I’ve been fortunate enough to have The Obelisk among the slew of included presenters for Calgary’s The Electric Highway festival, and I’m glad to be able to continue the thread in 2025. The site’s logo is down there on the poster, keeping company both good and plentiful, but if you’re drawn to the lineup itself rather than the ‘sponsors,’ that’s only reasonable. Bison will headline alongside Castle — two righteous Canadian exports, the latter with a new album out this past Fall — and Fever Dog wlil make the trip from California while Buffalo Bud Buster, The Getmines, Blacksmith and Brewer and La Chinga return, and others, including two Calgary locals to start each night, make first appearances.

It’s a rad mix and, again, thanks to The Electric Highway for letting The Obelisk have anything to do with it whatsoever. I’ll do an oldschool hip-hop shoutout to Billy Goate and Steve Howe. Woop woop and such.

Details as per the PR wire:

The Electric Highway Festival (Calgary, AB) Announces 2025 Lineup w/ BISON, CASTLE, LA CHINGA, BUFFALO BUD BUSTER and more!

April 4 & 5 – Dickens Pub

The Electric Highway 2025 Lineup Spotify Playlist – https://spotf.fi/ZQXtQay​

The Electric Highway Festival is excited to announce the full lineup for the 2025 edition of the Festival being held in Calgary, AB on April 4 & 5 at Dickens (1000 9 Ave SW).

Canadian veteran sludge metal band BISON headlines the whole festival while doom metal band CASTLE headlines Friday night. They will be joined by Southern California band FEVER DOG, and various Western Canadian bands including LA CHINGA, BUFFALO BUD BUSTER, THE GETMINES, 88 MILE TRIP, and more.
​
​The Final Full Line Up by Day:​
​
​Friday, April 4, 2025​
Castle (San Francisco/ Vancouver)
Buffalo Bud Buster (Calgary)
Blacksmith and Brewer (Vancouver))
CHÛNK (Vancouver)
Hydracat (Edmonton)
The Astral Prophets (Calgary)
BUNS (Calgary)
Doors 5pm – Show 6pm
​
​Saturday, April 5, 2025​
Bison (Vancouver)
La Chinga (Vancouver)
Fever Dog (Southern California)
The Getmines (Vancouver)
88 Mile Trip (Vancouver)
Lover (Calgary)
GEOFF (Calgary)
Doors 5pm – Show 6pm

Advance 2-day passes are available for $75. Advance single-day tickets are $40 for Friday and $45 for Saturday

Festival passes and single-day tickets are available at www.theelectrichighway.ca/festivalstore/​

Event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1149647296782460/​

​The Electric Highway Festival hosts various genres that range from Desert Rock, Stoner Metal, Doom, Sludge, Trippy Psychedelic, Surf Rock, Acid Rock, Noise Rock, Fuzz Rock, Space Rock, Blues Rock, Heavy Psych, Heavy Blues, Southern Rock, Fuzzy Punk, Sludgy Hardcore bands and variations of any of the previously mentioned styles. The festival includes a vendor area with interesting goods for attendees to take home with them.

Previous editions of the festival featured one of the event’s past favorites Californian headliners Sasquatch, Juno Award-winning Canadian band ANCIIENTS, Vancouver’s La Chinga, Space Queen, Dead Quiet, and more, Gnarwhal from Yellowknife, NWT, Calgary’s Gone Cosmic, Hombre, Flashback among many more, and a whole host of other great bands.

www.facebook.com/ElectricHighwayFestival/
www.instagram.com/TheElectricHighway
www.TheElectricHighway.ca

Castle, Evil Remains (2024)

Buffalo Bud Buster, “Two Days Shy” official video

Hey, here’s a tour I haven’t posted about in… days? But, you know, sometimes shows get added to a thing, then sometimes more shows get added to that same thing, and here we are. When last we left US jaunt from Bordeaux’s Mars Red Sky in the company of Nashville’s Howling Giant, the groups had added a stretch of Dec. 5-15 to the in-progress September stint. The span of dates is the same as of now, but the shows taking place over that time have begun to fill in. Asheville, Toronto and Youngstown are new here at least, so hey, if you live in one of those places, good for you. I see an open date where a New Jersey show could be handily slotted, but more likely they’ll split that drive from Philadelphia to North Carolina, because that’s a hike.

Also notable, Baltimore’s Black Lung will jump on board for the first four nights, in their hometown as well as Brooklyn, Boston and Philly. Mars Red Sky, Howling Giant, Black Lung is a pretty sick show. I can’t and won’t tell you how to live your life, but that doesn’t seem to me to be a terrible way to do it, again, if that’s where in the world you happen to be at the time.

Crucialfest tomorrow, though, and a bunch more to go — also Ripplefest, because it’s also been like three minutes since I talked about that, on the 21st — before they get there, as the post from Mars Red Sky‘s socials reminds:

USA TOUR / NEW DATES

A quick update on the US tour with all the confirmed dates in December! Still with our dear Howling Giant and also with BLACK LUNG for a few gigs. Cheers!

TICKETS https://marsredsky.rocks/tour

FALL (remaining)
09.13 SALT LAKE CITY, UT – Crucialfest
09.14 LAS VEGAS, NV – Sinwave Vegas
09.15 SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Bottom of the Hill
09.16 SACRAMENTO, CA – Cafe Colonial
09.17 LOS ANGELES, CA – El Cid on Sunset
09.19 ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Launchpad
09.20 EL PASO, TX – Rosewood
09.21 AUSTIN, TX – RippleFest Texas

WINTER
12.05 BALTIMORE, MD – Metro Baltimore *
12.06 BROOKLYN, NY – TV Eye NYC *
12.07 CAMBRIDGE/BOSTON, MA – Middle East *
12.08 PHILADELPHIA, PA – MilkBoy *
12.10 ASHEVILLE, NC – Eulogy
12.11 LOUISVILLE, KY – Portal Louisville
12.12 DETROIT, MI – Sanctuary Detroit
12.13 YOUNGSTOWN, OH – Westside Bowl
12.14 TORONTO, ON 🇨🇦 Monarch Tavern
12.15 MONTREAL, QC 🇨🇦 Foufounes Electriques
* with BLACK LUNG

MARS RED SKY are:
Julien Pras : guitar, vocals
Jimmy Kinast : bass, vocals
Mathieu “Matgaz” Gazeau : drums, vocals

http://www.facebook.com/marsredskyband/
https://marsredsky.bigcartel.com/
http://www.marsredsky.net
https://mrsredsound.com/

https://www.facebook.com/mrsredsound33
https://www.instagram.com/mrsredsound/
https://mrsredsound.com/

https://www.facebook.com/viciouscirclerec
https://www.instagram.com/vicious_circle_records
https://viciouscircle.bandcamp.com/
https://www.viciouscircle.fr/

Mars Red Sky, Dawn of the Dusk (2023)

Having just wrapped a stretch of European touring that found them keeping company with Stoned Jesus, Bordeaux heavy psych progressives Mars Red Sky today reveal the US stint leading to their previously-announced appearance at this September’s Ripplefest Texas, stopping at Crucial Fest along the way. They go on the back of this past December’s Dawn of the Dusk (review here), and with support from Nashville uptempo melodymakers Howling Giant, who issued their second album, Glass Future (review here), in October, that’s two of 2023’s very best records paired up for in-person delivery. Such efficiency brooks no argument.

The Obelisk has presented Mars Red Sky tours in the past, and I’m especially proud to have it do so again in light of the LP they’re heralding to the US audience. In addition to the basic routing here, the tour also answers the question in my mind of whether they would appear at Desertfest NYC with a decisive no — they’ll be in Boise, Salt Lake City and Vegas at the time — but if you’re in New York and worried about missing out, the tour starts Aug. 29 in Brooklyn, so don’t sweat it. More dates are TBA as well.

From the PR wire:

MARS RED SKY US tour announced with special guest HOWLING GIANT

Psych/prog trio MARS RED SKY is getting ready to cross the Atlantic Ocean to join Nashville’s heavy psych quartet HOWLING GIANT on a North American adventure. Their USA tour will kick off this August 29th in New York to end up with RippleFest Texas in Austin on September 21st. All dates and info below.

Brought up on bands like Sonic Youth, The Jesus Lizard or My Bloody Valentine, Bordeaux-based outfit MARS RED SKY had no idea that they were about to become French stoner scene cornerstones when they founded the band in 2007. Julien Pras’ ethereal and melodic voice emerges from a thick and complex rhythm, carried by sci-fi literature’s lyricism. Almost cinematic, MARS RED SKY’s sounding has a peculiar and unique flavour, standing out within the heavy rock scene.

New album ‘Dawn Of The Dusk’ – out on December 2023 on Vicious Circle & Mrs Red Sound – is a genuine conceptual piece of work skillfully exploring progressive and post-metal territories with boundless inspiration. The eight-track album is packed with the band’s overflowing inspiration that has made their reputation in France and around the World over the last decade.

Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, HOWLING GIANT blast forth a cosmic convergence of pulpy sci-fi themes and blistering psych-prog songcraft. Across a variety of recorded and live experiences since 2014, have become an essential act of the US forward-thinking heavy rock scene.

8/29 Thu – Brooklyn, NY – Baby’s All Right
8/30 Fri – Cambridge – Boston, MA – Middle East
8/31 Sat – Philadelphia, PA – Milk Boy
9/1 Sun – Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery
9/2 Mon – Detroit, MI – Sanctuary
9/3 Tue – Chicago, IL – Reggies / Music Joint
9/4 Wed – Milwaukee, WI – X-Ray Arcade
9/5 Thu – Minneapolis, MN – 7th St Entry
9/6 Fri – Sioux Falls, SD – Remedy Brewing
9/7 Sat – Rapid City, SD – Fairground
9/8 Sun – Denver, CO – Hi-Dive
9/10 Tue – Portland, OR – The High Water Mark
9/11 Wed – Seattle, WA – Substation
9/12 Thu – Boise, ID – The Shredder
9/13 Fri – Salt Lake City, UT – CRUCIAL FEST
9/14 Sat – Las Vegas, NV – Sinwave
9/15 Sun – San Francisco, CA – Bottom Of The Hill
9/16 Mon – Sacramento, CA – Cafe Colonial
9/17 Tue – Los Angeles, CA – Residen
9/18 Wed – Tempe, AZ – Yucca Tap Room
9/19 Thu – Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad
9/20 Fri – El Paso, TX – The Rosewood
9/21 Sat – Austin, TX – RippleFest Texas

Tickets: https://marsredsky.rocks/tour

MARS RED SKY are:
Julien Pras : guitar, vocals
Jimmy Kinast : bass, vocals
Mathieu “Matgaz” Gazeau : drums, vocals

http://www.facebook.com/marsredskyband/
https://marsredsky.bigcartel.com/
http://www.marsredsky.net
https://mrsredsound.com/

https://www.facebook.com/mrsredsound33
https://www.instagram.com/mrsredsound/
https://mrsredsound.com/

https://www.facebook.com/viciouscirclerec
https://www.instagram.com/vicious_circle_records
https://viciouscircle.bandcamp.com/
https://www.viciouscircle.fr/

Mars Red Sky, Dawn of the Dusk (2023)

Howling Giant, Glass Future (2023)

Canadian metallers Anciients rest atop the bill for The Electric Highway 2024, the Calgary-based three-dayer festival co-presented by The Obelisk along with a slew of others. After the date reveal and ticket-onsale in November, the fest has now begun to unveil its lineup, which is probably fortunate because it’ll be April before you know it. Vancouver’s Dead Quiet and Empress are also included, as well as Darty from Chron Goblin‘s ambient project Musing, the returning hardcore-born heavy of Owls and Eagles and I think a few other repeat offenders. Hell, Anciients played Calgary 420 Fest in 2017, which was the precursor to The Electric Highway, so there’s history here if you want to find it.

There will be more as well, so sit tight. Canadian heavy is its own ecosystem distinct from the US underground, and I always look forward to seeing who’s going to be at The Electric Highway as a great way of finding new bands and checking in on those regulars. I’ve never been to Alberta and don’t harbor any delusions that I’ll be at The Electric Highway — though it’d be fun — but I’m glad to support this fest with this site and dig into some of the finest in heavy that the Great White North (and maybe a few American bands by the time they’re done; you’ll recall last year Sasquatch headlined) has to offer.

The PR wire puts it thusly:

The Electric Highway Festival (Calgary, AB) Announces First Round of Bands For 2024 Lineup

w/ Anciients, Dead Quiet, Empress, Flashback, Buffalo Bud Buster and more!

April 4- 6 – Dickens Pub

Festival passes are available at https://theelectrichighway.ca/festivalstore/

Event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/327207160030277

The Electric Highway Festival is excited to announce the first round of bands for the 2024 edition of the festival being held in Calgary, AB on April 4, 5, and 6 at Dickens (1000 9 Ave SW).

Canadian Juno Award-winning Vancouver band Anciients will headline the whole festival. They will be joined by various Western Canadian bands including Dead Quiet, Empress, Flashback, Buffalo Bud Buster, and more.

Anciients (Vancouver)
Dead Quiet (Vancouver)
Empress (Vancouver)
Buffalo Bud Buster (Calgary)
Flashback (Calgary)
Pharm (Kelowna)
Owls & Eagles (Calgary)
Gnarwhal (Yellowknife)
Solid Brown (Calgary)
The Getmines (Vancouver)
Tebby And The Heavy (Edmonton)
Musing (Calgary)
Blacksmith & Brewer (BC Sunshine Coast)
Stone Spear (Kelowna)
Black Daggers (Red Deer)
Atomic Yeti (Saskatoon)
Conjure Hand (Victoria)

Limited Early Bird passes are on sale for $65 until the rest of the bands are announced or the early bird passes sell out. Regular advance passes will be available at that time. There will also be a variety of single-day tickets available as well as 2-day passes.

www.facebook.com/ElectricHighwayFestival/
www.instagram.com/TheElectricHighway
www.TheElectricHighway.ca

Owls and Eagles, Live at The Electric Highway 2023

The sixth annual Heavy Mash Fest is set for Oct. 7 at its traditional home, Division Brewing in Arlington. The festival is back to one day this year after extending to two in 2022, and in addition to veteran weirdo jammers Stone Machine Electric who’ll close out, Maryland doom’s Spiral Grave will journey west to headline.

You’ll recall The Obelisk is a long-time presenter of Heavy Mash. I dig what Mark Kitchens, who’s also got a new record coming from his experimentalist solo-project Slow Draw and who plays in Stone Machine Electric, has built over the last several years, not to mention the poster art, by Joshua Mathus, reprising the froggy theme of past editions with a righteous sci-fi bent.

The likes of drum-machine riffers Lotus Sutra and doom rockers Buzzürd — whose 2021 album, The Offering, I’d not heard and can be streamed at the bottom of this post — will round out the total-seven-band bill, and if you’re like me and not entirely familiar with all of them, I at this point trust Kitchens‘ curation will at least result in something interesting to hear, even if it doesn’t grab you and become your new favorite album forever. I guess what I’m saying is if you want to chase down any of the names below, it might be a fun endeavor. I’ll do likewise and see what’s to be found.

Continued best wishes to Heavy Mash and to Kitchens. Looks like a cool party, and tickets are dirt cheap:

Heavy Mash 2023 (6th year) will occur on October 7th at Division Brewing in Arlington, Texas.
Doors open at 4pm, with music commencing shortly thereafter:

$15 Cover

5pm- Sons of Gulliver
6pm- Lotus Sutra
7pm- The Infamists
8pm- Buzzürd
9pm- FTW
10pm- Spiral Grave
11pm- Stone Machine Electric

Event sponsored by Division Brewing, Growl, The Obelisk, and Toke Mage!
Poster art by Joshua Mathus (https://www.instagram.com/joshuamathusart/)

https://www.facebook.com/events/3756053614681062
https://www.facebook.com/heavymash/
https://www.instagram.com/heavymashfest

Spiral Grave, Legacy of the Anointed (2021)

Buzzürd, The Offering (2021)

In April, not so terribly long ago, Ruff Majik released their fourth LP, Elektrik Ram (review here), and though I find I have a hard time talking about the record without hyperbole, the absolute very least one might say about it is it’s their finest effort to-date. Sharp in songwriting and humor, emotive without trying to sell itself as such, groovy as the day is long and with each track hitting like another side of a multiple personality, it’s a front-to-back listening experience that, at least for me, sums up the appeal of the band and, more broadly, demonstrates how heavy rock doesn’t have to be all-the-time-miserable to be meaningful.

I was asked to be a ‘media sponsor’ for this tour. I never really know what that means other than I probably share some links or posters, post about something I would definitely be posting about anyway. Whatever. Let me be clear: I’m honored that this stupid little blog that I started the better part of 15 years ago might ever asked to be involved in something like this. That someone thinks enough of what I do here to put an Obelisk logo on their tour poster. I don’t even have to pay for that; it just happens. Silly cool. It’s this site, Sound of Liberation, which booked the tour, and Mongrel Records, which put out the album. One of these things is not like the others in that it had nothing whatsoever to do with the actual proceedings. I feel lucky to be in that company.

Ruff Majik have also been confirmed for Desertfest Belgium 2023 in Antwerp, so these tour dates may not be the last — the name of the tour comes from a line in Elektrik Ram‘s title-track — but they’ve got fests lined up including SonicBlast Fest, where I’ll see them for the first time, as well as Moosenmättle Open Air and Blue Moon Fest in Germany, and dates with Acid King, Greenleaf and Sasquatch peppered throughout.

Poster and dates follow. “Arsenic on the rocks”:

Ruff Majik Set to Ignite European Stages on Long-Awaited Tour

Prepare for an explosive journey as South Africa’s leading stoner rock band, Ruff Majik, embarks on their highly anticipated We’ve Come To Lay Waste European tour brought to you by the good people at Sound Of Liberation. With their hard-hitting sound and electrifying performances, Ruff Majik is set to captivate audiences across the continent.

Fresh off the release of their critically acclaimed album, Elektrik Ram, the band is eager to share their powerful and introspective compositions with fans around the world. Known for their signature blend of heavy riffs, hypnotic melodies, and captivating lyrics, Ruff Majik has established themselves as torchbearers of the stoner rock genre.

The European tour will see them gracing renowned festivals, including Sonic Blast, Blue Moon Festival, Trafostation 61, Moosenmättle Open Air and Rifffields. Their dynamic live shows, characterized by intense energy and an undeniable stage presence, will leave audiences craving for more. In addition to their festival appearances, the guys will also have the privilege of sharing the stage with prominent bands such as Acid King and Sasquatch, further solidifying their position in the global stoner rock community while expanding their fan base to new horizons.

Lead vocalist and guitarist, Johni Holiday expresses their enthusiasm, stating “After a 3-year absence we’re finally making it back! With two new albums to tour as well. We’re bringing fire and baptising.”

With a loyal fan base in their home country and growing international recognition, Ruff Majik is poised to make a significant impact during the tour. Their evocative music speaks to the human experience, transcending boundaries and resonating with listeners from all walks of life.

Tour Dates
5/8 DE Wolfach – Moosenmättle Open Air
9/8 PO Ancora – SonicBlast
12/8 DE Lichtenstein – JUST Riot / Voice Of Art
13/8 DE Frechen – Trafostation 61
15/8 DE Berlin – Urban Spree with Sasquatch
17/8 DE Hannover – Faust with Sasquatch
18/8 DE Cottbus – Blue Moon
19/8 PL Kozmin Wielkopolski – Rifffields
20/8 CZ Prague – Nová libeňská Synagoga
22/8 DE Frankfurt – Zoom with Greenleaf
23/8 NL EDE – Astrant
24/8 NL Eindhoven – Effenaar with Acid King
25/8 DE Dresden – Ostpol
26/8 DE Siegen – Vortex

Buy / Stream Elektrik Ram on all digital platforms – https://orcd.co/elektrik_ram

Order Elektrik Ram on 180g black vinyl with gatefold sleeve.
South Africa / Africa – https://www.mpiremusic.co.za/products/riff-majik-elektrik-ram-180g-gatefold-lp
Rest of World – https://mongrelrecords1.bandcamp.com/album/elektrik-ram

Ruff Majik is Johni Holiday (vocals & guitar), Cowboy Bez (guitar & vocals), Jimmy Glass (bass), and Steven Bosman (drums), four horsemen of the feedback apocalypse who know what they want to say and do it without apology.

Rock ‘n roll is dead – LONG LIVE RUFF MAJIK.

http://www.ruffmajik.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089579216305&mibextid=ZbWKwL
http://www.instagram.com/ruffmajik
https://www.tiktok.com/@ruffmajik

http://mongrelrecords.com
http://www.facebook.com/mongrelrecords
http://www.instagram.com/mongrel_records

Ruff Majik, Elektrik Ram (2023)

Obviously I’m stoked to have a logo for The Obelisk on the poster for The Electric Highway 2023, to be held in Calgary, Alberta, later this month. Goes without saying. Honestly, even if this was just a Sasquatch and/or La Chinga show and I was asked to present it, I would, so yeah, there’s a lot to dig here and I’m pleased to be keeping good company, tucked away in the bottom right-hand corner well below the likes of Canada itself — I had no idea they gave grants for this kind of thing, but I’m not surprised; other countries don’t hate creative people nearly as much as the US seems to — and with 24 bands spread out over three days, there isn’t a doubt that state-support will be put to good and voluminous use.

The fest is March 23-25 — Thursday, Friday, Saturday — and along with familiar faces like Gone Cosmic and Black Mastiff, who were playing this thing when it was the Calgary 420 Fest, before it became The Electric Highway ahead of an ill-fated 2020 edition, there’s a bunch of bands I don’t know like Space Queen, Molten Lava and No More Moments, so you’ll pardon me if I have a bit of homework to do. Unfortunately, I won’t be in Calgary to see the fest in-person, but I’m happy and proud to support the work they’re doing and to take the poster below as a checklist of stuff to dig into.

So, off I go to do that, and off you go to the PR wire for the full lineup, links and so on:

Calgary’s The Electric Highway Festival Announces Lineup For Its Returns In 2023 – March 23 – 25

Full lineup can be found below.

3-day festival pass holders can pick up their wristbands at Dickens at any time during the event. Pre-order merch sales will also be available for pickup throughout the weekend too. Don’t be disappointed. Order your merch ahead of time.

The Electric Highway is a fully immersive festival experience and offers much more than just music. The festival also features an art and vendor exposition during all three days at Dickens, March 23 – 25, 2023.

Festival passes are on sale starting Jan 25th – 10AM MT; check www.TheElectricHighway.ca to purchase and for more festival information.

All tickets and pass holders will be receiving instructions by email on how to transfer their 2020 tickets for 2023 ones. As well, all vendors will receive an email to confirm their attendance. Anyone that cannot attend this year – both ticketholders and vendors – can transfer their attendance to a future year.

The Electric Highway looks forward to bringing this year’s festival to you, and can’t wait to see everyone in March!

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/849216866328036

The Electric Highway Official 2023 Lineup:

Saturday, March 25th – Festival headliner: Sasquatch (Los Angeles, CA) with direct support from La Chinga (Vancouver, BC)
​
​Friday, March 24th – Headliner: Black Mastiff (Edmonton, AB/Vancouver, BC) with direct support from Gone Cosmic (Calgary, AB)
​
​Thursday, March 23rd – Headliner: HypnoPilot (Lethbridge, AB) with direct support from Citizen Rage (Calgary, AB)
​
​All other festival bands are:​
Brown Dwarf (Red Deer, AB)
Buffalo Bud Buster (Calgary, AB)
Destroy My Brains (Lloydminster, AB)
Empress (Vancouver, BC)
Father Moon (Calgary, AB)
Garuda (Cranbrook, BC)
Hombre (Calgary, AB)
Iron Tusk (Siksika, AB)
Molten Lava (Vancouver, BC)
Musing (Calgary, AB)
No More Moments (Siksika, AB)
Owls & Eagles (Calgary, AB)
Set & Stoned (Crossfield, AB)
Space Queen (Vancouver, BC)
Tebby & the Heavy (Edmonton, AB)
The Astral Prophets (Calgary, AB)
The Basement Paintings (Saskatoon, SK)
The Sleeping Legion (Winnipeg, MB)

Ticket Information:

Advance 3-day Festival Passes are $75. Advance passes go on sale from January 25, 2023, until March 22 or while quantities last.

Regular Festival Passes are $95 at the door if quantities are available.

www.facebook.com/ElectricHighwayFestival/
www.instagram.com/TheElectricHighway
www.TheElectricHighway.ca

I went back into the archives and looked, and I’ve been writing about Argonauta Records fare for more than a decade now, and I remain an admirer of the way in which Gero as the founding principal and the imprint as an entity conduct themselves with little regard for trend or anything so much as what speaks to his/its/their own passion. I was asked last month to be a part of ‘presenting’ this compilation, and to be perfectly honest with you, I was likewise honored and confused as to why, since the thing was (nearly) done by then and it’s not like I had much more to offer than some text and that circle logo to digitally-stamp on the cover.

But hey, I’ll take it. It’s nice to be thought of, nice to be asked, and I’m happy to be a small part of it however I can. In addition to having great respect for what Argonauta has accomplished in its time and for the way in which Gero has grown the label over the last 11 years, I also did a lot of the music that comes out under the label’s banner.

Some of this stuff has been released before, some of it hasn’t, but after what one imagines was a not-insignificant logistical challenge in putting it together, the 19-track Magick Sun & Mystic Moon — not to be confused with Barcelona psych outfit Magick Brother & Mystic Sister — emerges as both a good time listening experience and a celebration of the stylistic range that typifies Argonauta‘s roster, the totality of which goes even farther than this. And, of course, one of the most essential facets of what Argonauta does is that it continues to grow and seek new creative voices to support, so I wouldn’t be surprised if this isn’t the last time they do a project like this either. Just a heads up, I guess.

I wrote the text below to coincide with the stream of Drive by Wire‘s cover of The Smiths hitting Bandcamp, and it’s got a little more background on what inspired the compilation, etc., put in PR wire blue for form’s sake. Before I turn you over to it, I’d like to say a direct thanks to Gero for having me on board.

Dig:

ARGONAUTA RECORDS – ‘Magick Sun & Mystic Moon’

Get it here: https://argonautarecords.bandcamp.com/album/magick-sun-mystic-moon

Argonauta Records presents the covers compilation ‘Magick Sun & Mystic Moon,’ featuring 18 acts from the long-running Italian label’s roster, diverse in sound and celebrating influences both glaringly obvious and wholly unexpected. From The Doors and Stooges and KISS to Billy Joel (?!), Darkthrone, The Smiths and Candlemass, artists from a wide swath of styles and legacies are honored by denizens of one of the heavy underground’s most vibrant imprints.

Partnering with respected heavy blog The Obelisk, Argonauta brings forth new and unreleased tracks from the likes of Ancient VVisdom’s Nathan Opposition, who bookends the release in the opening and closing spots, as well as Drive by Wire from the Netherlands, Temple of Deimos, Blues Weiser, Autumnblaze, Mos Generator, Hebi Katana and Mitochondrial Sun, and rare and previously-issued works from Snail, Shadow Witch, Indigo Raven, When the Deadbolt Breaks, Dee Calhoun (ex-Iron Man, current Spiral Grave frontman), Deep Space Mask, Buzzard Canyon, Mourn the Light, The Black Legacy and Sator.

In being utterly packed with righteous executions and aesthetic breadth, ‘Magick Sun & Mystic Moon’ is nothing if not representative in its entirety of Argonauta’s ethic of supporting artists and groups united by passion and quality more than aural homogeny. But if it’s raw heavy you seek, there’s plenty to go around.

“18 Artists from our stellar roster joined forces to give life to a wonderful compilation made of a wide range tunes and bands being honored,” says Argonauta boss Gerolamo Lucisano. “As the label, we are extremely proud of their top quality songs and effort, especially as the project was started and assembled during the difficult times of the pandemic era.”

Begun in 2012, Argonauta Records approaches its 11th year of existence having already contributed significantly to the sphere of underground rock and metal. A somewhat light-hearted concept to contrast with difficult times, ‘Magick Sun & Mystic Moon’ reminds listeners as well as the parties involved in making it that it’s both okay and necessary to step outside one’s normal methods and expressive ideologies, to challenge convention inside and out, and at the most basic level, to have fun doing it.

That spirit is palpable here, and we hope you experience it as well in listening. Thank you for your support.

Tracklisting:
1. NATHAN OPPOSITION (Ancient VVisdom) – The River of Dreams [Billy Joel]* 03:26
2. DRIVE BY WIRE – How Soon Is Now [The Smiths]* 05:23
3. TEMPLE OF DEIMOS – Dancing Days [Led Zeppelin]* 03:41
4. BLUES WEISER – Rags to Rags [Eels]* 04:07
5. AUTUMNBLAZE – Transilvanian Hunger [Darkthrone]* 03:44
6. MOS GENERATOR – She [Kiss]* 06:05
7. HEBI KATANA – Money [The Beatles]* 03:06
8. SNAIL – Fearless [Pink Floyd] 05:06
9. MITOCHONDRIAL SUN (Niklas Sundin) – Neverending Story [Limahl]* 03:44
10. INDIGO RAVEN – Push the Sky Away [Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds] 04:10
11. WHEN THE DEADBOLT BREAKS – Not to Touch the Earth [The Doors] 04:01
12. DEE CALHOUN – The Knoxville Girl [The Louvin Brothers] 04:11
13. DEEP SPACE MASK – Strange Ways [Kiss] 03:49
14. BUZZARD CANYON – Where Eagles Dare [Misfits] 02:20
15. MOURN THE LIGHT – Bewitched [Candlemass] 06:45
16. SHADOW WITCH – I Wanna Be Your Dog [The Stooges] 03:47
17. THE BLACK LEGACY – Been Down So Long [The Doors] 04:28
18. SATOR – A Forest [The Cure] 09:54
19. NATHAN OPPOSITION (Ancient VVisdom) – The End of the World [Skeeter Davis]* 02:24
*previously unreleased

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Various Artists, Magick Sun & Mystic Moon (2023)