INTERVIEW: Demonsmoke recreate the attitude of their surroudings on accomplished debut "Morphine Moonshine"

By: Stephen Murray

At a time when sludge fans are being sold their favourite tipple heavily cut and in short measure, Demonsmoke are the real deal and “Morphine Moonshine”, their first full-length, is an accomplished debut.

It draws directly and joyously from an esteemed musical heritage that takes in early Sourvein and the first two Eyehategod LPs, and draws alongside the sounds of Weedeater and Dopethrone. And like those heavyweights, Demonsmoke are steeped in hard living.

“We're from the slums of the [San Joaquin-Sacramento River] Delta,” explains drummer Mitch Groseclose, alluding to another Delta notorious for paradoxically serious partying and swollen grooves. “We just try to recreate the attitude of where we live.”

Demonsmoke grew up together in Antioch, California, mostly meeting in the local high school apart from bass player Boug Groseclose who is Mitch’s uncle. Eight years after high school, Mitch met guitarist Vinny Messina again at a party and soon after they began jamming together. Nothing was to come of that, but after the abrupt end of the band Mitch and vocalist Cam Salas were both part of, the way was paved for the three to come together, Mitch then bringing in Boug to complete the rhythm section.

“We love heavy shit and having a good time,” says Mitch. “We decided to start a band that sounds like the music we all love to listen to.”

Woozy, iron heavy guitarwork punching through feedback, lo-fi film samples lifted from Mitch's large VHS collection (notably Gummo, The Wild Angels, Apocalypse Now and GG Allin), and overlaid with reverb-sodden bong-gurgle vocals. There is no ambiguity as to the kinds of record collections that inspired the creation of “Morphine Moonshine”. The sound is unashamedly classic sludge, and the band are keen to point out the help they had in creating it from Greg Wilkinson at Earhammer Studios, Oakland.

“Recording the album was an amazing experience” says Mitch. “[He] really knows his shit!  We showed him the demo, recorded by Nick Masson at Blue Rock Studios two years earlier, and he was down to record the full length. We were super excited and all ears when we showed up in the studio. Greg made sure all of our gear sounded tits before we even put a microphone to them. Our vision of the album came out better than we could have hoped. Crispy, crunchy, fuzzy as hell, but you could still hear everything clearly. Greg is a super nice, down-to-earth guy and knows his shit about more than just recording. He dropped tons of wisdom on us and the whole experience was enjoyable as hell.”

Beyond the music, the record also adheres closely to sludge traditions thematically. The band name, album’s title and artwork, as well as individual song titles like 'Set in Stoned’ and album highlight 'Junkie’, signal the group's subcultural position unabashed.

“Wouldn't be stoner rock without some stoners in the group!” says Cam.

Now that Proposition 64 has passed making the sale of recreational marijuana legal in California, surely life has never been so good for stoners.

“We're not political in our music, but personally I think legalization is a double edged situation,” Cam muses. “On one hand I’m glad to see more acceptance of weed, but on the other hand big business is going to try and get involved and I don't want it to get all commercialized.”

Mitch is also unsure about what the new legislation means. “Weed has always been my drug of choice. I grew up with ADHD and all those fucking speed pills, so smoking pot seemed like the natural medicine to me. I've had my medical card for nine years now and really enjoy the system. Prop 64 wasn't necessary, I think, because things were already set up if you wanted them to be.

“I've tried almost all drugs,” Mitch continues. “I had a big psychedelic phase. Mushrooms, LSD, DMT, 2C-I. I loved opening up my mind. Now I mostly just stick to weed and hash. I'm a big-time dabber!” he laughs.

While not all the band indulges, Mitch isn't the only member to have broader tastes in this regard.

“Well I used to pretty much do whatever I could get my hands on,” Vinny admits. “Went from smoking weed, droppin’ acid and eating shrooms to doin’ coke and oxy. Got into a lot of trouble with crank there for a little while, but now all I really do is drink. Got me a class A and I'm drivin’ big rigs now so I can't fuck up and come up dirty, ya know?”

Listening to “Morphine Moonshine” it's hard to imagine any of the band not coming up dirty. This record would impart a hazy high to even the most hard-bitten prohibitionist who ventured to listen to it and is a tonic for any hangover. It's as if the thing was crafted with an alternative harm reduction motto in mind:  Crush. Dab. Weight.

“Morphine Moonshine” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

Graves At Sea - "The Curse That Is" (Album Review)

By: Gerardo Pacheco

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 01/04/2016
Label: Relapse Records

The album opener and title track drops the anchor to establish the length, tone and rhythm this 76 minute voyage is about. An unpredictable, violent haze of amplifier worship, “The Curse That Is” is a strong candidate for one of the top 10 albums of 2016.

“The Curse That Is” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). The Curse That Is (11:14)

2). Dead Eyes (11:08)

3). Tempest (07:02)

4). The Ashes Make Her Beautiful (15:15)

5). This Mental Sentence (05:00)

6). The Waco 177 (09:22)

7). Luna Lupus Venator (02:53)

8). Minimum Slave (14:19)

The Review:

Graves At Sea have been around the metal block, a few times I may add, for the better part of this century. Formed originally in Phoenix, AZ, the band gained traction with their debut EP “Documents Of Grief” (Self Release, 2003). They inked a deal to put out the “Cirrhosis/Atavist Arise 7” (Southern Lord, 2004) and then delivered a tormenting split with Asunder (“Life Is Abuse”/20 Buck Spin, 2005). During the course of those two recordings, they relocated to Oakland, CA and rumours boiled over about a potential full length, which never materialized. Hitching on the maritime nature of their name, they returned to the ocean and vanished in the horizon, disbanding in 2008.

2012 came around and the North-Pacific current carried them to Portland, OR, where they resurfaced. More or less following the previous pattern, they put out the “This Place Is Poison 12”” (Eolian Empire, 2014) accompanied by a “Master Of Reality” side B that I’m sure made The Eternal Idol proud. That snowballed to yet another split, this time with Cape Fear’s sludge veterans Sourvein (Seventh Rule Recordings, 2014).

Last year, when I heard GAS had signed with Relapse Records I rejoiced. Then, when they announced the release date I thought: are they serious? Slated for April 1^st, 2016 it seemed like the joke was on everyone. You see, it’s easy to dismiss the information, as the band had never released a full length in their entire career. So here we are, 13 years later with high expectations and trust me, they are met with aplomb.

Before we dive in, I just want to point out the fact that Orion Landau (YOB, Red Fang, Inter Arma) continues to astonish me with his ill-as-fuck art.

The album opener and title track drops the anchor to establish the length, tone and rhythm this 76 minute voyage is about. Feedback emerges like a Megalodon from the Marianas Trench courtesy of Nick Phit’s left handed custom SG, crushing you with one of most progressive riffs I’ve heard from the band ever, to then blast off full throttle and unleash that characteristic GAS brand of sound. We can attest here that the production has been polished by Brad Boatright’s skilled hand. Nathan Misterek’s vocal range is on full display here, going from hellish screeching to low rumbling growls. “Dead Eyes” comes in next and features the band riding a more familiar song writing pattern, discharging power-chords right behind Bryan Sours’ burly fills. The track closes with what I interpret as the first of a few well-orchestrated interludes, those which emphasize on alternative instrumentation. As unpredictable as Tiamat herself, “Tempest” honours its name with a violent whirlwind haze of amplifier worship. All 3 of these tracks were released before the record came out, from here on out we head into uncharted waters.

Bisecting the album, comes the magnum opus “The Ashes Make Her Beautiful” which intertwines with the second acoustic interlude on the record. A 15+ minute testament of GAS, this track unfolds and expands their sound beyond anything presented so far in their multiple previous offerings. Grab your headphones and allow it to drag you to the depths of the Challenger Deep. An auditory delicacy. The record moves forward to bring us back to the plodding sludge roots of the group with “This Mental Sentence”, one of shortest and catchiest songs in their entire repertoire.

I happened to be in Texas, just north of Waco, for business reasons, during the unfortunate shootout that took place there over a year ago. People who were clearly not part of the Motorcycle Club lifestyle all had an opinion on the situation and all coincided that this was more of a slaughter than a shootout. “The Waco 177” pays tribute to this sad moment in Texan history. The momentum shifts yet again with the final interlude in “Luna Lupus Venator” and leaves us at the end of the plank with closer “Minimum Slave”. Much like Tiamat’s multiple heads, the track rolls like a frenzied shanty, traversing effortlessly through sludge, doom ‘n’ roll and stoner rock. It is here where the bass really shines and drives most of the riff action.

All in all, this is a solid effort by Graves At Sea, I appreciate that they did not include any old tracks and delighted us with brand new material. I enjoyed the faster tempo that they are now playing versus the slower, more traditional sound they were known for. Don’t get me wrong, impending doom will still make you break your neck mid-air, but slicker pace rounds out the mix overall. A strong candidate for top 10 2016.

“The Curse That Is” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

The Sludgelord News: SOURVEIN Begin Tracking New Full-Length; Guest Collaboration With Amebix's "Stig" Miller Confirmed

Long-running Cape Fear sludge saviors, SOURVEIN, are currently holed-up at SSP Studio in Raleigh, North Carolina with Corrosion Of Conformity bassist/vocalist Mike Dean at the recording helm tracking their forthcoming new full-length, Aquatic Occult. Slated for release later this year via Metal Blade Records, the long player will include a two-track collaboration between SOURVEIN mainman, Troy "T-Roy" Medlin, and guitarist "Stig" Miller of UK crust punk icons Amebix. Further details to be revealed in the weeks to come.

SOURVEIN has existed through two decades of distortion, damage and relentless doom, their resin-coated carnage made of toxic riffs, grooves and just the right amount of psychedelic appeal. In properly commemorating the release as well as chronicling twenty often-times tumultuous years as a band, Medlin was recently interviewed by friend and fellow musician, Randy Blythe of Lamb Of God, who penned the band's new biography. The text will serve as a thorough SOURVEIN introduction for the uninitiated.

"Finally, man. Finally," T-Roy relays in an excerpt from the text. "It's the record I wanted to make when I was in those rooming houses, but I couldn't. There was too much pain, so I got lost for bit, falling back into the party life and trying to numb myself with alcohol. But motherfuckers need to feel the pain. There is more to life than numbing yourself." Is that what Aquatic Occult will be about, bringing the pain? "I'm going to bring the truth. The lyrics are reality to me; I don't write about cars or chicks or fucking horror movies, I write about getting my nose fucking broken, all the stuff I saw growing up and now. But I want it to be positive, to let people know that there is a way out of bad times and tough situations. I'm living proof."  

Stay tuned for further SOURVEIN transmissions including studio updates and live actions.

For more information:  

http://www.facebook.com/pages/SOURVEIN/238932972468
http://twitter.com/sourveinoffical

http://www.metablade.com

Source: Earsplit PR

Graves At Sea/Sourvein - Split EP (Review)

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 13/5/2014

Label: Seventh Rule Recordings

Graves at Sea/Sourvein Split EP CD/LP track listing

1.GRAVES AT SEA – Betting On Black 07:43
2. GRAVES AT SEA – Confession 07:34
3. SOURVEIN – Drifter 03:49
4. SOURVEIN – Equinox 03:06
5. SOURVEIN – Follow The Light 05:31

Bio:

Two of doom metal’s mightiest of feedback-laden riff worshippers – Portland’s GRAVES AT SEA and Cape Fear’s SOURVEIN – have united in sound, mind and spirit for the ultimate split of earth-smoldering amplifier worship.

GRAVES AT SEA, whose contributions leave an eerie aura complete with tortured vocals, foreboding composition, and a general sense of dread, occupy Side A. Recorded by Billy Anderson, (Melvins, Sleep, Neurosis) “Betting On Black” and “Confession” finds the all-consuming sludge for which the band is notorious, flooding in amongst the tortured howls and shrieks of vocalist Nathan Misterek.

SOURVEIN, who’ve now existed for two decades of distortion, damage and total doom, solidify Side B. With three songs produced and recorded by Mike Dean of Corrosion of Conformity, these odes of heavy combine toxic riffs, grooves and just the right amount of psychedelic appeal.

Both sides were mastered by Brad Boatright (Sleep, Beastmilk, Nails) at Audiosiege Engineering and will be released via Seventh Rule Recordings on both CD and LP on May 13th, 2014 during the two bands’ duel conquest touring Europe and prior to their appearances at this year’s edition of the illustrious Maryland Deathfest. The first pressing of the LP will be limited to 1000 copies and come available on 160-gram black wax with an included download code. Recommended for fans of Eyehategod, Black Sabbath, Electric Wizard, and all things loud and fuzzy.

Review:

Portland based doom/sludge metal-ers (yes another doom band from Portland, is there something in the water there?!) Graves at Sea have teamed with fuzz ridden Sourvein for this five track down tuned offering. Released on Seventh Rule Recordings, mastered by Brad Boatright (Sleep, Beastmilk, Nails) and topped off with some incredible artwork, both bands amalgamate to lay down their distorted riffs and twisted doom stylings, resulting in a must have metal record.

After splitting in 2008 Graves at Sea thankfully reformed in 2012, and returned revitalized in 2013 with new bassist Jeff McGarrity and drummer Bryan Sours. With only a handful of releases, and their only album being a re-issue of their demo ‘Documents of Grief’ they have gained notable cult popularity. And it’s not difficult to see why, as within the first minute of ‘Betting on Black’ I’m hooked. Nathan’s raspy tortured vocals are something to behold, immersing a blackened tinge to the sludgy chug of the guitar. As pessimistic and bleak as it is, the lyric ‘You lose every time. You’re born into this world of shit and then you die’ is unforgettable and works perfectly with the grimness of the vocals. Graves at Sea are truly unique, and excel on the two tracks they offer to the split.

Sourvein are the more veteran of the two bands, with three full lengths, three EP’s and seven splits under their belts. Offering a more psychedelic approach to the doom metal paradigm, it perfectly complements the blackened rhythms of Graves at Sea. Reverb aplenty, particularly in ‘Equinox’, and some groove laden riffs, Sourvein showcase their doom/sludge/psychedelic hybrid to great effect. The frequent change in pace from slow dawdling riffs to the head banging rhythm sections injects a lively thrust to the distorted haze.

Both bands are no strangers to the recording of splits; therefore it was only a matter of time before these two put their musical prowess on to the same release. While splits are certainly not about whose input is better, Graves at Sea are a band I had vague familiarity with before this release, but I’m now scouring the internet for more material, a fantastic discovery.   

Words by: Heather Blewett   

You can pick up a copy here

For more information:

http://www.facebook.com/GravesAtSea
https://www.facebook.com/pages/SOURVEIN/238932972468
http://www.seventhrule.com
http://instagram.com/seventhrule
http://seventhrulerec.tumblr.com/
http://twitter.com/seventhrule