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.
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