Hey,
As you MAY have noticed, I haven't posted for a while now....for a lot of reasons which I don't find necessary to mention. Anyway I decided to put Stoned Sun Vibrations on hiatus and concentrate my efforts to Downtuned Magazine ('n' Radio). Many of you probably know that Downtuned Mag is dedicated to the Greek heavy rock scene but since I've started Downtuned Radio too, I'm thinking of including posts about releases from all over the world. Apparently I'm going to keep a ratio but we'll see how it'll evolve.
From now on, you can find me on Downtuned Mag. And for any bands interested in reviewing/including them in radio's rotation etc., you can come in touch with me through the contact form over there. As I wrote above. I'll try to keep a ratio and at least in the beginning I'll try to "promote" mostly "smaller", more independent bands that deserve your attention.
So I want to thank each and everyone of you out there who supported, read, promoted and helped this blog. Also a big fat thanks to all the bands which helped SSV in their own way.
That's all for now folks! Thanks again! Maybe SSV will be back someday. Or maybe Downtuned will become better than SSV.... Who knows.
Be well and stay heavy!
Cheers,
Thanos
PS: Rock Trips Mixtapes will be back soon.... They'll be the only thing posted from now on. Perhaps some other personal comps too.

19.1.12

Hypatia Lake - Ouroboros (2011)


If you belong to the ones that didn't check this release until now (like me), it's time to do it .. Fourth album for Seattle-based Hypatia Lake and a brilliant sample of good open-minded heavy psych rock. For a more complete review check what Soda Shop wrote about it.

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

Take A Look:

It's Not Night: It's Space - East of the Sun & West of the Moon (2011)


Formed in 2010, It's Not Night: It's Space is an instrumental band coming from New Platz, NY. Few months ago they released their debut EP "East of the Sun & West of the Moon" featuring four tracks of totally instrumental heavy psych with touches of drone and of course stoner rock... Vocokesh and Sungrazer combined in 28 minutes of great music...

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

Take A Look:

Tuber - Smoked Up Notes (Single, 2012)

Tuber - an instrumental desert rock trio from Serres, Greece, we've talked about them before right here - have just released a new digital single titled " Smoked Up Notes" which you can download it for free through their bandcamp page (where you also can find their 2010 same-titled EP).


Check it out:



Rock Trips Mixtape Vol.14


Here is the last mixtape from 2011. Fresh ones coming up soon....

Rock Trips Mixtape Vol. 13


After quite a long time due to some problems, we continue the "Rock Trips Legacy"... I'm going to post two mixtapes from 2011 and then we'll continue with some fresh ones. Cheers and enjoy!!

9.1.12

Bison Machine - Behold! O' Inhabitants Of The Mortar (2012)


One more band coming from Detroit and the first 2012 release I'm posting. "Behold! O' Inhabitants Of The Mortar" is (probably) Bison Machine's first release and it's a four-track EP. It was recorded live and in one take at Groovebox Studios in Detroid. All four tunes are great and they're moving in stoner rock paths and heavy blues routes. Definitely an excellent start for these guys and of course a must-check release!  

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

Cosmonauts Day - Paths of The Restless (2011)


"Paths Of The Restless" is the first full album by Moscow's Cosmonauts Day which unfortunately I didn't have the time to check it before 2011 ends... I'm impressed by the work these guys have done here. Their compositions are tight, extremely well-written and inspired. Their performance is moving in excellent levels too, building a deep, complex at times (but still easily enjoyable) structure that won't leave anyone untouched. Their music is described as space-driven post metal (sludge influences are less here). But unlike the majority of bands of this kind, their work is inspired and special - something hard to find in the post-scene these days (in my opinion always) - which leads me in the conclusion that Cosmonauts Day will stand out (basically they are already distinguished)  and offer us a lot of excellent points of reference in the future. 
*Thanks to the band for coming in touch.


You can download it by paying anything you want from their bandcamp.
MySpace # Facebook # Buy!

Take A Look:


The Reptilians - The Mentalist (2010)


Coming from Pocatello, Idaho, The Reptilians are a four-piece band and in 2010 they released a very interesting concept EP "The Mentalist" featuring one and only song which lasts 27 minutes. Quoting the band: "The Mentalist explores the mental deterioration of a religious fanatic faced with the loss of his faith, ultimately driving himself to insanity from his inability to allow the belief system he was raised with to coexist with the growing doubts as to what he has been taught is reality. The album is basically a commentary on the damage that any sort of faith-based belief system can have on someone faced with evidence contradictory to what they've been taught. Psychic powers, new-age ideas, religious belief, and similar topics. But dark as it may seem at times, the message is supposed to be motivational."
It's a great multi-layered work which grows continuously as you're listening to it. Among their music references you'll find sludge, progressive rock and post-metal elements, all combined with craftsmanship and resulting into a you'll-never-going-to-be-bored piece of work. The band is currently working on two new full-length releases so keep an eye on them.
*Thanks to Victor for coming in touch. 

You can download the EP for free (including a bonus track and a 37 page booklet of artwork for the album) from here.

Câimbra - É Tudo Uma Mentira (2011)


Câimbra is a Brazilian sludge metal band formed in São Paulo in 2009 and in 2011, the quintet released the 5-track debut EP "É Tudo Uma Mentira", which had been recorded live in 2010 and entirely self-produced. The record’s track "Vem Pra Cima" also features special guest singer Renato "Macalé" Joseph, from the late 90's Brazilian grunge band Emicaeli. Their music is an interesting mixture of sludge metal forms with hardcore bursts. Violence and aggressiveness are their music's main characteristics and the fact that the lyrics are in their mother tongue enhance the brain melting experience... They have already begun the production of their first full album.
*Thanks to Piettro from Câimbra for coming in touch

You can download it for free from their bandcamp.
Website # MySpace # Facebook

Take A Look :


Giant Brain - Plume (2007)


"It makes sense that a trio from Detroit would wish to re-create the constant-forward-momentum vibe of Neu!'s Motorik rock and Kraftwerk's Autobahn, given how both were so inspired by the trance-state engendered by highway hypnosis. Given Detroit's place as one of the key cities of American metal and garage rock, however, it's equally commonsensical that Giant Brain rough up their take on vintage Krautrock with heavy guitar riffs and muscular drumming more akin to vintage Stooges. The five lengthy tracks on Plume unfurl slowly -- "Looper" and "Krauter" alone account for 30-plus minutes of the album's running time -- but implacably, built on riffs that develop into invitingly hypnotic drones. Plume isn't at all the usual fare for the Small Stone label, which usually deals in full-on stoner metal, but it's an intriguing diversion that bodes well for future cross-cultural experiments as more of the stoner metal audience discovers the lysergic possibilities of vintage Krautrock." - by Stewart Mason at allmusic.com.


Take A Look :

5.1.12

Hey Colossus - RRR (2011)


London based Hey Colossus are back with a new album (which also includes a live bonus cd) and it's quite different from their previous ones. Of course sludge remains their basis but this one moves in more feeble, quieter soundscapes incorporating a lot of kraut rock elements (NEU! is the word) along with film scores' concepts and structures, leading to a great result that many of you are going to appreciate. Check it and you'll be rewarded...


Take A Look :

The Rise And The Fall Of The Pterodactyl - The Rise And The Fall Of The Pterodactyl (2011)


Now that's a name for a band.... And if you ask them how they'd describe their music, the answer will be "prehistoric rock". Not bad at all... Released one year ago, TRaTFoTP's debut is a quite impressive one. Acid-driven psych rock at its best. These guys have nothing to do with exaggerations, excessive poses and musical attitude... Just furious, straight-forward blues injected acid rock... They're the perfect example of assimilating influences (see Cream, Blind Faith, Hendrix or even Zappa) and by being a good musician bringing out something fresh and full of energy...

You can download it for free from their bandcamp.
MySpace # Facebook

Take A Look :

Temples - Periplaneta Nova (2011)


Third work for these Finnish guys released almost a month ago and probably their best one until now... "Periplaneta Nova" is a successful blend of stoner grooves, doom monoliths and psych jamming sessions. Heavy as hell, ritualistic at times but above all original as a band. Definitely a no-miss and I'm hoping we don't have to wait another two years for their next work to come out.

You can download it by paying anything you want (as well as their previous releases) from their bandcamp.

4.1.12

Slug Lord - Slug Lord (2011)


Few months ago I had made a post about Slug Lord, a Finnish sludge/doom band, right here. I had found a unofficial release containing their three myspace tracks. Well they released all their six songs in cd, recorded with their first line-up. As I said in my previous post, they're a totally worth checking band. So go and download their work...
*Thanks to yeoldstinkeye for pointing it out to me 'cause I'd missed it.

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

Take A Look :

Banda De La Muerte - Banda De La Muerte (2009)


Another awesome band coming from Latin America and specifically from Argentina. Banda De La Muerte released their same-titled album two years ago but I recently found out about it thanks to a usual suspect who tips me lately (thanks V.)... I have to say that I got really into their music after the first couple of listenings. Probably was something in their vocals (I'm not talking about the singing in their native language but in the way Xon is singing) which prevented me from enjoying as much as I wanted. Fortunately after a while I understood that they were as it should be and from this point only pros started to surface. Quality groovy stoner with a pinch of sludge blended with a hardcore/punk - a la Melvins - aggression and of course a whole bunch of coool crunchy riffs.
The guys entered the studio two days ago in order to start the recordings for their second album! Wish them good luck with it!

You can download it by paying anything you want from their bandcamp.
Website # MySpace # Facebook

Take A Look :

3.1.12

Pharaoh Overlord - Horn (2011)


"Horn" is Pharaoh Overlord's second release for 2011. I had posted "Out Of Darkness" here a while ago. The direction they took there, really disappointed me. But fortunately "Horn" came after and put my love for these guys back on track. Recorded live at 2010's Space Force Fest. in Lahti, it features four songs with a total duration of 46 minutes. The first two tracks (a cover of Spacemen 3 "Revolution"  and "Laibela") are based in repetitive riffs but Laibela has a more hazy, furious rock burst in its last part which makes it even better. "Solar Stomp" continues with this rock 'n' roll feeling and "Horn" closes in epic glory with "Sky", a spaced-out 13min nervous psych pandemonium which blows your head off. Amazing stuff and I liked it even more after the shock I had with "Out Of Darkness".


Take A Look :

Galaxies In The River - Home From Above (2011)


Here is another awesome release coming from Toronto... Galaxies In The River released their first four-track work of brilliant instrumental heavy psych blues... Glorious grooves influenced by the 70's heavy rock heroes, blues-ful souls and psych tripping which create 24 minutes of great, highly-enjoyable music. These guys are first-class players and "Home From Above" needs your immediate attention...
*Credits to yeoldstinkeye

Enjoy!!!
Facebook # Buy!!!

Take A Look :