review is posted, Disastroid will have released their new 7” called “Love is What You Bring Home.” It’s a release that plays out strange melodies to difficult timings, digging as deep into sludge territory as they do stoner rock. Side A is home to the 2 minute title track, a freak out that’s a little indebted to Fatso Jetson but no less Disastroid. Side B’s song is called “Gadabout,” and though less frenetic than its Side A counterpart, it’s no less restless. When put next to their last release (review), it’s apparent that Disastroid hasn’t really made a huge sonic transformation but rather has laid down more proof that they’re a steady force in the Californian music scene.

 Oh yeah, and check out that artwork.

“Love Is What You Bring On Home” is available here

Band info: bandcamp | official | facebook

Abrams - ‘Lust. Love. Loss’ (Album Review)

‘Blending spiky guitar lines reminiscent of These Arms Are Snakes, plenty of weird Cave In style effects, angular post-hardcore aggression and no-nonsense stoner riffing, Abrams have created a compelling and addictive listen here.’

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 16/06/2015

Label: Self Release

‘Lust. Love. Loss’ DD track listing:

1. Manic
2. Sea Salt Lines
3. Sunshine
4. Sweaty and Self Conscious
5. Far from Home
6. Mr. Pink Always Wins
7. The Moat
8. Useless
9. Lust. Love. Loss.
10. The Light

Review:

If, like me, you think the US underground from the early to mid-2000s was a real golden age for heavy music you’re going to have a blast listening to Abrams “Lust. Love. Loss”. The post-hardcore of At The Drive In, the mind-bending complexity of Converge and the Dillinger Escape Plan and anything on Hydra Head all had a massive effect on me at the time and really moulded my tastes going forward. From the ominous opening of “Manic” onwards, I think it’s safe to say that period had a heavy impact on this Denver power trio too.

Blending spiky guitar lines reminiscent of These Arms Are Snakes, plenty of weird Cave In style effects, angular post-hardcore aggression and no-nonsense stoner riffing, Abrams have created a compelling and addictive listen here. The balance of heaviness and melody is spot on and the band often switch effortlessly between the two to awesome effect, particularly on “Salt Sea Line” which moves from initial math-rock acrobatics to a crunching low-end finale. “Far From Home” provides the album’s spaciest moment while curtain closer

“The Light” is the heaviest cut here, featuring some spidery riffs Botch would have been proud of. Things never get dull over the course of these ten tracks with “Mr Pink Always Wins” injecting some punk rock swagger to kick off the second half of the album before the brief reverb-heavy instrumental “The Moat” provides some respite ahead of the onslaught of the closing trio.

“Lust. Love. Loss” is no slavish recreation of its influences though and sounds particularly fresh given the dearth of current bands rocking this style. This is a great record which deserves to find a wider audience and provides further evidence that Colorado is where it’s at for gold-standard rocking at the moment.

Words by: Charlie Butler

‘Lust Love Loss’ is available here

For more information:

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

Listen: https://abramsrock.bandcamp.com/album/lust-love-loss

Kylver - The Mountain Ghost (Album Review)

Album Type: Album

Date Released: 21^st May 2015

Label: Self Released

'The Mountain Ghost' track Listing:

1.The Mountain Has Ghosts

2.The Feast of the Mountain Ghost

3.The Dance of the Mountain Ghost

4.The Death of the Mountain Ghost 

Kylver is:

James Bowmaker (Bass)

Barry Mitcheson (Drums)

Neil Elliott (Hammond Organ, Keys)

Jonny Scott (Guitar).

Bio:

KYLVER (Pronounced: Kil-ver) is a four piece progressive heavy rock/metal band coming out of Newcastle upon Tyne. The band is made up of a bunch of mates that have a genuine love for music with a want to create something that is both interesting and challenging to play.

Review:

Kylver is a band from my home town of Newcastle Upon Tyne who I've been keeping a close eye on. Friends of mine have told me that these guys are something else on the live stage. I haven't seen these guys in action yet but that's all going to change with their superb new album - The Mountain Ghost. A sprawling 40 minute odyssey that sees Kylver playing an experimental kind of Progressive Rock/Post-Metal style hybrid.

What makes this such a fantastic debut album is Kylver's fearless approach to music. These guys show no fear as they blend different styles of music that will impress the heck out of you. Opening track - The Mountain Has Ghosts - is a 14 minute plus epic that sees Kylver embrace the world of Post Metal/Post Rock with hints of Math Rock and Doomy Atmospherics that becomes ever so creepy as time passes by.

Imagine if Pelican had taken a more direct Math Rock approach to their music and that's where you end up with Kylver. It's purely an instrumental affair with different noises and sound effects adding extra texture and groove. Kylver even find the time to include 60s/70s style Organs and Keyboard which I didn't expect at all. This song is a creepy and highly atmospheric dense affair as Kylver surrounds your environment with subtle touches of doom and gloom. The remaining 3 songs on the album follow the same hollow path as the opening track with The Mountain Ghost leading you to a Feast, A Dance and its inevitable Death.

Kylver have taken a more Progressive Rock approach especially with the structure of all of the songs and have built Post-Metal theatrics on top of that. Second track - The Feast Of The Mountain Ghost - has a more experimental vibe with jagged guitars and hazy synths for a slight trippy feel. It's more of a slow paced affair but still an intriguing journey to take especially when the heavier riffs start to take over. I don't know how Kylver came up with the idea to merge 60s/70s synths with Post-Rock/Post-Metal but it's a great idea that pays huge dividends for the band. As Kylver may have ideas too big for their station but you can't deny how wonderful the results sound.

The other two songs - The Dance Of The Mountain Ghost and The Death Of The Mountain Ghost - more than matches the excitement of the opening two tracks with Kylver keeping you on the edge of your seat. The instrumental work is impressive through out as is the use of the different noises to convey a world full of danger. The 2nd half of the album is more Math Rock focused which gives Kylver drummer - Barry - plenty of scope to show off and impress people with his superb technical ability. OK, I've gone on long enough. The Mountain Ghost is a stunning debut album that Kylver should be very proud of. Keep an eye out for this band as I sense some exciting times ahead for these warped individuals.

Thanks to Kylver for the promo. The Mountain Ghost will be available to buy on CD/DD from May 21st 2015.

Words by: Steve Howe

For More Information:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

LORØ - 'LORØ' (Album Review)

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 04/04/2015

Label: Red Sound Records, Dio))) Drone,

Cave Canem DIY, In The Bottle Records,

Icore Produzioni

‘LORØ’ CD//DD track listing:

1). Pollock

2). Thalia

3). A Trick Named God

4). High Five

5). Ø

6). At Mortem

7). Clown’s Love Ritual

8). Faster, Louder & Better

9). To Whom It May Conern

LORØ is:

Mattia Bonafini

Alessandro Bonini

Riccardo Zulato

Review:

This Italian trio gives many nods to Kyuss, who if you remove Sabbath from the equation (which we all realize is impossible), got this whole stoner/desert rock movement started. There is the love for the heavy, experimentation with time changes and dynamics, and most importantly, a total disregard for what the powers that be feel about the musical creations that Josh Homme and his crew imparted upon us.  

LORØ jumps in your face right away with ‘Pollock’, a tune with pounding, precise drumming provided by Alessandro Bonini, as Riccardo Zulato adds mid-range manic rapid fire guitar riffing, and Mattia, the secret weapon, provides strange off the wall additions in the form of keys, bass, and who knows what else.  

‘A Trick Named God’ is maybe my favourite track thus far and brings to mind 35007's approach to this stoner/desert rock stew.  No need for vocals because there is too god damn much going on musically!  Tight in the pocket grooves with eerie outer space effects once again provided by Mattia and overall this track makes for the perfect soundtrack for a lovely walk in the park on a sunny day with your love or an intense acid trip on a cold rainy night locked in your house alone.  

‘High Five’ is another excellent example of what this band has to offer, providing the listener once again with a tight groove of a band like, well Kyuss, and a refreshing nod to the likes of Meseski, Martin, and Wood or DJ Shadow.  The band delves into jazzy interludes which would usually warrant an ass kicking but in this case is welcome because it is well done and genuine.  

LORØ do stray into some territory which isn't my cup of tea, such as the fifth track which is a free form "industrial" noise-scape which might be best suited as background music to a horror flick,  overall though, this a killer release.  It is very cool to see a band that is willing to (as they say on their website) "play in your basement", because they realize it is important to be humble enough to start out in obscurity if you ever want to be seen as legendary, a lesson taught to us, by well,

....Kyuss.

Words by: Carlton Duff

LORØ is available via bandcamp

For more information:

Listen: www.sonoloro.bandcamp.com | Official: www.sonoloro.com | Like: https://www.facebook.com/loroofficial?fref=ts