Some Stuff I've Been Enjoying...

 

HEAVY HIPPIES

First:

TURTLE SKULL: BEING HERE

Turtle Skull are some heavy hippies from Sydney, Australia.  I absolutely loved their 2018 and 2020 albums, and their latest has been in my music rotation since its release in late May.  Here are two of my favorites:

Turtle Skull are:

Julian Frese (bass)

Ally Gradon (vocals, Keyboards)

Charlie Gradon (vocals, drums)

Dean McLeod (vocals, guitars)

Next....

KADAVAR: I JUST WANT TO BE A SOUND

When Kadavar first arrived on the rock scene, they were considered to be a very heavy, doom-influenced band.  They have evolved with every album, and even collaborated with Elder (Nick seems to be a huge fan of Kadavar) on a surprising album, completely different from what you'd expect from either band.  Four years later and Kadavar continues to be full of surprises.  While not overtly heavy, I think the album easily falls into the "heavy hippies" category.  As with so many great albums, this one did not instantly appeal to me but wormed its way into my brain due to its expert songwriting.  Listen for yourself, hopefully more than once so you too can be seduced by these legendary musicians.  Here are a couple of my favorites:

Kadavar are German rock legends.  They are:

Christoph "Lupus" Lindemann (guitars, vocals)

Christoph "Tiger" Bartelt (drums)

Simon "Dragon" Bouteloup (bass)

Jascha Kreft (guitars, keyboards)

 

FROGLORD: METAMORPHOSIS

Bristol, UK's Froglord Released their new album last week, and I haven't been able to stop playing it.

I've referred to Froglord's sound in the past as "groovy doom", but that doesn't quite describe the diversity they manage to provide, while still maintaining a distinctive sound.  

Here's one that will be a lot of peoples' favorite.  Lots of volume is your friend here.  When the harmonica kicks in is the exact moment I was hooked:

Here's another one:

And if you didn't catch their cover of Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion" that I posted a couple of weeks ago, you can check it out here.

Froglord are:

Vocals: Benjamin 'Froglord' Oak
Guitar: Jordan 'Caudata' Cross
Bass: Luke 'Bufo' Clemenger
Drums: Chris 'Anura' Seldon

I rate this album a ten out of ten.

If you like it too, check out their entire catalog here, and spread the word so that they'll get the recognition they deserve and be able to come play in Boston some day.

Kerry King appears at Wrestlemania 41

 

PHOTO COURTESY OF WWE.COM

Slayer's Kerry King appears at Wrestlemania 41.

Last night in Las Vegas during Wrestlemania 41, Kerry King of Slayer, solo'd over the entrance music of WWE superstar Damien Priest. Social media was abuzz about a possible Slayer appearance during night one of Wrestlemani 41. Wrestlemania is a two night extravaganza of pro wrestling action. Damien Priest, a former world champion is also a heavy metal fan. You can clearly see that Priest was in his glory as he threw up the horns while King did his signature riffs and squeals. Priest would lose in night two's SIN CITY STREET FIGHT match against Drew McIntyre. I must mention that Living Color also appeared the previous night playing their hit Cult of Personality during WWE superstar CM Punk's entrance. WWE has embraced heavy metal over the years especially in their promo packages and entrance music. Great to see this during the most watched wrestling event of the year.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WWE.COM

PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS:

DEATH HILARIOUS

Two years after releasing one of my favorite albums of 2023, England's Pigsx7 are back with another heavy masterpiece.  While they don't seem to take themselves too seriously, they clearly put a lot of thought and effort into what they do.  Their music sounds like nobody else's, with a love for the lower frequencies, and half-tone progressions.  The guitar playing is brilliant, and the vocals are powerful and catchy.  Definitely made for a stereo whose knob goes to eleven.

Every song on this album is worth your while if you like heavy rock and crave something different.  Surely this will make an awful lot of top ten lists at the end of the year.

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs are:

 

Matthew Baty – lead vocals 

Sam Grant – guitar 

Adam Ian Sykes – lead guitar 

John-Michael Joseph Hedley – bass 

Ewan Mackenzie – drums

Riki Rachtman takes New Bedford By Storm during "Record Store Day" Week!

Riki Rachtman takes New Bedford By Storm during "Record Store Day" Week!

New Bedford, Mass was the place to be this past week. Headbanger's Ball Host Riki Rachtman made several appearances in the city during a three day stint. On Thursday, April 10th, Rachtman and Ace Von Johnson (Faster Pussycat/LA GUNS) made an appearance at The Dipper Cafe. The Dipper has gained acclaim for their great bar style pizza in the area. It's a real cool hang with rocker/biker style adornment. Riki and Ace were guest pizza chefs for the night.

Courtesy of Purchase St. Records Instagram

On Friday, April 11th, at Play Arcade, Riki and Ace put on a live set opening for some great local acts including Purchase St. Records Owner, Roger Chouinard's own band ALL SINNERS. Riki who admitted during the buildup for this show that he was just learning how to play guitar & bass was excited and nervous about the performance. From all who attended, Ace and Riki put on a great set that included hits from bands like Social Distortion and Zodiac Mindwarp. Roger and All Sinners Vocalist Mike Golarz joined in on the fun. 

A screen grab from Riki's Instagram Video

A screen grab from Purchase St. Records Instagram Video

The three day whirlwind concluded with a two hour meet and greet at Purchase St. Records on Saturday. The store was packed! There was a line throughout the event. I was fortunate to stop in for a quick second to speak to Riki about his sobriety and my appreciation for his social media stories about the subject. He was really down to earth, even signing a special limited edition trading card he had on hand. He expressed that many of the sober stories he recounts on social media are as much a reminder for himself than it is to "preach a message". 

I couldn't resist a selfie with Riki

Riki's Trading Card

I absolutely love Record Store Day and this was made more special by getting to meet a star of my generation. Riki set the tone for so many other hosts of shows on music and entertainment. He's always stayed true to his roots being a fan of the music first and foremost. He's definitely inspired how I approach covering music, meeting musicians and promoting bands.

Riki's Socials

Riki the Rambler Rachtman (@rikirachtman)

https://cathousehollywood.com/

 Facebook

Purchase St. Records

Purchase Street Records

Play Arcade

PLAY Arcade Bar & Restaurant

The Dipper Cafe

www.facebook.com/dippercafe/

All Sinners Band

All Sinners (@all_sinners_band) • Instagram photos and videos

When you were born to be a rock star

 This is proof that if you put everything into what you are doing, you just might make it to the top

Zakk was playing in the parking lot of a strip mall, but he played as though he was playing for 20,000 people.  His solo in Mississippi Queen is elite.

PS: I would have otherwise never remembered that there existed Funcoland.  So glad to have found this video

THIS JUST OUT!

 

DEAD MEADOW: VOYAGER TO VOYAGER

A brand new Dead Meadow, with the last bass tracks ever laid down by Steve Kille, who succumbed to cancer last April.  This was released today, but after one listen I believe it will land in my top few favorite Dead Meadow albums.  Check out the lead track:  

The incomparable Dead Meadow, originally from Washington D.C.:

Jason Simon: Guitar, Vocals

Steve Kille: Bass

Mark Laughlin: Drums

L'IRA DEL BACCANO/YAMA: TEMPUS DEORUM

L'Ira Del Baccano produced one of my top 10 favorite albums of 2023, and now they have a new single, released in a split with a band I had never heard before, but am so glad I found.  Also released today, this album has already blown me away.  Check out these amazing tracks:

This is so freaking heavy:

And here is the band that caused me to pre-order this album:

Yama are from The Netherlands.  They are:

Alex Schenkels: vocals, bluesharp
Sjoerd Albers: guitar
Peter Taverne: bass
Joep Schmitz: drums

L'Ira Del Baccano are from Italy.  The are:

Alessandro “Drughito” Santori - guitar
Roberto Malerba - guitar/synth
Sandro “fred” Salvi - drums
Ivan Contini Bacchisio - bass

And finally, released three weeks ago today, (and it's been in my car playlist shuffle ever since), is this masterpiece from a band that keeps getting better with each release:

THE DEATH WHEELERS: THE ECSTASY OF MOLD

The Death Wheelers add to their bag of tricks with each and every record.  Easily one of the best stoner rock/heavy psych/doom instrumental bands of all time, these tunes never drag or get stale.  The Death Wheelers are masterful songwriters and musicians, and take no prisoners.  Even though it's early, I am confident this will remain one of my favorite albums of 2025 when December rolls around.  Here is one of 10 tracks that each rate a 10 out of 10:

The Death Wheelers are from Quebec, Canada.  They are:

Max ‘the axe’ Tremblay 

Hugo ‘red beard’ Bertacchi 

Richard ‘the bastard’ Turcotte 

Ed ‘back from the dead’ Desaulniers

If you want more Stoner Rock, check out my Stoner Rock #29 Playlist here.

Until next time.

Stay Heavy!!!