As usual, a good single raises more questions than answers. Can their brand of Blackened Doom fill an EP or a full-release? What other tricks do they have up their sleeves? And, more importantly, what’s up with this Ahriman dude?
Read More The Single Life: Iron Serpent/AhrimanOperate heavy machinery with caution.
Read More Solar TripAs for me, this is when I figured out that the Ghost Pepper I ate when I began this journey turned out to be stuffed with a Peyote button. I’ve heard psychedelic, good stuff, that doesn’t come close to this. This goes beyond anything my Prog friends could dream of, and doesn’t follow Prog’s rigid guidelines anyway.
Read More Gravehuffer: Depart From So Much EvilOne of the best things about Ripple’s Turned to Stone series is that I don’t always like them. There is no “formula” that I can figure out, no trend they choose to follow. Just because I don’t “like” a particular band or release doesn’t mean it isn’t incredible. It just means at that time, in […]
Read More Turned to Stone Chapter 7: End of Age and Gypsy Chief GoliathSo, last night I’m scrolling through folders for a new email service I use. I’m not impressed with it in general, but it kinda works. I checked the Spam folder, and see something from December 17th. For the record, it was THE perfect email from a band: a quick bio, Spotify link, website link, promo […]
Read More Ooops, 1 More for 2022: Pariahlord/ VulturesKthulus hails from Kamloops, British Columbia. I stumbled onto them on Instagram, when they started following me. Seeing the logo, I had to check them out. It’s basically a two-piece unit, with Jared Ehler on harsh, lead vocals. Sean Raven handles everything else, including “drum programming.” I LOVE this EP. I was describing it to […]
Read More Late Week Quickie: Kthulus/ A Thing Long ForgottenBands like Evil Weed are a glimpse into our future, a bellwether for the health of Stoner/Doom as a whole. After the stellar releases from the likes of Faetooth, Sisteria, Godless Sons and Desert Wave, I’d say we’re in prime shape. If the upcoming EP from this band is half as good as Tenebris, then 2023 is off to a great start.
Read More Evil Leaf: TenebrisGodless Suns is very much a throwback to an era I still doubt actually existed, and by that I mean before mastering guru’s and executives fucked up the party. This release is very much of this era, not some romanticized 70’s nostalgia. They fit in with a bunch of other bands that have made waves over the past few years, especially Scorched Oak and Saint Karloff. Even more impressive is that they have the narrative ambitions of Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard, Sergeant Thunderhoof and Vitskar Suden. No pressure guys, but that’s some fairly lofty company.
Read More Godless SunsWhen the Italian band Desert Wave reached out and asked me to review their latest release, Deafening Silence, I was feeling a bit skeptical. They had the balls to write about their love for King Buffalo, but they were so damn nice (and somewhat flattering) that I broke Cardinal Rule #12 and responded with “yes.” I […]
Read More Desert Wave: Deafening SilenceSo, yeah. Thanks so much for dropping the best debut since Messa dropped Belfry or Spaceslug gave us Lemanis in 2016, take your pick. If you’re not careful, you’re gonna wind up on a successful tour with Frayle and the aforementioned Messa that makes so much money you’re gonna need an accountant. …
Read More An Open Letter to Faetooth*