STRANGE AND BIZARRE: THREE NEW EP'S

NEW EP: TIMES THREE!

 GLITTER WIZARD: KISS THE BOOT

Six New Glitter Wizard Tunes

As strange/weird/different as Glitter Wizard are, it's undeniable that they are great musicians and have grown up listening to the best that rock music has to offer.  Countless classic rock influences lie behind everything they record, and I have grown to love each and every tune they've put out over the years.  

Here's the leadoff track on this EP:

Glitter Wizard are from San Francisco.  They are:

Wendy Stonehenge: Vocals

Kandi Moon: Bass, Acoustic Guitar

Fancy Cymballs: Drums

Doug Graves: Keyboards/Synths

Lorfin Terrafor: Guitar/Vocals

You can find this and their whole discography on Bandcamp

GOAT: SEU SANGUE EP

Remixed Goat (And one brand new track)

Goat has remixed four tracks from 2022's "Oh Death" album, and have recorded an exclusive new tune as well.  Only one track has been released, with the rest slated for April 14th.  This one will make you wonder if someone slipped you some acid:

Goat refer to themselves as a "collective", and are from Norbotten County, Sweden.

Find Goat's music here.

THE ABSURD: NOX EP

This is my favorite music from The Absurd since Build the Wall, and they say a full length album will be out this year, with a sequel EP to follow that. 

This video is hilarious, but almost distracted me from how cool the tune is. 

The Absurd are from Los Angeles.

They are:

Ben Foerg: Vocals, Guitar

Josh Loney: Bass
Colin Jensen: Drums

Find more Absurd music here.

NOW HEAR THIS

I've been listening to some oldies but goodies, and one tune in particular that came up in my shuffle demanded to be shared.  

In the words of a Disney demi-god,

"You're Welcome!"

GLITTER WIZARD: OPERA VILLAINS

Spectacular Rock Accomplishment

Glitter Wizard are great musicians and great songwriters, with a style that's as unique as it gets.  I gave this its first listen in the car, and had my player on shuffle without realizing it.  Hadn't looked at the names of the songs yet since I had just downloaded it.  The first tune that came up was the pre-released track 1, "Spell So Evil".  When the second tune came on I really got pulled in and was thinking that Glitter Wizard is a modern day Blue Oyster Cult, when I looked at the title, which is "The Oyster King".  Wonder if the band was also thinking of B.O.C. when they wrote this.  Anyhow, much like Blue Oyster Cult, no tune is representative of the album but every song is a rock clinic in some way.  

Enough of my gushing.  Check out "Dead Man's Wax", and think of how good this should sound live.  

Now check this out.  The constant change of pace keeps me riveted to this album.  Here is "Fear Of The Dark":

 The bass playing is great on this album.  Never overstated, and always perfect.  Opera Villains is truly special.

I find myself thinking sometimes that while rock reaches a far smaller audience than it used to, there has never been a year where rock music has relented in its push for world domination.   

Glitter Wizard are:

Wendy Stonehenge: Vocals

Kandi Moon: Bass, Acoustic Guitar

Fancy Cymballs: Drums

Doug Graves: Keyboards/Synths

Lorfin Terrafor: Guitar/Vocals

 Over and Out

-ULTRA

ANTICIPATION

Here are teaser tracks for some upcoming albums that promise to be among the year's best:

NEBULA: HOLY SHIT

 It's amazing how this sounds like it was recorded at the same time as "To The Center" or "Charged".  Seems like Nebula decided to get back together one more time just to remind everybody how stoner rock is done.

The track is called "Witching Hour": 

Holy Shit is scheduled to release on June 9th

GLITTER WIZARD: OPERA VILLAINS

 Glitter Wizard is an acquired taste, but I've definitely acquired the taste and can't wait to hear the rest of this one.  

The teaser track, "Spell So Evil" seems to pick up right where the Hollow Earth Tour album left off: 

The full album is due out on Saturday

DUEL: VALLEY OF SHADOWS

 I gushed about "Fears Of The Dead" and was indifferent about "Witchbanger".  The teaser track "Black Magic Summer" has me drooling to hear the rest of this album.  Interesting and awesome, this is exactly what I hoped for after the debut album.  

The full album releases on May 17th.

If you're wondering, I have no connection to Heavy Psych Sounds Records other than the fact that I love both Gabriele Fiori's music and his taste in music.  So many great albums on this label.

Here's an album that's not on Heavy Psych Sounds, but this is the third of three pre-released tracks which all make me need to hear the whole thing.

THE WELL: DEATH AND CONSOLATION

As the album art suggests, this album seems to be the perfect fusion of all three band members' unique talents.  This will be track 8, entitled "This Is How The World Ends":

Death and Consolation will be released on the 26th.

Until next time

-ULTRA

GLITTER WIZARD: Hollow Earth Tour

No, It's Not a Live Album

A few years ago after hearing Glitter Wizard recommended by numerous sources, I "YouTubed" them and ran into the video for "Snow Crash".  It was a horrible introduction to the band for me.  The video is over-acted and the tune is a bit monotonous and not really representative of what the band has to offer.  I wrote the band off in my mind, yet kept hearing from people who like the same music as me how good the band is.  Finally about a month ago I saw Glitter Wizard had released a new album and I decided to give the band another try.  The title made me think it would be a live album, and I figured that if they were as good as I had heard, they'd sound pretty decent live.  I found the album on bandcamp and started to listen.  I proceeded to listen to the whole thing and at the end I asked myself "What the f*** just happened?".  I proceeded to play it again and again, as the scope of what they were attempting  started to become clear to me.  This is honest, weird, brain-melting music with absolutely no attempt at commercial appeal, and no remorse over this.  Check out the guitar clinic on the opening track, "The Smokey God":

And here is "Scales":

Apparently lots of inspiration here from drugs, as indicated by titles like "Stoned Odissey" (their spelling, not mine), "Fungal Visions" and "UFOLSD" (about as manic and bizarre as rock gets), the music gets weird but at no time is it unclear that these are some great musicians and really unusual songwriters.  

To me, identifying with "stoner rock" means appreciating music that takes the path less travelled.  If that is an important critrion for you, I can tell you that Glitter Wizard is trekking through some pretty heavy vegetation, where no path has been before.  Check out Hollow Earth Tour here.

Glitter Wizard is:

Wendy Stonehenge

Kandi Moon

Fancy Cymballs

Doug Graves

Lorfin Terrafor

Can't help but mention how good a talent scout Heavy Psych Sounds Records is.  If they've put out a record, it's honest, aggressive and different.  I can't prove this, but I think the company is run by Gabriele Fiore of Black Rainbows.  If so it only it only increases my admiration for the man. 

Christmas and New Years are on deck, and I've been working on my Best of 2016 playlist;  I was proud of last year's Best Of and hope to post something of similar quality in a couple of weeks.  Maybe another album review in the meantime if I can fit it in.  Until then, stay heavy.
-ULTRA