• Music

    Allysen Callery & Mother Bear – Witch’s Hand

    This massively heavy release by Allysen Callery collaborating with doom monsters Mother Bear is appropriate for Halloween.  From the release’s Bandcamp site: “”Creep here with me, keep it close and you might see…the little things that glow…and they all have teeth…” Something spooky this way comes! Allysen Callery has joined supernatural forces with Germany’s Doom metal masters Mother Bear , for a delightfully dark offering presented by Gruselthon, sub label of Cosirecords.” If you can imagine Shirley Collins with a slight stoner vibe, you’re coming close to the power of this release.

  • Music

    Dead Gallery – Dead Man’s Theme (Full Album)

    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.

  • Music

    Doc Wör Mirran – Second Try

    Doc Wör Mirran got its start as a multi-disciplinary project out of Nürnberg, Germany in around 1985, and for nearly 40 years, the band have continued to produce strange, intriguing avant-garde rock and experimental music.  From their Bandcamp site: “Contrary to most compilations which compile the greatest hits of an artist, “Second Try” is a compilation that highlights the drumming talents of DWM’s drummer Stefan Schweiger. He compiled, edited and partially remixed this album himself of his favourite tracks, and added new sounds and samples to make some of the tracks quite different from the “normal versions”. Stefan also contributed…

  • Music

    Various Artists – Weedian: Trip To Germany

    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.

  • Music

    Various Artists – Doomed & Stoned in Chile

    Doomed & Stoned is a series of compilations covering the best of doom metal and stoner rock all over the world.  This comp covers the scene in Chile, which is surprising rich.  There are 99 tracks of surprising variety, including one that left me mystified: It’s a track by Heraldica de Mandrake and perhaps the only way to describe it is Gregorian doom.  It’s actually quite pleasant.

  • Music

    The Lords Of Altamont- Midnight to 666

    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…

  • Music

    Domkraft – Seeds

    Today seems to be an important day, at least as far as I can read.  It’s apparently a pot holiday, and as such, though I can’t stand the smell of the stuff, I figure posting a sludgy piece of metal would be appropriate.  The Swedish band Domkraft roar with one of the louder pieces of music I’ve heard in some time.  This is heavy on the level of early Black Sabbath with a fuller guitar sound (reminding me of a very much slowed down Metallica or St. Vitus), more distant vocals, and pretty good guitar work.  I’m not much into…

  • Music

    JARS (ДЖРС) – III

    In parts sounding like the demos of an early Killing Joke album drifting almost into doom and death-metal territory, JARS (ДЖРС) are atypical for what people thing of as stoner rock.  They are comfortable playing in different styles, and their raw sound actually benefits the music tremendously. Brutal music, but very well-done.

  • Music

    Heckel & Jeckel – This War

    Heckel and Jeckel have a couple of things going for them.  First, I’m old enough to remember the rather funny cartoon bearing their name.  Second, I really like early Black Sabbath, Big Black, and some of the better stoner rock bands coming down the line these days.  These guys do well making something powerful by blending these elements together.  I’m impressed. The link on Heckel and Jeckel’s name leads to Pogo Records’ Bandcamp site.  The label releases some creative music.  Give them a good exploring.