MEMORIAL DAY MUSIC MOTHERLOAD

 Many New Recommendations To Send Your Way

Geezer just keeps getting better.  I liked the pre-released "Broken Glass", but that's not even close to the best tune on this album.  Check this one out; it's the leadoff track, and if ever there was a great name for a heavy rock tune, this is it:

Electric Mountain is back.  I found these guys in 2017, 2 days after their debut album posted on Bandcamp.  It was "name your price", but I dropped some cash anyways that day, because it gratified me in ways no album had in quite awhile.  

Then the band disappeared from Bandcamp and the internet.  I thought I would never hear more from Electric Mountain, but 5 years later they reappear on Bandcamp with the original album and 2 new preview tracks from an album coming out tomorrow.  

Defining the phrase "Mexican Stoner Rock" 

Turn up volume now:

Paralyzed are also back.  They produced one of my favorite albums in 2021, and it looks like they may repeat in 2022.  Germany has never had a shortage of great stoner rock bands, which is why it's so impressive that Paralyzed has managed to be so unique.  Michael Binder is an elite singer in my opinion.

Just found this last weekend; they've been in my playlist all week, making me more appreciative of what they do with each listen:

Gypsybyrd are an atypical but a great representative of Texas Stoner Rock.

Witchfinder are from Clermont Ferrand, France.  They manage to combine a mellow vibe with doom.  Really cool stoner doom:

FINISHING WITH THIS:

Now, a candidate for most fucked-up rock video of the year, as well as one of the best songs. 

 Here is Baltimore's Black Lung.

All of this is new music, my friend.  Hope I've helped you to satisfy that itch for great new music.  Until next time

-ULTRA

 EVENTS ON THE HORIZON

Soon to be released......

May 6th: STÖNER: Totally

May 25th: GEEZER: Stoned Blues Machine

May 27: BLACK LUNG: Dark Waves

Black Lung's "Ancients" was in my top albums list for 2019, Geezer's "Groovy" was in my 2020 top albums list, and Stöner's "Stoners Rule" was in my 2021 top albums list.  I guess these bands have albums on the horizon of the recent past as well as the horizon of the near future.

I love each of these three bands, and expect I'll be considering each of them for my top few albums at the end of the year.  

I guess April showers bring May albums

-ULTRA

RIPPLE FLEXES ITS MUSCLE

Ripple Music has come strong out of the gate, reminding us why they're one of the elite providers of heavy music.

WITCHERS CREED: Awakened From The Tomb

Released two weeks ago, this Swedish band has produced a debut album that's as good as most bands' finest work.  The pre-released track, "Salem (Resurrection)", hadn't struck me as anything special, but now that I hear the rest of the album, the whole thing just continues to grow on me.  Hear for yourself:

Witchers Creed is:

Filip Andersson - Guitar 

Emil Bjällerhag - Bass & Backup vocals   

Charlie Rangstedt - Drums  

BLACK LUNG: Ancients

Released just hours ago, "Ancients" has lived up to the pre-released track.  Really strong release from a band that's just adding to the legend of Maryland-based stoner rock. 

No bass player!  Sounds like a terrible idea, but Black Lung has creatively put bottom into all the right places, to the extent that almost nobody would notice there's no bass if it weren't pointed out to them.  A great rock album.  Definitely heavy, with a nice driving energy.

Black Lung are:

ADAM BUFANO- GUITAR 

DAVE CAVALIER- VOX, GUITAR

ELIAS SCHUTZMAN- DRUMS

TRACK: Sister Midnight's "Blood On Snow"

This is a cover of a 1974 tune by Coven.  So cool.

Sister Midnight is an ongoing cover song project Curated by Steve Darrow, focusing on obscure and forgotten rock gems.

Right up my alley.  Hope there will be an album someday.

Track Credits:

Vocals-Amy Archibald  
Guitars, Bass, Drums-Steve Darrow  
Backing Vocals, Cowbell-Ginger Vitus 

-ULTRA

LOOMING ON  THE HORIZON

Two upcoming albums which promise to be special

THE RIVEN:

Another great rock band from Sweden?  Go figure.  Check out this preview track, from the album which will be released on March 1st. 

BLACK LUNG: ANCIENTS

Hard to categorize, but definitely heavy while melodic, and bluesy while experimental.  Black Lung's last album really covered a lot of musical ground, and I expect this one to do so as well.  Here is the pre-released track, with the rest of the album due on March 8th.  Cool album art too, don't you think?
This is the title track, "Ancients":

 Here is one of my favorites from Black Lung's 2016 album, "See The Enemy".  The song is "Crooked Finger":

I am very much looking forward to these albums based on the strength of the pre-released tracks, and both bands' previous work.  Go forth and spread the word  on them.  

Until next time

-ULTRA

CORNUCOPIA OF 2016

Here's a butt-load of cool stuff that came out this year, that if you haven't already, you need to hear:

(that at least rhymed in my head)

YOUNGBLOOD SUPERCULT: High Plains

"Heavy Mellow" is a good descriptor for this album.  It impressively manages to be legit heavy while having a soothing quality.  Strong cover to cover, with excellent "replayability". Check out "Before The Dawn":  Youngblood Supercult are from Topeka, Kansas.

BLACK LUNG: See The Enemy

I would call Black Lung an old-school rock band with a soft spot for heavy sounds.  Another high quality album, start to finish.  Here is "Priestess."  Black Lung are from Baltimore, Maryland.

SONORA RITUAL: Dust Monument
Germany's Sonora Ritual are truly talented musicians and songwriters.  I have played this album lots of times, and still find it interesting.  Here is "Departure:" (the name of one of my favorite Journey albums, back in the day)

GORILLA PULP: Peyote Queen

Viterbo, Italy's Gorilla Pulp deserves at very least a "best use of the talk box" award for the tune "Electric Woman".  Note that none of these recommendations are albums with just a couple of good tunes.  Here again, lots to appreciate here, including the awesome cover art.

NATIVE DAUGHTERS: Master Manipulator

Finishing up with Denver, Colorado's band Native Daughters.  Dual drum players gives this band a really distinctive quality.  Equally likely to be claimed by heavy metal and stoner rock crowds, Master Manipulator is as worthy as instrumental heavy music gets.  Check out one of my favorites, "Two Princes":  If you stick around and listen to the follow-up, "The UninVAlted", you will not be disappointed.

There's more.  I may continue this cornucopia post, because there's so much more music and so little time left in the calendar year.  But for now, although it can't be on the same level as my family and friends, I count Bandcamp as one of the things I am thankful for, as it brought all this great music to me this year.  Enjoy your deserved downtime.     -ULTRA