Posted in Whathaveyou on December 31st, 2021 by JJ Koczan
As suspected, the lineup announcement for the 2022 Maryland Doom Fest is relatively short on fluff. No flowery descriptions of the acts involved, no hype about how important it is to get together in these times of plague and support the community, the underground, whatever it is. That’s all true enough, but as ever, Maryland Doom Fest is putting the name out there for you to see, and if you know, you know. If you’re a part of that family down there in Frederick, you’ve already got your calendar marked. This is who’ll be at the reunion.
And to that, with bands like Horehound, Thunderbird Divine, Caustic Casanova, fest-organizer JB Matson‘s own Bloodshot, Faith in Jane, ZED, Helgamite, Shadow Witch, The Age of Truth, Apostle of Solitude, Horseburner, Dead East Garden, Strange Highways and Foghound on the bill, this one will no doubt feel like a reunion in no small part. These acts and some of the others as well have shared MDDF bills in the past, and indeed, some were included in the announcement for January’s Doom Hawg Day as well, as was speculated. Still cool to see some of those returning coming across the country to do it, though, be it ZED or Formula 400.
Set for June 23-26 at Cafe 611 and Olde Mother Brewing in Frederick, MD, and of course subject to some changes between now and June, the lineup for Maryland Doom Fest 2022 is as follows:
Maryland Doom Fest 2022 Lineup
Black Road Dust Prophet Ol’ Time Moonshine High Priestess Wrath of Typhon Alms Black Lung Thunderbird Divine Atomic Motel Byrgan Faces of Bayon Grief Collector Crystal Spiders Helgamite Shadow Witch The Age of Truth Heavy Temple Problem with Dragons Strange Highways Fellowcraft Formula 400 Tines Indus Valley Kings The Stone Eye Crow Hunter Caustic Casanova Coma Hole Wizzerd Mythosphere Horehound Bloodshot NobleSoul Coven ZED Faith in Jane Future Projektor Apostle of Solitude Orodruin Dead East Garden Ritual Earth Grave Next Door Black Sabbitch Lost Breed Horseburner Foghound Hot Ram Flummox
Posted in Whathaveyou on July 28th, 2021 by JJ Koczan
Philadelphia four-piece The Stone Eye will release their sixth album, South of the Sun, on Oct. 15 through Eclipse Records. The sound they’re working with is, as one would hope by their sixth LP, well established in the songs, and the harmonies are right on and the vibe is dug in while still focused on each song as an individual piece of the whole record. I’ve only been through it once, and though the band’s name has popped up here from time to time, I’ve never actually heard them before. The first impression is favorable.
They have a video up for the song “Catatonia” from the album, and its balance between mood and groove represents the collection’s more progressive aspects well. It’s not the most immediate of the various inclusions, and it’s a pretty good mix throughout, but it’s catchy in its own way and the drums come through with underlying complexity of purpose that adds to the inherent prioritization of melody.
In short, you might dig it.
The PR wire has this:
THE STONE EYE go face to face with a rogue police officer in new “Catatonia” music video
Watch the new music video ‘Catatonia’ via YouTube, stream the single on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Deezer, and Amazon Music
The band’s sixth full-length album South Of The Sun is scheduled for release on October 15, 2021.
Watch “Catatonia” by THE STONE EYE now! Psychedelic sludge-rockers The Stone Eye have revealed a new music video for their latest single “Catatonia”. The video was directed by Stephen Burdick. Watch it right now at this location. “Catatonia” is the second single from the band’s sixth full-length album South Of The Sun which is scheduled for a worldwide release on October 15, 2021 via Eclipse Records.
“Catatonia was our attempt at writing a simple, circular tune with a strong hook that would stick in listener’s minds, like the way Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana does,” says lead vocalist & guitarist Stephen Burdick. ” The idea behind the video wasn’t anything too elaborate, just us trying to be as absurd and ridiculous as possible whilst also making some sense. Why not have a rogue, alcoholic police officer with a handlebar mustache try to dish out a parking meter ticket, then proceed to have the pursuit of his life which ends with him standing face to face with a risqué representation of the devil who proceeds to smack his bum? We’ve never seen that done before, and what’s more ridiculous than that?”
The new record, titled South of the Sun, is one of those gems that is familiar somehow, yet takes the listener on a journey mapped out in new pathways. The album’s music invokes the spirits of Frank Zappa and Kurt Cobain while applying their influence upon music which easily falls alongside the likes of Queens of the Stone Age and Alice In Chains. Heavy with a layer of glorious weirdness, this album combines a raucous, dirty guitar sound with clever musicianship … vocals that are as hypnotic in harmony as they are diverse in range, and a rhythm section as daring as it is ornate and, at times, funk-a-licious. With thirteen mesmerizing songs altogether, the singles from the album certainly showcase the wide range of influences upon the band’s writing. For the first single “Witches & Raptures”, the band sings about being trapped in the big picture of the world around us and how servants eventually are consumed by their social masters after they have served their purpose. The second single “Catatonia” is more of an exercise in meditative songwriting designed to just lose the listener in the lyrics which represent such philosophical questions such as ‘who’s out there, what’s there?’. The third single “Aleutian Summer” can be best described as a scene out of The Shining, going stir-crazy because you’re figuratively trapped in the middle of God knows where. They are soulful songs, and in their own way erotic, both perfect for rock, alternative, stoner, and even metal radio playlists as fuzzy stoner sludge wrapped up in a progressive, pop metal take on the rock genre.
The Stone Eye lineup Stephen Burdick (lead vocals, guitar), Jeremiah Bertin (drums), Christian Mechem (vocals, guitar), Mike Pacca (bass, vocals)
Posted in Whathaveyou on February 5th, 2019 by JJ Koczan
It’s time to talk about the real potential of the New England Stoner and Doom Fest. No, I don’t mean the lineup. That’s awesome. You know it and I know it. I’m talking about the acronym. That’s always huge for a festival. How is it abbreviated? Think MDDF or SHoD or any of the DFs spread around the universe. These things matter.
I’ve seen NESDF tossed around for New England Stoner and Doom Fest, and that’s cool, but it’s missing the opportunity. You could have a festival abbreviated NES! Who the hell wouldn’t buy that t-shirt? I hereby cast my vote in the imaginary referendum on festival abbreviations for New England Stoner and Doom Fest to henceforth and forthwith and withhence be known as NES fest. Second the motion?
There’s reportedly one more band to be added and reportedly several in the running for that slot, so this might not be the final update before May 3-5 gets here and NES fest kicks off (see me using the acronym already?), and the lineup for a pre-party at 33 Golden St. in New London has been announced as well, which will be headlined by Fox 45, so, you know, more of a good thing and all that.
The full lineup as has been revealed follows. Note the Wretch reunion. NES fest!
New England Stoner & Doom Fest II
The New England Stoner and Doom Festival will make its return in 2019 on May 3,4, and 5 at Altones in Jewett City, CT.
Earthride Brimstone Coven Wretch Kings Destroy +1 TBA Foghound Pale Divine Vessel of Light Spiral Grave Solace Black Road Curse the Son Shadow Witch Hell Camino Clamfight Eternal Black Thunderbird Divine Stonecutters When the Deadbolt Breaks Mourn the Light Entierro Bone Church Buzzard Canyon The Age of Truth Void King Horseburner Scuzzy Yeti Witchkiss Cortez Benthic Realm Faith in Jane Conclave Set Fire 3 Parts Dead Insano Vision Old Earth Analog Pinto Graham The Stone Eye Sentinel Hell
Pre-party @ 33 Golden St.: Fox 45 VRSA Dark Ritual Owl Maker Feed the Beast
Posted in Whathaveyou on August 4th, 2017 by JJ Koczan
Cool mix of bands taking part in the first-ever From Spliff to Riff fest this October in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Alternative Gallery will play host to the event, and it’s worth noting that the top two acts on the bill — Solace and Electric Horsemen — are both relatively recently reformed. NJ chaosbringers Solace have been playing out sporadically since 2015 and earlier this year they released their first single since 2010’s A.D. (review here) in the form of the limited cassette Bird of Ill-Omen (review here), which so far as I know has only been available at shows. In addition to headlining at From Spliff to Riff, they just topped the bill at the first NEPA Heavy-Psych-Doom fest in Stroudsberg, PA, and they’ll take part in the first Descendants of Crom festival in Pittsburgh this September as well.
Electric Horsemen, meanwhile, announced they were back just this past February. They posted a previously-recorded single and set about playing locally in the Eastern Pennsylvania region, and should be right at home at The Alternative Gallery in the company of fellow PA-based acts like Highburnator, Lord Crow, Green Meteor, The Stone Eye and Mudbucker, as well as Black Hand, who will come north from Delaware to play.
Pretty strong group of locals to inaugurate what will hopefully become a yearly tradition. Here’s the lineup info and links as posted on the Thee Facebooks event page:
From Spliff To Riff Fest
OCT. 21
The Alternative Gallery 707 N 4th St, Ste 103, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18102
First annual “From Spliff To Riff Fest”
8 bands, 2 stages, a full day of heaviness in the heart of downtown Allentown at The Alternative Gallery! More details to come, but for now, just chew on this lineup!
