The latest update from Freak Valley 2017 gets a hearty ‘fucking a’ from my end, not the least because it contains confirmation that New York heavy blues-psych jammers Geezer will head across the Atlantic for the first time to play. Kudos to that trio, whose 2016 self-titled third album (review here) remains fresh in mind since its release last month on STB Records and Ripple Music, as they join the likes of Pentagram and Greenleaf, as well as Black Willows and Orango, who’ve also been added as of this afternoon. If you missed the last announcement from Freak Valley 2017, it was for a little band called Slo Burn playing an exclusive German show, so, you know, no minor shakes all around.

Once again, cheers to the Geezer guys for working out the scenario of being a good band doing cool shit, living the dream and all that. One anticipates tour dates will follow. I’ll keep an eye out.

Till then, here’s what Freak Valley had to say about Pentagram, Greenleaf, Geezer, Black Willows and Orango:

Short before Christmas we are ready to give you a couple of more killer band names for Freak Valley Festival 2017.

We are thrilled to announce these 5 bands:

Pentagram (official) [US]
Major pioneers of Doom Metal.

Bobby Liebling & PENTAGRAM have been churning out widely admired hard rock / doom metal for over four decades. Within its first, this D.C. band is largely regarded as pioneering not one but two subgenres of hard rock. At the onset of the 1970’s, they helped procreate a behemoth called, “Heavy Metal.” Nine years on, they’d be planting the dark seed of what would grow to be known as “Doom. Now they will finally play Freak Valley! Yeah!

Greenleaf [SW]
Blues / Psychedelic / Stoner Rock

What makes a group truly unique and memorable – is something that can’t be defined, learned, or bought. Call it talent, magic, or whatever you want, but GREENLEAF has it. A super group of the underground rock scene, featuring a revolving cast of fellow musicians who share a love of heavy fuzz rock, GREENLEAF is a righteous kick in the ass and a testament to the almighty riff!

Geezer [US]
Cosmic Stoner Blues

Handmade Heavy Blues is a deep and heavy blues based rock. Imagine The Black Keys with a bit more evil in them, n more “Lonely Boy.” Geezer even sounds a bit like Larmon Clamor mixed with a little Five Horse Johnson. Either way you look at it, you’re getting a heavy blues album that covers it all.

The Black Willows [CH]
Shamanic Psych Rock

Black Willows causes an altered sensory experience of senses, emotions, memories, time, and awareness for 6 to 14 hours, depending on dosage and tolerance. Generally beginning instantly after ingestion, the user may experience anything from subtle changes in perception to overwhelming cognitive shifts. Changes in auditory and visual perception are typical.

Orango [NO]
Southern/Blues/Rock

Purveyors of honest and straightforward blues-infused vocal harmony rock, the trio Orango have worked on their musical blend and live reputation for over a decade. Their music is of the long-playing format, never shy of a hefty guitar solo or jamming in general. The band members say they are inspired by good ol´rock´n roll, good new rock´n roll, good ol´ blues, and good new blues”, namedropping bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, Mountain, Led Zeppelin, Johnny Winter, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Crosby Stills Nash & Young.

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL – 15th-16th-17th June 2017
www.freakvalley.de – www.rockfreaks.de

Freak Valley Festival 2017: No Fillers – Just Killers

Line-up 2017:
Slo Burn, Pentagram (official), UFOMAMMUT, Greenleaf, The Brew, Salem’s Pot, MaidaVale, Geezer, Kikagaku Moyo, Vodun, Orango, The Black Willows

www.freakvalley.de
https://www.facebook.com/freakvalley
https://www.facebook.com/events/150965291977635/
https://twitter.com/FreakValley

Geezer, Geezer (2016)

Cool to see Freak Valley 2017 get a little weird in its early going. If you want to do that, adding bands like Sweden’s Salem’s Pot and London’s Vodun is a pretty good way to go, and to be honest I doubt Kikagaku Moyo will disappoint as regards freakout either, so right on. The German fest made its first lineup announcement earlier this month with Ufomammut joining the bill, and it further bodes well that this batch arrives together, since it shows some of the sonic diversity of the fest in a way that a more piecemeal, one-at-a-time approach wouldn’t really be able to highlight. Nothing to do at this point but sit back and watch these fests take shape.

You got plans for next June? I don’t. Time to start daydreaming, I think.

Fest announcement follows:

We are ready to announce 5 more mindblowing bands to join UFOMAMMUT to the 2017 FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL line-up before online ticket sale will start Monday Oct. 31st 6pm cet. Here we go!!

Salem’s Pot [SW]
Horror-obsessed Swedish doom rockers will bring their wild and weird sounds, space synths swirling beneath chugging guitar riffs, Thin Lizzy licks, and Knate’s cracked vocal delivery over Freak Valley. Their show will be presented by Rockblog Bluesspot.

The Brew [UK]
We are truly honoured that finally UK’s Powertrio The Brew will play their finest 70ies-, Power- und Bluesrock at Freak Valley. A killer live act! We cannot wait!!

Kikagaku Moyo [JP]
Japanese Psychedelic Rockers Kikagaku Moyo call their sound “psychedelic” because it encompasses a broad spectrum of influence. Their music incorporates elements of classical Indian music, Kraut Rock, Tradit ional Folk, and 70s Rock. Most importantly their music is about freedom of the mind and body and building a bridge between the supernatural and the present. Improvisation is a key element to their sound. Kikagaku Moyo play music to ignite your soul and foster euphoria. Their songs will compel you to let your hair down, throw your arms in the air and smile.

MaidaVale [SW]
The Swedish female four-piece with influences ranging over decades, have created a sound based in the late 60’s/early 70’s music scene. With a modern take on blues rock the band have captured many audiences with their heavy and psychedelic vibes, and developed into a highly acclaimed live act with the ability to spellbind and enthrall audiences.

Vodun [UK]
V?D?N are a heavy, weird & soulful, afro-futuristic tribe from London – A raw and powerful slice of voodoo fuelled turbo-metal riffage not to be missed. Featuring two members of one of London’s finest underground bands, Invasion, who disbanded in 2011, Vodun have taken the basic blueprint of that band, added a huge West African voodoo influence and ramped up the intensity across the board. They rock like no one else, and are also a mesmerising live experience.

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL – 15th-16th-17th June 2017
www.freakvalley.de – www.rockfreaks.de

Freak Valley Festival 2017: No Fillers – Just Killers

www.freakvalley.de
https://www.facebook.com/freakvalley
https://www.facebook.com/events/150965291977635/
https://twitter.com/FreakValley

Salem’s Pot, Live at Sonic Blast – Moledo 2016

I guess it was bound to happen eventually, but it’s still something of a surprise to find Freak Valley 2016 rounding out its lineup. Granted, the German festival takes place later this month, and granted they’ve already announced a shit-ton of groups playing — that’s a metric shit-ton, if you’re wondering; not a king’s shit-ton — but I suppose I just assumed Freak Valley 2016 announcements would go on forever. It would just cycle through one fest to the next, trade out 2016 for 2017 and pick up where they left off. Maybe they will, who knows? But we’ve hit a definite demarcation line — the lineup for this year’s Freak Valley is complete — after months of trickling out band names one at a time and months after the fest as a whole sold out.

The final four? Baltimore’s Black Lung — whose new LP, See the Enemy, is out as of last week on Noisolution — along with Krissy Matthews Band (I’ll just assume no relation), Swedish retro rock upstarts Snowy Dunes and Powder for Pigeons, who are also veterans of Desertfest Berlin.

Freak Valley gives one last rundown as follows:

Hey Freaks – the long wait is over!! Here they are, the final 4 bands that still had to be announced:

BLACK LUNG – Doomed Black Soul Stoner Classic Rock
(feat. two members of The Flying Eyes)

Krissy Matthews Band – Heavy Bluesrock at its best

Snowy Dunes – Psychedelic FuzzRock (Vinyl release show!!)

Powder for Pigeons – The Riffs Blaster Duo !!

BLACK LUNG
This power trio came into its own in 2014 with its stately pound fully formed. Guitarist Adam Bufano and drummer Elias Mays Schutzman, both of The Flying Eyes, establish a patient rhythmic menace over which vocalist/guitarist Dave Cavalier adds distorted growls of melody and oomph. The trio’s self-titled debut on the impeccable local label Grimoire splits the difference of early Queens of the Stone Age majestic desert feel and True Widow’s hypnotic groove. After two European Black Lung will be back in 2016 with their second album.

KRISSY MATTHEWS BAND
Krissy Matthews is half-Norwegian, and half-British. He is named a wonderful child of blues. His story started when he was only 3 years old and 5 years after that he received his first electric guitar. At the age of 12 he performed with John Mayal and Bluesbreakers at Notodden Festival! The legendary musician was so amazed with the young guitar player. After the festival, Krissy Matthews became more and more popular. You’ll know why very soon!!

SNOWY DUNES
Snowy Dunes are a four piece psychedelic rock outfit hailing from Stockholm, Sweden. Even though created out of the love for vibes of old, Snowy Dunes is a unique blend of vintage hard rock, 60’s psychedelia and the fuzz rock of today.
Their debut album will be released incl. a loooong Bonustrack by Rock Freaks Records and will be available for the first time @ FVF!!

POWDER FOR PIGEONS
Powder for Pigeons is an Australian/German two piece that was founded in 2013 in the dusty regional back drop of Western Australia. Inspired by the rugged surroundings the male/female power duo has crafted a gigantic sound that fills the frequency spectrum with punchy, warm, low, fuzzy guitar riffery and thumpin drums to be heard for miles around.
You’ll love them ! Blasting tracks made of really catchy riffs, you won’t have the time to breathe !

The official running-order will be public very soon now!! Stay tuned!

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL – 26th-27th-28th May 2016
www.freakvalley.de – www.rockfreaks.de

FVF 2016 is SOLD OUT!!

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL 2016: No Fillers – Just Killers

Line-up 2016:
GRAVEYARD [SW] – Vintage Rock
ORANGE GOBLIN [UK] – Heavy Metal
DEAD MEADOW [US] – Psychedelic Stonerrock
ELDER [US] – Psychedelic Rock / Heavy Prog
SPIDERGAWD [NO] – Post-Boogie
WHITE HILLS [US] – Fuzzed Out Motorik Psychedelic
THE SHRINE [US] – Psychedelic Violence Rock and Roll
BABY WOODROSE [DK]- Psychedelic Garagerock
LONELY KAMEL [NO]- Heavy Blues, Hardrock & Stoner
ROTOR [D] – Instrumental StonerRock/Psychedelic
MONOLORD [SW] – Doom/Sludge
MANTAR [D] – Death Metal Doom Punk
TOUNDRA [SP] – Postrock
FARFLUNG [US] – Spacerock for 21st Century Heads
BLACK RAINBOWS [IT] – Heavy Psych
KRISSY MATTHEWS BAND [UK] – Heavy Bluesrock
THE GOLDEN GRASS [US]- Heavy/Funk//Psych/Freakbeat
BLACK LUNG [US] – Doomed Stonerrock
SPIDERS [SW] – Hard/Glam Rock
V.I.C (Villagers of Ioannina City) [GR] – Post/Stoner/Folk/Rock
GIÖBIA [IT] – Acid Rock
THE DEVIL AND THE ALMIGHTY BLUES [NO] – HeavyBluesRock
SNOWY DUNES [SW] – Psychedelic Stonerrock
THE SONIC DAWN [DK] – Psychedelic Rock
JEREMY IRONS & THE RATGANG MALIBUS [SW] – Space Rock/Stoner/Psychedelic
GOMER PYLE [NL] – Psychedelic/Rock/Stonerrock
MOTHER ENGINE [D] – Stoner/Rock/Psychedelic
BUSHFIRE [D] – Heavy Blues Rock
POWDER FOR PIGEONS [AUS/D] – RIff Blaster

www.freakvalley.de
https://www.facebook.com/freakvalley
https://twitter.com/FreakValley
https://shop.ticketscript.com/channel/web2/start-order/rid/LYSQRABJ/language/en

Black Lung, “Transmissions”

Easy come, easy go. Freak Valley 2016 has announced that Greek heavy psych rockers Villagers of Ioannina City have been added to the lineup and that Windhand have dropped off. The two events occurred in that order, so when the fest speaks below about finding a replacement for Windhand, they don’t necessarily mean Villagers of Ioannina City as that replacement. What does that tell us? That Freak Valley 2016 still has not completed unveiling its full lineup. The festival is set for the end of next month in Netphen, Germany, and has been sold out for I don’t even know how long. Long enough.

Announcements and the full to-date lineup for Freak Valley 2016 — though I say that knowing that as soon as this post goes live they’ll put another band on the bill; keeping up is a challenge — follow here for your perusal, including some comment from Windhand, whose entire European tour has been canceled:

Greek Experimentelle Psychedelic-Folk Rockers V.I.C (Villagers of Ioannina City) will play FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL 2016!!

Hey Freaks!! Today we have a very special announcement for you!!

V.I.C (Villagers of Ioannina City) is an experimental psychedelic/rock band from Ioannina City (Greece). They play a kind of post rock with a big dose of greek-folk traditional music from Epirus. The region’s musical tradition is characterized by polyphony and the use of clarinet. The band’s sound fuses traditional music into modern psychedelic forms, creating a unique sound.

They formed in 2007 and since then they had played in a numerous of shows all over the country in many different venues and festivals.

Unfortunately WINDHAND are having to cancel all their European plans for this year. The reason is Very valid and unfortunately they have no choice in the matter.
During the last days we worked very very hard to find a cool replacement. And we can tell you that we are thrilled it worked out. We will do the announcement very soon!

Here’s the official statement from Windhand:

“It’s with a very heavy heart that we regretfully must announce the cancelation of our 2016 European tour. Family, health, and personal life is always our number one priority, and due to a series of serious, unforeseen circumstances, we will not be able to make the journey abroad this June. Our sincerest apologies to all our friends and fans who have supported us so much over the last several years. We were very much looking forward to seeing all of you this summer. We would also like to apologize to all the promoters, venues, road crew support, and festival organizers that worked so hard putting the tour together for us. This is a very unfortunate situation and very much out of our control. Again, please accept our sincerest apologies and we promise to see everyone again very, very soon. Thank you again and take care. – Windhand”

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL – 26th-27th-28th May 2016
www.freakvalley.de – www.rockfreaks.de

FVF 2016 is SOLD OUT!!

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL 2016: No Fillers – Just Killers
Line-up 2016:
GRAVEYARD [SW] – Vintage Rock
ORANGE GOBLIN [UK] – Heavy Metal
DEAD MEADOW [US] – Psychedelic Stonerrock
SPIDERGAWD [NO] – Post-Boogie
WHITE HILLS [US] – Fuzzed Out Motorik Psychedelic
THE SHRINE [US] – Psychedelic Violence Rock and Roll
BABY WOODROSE [DK]- Psychedelic Garagerock
LONELY KAMEL [NO]- Heavy Blues, Hardrock & Stoner
ROTOR [D] – Instrumental StonerRock/Psychedelic
MONOLORD [SW] – Doom/Sludge
MANTAR [D] – Death Metal Doom Punk
TOUNDRA [SP] – Postrock
FARFLUNG [US] – Spacerock for 21st Century Heads
BLACK RAINBOWS [IT] – Heavy Psych
THE GOLDEN GRASS [US]- Heavy/Funk//Psych/Freakbeat
SPIDERS [SW] – Hard/Glam Rock
V.I.C (Villagers of Ioannina City) [GR] – Post/Stoner/Folk/Rock
GIÖBIA [IT] – Acid Rock
THE DEVIL AND THE ALMIGHTY BLUES [NO] – HeavyBluesRock
THE SONIC DAWN [DK] – Psychedelic Rock
JEREMY IRONS & THE RATGANG MALIBUS [SW] – Space Rock/Stoner/Psychedelic
GOMER PYLE [NL] – Psychedelic/Rock/Stonerrock
MOTHER ENGINE [D] – Stoner/Rock/Psychedelic
BUSHFIRE [D] – Heavy Blues Rock

…more tba very soon

www.freakvalley.de
https://www.facebook.com/freakvalley
https://twitter.com/FreakValley
https://shop.ticketscript.com/channel/web2/start-order/rid/LYSQRABJ/language/en

Villagers of Ioannina City, “Zvara”

German heavy psych mostly-instrumentalists Mother Engine are the latest band to join the lineup for Freak Valley 2016. They follow Windhand, who signed on at the end of last week, and will play supporting their 2015 album, Absturz, which was released last Spring. That record, which spanned about an hour in six long, flowing tracks, took some cues from My Sleeping Karma, Causa Sui and of course Colour Haze, but distinguished itself via its fluidity even as it traded out the overriding peaceful vibes of its early going for the later insistence of “Sonne,” one of the few tracks included to feature vocals.

Freak Valley 2016 announced them thusly:

Hey Freaks!! MOTHER ENGINE – one of the best Heavy Psych Jam band you’ll ever hear – will play FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL 2016!!

One thing about instrumental bands is that they can be either really boring or simply amazing. When you think instrumental Stoner Rock the obvious comes to mind, Karma To Burn.

Well, Mother Engine sounds nothing like that. There is a trippy far-out vibe to this music that flows throughout without feeling forced. While there are your standard stoner rock riffing and groove, you are also rewarded with a mind-altering and climactic journey complimented by a suave and fantastic funkiness. This is chill-out music to the max, music that touches your soul, and makes you get lost in the music. Interesting and complex rhythms are added to keep you guessing where it will take you next.

Fantastic poster art by Jo Riou Graphic Designer

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL – 26th-27th-28th May 2016
www.freakvalley.de – www.rockfreaks.de

FVF 2016 is SOLD OUT!!

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL 2016: No Fillers – Just Killers
Line-up 2016:
GRAVEYARD [SW] – Vintage Rock
ORANGE GOBLIN [UK] – Heavy Metal
DEAD MEADOW [US] – Psychedelic Stonerrock
WINDHAND [US] – Soner/Doom Metal
SPIDERGAWD [NO] – Post-Boogie
WHITE HILLS [US] – Fuzzed Out Motorik Psychedelic
THE SHRINE [US] – Psychedelic Violence Rock and Roll
BABY WOODROSE [DK]- Psychedelic Garagerock
LONELY KAMEL [NO]- Heavy Blues, Hardrock & Stoner
ROTOR [D] – Instrumental StonerRock/Psychedelic
MONOLORD [SW] – Doom/Sludge
MANTAR [D] – Death Metal Doom Punk
TOUNDRA [SP] – Postrock
FARFLUNG [US] – Spacerock for 21st Century Heads
BLACK RAINBOWS [IT] – Heavy Psych
THE GOLDEN GRASS [US]- Heavy/Funk//Psych/Freakbeat
SPIDERS [SW] – Hard/Glam Rock
GIÖBIA [IT] – Acid Rock
THE DEVIL AND THE ALMIGHTY BLUES [NO] – HeavyBluesRock
THE SONIC DAWN [DK] – Psychedelic Rock
JEREMY IRONS & THE RATGANG MALIBUS [SW] – Space Rock/Stoner/Psychedelic
GOMER PYLE [NL] – Psychedelic/Rock/Stonerrock
MOTHER ENGINE [D] – Stoner/Rock/Psychedelic
BUSHFIRE [D] – Heavy Blues Rock
…more tba very soon

www.freakvalley.de
https://www.facebook.com/freakvalley
https://twitter.com/FreakValley
https://shop.ticketscript.com/channel/web2/start-order/rid/LYSQRABJ/language/en

Mother Engine, Absturz (2015)

Richmond doom forerunners Windhand released their third album, Grief’s Infernal Flower (review here), last fall via Relapse, and thereby continued the steamroller momentum they’ve had going for the last several years thanks to near-constant touring and a massive response to their studio output. It seems this summer will take them back to Europe, as they’ve been confirmed for Freak Valley 2016 in Netphen, Germany, and I’d imagine that will be one of many dates on a tour, since it’s Windhand and that’s kind of how they do. Haven’t seen a full announcement of that yet, but will keep an eye out.

Until then, the fest unveiled this badass poster by Mr. Frumpy (also of Seedy Jeezus) and confirmed their taking part thusly:

WINDHAND are one of the best psychedelic, monolithic and heavy doom bands around. That’s why they will play FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL 2016 !!

For a band who traffic in measured, unhurried riffage, Richmond’s Windhand have moved awfully quickly over the last few years. Founded in 2009, the VA quintet have been making waves since the release of their 2010 practice space demo, a two-track CD that garnered the band comparisons to artists like Electric Wizard, The Devil’s Blood, and Black Sabbath.

Take your time for Windhand and let them hypnotize you with their trippy, drawn-out and repetitive riffs deeply drenched in fuzz.

WINDHAND released their third full-length, Grief’s Infernal Flower, in 2015, a multifaceted slab of thundering stoner doom that Noisey has called “doom metal’s most anticipated album of the year.” It is massive, heavy, and personal, a modern testament to the power of doom and stoner metal’s legacies.

Frontwoman Dorthia Cottrell firmly establishes herself as one of the best vocalists of the genre by perfectly balancing beauty with enormous power, and the twin-guitar attack of Garrett Morris and Asechiah Bogdan weaves together nine songs of perfect riffs and fuzzed-out bliss. That often-delicate splendor is all tempered by the colossal rhythmic mastery of bassist Parker Chandler and drummer Ryan Wolfe, whose lower-register expertise serves as the backbone of the new record. Though the first two WINDHAND albums were underground classics, Grief’s Infernal Flower stands to see WINDHAND cementing themselves as one of the premier metal bands of our time.

Mindblowing posterart by Mr Frumpy !!

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL – 26th-27th-28th May 2016
www.freakvalley.de – www.rockfreaks.de

FVF 2016 is SOLD OUT!!

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL 2016: No Fillers – Just Killers
Line-up 2016:
GRAVEYARD [SW] – Vintage Rock
ORANGE GOBLIN [UK] – Heavy Metal
DEAD MEADOW [US] – Psychedelic Stonerrock
WINDHAND [US] – Soner/Doom Metal
SPIDERGAWD [NO] – Post-Boogie
WHITE HILLS [US] – Fuzzed Out Motorik Psychedelic
THE SHRINE [US] – Psychedelic Violence Rock and Roll
BABY WOODROSE [DK]- Psychedelic Garagerock
LONELY KAMEL [NO]- Heavy Blues, Hardrock & Stoner
ROTOR [D] – Instrumental StonerRock/Psychedelic
MONOLORD [SW] – Doom/Sludge
MANTAR [D] – Death Metal Doom Punk
TOUNDRA [SP] – Postrock
FARFLUNG [US] – Spacerock for 21st Century Heads
BLACK RAINBOWS [IT] – Heavy Psych
THE GOLDEN GRASS [US]- Heavy/Funk//Psych/Freakbeat
SPIDERS [SW] – Hard/Glam Rock
LÉ BETRE [SW] – Bluesy Hardrock
GIÖBIA [IT] – Acid Rock
THE DEVIL AND THE ALMIGHTY BLUES [NO] – HeavyBluesRock
THE SONIC DAWN [DK] – Psychedelic Rock
JEREMY IRONS & THE RATGANG MALIBUS [SW] – Space Rock/Stoner/Psychedelic
GOMER PYLE [NL] – Psychedelic/Rock/Stonerrock
BUSHFIRE [D] – Heavy Blues Rock

…more tba very soon

www.freakvalley.de
https://www.facebook.com/freakvalley
https://twitter.com/FreakValley
https://shop.ticketscript.com/channel/web2/start-order/rid/LYSQRABJ/language/en

Windhand, Grief’s Infernal Flower (2015)

Even as I was posting up the news of the last addition to the lineup for Freak Valley 2016, the German fest went ahead and added another band. And not just any other band — the added Orange frickin’ Goblin, who join on as a headliner for the fest, set for the end of May in Netphen. The UK doom lords join the ranks of Graveyard and Dead Meadow, and will no doubt provide ample riot fodder as they always do, having marked their 20th anniversary last year. You can see a clip from their annual holiday tour for “Acid Trial” below. They kill. It’s just what they do.

Any night they show up, that’s a good night. And they always show up. Freak Valley 2016 had this to say on the subject:

We are thrilled to announce the return of one of our favourite Freak Valley bands! British heavy metal overlords ORANGE GOBLIN will play an exclusive headliner show at FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL 2016

Heavy Metal is not just about music: it’s a way of life, a motivating mind-set, a positive force and an inspirational belief system. It’s the most exciting, life-affirming noise that exists on this planet of ours, and London’s indestructible masters of the furious form are Orange Goblin. Not just the UK’s reigning champions of balls-out, party-starting, booze-fuelled metal, but one of the very best live rock bands of all time, the mighty Goblin have been a permanent and universally admired fixture on the British metal circuit for the past 20 years.

Inspired by the gods of hard rock, heavy metal, punk rock and underground extremity, from Sabbath, Motörhead and Thin Lizzy through to Celtic Frost, Danzig and Black Flag, Orange Goblin were initially seen as major contenders amid the mid-90s stoner rock explosion, but it soon became apparent that this band had much more up their collective wizard’s sleeve than red-eyed boogie and flapping flares. In fact, over the course of their roller coaster career, the band have proved themselves to be one of the most consistent and persistent forces in modern heavy music, amassing a catalogue of albums that rivals anything released during the same period.

But it is as a live band that Orange Goblin have founded their formidable reputation. Long renowned as skilled crowd-pleasers and party masters, the band have toured all over the world and shared stages with countless big names, including Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, Sex Pistols, Down, Queens Of The Stone Age, Dio, Monster Magnet and many more. They have headlined sell-out shows at New York’s revered CBGB’s, Los Angeles’ notorious Troubadour and the legendary Underworld in Camden, London. They have also blown fields full of minds at such prestigious festivals as Sonisphere, Download, Hellfest, Bloodstock Open Air, Roadburn, Dynamo, Maryland Death Fest and High Voltage. An Orange Goblin show is a guaranteed good time…all you need to do is get the beers in, prepare your neck muscles for maximum punishment and surrender to the sound of a grand heavy metal institution letting rip at full throttle.

A lean, mean hard rocking’ machine…the eight-legged tag team of frontman Ben Ward, bassist Martyn Millard, guitarist Joe Hoare and drummer Chris Turner have reached a new peak of creativity and one-two-fuck-you intensity on ‘A Eulogy For The Damned’. This is the album that deftly encapsulates everything that is exhilarating and admirable about this most dedicated and humble of British metal wrecking crews and that deserves to propel Orange Goblin to the front of the British metal queue. They’re back and the party is starting all over again. Whose round is it??

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL – 26th-27th-28th May 2016
www.freakvalley.de – www.rockfreaks.de

FVF 2016 is SOLD OUT!!

Freak Valley Festival: No Fillers – Just Killers

Line-up 2016:
GRAVEYARD [SW] – Vintage Rock
ORANGE GOBLIN [UK] – Heavy Metal
DEAD MEADOW [US] – Psychedelic Stonerrock
SPIDERGAWD [NO] – Post-Boogie
WHITE HILLS [US] – Fuzzed Out Motorik Psychedelic
THE SHRINE [US] – Psychedelic Violence Rock and Roll
BABY WOODROSE [DK]- Psychedelic Garagerock
LONELY KAMEL [NO]- Heavy Blues, Hardrock & Stoner
ROTOR [D] – Instrumental StonerRock/Psychedelic
MONOLORD [SW] – Doom/Sludge
MANTAR [D] – Death Metal Doom Punk
TOUNDRA [SP] – Postrock
FARFLUNG [US] – Spacerock for 21st Century Heads
BLACK RAINBOWS [IT] – Heavy Psych
THE GOLDEN GRASS [US]- Heavy/Funk//Psych/Freakbeat
SPIDERS [SW] – Hard/Glam Rock
LÉ BETRE [SW] – Bluesy Hardrock
GIÖBIA [IT] – Acid Rock
THE DEVIL AND THE ALMIGHTY BLUES [NO] – HeavyBluesRock
THE SONIC DAWN [DK] – Psychedelic Rock
…more tba very soon

www.freakvalley.de
https://www.facebook.com/freakvalley
https://twitter.com/FreakValley
https://shop.ticketscript.com/channel/web2/start-order/rid/LYSQRABJ/language/en

Orange Goblin, “Acid Trial” live in Wolverhampton, Dec. 3, 2015

Norwegian beardly fivesome The Devil and the Almighty Blues offered up their self-titled debut (review here) in 2015 and made one of last year’s finer opening statements with it. It would seem that what the Oslo troupe have discovered since that time is that their particular style of classic heavy is just what listeners around Europe and beyond have been looking for; the Blues for the Red Sun Records release continues to resonate and find an audience. They took most of the winter off, if social media is anything to go by (and it may or may not be, of course; entirely possible they were writing or doing something other than playing out during that time), but in May they’ll join a vast and international array of acts as part of the lineup for Freak Valley 2016.

I do not know how many more acts Freak Valley 2016 has to add. I’ve kept up as best I can with their one-at-a-time announcements since late last year, but no question that however much fuller it gets, the bill is stacked. You can see the full list below, under their welcoming for The Devil and the Almighty Blues, which goes like this:

Norwegian heavy riffers THE DEVIL AND THE ALMIGHTY BLUES added to the Freak Valley Festival 2016 line-up

The Devil And The Almighty Blues are filled with a profound love for the old heroes of the Blues walking hand in hand with rock, metal, country and last but not least punk. Armed with vintage Gibson guitars and tube amplifiers, they play a new take on blues-based rock, heavy without becoming metal, slow without being doom, bluesy without being straight up and boring. The result turns out slow, heavy, melodic and raw.

When the 60’s turned into the 70’s there was a musical crossroads. The American blues had had its run with teens on both sides of the Atlantic long enough so that the blues-offspring named rock’n’roll had to expand or die. It did not die, it expanded in all kinds of directions! And right there in the crossroads between blues-based rock and all the world’s other sub-genres of rock, something happened to the blues. The format got experimented with, expanded and almost made unrecognizable. But at the same time the roots to the original ’real’ blues was never lost. Where Peter Green left Fleetwood Mac in 1970 with the track «Green Manalishi», where Johnny Winter stretched his musical legs, where ZZ Top bought Marshall full stacks and shot from the hip, and last but not least where the legend himself, Muddy Waters, stretched the limits of that was ’legal’ with the album «Electric Mud». And not to forget Hendrix, Free, Canned Heat and the rest of the gang from the Woodstock-era. The result was a highly electric musical revolution, where e.g. the newly born genre hard rock walked hand in hand with traditional delta blues.

It is out from this musical mud The Devil and the Almighty Blues have found their inspiration. Their music is slow, heavy, melodic and raw, all without losing the almighty blues out of sight.

Superb poster art by Headbang Design

FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL – 26th-27th-28th May 2016
www.freakvalley.de – www.rockfreaks.de

FVF 2016 is SOLD OUT!!

Freak Valley Festival: No Fillers – Just Killers

Line-up 2016:
GRAVEYARD [SW] – Vintage Rock
DEAD MEADOW [US] – Psychedelic Stonerrock
SPIDERGAWD [NO] – Post-Boogie
WHITE HILLS [US] – Fuzzed Out Motorik Psychedelic
THE SHRINE [US] – Psychedelic Violence Rock and Roll
BABY WOODROSE [DK]- Psychedelic Garagerock
LONELY KAMEL [NO]- Heavy Blues, Hardrock & Stoner
ROTOR [D] – Instrumental StonerRock/Psychedelic
MONOLORD [SW] – Doom/Sludge
MANTAR [D] – Death Metal Doom Punk
TOUNDRA [SP] – Postrock
FARFLUNG [US] – Spacerock for 21st Century Heads
BLACK RAINBOWS [IT] – Heavy Psych
THE GOLDEN GRASS [US]- Heavy/Funk//Psych/Freakbeat
SPIDERS [SW] – Hard/Glam Rock
LÉ BETRE [SW] – Bluesy Hardrock
GIÖBIA [IT] – Acid Rock
THE DEVIL AND THE ALMIGHTY BLUES [NO] – HeavyBluesRock
THE SONIC DAWN [DK] – Psychedelic Rock

…more tba very soon

www.freakvalley.de
https://www.facebook.com/freakvalley
https://twitter.com/FreakValley
https://shop.ticketscript.com/channel/web2/start-order/rid/LYSQRABJ/language/en

The Devil and the Almighty Blues, The Devil and the Almighty Blues (2015)