Best of 2025 May - August

 

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)

AND THESE.....

KING BUFFALO: DEAD STAR

This song does not reveal what you'll find if you delve into this gem(*) of an album.  Released back in March, this is one of the year's best albums, and most of these tunes are etched in my brain from being played so many times.

King Buffalo are from Rochester, New York.  They are:

Sean McVay: guitar, vocals, synthesizer

Dan Reynolds: bass, synthesizer

Scott Donaldson: drums, percussion

(*) A gem must be rock; Mirriam-Webster's got my back on that one

THE DEATH WHEELERS: DIVINE FILTH

I previewed the title track back in June, and I'm happy to report that the rest of the album does not disappoint. It has been in my music rotation since the day it came out, and I expect it to be there at the end of the year. There's also a good chance that Motörgasm will make my top 10 tunes list this year. The Death Wheelers are Canada's shit-kickin' biker version of Karma To Burn and after only five years are in the pantheon of instrumental stoneer rock bands.

The Death Wheelers are from Vancouver. They are:

Max ‘the axe’ Tremblay 

Hugo ‘red beard’ Bertacchi 

Richard ‘the bastard’ Turcotte 

Ed ‘back from the dead’ Desaulniers

PSYCHLONA: VENUS SKYTRIP

I love the comment on this video that says that Psychlona sounds like "Farlung meets Fu Manchu".  It really hits the nail right on the head. Again, with the "can't stop listening to this one."

Psychlona are from Bradford, England. They are:

Phil - Guitar/Vocals
Dave - Guitar/Vocals
Martyn - Bass
Scott - Drums

Last, but not least:

TURTLE SKULL: MONOLITHSS

If you haven't noticed the pattern, these are all albums I've been listening to and can't get out of my head.  More psychedelic hard rock.  Thank God this music still exists. 

 

Turtle Skull are from Sydney, Australia.  They are:

Tobia Blefari - Percussion (congas, rain stick, shaker, tambourine)

Julian Frese - Bass, piano, vocals

Dan Frizza - Synths

Charlie Gradon - Drums, vocals

Dean McLeod - Guitars, vocals

STUFF I'M EXCITED ABOUT

Here's some stuff that's relatively new, as well as some sneak-peeks of things to come, all of which really have my attention:

HAMMADA: ATMOS

Released on June 26, this album is best described as grandiose.  The scale and scope of what this band has accomplished are jaw-dropping.  A blend of Causa Sui and Weedpecker is the best I can come up with for  describing them, but there is so much more at work here than that.  Hear for yourself; this is the closing track on the album, entitled "Domizil":

Hammada is from Freiberg, Germany.  They are:

Kristian Schulze: Vocals, Organ

Christian Döring: Guitars, Synthesizers
Lenz Fiedler: Bass Guitar
Sönke Tautorus: Drums

ABAKAS: MARAUDERS

You know I'm a big fan of bands like Pentagram, Witchcraft, Brimstone Coven, Troubled Horse and the like.  Here's a debut album that's right up my alley.  Reminiscent of Witcher's Creed, as well.  Marauders was released on May 22, and I'm really enjoying the entire album.  Here's the opening track, called "Runaway":

Abakas are from Drammen, Norway, and are:

Thomas Heien: Bass, Vocals
René Gunnerud Vandli: Guitar, Vocals
Christopher Haugan: Drums, Vocals

TURTLE SKULL: MONOLITHS

Turtle Skull's self-titled debut album was #11 on my top 20 albums of 2018 list, and Monoliths, which is due to be released on August 28, promises to be just as good.  These guys are really introspective and very earthy crunchy, and most importantly: they really know good rock.  Trippy, heavy psychedelic rock that's full of variety and great ideas.  Here's "Why Do You Ask", one of two pre-released tracks.  This particular song reminds me of a cross between two old Meteor City greats: Snail and Farfung.

Turtle Skull are from Sydeney, Australia, and are:

Dean - guitar, vocals
Charlie - drums, vocals
Dan - synth drone
Julian - bass, vocals
Tobia - tambourine, percussion

BRIMSTONE COVEN:

THE WOES OF A MORTAL EARTH

I've already mentioned in this post that I'm a fan of Brimstone Coven, and they've got a new album coming out on August 21st.  This one pre-released track raises my expectations really high, and I can't wait to hear the rest of the album.  Brimstone Coven will be enjoyed by fans of Pentagram, Witchcraft and Dunbarrow.  This is called "The Inferno", and will be the album's lead track.  Score another one for Ripple Music:

Brimstone Coven are from Wheeling, West Virginia.  They are:

Corey Roth - Guitar/Vocals
Andrew D'Cagna - Bass/Vocals
Dave Trik - Drums

THE ABSURD: THE SUN STILL RISES

The Absurd has released two tracks from an album to be named "The Sun Still Rises", release date unknown.  The Absurd are self-described as "Anti-Authoritarian Rebel Music for the Youths of Amerika".

Musically, I liken them to The Clash: not in terms of their sound, but in terms of the raw energy and the catchy songwriting.  Any band can play Clash tunes, but no other band can play them like The Clash.  The Absurd have some of that going on.  Their 2018 album "Build The Wall" is one of my favorites from that year, and I am really looking forward to this new one.  Here is "Whiskey & Razorwire (Get Over It)":

The Absurd are from Los Angeles, California, and are:

Ben Foerg - Guitar/Vocals

Josh Loney - Bass 
Colin Jensen - Drums

So this is what's been keeping me up at night, to continue the theme from the beginning of this post. 

I wish you heavy grooves, and safe travels.

-ULTRA