Stoner rock is a genre that always surprises me (in a good way, mind you). Dead Gallery, for example, are a heavy stoner/psychedelic blues band out of Austria, and the music they make reminds me of really old rare hard rock albums you would find in collector fairs (think of bands like Black Widow as an example).
Musically, the guitar playing is great, the vocals are raw and loud, and the production is surprisingly clean without sacrificing the power of the tracks.
Though I’m not much of a metal guy, I have grown fond of things like desert rock, stoner rock, drone metal and other variants. The online label Weedian has been releasing free (or pay-what-you-like) compilations of bands in local scenes, and this one covers Germany in 62 tracks. Most of these bands are surprisingly good, and those of you into things like Saint Vitus or Black Sabbath will find plenty to enjoy in this album.
From the ashes of local garage rock legends The Bomboras sprang, in something like a phoenix-like fashion, The Lords Of Altamont. This particular album has been reissued by the Italian record label Heavy Psych Sounds, and as considered to be a rarity for garage rock music collectors. It was first pressed by the French record label Fargo Records, but the band hype was so strong at the time that the record sold out very quickly, and it remained out of print until now.
The mix of biker rock, psychedelic rock and B-movie exploitation movie imagery made them a big hit during the 1990s, and you can hear these and more influences on this album. It helps that members of the band played for the MC5, The Cramps, and other legendary troupes.
I had the privilege of witnessing their first performance at the venerable club my brother was promoting out of at the time called The Garage. From literally the first drumbeat, the music was so loud and heavy that nothing in Los Angeles at the time could compare to these guys.
The members are still active, as far as I know, and are still making some of the best garage rock around. This long-overdue release will be a welcome addition to your collection.