The Green Leafs of Kentucky...

Full Zenith - Full Zenith (2013)

Some state-side stoner thrash has found its way to my ears this week! It's been quite the stretch of European ass-kicking doom for a while (don't worry, I still love that, too), but it feels good to review some fellow Midwestern 'Muricans who know how to lay it down. Hailing from the heartland of Louisville, Kentucky, Full Zenith have taken their love of metal and the sweet leaf and rolled it into an effort that reeks of earsplitting power and noisy vocals.
What is quickly realized on the band's four-track, self-titled EP is that they have a flair for the fast and the loud, in contrast to the often more down-tempoed and "epic" sound of more traditional stoner acts. What results is a highly spastic burst of barbarous drums and punishing riffs that channel even darker groups like Cursed and All Pigs Must Die. This, of course, is not too surprising given the fact that other diverse and unique (and successful) sounds have escaped Louisville in more recent years (i.e., Coliseum and Young Widows). Not to draw too large of a comparison between Full Zenith and their hometown associates, the band still offers up a healthy dose of something new on their album. Upon multiple listens, I found that each track possesses a good mixture of melody and backing vocals that are sometimes overshadowed by the album's production. Honestly the only real flaw in the record being vocals that may have received the proverbial cart-before-the-horse treatment, this is an easily fixed and often seen hiccup in demos that should only improve as the band continues to develop its sound.
Hopefully with a little more exposure and the right gigs, Full Zenith could truly find a home amongst today's grassroots stoner metal scene and give it a little jolt of life. However, when it's all said and done, I'm sure Full Zenith will have just the right blend to once again lighten the mood.
~Joe

For Fans Of; Integrity, Cursed, Weekend Nachos, Weedeater

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Full Zenith (free)

Facing Serpent Doom....

Albino Python - The Doomed & The Damned (2012)

I'm not one for just making up genres or laying much weight on those countless splintering and offshoots of existing genres. Whenever I hear the likes of 'gore-grind', 'melodic metal-core' or 'blackened death-metal' used I almost inevitably loose my shit and have to storm off before I glass someone. I know, I know, I'm not a people person, but it doesn't seem like a bloody month goes by when some tosser hasn't invented, or re-invented some style and rebranded it as some bullshit proxy. I overheard the term 'post pegan war doom' a few weeks back... I'm still seething. That being said, today I feel I shall be playing the part of aforementioned tosser. But, and this is a big but, I think it is genuinely filling a gap in the market. I've used the term for years without really giving it much thought but the whole 'space doom' sound seems to be getting more and more prevalent. I'm not saying I've coined the genre, but I don't recall picking it up from elsewhere and it's not on wikipedia, so... Actually no, piss off, I am claiming this one. Besides, it seems to be the best term I can settle on without invoking narcissistic dry wrenching. It just seems to combine a few elements that have become more common place in recent years. The heavy use of distant and echoey vocals along with the occasional, particularly coherent and rhythmically satisfying riffs mostly akin space rock. Then the all encompassing dread and over noir and pace of stoner doom. All this coming together to form a sort of dark and eerie psychedelica. Often it results in that sort of occult garage rock sound thats so prevalently made a resurgence in recent times, due in no small part to the rise of bands such as Uncle Acid. But sometimes the occasional act do kinda dip their toe into that spacey side of things. It's not quite as noticable here as it is with other similar bands but their is certainly a touch of the Dozer about them. Or, what I can best imagine experiencing a really traumatic acid trip while on the space station would possibly be like. You may well disagree, fair enough. But you'll be wrong.
Anyway, this is where I see Arizona's own Albino Python. Now, at this point I'd love to give you more  info on the band, but details seem to be few and far between. By which I mean there's very little info on their Facebook page. What I can tell you is that they're female fronted, something that admittedly surprised me after having listened to their EP a good ten times or so. The vocals have that certain quality that makes them somewhat asexual for want of a better word. But now I know, I really can hear it. But who does what doesn't really matter, what matters is how EP performs, and that is exactly what it does. Gigantic fuzzy Sabbath inspired riffs and a slow crushing authority from the drums really do lay waste right from the opening bars. Whats true impressive though is its ability to maintain simplicity without becoming stupid, and retain a truly heavy feel without merging into over powering. It's such a kickass little EP, and I'm glad to report that it's finally been given the physical format it deserves! Our man Dan over at Easy Rider Records has gone to town and really helped the band out there. He's not only produced 100 cassettes of various limited availabilities, but thrown together some badges and some really, really nice shirts. These little beauties go up for sale midday (GMT) or early tomorrow morning (PST). Like all of Easy Rider's stuff they've been lovingly produced and look the mutts nutts, they wont be around for long so dont bloody snooze!

       

For Fans Of; Windhand, Elder, Mountain Goat, Salem's Pot, Moon Curse

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The Doomed & The Damned (320kbps)

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News...

Easy Rider Records are down to their last few copies of their limited cassette of Red Desert's blinding debut, Damned By Fate left. Be quick and you can still snap up a copy on red or black, after that you're gonna have to wait until the vinyl version drops later this year (damn I'm counting down the days to this!). In other news, they've recently been working on a tasty little 6 track album with Arizona's Albino Python which you can get a teaser of at their SoundCloud page. A limited cassette run of the album goes up for sale on June 25th along with some pins and a really killer limited shirt.

STB Records are now entirely cleaned out of the Spelljammer's Vol. 2 and Traitors Return To Earth, but no need to shed a tear if you missed out, as there are a few regular version's left in the store and you can hit up Traitor's BigCartel page and pick up their standard version.

Don't forget to check us and the guys out on Instagram!...
Follow us @RideWithTheDevil
Hit up @EasyRiderRecords & @STBRecords for more news, releases and regular competitions. You may just win yourself something nice... and we all know how much you all like free shit! 

New Vinyl Releases -

Age Of Taurus ~ Desperate Souls Of Tortured Times (Rise Above)
Ape Machine ~ Mangled By The Machine  (Ripple Music)
ASG ~ Blood Drive (Relapse)
Black Rainbows ~ Supermothafuzalicious (Reissue) (Heavy Psych Sounds)
Blood Ceremony ~ The Eldritch Dark (Rise Above)
Centuries ~ Broken Hymns (This Charming Man)

Church Of Misery ~ Thy Kingdom Scum (Rise Above)
Devil ~ Gather The Sinners  (Emetic)
Discordance Axis ~ Jou Hou (Reissue) (Hydra Head)
Dopethrone ~ Dark Foil (Totem Cat Records)
High Priest Of Saturn ~ Self Titled  (Svart)

Salem's Pot - Watch Me Kill You (Easyrider Records)
Spelljammer ~ Vol. II (STB Records)
Thumlock ~ Emerald Liquid Odyssey (Kozmik Artifatz)

Wo Fat/Egypt ~ Cyclopean Riffs (Totem Cat Records)

New Pre-orders/Upcoming Release -

Baroness ~ Live At Maida Vale (Relapse)
Black Pyramid ~ Adversarial (Hydro Phonic Records)
Black Tusk ~ Tend No Wounds (Relapse)
Coffins ~ The Fleshland (Relapse)
Crowbar ~ Broken Glass (Emetic)
Evile ~ Skull (Earache)
High On Fire ~ Spitting Fire Live,Vol. 1 (Relapse)

Sleep ~ Dopesmoker (Reissue) (Southern Lord)

Temple Of The Smoke ~ The Lost Art Of Twilight (Cosmic Eye)
Toxic Shock ~ Daily Demons (Reflections Records)

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Dirty, Dusty, Dutch...

Post - Vol. 1 (2013)

I wasn't too sure what to make of Post initially. For some reason I was expecting something in the way of black metal or such like when I chucked the album on. I think I was basing that entire assumption on their choice of font for the cover art. Anyway, what I actually got was pretty much the other end of the spectrum. Chasing The Crown opens with a riff that feels like its been pull straight out of a dirty southern rock bar and as far as getting my attention goes (with the exception of large boobs) very little works better. It's not exactly the sort of genre you directly associate with Italy, but then I'm not sure exactly what genre you do associate with them...? But then, we've had desert rock from Poland before, so who the hell am I to judge? So how'd you expect these guys to sound? Totally off the ball?... Maybe had a good stab at it but fell a little short?.. Nope, not even close. They nailed it! At least on the actual composition anyway. By which I mean, that this album coughs a spits out more huge foot stomping riffs than your mind can truly comprehend. Mainly because while you're listening your mind is preoccupied with thinking, "Goddamn, I wish I had thought up that riff!" Every one sounds wildly elaborate in places and although there is a heavy southern rock sound as a foundation it doesn't shy away from pulling out a bit of a late 80's hair rock lick or two. Fear not though they stop way, way short of the point of cheesyness or just being plain cringe worthy. Think of it as having all the quality, but minus the shit hair, spandex and groin thrusting... God, I'm so glad I missed most of the 80's. Another way to look at it though would be a bit like The Datsuns playing metal versions of their songs but with Danzig on vocal duties. Speaking of which, I must admit, when I began this post the vocals felt like the weakest part of the album for me. But having listened to the whole thing a few times I must confess they have grown on me a bit. Initially, they felt a little out of place. They have more of an early days of gothic-industrial feel to them that didn't quite match up with the groove riddled orgy they're backed by. But as the album progresses something seems to come together and you don't really dwell on the unorthodox combination. Maybe it's the occasional punk tempo that creeps in? Maybe it's the way it suddenly turns the furious hard rock to something deeper and darker at the flick of a switch. There's really something here for everyone, I know thats as cliche as saying that 'they will only go from strength to strength', but it's true. Don't believe me? Then go listen for your bloody self! While, you're at it, you may wanna check out the label thats putting them out - Radioactive Records, because if you dig Post, the rest of their line up will certainly be up your street.
~ Jay

For Fans Of; The Datsuns, Planet Of Zeus, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Turbonegro, Thunderfist 

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Vol. 1 (256kbps)

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Further On Down...

Deep - Vol. 1 (2013)

I will be the first to tell you I don't much about Italy. At this point in my short life, I know it looks like a boot and that its bands produce some crazy and fun tunes, especially the stoner-oriented ones. I also now know that there is a city named Gorizia there that long-haired record-it-yourselfers Deep call home. I'm not sure what people there do to pass the time, but Deep has definitely taken to writing a great brand of slowed-down stoner rock that seems to pull inspiration from a bevy of genres as well as the world around them.

With the majority of the album focusing on lo-fi, fuzzed-up guitars, Deep do a fantastic job of taking unique instrumentation (and even plain old sounds) that, as each track goes on, becomes a noticeable rhythm that creates one hell of a trippy experience for the listener. Faster tracks like "Long Haired Youth" and "Nazca" have a sound reminiscent of 90's industrial metal acts like KMFDM and Ministry that boost the album with a little pick-me-up in just the right places. Slower jams do not disappoint, however. Deep's true talent is prevalent in their ability to write music that is clearly important and meaningful to its members, drawing themes from world religions, nature and lore.

With plans on the horizon to record their follow-up, tentatively titled Vol. 2, Deep could see a big year if they keep on track with their current style and mindset. In the meantime, head here and pick up Vol. 1 for any price you feel is fair.

~Joe

For Fans Of; Kyuss, Danzig, The Desert Session, 1000mods, The Melvins

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Vol. 1 (name your price)

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Oh, This Thing...

Hiram - See The Thing Within The Thing (2013)

Well, what do you know? It's not all brand-new bands nobody's ever heard of we cover here, the guys of Hiram have been at it since 2002, playing some perfectly fine doominess, handing out every single one of their records for free, and yet the Facebook page still counts only 284 likes. I know, I know, it's just Facebook, but still! Eleven years and counting and never asking for something in return, in my eyes that's really damned admirable.
As are their tunes. Whatever Hiram plays is characterised by a passion for their music. No glitter, no glamour, no fame nor money, the music is what counts. Every single member is heard putting their heart and soul out there just because they want to do so. Needless to say that's something great!
Not every song on See The Thing Within The Thing can be said to be my cup o' tea though, but that's not because it isn't good, which it is. The album mostly consists of a crude, heartbreaking kind of doom, the crudeness of which really is it's appeal while at the same time it might be a little too crude. Or I might not be a avid enough doom fan, quite possibly...
The jams however are where See The Thing Within The Thing really shines in my opinion. Charming, dreamy and complex while still being really calming and relaxing, AND having the same kind of appeal as the more doomy songs. Hiram is a band I can't quite wrap my head around, and I'm happy I can't. It makes all of the band that much more interesting.
And then there's the lyrics. Really emotinally touching lyrics, telling real stories and really well-written. I won't spoil any more, go listen for yourself.
What is created by Hiram has gone unnoticed for too long already. Go and then give these men a shoutout, they deserve it.

~Ruben

For Fans Of; Om, Rhino, Zoroaster, Black Pyramid, Sleep, Electric Wizard

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See The Thing Within The Thing (320kbps)

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Stoner Smarts...

Black Wizard - Young Wisdom (2013)

Now that summer is upon us, there is nothing better than to pour yourself a stiff drink, crank the stereo up and enjoy some ass-kicking metal from the comfort of your porch. If that fails to make you have a good time, then smoke some really good weed and play Black Wizard's latest album over and over. Nothing short of excellent, Young Wisdom is by far one of the best albums I have heard yet in 2013, boasting an impressive collection of stoner rock that will quickly find its place amongst notable acts such as The Sword and Priestess.

Littered with underpinnings of late 70's rock and psychedelic, Young Wisdom outdoes itself as each track progresses, providing ambitious, spacey melodies that instantly remind one of Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath, but that also transform almost as quickly into something resembling the soundtrack of a soul leaving the body. Flowing yet tough guitars accelerate while wailing vocals move the tracks in a hazy harmony that translates into pure fucking rock that truly blows the mind. A confident smattering of drums and not-too-tuned-down bass further deepen the complexities of Black Wizard's efforts, creating an almost sun-drenched sound that stands out at just the right points.

Opening track "Spacer" is masterful in revealing how talented the band is, using their heavy-handed brand of rock over a 6-minute period that never once creates an air of boredom or laziness that lengthier songs can easily fall into at their midways. The album's title track received multiple listens (even as I wrote this) because I couldn't get enough of the blasting solos that continuously caused me to jump into a fit of hand-cramping air guitar.

Bottom line: Keep an eye out for this when it drops June 28. Prepare to provide your earholes with some of the best goddamn metal to date from our northern neighbors (sorry, rest of the world, I'm writing this from an American perspective).

~Joe

For Fans Of; The Sword, Orange Goblin, Witchcraft, Pentagram, Thunderfist

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Young Wisdom (limited tracks)

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A Heavy Project To Steal Hearts...

The Black Widow's Project - Heavy Heart (2013)

Oh, how many competitors there have been already for best album of 2013! But these fuckers right here steal the show, Heavy Heart is definitely gonna be ranking very high in my list of this year, and the year hasn't half passed yet. There, I basically spoiled the review already, but be that as it may, this album deserves it.

Heavy Heart is The Black Widow's Project debut, following their 2010 EP 'Benefit Of The Doubt' (which is, if you ask me, a great name for a debut EP!). That great naming of things hasn't been continued however, Heavy Heart isn't quite one of the most original things I've heard, and many songs on it have lyrical themes (Got The Devil, We Have To Be Free, Love's A Weapon etc.) which are beginning turn turn quite stale on me (don't ask me for a band that doesn't do that, I really wouldn't be able to name one this instant). And that's where The Black Widow's Project's greatest flaws lie right now: originality. The songs themes are, as are some of the songs' structures, done quite a few times. But the sound! TBWP do know how to deliver, they really are getting to having a very own sound, and one that knows to tickle my eardrums in all the right places at that! Fuzzy, catchy grooves hitting hard, torturing my speakers and pleasing my ears! If only I weren't hungover, that would make this delight even more delightful, but hey, I can't go blaming the band for that.

I've never been more sincere in saying I'm very interested to see where this band is going in years to come. If these guys get to developing their own sound some more and dare stepping into experimentation some more, they're gonna make some really memorable tunes! Fingers crossed!

~Ruben

For Fans Of; The Heavy Eyes, Graveyard, Kadavar, Cowboys & Aliens

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'Heavy Heart' (Stream)

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