Latest Reviews - September 19, 2017
Blind Horse
(Patagonia)
2017
Staff Rating: Turn this to 6.1 of 11
Genre: Psychedelic rock, Blues
Sounds Like: Wolfmother, Bullet Boys, Bad Wizard
How does something go from utter brilliance to a spiral downward into the shitter? It is a phenomena we cannot quite figure out with Blind Horse’s sophomore release
Patagonia. In a nutshell, the album starts off with perhaps one of our favorite tracks of the year in "Patagonia". A fif...
Full Review and Video Clip
Great Rift
(Voodoo Woodland)
2017
Staff Rating: Crank this to 8.8 of 11
Genre: Heavy rock
Sounds Like: Arbouretum, Freedom Hawk
Great Rift is a foursome from Austria that has just released a very impressive there song EP here. Their music infuses elements of classic heavy rock into a riff-heavy stoner album. These three tunes possess a foundation of blues rock that are layered with moments of stoner, classic, and even psyche...
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Drude
(ST)
2017
Staff Rating: Crank this to 10.1 of 11
| Editor's Pick
Genre: Sludge, Progressive metal
Sounds Like: ISIS, Cult of Luna, The Ocean
The three piece band from Indianapolis, Indiana have delivered a downright inspiring self-titled debut that is certainly in the running for one of our top albums of 2017. So inspiring that it has prompted a new review format that we are excited to unveil. Peeling back the onion to expose this very i...
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Norea
(ST)
2017
Staff Rating: Turn this to 5.1 of 11
Genre: Hard rock, Grunge
Sounds Like: Lo-Pan, Baroness
The debut release from Netherlands-based foursome Norea is basically a middle of the road heavy rock album with an alluring album cover. What we have here is five tracks of mid-tempo rock with elements of stoner and grunge. We found the album to be rather tame and does not take many chances, every s...
Full Review and Video Clip
Before and After Science
(Relics and Cycles)
2017
Staff Rating: Crank this to 9.8 of 11
| Editor's Pick
Genre: Post rock
Sounds Like: Russian Circles, Caspian, My Sleeping Karma
Post-rock is such an exploratory style of music that often takes the listener to another world. It allows the right (creative) side of the brain to take over and unleash ones inner imaginative thoughts.
Relics and Cycles, the first full length from Before and After Science is the latest Pos...
Full Review and Video Clip
White Swan
(The White)
2017
Staff Rating: Crank this to 8.5 of 11
Genre: Sludge rock, Doom
Sounds Like: Windhand, Acid King, Kylesa
Ontario sludge outfit The White Swan has just graced us with a new three song EP of majestic and atmospheric doom. Upon first listen, they conjure up thoughts of Acid King or Windhand, as do many sludge bands with female vocalists. To be fair, The White Swan is so much more than your typical ho-hum ...
Full Review and Video Clip
Among The Sleep
(Casket)
2017
Staff Rating: Crank this to 8.2 of 11
Genre: Progressive rock, Post rock
Sounds Like: Ozric Tentacles, Animals As Leaders
2017 has been somewhat of a lackluster year for strong instrumental albums. Our yearning to find the next
Mother Engine (see our review scoring 10 out of 11) has been falling a bit flat. Our sentiments perked up a ...
Full Review and Video Clip
Sunstone
(Domus Brutalis)
2017
Staff Rating: Crank this to 9.3 of 11
| Editor's Pick
Genre: Doom
Sounds Like: Pallbearer, YOB
One key element to developing an impressive doom album is the continuity or cohesiveness it brings to formulate a set of emotions from the listener. We have found that diversity or stream of consciousness within doom does not work. Second and perhaps most important is believing the pain and anguish ...
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The Cold Stares
(Head Bent)
2017
Staff Rating: Crank this to 8.5 of 11
Genre: Rock
Sounds Like: Rival Sons, Lo-Pan
It seems two-man bands are starting to become the norm for rock bands lately, and if the formula works why the hell not. The duo’s latest record
Head Bent, released through Small Stone Records is straight-shooting heavy rock with touches of blues and classic rock. Consisting of Chris ...
Full Review and Video Clip
Humanotone
(ST)
2017
Staff Rating: Crank this to 9.3 of 11
Genre: Stoner rock, Metal
Sounds Like: Astronoid, Church of Misery, Alcest
One man band? Red flags go off in our head. Will the music sound forced or lack texture? Will it bore us after a few rotations? Hell no! Jorge Cisternasia is one talented motherfucker. His vision is one that speaks to us balancing the heavy with the majestic. The self-titled debut from the Chilean m...
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