Weed Priest - Demo (2011)

Weed Priest are a trio coming from Galway, Ireland. Formed in 2008, they have released a three-track demo. Actually in their social media pages you'll find 11 songs, including the demo ones (all for free of course...). There is no doubt that I loved these guys from the first notes of "Final Spell" (demo's first track) when I put their demo in my player. They describe their music as "occult stoner doom" and I have to agree that it's the best description about them. Slow, down-tempo, slothful, obsessive, harrowing, monolithic, druggy grooves with harsh, destructive vocals. Sometimes closer to stoner side, others to sludge but above all following the raw doomadness.... The production is like they're recorded (some tracks more, some less) in an underground forgotten crypts used for rituals in ancient times. This has its positive and negative side though. The positive one is that it's a plus for the occult atmosphere the tracks have. On the other side they have to work on it a little more when they decide to put out a "proper" EP. Anyway prepare to get possessed by the Priest. The Weed Priest. He's going to take you to an underworld trip with no return! Release the bongs and hail the Priest!

*Thanks to the band for coming in touch and sending me their demo.


You can download their 3-track demo as well as their other 9 songs (including a Kyuss' cover) through their facebook or reverbnation page.
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GNOD - Chaudelande Volume I (2011)

GNOD are back with their second release for this year. After "Ingnodwetrust" they're hitting us again with Chaudelande Volume I which features three tracks of 35min total playing time. Monolithic, fuzz, space rock at its best. "Tron" and "Visions Of Load" (LP's A-side tracks) are two of Gnod's universe finest psych moments.... "The Vertical Dead" ,a 17min track, is moving more to drone folk paths full of echoes, delays and dubby bass lines. My judgement cannot be balanced when it comes to Gnod because is one of my favorite acts. But all you psych-weirdos out there give it a listen and you'll be rewarded. One of Gnod's finest moments. Highly recommended!

Enjoy!
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Monotonix - Not Yet (2011)

If I recall correctly Monotonix are the first Israeli band I post here in Stoned Sun Vibrations. Coming from Tel-Aviv they released their third album "Not Yet" last January. I know that listening to Monotonix from a disc is half the pleasure. You know like eating without smelling... If you have seen what these crazy bastards do in their lives, you caught my metaphor's meaning. But there are people out there (just like me) who never had the chance to catch one of their live shows so we have to compromise with what Monotonix offering us through their albums. So get ready for some really loud, noisy, chaotic, raw punk'n'roll with frenzy, manic guitar riffs and gritty vocals. Although is a great stuff to hear and highly enjoyable, they're songs are not memorable. But who gives a shit anyway? At least not me... It's all about pleasure, energy and having fun. If you have the chance to catch them live, I beg you not to miss them (take a glance at their videos in youtube..). Cheers! 

Enjoy!

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Molior Superum - Towards The Haze (2011)

I learned about these guys couple of days ago by JK (from the mighty blog Stoner Hive). Molior Superum are a four-piece band from Stenungsund, Sweden formed in 2009. The time has come to give us an idea of how their upcoming debut album will sound like. And I tell you, it's going to be awesome! The demo features three high-energy tunes inspired by the 70's heavy, dirty blues rock and mixed with stoner rock's groove and Texas' psych freak outs. I can't wait for their album which I ensure you it's going to be a killer one.

Enjoy!

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Ape Machine - War To Head (2011)

Coming from Portland, Ape Machine were a pleasant surprise last year when they released their debut "This House Has Been Condemned". So they continue their successful route with their second album "War To Head", an ode to heavy riffage of the 70's. Bluesy psychedelic references, smoky vocals, hazy guitar and awesome grooves is the recipe for this one. Check it without second thoughts!

Enjoy!
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Man's Gin - Smiling Dogs (2010)

Here is a record which I really regret that I didn't discover it last year. Formed by Eric Wunder of Cobalt in 2005, Man's Gin released their debut album "Smiling Dogs" in 2010. Their music is a solid blend of southern rock, american folk, blues and some kind of dark rock. No this is not metal nor it has riffs and stuff like these. But it manages to wake raw emotions such as despair, death, anger, betrayal and at the same time it evokes so many inspirational images of pure beauty. "Smiling Dogs" is something genuine, unique... And Eric Wunder show us his genius for the second time (the first was with Cobalt). As I read somewhere (unfortunately I can't remember where) the best description for Man's Gin music is "post-apocalyptic Americana". Amazing stuff! If we were in 2010 this was going to be in my top 10 list for sure.

Enjoy!

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Sahara Surfers - Sonar Pilot (2011)

A year ago I had made a post about Sahara Surfers' debut album. I loved it from the first time I listened to it. The female vocals made a difference (come on, how many stoner bands have female vox) and generally it was something very fresh... So Sahara Surfers didn't waste much time and after one year released their second album "Sonar Pilot". The band continues their excellent route by bringing up some freshness in the wider "stoner rock" area and of course by creating their own identity. It is obvious that they worked hard in their songs which are well-structured, have a great flow and the melodies stuck easily in your head. The album is stronger, more solid from their debut and it has a great deal in production. They took all the positive things from "Spacetrip on A Paper Plane" and improved them in a great direction.

If you're expecting heavy crushing riffs, you'll probably be disappointed (although it has its moments, it's not the amount you're looking for...). The heaviness in this one is based in Colour Haze's slow burning approach of creating "the heavy". Or even in Kyuss laid-back desert jamming process. The holy groove is all over of course and they're using their psych and alternative rock influences only to enrich their sound and cement their own identity. To be honest they're one of the bands that I really liked right from the start and with their new work my sympathy to them got bigger. So if you're skeptical about my objectivity, don't take my word. Just give it a listen or check what some other sites have written (Stonerobixxx or Soda Shop for example). It will be in my best of 2011 list for sure. Highly recommended!
*Thanks to Michael from Sahara Surfers and Sound Zero for coming in touch. 


The link for downloading is provided by the band and their label (Sound Zero) : Enjoy!!!
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My Solid Ground - My Solid Ground (1971)

My Solid Ground were a German band formed in 1968 (group's founder, writer, vocalist, guitarist Bernhard Rendel was just 14 years old). In 1971 they released their first and last album "My Solid Ground". This album worth checking just and only for his opening track, the 13min "Dirty Yellow Mist". One tripped krautrock piece driven by a monotonous, crunchy riff. The track escalates as more organ is added building intensity while the spoken vocals and pounding drums make the atmosphere even better. If their other songs were like this one... But most of them moving in more typical hard rock forms (I don't mean that they're bad...). "That's You" could be considered as proto-punk though. The second song that really makes difference for me is "The Executioner" which is quite dark... I really love this one and I dig it in a regular basis. This one is ripped from cd and includes a bunch of extra songs like the full 24min version of "Flash" (great tune!) and different mixes of four other songs. Dig It!

Enjoy!

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Cultura Tres - El Mal Del Bien (2011)

Cultura Tres are a four-piece band from Venezuela and eight months ago they released their second full-length work, titled "El Mal Del Bien". Listening to Cultura Tres, you'll easily understand that they perfectly represent South America's spirit. They successfully blend various music genres and bands (sometimes diverse ones) which leads in producing a unique style of their own. You're going to hear influences from doom and sludge to thrash and death metal. From dark psychedelia to folk and tribal elements. So think it like South America's melting pot where a variety of cultures and civilizations blended (they're still blending actually) and created a multi-dimensional, original one.

The second thing leading to the parallelism I made above is that their music reflects the despair, the anger, the oppression and even the slavery that South America's countries confronts for a very long time now. They bring out Neurosis' despair and combine it with Sepultura's aggression.

Cultura Tres suck your soul into dark, gloomy, tragic places that you never considered their existence. Heavy, downtuned, crunchy sludge riffs combined with Alice in Chains-style vocals, half English half Spanish, was an amazingly great idea. The bands cover two songs too, the mighty "Black Sabbath" and "Holy Graveyard" by Epitafio (Alejandro Londono played in Epitafio too).

Overall this is a must-listen album for everyone. I regret for missing such great music all this time but thanks to Vania Yosifova from Leave Something Witchy Music Promotions, "El Mal Del Bien" took its "haunting" place in my music collection and in my 2011's best releases too. 

You can download it by paying anything you want from their bandcamp page. 

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Poor Sons - Dunes EP (2011)

Here is some great psych garage punk from San Francisco's quartet, Poor Sons who released their debut five-track EP in July. A high-energy quick fix for starting your day (or night)... Awesome stuff!

You can download it for free from their bandcamp page.

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Highway Child - Highway Child (2011)

Third release for Highway Child from Copenhagen and unfortunately their last one 'cause from what I read in their facebook page they split up... More southern rock/blues driven than their previous ones, it has a well-built groovy rhythm section, great twisty guitar solos and vocals full of soul. Their 60's/70's rock influences are present too but filtered through a more country prism. In the six years' existence they released three amazingly good albums which makes them one of Denmark's best bands in my opinion. I want to believe that the reason they split up is to move in somewhere in Louisiana and come back after a while with another great release...

Enjoy!

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Dave Wyndorf (Monster Magnet) Interviewed By Sean Yseult (White Zombie) (1995)

By request, here is the interview Dave Wyndorf gave to Sean Yseult of White Zombie in 1995. 

Enjoy!

Rock Trips Mixtape Vol. 12

It took me a while to post a Rock Trips mixtape (two weeks passed from the last one...) but finally here is the 12th part from the radio show of 07/11. I hope you'll enjoy it 'cause is a really good one...

Rowsdower - Demo (2011)

Rowsdower are a five-piece band coming from Saint Louis, Missouri and they recently sent me a four-track demo which is really good. I would describe their music as blues-infected stoner rock. But they incorporate a lot of other styles too. For example "Nupital Doom" is moving in more doom-related forms or "Bridge of Sighs" which has a psych vibe. From what I read they work on new material for a full album which definitely I'm going to check 'cause they really have potentials and great song-writing skills. So go check them out...

*Thanks to Zak from Rowsdower for coming in touch.

The band put up their demo for download right here.

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Fire - Could You Understand Me (1973)

"Could You Understand Me" is one of the most fuzz-overloaded albums ever. Released back in 1973 by three Yugoslavian guys located in Netherlands is the one and only Fire's record. An absolutely great heavy psych blues rock album providing you all the fuzz you can eat. A lot of kick-ass guitar riffs and solos, a drummer who hammers everything in his sight and a bass work which really tightens up the sound. The vocals maybe "disturb" some of you in the first place but you'll get used to them. The instrumental song "Flames"  is enough to love this record. Highly recommended!

Enjoy!!!!

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The Underneath - Sun Of '67 (1994)

The Underneath were a band from Dallas, Texas formed somewhere in the early 90's.  "Sun Of '67" was their debut album. They released two more which I haven't checked them. If you liked the Texas Fog Society's album I posted couple of months ago (there is a connection between these two bands according to rym) then this is for you. Influenced by 70's acid rock, full of fuzz and coming from Texas...that's all you need to know.

Enjoy!

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Eye - Center Of The Sun (2011)

Eye are a heavy psych/space rock trio from Columbus, Ohio and they have just released their first EP called "Center Of The Sun". From the time Matt Bailey came in touch and introduced me to their music, I knew that I wouldn't be disappointed because Eye consists of Matt Auxier and Brandon Smith from The Pretty Weapons and Matt Bailey from Teeth Of The Hydra. Adam Smith (of Deadsea) also contributes in the record with his excellent organ-Mellotron-ARP-Moog playing skills as well as by being EP's engineer/producer.

When you put this one playing there is not a single chance that you're going to stop it. In the contrary the only button you are going to reach, it'll be the repeat one. The EP hooks you up right after the same-titled 19min track kicks in and the interest keeps growing until the last song "Rik Rite" ends. The songs' flow is amazing and they're like well-structured, powerful psych  jams. Eye incorporate Hawkwind's and Pink Floyd's legacy, Can's improvisation, Sabbath's holy grooves and Om's meditative vibes into a space trip, sometimes to moon's dark, unknown side and others to sun's vital light. A wonderful multi-layered release which encourages you to listen it again and again in order to discover all the aspects of their music. Highly recommended!

*Thanks to Matt Bailey for coming in touch.

You can download it by paying anything you want from their bandcamp page. All proceeds from digital downloads will go to pressing a limited run of CD's: Hand printed covers (current digital cover is only temporary) and hand numbered.
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The Rational Academy - Live At The Zoo, Brisbane (01.09.11)

The Rational Academy are a noise/psych pop band (as they describe themselves) from Brisbane. They formed in 2004 and after releasing a few EPs and two albums, this year they put out a live album recorded at The Zoo which was my introduction to the band. The album features five tracks which could be described as a psych, noise, drone pop + rock blend. They use a lot of distortion (a good thing for me) and they're experimenting with noise, anarchic soundscapes. I didn't have the time to dig their previous releases, except "Swans", so I can't have  a complete opinion about them. But I liked this one more 'cause it's closer to my taste but I wish it would be a little longer... Anyway, it's a band worth checking and I would like to hear a studio album in the live's spirit...

*Thanks to Benjamin from The Rational Academy for coming in touch.

You can stream / buy it from their bandcamp page. You can also download for free their previous works.

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Michael Beach - Mountains + Valleys (2011)

Michael Beach is a San Francisco based musician who previously released a few works as a member of Electric Jellyfish. As a solo project, he released a 7" and before a few days this mini album called "Mountains + Valleys".  For his latest work he recruited drummer Utrillo Kushner (Comets On Fire, Colossal Yes) and Raymond Raposa (Castanets) on guitar and vocals. This mini album (released in cassette) features seven tracks based mainly in guitar moving mostly in calm, slow-tempo paths. Either if I'm not really into this kind of music, I really enjoyed this one 'cause Michael is definitely a skilled song-writer and knows how to create a beautiful emotive atmosphere with (relatively) simple means. 

* Thanks to Michael Kiefer from Twin Lakes Records for coming in touch.

You can stream / download / order it from his bandcamp page.

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Max Headroom - Stonerman's Friend (2011)

Many of you probably are familiar with Max Headroom's character and M.H. broadcast signal intrusion.. Not that has anything to do with the music here just an info from where the guys took their name. Anyway I recently found out about this power trio from Leiden, NL through an awesome youtube channel (orangesunshine6969, check it out for some really goood music). They formed in 2010 and they're currently working on their album.

This release is a collection of M.H.'s session recordings but nevertheless it is pretty damn good!! It features ten (mostly) instrumental tracks with total playing time of almost 2 hours. Great improvised stoner / desert rock jams full of psychedelia compiling a wonderful trip from desert to space and back. Recommended for fans of Colour Haze, Los Natas, 35007... Can't wait for a "proper" album by these guys...

You can download it for free from here.

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Sisters Of Your Sunshine Vapor - Spectra Spirit (2011)

When this blog was in its early days I have made a post about Sisters Of Your Sunshine Vapor, a Detroit-based psych band, for their debut self titled album released in 2009 (you can check it here). Well since then I have a special kind of love for this band. And when they contacted me about their new album "Spectra Spirit" I got really excited. While I was listening to their new album, the excitement got bigger. And it's still growing every time I get back to it.  So you have my apologies if Ι won't sound objective but this album is fuckin' great.

The album features nine tracks of dark, mellow, fuzzy, sometimes heavy, aggressive in a way, bluesy psych rock. Hell of description, don't you think? They managed to create amazing soundscapes and a very dark (almost gloomy) atmosphere. The songs are connected perfectly with each other and the fact that it's recorded in analog equipment is a plus in record's feeling. I also loved the layered vocals as well as the lyrics which moving in surreal, meditative themes. If (under a gun) I had to pick some favorites, these would be "Untitled", "Black Mind" and "Sweet Girl Insanity".

I don't know how many of you have already checked SOYSV but I think is time to do it. "Spectra Spirit" is a well-written, well-performed and well-recorded work which I have no doubt that it'll please you. If you have the chance to catch them live, don't miss it (you can check their tour dates in the website). Their shows are an audio-visual excellence.

The album will be out in a few days (11th November). You can stream it or pre-order the vinyl from their website.

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The Heavy Hills - The Heavy Hills Roll (2011)

The Heavy Hills are a Californian band I learned through Purple Mercy (check their album too). They released "The Heavy Hills Roll" this summer and it's recorded in 2010. If you checked Purple Mercy and you liked them, then give a listen to this one too. Great psyched out rock with a lot of fuzz and droning as well as some shoegaze touches. Influences of 60's/70's garage psychedelia are present too. Blurry, liquid tunes capable of bringing to an hypnotic state...

You can download it for free from their bandcamp page.

Also you can find and download for free their two previous EPs through their myspace.

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Dreamtime - Dreamtime LP (2011)

A while ago I had made a post about Brisbane's Dreamtime right here for the EP they released. Their LP is finally out and you should check it out 'cause is damn good...

You can download it by paying anything you want or buy the vinyl from their bandcamp page.

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Purple Mercy - Private Pleasures (2011)

I don't know how many of you had checked California's Purple Mercy's same-titled debut album two years ago... It was a fine sludgy doom-crushing one. Well forget about what you heard back then. Now they're like a completely different band. "Private Pleasures" is a 70's psych influenced release with a lot of swirling, fuzzed-out guitars, a pinch of drones from time to time and some desert rock groove packed in a spaced-out outfit. I really liked their first one and I definitely love this one. A worth-checking release which caught me by surprise (since I was expecting something completely different).

You can download it from their bandcamp page by paying anything you want.
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Viaticum - Trip Me Tender EP (2011)

Here is some fine space / psych rock from Switzerland. Viaticum are a four-piece band and few months age they released their debut EP featuring six tracks with total play-time of 46 minutes. These guys are definitely great players and know how to create excellent kosmik tunes. They're getting heavy from time to time but also have great lost-in-space melodies. The tracks' structure is amazingly good and they don't have a single moment of disappointment or boredom. Vocals work great too. This is a "mature" release showing us that Viaticum know exactly what they're doing. A band with great potentials for the future and a release which is going to be loved by all space-heads out there. No doubt about that!

You can download "Trip Me Tender" from their bandcamp page for free.

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Terminal Cheesecake - Angels In Pigtails (1990)

I started to write this post a lot of times... But none of them described this band (and this album) as I wanted to. So fuck it. I'm not going to write anything. You have to check it either you're into psych or noise or drone or anything experimental. Enough said.

Enjoy!!

You can find a good bio of the band here.

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Rock Trips Mixtape Vol. 11

After the previous Rock Trips weird-o-tape, the radio show got back on track (only God knows what the future brings though...). Both Sakis and Markos chose great tracks and because I don't want them to say that I'm a bad guy, I give them my congratulations for the eleventh part (31.10) of Rock Trips comps. Enjoy!!!

White Boy And The Average Rat Band - White Boy And The Average Rat Band (1980)

Recently I found out about this gem coming from 1980. I couldn't find many info about the band though (even where they are from. Baltimore? Richlands? I can't say...). There is a rumor - I don't know if it's true - that "TWBaTARB" was one-man band and he just got some more guys to fill the cover. If anyone has more info about the band, please enlighten me. Anyway the point is that here we have a fine heavy, fuzzed-out, speedy proto-metal album that it fairly gained its cult status. Probably most of you have listened to it already but if not just give it a try! 

Enjoy!

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Nixon Now - Altamont Nation Express (2005)

Nixon Now were a four-piece band from Hamburg, Germany. They released a couple of records at middle-00's and one of them is "Altamont Nation Express" (their best one if you ask me). They play high-voltage heavy rock 'n' roll and they definitely praise MC5 (actually they could be their incarnation). In "A.N.E.", Nixon Now release a pure raw rock fury, full of steroids and fuzzy riffs. They managed to capture the energy of MC5 in their sound from the first to the last minute of the record. You gotta check this! 

Enjoy!!

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Rock Trips Mixtape Vol. 10

Rock Trips Mixtapes reached their 10th "release". This one is from last week's show (24.10). I have to state that I'm not responsible for any of the tracks you're going to hear.... Mixtape's cover image is my one and only contribution to this one (and it's symbolic too...). Nothing more to say. I hope and pray at least one of you to enjoy it! Your congrats (if there are any) to mr. Markos and mr. Sakis (who obviously lost their minds!!)...  

Bonnet People - Demo(n) (2011)

I recently received a mail from Bonnet People for checking out their debut release "Demo(n)". Judging by their name - Bonnet People : people who "suffer" from Charles Bonnet Syndrome are mentally healthy people with often significant visual loss, who have vivid, complex recurrent visual hallucinations (fictive visual percepts). One characteristic of these hallucinations is that they usually are "lilliput hallucinations" (hallucinations in which the characters or objects are smaller than normal. The most common hallucination is of faces or cartoons.  Quite interesting condition if you ask me - I thought that they'll play at least something interesting. And after listening to it a few times, my thoughts were confirmed. 

Their music is totally instrumental based in jazz and avant-rock. Their compositions have a good amount of psychedelia in them and an amazing dark feeling from the beginning 'til the end. Don't expect extremities in their sound. The fear here is smoldering. It burns you without knowing it. It's like a calm visit of Phobos when you're sleeping. I think that this five-track release would fit perfectly as a soundtrack for a dark horror movie full of hallucinations and surreal images. Excellent stuff.

You can download it for free through their bandcamp page.

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