Bandcamp Bonanza – March Madness 2018

March was the biggest month of the winter here on the west coast. Snowfall at record amounts for a single month dumped on top of record amounts of a lack of snow thru February. Weird year, but one thing remained and that is Bandcamp kept dumping down with torrential releases one after the other as it always does. Check out the latest bonanza picks and give us your feedback. Are we getting it right?

Mad John The Wise – Voyager

Took me a while to pull the trigger on this based on the price, but the more I listened the more hooked I became. An exquisite blend of progressive metal, traditional doom and hard rocking hooks. The sharp riffs build in intensity as the album plays. The production levels are crisp and clear and the artwork puts it over the top. This could very well be a sleeper album of the year.

Glory or Death Records – Bow To Your Masters Volume 1: Thin Lizzy

Tribute albums are hit and miss. Most the time if I want to hear the artist I listen to the artist’s original albums, but there is a time and a place for a good tribute. Until now there hasn’t been a heavy rock tribute to Thin Lizzy that I am familiar with. Volume 1 joins together 9 current heavy underground bands doing Lizzy covers of their choice and for the most part make them completely their own. I mean, who could imagine Goya singing a Thin Lizzy song? Take a listen and support the up and coming California label Glory or Death. This is really good.

Hunter And The Dirty Jacks – Chase the Moonlight

What a pleasant, soulful and bluesy album. Well written songs with exquisite guitar jamming, refreshing vocals, and heartfelt Southern California rock harmonies. For fans of old school Black Crowes, Neil Young, Blackberry Smoke, etc...

Inti Raymi – Manifestaciones – Vol. I

This is a perfect 'demonstration' of the South American prowess in the current heavy psychedelic rock arena. The language may not be native to me, but it speaks of groovy riffs, mind-melting blues, and surreal atmosphere that we all can and should understand.\

Lonely Kamel – Death’s Head Hawkmoth

Lonely Kamel have released one hell of a magnificent album, regardless of the album cover, which is ironically fitting. Combining an absolute crushing volume of riffs in line with High on Fire with a ballsy energy of Clutch and bluesy swagger of label mates Spidergawd, Deaths-Head Hawkmoth will melt your mind and your back porch light bulb. Turn this shit up and prepare for heavy rock metamorphosis.Favorite track: The Day I'm Gone.

Copache – Cucaracha

Copache rams you right where it counts with a hairy assault of tripped out riffs snarling with vivacious groove and psychedelic effect. I can't seem to get enough Cucaracha my friends. Forget about the Melvins, these Spaniards got their own brand of demented stoner doom.Favorite track: Signs of demise.

Bigelow Bighorns – Tales of the Horns

Don't take this band for granted. This release is growing on me and its likely due to the fact that the upbeat post-punk energy combines effortlessly with the high octane fuzz and the metallic grunge. Tales of the Horns is utterly phenomenal after several repeat listens.Favorite track: Fly On Your Wall.

Dirty Deville  - Come All Lunatics

Come All Lunatics is a dreary, progressive fuzz rock album both indierific and surfadelic. The low end bass is heavy enough to balance the mathematical shoe-gaze creating a trippy aura of delight. Don’t overlook this gem.

Aux - Era

Experimental to a degree, yet undeniably catchy in execution. Shoegaze, angst, atmosphere, and groove all make an appearance somewhere on this album. Like others have mentioned a more accessible The Mars Volta meets Colour Haze type sound. Dig it.

Fungus Hill – Cosmic Construction of Proxima B

Fungus Hill takes us on a conceptual journey through progressive stoner jams and wasted hippy blues. It takes a while to hit its full groove so buckle up, strap your helmet, and prepare for an all out assault of cosmic psychedelia.

-The Huntsman

Ripple Music Announces The "Nekromants of Mars" European Tour featuring Nekromant and Cities of Mars!

Ripple Music is thrilled to announce that Nekromant, the NWOBHM infused heavy rockers from Sweden, are joining forces with fellow Swedes, Cities of Mars, for a kick ass tour through Europe

The Nekromants of Mars Tour, finds two of Sweden’s hardest working bands tearing across the continent for a shared headline Euro tour in May 2018.  Nekromant and Cities of Mars both come from the riff-heavy Gothenburg area in Western Sweden and have crossed paths before. After enjoying a shared packed-house gig in Berlin together in October 2017 stars aligned even more into a shared tour. Cities of Mars bring their latest material from the critically acclaimed Temporal Rifts album (out on Argonauta Records). Nekromant will be shredding tunes from their likewise critically-hailed latest effort Snakes & Liars that brought them to the attention of Ripple Music for an upcoming album.

The bulk of the dates are set as below, but a few more gigs might still turn up from the fertile heavy underground of Europe.

Nekromant had this to say about the upcoming tour.  “We’re really happy to once again be playing with Cities of Mars! They’re great guys and a crushing live act, and we’re very thankful that they’ve invited us to join them on tour. This will be the longest set of dates we’ve done, so we hope we can keep it together and meet both new and old friends.”

May 10 Helsingborg, Sweden - Rebus

May 11 Potsdam, Germany - Archiv

May 12 Freiburg, Germany - White Rabbit

May 13 Utrecht, Netherlands – ACU

May 14 Antwerp, Belgium - Kid's Rhythm n' Blues Kaffee

May 15 Lyon, France – Blogg

May 16 Le Mans, France - Le Lezard

May 17 Paris, France - L'International

May 18 Basel, Switzerland – Hirscheneck

May 19 Weimar, Germany - Kasseturm

         

Get more on Nekromant here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkpUnrYVCac

www.facebook.com/Nekromantband

https://nekromant.bandcamp.com/album/snakes-liars

Instagram: @theswedishnekromant

Get more on Cities of Mars here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PReSCpODJO0

www.facebook.com/citiesofmars

http://citiesofmars.bandcamp.com/

Instagram: @citiesofmars

Thee Arthur Layne – HVY DRT Vol III & IV

Back again from the wilds of Chicago, Thee Arthur Layne, bring us four new tracks of their unique blend of psychedelic garage blues rock. I don't know if there are actually wilds of Chicago, but if there are then that is exactly where this band would come from. If you didn't know better you might swear that these guys are really a lost relic from the late 60's/early 70's, and the only thing that might put a little doubt in your mind is that they manage to put just enough of a modern twist on their music. I dig these guys big time.

Currently self-released by the band and available as digital downloads on Bandcamp, each volume here is a two song release, and they seem to focus on a particular style that these guys stomp around in. “HVY DRT Vol III” is definitely more in the psychedelic vein, and they manage to make some music that is downright catchy and, in the case of “Son of Samsara” almost poppy. The first tune, “Pick Two”, unwinds into a sinuous groove and then goes into a nice push and pull between a said groove and a full on psych hammer to the noggin. There's a really nice guitar solo that you could probably drop into any late 60's rock song and it would fit perfectly. “Son of Samsara”, as mentioned, is a poppy bit of rock with some wicked psych touches and just really hits the spot when you want something a little out there but not so heavy. Light some incense and put on your favorite bell bottoms and paisley shirt and let this one rip.

 

Volume IV gets rolling into some serious garage rock with “Bad Touch”. This one is not quite MC5 but moving in the right direction. I really enjoy that this band can put out these releases and show their different sides, yet if you burned all four volumes onto one CD for your listening pleasure, all of the songs would work together cohesively to let you hear what this band is all about. The second track on this release, “Moon Is High”, sounds like the James Gang and Rare Earth got together and decided they were going to do some serious funky rock. This song has a great groove and I don't how you could really sit still for this one if you saw the band playing live somewhere.

Head on over to Bandcamp and drop five bucks to pick up both of these releases and treat yo' self to some music that will make you feel better about the world. Music has the power to do that, you know. I think we forget that sometimes. It's a real good thing that there are bands like this to remind us that sometimes all you need is a good groove and some cold beer to help us shake our asses and just feel good for awhile.

-ODIN

The Xroadie Files

Nortt – Endeligt

Nortt – All Instruments

Andaegtigt dark angry violent sounds creeping up on you.  Dodsfald lost in the abyss of blackness of sounds and evil.  Lovsang Til Morket imagine being in a void of nothing ness then something weird and evil tries to sneak up on you to devour you.  Kisteglad dark and dreary sounds and weird noises with gothic like background vocals.  Fra Haeld  Til Intet plodding darkness coming for you and your very existence.  Eftermaele more violence and death moving slowly down the road to nothingness.  Afod lost in the blackness of space with no hope of help.  Gravrost your heart is pounding throat is dry and you are just waiting for death.  Stov For Vinden wind blowing weird sounds howling death and darkness all around.  Endeligt the end song drifting into black nothingness and total despair.

The Negative Bias -  Lamentation Of The Chaos Omega

IFS – Vocals, ST – Strings, Florian Musil – Drums, Thanatos – Guitar, Narcotic Empress – Guitar, Katharsis – Bass, Slavetrader – Drums

The Golden Key to A Pandemonium Kingdom sounds slowly building then a full on in your face death metal scream and pounding beat to rip your face off.  Journey Into The Defleshed Paradise evil sneaking up behind you with spoken word and melancholy guitar then like a punch in the back hard and deathly it rips into you slowly dragging you down.  Tormented By Endless Delusions a full on punch in the teeth violent aggression death metal song.  The Undisclosed Universe Of Atrocities slow melancholy guitar and bass with some added percussion that builds and just annihilates you.  Cryptic Echoes From Beyond Dimensions lost in darkness and void of space leaving you breathless and helpless and afraid.  And Darkness Should Be The End of Cosmic Faith ends this dark metal fest with an evil and destruction that just rips apart your very soul.

Chronic Xorn – For These Sins Who Must Die

Saptadip Chakrabarty – Vocals, Biswarup Bardhan – Guitar, Suvam Moitra – Guitar/Vocals, Soumyadeep Das – Bass, Dipayan Chakraborty – Drums

Doctrine Of Hate acoustic guitars weird sounds and a melancholy feel.  For These Sins Who Must Die has a very classical feel then blast beats and evil background sounds then the full force of death metal hell comes in and just runs you over.  Necropolis III fast beats chainsaw guitars and dark demonic vocals that just rip at your skin.  Justice By The Act Of Violence grinding guitars drum from the other side of speed man this guy is fast and death metal growls.  Vox Populi weird guitar sound pounding beats that make your heart skip a beat and more vocals from the pit of hell.  The Last Stand this song just throws you down and runs you over with its violent force.

Clamfight – III

Joel Harris – Guitar, Louis Koble – Bass, Andy martin – Guitar/Vocals, Sean McKee – Guitar

Whale Road strumming electric guitars pounding tribal like drums with a few twist and turns in the music from mellow to heavy back and forth.  Selkie strange weird guitar feedback that slowly builds to a stoner rock feel with searing lead guitar.  Echoes in Stone slow droning guitar that weaves its way to you with deep death metal style vocals and an almost heavy pink Floyd feel.  Eynhallow plodding bass work acoustic guitar melds its way in very melancholy.  History Of The Earls Of Orkney a slow beating of drums grinding slow guitars rumbling bass scorching leads and growling vocals.

Deinonychus – Ode To The Act Of Murder, Dystopia And Suicide

Marco Kahren – Guitar/Bass/Vocals, Steve Wolz – Drums, Markus Stock – Keyboards

Life Taker the song title says it all dark deep vocals and evil sounding music.  For This I Silence You demonic vocals grinding guitars and music that seems to spring forth from the underworld.  The Weak Have Taken The Earth grabs you and tries to saw your soul in have with its grinding riffs.  Buried Under The Frangipanis dark deep evil and sadistic intent in music.  Dead Horse melodic acoustic guitar which slowly turns into a gift of death metal destruction.  Dusk melancholic evil and sadistic music that just drags you away to another world.  There is No Eden slow grinding demonic satanic style of death metal.  Silhouette ends this death fest with a full on in your face blast of death metal.

-Xroadie

Lionize - Nuclear Soul

One of Maryland's finest treasures, Lionize, are back with a new album, and holy hell! They spare no punches whatsoever. Steeped in super heavy, groovy, neck-breaking, riff and Hammond-based rock with tongue-in-cheek, as well as critical lyrics to match. Nothing new as such, well apart from one little thing...'Nuclear Soul' surpasses anything Lionize has ever done before. And that's no small accomplishment!

Having dipped their toes in different kinds of genres, or styles, throughout the years Lionize have more and more honed in on simply playing their hearts out, and when they are as talented as they are, the end-result is breathtaking and then some. Just listen to opener ‘Darkest Timeline’ and if you’re not blown away by this skull crusher, I don’t know what to tell you. Setting the trend throughout the eleven tracks, this composition is a beast which guides the band in this excellent musical excursion. Funk and a heavy dose of Clutch walk hand in hand on ‘Face Of Mars’ as the guys brilliantly leads me through a head banging version of James Brown on stage. Yes, yours truly is going nuts in futile attempts to do some kind of metal-slam dancing-groove kind of thing. Brilliant! ‘Fire In Athena’ is different but amazing nonetheless. After an basically acoustic intro, Lionize kick into a Gary Moore blend of ‘Over The Hills’ and ‘Wild Frontier’. Don’t know if that’s intentional but adding the Celtic feel to their heavy ass-kicking approach works wonders. And that organ, man, beautiful! Full-on blast is the name of the game on ‘Power Grid’ where the guitar and organ run parallel taking turns riffing like demons. Aided by such a tight, nut busting rhythm section this is a head spinner which won’t stop spinning. Who’s complaining, though? Not me, that’s for sure!

Lionize slow things down on ‘Ain’t It A Shame’. Mournful, reminiscent and full of regret the guitar and organ goes through all the emotions there is when you been cheated and lied to. ‘Election Year’ weaves back and forth between  mid-tempo and rock modes, playing perfectly on the sentiments on display and to me it’s a kick up the rear end on any government and media, especially when it’s time to “elect” another puppet-on-a-string to lead a country. Spot on and great, indeed! Led-heavy and strong on the riffs ‘March Of The Clones’ shakes the foundations in this tale about today, the current situation of clones reigning supreme in a complete state of ignorance. Bluesy and sad, yet wonderful in all the mourning of people we’ve lost, ‘Let You Down’ even brings in touches of real, proper rhythm and blues which heightens this great song even further.

 

The quirky, funny and aptly titled ‘The Mad Scientist Of Sunshine’ with a mix of all kinds of styles, leads into the title track, ‘Nuclear Soul’. 70’s sounding in every way you look at it, the apocalyptic feel displayed in a slower tempo where an eerie organ guides us in this dark yet fantastic composition. Closer ‘Blindness To Danger’ knocks everything out of the park as Lionize hammer the nails in. This is the stuff I grew up on but in a fresh amazing take. If my body wasn’t already messed up from slamming around my house listening to this master piece, this song would do me in. And I wouldn’t be happier.

Lionize are one of those rare bands who goes from strength to strength with each album, and ‘Nuclear Soul’ is not an exception, quite the contrary! They have reached that point where they have found their own way, their own sound and they are sticking to it. And that’s how it should be. This new album, if anything, is proof of that. If you’ve never encountered these gentlemen before, ‘Nuclear Soul’ is the perfect place to start. Let Lionize mesmerize you and take you away on a fantastic journey!

-Swedebeast

A Ripple Conversation With Tom And Simon Of The Necromancers!

What have been your musical epiphany moments?

(Tom): It’s a bit hard to tell. Maybe the first time I heard the albums “Paranoid” of Black Sabbath or “The Wall” by Pink Floyd. The first time I heard The Devil's Blood was also very unique.

(Simon): The first time I heard a Deep Purple live record. I could not stop going up the sound during “Fireball”. It's was the perfect alliance between fineness and raw rock writing! Maybe also, the second time I saw Magma live, I was sitting in the second row. It was just amazing.

Talk to us about the song-writing process for you. What comes first, the idea? A riff? The lyrics? How does it all fall into place?

(SIMON) : In general, everything comes from a riff or a set of riffs that evoke a story, an atmosphere, a moment. We then work around this raw idea that came to mind at first and build the story we want for the song.

Where do you look for continuing inspiration? New ideas, new motivation?

(TOM) : Most of our current inspiration comes from books we read or movies we watch. It can also come from local mythology or history. I’m also interested in old occult literature from middle-age or high-fantasy books from last centuries for instance.

Where'd the band name come from?

(TOM) : Tolkien.

You have one chance, what movie are you going to write the soundtrack for?

(Tom) : A movie based on Lovecraft's universe. Please someone do this and ask us.

Tell us about playing live and the live experience for you and for your fans? 

(SIMON) : This is an entirely different aspect for us than composition and studio work. We approach it in a very different way. Our goal, during a live show, is to take the fans with us, in our stories. Seeing people reacting to a riff, a chorus or a solo is extremely satisfying and reassuring for us. This is a sign that we did our job well.

Tell us about the first song you ever wrote?

(TOM) : I think it was “Necromancers”. It’s basically a blues, man!

Who today, writes great songs? Who just kicks your ass? Why?

(TOM) : The last time I had the chance to see Yob in concert, they literally destroyed my mind. Their music is so powerful and inspired. They are above many current bands. In a different way, I really liked the last album of The Shrine “Rare Breed”. But it's very difficult, there are so many good bands today.

(SIMON) : It's indeed difficult. I do not listen to a lot of recent stuff. But to answer, the albums "Berlin" of Kadavar and “The Tower” of Motorpsycho really pleased and surprised me a lot.

Vinyl, CD, or digital? What's your format of choice?

(SIMON) : Audiotapes & Laserdiscs

Whiskey or beer?  And defend your choice.

(TOM) : Both of them because... Why to choose?

We, at the Ripple Effect, are constantly looking for new music. What's your home town, and when we get there, what's the best record store to lose ourselves in?

(TOM): We are currently based in Poitiers (West of France), but it changed quite often in the past years. So let's say, if you get here, go to PLEXUS RECORDS and LE TRANSAT. That’s where we go.

What's next for the band?

(TOM) : Going on tour and release a new album. 2018 will be a busy year, believe us!

Any final comments or thoughts you'd like to share with our readers, the waveriders?

What happens to us right now, happens because fans were there and supported us from the beginning! So thanks for everything & keep reading!

Uriah Heep Live At Knuckleheads March 15th, 2018

First a little back story, when I was 10 my cousin gave me Uriah Heep Wonderworld I wore that album out in just a few days then I bought the vinyl album Live 1973 and later the first 8 track I got for my car was The Magicians Birthday.  Uriah Heep was the band that started me on my long journey of loving music.  Which down the road I was a roadie and got a degree in sound engineering. Through all these years I have never had the chance to see the band live until now.  Gypsy started to show with its bombastic sound and awesome feeling of power and glory.  Look At Yourself could be considered one of the first prog speed songs ever and just rocked the house.  Shadows of Grief is a very classical oriented piece off of Look At Yourself and over the years I have watched many live dvds and have never heard them play this song so that was an excellent surprise.  Stealin is one song that everyone growing up in the seventies will recognize and sing along to as it brings back great memories.  The Law was a newer song off the 2014 Album outsider and shows that the band can produce songs that kick just as much ass as they did back in their prime.  Sunrise was awesome and it brought back many memories as it was the first song off of live 1973 that I have listened to many times over the years.  The Magicians Birthday (Long Version) this was extra special to me as before the tour started I was talking to Mick Box and had asked if either Magicians Birthday of Wonderworld could be played and the guys didn’t disappoint as each musician showed off their chops and rocked the house to the ground.  The Wizard next off of Demons and Wizards was the Wizard with its mellow acoustic guitar and great chorus vocals before the band kicks in at the end to a crescendo.  One Minute is a another great song off of the Outsider album and if given a chance would be a great radio hit with its excellent sing along vocals and catchy riffs.  Between Two Worlds is a song not played in a while and it just rocked the house with hands in the air and the entire crowd singing along.  July Morning from the very first not the crowd went crazy for this classic song that sounds just as good now as it did in the early 70s.  Lady in Black no concert of Uriah Heep would be complete without this classic acoustic guitar sing along song that has so much emotion it’s hard to contain.  Easy Livin ended the show with its awesome riffs pounding rhythms and sing along vocals. I have to say after 40 years of concerts this may have been the best concert I have ever seen, Bernie sounds just as good as when he joined the band, Mick rocked the house and I have never seen anyone that seems to enjoy themselves more on stage.  Phil played the keyboards with such power and majesty and Russel pounded the skins at such a pace I don’t know how he does it but he just plain kicked ass and David held down the groove with amazing power and grace and I would say him and Russell have to be one of the best rhythm sections around today.  After the show I had the pleasure of going backstage and meeting the band along with getting a guitar signed what an amazing group of guys and a must see show if they come to your area.

 

-Xroadie

            
*Pictures by my lovely wife Kim

NEW SIGNINGS TO THE CTR ROSTER AND WOLFTOOTH PREORDERS COMING UP SOON!!!

PLEASE WELCOME BORRACHO AND HASHTEROID TO THE CURSED TONGUE RECORDS FAMILY AND ROSTER OF FANTASTIC BANDS FROM THE UNDERGROUND OF INDEPENDENT HEAVY MUSIC.

2018 sees the Borracho's 2011 debut album fully remastered and reissued on vinyl via Cursed Tongue Records. Borracho was one of the bands to put stoner and desert rock back on the map and though the band might be seasoned the three gringos behind the stearing wheel are far from done. Quite opposite they seem to age in style and class, remaining everso evident and vibrant. Only a few things in life are for certain; one of them is that Borracho came to play heavy-AF riffs, rock-out and have a good time - and they never left!

CTR-008: Borracho - 'Splitting Sky' 2018 remastered re-issue

**Official release date: May 2018**

Pre-orders start in April.

LISTEN TO 'SPLITTING SKY' ON BANDCAMP

With Hashteroid we feel that the Cursed Tongue Records roster has been reinforced with some of the illest and hardest hitting punky psych stoner rock this side of the Universe. This is sure to please fans of anything energetic, heavy and ripping. Fans of Mutoid Man will find plenty to dig here. And if you ever wondered how Black Sabbath would sound when played at 78 RPM - plonder no more. Hashteroid has you covered with the energy and metallic drive of Kvelertak and the vocals of Fu Manchu/At The Drive-In paired with a heady dose of thrashy stoner riffery.

CTR-009: HASHTEROID - 'Hashteroid' debut full length album

**Official release date: mid June 2018**

Pre-orders start in May

STREAM EXCLUSIVE SINGLE "GREEN CARAMEL" ON THE OBELISK

LISTEN TO 'RESPECT THE DEPTHS' EP ON BANDCAMP

Some bands need a whole career to make an impression. Wolftooth only needed three tracks to impress on an epic scale and after listening to their EP we just instantly knew that this band are going places. So it was a natural thing to include Wolftooth into the Cursed Tongue Records family of great bands as we feel the music the band purveys is an extension of our love for metal and rock.

Wolftooth hits hard with a unique blend of stoner, 90's alternative rock, hintes of 80's glory and some goddamned heavy riffs that makes this band worth your full attention. So lookout cause Wolftooth is on a mission to bring the "Power of the Riff" to the masses.

CTR-007: Wolftooth - 'Wolftooth' debut full length album

**Official release date: April 20th, 2018**

Pre-orders start March 23rd, 6PM CET:

http://cursedtonguerecords.bigcartel.com/

LISTEN TO WOLFTOOTH ON BANDCAMP

Parliament – Live P Funk Earth Tour

I was walking home from school when I saw a very unusual object lying on the side of the road. It was a record album from a band that I had never heard of before. The thing that was even more stunning to me was that someone would leave a record, any record, by the side of the road. I have always treated books and records with the utmost care and respect and I just couldn't imagine how this had happened. The cover was intriguing and I decided that I had to take this home, and if the record itself wasn't all scratched and ruined, I had to listen to it.

The record was Parliament's live classic from 1977. My 14 year old lily white suburban life had been rocked a few months earlier when I heard Richard Pryor's “Bicentennial N****r”, and now this one made it clear to me that I was missing out on something. Listening to both of these albums and discovering that there was a whole world out there that I naively knew nothing about was a very good thing. But it was also a shock to the system. Pryor spoke of experiences that I never imagined, he made me laugh but also think about society, and made me realize that things were not the same for everyone. Hey, I said I was naive.

Parliament was the musical equivalent of Richard Pryor. There was stuff going on in this music that I had never heard before. Dirty limericks, lyrics substituting “funk” for that other “f” word, songs about funky extraterrestrials coming down to earth in the mothership to teach us all how to groove, this music had it all for me. I was already a lover of music at this point in my life, and this just blew the doors open to a whole new world of music. I had never experienced funk before and man, what an introduction this was.

The album itself was recorded over two nights in January of 1977 and captures what a potent band they were at that time. Some songs are really not much more than George Clinton singing/speaking over a groove, but man what a groove. The audience sounds like they are all having the time of their lives and its not hard to hear why. The band just clicks and there are some monstrous extended jams with both the vocalists and the instrumentalists showing off their chops. Even listening to this today, more than 40 years later (that just can't be possible!) this is music that is fun and funky, freaky and psychedelic, and just an outright good time. I have somehow never done this, but I bet if you put this on at a party the mood would change instantly for the better.

So thank you George Clinton for introducing this naive white boy to the much wider world of funky aliens, one nation under a groove, and the awesome power of a fully operational mothership. On a more serious note, thank you also for opening my eyes and my mind to the fact that people of different races did not have things the same. I did not know many people of color at the time I discovered this album, but it gave me a bridge that allowed me to connect with people who loved a good groove regardless of what they looked like. Finding the funk made me a better person, a more understanding person, a more compassionate person. All because of an album I found by the side of the road.

-ODIN

The Xroadie Files

Anguish – Magna Est Vis Suignah

J. Dee – Vocals/Bass, David – Guitar, Linus – Guitar, Rasmus Drums

Blessed be The Beast evil sounds and growls that meld into a dark heavy metal riff that moves its way slowly to devour you.  Magna Est Vis Suignah more slow droning heavy riffs like old Sabbath and stoner rock that is like a steamroller stuck in low trying to run you over.  Of The Once Ravenous traveling thru time and space and not sure where you are just drifting along with the heavy beat and dark death vocals.  Requiescat In Pace continues the death /stoner onslaught of slow moving riffs with lots of dark intent.  Elysian Fields of Fire being slowly let down into a pit of fire and its consuming your very soul.  Our Daughters Banner walking down a dark and lonely road with no end in sight and shadows moving all around you.   

The Cops – First Offense

Tony Fulco, Jeff Smith, Geo White, Philip Smaller, Brandon Barger, Halston Luna, Casey Kemp

Homicide fast heavy punk beats with some melody and yelling vocals get ready to bounce around.  Life On The Beat take a ride back to the time when punk was king of the mtv airwaves.  Street Hooker Love the pit moves and moshes and bounces to this melodic punk song.  Police Brutality more melodic power pop punk rock to just jam along with.  Nightstick fast heavy melodic power punk with sing along vocals.  Paraphernalia a slower heavy beat to bop along with and slam into the pit.  Repeat Offender the pit forms and people slam into each other as this song moves along.  Downtown reminds me of The Clash meets the Sex Pistols.  Hot Pursuit heavy punk guitar riffs sing along vocals and a catchy beat.  Protect And Serve fast and faster as the mosh pit goes into a frenzy.  Riot Tonight a rockabilly meets punk song with lots of sing along vocals.

Corrosion of Conformity – No Cross No Crown

Pepper Keenan – Vocals/Guitar, Woodroe Weatherman -  Guitar, Mike dean- Bass/Vocals,

Reed Mullin – Drums/Vocals

Noves Deus has the sound of a heart beat and heavy slow Sabbath style guitar riffs and eerie sounds along with searing leads it’s an intro into.  The Luddite continues the great heavy riff and builds into a complete song with yelling style vocals.  Cast The First Stone has one of those riffs that would be great to just jam down the road to while. driving.  No Cross slow steady Bass and guitar with some strange sounds is the intro into.  Wolf Named Crow which has some screaming guitar leads and a great head banging riff and great drums.  Little Man get ready to just kick back and jam to this fine tune.  Matre’s Diem is a nice mellow acoustic piece.  Forgive Me a fist pumping head banging sing along metal /stoner song.  Nothing Left To Say is a slower southern/cajun style with some excellent melodies and that moves back and forth from heavy to mellow close your eyes and just jam away.  Sacred Isolation eerie sounds and a piano/guitar slowly build.  Old Disaster is a Sabbath style of riff with lots of great musicianship and emotion.  E.L.M. excellent twin leads great riffs and a vocal that easy to sing along with get ready to rumble.  No Cross No Crown weird sounds in the distant then a slow melodic melancholy riff /vocals.  A Quest To Believe (A Call To The Void) a heavy driving rhythm slow and steady with a grinding riff.  Son And Daughter weird guitar spoken word then a extremely heavy beat that just drives its way thru your very soul.

Mangoo -  The Heat

Richard Dahllund – Guitar/Vocals, Mathias Akerlund – Guitar, Igor Del Toro – Bass,

Teemu  Pulkinnen – Drums, Niklas Bjorklund- Keyboards

Relief an excellent metal riff great rhythm section and soaring vocals great way to start out this album.  Get Away has an excellent melodic beat that just takes you away to a different time and place.  Beyond The Sky is a slow steady riff that is Sabbath in style with lots of emotion.  Monolith has a rockabilly style of riff and beat to move and groove along with.  One Day some excellent guitar then the band kicks in and takes you down a strange trip but with a head banging sound.  Deification is a great fist pumping head thrashing song that will have you tired by the end.  Tiembla awesome drumming bass pounding guitar riffing sing along metal song.  Stumbling Man, a very melodic psychedelic style of song that takes you back to the 70s.  The Heat builds slowly with strange sounds then moves back and forth from heavy to melodic with some soaring leads.  Grey Belly get ready to take a trip back to the late 60s early 70s of psychedelic rock and some awesome guitar leads.  Party All the Time an excellent metal version of the Eddie Murphy hit song. 

Mr. Plow – Maintain Radio Silence

Justin Waggoner – Guitar/Vocals, Jeremy Stone – Guitar/Vocals, Greg Green – Bass,

Cory Cousins - Drums

Sigil has a slow stoner style of riff with a very catchy melodic feel and some excellent psychedelic vocals.  Samizdat is more of a mid-tempo heavy rock song with lots of pounding drums and rumbling bass.  Shaolin Cowboy get ready to rock and jam away with this riffing song.  Matchstick fist pumping heavy riffing with feedback and lots of emotion.  Memento will have you playing air guitar and singing along to a great stoner rock song.  Johnny Gentle has some excellent bass that melds its way thru the song with great drumming and very emotional guitars.  Million Bucks is a fist pumping metal riff that will also have your feet moving and head banging.  Maintain Radio Silence some great lead guitar that just pierces right thru you and takes you on a trip with the rest of the instruments.  Spark Arrester has an almost punk thrash feel to the music mixed with stoner rock.  Hammer Smash Face is an excellent psychedelic riffing song.  Paxton feedback riffing guitars screaming leads with great drums and pounding bass get ready to rock out.  Southbound more excellent emotion lead guitar with a stoner meets southern rock style and feel.  

-Xroadie

Marillion From A Swedebeast's Point Of View

Marillion - This Strange Engine

By the time Marillion released ‘This Strange Engine’ I had stepped away from them completely. Sure, I saw ads here and there for the album but sadly my interest in these amazing guys was gone. It probably took 8 long years before I listened to it and duly kicked myself – again – for my stupidity, because it is really good. It might not hit the heights of other Marillion albums, but it is very good nonetheless. And the song ‘Estonia’ alone is worth it’s weight in gold, but more on that later. We all change through the years, whether we like it or not, so who knows what my reaction to ‘This Strange Engine’ would have been back then if I had given it a shot. Of course, we will never know, however I really like this wax a lot nowadays. And that’s what matters, right?

There’s a big acoustic guitar influence on opener ‘Man Of A Thousand Faces’ helping the song to keep a dreamy vibe to it. You know, it feels lofty and soaring and kind of relaxing. Backed smoothly by Messieurs Kelly, Trewavas and Mosley, Rothery’s acoustical prowess is beautiful, while Hogarth guides us through the time of Man, basically. He shows there’s a common thread that runs through centuries and cultures which really doesn’t differ, and subsequently hasn’t changed much through the years. ‘One Fine Day’ is slightly more electric in approach but it is sad and mournful dealing with regret and missed opportunities due to wishing your life away. Instead of jumping on a chance, you let everything slip by and suddenly it’s too late to do anything. ‘Eighty Days’ is a more upbeat composition. It is still heavy on the acoustic guitar but being a homage to the band’s supporters who travels far and wide under all kinds of circumstances to attend their shows. Not only that though, it speaks of the dullness of being on the road, how mind-numbing it can be. But come stage time seeing all those happy, excited faces in the crowd blows away every ounce of tediousness. ‘Estonia’ is one of the most powerful and emotional songs I’ve heard from any band ever. It’s a haunting, yet beautiful song composed in memory of the 852 passengers who tragically perished when the ferry, MS Estonia, sank in the Baltic Sea on route from Tallinn, Estonia, to Stockholm Sweden, September 28th 1994. The interaction between especially Rothery and Kelly brings out the nautical aspects amazingly well. This adds to the heart-break you feel throughout as Hogarth churns out the horrors the passengers must have felt. At the same time it feels like the band offers some kind of solace because these people will never be forgotten.

Very sparse musically, ‘Memory Of Water’ is sombre and lamenting. It could be about someone who is about to leave his/hers earthly existence reflecting back on what has been, if things back home are still the same or if changes has occurred. It could also be about mankind and what has happened to it through the years. Regardless, this is a beautiful bleak song. Released back in 1997, the song ‘An Accidental Man’ couldn’t be more poignant and on point. The heaviest song on ‘This Strange Engine’, it builds up gradually which adds to the anger felt in the lyrics. And speaking of which, the words penned are so up-to-date dealing with people who are duped and shaped into thinking and acting a certain way. The frustration and anger comes out as the protagonist realizes what he’s been through, but by then it’s all too late. Call it sheep-mentality, if you will, but this joint Hogarth/Helmer effort could be taken straight from 2018, where governments and media wants to shape everyone into robots basically. You can’t have a Marillion album without a curveball or an odd one out, so to speak. ‘Hope For The Future’ is definitely this coming on strong with a blend of calypso, rock and a ton of fun! It probably confused supporters upon it’s release but works perfectly in breaking the mold, allowing everyone involved a moment to breathe, recuperate and have fun. The fantastic title track ends this affair and it covers all the emotions and feelings there is during the 30:24 it lasts. Written about giving up on your dreams to provide for and protect your young family, it is intertwined with a child’s memory of seeing your parent doing this. Almost 4 minutes in the music kicks in with a heavy riff from Rothery and the band cuts corners before slowing down again, hence the great display of emotions and feelings. The long play time is only available on the European version is a trick as it actual ends at 15.34, but make it through 15 minutes of silence and you’ll be treated to a surprise. I won’t tell you what it is but, dear wave rider, if you’re a Marillion supporter you’ll love it.

‘This Strange Engine’ was a first for the band. The ties with EMI had been cut and in came Castle, which probably wasn’t the wisest move at first. At least not in a mainstream point of view. Creatively it was a deft move because it is so easy to hear the freedom in the music. A big part of the followers were positive and it sold decently. In hindsight it also sowed the seeds to the extremely tight knit relationship Marillion formed with their supporters which has been so helpful on future adventures. To tie back to an earlier statement, I don’t know how I would have reacted to this release had I listened to it back then. All I know is I really like it, probably a lot more than I would have back in 1997.

-Swedebeast

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY Announces Latin American Headlining Dates + Second Leg Of North American Tour With Black Label Society And Eyehategod

[Photo by Dean Karr]

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY is pleased to announce a six-date Latin American tour this May. The trek, slated to run from May 12th to May 19th, includes performances in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico. The band will then perform several European festival dates in June before returning to North America to kick off the second leg of their tour supporting Black Label Society this summer. Set to commence July 14th in Cadott, Wisconsin, the tour will make its way through nearly two dozen cities, coming to a close on August 11th in Sayreville, New Jersey. Additional support will again be provided by Eyehategod. See all confirmed dates below.

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY continues to tour in support of their critically lauded No Cross No Crown full-length, released in January 12th via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. Captured in North Carolina with longtime producer John Custer, the record marks the first studio recording with vocalist/guitarist Pepper Keenan in over a decade and, earning the #67 spot on the Billboard Top 200 Chart, #12 on the Billboard Top Current Albums Chart, and #3 on the Top Hard Music Albums Chart upon its first week of release, is the highest charting album of the band's career!

No Cross No Crown is available on CD, digital, vinyl, and cassette formats. Various order bundles are available at nuclearblast.com/coc-nocrossnocrown.

Watch the band's video for "The Luddite" as well as their animated clip for "Wolf Named Crow" HERE.

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY:

5/12/2018 Vic Club - Sao Paulo, BR

5/13/2018 Teatro Odisseia - Rio De Janeiro, BR

5/15/2018 Uniclub - Buenos Aires, AR

5/16/2018 Blondie - Santiago, CL

5/18/2018 Escena - Monterrey, MX

5/19/2018 Circo Volador - Mexico, MX

End Tour

6/09/2018 Download - Donnington Park, UK

6/18/2018 Orion - Rome, IT w/ Converge

6/19/2018 VAZ Hafen - Innsbruck, AU w/ Converge

6/20/2018 La Belle Electrique - Grenoble, FR

6/22/2018 Hellfest - Clisson, FR

6/23/2018 Copenhell - København, DK

6/24/2018 Graspop - Dessel, BE

w/ Black Label Society, Eyehategod:

7/14/2018 Cadott Rock Fest - Cadott, WI

7/15/2018 Inkcarceration Music Festival - Mansfield, OH

7/16/2018 Monarch Music Hall - Peoria, IA *

7/17/2018 The Forge - Joliet, IL *

7/18/2018 20 Monroe Live - Grand Rapids, MI

7/20/2018 Bourbon Theatre - Lincoln, NE

7/21/2018 Diamond Ballroom - Oklahoma City, OK

7/22/2018 Cotillion Ballroom - Wichita, KS

7/23/2018 The District - Sioux Falls, SD

7/25/2018 The Clyde Theatre - Wayne, IN

7/27/2018 Si Hall At The Fairgrounds - Syracuse, NY

7/28/2018 Impact Music Festival - Bangor, ME

7/29/2018 The Webster - Hartford, CT*

7/30/2018 The Queen - Wilmington, DE

8/01/2018 The Mill & Mine - Knoxville, TN

8/02/2018 The Fillmore Charlotte - Charlotte, NC

8/03/2018 Phase 2 - Lynchburg, VA

8/05/2018 The Norva - Norfolk, VA

8/07/2018 Rebel - Toronto, ON

8/08/2018 Metlus - Montreal, QC

8/09/2018 Sherman Theater - Stroudsburg, PA

8/10/2018 Paramount - Huntington, NY

8/11/2018 Starland Ballroom - Sayreville, NJ

* No Eyehategod

"The record is filled with the kind of Sabbath meets Black Flag meets Lynyrd Skynyrd jams that were so infectious and wildly influential back when Bill Clinton seduced interns...COC doesn't try to change direction but instead revisits the approach that made the Keenan-fronted version so successful: powerful hooks, instrumental asides that will remind you of Sabbath's 'Planet Caravan' and a rich use of textures and dynamics..." - Decibel

"...burly, surly and southern-fried - basically, everything fans could hope for." - Revolver

"... these motherfuckers have been at it forever, and they've just made their best album in twenty years." - Team Rock

"...a release that proves that the gentlemen are back on their game and ready to rumble." - Blabbermoutth

"...powerful and unstoppable as an avalanche." - Kerrang!

"...so good it should really be toured in full, played from top to bottom as a complete movement of music." - PureGrainAudio

"...undoubtedly one of finest releases in CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's storied career." - Pop Matters

"...where 35-plus years from getting started, most artists still active have long since slid into a mediocrity of form in playing to what's expected of them, COC here sound reinvigorated and offer a reminder to all willing to hear it of a big part of what made them who they are in the first place." - The Obelisk

"... a rare example of a classic line-up coming back to make music and killing it in the process." - Sputnik Music

http://www.coc.com

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http://www.twitter.com/coccabal

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