Space rock can be very diverse and varied. This is reflected in this split album where VESPERO from Russia and ZONE SIX from Germany do their best to take the listener to galactic sound spheres that could not be more different...
ZONDERHOOF's self-titled MCD (review here), released in 2007 thru Sound Devastation Records, was an absolutely refreshing debut for me. My enthusiasm was so great that I decided to do an interview (click here) with the band one year later...
This 7" was released at the beginning of 2011 thru the new Belgian label Space Age & Cheesecake Records, but it's never to late to churn out some good words about this heavyweight 70 gram platter. If the name YAWNING SONS arouse connotations of Yawning Man then not without a reason, because original founding member Gary Arce is part of YAWNING SONS...
Basically, I'm certainly bored with bands who feel closely connected to later Neurosis or Isis. As is so often the case, what was once new and innovative becomes sooner or later the next underground mainstream trend...
I'm generally quite skeptical about cover bands. Mostly those bands fail in trying to capture the spirit of their idols, but there are a few exceptions...
XARHANGA was a Portuguese 70's progressive rock band, who recorded two 7"'s and one concept album named 'Bota Fora' during their short-term existence. Needless to allude that all three releases are extreme rare nowadays and that's the reason why the new record label Portuguese Progressive Pearls did a complete re-issue in 2008 of the band's discography...
Hailing from the UK, ZONDERHOOF are here to beat your brain into submission with their relentless brand of bone crunching instrumental rock. It's their debut in 2007 for English label Sound Devastation Records, and what this four Norwegian guys have recorded here is amazing! ZONDERHOOF relies on thick, mean, down-tuned riffs accompanied by sledgehammer drum beats and sometimes bizarre vocal parts, altough this is an instrumental band through and through...
Alone Records opens the next chapter of the historic YAWNING MAN-files in form of a 10"/MCD, which contains four new songs. Once again, the band is making it possible that the desert sun will rise in your room and a warm summer wind is blowing through your head...
I'm very careful with superlatives like 'perfect', but in the case of "Rock Formations" I have the deep urge to use this word. Yes, this is a perfect album, especially for the current hot summer days...
Since their demo, "Elaborations Of Carbon" that was later released as debut with additional cuts, I fell in love with the mighty YOB. But it has earned applause from all kind of directions, too, and so this second album should further help them to get the deserved attention...
