I don't usually expect something as bleak and dark as SHALLOW GRAVE's debut album from New Zealand's Astral Projection record label. In general, owner and multi-instrumentalist Craig Williamson uses Astral Projection to release music of his own musical projects which are Lamp Of The Universe, Arc Of Ascent and Datura...
Back in 2006, Gallipoli Records sent me a promo copy of IRON HEARSE's self-titled debut album and I really liked what I've heard. It was some sort of doom-driven heavy rock with influences from bands such as Budgie and The Obsessed - to give just some examples...
What a pleasant surprise it has been to receive LORD SHANI's 2013 debut release on Go Down Records, 'Progress Your Soul'! Hailing from Italy, this female fronted band is capable of writing songs that are not stingy with strong hooklines. Add to this the fact that LORD SHANI show openness by welcoming varied influences, ranging from hard rock to progressive rock, blues and soul...
These four guys from Sardinia have the delta blues in their blood, there's no doubt about that. And they have a good taste, because their self-titled debut album includes cover versions from Blind Willie Johnson and Skip James...
After the successful release of the previous album 'Zugriff' (review here), Berlin's DxBxSX is back with another full-length, which picks up seamlessly from where its predecessor left off and again wins me over with its humor, anger and rough charm. Again, DxBxSx are sounding stripped down and raw, but this rawness is a perfect compliment to these 12 songs...
Conny Ochs' second solo album is a heartbreaking, simple, beautiful, strangely comforting piece of work. He goes deep into feelings but without sticky sentimentalism and his brilliance for soft, haunting, yet catchy melodies is well represented on 'Black Happy'...
I remember well the Italian heavy psych band INSIDER. It was in 2000 when I wrote a review about their third release 'Jammin' For Smiling God' (review here), released then by the no longer existing label Beard Of Stars Records...
Over the course of recent years a lot of promising new heavy rock bands are coming from the UK. This includes MAGE, who released their first album 'Black Sands' in 2012...
OPIUM WARLORDS (We Meditate Under The Pussy In The Sky) LP/CD
Mar/24/2013
OPIUM WARLORDS is one of the numerous projects of former Reverend Bizarre bassist/vocalist Sami Albert Hynninen. Released in 2012 by Svart Records, 'We Meditate Under The Pussy In The Sky' has very little in common with cliched doom metal...
BLACK SCIENCE (An Echo Through The Eyes Of Forever) CD
Mar/23/2013
Hailing from Seattle, BLACK SCIENCE are four fellows who really treat the listener to a sonic wonderland with their self-financed second album. 'An Echo Through The Eyes Of Forever' rewards repeated listening, and I say this from my own experience...
