NIGHTSTALKER: GREAT HALLUCINATIONS

Greek Stoner Rock Champions Return

Nightstalker is one of my favorite stoner rock bands.  Argy's voice,  Tolis' riffs delivered with the perfect amount of fuzz, and Andreas and Dinos on bass and drums expertly holding it all together.  Few things in life are as sure a bet as the quality of a Nightstalker album.  

Andreas' bass playing is more prominent on this new album, and Tolis is a total boss.  Check them out on the album's opening track, "Black Cloud":

This one's cool too, with a little bit of Argy falsetto at the beginning: "Sad Site Of The City":

Tolis' soloing on "Sweet Knife" reminds me of Tim Sult, and had me daydreaming about what it would sound like if Nightstalker and Clutch traded guitar players for an album.

Anyhow, Nightstalker is:

Argy: vocals

Andreas Lagios: Bass

Tolis Motsios: Guitar

Dinos Roulos: Drums

You can pick up this gem here on Bandcamp, or order directly from Heavy Psych Sounds as I did, here:

Until Next time:

-ULTRA

PS: Lots more posts below.  If you haven't read em yet, get after it!

Look What I Found

Cool Footage of Opeth in the Leominster Newbury Comics

I've been really enjoying the new album "In Cauda Venenum", so decided to poke around Youtube and found this footage of Opeth performing in a Leominster Massachusetts record store, back in 2013.

Have you seen this?  I hadn't, and think it's awesome.
The little transition that happens around 6:38 is tremendous.

And here's another one, from my favorite Opeth album:
The song finishes with a smooth but sick keyboard solo, followed by a super-tasty acoustic guitar solo. 

I got to see Opeth play at the House of Blues on the Watershed tour, and they were immense.  They don't get lazy for even an instant, and seem like they want to be there as much as you do.

I recommend checking out the new album, which contains both Swedish and English discs if you buy it on CD.  

Next time

-ULTRA

2019 Must Own

PLANET OF ZEUS: Faith In Physics

Planet of Zeus' Crowning Achievement

"Faith In Physics" is Planet of Zeus' equivalent of Led Zeppelin's "IV" or AC/DC's "Back In Black", or Iron Maiden's "Piece Of Mind", or...(you get the picture).  I love all of this band's albums, but this one has it all.  The songwriting and production quality have reached the stratosphere, and there is a variety within the album that will satisfy hard rock fans, stoner rock fans and metal heads alike.

Planet of Zeus has been together for more than a decade now, and they are a well-oiled machine, specifically a hard-rock tractor-trailer travelling at full speed.  

Check out "All These Happy People":

(are they talking about these guys?)

And here's my early favorite on the album, "Man Vs. God":

Planet of Zeus are from Athens, and are:

Babis Papanikolaou-Vox & Guitars
Stelios Provis-Guitars
Giannis Vrazos- Bass
Serapheim Giannakopoulos-Drums

This album will go down as an all-time hard rock classic, and you can find it here on bandcamp.  I personally ordered my copy directly from the Heavy Psych Sounds website here.

Still here?  Go and check the rest of this album out, and I'll catch you next weekend!

-ULTRA

KARKAOS VLOG #1 - Welcome Morgan!

Exclusive HMT Recommendation - Phoenix Titan set to release “Avatar Of Fire” on Sept. 27th!

Avatar Of Fire

Band: Phoenix Titan

Release Date: Sept. 27th

Line-up:

Harri Ahola - vocals

Santtu Rautiainen - guitar

Topi Vuorela - guitar

Tatu Rautiainen - drums

Juhana ”Jusa” Ovaska - Bass

https://www.facebook.com/phoenixtitanband/

https://www.instagram.com/phoenixtitanband/

Phoenix Titan is a 5-piece heavy metal band playing melodic metal with
tight riffs and attitude. Band is officially formed in 2014, but we've all
been playing 15+ years in different line-ups before joining our forces.

Our debut album “Avatar Of Fire” will be released soon, on Friday 27th
September. The album is produced by Aksu Hanttu (Entwine, S-tool, Tuoni)
and mastered by Svante Forsbäck, Chartmakers (Some references: Rammstein,
Michael Monroe, Entombed, Apocalyptica etc.).


From the Desk of
HMT EDITOR, GROWNMAN
Hi readers, please check out the debut album rom Phoenix Titan. For fans of bands like Iron Maiden and Blaze Bayley solo albums. They offer a great take on the power and melodic metal style.

BEST SONGS OF 2019

My favorite four:

-Black Mountain's "Boogie Lover": Melodic and heavy, this has mainstream appeal while undeniably still in the realm of stoner rock.

-Burning Gloom's "Obsessive Compulsive Disorder": You had me at "Turn on light turn off light turn on light turn off light".  I love the moody feel this tune has.

-Merlin's "Tower Fall": This is some Pink Floyd caliber stuff, from a complex album with lots of surprises and through the roof replayability.

-Tool's "Invincible": There are six tracks on this album that are worthy of song of the year consideration.  This is one of them.

Over and out

-ULTRA

DOUBLE HEAVY

Double Shot Of Extra Heavy Music

LEATHER LUNG: 

LONESOME, ON'RY AND EVIL

Massachusetts Miscreants

I was in the mood for something heavy tonight and found this local band.

Leather Lung's music is doomy, raunchy and at times melodic.  Tons of energy here, and great songwriting performed by seasoned musicians.  These guys are new to me, but have been tearing it up since 2014.  

Check out "Dirty Mangy Dog": 

And "Ain't Feelin' No Pain" is sure to be a crowd pleaser:

"Lonesome, On'ry And Evil" was released on August 23rd.

DEAD WITCHES: THE FINAL EXORCISM

Making British Doom Great Again

British Doom has always been great, but that just sounded right.  Dead Witches features Mark Greening, drummer for Electric Wizard's first few records, and has a sound that's very reminiscent of those albums.  This is an all-around great album if you are in need of very loud, very aggressive doom.  

Check out the title track, "The Final Exorcism":

And "Goddess Of The Night":

Dead Witches are (l-r):

 Soozi Chameleone: Vocals

 Carl Geary: Bass

 Mark Greening: Drums

Oliver Hill: Guitar

"The Final Exorcism" was released in February.

Gabriele Fiori's Heavy Psych Sounds label has been on fire this year, and will have new releases by Nightstalker and Planet of Zeus in a few weeks as well.

2019 will be a year to remember in the world of heavy music.

Back with more next weekend

-ULTRA

STONER ROCK #41

Who in the world would put these 14 tunes together in the same playlist?

Me.  

There's a nice mix of new and old here, keeping it moving.

Turn it up and see what you think:

I'll eventually get some more album reviews up here, but I really can't stop playing the new Tool album right now.  A friend of mine said it's got him in a trance, and I feel the same way.

 -ULTRA-

TWO ONE-MAN WONDERS

Here are two one-man bands that are setting a new standard for creativity and excellence

CROW BALLARD

Crow Ballard is from Portland, Oregon and fits more ideas into two minutes than a corporate think-tank produces in a whole day.  He covers more ground in an two minutes than a bullet train.  Crow Ballard is like rock and roll buckshot, where the pattern of spray is intentional.  A Crow Ballard song is like a rock and roll quilt;  multiple snapshots sewn into one cohesive piece of art.  

Enough of the metaphors;  you didn't look here for writing, you came for tunes, so listen to these:

Crow Ballard has three releases (two full-length) this year, and they are all worth your time.

SPIRIT OF INDIGO

Spirit of Indigo is Blake Evans.  Where is he from?  Not sure.  But his music is righteous.  While Crow Ballard mixes multiple genres into each song, Spirit Of Indigo shifts the genre from tune to tune.  One thing is clear; Blake  was born to play rock.  
Spirit of Indigo has already produced two great albums this year.

Check out these gems:

All this stuff is "Name Your Price" on Bandcamp, but both Crow Ballard and Blake Evans deserve to be rich in my opinion.  Go check this stuff out and spread the word if you like it.  That's the surest way to make sure we get to hear more.

-ULTRA

THE BLACK FURS: 

STEREOPHONIC FREAK OUT VOL.1

Heavy, Dirty Blues

The Black Furs really remind me in a lot of ways of another Argentinian band, Mephistofeles.  Mephistofeles plays loud, heavy, dirty doom and The Black Furs play loud, heavy, dirty blues.  Their album cover art is so strikingly similar, I suspect the same artist works with both bands (and I'd really love to know if it's Robyn from the old Stonerobixxx blog).  Anyhow, the art draws you in and the music makes you want to stay.  The singer reminds me very much of Kamille from The Grand Astoria, with a hint of Bon Scott.  This is a trio with a powerful sound.  The bass, guitar and drum players are all consummate pros and the sound on the record is top-notch and distinctive.

I reviewed the single "Black Limousine Blues" here, so let's go to the opening track, called "Smoke It Alone":

And check out this short but sweet change of pace, called 
"Don't Put So Easy My Name On A Grave":

Here's another band and album that make me grateful that Bandcamp exists.

I'd love to hear this band live, or even to just hear them practice.

Anyhow, $5 gets you 42 minutes of music you can be proud to play loud.

Don't take my word for it; after these tracks, listen to the others here.

"Heavy, stay you"

-Yoda

-ULTRA

TOTAL SLEEPER

MOURNFUL CRIES: BAD TASTE

Traditional Yet Totally Distinctive

Mournful Cries is the perfect descriptor for the sound this band brings to the table.  Get ready for some music that combines classic heavy metal and doom ideas with vocals that are so weird but sincere that they're awesome.

This album sneaks up on you.  Listen to the opening track, entitled "Sea Of Trees", and when you are done check out the brief but poetic lyrics here.

You've got to move to track 2, "Hallowed Tomb" next, and should probably go finish the album afterwards and if you're like me you'll come back to it again and again.

Mournful Cries are truly talented musicians and songwriters, and I have to think the majority of readers on this site, metal and stoner rock lovers alike, will find this album special.

They are:

Luis Olguin: Guitar/Vocals
Matt Lasserre: Bass 

Alex Hernandez: Drums 

Might be back with more tomorrow; will see what reality allows.

Until then  -ULTRA

FUCKING PERFECT

I'm not doing my job if I don't acknowledge the first track released off of what will undoubtedly be the most important rock record released this decade.  

Has there ever been a band that has achieved a level of perfection even close to what Tool has accomplished in its last few albums?

I think not.

"Fear Inoculum", expands and contracts, ebbs and flows, like the floor or the wall when you're tripping out on mushrooms.  Tool quite consciously and quite successfully attempts to control your mood and consciousness with each and every song. 

The new album hits the shelves on August 30th, and I can't wait to hear the rest and to see them tour.  The two best live shows I've seen in my life (and I've seen a lot of shows) have both been Tool.  

Sit back, close your eyes and turn up the volume on this one.

By the way, Tool has also finally released its entire catalog digitally, and has managed to be the first band ever to occupy all ten of Billboard's top 10 digital song sales chart.  

This is the only way you could get me to look forward to the end of summer.

More tomorrow

-ULTRA

BORED DRUMMER

This dude clearly needs to go to great lengths to keep himself interested in what he's doing.  46 million people have already seen this, but I hadn't, and think it's hilarious.  

(maybe he needs to play in a different band, or play tunes he hasn't played a hundred thousand times already?)

That's it for this weekend; lots going on, but will try to make up for it with a couple of quality posts next weekend.  Until then, party on

-ULTRA

STONER ROCK #40

Are guitar, bass and drums still your preferred method of music delivery? 

Stoner Rock is the genre for you. 

If the 1980s' fascination with the synthesizer and computerized music technology had not happened, and the established rock traditions continued, this is what we'd have:

-ULTRA-

ELDER: THE GOLD & SLIVER SESSIONS

Masterful Musical Voyage

Elder's latest release is so perfect that the word pilgrimage really seems appropriate.  If you close your eyes you will get carried away and filled with the feeling that you're about to get enlightened.  These tunes maintain a constant feeling of becoming, like you're always on the verge of something great.  Progressive rock, like jazz, is always evolving and ends up being filled with hundreds of fleeting but memorable moments that challenge your ear with their creativity.  Elder's "The Gold & Silver Sessions" EP manages to make you feel like they are simultaneously lingering on each theme and evolving at the same time.  This release sets a mood right away and expertly controls its ebb and flow right through the end of the third track.  

Here is the first track, entitled "Illusory Motion", and the player will continue on with tracks 2 and 3 for those of you who have the thirty four minutes it will take to hear the whole EP.  

I have not been able to play anything else in my car since purchasing this last week; I just let the CD keep starting over and find new qualities to enjoy about this album with every play.  The interplay between Nick, Jack, Matt and Michael, and between Nick and himself is breathtaking.  I consider Elder to be one of the most perfect hard rock bands of my lifetime, and I've been alive for pretty much the entire lifespan of hard rock.  The digital album is only $6 on Bandcamp, but vinyl is available, and of course CD.
(PS: How about that cover art?  Can't find any info on who did it but he or she deserves much respect)

Elder are: 

Nicholas DiSalvo - Guitar, keys, vocals 
Jack Donovan - Bass 
Matt Couto - Drums 

Michael Risberg - Guitar, keyboards 

I'll have to stop listening to this before I can review something else;  it will be a tall order, but I should have something else that's awesome to rave about next weekend.  

Until then, stay heavy

-ULTRA

COLD - Shine (Official Lyric Video) | Napalm Records

August 31st, 2019 Cold returns to New England! at the Vault in New Bedford

Click Link to Order Tix



Cold's New Album "The Things We Can't Stop" is available for preorder at http://coldarmy.com

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

BURNING GLOOM: AMYGDALA

A Jewel In June

Formerly called "My Home On Trees", this 4 piece band from Milano, Italy

has stepped up their game since their excellent 2015 release, entitled 

"How I Reached Home."

"Amygdala" is creative, well thought out and heavy as all get out.  It doesn't get much better than the opening duo of "The Tower I" and "The Tower II."  There is also a video for "Nightmares", with guest vocals from High Fighter's Mona Miluski.  Behold.......

And here's another great one, called "Warden".
(be patient; wouldn't post it if it wasn't going to tear it up)

Burning Gloom are:

Laura Mancini: Vocals

Marco Bertucci: Guitar 

Giovanni Mastrapasqua: Bass

Marcello Modica: Drums

Check out my most recent playlist below, and have a great week.

-ULTRA

Stoner Rock 39

STONER ROCK #39 (Playlist)

Heavy A F

 

-ULTRA-