Heavy Metal Textbooks

DOUBLE SHOT

SON OF A WITCH: COMMANDED BY COSMIC FORCES

I posted tunes from this band's first album here and here, and noted that Son Of A Witch might be headed for elite status in the list of Brazilian heavy rock bands, and I can report that the quality of this second release is beyond reproach.  The songwriting has taken a turn since Thrones In The Sky.    The new album is not as 'in your face' heavy, but is more melodic and attentive to mood and atmosphere.  The band clearly worked hard on this album, and show an attention to detail that few bands can match.  King Lizzard has upped his game and shows some nice diversity in his vocals.  Check out "Black Clouds Of Lies", which was one of the pre-released tracks. It's such a great ambassador of what this album has to offer.  Volume, and your patience, will be rewarded soon enough: 

Son Of A Witch are (from left to right):
King Lizzard : Vocals

Psychedelic Monk : Guitar

Gila Monster : Guitar
Old Goat : Bass
Asteroid Mammoth : Drums

I'm still partial to Thrones In The Sky, but the new ground that Cosmic Forces has broken proves their rock prowess, and has definitely given Son Of A Witch pre-order status for me from here on.

MONKEY3: SPHERE

Released in mid-April, with a sell-by date of "whenever you're ready to take a heavy trip", Monkey3's "Sphere" is rock gold.  Switzerland's Monkey3 have been around for close to twenty years now, and are kind of the Pink Floyd of Stoner Rock.  They play a very unique blend of progressive rock, heavy metal and stoner rock that at no point ever makes you ask where the vocals are.  If you commit your time to these longer tunes, you'll find them as engaging as could be, and if you're not impatient, the heaviness of "Sphere" will find you.  Check out the opening track, entitled "Spirals": 

Monkey3 are:

Walter - Drums

Kevin - Bass
Boris - Guitar

dB - Keys

The rock music in 2019 has been epic, and  we are soon to get new albums from Nightstalker, Planet Of Zeus and TOOL, and I'm hoping that Rainbows Are Free will get their new material out this year as well.  

How are you feeling after this double-shot?  Are you OK to operate heavy machinery?

Go forth and drive safe, and rock till you can't rock no more

-ULTRA