Greenleaf, Stoned Jesus & Somali Yacht Club Touring This Fall

Posted in Whathaveyou on August 15th, 2022 by JJ Koczan

Even by the terrifying scale of my own self-imposed pity parties, it feels like a real wank to be bummed out about this, but there’s a part of me that is anyway. What started this past March as an ultra-Swedish run with Greenleaf, Truckfighters and Asteroid, then just became Greenleaf and Truckfighters has instead morphed with the also-canceled prior Stoned Jesus and Somali Yacht Club tour to become a powerhouse Sverige/Ukraine triple-whammy, and though I was slated to attend originally in March and then again this Fall, well, my flight’s been canceled and no, I’m not going on this tour, I’m not writing a book about it and I’m not going to see any let alone all of these shows, including that Erfurt date Sept. 23 with Colour Haze, which I don’t give a fuck who you are or how many gigs you’ve seen is some remember-it-for-the-rest-of-your-life shit right there. So yes, pity party.

The reasons for tour jumblage could hardly be more valid. Plague, war in Ukraine, one of the dudes in Truckfighters expecting a baby — pretty sure it’s Niklas, so congrats to his expanding family — and no, it wasn’t really feasible given my own life situation at this point, but on the scale of escapist daydreams, this is probably the shttiest gonna-do-a-thing-then-not I’ve hit into since that time I didn’t go to Australia with Kings Destroy and Radio Moscow. Glad it’s happening though either way, so I guess call it bittersweet.

You’ll recall Somali Yacht Club earlier this year released The Space (review here) as their label-debut for Season of Mist. Stoned Jesus are ramping up to issue their own new album — the announcement for which I expect pretty much as soon as I publish this post — on the same label and have prefaced it with the single “Porcelain” that you can stream below, along with tracks from Somali Yacht Club and Greenleaf, who released Echoes From a Mass (review here) last year on Napalm and announced back in March they’d signed to Magnetic Eye Records for their next LP.

Anyway, with the caveat that that Stoned Jesus news is probably going to hit my inbox in like 40 minutes at 10AM when everyone sends their good-morning press releases out, here are the tour dates. More to come on all three of these bands because they’re rad and I enjoy writing about them. This comes from Sound of Liberation via socials.

Peace:

Stoned jesus Somali yacht club Greenleaf tour Square

GREENLEAF, STONED JESUS & SOMALI YACHT CLUB – ROOTS OF HEAVINESS TOUR 2022

Hey friends,

we’re happy to announce that Stoned Jesus, Somali Yacht Club and Greenleaf will hit the road again this September as a triple pack. The two Ukrainian bands Somali Yacht Club and Stoned Jesus are allowed to leave their country again despite covid and war. We are super grateful to have the bands with us and can’t wait to finally see them live again! Teaming up with the mighty Greenleaf from Sweden it will be a tour packed with powerful riffs against war!

Check out the tourdates below, grab your tickets and join the party!

20.09.2022 (DE) Wiesbaden, Schlachthof
21.09.2022 (DE) Leipzig, WERK2-Kulturfabrik
23.09.2022 (DE) Erfurt, Zughafen (w/ Colour Haze)
24.09.2022 (DE) Siegen, Vortex
25.09.2022 (DE) Hamburg, Gruenspan
26.09.2022 (DE) Berlin, Zukunft am Ostkreuz
27.09.2022 (DE) München, Backstage
28.09.2022 (AT) Salzburg, Rockhouse
29.09.2022 (IT) Milano, LEGEND CLUB
01.10.2022 (AT) Vienna, Viper Room Vienna
02.10.2022 (CH) Pratteln, UP IN SMOKE FESTIVAL 2022

Cheers,
Your SOL-Crew

www.facebook.com/greenleafrocks
https://www.instagram.com/greenleafband/

https://www.facebook.com/stonedjesusband
https://www.instagram.com/stonedjesusband/
http://stonedjesus.bandcamp.com/
https://stonedjesus.bigcartel.com/

http://facebook.com/Somaliyachtclub
http://somaliyachtclub.bandcamp.com
http://instagram.com/somaliyachtclub

https://www.facebook.com/seasonofmistofficial
http://www.season-of-mist.com/

http://store.merhq.com
http://magneticeyerecords.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MagneticEyeRecords

Greenleaf, “Tides” official video

Stoned Jesus, “Porcelain”

Somali Yacht Club, “Silver” official video

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Stoned Jesus to Reissue First Communion Aug. 21

Posted in Whathaveyou on June 11th, 2020 by JJ Koczan

stoned jesus (photo by Yuriy Milchak)

This reissue of Stoned Jesus‘ 2010 debut album, First Communion (discussed here) follows on the heels of Napalm Records compiling their demos onto last year’s From the Outer Space release, as well of course as their fourth long-player, 2018’s Pilgrims (review here). The band canceled tour dates earlier this year celebrating the 10th anniversary of the album and their existence more generally, and that’s a bummer if a universal one, but at least the record’s getting back out there. When I heard it in 2011 the Sleep vibe hit me heavy, but I wasn’t complaining about it then and I’m not complaining about it now either. These cats have always known how to make an impression.

I’m a little wistful here because I was hoping to see them for the first time in the US at Desertfest NYC in September and that’s been called off, but so it goes. “Life sucks and then you die,” as my dear mother used to tell me.

On that note, to the PR wire:

stoned jesus first communion reissue

STONED JESUS to Re-Release Groundbreaking Debut Album First Communion on August 21, 2020 via Napalm Records!

STONED JESUS’ electrifying re-release of First Communion on CD and vinyl (incl. new bonus track)!

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of their trailblazing debut album, stoner prog visionaries STONED JESUS are turning back the clocks and re-releasing their stoner doom offering, First Communion, on August 21st via Napalm Records.

Four hard hitting, sludgy originals are enriched with an unreleased demo version of “Red Wine”, presenting a heavy blend of uncompromising rawness and previously unheard nuances. Tracks such as “Black Woods”, with over four million of hits on YouTube, mark their peerless standing in the scene. With First Communion, STONED JESUS lays the raw cornerstone for their unmistakable signature style, melting barriers across genre boundaries in its wake.

Pre-Order your version of First Communion HERE

First Communion tracklist:
1. Occult
2. Black Woods
3. Red Wine
4. Falling Apart
5. Red Wine (Demo Version)

First Communion will be available in the following formats:**
– CD
– 1 LP Gatefold Black
– 1 LP Gatefold Purple (Napalm Records Shop / limited to 100 / EU only)
**See the North American Napalm Mailorder Webstore for more merch bundles!

Stoned Jesus is:
Igor Sydorenko – Vocals & Guitars
Serhij Sljussar – Bass
Dmytro Zinchenko – Drums

https://www.facebook.com/stonedjesusband
https://www.instagram.com/stonedjesusband/
http://stonedjesus.bandcamp.com/
www.napalmrecords.com
www.facebook.com/napalmrecords

Stoned Jesus, First Communion (2011)

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Quarterly Review: Sunn O))), Crypt Sermon, The Neptune Power Federation, Chron Goblin, Ethereal Riffian, Parasol Caravan, Golden Core, Black Smoke Omega, Liquid Orbit, Sun Below

Posted in Reviews on January 10th, 2020 by JJ Koczan

quarterly review

Hey all, we made it to the final day of the Winter 2020 Quarterly Review, so congrats to ‘us’ and by us I mean myself and anyone still reading, which is probably about two or three people. On my end today is completely manic in terms of real-life, offline logistics — much to do — but no way I’m letting one last batch of 10 reviews fall by the wayside, so rest assured, by the time this goes live, it’ll be complete, even though I’ve had to swap things out as some stuff has been locked into other coverage since I first slated it. Plenty around waiting to be written up. Perpetually, it would seem.

But before we dive in, thank you for reading if you’ve caught any part of this QR. I hope your 2020 is off to an excellent start and that finding new music to love is as much a part of your next 12 months as it can possibly be.

Quarterly Review #41-50:

Sunn O))), Pyroclasts

sunn o pyroclasts

The narrative — because of course there’s a narrative; blessings and peace upon it — is that drone-metal progenitors Sunn O))), while in the studio recording earlier-2019’s Life Metal (review here) with Steve Albini, began each day doing a 12-minute improvised modal drone working in a different scale. They used a stopwatch to keep time. Thus the four tracks of Pyroclasts were born. They all hover around 11 minutes after editing, which settles neatly onto two vinyl sides, and it’s the rawer vision of Sunn O))), with just Greg Anderson and Stephen O’Malley‘s guitars, rather than some of the more elaborate arrangements which they’ve been known to undertake. That they’d put out two studio records in the same year is striking considering it had been four years since 2015’s Kannon (review here), but I think the truth of the matter is they had these tapes and decided they were worth preserving with a popular release. I wouldn’t say they were wrong, and the immersion here is a good reminder of the core appeal of Sunn O)))‘s conjured depths.

Sunn O))) on Bandcamp

Southern Lord Recordings website

 

Crypt Sermon, The Ruins of Fading Light

Crypt Sermon The Ruins of Fading Light

Traditional doom rarely sounds as vital as it does in the hands of Crypt Sermon. The Philly five-piece return with The Ruins of Fading Light on Dark Descent Records as an awaited follow-up to 2015’s Out of the Garden (review here) and thereby bring forth classic metal with all the urgency of thrash and the poise of the NWOBHM. Frontman Brooks Wilson — also responsible for the album art — is in command here and with the firm backing of bassist Frank Chin and drummer Enrique Sagarnaga, guitarists Steve Jannson and James Lipczynski offer sharpened-axe riffs and solo scorch offset by passages of keyboard for an all the more epic vibe. The rolling “Christ is Dead” is pure Candlemass, but the galloping “The Snake Handler” might be the highlight of the 10-track/55-minute run, though that’s not to take away either from the Dehumanizer chug of “Key of Solomon” or the melodic reach of the closing title-track either. Take your pick, really. It’s all metal as fuck and glorious for that. If they don’t sell denim jackets, they should.

Crypt Sermon on Thee Facebooks

Dark Descent Records on Bandcamp

 

The Neptune Power Federation, Memoirs of a Rat Queen

the neptune power federation memoirs of a rat queen

“Can you dig what the Imperial Priestess is laying down?” is the central question of Memoirs of a Rat Queen, the first album from Sydney, Australia’s The Neptune Power Federation to be released through Cruz Del Sur Music, and it arrives over an ELO “Don’t Bring Me Down”-style arena rock beat on leadoff “Can You Dig?” as an intro to the rest of the LP. Strange, epic, progressive, traditional, heavy and cascading rock and roll follows, as intricate as it is immediately catchy, and whether it’s “Watch Our Masters Bleed” or “I’ll Make a Man out of You,” the Imperial Priestess Screaming Loz Sutch and company make it easy to answer in the affirmative. Arrangements are willfully over the top as “Bound for Hell” and “The Reaper Comes for Thee” engage a heavy rocker take on heavy metal’s legacy, maddened laughter and all in the latter track, which closes, and the affect on the listener is nothing less than an absolute blast — a reminder of the empowering sound of early metal on a disaffected generation in the late ’70s and early ’80s and how that same fist-pump-against-the-world has become timeless. No doubt the costumes and all that make The Neptune Power Federation striking live, but as Memoirs of a Rat Queen readily steps forward to prove, the songs are there as well.

The Neptune Power Federation on Thee Facebooks

Cruz Del Sur Music on Bandcamp

 

Chron Goblin, Here Before

chron goblin here before

Have Chron Goblin been here before? The title of their album speaks to a kind of creepy deja vu feeling, and that’s emblematic of the Canadian band’s move away from the party rock of their past offerings, their last LP having been Backwater (review here) 2015. Fortunately, while they seek out some new aesthetic ground, the 11 tracks of Here Before do maintain Chron Goblin‘s penchant for straight-ahead songcraft and unpretentious execution — and frankly, that wasn’t at all broken. Neither, perhaps was the let’s-get-drunk-and-bounce-around spirit of their prior work, but they sound more mature in a song like the six-minute “Ghost” and “Slipping Under” (premiered here) successfully melds the shift in presentation with the energy of their prior output. Maybe it’s still a party but we watch horror movies? I don’t know. They’ve still got “Giving in to Fun” early in the tracklisting — worth noting it follows the swaying “Oblivion” — so maybe I’m misreading the whole thing, or maybe it’s more complex than being entirely one thing or the other might allow for. Perish the thought. Either way, can’t mess with the songs.

Chron Goblin on Thee Facebooks

Chron Goblin on Bandcamp

 

Ethereal Riffian, Legends

ethereal riffian legends

Ukrainian heavy rockers Ethereal Riffian make a pointed sonic shift with their Legends album (on Robustfellow), keeping some of the grunge spirit in their melodies as the eight-minute “Moonflower” and closer “Ethereal Path” show, but in songs like “Unconquerable” and the early salvo of “Born Again,” “Dreamgazer” and “Legends” and even the second half of “Kosmic” and “Pain to Wisdom,” they let loose from some of the more meditative aspects of their past work with a fiery drive and a theme of enlightenment through political and social change. A kind of great awakening of the self. There’s still plenty of “ethereal” to go with all that “riffian” in the intro “Sage’s Alchemy,” or the first half of “Kosmic” or the CD bonus “Yeti’s Hide,” but no question the balance has tipped toward the straightforward, and the idea seems to be that the electrified feel is as much a part of the message as the message itself. The only trouble is that since putting Legends out, Ethereal Riffian called it quits to refocus their energies elsewhere in the universe. Are they really done? I’m skeptical, but if so, then at least they went out trying new things, which always seemed to be a specialty, and on a note of directly positive attitude.

Ethereal Riffian on Thee Facebooks

Robustfellow Productions on Bandcamp

 

Parasol Caravan, Nemesis

parasol caravan nemesis

A second long-player behind 2015’s Para Solem, the eight-song/35-minute Nemesis is not only made for vinyl, but it’s made for rockers. Specifically, heavy rockers. And it’s heavy rock, for heavy rockers. Based in Linz, Austria, the double-guitar four-piece Parasol Caravan have their sound and style on lockdown, and their work, while not really keeping any secrets in terms of where it’s coming from in its ’70s-via-’90s modern take, is brought to bear with a clarity that seems particularly derived from the European heavy rock tradition. Para Solem was longer and somewhat fuzzier in tone, but the stripped down approach of the title-track at the outset and its side B counterpart, “Serpent of Time” still unfold to a swath of ground covered, whether it’s in the subdued instrumental “Acceptance” or “Transition,” which follows the driving “Blackstar” and closes the LP with a bit of a progressive metal edge. Even that has its hook, though, and that’s ultimately the point.

Parasol Caravan on Thee Facebooks

Parasol Caravan on Bandcamp

 

Golden Core, Fimbultýr

golden core fimbultyr

The title Fimbultýr translates to “mighty god” and is listed among the alternative names of Odin, which would seem to be who Oslo’s Golden Core have in mind in the leadoff title-track of their second album. Issued through Fysisk Format, it is not necessarily what one thinks of as “Viking metal” in the post-Amon Amarth or post-Enslaved context, but instead, the eight-song collection unfolds a biting modern sludge taking an edge of the earlier Mastodon lumber and bringing it to harshly-vocalized rollout. The 11-minute “Runatal” and only-seconds-shorter “Buslubben” are respective vocal points around which sides A and B of the release center, and each finds a way to give like emphasis to atmosphere and extremity, to stretch as well as pummel, and much to Golden Core‘s credit, they seem not only aware of the changes they’re presenting in their material, but in control of how and when they’re executed. The resulting linear flow of Fimbultýr, given the shifts within, isn’t to be understated as a victory on the part of the band.

Golden Core on Thee Facebooks

Fysisk Format on Bandcamp

 

Black Smoke Omega, Harbinger

Black Smoke Omega Harbinger

Harbinger may well be just that — a sign of things to come. The debut offering from Black Smoke Omega wraps progressive death-doom and gothic piano-led atmospherics around a thematic drawing from science-fiction, and while I’m not certain of the narrative being told by the Dortmund, Germany-based band, their method for telling it is fascinating. It’s not entirely seamless in its shifts, and it doesn’t seem like the band — seemingly spearheaded by multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Jack Nier, though Ashley James (The Antiquity) plays guitar on “A Man without a Heart” and Michael Tjanaka brings synth/piano to “Kainé” — want it to be, but there’s no denying that by the time “Falling Awake” seems to provide some melodic resolution to the often-slow-motion tumult prior, it’s doing so by bringing the different sides together. It’s a significant journey from the raw, barking shouts on “The Black Scrawl” and the lurching-into-chug-into-lurch of “The Man without a Heart” to get there, however. But this, too, seems to be on purpose. How it all might shake out feels like a question for the next release, but Black Smoke Omega seem poised here to leave heads spinning.

Black Smoke Omega on Thee Facebooks

Black Smoke Omega on Bandcamp

 

Liquid Orbit, Game of Promises

Liquid Orbit Game of Promises

While on the surface, Liquid Orbit might be on familiar enough ground with Game of Promises for anyone who has encountered the swath of up-and-comers working in the wake of Blues Pills, the Bremen, Germany, five-piece distinguish themselves through not just the keyboard work of Anders alongside Andree‘s guitar, Ralf‘s bass, Steve‘s drums and Sylvia‘s vocals, but also the shifts between funk, boogie, and edges of doom that play out in songs like “Shared Pain” and “Please Let Her Go,” as well as the title-track, which starts side B of the Nasoni Records-issued vinyl with a highlight guitar solo and an insistent snare tap beneath that works to bring movement to what’s still one of Game of Promises‘ shorter tracks at six and a half minutes, as opposed to the earlier eight-minute-toppers on side A or the psych-prog finale “Verlorene Karawane,” which translates in English to “lost caravan” and indeed basks in some Mideastern vibe and backward-effects vocal swirl. Bottom line, if you go into it thinking you know everything you’re getting, you’re probably selling it short.

Liquid Orbit on Thee Facebooks

Nasoni Records website

 

Sun Below, Black Volume III

Sun Below Black Volume III

As the title hints, the name-your-price Black Volume III is the third EP release from Toronto’s Sun Below. All three have been issued over roughly a year’s span, and the three-piece of guitarist/vocalist Jason Craig, drummer/backing vocalist Will Adams, bassist/backing vocalist Garrison Thordarson — who as far as I’m concerned wins this entire Quarterly Review when it comes to names; that’s an awesome name — and two have featured covers. On their debut, they took on “Dragonaut” by Sleep, and on Black Volume III, in following up the 12-minute nod-roller “Solar Burnout,” they thicken and further stonerize the catchy jaunt that is “Wires” by Red Fang. They’ve got, in other words, good taste. Black Volume III opens with “Green Visions” and thereby takes some righteous fart-fuzz for a walk both that and “Solar Burnout” show plenty of resi(n)dual Sleep influence, but honestly, it’s a self-releasing band with three dudes who sound like they’re having a really good time figuring out where they want to be in terms of sound after about a year from their first release, and if you ask anything else of Black Volume III than what it gives, you’re obviously lacking in context. Which is to say you’re fucking up. Don’t fuck up. Dig riffs instead.

Sun Below on Thee Facebooks

Sun Below on Bandcamp

 

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Stoned Jesus Collect Early Demos on From the Outer Space out Nov. 8

Posted in Whathaveyou on September 25th, 2019 by JJ Koczan

stoned jesus (photo by Yuriy Milchak)

You know why I like Stoned Jesus? Because they rock. But also because of stuff like this: You’re about to dig into the PR wire info for an early demo collection Napalm is putting out from the Ukrainian heavy rockers on Nov. 8 called From the Outer Space. It brings together the band’s original first two demos as a limited LP and hey, that’s fun. It’s the band’s 10th anniversary, so great. Preorders are up now, etc., etc.

But in “unveiling” the first track from the release — such as it is an unveiling when something was already put out like a decade ago — the first thing guitarist/vocalist Igor Sidorenko notes in an evaluation of the song itself is that it’s, “hardly a masterpiece.” Way to sell it, dude. But what that tells you is just how important progression is for this band. Yeah, “I’m the Mountain” may have all those YouTube hits, but this is a band whose collective heart is always on the next thing, on pushing themselves forward to the next tour, the next batch of new songs. A release like this is cool for fans and those (like me) who didn’t hear the demos when they came out, and actually the gnarly-as-fuck tone on “The Sweet Whore of Babylon” is pretty rad, even if not nearly as developed as the band has obviously become on subsequent offerings. Has its appeal, is all I’m saying.

Anyway, here’s that PR wire info with the choice quote and much more:

stoned jesus from the outer space

STONED JESUS To Release Early Demos ‘From The Outer Space’ + Premiere Music Video!

Limited Vinyl Edition Due Out November 8th via Napalm Records!

2019 marks the 10th anniversary of Ukrainian stoner rock masters, Stoned Jesus. Tracks such as I’m The Mountain, with millions of hits on YouTube, are ultimate fuzz rock anthems. While Stoned Jesus started as a one-man project back in 2009, formed by frontman and band mastermind Igor Sydorenko, it would later become one of the most distinctive heavy stoner and doom rock bands the current scene has to offer. To celebrate 10 great years of Stoned Jesus, the band has a very special surprise and gift for their fans, as they release the first two demos in a compilation – From The Outer Space – available on November 8th via Napalm Records, and for the first time, as a limited Vinyl edition!

“We’ve been around for a whole decade now, so I figured it would be great to give something really cool to all our fans,” comments Igor, Stoned Jesus vocalist and guitarist. “But “From the Outer Space” is not a sign of things to come obviously, more like a snapshot of a memory. This is a page of our history for you to own”.

Remastered from the original demo recordings by Igor, these five long tracks retain the uncompromising rawness of material while adding some new, previously unheard nuances to the overall mix. Celebrate with Stoned Jesus in style, and watch this cool behind-the-scenes music video for the track The Sweet Whore of Babylon HERE!

“Being the first Stoned Jesus track ever written, “The Sweet Whore of Babylon” is hardly a masterpiece.“ Igor says. “Yet its relentless nature and raw sound perfectly show the beginnings of one-man-project-then/full-band-later. The video, carefully compiled and edited by me and Nastya Homenko from hours of archival footage, shows you the first ten years of Stoned Jesus in (almost) chronological order. Here’s to many more years to come!”

The tracklist From The Outer Space reads as follows:

1. The Sweet Whore of Babylon
2. Insatiable King
3. Eastern Magic
4. Occult
5. Black Woods

Better be quick, since this rare demo compilation by Stoned Jesus is limited to only 300 Vinyl copies! The pre-sale has just started at THIS LOCATION!

Stoned Jesus on Xth Anniversary Tour:
26.09.19 RO – Cluj- Napoca / Flying Circus
27.09.19 BG – Sofia / Mixtape 5
28.09.19 RO – Bucharest / Quantic Club
29.09.19 SRB – Belgrade / Bozidarac
01.10.19 BIH – Sarajevo / Club AG
02.10.19 CR – Zagreb / Vintage Industrial Bar
03.10.19 IT – Treviso / Altroquando Zerobranco
04.10.19 IT – Mezzago / Bloom
05.10.19 CH – Pratteln / Up In Smoke
07.10.19 DE – Passau / Zauberberg
08.10.19 PL – Sosnowiec / KOMin

15.11.19 DE – Cologne / Live Music Hall
16.11.19 DE – Neunkirchen / Gloomaar Festival
17.11.19 BE – Brussels / Botanique
18.11.19 FR – Paris / Alhambra
19.11.19 FR – Rennes / Antipode MJC
20.11.19 FR Toulouse / Rex
21.11.19 CH Geneva / L’Usine
22.11.19 IT Bologna / Freakout Club
23.11.19 AT – Salzburg / Rockhouse
24.1119 HU – Budapest / A38
25.11.19 DE – Munich / Feierwerk
26.11.19 AT – Vienna / Arena
27.11.19 DE Leipzig / Werk2
28.11.19 DE Hamburg / Markthalle
29.11.19 DE – Berlin / Festsaal Kreuzberg
30.11.19 DE – Stuttgart / JH Hallschlag

Stoned Jesus is:
Igor Sydorenko – Vocals & Guitars
Serhij Sljussar – Bass
Dmytro Zinchenko – Drums

https://www.facebook.com/stonedjesusband
https://www.instagram.com/stonedjesusband/
www.napalmrecords.com
www.facebook.com/napalmrecords

Stoned Jesus, “The Sweet Whore of Babylon” official video

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Ethereal Riffian Post “Unconquerable” Lyric Video

Posted in Bootleg Theater on August 15th, 2019 by JJ Koczan

ethereal riffian

Back in May, Ukrainian heavy rockers Ethereal Riffian premiered the first single of their upcoming album, Legends, which was the title-track, here. With it, the Kiev-based four-piece showed a marked shift in aesthetic, adjusting the balance between the “ethereal” and the “riffian” portions of their sound to affect a much more straightforward attack than one had come to expect from their meditative, slowly unfolding contemplations prior. “Unconquerable,” which is the third single from Legends, with “Kosmic” having come out in June, follows suit in its relatively direct approach, and its chorus lyric, “No one can put the limit on fearless spirit,” summarizes the general perspective from which it’s working. The band have never been shy about stating their intentions and motivations, and clearly this time around the aim is to capture that indomitable thing in humanity that compels us to move forward, to explore and reach new places and new ideas. It is an optimistic vision of both the future and the present, perhaps written from a place of encouragement, like an existential pep talk to a world that — and I don’t think this is overstating it — only continues to feel more thoroughly fucked by the day.

I’ll forego talking about politics or culture on any grander scale — both because I find it personally exhausting and because if I had any insight into any of it, I’d probably be running for office instead of writing about Ukrainian rock videos — but yeah, it’s pretty clear that along with Ethereal Riffian‘s more grounded sound on Legends, they’re also engaging real-world issues in a straightforward manner. More power to them — as well as to the people. It can be hard when living in a moment to place it in a historical context. That is to say, everything now feels urgent because we don’t know yet to what it will lead. We see this in America with a systematic dismantling of democratic norms, and certainly the Ukraine has more than its share of conflict at present as well. That Ethereal Riffian see the line of human progression as being that — one of progress — is encouraging in itself, but as the uptempo kick of “Unconquerable” demonstrates, it’s as much a motivation for the future as well as a reflection on the past. Their aim is to tap into that very spirit and manifest it as an answer to this pivotal-seeming and undeniably troubled age.

One thing and then I’ll let you get to the video: It’s a common misconception — bred in no small part by the purposeful narrative — that Rosa Parks was just an old, tired lady on a bus who refused to move for a white man. She may indeed have been that, but she was also a civil rights activist for more than a decade at that point, and way more of a freedom fighter than the bystander history sometimes casts her as being. She was, then, even braver than she’s often credited for being. Just a thought in response to the quote below from the band.

Enjoy the video:

Ethereal Riffian, “Unconquerable” lyric video

Please welcome the third single from ‘Legends’ album.

Official lyric video for ‘Unconquerable’ from ‘Legends’ album.
Video by Anastasia Homenko.

“Behind every legend, there’s a legendary act. Behind every legendary act, there’s an unconquerable spirit. Spirit devoid of any fear, doubt and indecisiveness. It’s an invisible force that made Terry Fox run 5,373 kilometers with one leg to raise awareness of cancer. It’s what inspired tender woman Rosa Parks to stand up for the rights of black people in one of the most racist states of America. It’s the inner strength that made a man in a loincloth named Gandhi to unite the Indian nation despite incredible opposition. It’s the spirit that our times need most. The spirit that awaits to be awakened in each of us.”

Thanks to: Beachfront, Magges, Tony, NASA, Motion Digital, Taylor Mefford, Simon Maldoct, Motion Places, Mark Schellenberg, Stockfootage, William Ehrendreich, Creative Film, Val Kornev Photography

Ethereal Riffian is:
Val Kornev (aka Stonezilla) – guitar/vocal/lyrics
Alexander Kornev (aka SAF) – bass
Max Yuhimenko (aka Southman) – lead guitar
Nikita Shipovskoi (aka Ship) – drums

Ethereal Riffian on Bandcamp

Ethereal Riffian on Thee Facebooks

Ethereal Riffian on Instagram

Robustfellow Productions on Thee Facebooks

Robustfellow Productions on Instagram

Robustfellow Productions on Bandcamp

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Ethereal Riffian Set Sept. 6 Release for Legends; Cover & Tracklisting Revealed

Posted in Whathaveyou on June 17th, 2019 by JJ Koczan

ethereal riffian

Just over a month ago, Ukrainian four-piece Ethereal Riffian saw fit to premiere the video here for the title-track of their forthcoming long-player, Legends. Details about the album at that point were pretty sparse, but now we’ve at least got cover, tracklisting and a proper release date to go on, as well as some information on the pressings. As ever, the Kiev-based meditative outfit have a host of differences between formats planned, including different masters and designs, as well as a box set edition to come from Robustfellow Productions. It is the band’s third album and first in half a decade — though they’ve hardly been idle in that time — and the release date is Sept. 6.

If you missed the video the first time around, it’s here at the bottom, and if you’re familiar with the band’s back catalog, I’m sure you’ll find it surprising in its straightforward attack. I’m still curious as to how that will play into the rest of the record, but at least now I know when we’ll find out.

From the PR wire:

ethereal riffian legends

Ethereal Riffian announce release details for “Legends”

Ethereal Riffian’s third full-length will be released via Robustfellow Prods. on the 6th of September 2019. Entitled “Legends”, the album will be available on CD/LP/MC and Digital format. Each album version will feature a different audio master and exclusive design. There will be a limited edition box prepared by the label and the band will allow you to dive deep into this massive legendary release.

‘Legends’ tracklist:

Sage’s Alchemy
Born Again
Dreamgazer
Legends
Kosmic
Unconquerable
Moonflower
Pain to Wisdom
Yeti’s Hide
Ethereal Path

The latest LP released by Ethereal Riffian, “Aeonian”, was released in January 2014, which makes of ‘Legends’ the band’s first full-length in more than five years. First single and music video from ‘Legends’ was released on the 14th of May. Artwork by Yura ‘xninja’ Nagorniy.

Ethereal Riffian is:
Val Kornev (aka Stonezilla) – guitar/vocal/lyrics
Alexander Kornev (aka SAF) – bass
Max Yuhimenko (aka Southman) – lead guitar
Nikita Shipovskoi (aka Ship) – drums

https://etherealriffian.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/etherealriffian/
https://www.instagram.com/etherealriffian/
https://twitter.com/EtherealRiffian
https://vk.com/etherealriffian
https://www.facebook.com/RobustfellowProds
https://robustfellow.bandcamp.com/

Ethereal Riffian, “Legends” official video

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Ethereal Riffian Premiere Video for Title-Track of New Album Legends

Posted in Bootleg Theater on May 14th, 2019 by JJ Koczan

ethereal riffian video thumbnail

One of the aspects of Ethereal Riffian‘s approach that I find easiest to appreciate is how much conscious thought there is put into their work. The Ukrainian four-piece are prone to making mini-documentaries (see here and here) explaining their motivations and the concepts with which they’re working, and it’s a clarity of intent that in my mind at least makes them all the more of a progressive outfit. They will release their third album, Legends, later this year through respected purveyor Robustfellow Productions, and they give an enticing first glimpse of things to come in their new video for the title-track.

By the time Legends arrives, it will have been five years since Ethereal Riffian‘s last studio full-length, 2014’s Aeonian, though they’ve certainly had plenty out in between with two live albums, an EP and the various behind-the-scenes looks at what they do. Still, a new album is an exciting prospect, and they show off a striking turn with “Legends,” leaving behind the ritualism that pervaded the four longform tracks of Aeonian in favor of a more direct, grunge-influenced style. Their sense of melody still holds sway, but “Legends” works in a context of hooks that’s new for Ethereal Riffian and in just four minutes, it makes a striking statement of where the band are at in terms of their sound. More riffian than ethereal, if you will. The image in the video of hammering out metalwork does not seem accidental.

I don’t know how much “Legends” ultimately will speak for the album that shares its name — I think we’ve got a while to go before we get there — but I’ll hope to have more as the release date comes closer. Until then, try to keep in mind as you make your way through the quick four minutes of “Legends” that nothing Ethereal Riffian do happens by mistake, and that this turn in sound is part of the overarching consideration they bring to their material all the time. They discuss it a bit below, but I wouldn’t be surprised either if they dive deeper into the concepts as the year plays out.

Enjoy:

Ethereal Riffian, “Legends” official video premiere

Official music video for “Legends” (taken from “Legends” LP, to be released by Robustfellow Prods. in the second half of 2019).

Mysterious spiritualized rockers from Ukraine, Ethereal Riffian, are presenting the first single and music video from their forthcoming third LP. Directed by iconic Ukrainian director, Viktor Priduvalov, the new music video for the track ‘Legends’ showcases a drastic contrast with the band’s previous works. Frontman, Val Kornev, explains the shift in the band’s songwriting and overall direction:

“With current crises in worldwide leadership, ecology, education and, most and foremost, consciousness, we just can’t wait any longer to finally start doing things right. Enough of this bullshit! Our turbulent times require courageous decisions and robust music. Music that can get you going even if you’re descending straight into the depths of hell and know that this day can be your last. This is what this track is about. It’s about legends and you can become one too.”

Ethereal Riffian’s third full-length album, eponymous to the single, is set to be released in the second half of 2019 via Robustfellow Prods.

Produced by: Re:evolution Film
Director: Viktor Priduvalov
Director of photography: Eugene Kredentser
Assistant Cameraman: Ilya Pravdiviy
Producer: Viktor Sema
Light: Max Ruban
Post-production: Mental dRive Studio
Track was recorded, mixed and mastered at Bobina Records

Ethereal Riffian is:
Val Kornev (aka Stonezilla) – guitar/vocal/lyrics
Alexander Kornev (aka SAF) – bass
Max Yuhimenko (aka Southman) – lead guitar
Nikita Shipovskoi (aka Ship) – drums

Ethereal Riffian on Bandcamp

Ethereal Riffian on Thee Facebooks

Ethereal Riffian on Instagram

Robustfellow Productions on Thee Facebooks

Robustfellow Productions on Instagram

Robustfellow Productions on Bandcamp

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Doomed City Release New Album Poetry of Simple Things

Posted in Whathaveyou on February 12th, 2019 by JJ Koczan

doomed city

Doomed City‘s first full-length under the new moniker — they used to be called 5R6 — seems to have been a while in the making. The Ukranian heavy rock four-piece released the single “Summer Break” last August and have newly followed up with the rest of the long-player, so I don’t know if the rest of the album wasn’t done or whatever, but Poetry of Simple Things, as it’s called, taps into hard and heavy rock and roll and has just an edge of metal to its proceedings. Perhaps it’s also telling that the record opens with “Your Opinion” and ultimately requests that you keep it to yourself. Can do, dudes.

I haven’t seen word of a physical release as yet, but it’s out now digitally, and you can stream it as well at the bottom of this post courtesy of Doomed City‘s Bandcamp, which also turned up the following info:

doomed city poetry of simple things

Doomed City – Poetry of Simple Things

Poetry Of Simple Things is a new album of Doomed City, the Ukrainian band formerly known as 5R6. The album was recorded in 2018 but it saw the light of day in 2019, 7 months after the band received the final master.

5R6 released several records, played a lot of concerts in Ukraine, toured Europe twice, but they played their last concert under that name in January 2018 closing the 5R6 chapter.

The name change was motivated by the changes in the band’s music. On “Poetry of Simple Things” you would rather hear distant echoes of Fugazi or Jawbox rather than influences of King Crimson or Tool as you probably would on previous albums. One of the things that stayed the same is that it is as always hard to classify the band’s music. The closest to doing so would be to say that it is alternative rock in a broad understanding as seen through the prism of each band member’s musical vision.

The diversity of Doomed City’s sound comes from the differences between personalities and vision of each band member and yet still there are more common points that it might appear at first glance. At the same time the album is not a random songs compilation, it is a panorama depicting the band’s evolution from the different angles.

1. Your Opinion 03:13
2. Bruised and Scarred 03:43
3. No Heroes 04:11
4. Not Enough 04:35
5. Will to Life 03:58
6. Charade 04:57
7. Summer Break 03:58
8. Just a Traveler 04:33
9. 61000 03:27

https://www.facebook.com/doomedcity.band/
https://doomedcity.bandcamp.com/

Doomed City, Poetry of Simple Things (2019)

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