FOR THOSE ABOOT TO ROCK: Riffs of Canada with Dopethrone (Montréal, Québec)

By: Mark Tremblay

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 25/05/2018

Label: Totem Cat Records

Dopethrone are the most consistent band in the genre, and this record further cements their legacy as one of the greats.

“Transcanadian Anger” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Planet Meth

2). Wrong Sabbath

3). Killdozer

4). Scuzzgasm

5). Tweakjabber

6). Snort Dagger

7). Killbilly Krush

8). Miserablist

The Review:

Dopethrone is a no frills stoner metal band that has nothing to hide.  “Transcanadian Anger” is everything you want to hear from the band, only further refined.  With each new release, Dopethrone further solidify themselves as the Mötorhead of their genre. “Transcanadian Anger” is all substance, and no bullshit.

Dopethrone slithers out of the gate with “Planet Meth” and “Wrong Sabbath”.  These bluesy riffs are the sonic equivalent of drowning in a vat of tar; a syrupy heavy tone only made possible by Dopethrone.   The miasma of thick sludge kicks into high gear with “Killdozer” and “Scuzzgasm”. These four tracks showcase Dopethrone’s ability to create such diverse music within their brand of stoner/sludge metal.

The overall production on this record exemplifies the band’s strengths; full of lush textures, and really pushing the low end tones to the forefront of the listening experience. Even though the vocals seem quite low in the mix, they have this ominous quality to them that work perfectly in creating the soundscape that Dopethrone aspires to.

“Transcanadian Anger” is must have stoner/sludge metal record, but the listeners already knew that. Dopethrone are the most consistent band in the genre, and this record further cements their legacy as one of the greats.

“Transcanadian Anger” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

EXCLUSIVE ALBUM STREAM & REVIEW: Weed Demon - "Astrological Passages"

By: Ernesto Aguilar

Album Type: Full-length

Date Released: 18/08/2017

Label: Dissonant Society

Weed Demon is quite willing to show they can do a diverse attack that goes beyond a Melvins-ish crunch. It can definitely throttle you with heavy, sludged out guitars and drums. Yet, as you find on "Primordial Genocide" and elsewhere, Weed Demon can go from blasting to burrowing with its arrangements, zipping from fast to slow, metal to a variation on math rock, smoothly.

"Astrological Passages “CS//CD//DD "track listing

1. Astrological Passages

2. Primordial Genocide

3. Sigil of The Black Moon

4. Dominion of Oblivion

5. Jettisoned

The Review:

A band who call themselves Weed Demon and does five songs that clock out at 50 minutes pretty much says all you need to know about it being a stoner metal clique, doesn't it? Not completely. The Columbus, Ohio troupe has, in truth, a lot more in store for you.

Stoner metal has and has previously had many great acts as part of its history. Though the mainstream probably could not tell the difference between stoner and several other variations of doom, discriminating listeners know it when they hear it. Weed Demon flies the flag in its name and other venues. It certainly has other influences at its base.

On their debut full-length, a follow up to their 2015 EP, Weed Demon is quite willing to show they can do a diverse attack that goes beyond a Melvins-ish crunch. It can definitely throttle you with heavy, sludged out guitars and drums. Yet, as you find on "Primordial Genocide" and elsewhere, Weed Demon can go from blasting to burrowing with its arrangements, zipping from fast to slow, metal to a variation on math rock, smoothly. "Sigil of the Black Moon" kicks off as if it is your standard issue doom cut, but evolves into capacious blues rock, then plunges you into deep sludge. Where their first recording felt straightforward and perhaps not as adventurous, Weed Demon seems more confident in their own skin, with members gutsy in their willingness to take songs out to the farther reaches of your expectations.

The vocal style is just as varied, wherein a song like "Dominion of Oblivion" conveys almost a kind of funeral doom in its chanting verbalization. Rarely do you find stoner and funeral cross paths, so this bridge of the song is fresh. The music grows more insistent as it goes on, as does the vocal. That song is followed by "Jettisoned," a sprawling 12-minute-plus track to wrap up the recording. With its harmonica accents, rockabilly sort of segueway and long instrumental stretches, the cut seems aimed at, as the group says, to smoke and just jam. However, the overall effort here is far superior to background music. And Weed Demon, regardless of its name, is hardly your average stoner metal group.

"Astrological Passages" is available to preorder/buy on CS here and CD//digital here.  The album is official out on the 18/8/2017, but you can stream it exclusively in full below.

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM PREMIERE: Self styled ‘American Weed Rockers’ Wasted Theory return with "Defenders of the Riff"

Delaware/Maryland stoner rock heavyweights Wasted Theory will release their long awaited follow up to 2014’s “Death & Taxes” album on October 30th 2016. The self-proclaimed ‘American Weed Rockers’ have chosen “Defenders of the Riff” as the title to their second full-length effort, recorded over the summer of 2016 at Ken-Del and Clay Creek Recording Studios in Delaware.

“Defenders of the Riff” takes the bands sole brand of sonic assault to the next level and sees them build and develop their unique southern-esque stoner rock flare with more intensity than ever before. That ferocity also caught the attention of Robert Pilson head honcho of No Slip Records, with the band signing up with the label for the vinyl release of the album and is expected to released in April of 2017.

Wasted Theory will embark on a two-week tour of the U.S. in May of 2017 in support of the album including stops in Atlanta, Louisiana, Texas, and Indiana, as well as numerous one-offs throughout the year on the East Coast.  With the world wide release just a week away, today we present Wasted Theory’s stunning album “Defenders of the Riff” in full which you can check out below. It can be pre-ordered here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

Weedeater - 'Goliathan' (Album Review)

Album Type: Full-Length

Date Released: 19/5/2015

Label: Season of Mist

 

“Goliathan” CD/LP/DD track listing

1). Processional

2). Goliathan

3). Cain Enabler

4). Bow Down

5). Battered & Fried

6). Claw of the Sloth

7). Bully

8). Joseph (All Talk)

9). Reprise

10). Benaddiction

Weedeater is:

“Dixie” Dave Collins | vocals/bass

Dave “Shep” Shepard | guitar

Travis “T-Boogie” Owen | Drums

  

Review:

Weedeater are back! On Season of Mist no less. One of the more influential and definitely most fun live bands to see, Weedeater has been awesome since their inception and 'Goliathan' continues that trend of greatness.  The opening track “Processional” starts off with what sounds like some fretless or washtub bass and some organ. The expected Weedeater sludgefest begins on the second track with a descending whiskey soaked riff that slurs right into that Southern groove we all love. Blasting right into it, the second and third songs are both great sludgey messes and the third track “Cain Enabler” in particular is a bit of rip-roaring awesomeness. “Goliathan” is no slouch either, the tones are exceptionally pounding and the mix sounds GIGANTIC on the guitar which has all of Weedeater's patented low end dominance but seems to have a touch more clarity.

The fifth track “Battered and Fried” feels like blowing off a hangover messing around with your banjo on your porch, continuing Weedeater's trend of having some really slick oddball folk-country weirdness somewhere on all their records. Closing the album the final track “Benaddiction” continues this vibe with some balls-tripping guitar effects. My favorite one of these is still “Palms of Opium” off 'Jason...the Dragon” but these two are awfully close. One or two more albums and you could probably put all of these together and have a pretty badass chill psych record if you put on these together.

The longest track on the album is both the best named and most crushing of the available offerings. Coming in with the name “Claw of the Sloth” this sloth doesn't like to be disturbed and will claw your face off. A bouncing verse riff that only Weedeater seems to be able to consistently pull off with a short ascending chorus, Weedeater lets the riff hold it down for most of the track and gives it room to make your head nod for most of it's first half. Then in the second half Weedeater turns the tempo up a bit with a pretty awesome and somewhat unusual riff that demands to be heard. This track also has what I would consider the best solo of the album and the different mix Weedeater is using here gives guitarist Dave “Shep” Shepard a lot of room to let the blues breathe.

The production on 'Goliathan' is a bit different than previous Weedeater albums with a bit more clarity on the vocals, more clarity on the drums, and what sounds like a bit of a harder pan on the guitar and bass then their previous efforts. This mix gives them a touch more separation on the guitar and bass as some of their earlier stuff was a little too low-end heavy and covered up some of the subtly of “Dixie” Dave's playing.  For longtime Weedeater fans the real question with this album is how is new drummer Travis Owen. The answer to that question is pretty good, he plays similar to the previous drummer Keith “Keko” Kirkam but admittedly the difference is noticeable as he seems a bit more technical and not as hard hitting which changes the band dynamic a bit. That being said it's still definitely Weedeater and it's still awesome.

Overall a great record and it's nice to see that Weedeater hasn't lost any steps as they get older. This album is skewed a bit towards the earlier tracks as everything after “Claw of the Sloth” is a bit on the short side on length but still high on intensity with “Bully's” blistering pace and weird out vocals a nice touch. Weedeater isn't touching any new ground in experimental music here, they just put out fucking great records.

You should buy it, blast it, and piss off your neighbors.

Words by: Chris Tedor

For more information:

Like: https://www.facebook.com/weedmetal | Label: http://www.season-of-mist.com/ | Listen: https://weedeater.bandcamp.com/album/goliathan



The Sludgelord News: Weedeater unleash new track called "Bully"

WEEDEATER are now premiering a new track taken from their forthcoming full-length 'Goliathan', which has been scheduled for release on May 18th. The intoxicating crusher "Bully" is exclusively streaming via these official media partners:

Metal Obsession (AU)
Rock Hard (DE)
Rockzone (ES)
Inferno (FI)
VS-Webzine (FR)
Rockoverdose (GR)
Metal Wani (IN)
Andfari (IS)
Eternal Terror (NO)
Against Magazine (PT)
Zero Tolerance (UK)
The band commented in an indisputable way regarding their new album: "In terms of 'Goliathan' the listeners should prepare themselves for what may possibly be one of the best five WEEDEATER records to date!"

'Goliathan' is already on pre-sale via the Season of Mist shop at this link: http://smarturl.it/WEGoliathanshop.

Track listing is as follows:

01. Processional
02. Goliathan
03. Cain Enabler
04. Bow Down
05. Battered & Fried
06. Claw of the Sloth
07. Bully
08. Joseph (All Talk)
09. Reprise
10. Benaddiction 

WEEDEATER have previously announced new European dates in May and June. The notorious Southern fried sludge outfit will hit the road accompanied by partners in crime TODAY IS THE DAY. The rampage will have ignition at Temple Fest in Bristol, UK on May 29th and continue to steam through ten more countries until the final show at the renowned Hellfest in Clisson, France on the 21st of June.

Please see below for a complete list of concerts.

Source: Season of Mist

Dopethrone - 'Hochelaga' (Album Review)

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 13/04/2015

Label: Riff Dealer Records

/Totem Cat Records

‘Hochelaga’ CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Sludgekicker

2). Chameleon Witch

3). Vagabong

4). Scum Fuck Blues

5). Dry Hitter

6). Bullets

7). Riff Dealer

Dopethone are:

Drums | Borman

Guitar, Vox | Vincent

Bass | Vyk

Review:

I don't care how scuzzy you think you sound, you aren't Dopethrone. These guys are the drug problem in Heavy anything, and I am pretty sure they have a problem. Not the issue, because they have graced us with another slab of pure sonic ecstasy, their new catalogue of riffs entitled ‘Hochelaga’. This is a 7 song ode to brutal, smoke infused riffs, dripping with vicious intent to peddle. I am a lover of all things fuzzy and dirty, so this scratches my itch! Let’s dig in!

The album is, in a word, massive. Beware the listener that clicks play on this with cheap speakers. You'll soon need to replace them simply because of the sludgy, waxy build-up their riffs will leave on the speaker material. They play some of the nastiest blues you'll find outside of Satan's record collection, focusing on booze, rebellion, occult, sex, and of course, drugs. The threesome has been breaking shit and setting it on fire since about 2009, officially, with ‘Demonsmoke’, then a 2 year hiatus till Dark Foil in 2011, III in 2012, and now a further 3 years until this current miasma of debauchery, ‘Hochelaga’. The band is also named after album 3 from Electric Wizard, Dopethrone, which is also a must listen (in my opinion) of the stoner/doom/heavy blues pantheon. 

As far as the band plays, it’s as heavy and groovy as a well used vinyl in a second hand bin, and the vocals sound like they've been soaked in gasoline and then rehydrated with whisky and greased with dab wax. They make my throat hurt, even more so than grindcore. Vincent Houde (guitars/Vocals) throws his back into it, with a voice that sounds like  something lurking in shadows of the campfire. It's amazing, and fits the band like a jigsaw piece. Their sound is that of the genre, very fuzzy, downtuned and with heavy drive that blasts at you like a 12 gauge, accompanied by very deft drumming supporting them. Borman on the skins uses a heavy cymbal style, but its honestly not as bad as some prog or hardcore bands and the only reason I have noticed, is because I am looking for things, and they are smooth as 10 year old bourbon. They use samples from what sound like older movies and PSA stuff, mostly to warn folks that witches, bikers, slick haired vultures, drugs, and evil exists out there, and its agents are lurking around every corner you can't see around to take the youth. Just a perfect touch to their playing and adds a little menace into the mix, with ‘Hochelaga’, they paid attention to the details and your certainly not short-changed.

My highlight from this album is ‘Scum Fuck Blues’, song 4 on the record, simply because it’s absolutely the most pissed off track, and makes you feel like you wanna go wreck something. We've all been in those pitch black moods, where absolutely nothing is good anymore, and we want to simply just crawl in a hole and die. That's this song. It’s a bad mood and a bar fight put to sound, and the video that TheWhoreChurch did on YouTube is absolutely perfect. Using old footage, both movie and life, they capture the grit of the music, the brutality and passion with which Dopethrone lay down their drug fueled rhetoric. 

The album is topped with artwork that should have been a horror poster for an obscure 70s satanic ode, perfectly communicating what sonic ride you are about to embark upon. This album is perfect for the person who wants to dig deep in the grave for stoner/doom music, who wants something a little darker off the path of music. Or, if you've found Electric Wizard and loved them, want something new to spin. Grab it as soon as it drops!

Words by: Hunter Young

‘Hochelaga’ is available on CD and vinyl here

For more information:

https://dopethrone.bandcamp.com/ | https://www.facebook.com/dopethrone.mthell

Weedeater - Sixteen Tons Reissue (Album Review)

Album Type: Full-Length

Date Released: 30/09/2014

Label: Season of Mist

‘Sixteen Tons’ CD/DD/LP track listing:

1. Bull (07:57)
2. Potbelly (04:13)
3. Time Served (02:39)
4. Dummy (06:44)
5. #3 (02:06)
6. Woe’s Me (04:10)
7. Buzz (05:27)
8. Lines (03:15)
9. Riff (03:55)
10. Kira May (02:47)

Bio:

Tobacco is sure not the only thing coming out of North Carolina, USA. This Southern Bible Belt state also grows great hemp and stoner rock. WEEDEATER drifted into a creative cloud following the publication of their acclaimed debut "…and Justice for Y’all" (2001) and returned with their sophomore album "Sixteen Tons" only a year later. This release confirmed and slightly expanded the course and sound of their first full-length.

WEEDEATER was founded by bass player Dave "Dixie" Collins and guitarist Dave "Shep" Shepherd in the harbor town of Wilmington about the year 1998, after the demise of cult sludge act BUZZOV•EN. "…and Justice for Y’all" created an immediate buzz, while critics were struggling to label their sound. Most agreed that stoner rock, doom, sludge and some crusty elements were part of the mix, which the band simply calls "weed metal". "Sixteen Tons" was again produced by renowned engineer Billy Anderson (EYEHATEGOD, NEUROSIS).

WEEDEATER proceeded to play live with strong acts such as CORROSION OF CONFORMITY and ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY. After some detours of Dixie Dave, who played shortly with BONGZILLA and SOURVEIN, third album "God Luck and Good Speed" hit the world in 2007 and shifted the band’s focus slightly towards the stoner side. The latest full-length "Jason… the Dragon" got delayed when guitarist Shep lost a toe due to an incident with his favourite shotgun. When the sludge driven album finally came out in 2011 shows in the US and Europe cemented the band's reputation as a fierce live entity. WEEDEATER have meanwhile signed up with Season of Mist for their future full-length. In preparation the complete back catalogue will be re-issued. "Sixteen Tons" will also be made available on vinyl for the first time. Time to inhale another WEEDEATER cult classic!

The Band:

Dave "Dixie" Collins | vocals, bass

Dave Shepherd | guitar

Travis Owen | drums (currently live)

Keith “Keko” Kirkum |drums on album (former member)

Review:

Weedeater are one of those bands who everyone needs to see live at least once. Furious drumming, drugged riffing, and the manic energy of “Dixie” Dave Collins, Weedeater are one of the most intense live shows you will ever see. I've seen them probably six or seven times now and there have NEVER failed to put on a great show. On to the review! With any reissue that has been remastered, first and foremost the question is, how does it sound compared to the original?  That question is definitely better but still unmistakeably sludgy. I'd be inclined to say that everything sounds clearer and the mix is definitely improved. The vocals for sure sit just a bit better on top. I actually like the production on this a touch more then ‘Jason...The Dragon’ although ‘Mancoon’ is still one of the greatest songs ever in the history of music.

Moving on to the actual track review for those of you who haven't heard Weedeater or “16 tons” yet, just go buy it you're going to love it. Opening with the longest track on the album, “Bull” comes out stomping with elephantine fury of epic proportions.  Dave Shepard's guitar and “Dixie” Dave Collins' perfectly balanced fuzz tones assault your mind into mush right from the get go. No frills, no bullshit, rifftastic sludge ensues for the duration of the track (and album) and the immensely slow and powerful middle bridge section tells you all you need to know about how influential Weedeater are.

The sample that starts the second track “Potbelly” makes me laugh every time I hear it, “I was born in South Carolina man, I can't read” as the lurching riff starts and the deathy/black screams kick in later. This is probably my favorite track on the album as it has a bit of a weird head bouncy vibe throughout that can't fail to put a smile to your face. The 3^rd track “Time Served” I've definitely heard live a whole bunch and it's awesome on the album too, short and sweet with more riffy goodness. The second longest and fourth track “Dummy” begins with a nice open section with some truly pounding drum work and has the feel of waking up with a terrible hangover and the toms go right through your brain. One of the more atmospheric tracks on offer, the riffing here is a bit slower and more spaced out; boasting one of “Shep's” best solos on the album with some short but slick bluesy licks.

‘#3’ boasts some old timey samples and more guitar freak-out weirdness. This is one of the great things about Weedeater, they are never afraid to go out on a limb in their music from this track to later ones like “Palms and Opium” off ‘Jason...The Dragon’. A cool dark folk song, the sixth track “Woe's Me” is an oddly fitting break in the aural onslaught and demonstrates the range Weedeater can display if they so wish. The next track “Buzz” begins with a long slow doom vamp into some of the heaviest riffing on the album. Committing fully to the riff like many bands try but few really do, the simple yet powerful riffs here, draw you into a mesmerizing trance of awesomeness.

The second to last track “Riff” consists of shockingly great riffs or more specifically a couple variations on the same great riff. Again, boasting one of the things Weedeater is great at and one of the reasons they are so awesome, is how LONG their riffs can be. It's really fun to hear extended phrases like this and is surprisingly difficult to write good ones. The final track is exceptionally odd with some interesting pedal tone riffs on bass not something often heard outside of Tool's “46 & 2” and Mastodon's “The Creature Lives”, from their album we like to pretend doesn't exist. Morphing into an extended solo section and slowing to a close. A great end to a great album.

As “16 Tons” comes to a close you can feel the monumental influence Weedeater has had on so many of the bands we all love bleeding around the edges. In the American scene at least, Weedeater and “Dixie” Dave's previous band Buzzov*en are hugely influential and have some of the finest sludge on either end of the pond. If you haven't heard them check out this reissue and find out why almost immediately.

Words by: Chris Tedor

You can pick up a copy here

For more information:

http://www.weedmetal.com/

http://www.season-of-mist.com/

www.facebook.com/weedmetal