As noted earlier this year, Austin rockers Heavy Glow signed to respected German imprint Kozmik Artifactz for the release of their next album. I’m not sure on the status of that next outing, but before they get there, they’ve just reissued their 2014 sophomore outing, Pearls and Swine and Everything Fine (review here), with the label’s usual deluxe, limited edition vinyl treatment. It’s available now and comes either in black or black and orange marble with a matte gatefold cover. Pretty snazzy, and if you’ve heard the record before you already know it has hooks to match.

From the PR wire:

Heavy Glow’s 2nd Album Re-Released!

Heavy Glow’s “Pearls & Swine and Everything Fine” re-released through Kozmik Artifactz (Germany.)

A message from our label in Germany announcing the re-release of our 2014 album “Pearls & Swine and Everything Fine” on very special edition colored 180 gram vinyl, with new artwork, full lyrics, new photos, and gatefold packaging:

Heavy Glow from Austin, Texas are a classic rock trio and they deliver their rock with a fresh and modern vibe. Heavy Glow constructs “Pearls & Swine” on a foundation of fuzz-fueled hard rock, appointed with psychedelically-tinted blues and beautifully textured washes of Motown/Memphis soul. Simultaneously, a punkish verve cattle prods the retro rock vibe squarely into right now.

“Pearls & Swine and Everything Fine” features Joe’s exquisite bass runs while Jared plugs his guitar into rock’s heavy history with nods to Jimi Hendrix, Ritchie Blackmore, and Tony Iommi. At the same time, melodic pop subtlety underpins the album’s heaviest chord stomp moments; witness the swinging soul delicacy of “Fat Cat.”

It’s all welded together by Jared’s totally now perspective, his innate ability to focus his love of rock/soul/psychedelia through a contemporary lens to create Heavy Glow’s modern classicism. Heavy and melodic, raucous & guitar-driven: That’s Heavy Glow!

Vocals/Guitar – Jared Mullins
Bass – Joe Brooks
Drums – St. Judas

Available as CD & limited vinyl

VINYL FACTZ
– 166x black marbled orange (exclusive mailorder edition, handnumbered)
– 150x black
– plated & pressed on high performance vinyl in Germany
– matte laquered 300gsm gatefold cover
– special vinyl mastering

TRACKS
A1. 45 Shakedown
A2. Look What You’re Doing To Me
A3. Mine All Mine
A4. Fat Cat
A5. Love Ghost

B1. Domino (Black Flowers)
B2. Hello September (Goodbye April)
B3. Got My Eye On You
B4. Nerve Endings
B5. Headhunter

https://www.facebook.com/heavyglowband
http://www.heavyglowmusic.com/
https://twitter.com/heavyglowmusic
https://www.instagram.com/heavyglowmusic/
https://heavyglowband.bandcamp.com/
http://shop.bilocationrecords.com/index.php?s=3
https://www.facebook.com/kozmikartifactz

Heavy Glow, Pearls and Swine and Everything Fine (2014)

“Cloak and Bones” is the first song to be made public from Bison Machine‘s impending sophomore LP. The album doesn’t yet have a name, but apparently it’s at least partially recorded. Whenever it comes out, it will serve as the follow-up to 2015’s debut full-length, Hoarfrost (review here), initially self-released and subsequently picked up by Kozmik Artifactz for physical issue. They also had two tracks out earlier this year on a split with Wild Savages and SLO called Sweet Leaves! Volume One (review here), but the new record will be the first album put together since guitarist Casey O’Ryan (also Wild Savages) joined the band.

I wouldn’t expect “Cloak and Bones” to represent the entirety of Bison Machine‘s second long-player, but there are a few things we can clean from listening to it, most of all that the band has continued to progress since Hoarfrost was released. “Cloak and Bones” feels less directly influenced by heavy ’70s-style rock, but still benefits from an undercurrent of boogie behind its quick pace. A shuffle in fast-forward — not quite Motörheadian, but not far off from The Atomic Bitchwax-style winding — the song moves through six minutes without losing its momentum, and O’Ryan, vocalist Tom Stec, bassist Anthony Franchina and drummer Breck Crandell sound duly locked into the rhythm while still offering a hook along their speedy way.

The video shows the band getting raucous in a variety of settings, including their own Burnin’ Turf fest/gathering in their native Michigan, held last month with a 2017 edition already brewing. And speaking of brewing — master of the segue! — there’s also a Bison Machine beer in the works from Oliver Brewing Co. for those of a drinkly persuasion, which will be available at their July 30 show with Castle and Brimstone Coven, and about which you can read more following the video below.

Please enjoy:

Bison Machine, “Cloak and Bones” official video

Bison Machine is proud to debut the video for their new single ‘Cloak & Bones’, This is the first track released off of their yet to be titled second album. Bison Machine has acquired a new guitarist since the release of ‘Hoarfrost’. Casey O’Ryan (Wild Savages, Blue Snaggletooth) has added a new dynamic to the band and they have hit the ground running with multiple Midwest tours and plans on heading out further in the near future.

While currently working on their second album, Bison Machine has also been busy promoting and organizing ‘Burnin Turf’, a Chopper/Vanner gathering in the northern tip of “the thumb” in Ruth MI. This first year brought bands from around Michigan and beyond. Bonehawk from Kalamazoo MI, Grand Mammoth from Dayton Ohio and Wild Savages from Ypsilanti MI joined the Bison dudes for what turned into a night of cycle savagery and heavy vannin’. Next year’s event looks to expand on an already perfect formula of Midwestern riffs and rust. Footage from this year’s event was included in the music video.

In addition to the video, Bison Machine is also pleased to announce that they have teamed up with Stephen Jones at Oliver Brewing Company in Baltimore for the release of a Russian Imperial Stout that Oliver Brewing Co was gracious enough to name after our track, “Speed of Darkness” While this brew is limited to OBC’s distribution channels, the band will have a number of bottles available at their next hometown show with Castle (SF), Brimstone Coven (OH) and Detroit shredders, Anguish.

Expect a November tour announcement in the near future…

Bison Machine on Bandcamp

Bison Machine on Thee Facebooks

It was almost exactly a year ago that German four-piece Sonora Ritual announced they had a second album in the works. Titled Dust Monument, it was in the mixing stage as of last month, and when it’s done, it’ll arrive preceded by the band’s 2013 debut, Worship the Sun, receiving some proper vinyl love via respected purveyor Kozmik Artifactz. The LP version of the first outing was released on July 4, and while I’ve yet to see a release date for Dust Monument, it doesn’t seem unreasonable to think it could show up before the New Year, depending of course on the label’s schedule, production times, etc.

Plenty to keep busy with in the meantime, of course. Worship the Sun is long since streaming, and you’ll find it below after the details of the first record, which came down the PR wire:

On doomsday 2012 this hermit baby was born and drones through the dusty franconian desert since then.

Sonora Ritual is a 4-piece combo that throws together different influences and styles of heavy music by combining atmospheric trips with massive riffage.

Keeping it raw and stricly lo-fi this band does the recordings by itself and released their debut album ‘worship the sun’ in 2013 which became a popular freebie download real quickly.

Trying to keep things simple these guys don’t come along with any overblown adjectives that describe their sound.

It’s up to you, to make your own opinion. Grab a beer and follow the hermits footsteps to see what you’ll find.

VINYL FACTZ
– Plated & pressed on high
performance vinyl in germany
– 166x Black marbled orange
(Exclusive mailorder version)
– 150x black
– matt laquered 300gsm
gatefold cover
– special vinyl mastering

TRACKS
A1. Spring
A2. Black fog
A3. Child of the sun
A4. Ryff Ryder

B1. Worship
B2. Lonely Road
B3. Welwitch
B4. Mean Machine

Fartface Johnson – Lead Vocals/Guitar
Franklin D. Boozewell – Bass
Wifebeater McKenzie – Guitar
Snuffy O’Brian – Drums

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

Sonora Ritual, Worship the Sun (2013/2016)

Cheers to Melbourne doom rockers Devil Electric on signing to Kozmik Artifactz for the release of their debut album. The four-piece released their first EP, The Gods Below Vol. 1 on June 6, so it seems safe to say that when you’re signed within a week of your first release, you’re probably doing something correctly. Indeed it’s hard to argue with the rolling riff at the core of “Devil’s Bells,” though it’s the internet so I’m sure someone will make the effort, and the band seem to have hooks in kind throughout the three subsequent tracks on the initial outing.

The album will reportedly be recorded later this year for a 2017 release. They’ve also got a new video for “The Dove and the Serpent” that you can check out below, after the info sent along the PR wire.

Goes like this:

DEVIL ELECTRIC sign to Kozmik Artifactz for debut album!

Kozmik Artifactz is very happy to announce that Australia’s finest female fronted quartet signs for their debut full length.

Devil Electric combine the riffs of the old and new in a collision of unholy matrimony. Droning distortion, rumbling bass & heart pounding drums are graced with a haunting female presence. This is what it sounds like when someone walks over your grave.

The band just self-released their first EP called ‘The gods below – Vol.1’, four stunning tracks on whose the Melbourne based band shows its huge potential: doomy riffs that Tommi Iommi could have written, pounding drums and bass and on top the fascinating voice of Pierina O’Brien. What a great combinatiom.

The full length will be recorded late 2016 and released early 2017 on 180g vinyl and CD.

DEVIL ELECTRIC:
Pierina O’Brien – Vocals
Christos Athanasias – Guitars
Tom Hulse – Bass
Mark Van De Beek – Drums

https://www.facebook.com/devilelectric/
http://www.devilelectric.com/
https://devilelectric.bandcamp.com/
http://kozmik-artifactz.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kozmikartifactz
https://kozmikartifactz.bandcamp.com/

Devil Electric, “The God and the Serpent” official video

Memphis three-piece The Heavy Eyes have announced a week-long run of shows on the West Coast for next month. The band released their third LP, He Dreams of Lions (review here), last fall via Kozmik Artifactz, and all I have to do is read the name of the album to have the titular hook stuck in my head. In addition to this current round of shows, the band threatens further incursions outside their Southeastern home base, including a potential stint in Europe, perhaps to materialize later this year. One to keep an eye out for, but in the meantime, they cover a considerable amount of ground in just these five shows — one imagines a drive up the coast in July is lovely as well — and you’ll find the dates and poster below.

Also included is the full stream of He Dreams of Lions, in case you’d also like it stuck in your head for the rest of the day:

Fuzz and groove based Heavy Eyes announce tour dates for the western half of the US. Heavy Eyes, who released their third album, He Dreams of Lions, in November, will be hitting the road from 7/10 starting in Tempe, AZ and ending in Missoula, MT on 7/16. While the tour is quick, Heavy Eyes have promised to add more dates in future months and hopefully to include Europe in the near future. See July dates below.

7/10 Tempe, AZ @ Yucca Tap Room
7/11 Los Angeles, CA @ Viper Room
7/13 Portland, OR @ Ash Street Saloon
7/14 Seattle, OR @ High Dive
7/16 Missoula, MT @ Stage 112

Following on from their 2011 self-titled debut, and 2012’s successful Maera album, Memphis trio The Heavy Eyes return to the fold November 2015 with their most accomplished record to date. Over eleven tracks, amidst the unbridled rawness of ‘Saint’, the sheer weight of ‘Z-Bo’ and R’n’B shake appeal of ‘Smoke Signal, hypnotic hard rock riffs are delivered thick and fast through distorted fuzz boxes, gnarled bass lines and levee breaking drum beats. This is an album that draws heavily from the heaviest (Led Zeppelin, Humble Pie, Mountain) and in doing so turns out new ideas with a punishing authenticity and honesty in line with their Memphis blues heritage.

https://www.facebook.com/TheHeavyEyes/
http://theheavyeyesmemphis.bandcamp.com/
https://instagram.com/theheavyeyes/
https://www.facebook.com/kozmikartifactz
http://kozmik-artifactz.com/

The Heavy Eyes, He Dreams of Lions (2015)

Heavy fuzzing power trio Heavy Glow have signed a deal to release their latest album, 2014’s Pearls and Swine and Everything Fine (review here), on vinyl through Kozmik Artifactz. Seems like a good home for the three-piece, who’ve toured hard and will no doubt make European inroads working with the German imprint, their hook-based craftsmanship, energetic vibe and rich tonality having already found a solid following in the US (and apparently beyond). I wouldn’t be surprised if the band set to touring abroad before too long, particularly if, as the PR wire notes, they also have a new full-length in the works.

Info on all that follows here:

HEAVY GLOW (USA) sign to Kozmik Artifactz

New album soon, re-release of ‘Pearls & Swine and Everything Fine’ early summer 2016.

Some of rock’s greatest bands share an interesting quality: Soul. Cream, The Stooges, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Afghan Whigs and Vanilla Fudge all played glorious rock at concussive volumes but were also swinging to an unmistakable beat, filtering their thunderous bluster through a soul crooner’s sensibility. Heavy Glow qualifies for that exclusive roll call.

Pearls & Swine and Everything Fine is potent proof of Heavy Glow’s deep influences. Heavy Glow constructs Pearls & Swine on a foundation of fuzz-fueled hard rock, appointed with psychedelically-tinted blues and beautifully textured washes of Motown/Memphis soul. Simultaneously, a punkish verve cattle prods the retro rock vibe squarely into right now.

For this album Heavy Glow teamed with infinitely talented producers Michael Patterson (Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, Beck, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, P. Diddy, Notorious B.I.G., Duran Duran) and Nic Jodoin (BRMC, The Morlocks, Nightmare Air). Patterson and Jodoin’s concentrated methodology resulted in an album that is black hole heavy and as cohesive as the ’89 Detroit Pistons.

Pearls & Swine and Everything Fine (with brilliant cover design by renowned artist Darren Grealish, whose work includes gig posters for Queens of the Stone Age and the Melvins and graces the walls of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) features Jared’s totally now perspective, his innate ability to focus his love of rock/soul/psychedelia through a contemporary lens to create Heavy Glow’s modern classicism, placing the band into the sonic realm shared by QOTSA and Foo Fighters.

HEAVY GLOW:
Jared Mullins – vocals, guitars
St. Judas – drums
Joe Brooks – bass

https://www.facebook.com/heavyglowband
http://www.heavyglowmusic.com/
https://twitter.com/heavyglowmusic
https://www.instagram.com/heavyglowmusic/
https://heavyglowband.bandcamp.com/
http://shop.bilocationrecords.com/index.php?s=3
https://www.facebook.com/kozmikartifactz

Heavy Glow, Pearls and Swine and Everything Fine (2014)

Dreamtoned Ukrainian trio Somali Yacht Club are getting ready to release their debut album, The Sun, on Kozmik Artifactz. Initially offered up by Robust Fellow on CD in 2014, the LP is available now to preorder and basks in a rich fuzz topped with airy leads and pushed along thick, warm grooves. Five extended tracks flesh out individual progressions while feeding into an overarching serenity that encompasses at higher volumes as flourishes of progressive guitar work add complexity to what’s already more than just simple jamming with lyrics accompanying. Vibe is paramount, and there’s clearly plenty to go around.

Way back in September, Somali Yacht Club were among the first confirmations for this year’s Desertfest Berlin. Release date is Feb. 12, so it seems safe to assume they’ll have copies on-hand for April. Kozmik Artifactz sends info:

Somali Yacht Club – The sun LP on pre-sale now!

Somali Yacht Club is a stoner rock trio from Lviv, Ukraine. The band mixes elements of stoner rock, psychedelic rock, shoegazing and post-metal in their music.

Formed in 2010 as a jam band, they evolved quickly to a main band for its members. In August 2011 they self-released their first four-song EP “Sandsongs”, followed by two 1-track EPs and finally their stunning full length “The Sun”. The album was self released by the band, got a digital release by Robust fellow rec in 2015 and is now honoured with a vinyl release.

On “The sun” the trio sows all their musical abilities: varying from quiet and emotional song structures, impressive instrumental parts to heavy riffing layered with strong vocals. They seem to take the best ingredients from the stoner, psychedelic, progressive and postrock scene to cook their own soup … a very tasty soup indeed!

VINYL FACTZ
– 166x white (hand-numbered MAILORDER edition)
– 150x black
– Plated & pressed on 180g high performance vinyl in Germany
– matt laquered 300gsm gatefold cover
– special vinyl mastering

TRACKS
A1. Loom 08:20
A2. Sightwaster 08:02
A3. Up in the sky 08:12
B1. Signals 10:52
B2. Sun 07:19

http://shop.bilocationrecords.com/navi.php?suchausdruck=somali&JTLSHOP=0d9f09db733356ce1e5d4658dcbc73bf
https://www.facebook.com/Somaliyachtclub/
http://somaliyachtclub.bandcamp.com/

Somali Yacht Club, The Sun (2014/2016)

Hamtramck, Michigan’s Bison Machine issued their Hoarfrost (review here) full-length through Kozmik Artifactz earlier this year and have already toured considerably to support its arrival, but it’s looking like they’re ready to move forward as well. The New Year will bring a new split offering with Detroiters SLO and Wild Savages, a tape limited to 150 copies that will mark the first new music from Bison Machine since the LP, and just prior to the cassette’s release, a quick tour alongside speedfreaks Against the Grain that will no doubt find both bands getting their feet under them as they plan out a vigorous 2016 filled with road time and recording.

Bison Machine have a Sabbath-reference shirt on offer and the cover art for the new split and poster for the tour can be found below. Click any and all to enlarge:

Bison Machine and fellow Michigan speed rockers, Against The Grain, hit the blustery winter road for a string of dates sure to heat up the tundra that is the northern Midwest. Both bands are still touring on their 2015 releases and Bison Machine is preparing to release a new offering as soon as they return from the road, a split album with two other of Detroit’s finest rock and rollers, Wild Savages and SLO. The album will be self-released, January 23rd, on tape limited to 150 copies and will feature previously recorded material that has never been released by Bison Machine as well as brand new tracks recorded by Wild Savages and SLO. Entitled, “Sweet Leaves!”, the album is sure to be a mind pleaser. Check out the album art and track listing exclusively on The Obelisk!

Bison Machine are also taking tour fundraising orders for a one-off shirt based on the “super fan” shirts in the Black Sabbath Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert footage. If you’re interested in helping with their tour fund you can order a shirt for $15 shipped, by including your shirt size and address in a paypal gift sent to anthonyfranchina@gmail.com. You will also receive a free small gift with your order as a thank you! Sorry only sales in the USA will be accepted.

SWEET LEAVES Track Listing
Hawk on the Wind – Bison Machine
Soul Seeker – Bison Machine
Queen Bee – Wild Savages
Stage Fright – Wild Savages
The Darkness – SLO
Shield Maidens – SLO

Against The Grain / Bison Machine Winter Tour
“Mid x Midwest”
1/13 Green Bay WI @ The Lyric Room
1/14 Milwaukee WI @ The Cactus Club
1/15 Fort Wayne IN @ Skeletunes w/ River Bottom Nightmare
1/16 Lafayette IN @ The Doom Room w/ Mound Builders
1/17 Grand Rapids MI @ Tip Top w/ Bonehawk (matinee show. Doors 2pm)

https://www.facebook.com/americanbison
https://bisonmachine.bandcamp.com/
https://twitter.com/bisonmachine
http://shop.bilocationrecords.com/

Bison Machine, Hoarfrost (2015)