Riff monger three-piece Moon Curse first came to my attention at Days of the Doomed last year, delivering more than solid stoner march and deeply weighted groove. Their self-titled debut full-length was originally self-released in 2012, and the band has been through two pressings (there are still a couple copies left of the second at their Bandcamp) up to this point and no doubt soon enough the third will be gone as well, with Bilocation Records stepping in to get behind the release for a European audience. Of all the records I regret not buying at that fest, theirs just about tops the list, but I’ve drowned my sorrows numerous times in the stream of the album, which now includes the bonus track “Seminary Woods,” included for your perusal here.

Good band. They’re about due for a follow-up, but I’m glad to see this record getting some attention with the Bilocation issue, about which you can find more info below, courtesy of the PR wire:

MOON CURSE – Moon curse LP

Beneath the faded light of Milwaukee’s infamous “polish moon” clock tower (a structure built for the sole intent of dominating the night sky and the view of it’s immigrant residents), three bleary eyed mystics brew stoner hymns dedicated to baphomet bongsmoke, Pontiac muscle and 70’s rock n’ rollers. following a DOOMED path, tred by true HEAVY fanatics before them, a path that will always remain for those dedicated to the riff; MOON CURSE walk with intent to play loud and proud! Keith bangs the drums, Rochelle strums the Squier P bass, and Matt breaks Orange amplifiers and howls. One could cite Sabbath (duh!), Zeppelin, or a handful of other protometal-fuzz-stoner-whatever-rock as influnces, but you get the idea! You know it! You love it! So … GET CURSED!

VINYL FACTZ
-100x white w/ green (EXCLUSIVE MAILORDER edition)
-200x clear w/ white
-Plated & pressed on high-performance 180g vinyl
-pressed in Germany
-matt laquered 300gsm gatefold cover
-Artwork by Vincent Zager
-handnumbered
-especially mastered for vinyl
-incl. bonus track

TRACKS
A1. Medicinecoma 5:42
A2. Northern High 7:11
A3. Seminary Woods 9:10 (BONUS TRACK!)
B1. Brontis 5:43
B2. Chandra 2:05
B3. Black Elk 8:45

http://shop.bilocationrecords.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Mooncurseband/
http://mooncurse.bandcamp.com/

Moon Curse, “Seminary Woods”

Ruby the Hatchet will also release a new album on Tee Pee Records, and I’m not too familiar with Mammothwing as yet, but I’ve been looking for an excuse to post about Aussie blues rockers Child, and their self-titled receiving an issue through Bilocation Records seems a more than fitting occasion. The classic-minded trio self-released the album earlier this year, and like everything else it does, Bilocation will do it up on limited vinyl, thick platter, fancy stock, hand-numbered and so on. No word on preorders yet, if that’s your thing, but if you haven’t heard them yet, I’ve included the Bandcamp stream of the album below and it’s worth keeping an eye out.

News news news:

Bilocation Records announces new signings!

Ruby The Hatchet (USA)

Born in a New Jersey basement, the five-piece boasts a riff-centered, hard hitting rock sound that has infected the Philadelphia music scene with a unique blend of psychedelic undertones, wailing vocal melodies and raw-power energy. RUBY THE HATCHET‘s psychedelia-laced power-rock conjures visions of midnight councils and sinister sorcery, appropriating a storm of distorted axe-wielding as a vehicle of enchantment, with seductive songstress Jillian Taylor overlaying a series of bewitching spellbound poetics. In 2012, the band released their debut full length, OUROBOROS, a record that oozed dark and unresolved mystique. RUBY followed up with an ominous two-song EP the following year entitled, THE ELIMINATOR.

We will release the band’s 2012 offering “OUROBOROS” added with the fantastic tracks from their recent 7″ “The Eliminator”.

Mammothwing (UK)

Mammothwing were formed under the blood red moon of summer solstice 2013. Coming from a blues/doom/psych background, the strange sounds of brothers Marty Fisher (guitar + vocals) and Billy Fisher (bass + vocals) melded perfectly with the trancelike grooves of Kev Richardson Jr (drums). In the centre of Nottingham, England, their self built studio ‘The Room of Doom’ was to be home to sonic experimentation and debauchery. Improvised jams flowed into full tilt rock. No two shows were the same. People listened, people cried.

With their first album due for release on Bilocation this year, MAMMOTHWING continue to produce a unique sound which is at once dynamic, moving and crushingly heavy.

‘A cosmic mind voyage from doom valley to blues mountain’

Child (AUS)

Three piece Stoner Blues outfit from Melbourne, Australia. Child have been spraying their fuzz across the countryside since late 2012. Some say they were born from Jackals, others say they are the result of the Institution. The truth is they are a bunch of long haired scallywags who have a fetish for perforated eardrums!
We will release their eponymous full length debut filled with bluesy heavyrock to blow you away!

As always every album will be specially mastered for vinyl for maximum listening pleasure and pressed on 180g vinyl housed in handnumbered heavy gatefold-sleeves.

https://www.facebook.com/rubythehatchet
http://rubythehatchet.tumblr.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Mammothwing
https://www.youtube.com/user/MAMMOTHWING
https://www.facebook.com/childtheband
http://childtheband.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/bilocationrecordsberlin

Child, Child (2014)

Truth be told, I’m happy to get the below news about the vinyl release of At Devil Dirt‘s 2013 full-length, Plan B: Sin Revolución no hay Evolución (review here), if only because it gives me an excuse to break out the record and listen to it again. I dug the hell out of Plan B: Sin Revolución no hay Evolución when it was released initially on CD and download, and it seems to me that the big low-end tone of the Chilean guitar/drum two-piece is perfectly suited to a substantial platter like that on which Bilocation Records is serving it, so yeah, call it a good match and call me glad to dig into the Bandcamp stream again. Everybody wins.

Only 100 copies are available in clear/purple and 200 more in solid purple. You know the drill with limited vinyl. It goes. You might note the 13-minute track “40 Years Ago” and the Beatles cover “Across the Universe” are left off the LP tracklisting, no doubt for spacial concerns. Here’s the rundown courtesy of the PR wire:

AT DEVIL DIRT “Plan B: Sin Revolución no hay Evolución” officially out on vinyl

This dynamic duo (just vocals, guitar and drums) hails from Chile and delivers ultimate heaviness excellently combined with great melodies. Some call it Beatles doom, some call it a mixture of Kyuss and Pink Floyd, some say fans of bands like Torche will love their music … well, to get a real idea you’ll have no other choice than browsing their full album below and listen for yourself. And always remember this sounds even more awesome on high quality 180g vinyl!

VINYL FACTZ
– 100x clear with purple haze (EXCLUSIVE MAILORDER version)
– 200x solid purple
– all high-quality heavy 180g vinyl pressed in Germany
– matt laquered 300gsm gatefold cover
– handnumbered

TRACKS
A1. Don’t see you Around 5:31
A2. Conscience 4:16
A3. People Raise Again 4:32
A4. Mommy 4:54
A5. Sin Revolución no hay Evolución 3:20

B1. There’s not a God or a Devil 4:52
B2. The Caravan of Death 3:26
B3. The Marching Crowd 3:57
B4. I lost my Guide 5:40
B5. Time to flee 3:12
Total: 43:40

Available at: 180g Vinyl AT DEVIL DIRT

http://atdevildirt.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/atdevildirt
http://shop.bilocationrecords.com/

At Devil Dirt, Plan B: Sin Revolución no hay Evolución

And by “remember the good times” I mean like two months ago. Heavy rocking Swedish four-piece Mamont set out in February on a tour of Spain, and as they get ready to release their new EP, The Valleys Below, tomorrow through Ozium, Napalm Records and Bilocation Records — all different editions and limited numbers and so on — they’ve culled footage from that Spanish run and put it together as a video for the EP leadoff track, “Airborne.”

As previously noted, Mamont are headed out once again for a round of shows with Mud Walk, the tour having expanded to just under two weeks throughout Europe. The two bands teamed up last fall as well, so are well acquainted, and Mamont are also gearing up for their next full-length and the follow-up to 2012’s Passing through the Mastery Door (review here), so maybe they’ll come back with enough footage from these shows to put together another video for a song from that once the next record is put to tape.

Whether that’s how it plays out remains to be seen, but until then, “Airborne” looks like a good time:

Mamont, “Airborne” official video

Official music video for the song Airborne. From Mamont’s EP “The Valleys Below” (2014).

TRACKS
1. Airborne
2. Miranda
3. No Pills, No Power
4. Nebula VII
5. Morning Star

Footage from Mamont’s Spanish Tour (Feb-Mar 2014). Edited by Karl Adolfsson

We’ll hit the road once again with our lovely friends in Mud Walk! Looking forward to see you guys out there!

Tour dates:
May 09 – THE TIVOLI, Helsingborg (SE)
May 10 – UNGDOMSHUSET, Copenhagen (D)
May 11 – JÄGERKLAUSE, Berlin (DE)
May 13 – KLUB 007 STRAHOV, Prague (CZ)
May 14 – KULTURBAHNHOF, Jena (DE)
May 15 – DE ONDERBROEK, Nijmegen (NL)
May 16 – LE KLUB, Paris (FR)
May 17 – CRUMBLE FEST, Nantes (FR)
May 19 – ROCAS, Luxembourg (LUX)
May 21 – HEMGÅRDEN, Lund (SE)

Mamont on Thee Facebooks

Mamont at Napalm Records

Mamont at Kozmik Artifactz

Mamont at Ozium Records

London-based heavy rockers Bright Curse have made it known that this summer they’ll be recording their second long-player at Skyhammer Studio, the base of operations run by Conan‘s Jon Davis and in-house engineer Chris Fielding. The trio who released their debut on vinyl through Bilocation Records are the latest in an admirable and evidently ongoing series of names to record at Skyhammer, and with Bright Curse‘s songs floating somewhere between heavy psych and doom, it should make for an interesting mix of influences at work. I guess we’ll hear how it comes out.

Until then, the PR wire:

BRIGHT CURSE to record their debut album this summer

After a critically acclaimed debut EP Bright Curse released in November 2012 and re-edited by German label Bilocation Records/Kozmik Artifactz in 2013, the psychedelic doom trio formed by Romain Daut (guitar & vocals), Zach Mizzi (drums) and Jack Boughton (bass) is finally fully ready to record their debut album. This July, BRIGHT CURSE will head to Skyhammer Studio in Cheshire for one week, to lay down their cosmic ideas and heavy riffage. The album will be recorded and produced by CONAN’s Chris Fielding and Jon Davis.

Here are a few words from BRIGHT CURSE’s frontman Romain about the upcoming events: “It’s been a long time since we’ve been looking for the right producer to work on our second record. We really wanted to reinforce the thickness of our sound, make it deeper and heavier, and get a real homogeneity between the psychedelic and heavy parts. I think that working with a member of Conan as well as a man who worked with Electric Wizard and Serpent Venom will definitely help in that way. We are really looking forward to it!”.

More infos about the album will be given in due time, but for now, check out their debut EP Bright Curse on brightcurse.bandcamp.com and let the magic flow through your speakers…

https://www.facebook.com/BrightCurse/
http://brightcurse.bandcamp.com/

Bright Curse, “Fear the Lord” Live at Desertfest London 2014

Swedish heavy rockers Mexicoma, who of course take their name from one of the highlight cuts of the first Queens of the Stone Age record, will release their second full-length album on vinyl through Bilocation Records on May 15. The pressing will be 300 copies total with a mix of colors in 180g wax, and while the Umeå outfit had made the release available late last year, to the best of my knowledge this will be the first physical version. As the info off the PR wire shows, they’re clearly doing it in style.

There are two tracks from Obsidian Monolith available for streaming from the Mexicoma Bandcamp, and they’re available with the preorder link and all the other info below:

MEXICOMA – Obsidian Monolith

available: 15.05.2014

Mexicoma is back with full throttle! On their second full length vinyl output they offer five fresh remastered tracks which appeared on the Supervoid EP from 2012 and 4 brandnew tracks who show the potential this band has.

The tracks are shorter and more accessible than on their epic same titled debut and show a wider variety of styles – which fits perfect to the heavyrockers from Umea in Northern Sweden. The three guitars are building huge walls of sound over the massive fundaments that charlie & oscar lay down. Over this impressive instrumentation sings and cries Magnus better than ever! A tour in 2014 with festival appearances is in the planning – let them conquer the stages!

VINYL FACTZ

– 100x transparent blue w/ white vinyl (exclusive Mailorder edition with extra 12″x12″ handnumbered insert)
– 200x transparent green vinyl
– all high-quality heavy 180g vinyl pressed in Germany
– matte laquered 300gsm gatefold cover
– handnumbered

TRACKS

A1. Keep Me Alive 4:03
A2. Mortified 4:08
A3. Supersonic Speed 5:15
A4. Alien Radio 4:08
A5. Room 101 4:18
B1. Island Of Ghost 5:13
B2. West Of Memphis 5:57
B3. Abyssus Abyssum Invocat 4:59
B4. Bored Beyond Belief 4:11

Available at: http://shop.bilocationrecords.com/

https://www.facebook.com/mexicomatheband/
http://mexicoma.bandcamp.com/album/obsidian-monolith

Mexicoma, Obsidian Monolith (2014)

Should you happen to be feeling lucky, Bilocation Records and Switchblade Jesus are giving away one of the three test pressings for the band’s self-titled full-length (review here), which would make a nifty pickup for some fortunate heavy rocker. Apparently the test pressings worked as well, since the label went ahead and pressed Switchblade Jesus‘ album in varying editions of colored 180g vinyl and has made them available for preorder now, hand-numbered gatefold style.

The CD version of the album, which was self-released last year, has sold out quickly enough, and it wouldn’t be much of a shock if the LP followed suit upon its release next month.

Details and links come courtesy of the PR wire:

SWITCHBLADE JESUS – Switchblade Jesus LP

BILOCATION #18

Hailing from the land of oil and tar Switchblade Jesus is a 5 piece equivalent of a heard of elephants slamming into a brick wall. Jamming together since 2010 they had a killer ride so far – playing live nearly every week they were forged to a unbreakable live unit. They played a shitload of shows with great bands – just to name a few: Kylesa, Orange Goblin, The Sword, Wo Fat, Egypt, Baroness.

Asked what the fans can expect of the band, the guys state: “Loud alcohol fueled heaviness laced with fuzz and slight hallucinations of tube amps piercing your mind.” That is a word!

VINYL FACTZ

– 100x transparent green vinyl (EXCLUSIVE MAILORDER version incl. A3 poster & silkscreened card signed by the band)
– 200x spooky clear/black marbled vinyl
– 100x black vinyl
– all high-quality heavy 180g vinyl pressed in Germany
– matte laquered 300gsm gatefold cover
– handnumbered

TRACKS

A1. Into Nothing 2:19
A2. Bastard Son 5:31
A3. The Wolves 3:45
A4. Sick Mouth 4:52
B1. Equinox 3:15
B2. Renegade Riders 4:38
B3. Copperhead 4:49
B4. Oblivion 6:26

Vinyl available at:
http://shop.bilocationrecords.com/navi.php?suchausdruck=switchblade+jesus&JTLSHOP=f7f65ee43a384ae40f4cbddb8be01e78

Bandcontact:
http://kozmik-artifactz.com/artist/switchblade-jesus/
http://switchbladejesus.net/
http://switchbladejesus.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SwitchbladeJesus

Switchblade Jesus, Switchblade Jesus (2013/2014)

Initially a 2013 self-release by the band on CD, the self-titled debut full-length from Corpus Christi, Texas-based heavy rockers Switchblade Jesus gets another look in 2014 thanks to a vinyl issue courtesy of Bilocation Records. The 35-minute album was greeted with a flurry of hyperbole upon its first arrival, so one expects an LP edition to be a welcome advent. The eight-track offering marks the last appearance in Switchblade Jesus of vocalist Pete Quarnstrom, his duties having since been taken over by guitarist Eric Calvert, joined in the now-four-piece by guitarist Billy Guerra, bassist Jason Beers and drummer Jon Elizondo, and finds the burly rockers engaged in comfortably-paced post-Pepper Keenan-era C.O.C. Southern-style heavy riffery, straightforward structures led by the guitars being underscored solidly by the rhythm section from “Bastard Son”‘s easy sway to the highlight closer “Oblivion,” which offers a more complex take. Much of what they have to offer throughout will be familiar in a songs-about-whiskey vein, shades of Clutch showing up on “The Wolves” while a Down influence seems to march hand in hand with a markedly unfortunate tinny snare sound on “Renegade Riders.” Quarnstrom, who vacated after a mini-tour in support of the album, mostly lets the riffs be his guide and is less “hey whoa mama yeah” than some I’ve heard in the I’m-a-bluesy-white-dude pastiche, but it winds up almost too easy to stick him in that category anyway, his approach aligning neatly with a staple trope within the current sphere of American heavy rock that one has been able to find in bands from all over the country, not just Texas or the South.

If that’s a sticking point for you, then Switchblade Jesus‘ Switchblade Jesus is going to take all the more exposure to find favor despite, though I wouldn’t say it’s incapable of doing so. Following the opening introduction “Into Nothing,” “Bastard Son” sets much of the tone for what’s to follow in aesthetic and pace, songs like “The Wolves” and “Sick Mouth” changing their pants, sonically speaking, but essentially moving on the same legs. There are touches of boogie to be had in “Sick Mouth,” and the tempo is somewhat quicker, but there’s an element of a comfort zone being established across the board here in booze-fueled riff rock that’s all well and good since they make it work, but also bound to be familiar to listeners who’ve encountered this kind of dudely groove before. I’m not inclined to rag on a relatively new band — formed in 2010 — for not having developed a complex stylistic take on their first outing; it just doesn’t seem fair. If Switchblade Jesus are setting themselves up for future creative development, then fine. I get some sense of that from “Oblivion,” but songs like “Equinox” and “Copperhead” show less of a tendency to shift atmosphere or mood, and Switchblade Jesus comes off less varied for it. The acoustics on “Into Nothing” and the sort of cinematic soundscaping that accompanies lead one to expect a certain amount of ambience that the rest of the album seems to have no ambition to fulfill, instead burrowing into a well-worn brand of heavy rock that’s endearing enough to get them through the relatively brief 35 minutes of their debut, but will want more variety moving forward. If switching Calvert to a vocalist/guitarist role helps expand Switchblade Jesus‘ songwriting methodology, then it can only be a change for the better on the part of the band.

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