Lightsabres - Beheaded (Album Review) - STB Records Vinyl Information - Exclusive Video Premiere Of Dirty Lies

Album Type: Full-Length

Date Released: June 27^th 2015

Label: STB Records

Beheaded - Track Listing:

1.Beheaded 03:46

2.Dirty Lies 01:39

3.Flesh And Bone 02:50

4.Wolves 02:08

5.Fleeting Shadows 01:46

6.Sleep It Off 02:18

7.Rat Poison 01:58

8.Receptor 01:43

9.Knife 01:13

10.Kingdom Come 02:45

Bio:

Beheaded is Swedish one-man band Lightsabres' third album in just over 1,5 years, and the first that's not self-released. All songs are written and performed by John Strömshed (also singer/guitarist in HeviSike band Tunga Moln) and were recorded at home in the same lo-fi fashion as previous albums. I've used more guitars on this one, working a lot with guitar harmonies on several songs, which gives the album a sound that sets it apart from its predecessors.

Review:

One-man Swedish Punk/Stoner Rock band – Lightsabres is back with his new album – Beheaded – and it's 22 minutes of Fuzz-Laiden Punk/Stoner Rock attitude that has a very gritty attitude towards life with a dark cynical edge compared to his previous albums.

Opening track – Beheaded – is almost 4 minutes of angry fuzz given a punk-rock makeover with a certain Truckfighters style Fuzz/Stoner Rock vibe. The vocals are pissed off as hell as Lightsabres plays to his strengths and unleashes some powerful riffs for you to devour.

Second track – Dirty Lies – carries on a more darker and twisted path than the opening song as the album becomes more bleaker with the music going slightly more psychedelic as Lightsabres lays down impressive dark-rock almost Gothic riffs as this one-man virtuoso lays his soul for everyone to see. Impressive stuff indeed. It only lasts for 90 seconds or so but this is one of the albums stand out tracks.

Third track – Flesh And Bone – goes down a QOTSA route with the fuzz laid one very thick as the music feels it's being played at 100mph. The vocals do have a certain early-QOTSA Josh Homme sensibility to them but this is Lightsabres show and he's not going to take any shit from any of us. The nightmarish based fuzz/stoner rock licks are the main attraction here and Lightsabres isn't going to let you forget that.

Fourth Track – Wolves – is a more hard rocking affair with the vibe primarily in the Stoner Rock mood and ready to play a ton of action packed riffs. The vocals have a more direct approach and the music may have a slight tendency to venture into almost Computer Game territory. You'll understand when you hear the song though it's still an absolute blast to listen to as Lightsabres brings in a great sideline of Psychedelic Rock.

Fifth Track – Fleeting Shadows - carries on the vibe from Wolves. It feels Fleeting Wolves and Shadows are the same song but split into two parts as I didn't realised that Wolves ended and Fleeting Shadows had ended. It ends the first half of the album leaving you hungry for more. And it's a great job that Lightsabres has 5 other tracks to impress you with. I'm not going to a song by song review of side B.

Though let me tell you the 2^nd half of the album is exciting as the first as Lightsabres creates more stunning and dangerous Fuzz/Stoner Rock riffs with traces of Grunge and Punk Rock giving this album a more darker tone. Especially on tracks such as Sleep It Off, Receptor, and Kingdom Come. The production is fantastic through out the album. It's just a shame this album is only on for 22 mins as you start to get to grips with the crazy environment behind you and it FUCKING ENDS!!!

I just wish Lightsabres included a few more songs on this album as it would have been an even better album. Well you can't have anything. Maybe on the next Lightsabres record. Until then – Beheaded is a full-throttle, kick-ass Stoner Rock record packed full of great tunes to rattle your anger to. Awesome and Highly Recommended.

If you want to buy this on Vinyl you better be quick as it's getting the full STB Records treatment and those fuckers sell out fast. Details of the vinyl details are listed below.

Beheaded is released by STB Records on Saturday, June 27, 12:00 EST (18:00 CEST in Europe). It's getting the usual STB treatment with three editions:

* Die-hard (oxblood/mustard w/ black splatter, limited to 50 and including a huge vintage-horror-movie-style poster. The die-hard will be available exclusively from STB)

* OBI (ultra clear w/oxblood haze and mustard splatter, 100 handnumbered copies)

* Euro/standard (black/mustard, 125 copies. Available exclusively from lightsabres.bigcartel.com)

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks To Steve at STB Records and Lightsabres for the promo. Check out the exclusive video for Dirty Lies.

For More Information

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Slowjoint - Up Shit Creek (Vinyl Review/Album Review)

Album Type: Album

Date Released: 01^st November 2014

Label: Self Released

Up Shit Creek – Track Listing

1.Pocket Wool 07:52

2.Brown Cheese 04:07

3.Pull My Finger 05:10

4.Beer for Bongwater 03:27

5.Cheap Red Wine 03:06

6.Up Shit Creek 03:11

7.Which Hunt? 05:00

8.Dr. Jekyll and Mr. High 04:14

Bio

"Pocket full of nothing, head full of weed"

Slowjoint is an American inspired sludge metal trio from South Jutland in Denmark. They're all about loud amps, beer, bourbon and not giving a fuck! Simple blues driven sludge with a sense of humor and a lot of riffs.... and weed!

After only four months of existing, the band recorded the three track demo "Retarded Blues Anthems" live in the studio with Christian Bonde @ CBstudios (DK). It was recorded in only one day on May 3rd, 2012 and was released on cheap ass secondhand tapes in a very limited edition, all copies recorded by the band itself. In 2013 they once again visited Christian at his studio to record their first full length "Up Shit Creek" .

Members

Stinky Pete I Patrick Lazy I Sticky Ricky

Review:

So it's my turn to review Slowjoint's dirty and down-tempo offering – 'Up Shit Creek',  although technically I reviewed this back in November 2013 when the guys let me review an unfinished version which I rated very highly. I know the album has been released for a few months and Stinky Pete has not only convinced me to review the album again but also to buy the FUCKING VINYL as well. Good psychological tactics my dope-smoking/guitar riffing friend.

So I bought the vinyl and HOLY SHIT – How great does this album sound on vinyl. The first thing that smacks you in the face with the power of 1000's bongs being used as deadly weapons is how clear and loud it all sounds. You can hear this album on BandCamp but trust me, it sounds way better on vinyl. The riffs are heavy and I mean HEAVY!!! - Wait until you hear the heavy bass from opening track – Pocket Wool. Fans of Weedeater, Bongzilla and every other Weeidan based band are gonna get a kick out of this record.

I've featured Slowjoint on the blog on multiple occasions as we're huge fans of them here at Sludgelord HQ. Up Shit Creek is one of the best undiscovered Sludge/Stoner Metal Albums waiting to be discovered within the Sludge/Stoner Metal world.

The heavy as hell riffs of – Brown Cheese, Beer For Bongwater, Up Shit Creek and Which Hunt? - matched with Stinky Pete's pissed off as hell, grizzled dope-fuelled vocals only add to the great atmosphere. Yeah it can be bleak at times but you will be laughing your ass off at times as Slowjoint know how to have fun and write some humorous lyrics to match the great music.

I've already reviewed this album. I just want to promote Slowjoint's vinyl as it's an exceptional sounding slab of wax. I don't have the most advanced vinyl system but damn it sounded so good. It's heavy and brooding with murky hints of Sludge/Stoner Metal.

Whatever you do, hunt this album down. Buy it on BandCamp Buy Now DD, cassettetape or Vinyl. 

Awesome Stuff.

Words by Steve Howe

For More Information

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Sun Rider - Fuzz Mountain (Album Review)

Album Type: Full-Length

Date Released: 24/10/2014

Label: Self Released

“Fuzz Mountain” LP/DD  track list:

1). Heart of the Sun

2). High Priestess of the Moon

3). Sun Worshipper

4). Free Ride

5). Deep Space Blues

6). Roadking

7). Escape to Fuzz Mountain

Bio:

With over fifteen years of experience playing heavy music together in the same line-up, the five piece Sun Rider is finally ready to unleash their debut album: Fuzz Mountain. Before making the transition to stoner rock, the band was known as Headhaunter. They plagued stages throughout western Europe and Poland with their frantic mix of hardcore and metal. They never lost this energetic attitude towards their live shows but their musical influences changed and under the new moniker Sun Rider they are planning to conquer the hearts and mins of all those who love stoner rock, fuzzy guitar sounds, insane riffs, desert blues and breakneck grooves.

  

The Band: 

Mark Stevens | Guitar/Vocals

Michael Philippo | Vocals

Gert-Jan Kruijthoff | Guitar

Giel van Arkel | Bass

Erik Reppel | Drums

Review:

Crazy weird artwork adorns the front of Sun Rider's newest records “Fuzz Mountain.” Immediately letting you know that ye shall return to the 70s with retro styling and early 60s counterculture coloring, a deep and stoned jam assault awaits. Swirling psychedelia begins our journey together, resolving quickly into a bouncy galloping riff under shockingly hardcore vocals?  No seriously, the vocals are an unexpected, pleasant, and strangely compelling fit in their heaviness. It gives Sun Rider a much rawer edge than a lot of the current crop of retro throwbacks (LOOKING AT YOU MARS RED SKY J/K) and they come off as the Motorhead of the current crop. ‘This is a band that gets shitfaced at shows and isn't an “art project” its a heavy rock band’.

The second track “High Priestess of the Moon” the vocals clean up a touch but it's still a raw bellow. A fantastic slew of groovy riffs cascade throughout this track and the cool solo/breakdown in the middle is monumentally cool songwriting in the entry and exit from this section. The tasteful leads bouncing around the bridge vocals are purely awesome and have an authenticity that doesn't feel forced. A harrowingly smile-inducing obnoxious solo (as all great rock solos should be) rounds out the end of the bridge - great stuff here. The solo in the third track “Sun Worshipper” is my favourite, some great wah tones and the soloist does a great job varying his phrasing up a lot and keeps it really interesting.

The second longest track coming in at number four, “Free Ride” begins with a slightly ominous echoy melody that builds into a big unison riff. A obvious Orange Goblin influence on this track, it has that same kind of swagger and groove. There's a section around 4:30 that sounds vaguely familiar as well, but Sun Rider then takes a quick little melodic detour into the next verse. These little changes and transitions are sprinkled throughout the record and are really what takes this to the next level. There is some very mature songwriting being displayed here during these shifts and the effects are used in a very tasteful way. The tremolo on the end section of “Free Ride” is a great example of this.

“Deep Space Blues” is the most obviously Palm Desert influenced piece on this with some nice Homme-esque dual lead melodies on the verses and some riffing that incorporates sliding power chords on the chorus. A great solo straddles the middle of this song, my only critique is the lyric, “going home” is repeated quite a few times throughout, this is not Saturday and you are not Elton John. The second to last track “Roadking” has another fast galloping verse but this one is livelier with some fast slides and a nice little breaks at the end of each phrase. The open bouncing drumming during the first part of the choruses are great too.

Sitar!?! Or perhaps a heavily effected acoustic guitar begins the final and longest track “Escape to Fuzz Mountain.” A strange and pretty neat lead guitar riff over heavy riffing commences into a choppy furious verse. This is the song that lets you know this band doesn't just drink, they smoke weed occasionally too. This becomes more apparent as the track moves forward, there's some trippy weirdness in the lead guitar and the transition at about 4:14 is weird and pretty much amazing. The hint of phase sometimes swirling on the outskirts of the mix gives some of the sections a nice ambiance. The bridge that begins around the 5:40 mark is a nice and hugely open too, into what feels like a tempo downshift and the sparse guitar melodies and the riff here is ace. Epic in scope and execution you can bet this song crushes live and I would be inclined to say it's the best song on the album. The band most likely agrees since they named the album after this song.

These guy's list Kyuss and QOTSA as an influence, but they’re shade more heavier towards Orange Goblin then anyone else, but still sound completely different than them in their song writing and vocal styling. A simple album integrating all the fun parts of heavy underground rock, get this if you like your music entertaining.

Available on vinyl and DD below.

Words by: Chris Tedor

Available at http://sunrider1.bandcamp.com/

For more information:

http://sunrider1.bandcamp.com/

http://www.facebook.com/sunrIderlive

http://www.sun-rider.nl/Sun-rider/Sun_Rider.html

Vinyl Corner: Curse The Son - Psychache (Album Review) & 'Spider Stole The Weed' Official Video Premiere

STB Records are at it again, a label started on whim back into 2012, Steve has taken the label to another level, with their boutique branded vinyl releases.  Following their debut release with Dopethrone’s ‘Demonsmoke’ they have attracted a cult following, and just like any reputable brand, there is increasing demand for their product.  Indeed, STB are in the enviable position having all their releases sell out thus far.  No mean feat in an oversaturated musical climate.

For their latest vinyl release, STB Records are preparing to release Curse The Son’s second record, ‘Psychache’, self professed as ‘The Sound of dinosaurs walking the Earth’, this is arguably the label’s favourite release so far, with STB Steve proclaiming ‘from the first riff of ‘Spider Stole The Weed’ he knew he wanted to release it.  This is merely my opinion of course, and I’m told by my wife that it is never nice to have favourites (I refer to our kids, haha) but in terms of releasing ‘Psychache’ patience and timing appeared to be the key in terms of signing the band, given the apparent interest  in Curse…. from a number of other suitors.  What is clear to all, who have bought or seen STB releases, is that the quality of the product is exemplary, making Curse The Son’s decision to sign for them a no brainer when it came to the crunch.  Steve at STB Records has made no secret of the fact that his label may well be a stepping stone for bands to move onto something bigger, however what a band will take away from STB Records is a superior quality vinyl release.  It will come as no surprise then, when you read the following pressing information for ‘Psychache’

STB Record is presenting 3 separate releases with a grand total of 300 copies in a variety of formats.  For the purpose of this review, ill be looking at the Standard Edition, which is limited to 125, it is a tri-colour vinyl of bone, black and grey, with a heavy duty gatefold jacket.  Next up is the OBI Edition, limited to 100 pieces; this edition is black in ultra clear vinyl with blood red splatter with gatefold jacket.  Finally, is the most sort after, and this is the Die Hard version, limited to 75 pieces, this edition comes in a unique bone and classic black colour with blood red splatter, also housed in an kick ass gatefold.  The Die Hard also comes with exclusive alternate artwork.   

If we rewind back to the tri-colour vinyl and this release in general, it is safe to say that by offering high standard or indeed setting a bench mark for which you’re judged, there is pressure to maintain that quality and with this release, STB records have perhaps surpassed what has come before, at the very least ‘Psychache’ retains that superior quality.  Indeed to maintain quality or surpass ones self, in terms of production, ultimately this leads to more expenditure from the label.  Take the gatefold for example, the second release from STB records to come in this format, there is an additional cost attached.  From my perspective as a customer, this is what I want, I’m a big fan of this format and It pays off because it offers more, you have that striking cover art, a twisted psycho straight from the pages of a Hanneke script and you open it up to fantastic live shots of the band in black and white, with a very slight tinge of green on one of the preamps. Looking closely you can also see faint pictures of a baby doll and some demented clown not to dissimilar from a ‘Saw’ movie.  The attention to detail is subtle and in keeping with the vibe of the record. 

Onto the vinyl then and having researched the process of the tri colour vinyl, there seems to be a knock on affect in terms of cost.  Ultimately, pressing tricolour is more complicated, rather that a press of an original ‘black record’ being entirely automated, there is more emphasis on manual labour, with the vinyl biscuits that go on to be pressed into a finished product, having to be individually sliced into pieces and then reassembled into a multi colour biscuit, and manually inserted into the press.  That is my understanding anyway.  In summation there is nothing standard about this standard edition.  Ultimately, STB Records continues to mix things up and reinvent the brand, whilst keeping prices affordable.  ‘Psychache’ is another example of a unique and top quality product issued by the folks at STB, let’s hope you feel the same when it goes on general release. 

Onto the music, but before we do, Let us think about the word ‘Psychache’ for a second, what springs to mind? In terms of this review, probably nothing more than an album title for Curse The Son’s excellent 2^nd record.  However in the interests of research, ‘Psychache’ was borne as a concept to help explain suicide, the defining characteristics of which are, psychological pain of the mind and an individuals ability to cope. 

It is heavy subject matter indeed and whilst I am not certain if this was a concept for which the record it based, for me the music of Curse The Son is perfectly juxtaposed against these themes, in the sense that our ability to cope with things stems from our need for catharsis.  ‘Psychache’ is the perfect anaesthetic to these dark themes, a tonic borne from the bong water of sabbathian worship, it discharges pent up emotions and stress, purging the listener by the power of the riff.  So sit back, take a swig of jack, crank this shit and let the purgation commence. Curse The Son is bringing Liberation through amplification.   

Curse The Son adhere to many stereotypes in terms of doom metal, repetitious riffs, a thick low end bass tone, and a steadfast backbeat, however there is nothing wrong with that, as long as there is quality.  Worry not, whilst this does not reinvent the wheel, there is much to admire about it.  First of all, this record is laden in fuzz; warm and dirty, but without the harshness of say ‘sludge’, your eardrums are immediately penetrated with girth and bulk, not from the appendage of man with a fetish only he can fully explain, but from the down tuned strings being struck from an axe of distortion.   Indeed in terms of their music, Curse The Son deal in volume.  Divine and rapturous levels of riffs dominate much of ‘Psychache’ and the record immediately hooks you in.  For example ‘Goodbye Henry Aslinger’ feels familiar and memorable, a song structured around riffs with enough fuzz to cause the earth to undulate, your introduction is a bouncing pick scrap into a lumbering chord progression. What is refreshing about this record too, is the vocal talent of Ray Vanacore and I say talent, because he has a great range.  On the track ‘The Spider Stole the Weed’ for example, he reminds me of Chris Cornell, but retains his own voice, with the music moving with a rumbling sound, slow and laborious, like a battle hardened solider on a battle field.

From the opening main riff to its finality, ‘Psychache’ is a burly and muscular record.  For me you can almost trace the lineage of their music over the last 40 odd years, a culmination of Black Sabbath, Candlemass, St. Vitus, Trouble, indeed the record as a whole sounds vintage.  It smoulders, the fire from the riffs burning thick with fuzzy smoke, suffocating and dense, interlocked with seething drum rolls and warm combustive bass tones, creating a sound that is representative of their influences and retaining a quality of its own.  This vintage is some of the best of its kind in 2014 and worthy of reverence. A venerable composition enshrined in wax.  

Words: Aaron Pickford

You can pick up this vinyl here from the 26/7/2014 and download here now.  It also gives me great pleasure to present the premiere of Curse The Son’s video for ‘Spider Stole The Weed’.  Enjoy

For more information:

http://cursetheson.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/cursetheson

http://stbrecords.bigcartel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/STB-Records/471228012921184

https://twitter.com/STBRECORDS