Business is getting nastier in Napoli. Since Italy’s NAGA released their self-titled debut EP in 2013, their trajectory has consistently been a downward spiral — atmospherically speaking, not in terms of the quality of their output — into an inflicted and charred morass of grim post-sludge. As was manifest on 2014’s HEN (review here) and its 2016 Lay Bare Recordings-issued follow-up, Inanimate, the trio have only grown darker as they’ve moved forward into this realm of intended extremity, and their latest manifestation, the six-song/44-minute Spikerot release, Void Cult Rising, takes cues from spacious black metal on opener “Only a God Can’t Save Us” and uses them as a foundation from which to conjure post-metallic ambience in pieces like “Melete” and “Thanatou” — the latter serving as their “Stones from the Sky”-moment; can’t be post-metal without one — while keeping the bite in the screaming vocals of guitarist Lorenzo De Stefano. Through a lumbering churner like “Bedim the Sun” and higher-register-tension-into-utter-noise-wash of the penultimate “Pyre,” NAGA demonstrate the willfulness of their creativity and the purpose of their aesthetic evolution, the progressive mindset that’s brought them to the near-lightless place they now reside.

Void Cult Rising is the kind of album that reviewers plaster with hyperbolic warnings about not being “for the faint of heart,” and while I’ll spare you that — adding as I do that I hope this post finds you in good health generally; thanks for reading — it’s nonetheless true that anything so extreme is going to be all the more select in who can approach it on its own merits. If you can’t get down with vocal scathe, you might not find your place in NAGA‘s void cult — which, given the progression of the 14-minute title-track that closes, seems all the more like their very own incarnation of Amenra‘s “church of Ra” — and that seems just fine by the band. Clearly their exploration is about more than locking in maximum audience appreciation or they’d be a pop band. As it stands, Void Cult Rising is the most outwardly heavy and the most intentionally brutal thing they’ve done, as De Stefano, bassist Emanuele and drummer Dario — all three of whom have been on board since the debut EP — find sense in what to so many no doubt sounds like pure chaos. It isn’t, in fact, chaotic. It’s thought out, rife with expressive drive and uncompromising force.

As they move through the last march and noise-soaked abrasion of the title-track, with the song finally tearing itself apart past 11 minutes in en route to a long fadeout of static and feedback and other residual sounds, NAGA come across like they’re letting go into the void in question, but even giving that impression is a purposeful drive on the part of the band. Void Cult Rising is full of these kinds of realizations, and whichever end to which a given song might tip the balance of their aesthetic between post-metal, black metal, doom or sludge, the fact remains that all of it feeds into the central identity that becomes NAGA‘s own by the time they’re done. A third album, traditionally, is where a band finds the path that they’ll continue to talk as they go forward (those that do), and NAGA could certainly do a lot worse in terms of direction, but they don’t at all seem like they’re finished pushing themselves into new territory either, and that’s just as much a part of who they are as any individual riff, scream or crash presented here. They may be cohesive and sure of what they’re doing, but they by no means come across as settled or ready to settle. No. They’ll try to outdo this, and given the places Void Cult Rising seems willing to go, they just might do it.

You can watch/listen to the premiere of “Thanatou” below, followed by a quote from De Stefano about the song and more PR wire background, including the preorder link for Void Cult Rising, which is out Nov. 15 on Spikerot Records.

Enjoy:

NAGA, “Thanatou” official track premiere

Singer/guitarist Lorenzo De Stefano on “Thanatou”:

“‘Thanatou’ is part of the climax of Void Cult Rising and represents together with ‘Melete’ one of its most intense passages. In general the album is a meditation on death (melete thanatou for the ancient Greeks) given by a series of events in our lives that have left a mark in this regard and therefore inspired most of my lyrics. ‘Thanatou’ wants to depict a soliloquy of a dying man forced to be silent, he can hear his beloved ones around him but can’t express what he feels because of a sensory dulling, and he let himself go in a consideration on the human finitude, on his own life, in the inability to rely on any transcendence whatsoever. Toward the end there’s a quote from a Eugenio Montale verse that I’ve always loved: ‘Yet it remains that something has happened, perhaps nothing that is everything,’ which summarize in just a few words what I think remains of our lives from an atheistic point of view: the memory, nothing compared to eternity and yet for us all that matters.”

Italian Blackened Doom monster NAGA is ready to make their comeback in November with a new obscure effort called ‘Void Cult Rising’ following up the fortunate ‘Hen’ and ‘Inanimate’. Deeply grounded in the sulphurean atmosphere of their land, their aim is to deliver the biggest amount of distortion, heaviness and nihilism to your ears. No concept, no bullshits, no happiness, just sound anger and frustration to exorcise and reflect the greyness and despair of contemporary world.

Using the words of frontman Lorenzo De Stefano”Void Cult Rising is a meditation on death from a personal perspective, like for example losing someone dear, but also a global one like the end of all things”.

The Naples-based three-piece pick up where they left off, shaping a masterpiece of grief and nihilism.

Void Cult Rising will be coming out November 15th via Spikerot Records and is now available for pre-order RIGHT HERE

NAGA is:
Lorenzo – (Vocals and guitar)
Emanuele – (Bass)
Dario – (Drums)

NAGA on Thee Facebooks

NAGA on Bandcamp

NAGA on Instagram

Spikerot Records website

So, the promo stuff for BBF‘s second album plays up a psych-funky aspect to their sound, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that, as far as I’m concerned. When I listen to the new single “Sun,” though, which you can stream below, I get even more of a grunge vibe. Yeah there’s some acid funk shimmer in the lead tone and the vocals are surely carrying a good bit of soul — again, always welcome — but if it’s funk, it’s definitely not just funk, if you know what I’m saying.

While I’m refusing to disparage things, however, I’ll point out two considerations. One, the song rules. Two, diversity of sound is nearly a universal positive. So it’s a win either way. The release date for their record is in December, but I’m going to try not to let this one slip through the year-end cracks — there are so many — and will hope to have more to come before the record is out, though if you don’t want to wait, preorders are up now.

Info from the PR wire:

Psychedelic funk rock trio BBF reveal album details + first single!

Outside the Noise coming December 6th on Argonauta Records!

After rising label Argonauta Records have announced one of their recent band signings by welcoming Italy’s psychedelic, stoner and acid funk rock band BBF to their eclectic artist roster, today we finally get to hear some first tunes taken from the band’s upcoming, sophomore album Outside the Noise! Set for a release on December 6th 2019, you can now stream a first single to the soothing track Sun. Dive into the sound landscape of BBF right HERE!

BBF were formed in 2016 by Pietro Brunetti, Claudio Banelli and Carlo Forgiarini, who all share a deep-rooted passion for the sound of the 60s, 70s and everything that springs out of its creative sound and the world of rock. After the release of BBF’s first studio LP, Beside Everything We Need 70s, the band went through a period of great introspection, which helped them to become much more aware of their possibilities as musicians; new songs came to life, with a new and much more sophisticated and mature sound. In November 2018, the trio barricaded themselves in the studio to record their second album Outside The Noise, a psychedelic conceptual LP that wishes to help bodies and minds develop a greater sense of awareness and connection.

“This album was recorded entirely on tape, in an isolated home in the middle of the mountains of our region, in an environment which was completely deprived of any kind of noise.” BBF explains. “Our band was going through a pretty difficult time – things were not at all going smoothly between us and our personal life as well was going through quite a rough patch. This work therefore wishes to reflect this tough period of time and, especially, wishes to reflect our own willingness to escape all of the damn noise that was – and still is – surrounding us and flooding our minds. These 8 songs came out spontaneously, they were not planned, and they are the representation of all the difficult moments that each of us went through. They were conceptually similar to one another even before we developed the main conceptual idea of the album. The passing of time and a newly-developed awareness allowed us to align our minds and to embark upon the journey that would then become Outside the Noise.”

Outside the Noise Tracklisting:
1. Apollo
2. Third Eye
3. Time
4. Outside The Noise
5. Into The Light
6. Kaleidoscope
7. Sun
8. Harvest Moon (Ghost track)

Outside the Noise is available to pre-order via the Argonauta Records store at THIS LOCATION!

BBF is:
Pietro Brunetti (Electric bass, synth, vocals)
ClaudioBanelli (Electric and acoustic guitar, vocals)
Carlo Forgiarini (Drums and percussions)

www.facebook.com/BBFtrio
www.instagram.com/bbftrio
www.argonautarecords.com

BBF, “Sun”

I don’t know if I’m going to do a 2020 Most Anticipated Albums list. I didn’t for 2019 and it felt like a huge weight off my shoulders. And those things, honestly, are usually at least 89 percent bullshit anyway, because there are like three albums announced for past March when they’re being written and the rest of the post is like, “Duh, maybe we’ll get a new Tool album,” or whatever it is that people are waiting for and will click on. Wow. I think I might’ve just talked myself out of it (again). Sweet.

But anyway, if I was going to do that kind of list, the Feb. 21 release of Six Organs of Admittance‘s upcoming long-player, Companion Rises, would most certainly be on it. True, I’m a nerd for the long-running Ben Chasny-led project generally, but adding interest here is the fact that Chasny made the whole thing on his own, where other recent outings have involved a variety of players to the degree that at one point Six Organs was touring as a full band. A more purely solo vibe, even with arrangements done in layers, recalls earlier albums, and well, I like those albums, so mark me down as on board for this one when it comes down the line.

That’s all. Don’t expect that list, but expect me to write a silly gushing review just the same for this album sometime after I’m fortunate enough to hear it.

From the PR wire:

SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM COMPANION RISES OUT VIA DRAG CITY, FEBRUARY 21ST 2020

Six Organs of Admittance is back with a new record, new techniques in sound generation, and a new energy. Arriving three years after Burning the Threshold, Companion Rises has a driving force only hinted at previously. Due out on Drag City on February 21st 2020.

Methodologically, Companion Rises sometimes recalls the early-mid lo-fi Six Organs records, with digital processes substituting for the analog techniques of yore and, instead of Ben Chasny’s hand percussion overdubs, algorithmic programs generating rhythms. Ben Chasny created all sounds and programs, all the recording and mixed the entire record, also like some earlier ones – but don’t mistake this for a simplistic return to an older sound. Just one listen makes it clear that this new Six Organs of Admittance release is entirely in the present.

Sonically, the songs are bursting with ideas, harmonically rich, gorgeously arranged; utilising synthesizer and guitar distortion for unique colouring effects while crafting contrasting versions of the song within itself, overlaying electric and acoustic treatments that interlock like two shards to form a single key. The rush of excitement is palpable, track after track.

Thematically, Companion Rises navigates a similar Stellar-Gnosticism as 2012’s Ascent, while exploring a completely different set of stories. Whereas Ascent was locked into a narrative concerning a sentient Jupiter, Companion Rises presents a handful of folk-tales whose topics span in scope from panspermia to specific constellations, all written in a way that eschews old new age presentation tropes and embraces the now. One thinks of Octavio Paz’s oft-used metaphor of the concentric circle, as Companion Rises returns to a similar place but much farther out from the center.

With Companion Rises, Ben Chasny has created a Sci-Folk record that feels very much right-place, right-time as we welcome in the new decade. Listen to the first single “Two Forms Moving” above and preorder the new album for February 21st.

Pre Order – https://www.dragcity.com/products/companion-rises

Track Listing
Pacific
Two Forms Moving
The Scout Is Here
Black Tea
Companion Rises
The 101
Haunted And Known
Mark Yourself
Worn Down to the Light

www.sixorgans.com
https://www.instagram.com/6organs/
https://sixorgansofadmittance.bandcamp.com/
http://www.dragcity.com/artists/six-organs-of-admittance
https://ffm.to/companionrises

Six Organs of Admittance, “Two Forms Moving”

Six Organs of Admittance, Companion Rises video announcement

Alright, so stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but the new Bask record is pretty good. Yes, I know. You have heard it before. From me. You heard me speculating on it when the Asheville, North Carolina-based four-piece announced in April they were recording with Matt Bayles, and again in August after the album was done. Then came the “New Dominion” video (posted here) with the release date. Then I went ahead and actually reviewed III (review here) in the last Quarterly Review because I liked that single and wanted an excuse to dig further ahead of the Nov. 8 arrival. Then I got the chance to do the premiere of opening track “Three White Feet” (posted here) like the day after the review went live, and I wasn’t gonna say no to that. And now here we are. There’s another video, and I’m posting about that too.

The central thesis of all these posts is pretty much the same, and yes, I’m willing to admit that. Hey, you know that new Bask record III that’s coming out Nov. 8 on Season of Mist? It’s a good ‘un. You might wanna chase it down if you’re feeling some righteous modern heavy prog with a penchant for melody and just a touch of Southern edge via Baroness and the like. There you go. That’s all. That’s all it’s ever been.

It’s like the equivalent of being at the show and being the guy who says to someone from the band, “Hey man, great set.” That’s who I am. Often. Cool songs. New stuff sounds good.

Some new tour dates came down the PR wire. They’re back in Brooklyn on Nov. 23 and I should probably go even though that’s like the worst week ever and I’m apparently terrified of venues I’ve never been to before. Anxiety, man. Woof.

What were we talking about?

Enjoy the video:

Bask, “Rid of You” (official video)

Appalachian psych rockers BASK have shared the official music video for the new song “Rid of You.” The track is taken from the band’s upcoming album, ‘III,’ which will be released worldwide on November 8 via Season of Mist, making it their debut to the label. The video, which was created in analog format by Yovozol, can be seen HERE.

BASK comment: “We are excited to announce the third single, ‘Rid of You,’ from our upcoming album, ‘III.’ We’ve collaborated with analog video artist Yovozol to bring you this visual accompaniment. We hope you enjoy.”

‘III’ can be pre-ordered in various formats HERE.

BASK have previously announced a run of headlining North American dates in support of ‘III,’ including a hometown show on the day of the record release. The full itinerary is as follows:

BASK “III” Album Release Tour:
11/08: Asheville, NC @ The Mothlight **album release show**
11/14: Atlanta, GA @ 529
11/15: Columbia, SC @ Columbia Museum of Art
11/16: Greenville, SC @ The Radio Room
11/17: Richmond, VA @ Banditos
11/19: Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place
11/20: Ottawa, ON @ Cafe Dekcuf
11/21: Montreal, QC @ Turbo Haus
11/22: Cambridge, MA @ Hong Kong
11/23: Brooklyn, NY @ Gold Sounds
11/24: Baltimore, MD @ The Depot **Matinee Show**
11/25: Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
11/26: Kent, OH @ The Outpost Concert Club
11/27: Detroit, MI @ Sanctuary
11/29: Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor
11/30: Johnson City, TN @ The Hideaway

Line-up:
Jesse Van Note – bass
Scott Middleton – drums
Ray Worth – guitar
Zeb Camp – guitar/vocals

Guest Musicians:
Jed Willis – Pedal Steel on “Maiden Mother Crone”
Meg Mulhearn – Violin on “Maiden Mother Crone”

Bask on Thee Facebooks

Bask on Bandcamp

Bask on Instagram

Bask website

Season of Mist on Thee Facebooks

Season of Mist on Instagram

Season of Mist website

Yeah, of course you do, because you’re hip like that, but if you don’t keep up with Swedish improv-based jammers Kungens Män to the extent that one can hope to do so, you probably should give it a shot. Their second long-player of the year, Hårt Som Ben, is set to release on Nov. 29 and in following up the already-plenty-right-on Chef (review here), the six-piece lock in across five tracks and 37 minutes of blissed-out vibing that’s so laid back it might as well be actually telling you to calm down — which I guess it kind of is, just instrumentally — and do what they do well, which is explore.

They went out to the woods to make it, they’ll tour the UK for the first time to support it. No audio yet, but all the news is good.

And here it is:

KUNGENS MÄN – ‘Hårt Som Ben’ – November 29th 2019

Kungens Män hail from Stockholm, Sweden and have been around as a musical unit since 2012. Their inspiration comes from the drone, the rattle of the loose screw, the circuit failure of the effects, the phatness of the moog and from the very diverse wiring of a bunch of middle aged Swedish freaks. Kungens Män never plan the next musical move – it presents itself.

Nine months after their acclaimed album ‘Chef’ (also released on Riot Season) the band return with ‘Hårt Som Ben’, a stunning follow up with a debut UK tour to coincide. The LP is released in two variants, pink vinyl in pink sleeve, and black vinyl in black sleeve.

At the end of May 2019 Kungens Män packed a couple of cars full of instruments and life supporting essentials and drove into the woods of Värmland to spend three days in the legendary Silence Studio. It has hosted recordings by bands and musicians like Bo Hansson, Motorpsycho, The Hellacopters, Bob Hund and Union Carbide Productions, the presence felt and seen all over the place.

In between watching VHS tapes with Twin Peaks, Miles Davis and Roskilde Festival 92, cooking pasta, sleeping in bunk beds, Bruce Bannering shirts and chilling in the sun, Kungens Män managed to record about 13 hours of music. Some of it will never reach your ears, but here’s the first slab made public – Hårt Som Ben (translates to ‘Hard As Bone’) Not very hard, that is.

artist: KUNGENS MÄN
title: ‘Hårt Som Ben’
cat # REPOSELP086
Format: LP (Pink Or Black Vinyl)
release date: November 29th 2019

LP Tracklisting
A1. Hårt Som Ben
A2. Måttanpassad Minneslucka
A3. Evigetern
B1. Rose-Maries Bebis
B2. Patriarkivet

KUNGENS MÄN debut UK tour :
Dec 1: Glasgow, Nice ’n’ Sleazy
Dec 2: Newcastle, The Cluny 2
Dec 3: Todmorden, The Golden Lion
Dec 4: Manchester, The Peer Hat
Dec 5: Bristol, The Crofter’s Rights
Dec 6: Chelmsford, The Hot Box

KUNGENS MÄN are :
Mikael Tuominen – guitar & bass VI
Hans Hjelm – guitar
Gustav Nygren – guitar
Magnus Öhrn – bass
Peter Erikson – synthesizer
Mattias Indy Pettersson – drums & percussion

Plus guest appearance by:
Isak Sjöholm – drums & synthesizer

kungensman.bandcamp.com
facebook.com/bandetkungensman
instagram.com/kungensmanband
kungensman.tumblr.com
http://www.riotseason.com
https://www.facebook.com/riotseasonrecords

Kungens Män, Chef (2019)

[Click play above to stream ‘Dance Like a Reptile’ from Deaf Radio’s Modern Panic. Album is out Nov. 15 on Ihaveadrum.]

Denizens of the fervent, driven and admirable Athenian heavy underground, Deaf Radio made their debut with 2017’s Alarm (review here), released through their own imprint, Ihaveadrum. Like that record, the follow-up, Modern Panic, is self-released and sees the four-piece exploring a post-Josh Homme aesthetic, this time seeming to be in direct conversation with Queens of the Stone Age‘s 2013 album, …Like Clockwork. The clarity of production, the spaciousness of quieter moments like the title-track and the earlier “Animals” and even the striking colors and design of the cover art feed into this impression, as well as the vocal style of guitarist Panos Gklinos, joined in the band by guitarist/vocalist Dimitris Sakellariou, as well as bassist Dimitris Georgopoulos and drummer George Diathesopoulos, both of whom handle backing vocals, the compression of the guitar tone in up-front rockers like “Death Club” and “Dance Like a Reptile,” and the fact that it’s in the reaches of side B that Modern Panic makes its greatest and in this case most individualized statement. They do what they do exceedingly well, and I likely wouldn’t hold the Homme influence against them even if they didn’t — they’re hardly the only outfit with one, in any case — and the softer strum and underlying sense of build in the minute-long “Intro” before the rush of “Death Club” kicks in prefaces some of the more atmospheric elements at play both in Modern Panic‘s most thrusting moments and in its broader stretches.

As with Alarm, it is the job of Deaf Radio‘s songwriting to distinguish itself on the whole, and once again it does so with a marked fluidity throughout. “Animals” follows “Death Club” and pits airy, falsetto-leaning vocals against an atmospheric-sounding build as the band establish early on that their second LP will be about more than just careening riffs and the accompanying rhythmic rush. Nothing against that either, mind you. “Dance Like a Reptile” revives the momentum with one of Modern Panic‘s best hooks in its chorus and lead line, and the nine-track/43-minute offering makes a centerpiece of the prior-issued single, “Astypalea” (posted here), and reasonably so. Standing on its own, the song gave an initial ambience in its shimmering guitar and bass, but built up to a straight-ahead verse and chorus that was a sign of the growth Deaf Radio had undertaken in the couple years since their debut. Positioned as it is on Modern Panic, “Astypalea” plays an all the more critical role in providing the transition between the two halves of the record, the first of which is more forward and the second, which moves into broader-reaching and semi-psychedelic fare, almost post-rock at times, but always with a strong current of purpose and structure beneath. In addition to some highlight vocal interplay — an as-yet-underutilized asset on the part of the band; you’ve got four singers listed in your lineup, so make with the arrangements already — “Astypalea” shows the path forward for Deaf Radio in terms of establishing their own personality within the sonic sphere in which they’ve chosen to operate. What they do — if anything — with that potential avenue will of course be up to them, but it’s there should they want to see it.

Perhaps most crucially, “Astypalea” does this by bringing together the two sides of Modern Panic‘s persona as noted. The division between what comes before “Astypalea” and what comes after isn’t so thick a line, necessarily — there are rocking and atmospheric moments on both sides — but the centerpiece does the work often given to a closer in summarizing the outing as a whole. Where it is, however, that means it’s also an introduction from which a song like the title-track can launch outward, which it most definitely does. It’s here that Deaf Radio are maybe their most like …Like Clockwork, from the brooding croon at the outset to the payoff at the end, calling to mind the blend of linearity, methodical riffing and ambience in songs like Queens of the Stone Age pieces like “I Appear Missing” and “Kalopsia” from the mentioned album. Again, Deaf Radio wear it well, and on their sleeve. “Colours” comes to ground around some tighter fuzz and a more stead-ahead rhythm, with a dark boogie and that moves into an effective melodic wash in the chorus tying it to where it lies on the record — that is, making it fit between “Modern Panic” and the subsequent “Fossils” — a sudden ending after about four minutes in bringing a quiet reprise of the central guitar figure en route to the start of “Fossils,” which is the longest inclusion at 6:44.

Like “Astypalea,” “Fossils” draws a bit from all sides, but its divisions are less stark and so it’s all the more cohesive, and its slot as the penultimate cut on Modern Panic is of course no coincidence. Its immersive final push is the crescendo of the album as a whole, and it works well toward that end, less concerned with summary than with its own sweeping energy, and rightly so, as the one takes care of the other. That leaves closer “Gas Station People” as something of an epilogue, but an earned one, with a final showcase of Deaf Radio‘s emerging patience of craft and their ability to reshape their approach to suit the needs of a song’s mood. In this case, that means crashing out hard and slow into a long fadeout that leaves a weighty silence when the song, and thus album, is over. So be it. As much as Deaf Radio pull off the blend of edge and accessibility that so typifies the chief influence under which they’re working, the most satisfying impacts of Modern Panic come from the moments when the band let their more individualized side come through. “Gas Station People” is one, and whatever familiarity might coincide, even the most reminiscent parts of Modern Panic see some of the band’s spirit manifest. They are, then, headed in the right direction and working quickly to establish their place among the crowded sphere of Greek heavy rock. They’ve got the songs to get there — almost sneakily memorable, they are; you know them before you know you know them — and ultimately, that is what will continue to serve them best.

Deaf Radio on Thee Facebooks

Deaf Radio on Instagram

Deaf Radio on Bandcamp

Spinda Records will celebrate its second anniversary on Nov. 23 by hosting the inaugural edition of what it has suitably dubbed Spinda Fest. It’s a three-band bill — now that’s the kind of festival I can get behind — with a free warm-up show before that Doctor Sax are playing, and the fest proper will feature Viaje a 800, Bourbon and Grajo. In Algeciras, which is in the Andalusian home region of the bands. Fucking cool, right? Viaje a 800 have done just a handful of shows to this point celebrating the reissues of their first two records — which I very much need to review and kind of can’t believe I haven’t yet; enough that I just stopped writing this sentence and went and looked to double-check that I hadn’t, and nope, not there — and this will be the next one, and they’ll be joined for it by two more than companionable outfits of similar heavy psychedelic intent. What I’m saying here is if you can get there, you should. It’ll be cool.

Here’s the info, as run through a major internet company’s translation matrix and tweaked by me to preserve titles and whatnot:

What better way to celebrate the second anniversary of Spinda Records than with a party surrounded by friends?

And what a party! Point:

*** SPINDA FEST 2019 ***
* THE SOUTH CALLING *

23 NOVEMBER 2019, 20:30 H
SALA GRAMOLA, ALGECIRAS

FB event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2416998745249154/
FREE Warm-up party FB event: https://www.facebook.com/events/730956160676684/

VIAJE A 800 / Heavy Psych: after 2 years of celebrations with the reissues of ‘Estampida de trombones’ and ‘Diablo roto dë …’, and their performances at the Festival Sound Isidro de Madrid and at SonicBlast Moledo (Portugal), those of La Novena had to finish celebrating their 20th Anniversary as a band with a pitch at home, where they did not play since 2012. If you did not have the opportunity to see them on their previous dates of this year, do not miss this one because he finds out when they get back on stage … Madness is coming! Ready to scream?

BOURBON / Psych Hard Rock: after kicking Spain with their most recent work ‘Fuente Vieja’ (among the best albums of 2018 according to many national media), those from Sanlúcar arrive at the Spinda Fest to make us fly with their particular way of understanding the hard rock; full of Andalusian psychedelia and folklore. If you have not seen them live, you do not know what you are missing; and if you’ve seen them, your repeat fixed … what if?

GRAJO / Space Doom Rock: like a true steamroller, that’s how Grajo sounds on stage. If you still had a good ear, you have little left because they are going to burst on the basis of the best doom that is done today in Spain, seasoned with a lot of space rock and Andalusian essence. Crushing rhythms and sidereal journeys, with a simply “unique” voice. A little jewel, come on!

http://spindarecords.com/spinda-fest-2019
https://www.facebook.com/events/2416998745249154/
https://entradium.com/es/events/spinda-fest-algeciras-2019-viaje-a-800-bourbon-grajo
https://www.facebook.com/SpindaRecords

Viaje a 800, Diablo Roto De… (2019 reissue)

Earlier this month, Boise, Idaho’s Sun Blood Stories let out for the Pacific Coast to support the release of Haunt Yourself (review here), their fourth long-player. Interestingly, they characterize it as lacking a “noise aspect,” which I mean, I guess in comparison to some of what they did on 2015’s Twilight Midnight Morning (review here) or 2017’s It Runs Around the Room with Us (review here), one could argue it was less droned-out in some parts, but it didn’t strike me particularly as anything beyond a natural progression of where their sound was headed anyhow. But hey, you know, presumably when you’re in the band you feel differently about these processes. Fair enough.

Thus arrives Static Sessions: Vol. 1, a pure noise release that’s actually longer than the 45-minute album to which it’s intended to serve as companion. Comprised of just two tracks, it’s indeed more or less a wash of noise, and while I haven’t put it on at the same time as Haunt Yourself or anything like that (at least not yet) and I don’t think it was intended to be such a direct addenda to the album proper, there’s no doubting the fact that its echoing tones and experimentalist psychedelic vibe is Sun Blood Stories through and through. Maybe it’d work, I don’t know. The time doesn’t synch up, but whatever. It’d be fun to try.

Sun Blood Stories have a history of circa-Halloween outings — recall Samhain Variations (review here) from 2015 — but it’s been a minute, so even with the recent full-length out, I’ll take a little bit of noise happily.

I also like that the two tracks at “Chapter 7” and “Chapter 19.” I’m sure there’s a reason behind it, but the hint of a story in progress (the Vol. 1 also feeds this idea) adds another element of cool to the whole thing.

Streaming below, DL up on their Bandcamp:

Sun Blood Stories – Static Sessions: Vol. 1

In September of 2019, Sun Blood Stories released Haunt Yourself and while Haunt Yourself may be the most comprehensive and beautiful album from the band yet, the band thought the album lacked a certain noise aspect that they love. So to scratch that itch, the band recorded this noise album that you’ll probably hate.

Tracklisting:
1. Chapter 7 33:12
2. Chapter 19 23:37

Sun Blood Stories is:
Amber Pollard – keys/noise/vocals
Ben Kirby – guitar/noise/vocals
Jon Fust – drums

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https://sunbloodstories.bandcamp.com/

Sun Blood Stories, Static Sessions: Vol. 1 (2019)