So, uh, am I crazy, or did we already know that UK doomers Alunah were going to be working with Napalm Records for their next album? And I don’t mean like they-announced-it-on-Thee-Facebooks-three-days-ago-and-the-PR-wire-just-caught-up “already know,” I mean it as in months ago. Help me out here.

Because I’ll tell you, I’ve been saying their next record was coming on Napalm since June, and while this certainly wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been wrong about something for six solid months, at least in theory I like to get it right when I can. This news came in this morning and I kind of spent the afternoon wondering if I should even bother posting it and then I was like, “Yeah screw it because you can put White Hoarhound on again,” and that’s what I did. Any excuse.

Thinking about Top 20 lists, Alunah should’ve been in mine for 2012. All the more reason to look forward to their next release, which hey guess what? It’s coming out on Napalm Records. Official confirmation awaits:

ALUNAH SIGN WORLDWIDE RECORD DEAL WITH NAPALM RECORDS!

Birmingham based psych doom band Alunah are proud to announce that they have signed a worldwide album deal with Napalm Records!

Alunah worked with them previously on a limited vinyl release of the band’s last record “White Hoarhound”, and after demo-ing some new tracks entered talks with Napalm Records regarding a full worldwide recording and publishing contract.

Napalm Records will release a limited edition digi-pack and gatefold LP; and Michael Cowell will illustrate the full packaging.

“Alunah are incredibly happy to have signed a worldwide album deal with the world renowned label Napalm Records. We already have a strong working relationship from when they released a vinyl version of our second album “White Hoarhound”, and we are proud to have been asked to join the Napalm family on a more long-term basis. We have a hard working ethic, are constantly evolving and appreciate everything given to us. We are joining a roster which boasts some of the best bands in the industry, and we’re confident that this new phase in our relationship is a mutually beneficial one.” – Vocalist & guitarist Sophie Day

Alunah will be working once again with Sound of Liberation regarding the band’s 2014 European tour, and will be embarking on a UK tour in May/June.

https://www.facebook.com/alunah.doom
https://www.facebook.com/napalmrecords

Alunah, White Hoarhound (2012)

With more than a decade’s tenure, Swiss heavy psych instrumentalists Monkey3 will return this fall with their new album, The 5th Sun, which — contrary to what the title might lead you to believe — is actually their fourth full-length. Maybe they’re counting the covers EP? Anyway, it’ll also be their first for Spinning Goblin Productions/Napalm Records, and the Lausanne outfit will support it with a couple live dates beforehand, including a slot at the recently announced Up in Smoke festival, where they’ll join Radio Moscow, Colour Haze, Pentagram and a slew of others on Oct. 5 in Pratteln.

Sound of Liberation had this announcement with the album art:

MONKEY 3 – NEW ALBUM “THE 5TH SUN”

MONKEY 3 along with label mates MY SLEEPING KARMA are undoubtedly the most celebrated Psychedelic/Atmospheric Stoner Rock Band on the planet.

The 2011 output “Beyond the Black Sky” was a fantastic release but wait until you hear “The 5th Sun”! With their fourth album, the Swiss band MONKEY 3 presents the definition of psychedelic Stoner Rock, by combining Stoner Rock vibe and riffs with trippy Psychedelic influences and turning these styles into a perfect sound, which will welcome new and old listeners alike!

The sonic world of MONKEY 3 is nothing less than breathtaking, and the new album will bring the band its well deceived recognition!

This album will be available via Napalm/Spinning Goblin Records as LTD First Edition Digipack & Bonus Track + DLP Gatefold Edition with an alternative album cover! Check out the CD cover by John Howard!

Release Dates
25.10.2013 – GR/AT/CH
30.10.2013 – SP/SWE/NOR
31.10.2013 – FIN & Benelux
04.11.2013 – Rest of Europe
05.11.2013 – USA/CAN

Tracklist
1. Icarus
2. Suns
3. Birth of Venus
4. Pintao
5. Once We Were
6. Circles
7. The Ship (Bonus Track)

And to wait before it, don’t miss their next gigs :
14.09.2013 (GER) Fellbach – Rebstock Festival
15.09.2013 (BEL) Arlon – L’entrepôt
05.10.2013 (CH) Pratteln – Z7 (Up In Smoke Festival)

Monkey3, “One of These Days” (Pink Floyd cover) Live at Duna Jam 2012

Big congratulations to London-based riff purveyors Steak on the announcement of their newly-inked deal with Napalm Records/Spinning Goblin Productions. Among others, the foursome now get to refer to the noble likes of Vista Chino, Monster Magnet and My Sleeping Karma as “labelmates.” Steak‘s second and latest EP, the most righteously titled Corned Beef Colossus (review here), was released earlier this year to well-earned acclaim.

One more time, well done, gentlemen. Here’s the official word for your perusal:

Spinning Goblin / Napalm Records is proud to announce the worldwide signing of UK’s Stoner/Fuzz Rocker Steak!

STEAK have achieved a considerable status playing fuzz dripping Stoner Rock at this years Desertfest London and various Snowboard events throughout Europe.

The band’s first two comic book artwork gatefold Vinyl EP´s will be released later this and will be simply mind-blowing! Welcome to the family!

“We are totally blown away to be part of Napalm Records, and sharing a label with bands such as Vista Chino, Monster Magnet and The Sword is an amazing honour. With our debut album due for the start of 2014 followed by a European tour, we are busy working on new material in the studio. We hold up an ice cold one and say thanks for opportunity Napalm, you obviously know a good thing when they hear and we respect that!!” – Reece

Steak, “Liquid Gold” official video

We ended last week with news about Desertfest in London, so it seems only fair to start this week with news about the Desertfest in Berlin. Replacing Radio Moscow, heavy psych groovers My Sleeping Karma have been announced as taking part in the German fest, which is set for April 25-27 at Berlin’s Astra Kulturhaus.

My Sleeping Karma have been on a roll since releasing their excellent fourth album, Soma (review here), last fall, so one imagines they’ll be greeted as liberators when it comes to their Desertfest set. Good times.

Get hip to the announcement below:

Friends ! We are extremely pleased to announce that German instrumental heavy psych quartet MY SLEEPING KARMA is added to DESERTFEST line-up ! You should be happy, many of you demanded them !

MY SLEEPING KARMA combines the organic aspect of psychedelic groove with emotional shades of aphasian landscapes. That was the intention of their self-titled debut album (Elektrohasch, 2006) and it still remains.

From 6 years now, they proffer the incomparable tonal smoothness and instrumental heavy psych groove that made their success, focusing on various aspects of Buddhism (“Satya”, Elektrohasch, 2008) and Hinduism (“Tri”, Eletrohasch, 2010) theologies.

Last year, the band makes a jump to Napalm Records for the released of their fourth album, “Soma”, bringing them to the attention of a wider audience. This release was followed fall 2012 by a bir European tour supporting legendary Monster Magnet !

So, following the meaning of the last album title (“Soma” is the nectar of the gods), we can only advise you to come at DESERTFEST BERLIN to share a pint of this mystic drink that will lead you to a journey from which you may never want to come back !!

Funny, I just last night had Alunah‘s “Oak Ritual” from last year’s White Hoarhound stuck in my head, and now here I am with an excuse to revisit the album. Having already reissued the full-length through Spinning Goblin Productions/Napalm Records, the naturalist British psych-doomers have announced a handful of tour dates as a result of joining forces with Euro-booking powerhouse Sound of Liberation. An announcement on that just came down the PR wire, as well as a link to where one fortunate enough to be within range of going can purchase a ticket to see Alunah at the 02 Academy in Birmingham with Saint Vitus and Mos Generator. Damn that’s a good show.

In case you were also looking for an excuse to revisit White Hoarhound, I humbly submit the following:

ALUNAH JOIN WITH SOUND OF LIBERATION BOOKING & ANNOUNCE FIRST EUROPEAN TOUR DATES!

Alunah are proud to be working with Sound Of Liberation, the well respected booking agency will be handling all future European dates for Alunah, starting with dates in March, April and May. These dates mark Alunah’s first gigs outside of the United Kingdom.

Sound Of Liberation are the booking agency behind such events as DesertFest Berlin, Up in Smoke, Brainbanger’s Ball and Santa Psychedelia. Artists who Alunah will be joining on the roster include Ahab, The Atomic Bitchwax, Belzebong, Black Pyramid, Colour Haze, Fatso Jetson, Truckfighters and Ufomammut amongst many others.

European Alunah Dates:

Sound Of Liberation proudly presents the following Alunah dates. Please forward any European booking enquiries regarding Alunah to contact@soundofliberation.com or visit their website at www.soundofliberation.com. Booking enquiries within the UK should still be forwarded to info@alunah.co.uk.

31/03: Alunah, The Skeletons, Cultura Tres @ Les Combustibles, Paris
27/04: DesertFest Berlin @ Astra Kulturhaus – Berlin, Germany
28/04: Date TBC – email contact@soundofliberation.com for booking requests
29/04: Belzebong, Alunah @ Römer – Bremen, Germany
30/04: Ufomammut, Belzebong, Alunah + 1 TBC @ Club Puschkin – Dresden, Germany
01/05: Date TBC – email contact@soundofliberation.com for booking requests
02/05: Date TBC – email contact@soundofliberation.com for booking requests
03/05: Heavy Days in Doom Town Festival @ Ungdomshuset – Copenhagen, Denmark

Alunah will also be supporting St. Vitus in Birmingham at The O2 Academy on 13th March, reduced £10 tickets are available from Alunah’s Bandcamp!

www.alunah.co.uk
www.alunah.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/alunah.doom

It’s no coincidence that just about every time I post something about UK doomers Alunah, it’s good news. The band, who issued the most chorus-rich White Hoarhound (review here) on CD through PsycheDOOMelic and subsequently signed to Napalm Records heavy imprint Spinning Goblin Productions, have today released the album on vinyl and been added to the lineup for the 2013 Berlin Desertfest. I had the chance to catch Alunah live last year in London and they were right on. Always killer to see cool stuff happen to good bands.

Desertfest sends over word of their addition. Dig it:

ALUNAH (UK)

Today, January 25, is a great day for the English band ALUNAH ! First Napalm Records officially release their 2nd album in vinyl. And then, they are confirmed for the DESERTFEST BERLIN 2013 !! Birmingham based ALUNAH is a Psyche/Stoner/Doom band which unleashes an incredible paganistic sound characterized by thick guitars, a punishing rhythm section, and earthy and hypnotic vocal melodies. Sometimes groovy, oppressive, or downright grimy depending on what the situation calls for, the songs are dark and slow without being downers !

Billed as the “Future of Doom” by Terrorizer Magazine, ALUNAH’s “White Hoarhound”, their 2nd full-length album was released in September 2012 on PsycheDOOMelic Records, and is now officially available on vinyl on Napalm Record !This album is the follow-up to their debut “Call of Avernus” released in late 2010, and their EP “Fall to Earth” in 2008.

Consisting of Soph Day (vocals and guitar), Dave Day (guitar), Gaz Imber (bass) and Jake Mason (drums), ALUNAH have spent the last 6 years building up a reputation for being one of the most hardworking and consistent live bands by playing national dates and festivals (Desertfest London, Desert Storm Birmingham) with international artists such as Fu Manchu, Orange Goblin, Karma to Burn, Acid King, Witchcraft, Graveyard, The Storm and shortly High on Fire !

Even though their reputation as a great live band is already built, they never played beyond UK… Damn !… so many of us have never seen them !

Fortunately, the DESERTFEST BERLIN is here to fix that lack ! Be there !!