3 SPEED AUTOMATIC - "NO MANS LAND"
[ CD - Self Released ]
Apparently no one has decided to tell Holland's 3 Speed Automatic that the year isn't 1973 anymore.
Thank god, coz' this band knows how 70's hard rock should be done; "No Mans Land" is 45 minutes of pure
hard rock bliss. Guitarist Guido Debrichy sounds like he's Jimmy Page illegitimate son, his guitar
heroics are so close to the great Led Zeppelin axe-man I would swear that he's
actually playing on this album. Luckily the rest of the band isn't half
bad either. Awesome!!!
walter
18 SPEED TRANNY - "FLUID"
[ CDR - Self Released ]
Named after a transmission for an 18 wheeler, 18 Speed Tranny embrace the neanderthal world of
stonerrock. Kudos go out to these midwesterns for their take on both stoner and
classic rock!
walter
BIBLE OF THE DEVIL - "TIGHT EMPIRE"
[ CD - Dead Teenager Records ]
Chicago's Bible of The Devil specialize in high octane rock in the tradition of The Stooges, Iron
Maiden and Thin Lizzy. There's nothing stunningly new or groundbreaking here, but plenty of
big riffs and high energy songs make up for that.
walter
DEPRESSIVE ART - "GOTHIC COUNTRY SONGS FOR
THE SORRY ONES"
[ CD - Self Released ]
Three songs from this self-described 'gothic country' band from Sweden with unusually well-developed
song writing for a young band. Vocally they remind me of a deeper voiced Morrissey. Fans of
Paradise Lost and recent Anathema take note.
drew
DEVIL TO PAY - "THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER"
[ CD - Benchmark Records ]
Devil To Pay checks in with "Thirty Pieces of Silver." The band plays heavy riff laden
stonerrock that's an amalgamation of the massive grooves and melodies from the likes of Kyuss, Slo Burn
and Unida. It's sort of an urban take on desert rock. Devil To Pay can definitly handle their
instruments, and solid production present the band in it's best light, but "Thirty Pieces of Silver"
offers nothing new.
walter
GARGANTUA - "VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF
LAGUNA NEGRA"
[ CD - Self Released ]
Stoner rock with a southern rock flair. Solid vocals, riffs and production. Cool cover of the "Theme
from 2,000 Maniacs."
drew
THE GLASSPACK - "BRIDGEBURNER"
[ CD - Small Stone Records ]
Closer to slightly out of control garage rock than stoner, The Glasspack combine the best of punk
and rawk for a sound all of their own. The vocals, guitars, bass and drums drip with fuzz and distortion, it
oozes from your speakers, crawls across the floor, then gets up and hits you like
a ton of bricks, leaving you spent and numb.
"Bridgeburner" is quality turbocharged fucked-up American
rock, and yet another winner from The Glasspack -- with contributions from Phill
Durr of Big Chief as well as Ed Mundell and Bobby Pantella from Monster Magnet.
walter
GONGA - "S/T"
[ CD - Invada Records/Cargo Records ]
Signed to Portishead member Geoff Barrow's Invada records, British stoners Gonga are bringing the
monolith to stonerrock. These longhairs mix primal riffage and pagan folk sounds to create a heavy take
on the lumbering blues of Led Zeppelin and Sabbath's low end. It's done with much aplomb, but unfortunately
their debut album doens't set them apart from their peers.
walter
THE GOSLINGS - "PERFECT INTERIOR"
[ CD - Asaurus Records ]
Holy shit. This is one of the most interesting and original releases I've ever received in over 5 years
of Roadburn reviews. Radically experimental and yet deeply psychedelic, this cd contains five truly
haunting vignettes. Not for most Roadburners, but for those that crave the really far
out, this is manna from heaven.
drew
GREENLEAF - "SECRET ALPHABETS"
[ CD - Small Stone Records ]
Highly accomplished stoner rock from this Swedish group. Members of Dozer and Demon Cleaner play
music that far exceeds anything from their respective bands.
drew
HELLBLOCK 6 - "NUCLEAR AGE"
[ CD - World Eater Records ]
Heavy doom/riff rock trio with hardcore-style shouted vocals. Solid riffing alternating with more
up-tempo punky styles done with decent production and nice packaging.
drew
HELLBLOCK 6 - "BURNIN' DOOM"
[ CD - World Eater Records ]
More heavy doom/riff rock trio with hardcore-style shouted vocals. You're either going to be able to deal
with the vocals or youšll hate them.
drew
HYPNOS 69 - "PROMISE OF A NEW MOON"
[ CD - RocknRollRadio ]
Lying somewhere between the progressive rock of King Crimson and Pink Floyd, with nods to such
classics as the Allman Brothers and Grand Funk; and drawing from both sides with good
taste, Hypnos69 have created a very impressive record. A record drippin' with progrock, jazz and
psychedelica. The musicianship is top notch, with added elements of tenor sax, theremin, Hammond
organ and Fender Rhodes only enforcing the band's strengths and exploring new musical spheres. Yet another
superb album from these Belgium cats.
walter
LAHAR - "DEMO MMIV"
[ CD-R - Circle Six Records ]
Extremely enjoyable doom metal that will appeal to fans from Saint Vitus to Candlemass.
walter
MAD LEE RIOT - "S/T"
[ CD - Self Released ]
Stoner rock mixed with Blue Oyster Cult that ends up shooting straight for the giant pot of gold at the end
of the rainbow. Maybe someone should tell them there is no pot of gold.
drew
MONSTER MAGNET - "MONOLITHIC BABY!"
[ CD - SPV ]
Monster Magnet returns to form with "Monolithic Baby!", their first album for SPV. The band sets the
cruise control to 'full throttle' and offer a relentless ride of larger than life psychedelic rock 'n roll.
Less junk-addled than "Superjudge" and more varied than "God Says No", the album is produced
with maxim clarity to draw a large audience to Monster Magnet's unique flair -- whether it's the old crowd
of Magnet fans or the 'Powertrip rocks' crew.
walter
NORTHERN LIBERTIES - "ERODE AND DISAPPEAR"
[ CD- World Eater Records ]
Anthemic punk sing along rock with the worst drum sound I've heard all year. Wet cardboard anyone? Like the
other World Eater releases, it has sharp packaging.
drew
OGRE - "DAWN OF THE PROTO-MAN"
[ CD- Self Released ]
Ogre delivers a total heavy 70's overload, and recall the heyday of hard rock. I haven't heard such a
genuine sounding band like Ogre for a long time. "Dawn of The Proto-man" is rocking in all the best ways.
walter
PILOTOS - "POWER OF EVIL"
[ CD - Self Released ]
Second demo from these promising Swedes. Smoky vocals, lots of dynamic variation, rich organic
blues based sound, tasty heavy riffs. Somebody pick these guys up already!
drew
POWERHEAD - "SHADOW OF THE THUNDERCHIEF"
[ CD - Self Released ]
Strange Australian riff rock band with decent playing and singing. Bouncy and then heavy. Something about
this frightens me though. The vocals are so upfront that it sounds like the singer might put his
tongue in your ear at any minute.
drew
RUE - "S/T"
[ CD - Shifty Records ]
High quality uptempo sludge from Ohio scene veterans. Features members of Sofa King Killers
and Fistula. Well done in all respects; music, production and artwork are all top notch. A welcome addition
to the scene.
drew
SHEVEL KNIEVEL - "BULL WEVEL"
[ CD - Self Released ]
Great stuff from this all-girl power trio. Psychedelic heavy rock with good riffs and tons of
originality. Definitely a band to watch for. Highly recommended.
drew
SPACE PROBE TAURUS - "BLACK HOLE REVOLUTIONS"
[ CD - Self Released ]
Swedens Space Probe Taurus are playing their own firebrand of fuzzrock, inspired by the
likes of Blue Cheer, Mudhoney and The Sonics. Definitely a band 'to watch.'
walter
SPOILER - "THE RETURN OF KING SONIC"
[ CD - Suburban Records ]
Transforming a solid hardrock album from ordinary to excellent -- that is what good songwriting and
good production does, and that's the strength of Spoiler's "The Return of King Sonic." The band succeeded in
adding variety to their catchy and strong selection of riffs, and the mix from Dave
Sardy [of Barkmarket-fame] turned it into a very good, diverse rock record, while rocking in the best
tradition of such masters like vintage Kiss and AC/DC are part of Spoiler's strength too. Definitely
worth checking out!
walter
WALLRUS - "THE WIND BLOWS WITCHES FROM THE SKY"
[ CD - Self Released ]
This comes as a bit of a surprise. Hailing from Rotterdam, Holland, Wallrus rips through the Led
Zeppelin songbook, and is definitely sporting a vibe of their own. And, depending on your love
for bluesy riff rock, it will rock your world! Highly recommended.
walter
ZEBULON PIKE - "S/T"
[ CD - Self Released ]
A promising instru-METAL band from Minnesota, Zebulon Pike bring a high level of
compositional ability to the plate. Big riffs mixed with big ideas. Another band to
eagerly await the full length from.
drew
ZEKE - "TIL THE LIVIN' END"
[ CD - Relapse ]
Though the band is part of the punk scene, Zeke's visceral take on high engery rawk 'n roll is
also largely metal and hardrock based. "'Til The Livin End", the band's first album
for Relapse, draws influences from bands such as Motorhead, The Ramones, Black Flag and Kiss.
Zeke's rock savagery can best be described as a super-charged, fucked-up, nihilistic ride
down death alley, and "'Til The Livin' End" keeps you poised on the edge of your
seat waiting for a head-on collision to happen. Easily one of their best albums to date.
walter
V/A - "GENRECIDE COMPILATION"
[ CD - World Eater Records ]
Material from Hellblock6, Myles of Destruction, Scabbicack, Flat Possum Boys, Drunken
Bandits, Abiku, Cynicism, King Gary, Syzslak, Aviary 3, Pale Existence, Imbecile, Body Bag, Pennsylvania
Connection, Malocches, Rellik, Black Skeletons of Death, Wreck The Day, Northern
Liberties, Bitchslicer and Kermit Hell Lyman III. A good way to find out exactly what
this new label is all about.
drew
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