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Sleepwulf Premiere “Satan is King”; Announce Sunbeams Curl Preorders

Posted in audiObelisk, Reviews, Whathaveyou on November 9th, 2021 by JJ Koczan

sleepwulf

Swedish traditionalist heavy rockers Sleepwulf will release their second album, Sunbeams Curl, on Feb. 18 through Heavy Psych Sounds, along with a reissue of their early-2020 self-titled debut (review here). Basking in the glories of modernized doomly classics, the record lets the listener know immediately where the Kristianstad four-piece stand with “Satan is King” (premiering below), a hard-pounding catchy riff organic in tone rolling out as the backdrop for devilish paean, the standout lyric, “Come to realize life will begin when Satan is king,” serving as the first and top-priority-feeling of the album’s many hooks, soon enough joined by the stirring reminder that humans are terrible in the (comparatively) subtle environmental theme of “Green Man Dead” and the swinging-dangly-bits of “Sex Magic Manifestation,” the latter packing an entire LP’s worth of strut into 3:48 as the shortest inclusion here.

Shades of Pentagram via WitchcraftWitchcraft via PentagramSabbath via osmosis, Kadavar via Anton LaVey, and so on, should be readily familiar to anyone who carved the self-titled into their own foreheads — or, you know, just listened sleepwulf sunbeams curlto it; that’s fine too — but Sleepwulf‘s riffcraft distinguish them even among the next-generation of Scandinavian heavy originalists, acts like Demon Head or Dunbarrow, etc., and that’s more the case as Sunbeams Curl moves into the harsh judgment cast by “Stoned Ape” and the twisting groove of “Man Under the Mountain,” a preface to the fuzzy progressivism of “Tyrant Song” and the delightful proto-doom of “Toad Licker Mushroom Picker” and the bookending apocalyptic vibe of “Bury Me Backwards.” Their naturalism of tone and abiding commitment to a sound rooted in the heavy ’70s shouldn’t be taken as a dogwhistle for a lack of clarity, because Sleepwulf have no such issue. Rather, they’ve found a balance of production and style that lets the nuance behind the shove of “Green Man Dead” come through alongside the immediately familiar hook it brings, or the organ of “Stoned Ape” and the warmth of “Tyrant Song” to stand out from their surroundings.

A 37-minute run through sides A and B brings a succession of these moments, nuances or standout elements. It can be something as simple as the change in speed of delivery of the aforementioned line in “Satan is King” or the jazzy snare work that underlies “Bury Me Backwards,” but Sleepwulf don’t let an opportunity to make an impression on the listener pass them by, and as such, this follow-up to their well-received first offering should have no trouble igniting the same kind of excitement. Sunbeams Curl is not a revolution in style, but neither is it a hackneyed execution to genre. As they were last time out, the band are in the process of finding their place within their aesthetic, of crafting their individuality through their songwriting and delivery. They are further along that path in this material than they were even even last year, and through learning who they are as a group as they do here, they only make themselves a stronger and more commanding presence.

Preorders for Sunbeams Curl are up as of today. Info and link(s) follow the premiere of “Satan is King” below.

Please enjoy:

Sleepwulf, “Satan is King” track premiere

Preorders at: www.heavypsychsounds.com

From mountain peak to valley deep, SLEEPWULF’s new album SUNBEAMS CURL is a journey that is dripping with the seductive sounds of riff rock psychedelic proto doom.

Conjuring the sounds of bands such as Black Sabbath and Jethro Tull, Sleepwulf have summoned an album that oozes with fuzzy riffs, sordid tales and seductive occultism.

If the first album was about cycles, this one is about breaking them and its consequences. SUNBEAMS CURL delves further into the well of ancient mysticism, alchemy and the occult. The underlying thread connecting it all, is the power of words to manifest reality; in both the individual and the collective consciousness.

This extends to the album artwork, with hidden optics and codes. Deciphering these will reap their own rewards.

The album was recorded live in their own woodland studio outside Kristianstad, Sweden. To capture a live organic sound everything was done live onto an old tape machine.

This new album is both heavier and more dynamic, building upon every aspect of the last. This is an album with hidden secrets which will unravel in the not too distant future.

SLEEPWULF is:
Owen Robertson – Vocals
Sebastian Ihme – Guitar
Carl Lindberg – Drums
Viktor Sjöström – Bass

https://www.facebook.com/sleepwulf
https://www.instagram.com/sleepwulf/
https://sleepwulf.bandcamp.com/
heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com
www.heavypsychsounds.com
https://www.facebook.com/HEAVYPSYCHSOUNDS/
https://www.instagram.com/heavypsychsounds_records/

Sleepwulf, Sleepwulf (2020)

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Sleepwulf Sign to Heavy Psych Sounds; New Album Preorders Start Next Week

Posted in Whathaveyou on November 2nd, 2021 by JJ Koczan

Swedish cult-heavy traditionalists Sleepwulf released their self-titled debut (review here) on March 6, 2020, through Cursed Tongue Records, and even through the unparalleled chaos that followed throughout last year, that record was never quite forgotten thanks to memorable songwriting and a heartfelt vibe that painted the band as more than going through the motion as regards a vintage style. I’m pretty sure there are parts of Sweden where you can walk down the street and for every corner there’s a ’70s-style band frying their tube amps, but even amid that, Sleepwulf stood out well on what was still just their first record.

Cursed Tongue had the vinyl, Stoner Witch had the tape. Both are gone. Heavy Psych Sounds, in picking up the four-piece for their sophomore outing, will also stand behind a reissue of the first record — presumably that also includes a first CD release? — and as is their wont, the Italian label is spacing out the news such that new audio and preorders are coming next week. At least if they make you wait, they tell you.

First words out of my mouth — and yeah, I said it out loud — when the email came in: “Good band.” I stand by that.

More to come. Here’s the announcement from the PR wire:

Sleepwulf heavy psych sounds

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS signed the Swedish stoner rock wizards SLEEPWULF

We are honored to announce that the Swedish stoner rockerz SLEEPWULF are now part of the Heavy Psych Sounds Family !!!

The band has signed a worldwide deal for the new album and the repress of the debut one !!!

PRESALE + first track premiere STARTS: NOVEMBER 9th

SAYS THE BAND: “We are honored to be part of the Heavy Psych Sounds family and to sit at the same table as some of our favorite bands.”

BIOGRAPHY

Sleepwulf are the new wizards on the block of stoner rock. Stemming the forests of Southern Sweden, they have channeled the sultry sounds of old with modern influences to create a heavy sound laden with psychedelic grooves. Fans of bands such as Witchcraft, Black Sabbath, as well as early Pentagram will find plenty to love here. After making waves with their self-released single “Lucifer’s Light” they were quickly signed to Cursed Tongue Records in early 2020. Recently emerging from the studio, their critically acclaimed debut album is a bonfire of riff heavy music that is sure to set alight any crowd.

Fresh off the back of their critically acclaimed debut album, reaching #3 in the global doom charts. The Swedish doom wizards, Sleepwulf have now signed with label giants Heavy Psych Sounds to unleash their highly anticipated second LP.

Written in the dark days of 20-21 this new journey drips with the seductive sounds of riff rock psychedelic ecological doom and conjures the echoes of bands such as Black Sabbath and Jethro Tull.

Out of this fire, Sleepwulf have summoned songs that ooze with fuzzy riffs, sordid tales and seductive occultism.

SLEEPWULF is:
Owen Robertson – Vocals
Sebastian Ihme – Guitar
Carl Lindbuerg – Drums
Viktor Sjöström – Bass

https://www.facebook.com/sleepwulf
https://www.instagram.com/sleepwulf/
https://sleepwulf.bandcamp.com/
heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com
www.heavypsychsounds.com
https://www.facebook.com/HEAVYPSYCHSOUNDS/
https://www.instagram.com/heavypsychsounds_records/

Sleepwulf, Sleepwulf (2020)

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Review & Track Premiere: Sleepwulf, Sleepwulf

Posted in audiObelisk, Reviews on February 13th, 2020 by JJ Koczan

Sleepwulf Sleepwulf

[Click play above to hear the premiere of ‘Wizard Slayer’ from Sleepwulf’s self-titled debut, out digitally March 6 with LP preorders up the same day.]

Traditionalist heavy rock has itself become a generation-spanning tradition, most especially in Sweden, where more than 20 years ago, early purveyors of hyper-stylized heavy ’70s analog-worshipers began to coalesce an aesthetic that continues to resonate with bands domestic and international. Though many of the microgenre’s once-lead advocates in acts like Witchcraft and Graveyard and last-decade comers like Blues Pills and Kadavar have moved on to more modern sounds in their particular approaches, there have been plenty of others to pick up the slack in bands like Dunbarrow, Demon HeadMaidaVale or any number of Sverige boogie acts. Newcomers Sleepwulf take a doomier approach to vintage vibes on their self-titled Cursed Tongue Records debut long-player.

Having signed to the label following two well-received singles spread widely through social media word of mouth, the Kristianstad four-piece of vocalist Owen Robertson, guitarist Sebastian Ihme, bassist Viktor Sjöström and drummer Carl Lindberg present nine tracks and 36 minutes of proto-doomed songcraft, willfully familiar as it should be but marked out nonetheless by warmth of tone, catchiness of the songwriting and the band’s clear ability to affect a mindset in their listener. Sleepwulf, which includes the two singles “Lucifer’s Light” and “Misty Mountain” on sides A and B, respectively, is a beginning point of what one hopes will be a longer-term progression, but its fluidity speaks to the band’s commitment to what they’re doing in style as well as the substance of the tracks themselves.

They are not dabbling, not getting their feet wet. They’re schooled in the methods and the modes, and whether it’s the sweeping groove of closer “One Eyed Jailor” or the shuffling jive of pieces like “Beasts of Collision” and “Tumbling Towers,” Sleepwulf effectively convey the tenets of vintage heavy doom without losing sight of bringing something of themselves to the proceedings, whether that’s in Ihme‘s soloing style or the melodies of Robertson‘s vocals, Sjöström‘s bass tone or Lindberg‘s clever snare work.

These are, again, familiar elements, and the spectre that looms over much of Sleepwulf‘s Sleepwulf is that of Pentagram‘s First Days Here, their ultra-seminal collection of early and/or lost recordings which, compiled in 2004, helped ease the path to set a generation of retro heavy in motion. And the dictates of trend have perhaps left vintage doom behind over the last few years, but that suits a band like Sleepwulf just fine as they roll through the immediately nodding riff of “Wizard Slayer” at the outset or tap Witchcraft‘s “Her Sisters They Were Weak”-riffing for their own finale.

The album as a whole is not necessarily slow in terms of pace, but seems to crawl just the same, or perhaps ooze as its tones unfurl themselves in the songs, and that makes its actually-downtempo stretches all the more effective. Cuts like presumed side A capper “Standing Stones” are spacious and emblematic of the patience that might emerge in Sleepwulf‘s sound over time, and even as it picks up pace to stand next to the likes of “Beasts of Collision,” there’s a sense of the return pending that does nothing to undercut appreciation for it when it arrives.

sleepwulf

That’s a skill in itself — to telegraph a thing and then pull it off anyway — but it speaks to the quality of the turns Sleepwulf are able to make all throughout the tracks here. They didn’t give much indication of such proclivities in “Lucifer’s Light,” keeping largely to a bouncing rhythm for the abidingly-unpretentious three-minute single, but the more insistent feel that comes to a head in “Misty Mountain” offers some clue as to where they’re coming from overall, though the subsequent “Wicked Man” — the opening line, “You were born a wicked man,” immediately bringing to mind Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats‘ “I’ll Cut You Down” — turns back to a more dead-ahead, hairy-toned style of riffing.

Rather, it’s in moments like the centerpiece interlude/side B opener “God of the Gaps” that Sleepwulf reinforce the atmosphere in which they’re working, and having done so, they’re all the more free to let loose a moment of boogie in “Tumbling Towers” as they do. You can have all the gear in the universe, record live to tape in a cave 5,000 meters below the surface of the earth with microphones made of mammoth bones or in the moldiest of decrepit low-ceiling basements, but the most necessary component to pull off a vintage approach is vibe, and that’s exactly what Sleepwulf have working most in their favor on their debut album.

Of course, the last remaining question about the band and their impressive debut is what will come next. There are a couple newer acts out there — the above-cited among them — who to one degree or another have carried across retro stylizations without losing their edge or creative progression, even if those who helped forge the path have largely let it languish. But it can be a tricky balance, and as ever, even more than the commitment to genre tenets, what’s going to help Sleepwulf most in the longer term is their songwriting, which is readily on display throughout these tracks, if in nascent form. The real trick will be to discover how Sleepwulf grow their doom over time. Will their sound expand to incorporate outside elements? What will that inherently do to the shuffle and roll that serves them so well here? Can they twist the tradition of traditionalism?

Naturally, it’s hard to even guess at this point, but even the simple curiosity should speak to the quality of the work Sleepwulf are doing and the fact that their project, whatever it ends up being, is worth pursuing, wherever it might lead. For what it’s worth, if one reads into the self-titled the idea that the prior singles were written earlier, then some of the material that surrounds, particularly in the longer side-ending tracks, does find a way to balance sonic complexity without giving up the basic sonic foundation underscoring the record as a whole. It’s another angle at which Sleepwulf‘s potential can be seen, but really, through any you might view, the picture is the same.

Sleepwulf, “Lucifer’s Light” official video

Sleepwulf on Thee Facebooks

Sleepwulf on Instagram

Sleepwulf on Bandcamp

Cursed Tongue Records BigCartel store

Cursed Tongue Records on Thee Facebooks

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The Hypnagogics Release Endless Nights March 20; Streaming “Darkest Night”

Posted in Whathaveyou on January 28th, 2020 by JJ Koczan

the hypnagogics

Cool vibe in the lead single from The Hypnagogics‘ upcoming debut album, Endless Nights, that will see release March 20 through a new alliance with Majestic Mountain Records for vinyl. The long-player follows behind two getting-their-feet-under-them EPs from 2016 and 2017, and “Darkest Night” keeps easy-to-dig tone at the center amid an unpretentious groove and blend of traditional and modern rock impulses. You know, somewhere between 50 years ago and today and tomorrow. Ha.

There’s some nuance to it, but it’s the chorus that got a hold on me, and you’ll find it streaming below in case you’d like to let it do the same. I’m not saying it’s a revolution — though this is the second band in a week’s time I’m posting about from Kristianstad, Sweden (the other was Sleepwulf); so maybe that’s something to keep an eye on — but it rolls out a combination of brashness and laid back mood that makes a welcome introduction.

The PR wire brings release details and, of course, the song:

the hypnagogics endless nights

The Hypnagogics – Endless Nights

The new album ‘Endless Nights’ is out March 20th 2020.
Vinyl release by Majestic Mountain Records

Majestic Mountain Records welcomes The Hypnagoics to the ever growing rooster of killer bands. MMR-007 will be the debut album ‘Endless Nights’. A contemporary heavy rock album that will blow your mind! Not many bands can come up with a debut album this impressive. ‘Endless Nights’ is an album full of riffs, emotions and with a fantastic vocal performance by Lina Paasijoki. 2020 will belong to The Hypnagogics!
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‘Endless Nights’ drops on March the 20th and expect a vinyl pre-order in the beginning of March!

The Hypnagogics formed in 2015 in southern Sweden. They have since then released an EP and a single. They found their sound during the recording of the single “Death Trip” (2017) and decided to keep up with that in their next recording. In 2019 it was time to make their debut album, “Endless Nights”, and they started to record earlier that year. Most of the songs were already written, but some of the songs came along during the recording process.

The result was a dynamic album with a dark vibe to it, with hypnotic and heavy riffs and lyrics about paranoia, dysfunctional relationships and inner demons.

The Band:
Lina Paasijoki – Vocals
Henrik Edqvist – Guitar
Frida Johannesson – Guitar
Oskar Jönsson – Bass
Victor Granqvist – Drums

https://www.facebook.com/TheHypnagogics/
https://www.instagram.com/thehypnagogics/
https://thehypnagogics.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/majesticmountainrecords
https://www.instagram.com/majesticmountainrecords/
https://majesticmountainrecords.bigcartel.com/

The Hypnagogigs, “Darkest Night”

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Sleepwulf Sign to Cursed Tongue Records for Self-Titled Debut

Posted in Whathaveyou on January 24th, 2020 by JJ Koczan

sleepwulf

I have to say, there’s a piece of me that kind of feels like Michael Corleone in the third Godfather flick when it comes to retro heavy at this point. How could it not be surpassing salty fish among Swedish exports? I don’t have the figures to back that supposition up, but if you’re coming here for hard economic data, you’re on the wrong site. I’m the “likes riffs” guy.

So anyway, I’m all, “Just when I think I’m out…” and then Sleepwulf come along with their super-organic, live recorded, sleek-ass riffing on “Lucifer’s Light” and their self-titled debut pulls me right back in. Clocks in at nine songs/36 minutes, wants nothing more than to toss in a bit of boogie with the First Daze Here vibes and god damn, I’m into it. There ain’t much mystery to the thing on paper — it is what it is — but there’s character here and no pretense and I dig it, I dig it, I dig it. This sound has become a microgenre unto itself, and I am sucker for it.

Maybe this kind of thing has fallen out of favor with whoever decides which brand of heavy rock is hip this week, I don’t give a shit, and I take the fact that Cursed Tongue Records has picked up Sleepwulf for a vinyl release of the album only as affirmation that I’m right not to. They’ve got the vibe nailed and the songs to back it up. Sold.

LP is out April 10. Preorders and digital release March 6.

To the PR wire:

Sleepwulf Sleepwulf

SLEEPWULF – CURSED TONGUE RECORDS

EARLY DOOM ROCK QUARTET SLEEPWULF SIGNS TO CURSED TONGUE RECORDS FOR A GLOBAL VINYL RELEASE OF SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM APRIL 10 2020.

Cursed Tongue Records is very happy to announce the signing of Kristianstad, SE based quartet Sleepwulf and look forward to release their self-titled debut album on premium vinyl. This album will kick down the door to the Heavy Underground as it will, by ways of the old, bring new and fresh songs that will appeal to any fan of late 60’s / early 70’s doom rock. Brace yourself for all retro, organic and vintage!

When we first heard Sleepwulf’s first single ‘Lucifer’s Light’ back in July last year it instantaneously wormed its way into our mind and soul and left us humming the chorus for a week. Cause that was about the time span before the band decided to drop their second single ‘Misty Mountain’. And if the first single was a cracking example on how to bring new life into a proved and tested formula of early doom rock, it was little compared with the full-fledged doom rock riff fest that the second single demonstrates. There’s no denying that a possible third single or even a full-length album would be any less excellent nor relevant to today’s doom rock scene.

With these two first singles the three Swedes and a Scot proved that they fully understand how to utilize the wisdom and strength of the old titans like Pentagram, Witchfinder General, Leaf Hound and Cream all while keeping it fresh and present. There were no doubt in the cave of the Cursed Tongue that a new doom child had emerged on the international heavy underground scene and it was one we could not miss.

The self-titled debut album is a tour de force in retro-tinged, organic played vintage sounds that take you right back to the late 60’s where British band Earth transformed into its latter and more known constellation. At play on Sleepwulf’s debut are blues-rooted, doom-flavored, riff-based rock of the absolute highest order. Musicianship on par with the contemporary scene’s greats such as Dunbarrow, Graveyard, Asteroid, Burning Saviours, Clan, Demon Head, Doublestone. In fact, we have little trouble comparing the quality of Sleepwulf’s debut album with Witchcraft’s ‘Alchemist’ album. Yup, it’s that good.

Sleepwulf’s debut album releases digitally on Bandcamp and all major streaming outlets on March 6 2020.

Track listing:
1. Wizard Slayer
2. Beasts of Collision
3. Lucifer’s Light
4. Standing Stones
5. God of the Gaps
6. Tumbling Towers
7. Misty Mountain
8. Wicked Man
9. One Eyed Jailor

Inspired heavily from the work of renowned occultist John Dee, this album attempts to rekindle his vision of a united cosmos. “The moon and sun of our monad desire their elements, in which the Denarian proportion will rule, to be separated, and this is to be done with the ministry of fire.” From conception, every aspect of this album is routed in these core principles and can be traced back to each of these foundations.

The entire album was recorded live in the studio, no overdubs or retakes!

The front cover artwork is drawn by the singer’s father Iain Robertson while living in the forest near Loch Ness. It’s likely influenced by numerous mushroom journeys.

It is with much joy, that Cursed Tongue Records can roll out the red carpet and give this early doom rock inspired album a dire needed vinyl treatment. We open the doors for the vinyl pre-order on March 6 with official vinyl release April 10 2020.

Sleepwulf is:
Carl Lindberg – Drums
Owen Robertson – Vocals
Sebastian Ihme – Guitar
Viktor Sjöström – Bass

https://www.facebook.com/sleepwulf
https://www.instagram.com/sleepwulf/
https://sleepwulf.bandcamp.com/
http://cursedtonguerecords.bigcartel.com/
https://www.facebook.com/CursedTongueRecords/

Sleepwulf, “Misty Mountain”

Sleepwulf, “Lucifer’s Light”

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