Witch Mountain – South of Salem
Highly recommended for fans of Sleep, YOB, Black Pyramid, and any other band with a legitimate claim in “stoner doom” territory.
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Batillus – Furnace
Furnace is, without a doubt, the heaviest record I have heard this year. That’s the first, foremost, and most important thing you need to know here. It may also be the best.
Apostle of Solitude / Dawnrider – one sided split 12″
New review of the new split 12″ release by APOSTLE OF SOLITUDE and Portugal’s DAWNRIDER.
Hate Eternal – Phoenix Amongst the Ashes
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that the casual death metal fan (if there really are any) will find Phoenix Amongst the Ashes hard to swallow. There isn’t anything cool or ‘hip’ to grab on to here, and it will make many of the mall metal fans run screaming from Hot Topic if it comes on during a shopping trip.
The Gates of Slumber – The Wretch
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the trad-metal gallop of tunes like “Ice Worm” and “Iron Hammer,” but the new, slower TGOS on display on this album is right up my alley.
The Hounds of Hasselvander – Further Torments of the SG 12″
This twelve inch single is an awesome slab of doom, and that is as it should be, for this is work of Pentagram and Raven legend Joe Hasselvande
Some new blood in the local stoner rock scene…
As the owner and maintainer of TooHighToGetItRight.com, a site dedicated to the Southern Ontario stoner rock scene, I’ve seen a lotta bands come and go since 2007. Lately, it seems that there’s been a lot more going than there are coming, to the point where I might not renew my domain this year. But there are still some new bands breathing new life into the stagnant stoner scene. Here are a few to keep an eye on…
Zombi – Escape Velocity
Escape Velocity features a stripped-down Zombi—just synths and drums pulsating to a driving beat. It feels more urban and Germanic; at times like a sinister Kraftwerk. Zombi come across as cool masters of technology now; instead of mad lab techs trying to keep a roomful of aging machines alive and in synch. On Escape Velocity, the machines have learned how to run themselves.
Anvil / Alice Cooper @ Hamilton Place, Hamilton ON, May 17, 2011
“Anvil ended up onstage seven minutes earlier than their previously announced set time of eight PM. Quietly strolling on stage and taking their instruments, the trio gave a quick nod and got down to business. Much to my surprise, the band opened with an instrumental, the mighty “March of The Crabs”. The band was in fine form from the first note, with Robb Reiner comfortably holding the backbeat down like he always does. Playing on a sparsely set stage – just the band, their instruments and amps and a huge Anvil backdrop behind them, things really started to take shape with the evening’s second song, “Mothra”.”
Sean Palmerston reviews the May 17th performance by ANVIL and ALICE COOPER at Hamilton Place in Hamilton ON. Live photos by Albert Mansour
Seditius – Carne da Macello
Gruesome Greg reviews Carne da Macello, the new album by Italy’s Seditius