The Uncanny Mailbag 02/15/13

A look at what came in the mail this week, featuring links, product descriptions and mini-reviews, featuring ...

THE ALAN BOWN - Arkham Witch - DISASTROID - The Nice

THE ALAN BOWN - Outward Bown (1968)

The Alan Bown started out in the mid-sixties from the ashes of the John Barry Seven (yes, THAT John Barry) as a mod/soul band called The Alan Bown Set who released a terrific single called "Emergency 999" in 1966.  But the winds of change were blowing and like most British bands of the time gave themselves body and soul over the psychedelic mores of the time and re-emerged nearly overnight as The Alan Bown!, dropping the 'Set' from their moniker.  At the time 'Outward Bown' was released the band had found a niche as a wimpy toytown pop outfit with singles like "We Can Help You" [written by the original, British Nirvana], "Toyland" and "Story Book" leading the charge for the album's release.  All great songs, but offering no clue as the true power this band had on offer.  A charged-up cover of "All Along The Watchtower" being a prime example of the band at their most powerful.  Somewhat harder edged songs like "Magic Handkerchief" and "My Girl The Month of May" also evinced a further sea change for the band towards a harder edged, proggy sound that would find full blossom on "Movie Star Baby" [written by then current band member Jess Roden], a terrific song that was sadly only recorded as a BBC Session and never officially released.  Interestingly "Penny For Your Thoughts" synthesized the two sides of the band with a fuzz heavy, West Coast / Hendrix raver of a riff during the verse and a wimpy pop chorus that sounds almost George Michael-ish.  Terrible as that sounds, the chorus lasts only two bars and the overall song is really quite excellent.

What this CD re-issue lacks in liner notes (limited to a single paragraph on the back cover), it more than makes up for with its 14 bonus tracks, two more than the original album itself!  I got this CD from Record Heaven and it appears that I grabbed the last copy.  As of right now they're selling the double CD version which includes a mono and stereo mix but not nearly as many extra goodies, including the BBC Sessions.  I'm sure it will be restocked at some point, so keep an eye out on Record Heaven if you're interested because there are many versions of this album and they are all overpriced on Amazon.

Highlights include: "Movie Star Baby [BBC Session]" and "Magic Handkerchief".

Rating: 3.5/5

ARKHAM WITCH - On Crom's Mountain (2011)

By now, everyone's heard Arkham Witch's stellar 'Legions of the Deep' album, but how many have heard 'On Crom's Mountain'?  I'm not sure but I know that when I discovered this band on youtube many months ago this album seemed impossible to get a hold of.  Enter Metal on Metal records and their release of the Keighley quartet's debut on tape, licensed through Mexico's Raw Metal label.  Much like their latest album, 'On Crom's Mountain' is ten tracks of raw guitar-driven, old school metal, the way you remember it and the way you like it.  The cover was redesigned by Jowita Kaminska-Peruzzi of Metal on Metal and connects to the 'Legions of the Deep' artwork and Arkham Witch's next release (not yet released). This item is limited to only 66 copies and costs a mere 6 euros but is also available as a digital download on Arkham Witch's bandcamp.

Here's the original cover artwork, nice but not nearly as nice as Jowita's.


Highlights include: "Battering Ram" and "Viking Pirates of Doom".

Rating: 4.5/5

DISASTROID - Money & Guilt (2012)

Disastroid are a terrific trio out of San Francisco that play an exciting style of stoner rock, reminiscent of a more accurate vision of Queens of the Stone Age's 'Robot Rock'.  This album starts out strong and improves with every listen, each song better than the last and keeps on giving.  I reckon this album came out about half a year ago and I slept on it first time around, only because I never got the chance to hear it for one reason or another, but after reading about them on a blog or two I always kept them on my back-burner list.  It only took one listen to convince me that this was something I needed in my household.

Real basic setup on the physical package, a bare-bones gatefold cardboard sleeve with a photocopied insert small poster / liner notes.  All told, the package will run you 10 dollars on big cartel.  I also got a free Gorilla vs. Robot t-shirt with it.  Win.

Highlights include: "Money & Guilt" and "Fallout".

Rating: 4.5/5




THE NICE - The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack (1968)

This was an album that had been near the top of my to get list for a long time, but I held off because I thought I could find it out there, in the real world.  I was able to find each of the Nice's next three albums used or new in different stores but I could never get my hands on this classic, their debut.  The Nice of course was the band that propelled Keith Emerson to stardom with his manic, knife-wielding stage performances and keyboard wizardry.  The band was completed at this time by three other cats who were no slouches of their own: guitarist Davy O'list, drummer Bruce Davison and bassist Lee Jackson (combining their names formed the fictitious title character Emer-List Dav-Jack, who was also credited with group compositions).

For metal and stoner rock fans there's a couple breath-takingly good proto-metal songs on this album, such as opening track "Flower King of Flies", and especially the bonus track "Azrial (Angel of Death)".  For me, this CD was worth picking up for those two songs alone, but there are other great moments.  Already by this time Emerson had hit upon his trademark sound of bouncing rhythms (see bonus track "Diamond Hard Blue Apples of the Moon") that would later come to define and dominate the sound of not only The Nice but of ELP as well.

Though this album came out when Prog was in its absolute infancy, already the borders between what the new prog bands were doing and that of the psychedelic bands of the era was clearly delineated with this release.  The single "Rondo", "Bonnie K" and "Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack" are all keyboard driven proggy slices of pop and can all be found on the A side of the album.  The B side is experimental in both sound and structure and creates more of a challenging listen.  This CD version comes with 5 bonus tracks including some of the best songs, two already mentioned: "Azrial" and "Diamond Hard Blue Apples ..." as well as "America", which may have been their most popular song.

I got this CD from Amazon seller Rarewaves-CA, on the cheap too.

Highlights include: "Azrial (Angel of Death)" and "Flower King of Flies".

Rating: 4/5

The All-New! All- Different! Weekly Mailbag! for 01/28/13 - 02/01/13

A look at what came in the mail this week, featuring links, product descriptions and mini-reviews, featuring ...

THE ATTACK - C.A. Quintet - GOBLIN - Set

THE ATTACK - About Time! (2006, rec. 1967-69)

The Attack were one of the better obscure British bands of the late 60s.  The started out as a Mod / blue eyed soul / freakbeat combo but through almost constant lineup changes morphed into a psychedelic rock act.  Later on in their existence a young John DuCann joined their ranks and they heavied up their sound.  A sound which would continue into DuCann's post Attack, pre-Atomic Rooster group, Andromeda.  The Attack went through more lineup changes than Deep Purple and still managed to record not one but two lps (both unreleased, one forever lost) and release four singles, Davy O'list (later of The Nice) was an early member.  Why this band never caught on with the British record buying public is one of those head-scratching mysteries because the music is terrific and stands up well against the competition in retrospect.  Their initial single "Try It b/w We Don't Know" is an almost perfect slice of mod pop that was every bit as good as The Move's more successful debut single "Night of Fear" which was out at the same time, for example.  As the band forged ahead they released a pair of cracking psychedelic 45s the first being "Created By Clive", which is good but has a very toytown pop vibe and is backed by the incredible "Colour of My Mind" which was a lot closer to their typical, later sound.  The second was "Lady Orange peel" which is very is loaded with echo and is very psychedelic and "Neville Thumbcatch" which is amazing (watch/listen below).  In the end, however, it's their final recordings with the John DuCann lineup that steal the spotlight.  "Go Your Way" and "Too Old" are quite heavy for the time, surprisingly heavy for being recorded in January - March 1968 and both of which would later be recorded by Andromeda.  "Strange House", "Mr Pinnodmy's Dilemma" (about a deaf and blind kid, way before 'Tommy') and "Magic In The Air" are all very psychedelic.  One of the weaknesses of this release overall, is that the liner notes are made up mostly of an interview with Attack mainstay Richard Shirman, who doesn't really get into this period of the band's history.  He doesn't appear to have enjoyed his time with the DuCann version of the lineup and mostly glosses over it.  One thing about psychedelic-era musicians who have 'grown up' shall we say, is that they are usually embarrassed of their psychedelic period.  I'm not sure if that's the case with Shirman but it usually is the case.  This CD was incredibly long overdue for purchasing, but I couldn't even find a copy of this disc at all for a good long time.  I finally tracked it down at Record Heaven for a very reasonable 22 bucks.  It was a special order item too, but it wasn't too long in coming.  I'd reckon that more than half of the 19 tracks on this CD are classics in the mod / psychedelic genres of British music from the 60s.

Highlights include: "Neville Thumbcatch" and "Strange House".

Rating: 5/5

The All-New! All- Different! Weekly Mailbag! for 01/21/13 - 01/25/13

A look at what came in the mail this week, featuring links, product descriptions and mini-reviews, featuring ...

AT DEVIL DIRT - The Gentlemen Bastards - IT'S NOT NIGHT: IT'S SPACE - State of Micky and Tommy - WHEELFALL

AT DEVIL DIRT - Chapter II "Vulgo gratissimus auctor" (2012)

Having put it off for far too long I finally bought a copy of the last of my top 10 albums of 2012 that were available (Moon Curse is the only one left now as it hasn't been available as a physical release, but word came in that they have sent their album off to the vinyl plant and their EP is being pressed even as we speak).  It took about three weeks in getting here, which isn't too long a wait for it to come all the way up the coast from Chile to BC and when it arrived it came with a copy of the band's self-titled debut album as well!  I hadn't gone back and heard it yet as I'm still quite satisfied listening to 'Chapter II' at the moment.  Admittedly it's been a long moment.  If you haven't read it yet, and you want to know what I think of the music, you can read my full review.  It's actually one of my most read posts (or at least, one of my most 'looked at').  Like every band featured on Paranoid Hitsophrenic, they're a very good band and it seems a lot of folks are really taking notice of them.  Such is the power of 'Chapter II'.

If you're not familiar with the band, they are a two piece from Chile.  There's Nestor Ayala on guitar and Francisco Alvarado on drums and they pound, fuzz, wail and crash with a tone that pierces straight to the center of the brain.  Great stoner rock in the Queens of the Stone Age tradition.

Listening to the debut for the first time I'm struck by an aspect I never got to touch on in my review, which is the band's growth between releases.  'At Devil Dirt' takes a more aggressive approach while 'Chapter II' takes is more laid back with the confident swagger of a band finding its voice while maintaining a sharp focus.  Also, the vocals are mostly in their native Spanish with only a few in English on the debut.  'Chapter II' is all in English.

The 'Chapter II' CD is available on the band's bandcamp page for 12 US dollars and comes in a single panel digipack with credits on the inside cover and band photos beneath the CD tray.  The debut has much the same format and is for sale at 10 US dollars on bandcamp.  The digital version of this album is also a "pay what you want" while the digital version of 'Chapter II' is available at 4 dollars.
Highlights include "I am an Ugly Skin" and "That the Start Sweet Ends Bitter".
Rating 5/5

The All-New! All- Different! Weekly Mailbag! for 01/14/13 - 01/18/13

A look at what came in the mail this week, featuring links, product descriptions and mini-reviews, featuring ...

FIRE - Iron Mtn - KIPPINGTON LODGE - Lovers From The Sky - MEGACHURCH - Owl - SPIDER KITTEN

FIRE - UNDERGROUND AND OVERHEAD (CD 2007, recorded 1967-70)

I was stoked to see this one come in.  For years now this CD has either been unavailable or selling at an exorbitant price on Amazon, so I nearly knocked over my beer when I saw it on Record Heaven for a reasonably priced 29 dollars.  Expensive for sure, but not in the 100 dollar range like on amazon, and a good price for a rare and out of print CD from a label that no longer exists.  It came out on the now sadly defunct Wooden Hill label as WHCD010 and it was one of their best releases ever.  I held my breath as this was labelled as a 'special order' item and would be shipped when available.  Well, I didn't have to wait long as it shipped about a week after placing the order and took a mere eight business days to arrive.

That all said, this isn't the most amazing compilation you will ever hear.  There's about five songs that are absolutely amazing, among the top examples of underground British psychedelia from the late 1960s one is likely to discover, but the remainder of the 20 songs just aren't as strong.  Keep in mind, that 17 of the 20 tracks were demos that were never meant for large-scale public consumption.  Fire was the creative outlet for talented songwriter and future Strawb Dave Lambert, whose material was strong enough to land an exclusive publishing contract with The Beatles' Apple Publishing.  Paul McCartney (he of Beatvana fame) himself took a hands-on approach to the band's first single "Father's Name Is Dad b/w Treacle Toffee World", pulling it from stores to re-record a new 'punched-up' version which made little difference sales wise upon reissue.  As is always the case with these compilations and re-issues of late 60s British psychedelic bands the disc features extensive liner notes, written with humor and whimsy by David Wells.
Highlights include "Father's Name Is Dad" and "Treacle Toffee World".
Rating 3/5

The All-New! All- Different! Weekly Mailbag! for 01/07/13 - 01/11/13

So I decided that my Weekly Mailbag feature was a bag of crap.  I should take time out to describe the actual CD, what kind of product you'd be getting if you took my recommendation and bought it for yourself.  And it made sense to provide links to the stores and websites where I actually ordered the CDs from.  Also, five lines of copy wasn't really enough to get the point across and say everything I wanted to say.  So here it is:  The All-New! All-Different! Weekly Mailbag!  Obviously at a glance, I've expanded my quickie reviews to an upgraded mini review status with more detail.  Moving forward this won't always apply.  If I plan on doing a full review of an album, or have already done so, I'll take less time to discuss it here, but I will provide links and product descriptions.  One more thing: this will *hopefully* be the last really big haul as I won't be buying as many CDs in the future.  I'm trying to keep it down to around three a week.  Anyway, I hope you enjoy my new and improved Weekly Mailbag ...

A look at what came in the mail this week, featuring links, product descriptions and mini-reviews, featuring ...

BLACK SPACE RIDERS - Demonic Death Judge - DRYASDUST - Enos - HELL PREACHERS INC - Mamont - OWL - Routes - VIOLET MAGICK - A Very Old Ghost Behind The Farm - WHEELFALL

BLACK SPACE RIDERS - LIGHT IS THE NEW BLACK (2012)

"Songs about luminaries, black holes, hope and loss in outer space".  According to my gmail, I ordered this one Christmas day so it didn't take too long at all in getting here, something like eight business days, it came all the way from Germany, so that's not too bad a timeframe.  I ordered it from the band's bandcamp page for 12 euros.  This is their second album.  I haven't heard their self-titled first album from 2010, but it looks much the same:  13 songs with song titles that suggest the band have always liked to write suites rather than stand-alone songs.  'Light is the New Black' is an hour long collection of 13 tracks featuring the "exodus" and "the hole" suites.  These 'suites' as I like to call them are broken up into regular length songs and are spread throughout the album but are unified in theme and tell a slightly larger story.  The album is also broken up into four sides, which makes perfect sense for the album's double vinyl release, but here simply makes for an interesting curiosity.  The four sides are titled "Light Side", "Bright Side", "White Side" and "Night Side".  Generally speaking, the music is thick toned guitar and funky thumping rhythm in the heavy psych / space rock / stoner genres.  At times the tone / mood / vibe / performance recalls Tom Waits, or his precursor the Sensational Alex Harvey, at other times the band kicks up a middle eastern dust cloud and still at other times the band veers High on Fire-wise.  There's a great deal of musical variety and the band has no shortage of sides and no shortage of great ideas.  The CD itself is a digipack with incredibly detailed liner notes describing who played what for every song, and no it's not just the same four guys credited for the same four things on every track.  All told, a nice package.
Highlights include "Digging Down" and "Startrooper".
Rating 4/5

DEMONIC DEATH JUDGE - SKYGODS (2012)

It was inevitable that I would one day pick this CD up.  The only reason I hadn't already was because I wasn't aware that it existed.  I ordered this CD from the All That Is Heavy webstore and it ran to about 17 bucks, maybe a bit pricey for some, but the music on this disc is worth every penny.  Psychedelic sludge metal with an emphasis on the psychedelic that makes a nice musical companion to Ichabod's brilliant 'Dreamscapes From Dead Space' album.  This CD came out on Inverse records which is a Finnish distribution label.  You can pick up this CD on their website as well.  The CD is a fairly basic package with some expanded artwork and comes with the lyrics so you can read along if you can't understand the words.  I've said elsewhere that the music is "Very much in the Dopethrone mold of just tossing off the grooviest riffs you'll ever hear as casually and as naturally as breathing, but throw in a Pink Floyd sensibility and you've gone from the head numbing to the mind expanding. Very addictive stuff".  As for a more detailed description of the music, you can read my full-size review.  I thought it was my first halfway decent review, personally.  For a quick preview of the album, you can travel along to Demonic Death Judge's bandcamp page.  This is their second full-length album and I keep meaning to pick up their debut but haven't yet, for shame.  "Salomontaari" is currently burning up the doom charts.
Highlights include "Skygods" and "Salomontaari".
Rating 4/5

DRYASDUST - ST DEMO (2012)

My Dryasdust CD came in the mail on Thursday, I wasn't expecting so much stuff to come in this week, but the music kept flooding in.  It think it was because of the holidays backing the postal services up a bit for the past couple weeks.  I recently reviewed this one so I don't feel the need to go too in depth about the music other than to say it's darker edged, verging on folky classic rock and stoner from Finland.  It's a five song EP in a basic cardboard sleeve with the song titles and the band's gmail address on the back.  This baby cost me a mere 5 euros on their bandcamp, which was a small price to pay for the band's landmark debut release.  This digital download is "name your price" so you can go ahead and grab it for free if you'd like.  I would recommend you at least check them out.
Highlights include "Evil Hearted" and "Deep Waters".
Rating 4/5

ENOS - ALL TOO HUMAN (2012)

Brighton, UK's Enos take the listener on a spaceborne trip to the softer side of stoner rock.  Actually the band themselves like to say they "play psychedelic rock with nods to doom and stoner", so who am I to argue?  This is their sophomore release and the band seemed highly regarded even if I'd never heard them before.  The band take their name from a space chimp.  To read the story check out the band's bio on their facebook.  After a quick preview on the Stargun music label bandcamp page I decided to buy the CD.  At 8 pounds it was only one pound more to buy the CD than the digital download.  When bands and labels give me no choice, they give me no choice.  Of course I was going to grab the CD.  The cover art is fantastic and was painted by Alexander von Wieding, he the brains behind the Small Stone Record label signed band Larman Clamor and illustrator of countless Small Stone record covers, with Wo Fat's 'The Black Code' and Mangoo's 'Neverland' among the best.  This album cover tops them all.
Highlights include "All Too Human" and "Another Solution".
Rating 3.5/5

HELL PREACHERS INC. - SUPREME PSYCHEDELIC UNDERGROUND (1968)

This psychedelic exploitation album was long rumored to be the undercover work of Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Paice and Jon Lord of Deep Purple but is almost certainly not.  It was probably the work of studio musicians from Europe.  This LP was originally released only in the UK and Germany but has since taken on cult status, most likely due to the long standing rumors of the disc's authorship, probably perpetuated by an individual or two who were looking to sell original copies at a much inflated price.  That's my own personal speculation here, so make of it what you will.  The music is not as supremely psychedelic or underground as the title would have you believe.  It's less of a 'floating on an electric cloud' kind of late 60s psych than loose, sweaty, roadhouse blues jamming with psych touches, mostly of the cliched variety, but there are some really nice hard rockin' moments and it's mostly instrumental.  I'd actually forgotten all about this album until I saw it on the Record Heaven website and just had to give it the green light, because despite the music not being so incredibly amazing in places, it's still a kind of sloppy favorite of mine from the original psychedelic era.  The liner notes basically go over what I just have and are about as long, there are no production or performance credits.  The B-movie of psychedelic rock.
Highlights include "Time Race 1" and "Spy In Space".
Rating 3/5

MAMONT - PASSING THROUGH THE MASTERY DOOR (2012)

Mamont - Passing Through the Mastery Door - I reviewed this one a long time ago and I'm still listening to it.  There something that I can't put my finger on that somehow ties this album to two other Swedish albums that came out in the latter half of 2012, those being Molior Superum's 'Into the Sun' and Three Seasons' 'Understand the World'.  Each of these three albums get better every time I listen to them.  'Passing Through the Mastery Door' was on my to buy list for quite some time before I actually pulled the trigger on the deal.  I picked it up off the Ozium Records website for 119 Swedish Kroners and it came in a single panel digipack with no booklet and some basic production and performance credits on the inside front cover.  Once again, this is psychedelic music with heavy as a real life Woolly Mammoth stomping rhythms and a guitar tone about as fuzzy.
Highlights include "The Secret of the Owl" and "Satans Fasoner".
Rating 4/5

OWL - FIRST ALBUM (2012)

I ordered this one November 7 and after two months it finally arrived.  As I said in last week's Mailbag, I'm not really a vinyl kind of guy but I had no choice but to pick up the LP if I wanted to listen to the album.  I remember it so clearly.  I saw the Hornss "Red Death" video on Youtube and promptly shuffled over to their bandcamp page to pick it up for myself.  They recommended Owl, so I gave it a listen and I knew right then and there that I could probably live without 'First Album' in my ears, but it wouldn't be much of a life.  Hard rock that borders on punk at times and psychedelic at others, quite a balancing act but this Oakland four-piece pull it off well.  After that it wasn't really much of a choice.  If I wanted the download, I would have to incur the vinyl that went along with it.  Well, it was only 10 bucks, not bad for an LP, really.  The package itself is the tour edition limited to 300 copies and it comes in a plastic sleeve, the red Owl logo you see on the cover is actually a sticker on the sleeve and not on the cover itself.  The cover is two panels of folded card stock that hold the thing together.  The liner notes are really cool, with this band review from Revolt of the Apes printed inside and the lyrics with accompanying drawings and production details.  The whole thing has a real nice homemade feel and I'm happy to have this unique package sit next to my Color Out of Space EP.  They also threw in some nice stickers.  I should really set up my printer so I can scan some of these things ...
Highlights include "Medicine Mirror" and "Glaurung".
Rating 4/5

ROUTES - LAND OF HOLY DOPE (2012)

I don't remember where I heard about this band and I may be a year late but I'm glad I didn't miss them entirely.  This is actually their second full-length album but it's the only thing on their bandcamp page for now.  The album is only available for streaming on bandcamp for now, but after hearing it there, I went over to the CTS Productions page and picked up the CD for just 8 euros.  Not too shabby.  These guys started out playing Sepultura and Slipknot-like stuff, but soon discovered Kyuss, Monster Magnet and Saint Vitus and the rest is history.  Like a lot of awesome Greek stoner rock bands Routes are definitely influenced by Kyuss and Monster Magnet but their newly acquired fifth member, that being the noise generating Tasos, bellows a strong gust of Hawkwind atop the massive stoner grooves.  The CD booklet is glossy and the artwork is very professionally done but it's obviously homemade.  The paper is neither formatted to perfect size nor is it even folded accurately.  These sound like criticisms.  They aren't.  I for one have no problem with a DIY ethic.  The booklet and artwork creates the impression that the band and their associates put a lot of thought into this project.  For example, the lyrics are reproduced here, but what to do for the instrumental, "Purple Coyote"?  Put a graphic of a purple coyote where the lyrics would be, of course.
Highlights include "Marijuane and the Kingdom Comes" and "Tractorcat".
Rating 4.5/5

VIOLET MAGICK - VIOLET DEMO (2012)

Oh how I've missed cassette tapes.  I used to have desk drawers full of them, two layers deep.  They were more compact than compact discs and less chaotic if you accidentally hit the wrong button.  I loved their uniformity of size and shape and the complete lack of conformity of the tape itself.  They looked the same but no two tapes were the same, it was what's on the inside that counted.  I loved how you could break a tape open and it had 'guts', and you could spread and spill those guts around everywhere, throw the spools into trees like toilet paper and find the end and do it again.  And you can't truly hide a 'hidden track' on a CD, that's a tape's job.  Well, now I can start on a new drawer.  Mexico's Violet Magick's old school, Paul Chain & Death SS inspired metal style is perfectly suited to the tape format.  I picked this thing up from the Impious Desecration website and the whole thing cost me under 6 euros after shipping & handling, which is pretty cheap, which was always another plus one in the tapes column, they were always cheaper.  Not to mention they were never as popular so there would always be at least one copy of an obscure album kicking around on cassette long after the CD had sold out.  Anyway, Impious Desecration have all kinds of tapes, literally hundred, check it out.  Another great feature of the cassette tape package is the booklet, because the booklet in a rectangular tape case replicates the book format, so each fold of the booklet is like the page of a really awesome book.  Violet Magick has printed the lyrics to the three originals from Side A of this tape and they're easy to read, even though they're small, because they are printed in a different, clearer font than all the other text which you can see on the cover art.  Side B consists of a pair of Death SS covers.  All that being said, without a cassette player right now, the cassette tape is nothing but a luxury item.  Something to look at and feel old feelings long lost.  It's pretty much time to go shopping for a new stereo.
Highlights include "The Oath" and "The Ethereal Path".
Rating 4/5

A VERY OLD GHOST BEHIND THE FARM - PRIMARY SEPTAGON (2010)

I discovered this album on bandcamp quite a while ago.  I saw the band name and the album cover in a tag search and just had to give it a spin.  They play "Doomed Sludge Rock From The Land Of Total Fear".  It quickly became a favorite.  So with the release of the band's split with fellow French stoner doomers Wheelfall, I decided to commemorate the occasion and complete my Very Old Ghost collection by messaging the band on facebook to buy a copy.  The band and I had one hell of a time tracking one down, but we finally found one at Ocinatas Industries, for 11 euros with shipping & handling.  Nico, the guy at Ocinatas, was nice enough to send me a free 'Draft Punk' EP by Think Kastendeuch as well.  Very cool.  The 'Primary Septagon' CD comes in a stripped down folded cardboard cover with a tarot card for every song featuring amazing art by the same artist who did the cover.  These "seven stories from the land of total fear" can still be downloaded for whatever price you want to pay on their bandcamp page.
Highlights include "Bareste" and "A Possessed Man".
Rating 4/5

WHEELFALL / A VERY OLD GHOST BEHIND THE FARM SPLIT (2012)

I recently reviewed this one, so check that out for a reasonably in depth look at the music on this disc.  To me, this split is kind of a big deal, one band is a favorite of mine that hadn't released anything in two years, the other a band I didn't dislike, but hadn't really gotten to know, that had a lot of people with good taste singing their praises, so I ordered it the day it came out.  9 euros on bandcamp, which isn't too bad for what it is, a major release (if you ask me).  It's also available for a measly stinking 1 euro for a digital download, which is well more than worth the price.   The CD package is pretty straightforward, basic production and performance credits, there's a little back cover cemetery scene art which is nice.
Highlights include "Hangman's Laugh" and "Navigating on the Seas of Dementia".
Rating 4.5/5

Weekly Mailbag for 12/31/12 - 01/04/13

A look at what came in the mail this week with quickie reviews ...

Deep Space Destructors - II - The band sent this one to me and I was excited to see it come in.  Thanks to facebook, the name Markus Pitkanen was familiar to me and I wasn't sure what it was at first.  It turns out it was a full-length album of four headtripping songs by the band Deep Space Destructors.  Deep Space Destructors is a progressive rock trio from  Oulu, Finland.  They worship the riff and have combined 60s and 70s psych, blues, rock and prog love with stoner and doom sensibilities to create an expansive and unique brand of "progressive doomsday spacerock".  There's a lot of crypticism about this record.  The disc itself features no song titles, no liner notes or any information whatsoever.  It doesn't even have any writing on the spine.  The only text at all is the band's logo on the bottom right hand corner of the front cover. I'd love to know who did the incredible four-panel psychedelic cover art, because it warrants its own attention.  This CD version of the album also comes with a bonus fourth track not available on their bandcamp.

From Beyond - The Color Out of Space EP - I'm not really a vinyl kind of guy.  I was born in the early 80s when the vinyl format was going out of style and I remember a time when the LP was a clunky old dinosaur that wasn't compact, you couldn't listen to it outside of the house and the scratchiness of old records not only didn't have the best sound quality, but actually detracted a bit from experiencing your music in fully high fidelity.  That's all changed now as (amazingly) vinyl outsells CDs (at least that's how it seems, there are way more record shops in Vancouver than there are CD shops ... it's not even close) and that might all change now for me personally with this full-sized 12" glow in the dark vinyl EP.  It's a wonderful package with amazing cover and sleeve art.  You've got to see this thing.  Now the only question is playing it.  I have one other record, the lone Parrish & Gurvitz LP that as far as I know has never been re-issued or released on CD.  My girlfriend has a small vinyl collection and a record player but no needle.  It's an Onkyo Multiac 60p.  If anyone knows where I can get a needle for this, or has one to sell, get in touch by the email on the sidebar, please.  Highlights include "The Dead Still Ride" and "The Color Out of Space".  Rating 5/5

Greenleaf - Nest of Vipers - This album was only a recent discovery for me but I quickly discovered that it's one of the most addicting albums one can find.  I've listened to it a ton in the past two months and it's still a major part of the regular rotation, alongside Abrahma's 'Through the Dusty Paths of Our Lives'.  They seem to make good companions.  The Borlange based super-stoner-group from central Sweden play a highly melodic style of stoner rock with many classic leanings.  If I'd have had more time with this album it probably would have made my year end top 10.  Highlights include "Case of Fidelity" and "Jack Staff".  Rating 4.5/5

Ichabod - Dreamscapes From Dead Space - But moving on now to one that did make the top 10, Lowell, Mass's Ichabod absolutely floored me with this album.  Psychedelic stoner sludge that has many catchy and addictive moments.  I ordered my copy on CDBaby and it didn't take long at all to get here, just over ten days or so.  Believe me, that's pretty quick for my mail service.  The CD itself comes in a gatefold digipack with the lyrics printed and it's the first time I can really look at the awesome cover art up close.  This would look great as a vinyl cover thumbtacked to the wall.  Highlights include "Huckleberry" and "All Your Love".  Rating 4.5/5

Mount Fuji - ST - For anybody who read the full interview I did with Mount Fuji will know that this was a gift from the band.  According to them, I'm the only guy in Canada with a Mount Fuji CD!  Once again, their 90s grunge rock and power groove metal sound is right up my alley and if you're around the age of 30 and grew up in the grunge era then this music is definitely for you.  Of course, there's a lot more to the band than that, they have a strong individual identity in terms of sound and their vocalist Miguel's heartfelt performance is quite striking at times.  If you haven't by now, go ahead and check them out.  Highlights include "Head on Fire" and "Simple Depression Guide".  Rating 4.5/5

Natur - Head of Death - There were a couple really great old school metal albums from 2012 including entries from Arkham Witch, Dawnbringer, Venomous Maximus and Ghost Tower and Natur's full length debut 'Head of Death' was among the very best.  You don't necessarily expect this kind of sound coming from New York City but here it is, long hair, leather jackets, upside down crosses and old school metal chops.  I have no idea why it took me so long to order the CD version but when I finally did, I ordered it directly from the label, Earache records on the cheap.  Highlights include "Decion" and "Vermin Rift".  Rating 4.5/5

Yama - Seaquake - Yama definitely rocked my world.  Around April, May, "Seaquake" was blowing up the charts and it was long, long overdue that I should grab this one for take out.  It's a three song EP, all three songs are great, of stoner doom from Tilburg / Utrecht, Netherlands with harmonica that lends the music more of a country western feel than a bluesy kind of feel, but it's heavy all the same, and it's cheap (the price, not the quality) 5 euros on bandcamp.  I kind of want a T-shirt now ...  The best part is this Dutch four piece is currently in studio recording a full-length album even as I write this.  Highlights include "Seaquake" and "Hollow".  Rating 4.5/5

Weekly Mailbag for 12/24/12 - 12/28/12

A look at what came in the mail this week with quickie reviews ...

Various Artists - An Apple a Day - The second in the now five volume series of Apple records demos and highlights from RPM records is my favorite in the series.  Terrific entries from Gallagher & Lyle; The Iveys (Badfinger); Turquoise (one of my favorite bands); and the previously unknown The U (Don't) Know Who among more.  I didn't realize when I ordered it that The Cups "Good as Gold" is on this one.  Great song!  Tons of highlights here.  Highlights include "Black & White Rainbows (Iveys)" and "Woodstock (Turquoise)".  Rating 4/5

Blue Oyster Cult - Agents of Fortune - Their fourth album is another solid entry into the band`s discography.  "Sinful Love" is a good song, it's interesting as it brings together an influence of Bob Dylan with hints of disco around the edges.  "Tattoo Vampire" was the rockingest thing they'd done in years.  And of course their big song.  Highlights include "[Don't Fear] The Reaper" and "The Revenge of Vera Gemini".  Rating 4/5

Chains - Of Death - Drone metal from Slovenia, this is one of Chad Davis' (Hour of 13) many bands.  This was a special edition limited to 10 copies (jaw drops).  I got the last one.  It also came with the two track blood-painted demo CD that was also limited to 10 copies.  Not the kind of thing to listen to before bed while reading about sleep paralysis.  Highlights include "Anticosmic Void" and "Necromantic Force".  Rating 4.5/5

Lord 13 - 2013 - This was one of the best stoner rock albums of 2011,  and though no music collection is ever truly complete, certainly no stoner rock collection is complete without this one.  A solid album with a few surprises including the appearance of Ben Ward on "Wicked Thing" and a flute-driven campfire acoustic number in album closer "Walking in Sin".  Highlights include "Grind It" and "Fire".  Rating 4.5/5

the Lord 13 CD came in from Ozium Records and came with the CD below completely free and unannounced.  I didn't want it, I didn't ask for it, but hot damn if I ain't happy they gave it to me!

The Brimstone Days - On a Monday Too Early To Tell - This was a complete surprise.  With their roots firmly planted in the late 60s this band works through 14 tracks of Hendrix or BOC style rock & roll boogie in the vein of Lord Fowl or Captain Crimson.  Phenomenal!  This is truly the Golden Age of Swedish rock and roll.  Highlights include "Same Old Story" and "I Need Soul".  Rating 4.5/5

The Quartet of Woah! - Ultrabomb - This recently reviewed album just came in the mail and it's a package worthy of the epic music found therein.  This is really quite a different album with many surprising moments due to each member's unique set of skills and sensibilities.  There is enough variation and highlight material to draw the listener back for a long time to come.  Highlights include "U Turn" and "The Ultrabomb".  Rating 4/5

Thin Lizzy - Vagabonds of the Western World - This is the best of the first three albums.  It's definitely the most consistently rocking effort of their early career.  The fast songs carry the seeds of "Jailbreak" within them and theslow songs aren't very slow at all.  Every song is excellent and Phil Lynott was beginning to come into his own as a visionary songwriter.  Highlights include "The Rocker" and "The Hero and the Madman".  Rating 5/5

Weekly Mailbag for 12/17/12 - 12/21/12

A look at what came in the mail this week with quickie reviews ...

It's been such a crazy busy week here with the year in review posts, not to mention my regular reviews it would have been understandable to not post my regular Weekly Mail Bag feature.  For one thing it's not my most popular feature, but I just can't disappoint its loyal fans.  You two better appreciate this!  If you've taken a look at the year in review posts they have a lot in common with the Weekly Mail Bag only instead of doing 5-10 'quickie reviews' I'm doing 120 over the course of 12 posts!  When I started this daunting task I thought I would burn out but I actually really enjoy it.  So there you go, it's nice to squeeze in a Weekly Mail Bag amid the chaos.  Some really, really great CDs came in the mail this week, pound for pound maybe my best haul to date ...

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY - 1919 Eternal - Now we finally emerge into uncharted territory, this is the first BLS album that I can't say I'd heard anything from before and guess what?  It's their best yet (of the first three)!  Way heavier than their previous efforts, it's more metal than southern rock. This album hauls much ass, and even the slow song is good.  Highlights include "Bleed For Me" and "Graveyard Disciples".  Rating 5/5

BOTTLECAP - ST - This one just came in, took a bit longer than expected, but it arrived.  It came with a pin, too (thanks!).  This energetic Swedish trio has a modernized retro rock sound (the ghost of the 70s haunts a lot of Swedish bands), not entirely unlike Lord Fowl from the states but in more of a Motorhead context here.  Highlights include "Wretches" and "".  Rating ?/5.  Review to follow

GANDHI'S GUNN - The Longer The Beard The Harder The Sound - For some reason I passed on this one the first time around, but after hearing the news of their signing with world's greatest record label Small Stone, I gave them another chance.  They craft terrific hooks and thick fuzz and they now go by the moniker Isaak.  The CD version was something I had to get as a kind of historical document.  Highlights include "Haywire" and "Under Siege".  Rating 4/5

HEAT - Old Sparky - This was just something I had to get.  One of the best releases of the year and definitely one the absolute best in the 70s inspired hard rock genre.  You don't always know what's even available on CD until you check the Ozium records website.  It's a treasure trove.  This CD will now sit nicely on the shelf between Hawkwind and High on Fire.  Highlights include "Warhead" and "Old Sparky".  Rating 5/5

MANFRED MANN - Mighty Garvey - This was prohibitively expensive ($70 - wtf?!?!?!) on Amazon for the longest time.  Finally importcds got some in and it was time to grab Manfred Mann's best album (with the possible exception of the 'Up the Junction' soundtrack).  Their most solid effort with great hook after great hook.  Also has "Mighty Quinn".  One of my top favorite albums of the 1960s.  Highlights include "No Better No Worse" and "It's So Easy Falling".  Rating 4.5/5

THEM - Time Out! Time In For Them - Last week Them's 'Now and Them' came in and I talked about this one.  This is the better of Them's two psych albums, one that I thought was really strange and kind of stagey the first time I heard it.  But before long I realized just how good this album is.  Moments verge on the heaviness of Pretty Things and this album out sitars anything else.  Certainly an underrated classic. Highlights include "Time Out For Time In" and "Market Place".  Rating 4/5

YEAR OF THE GOAT - Angels' Necropolis - Just gave this one its first listen and I can see that the review is going to be easy to write.  Some albums just do that.  The CD is a cool package with a pretty big booklet with full lyrics and photos.  Van records also sent some stickers, one for each of their December 7 releases (YOG, Gold, Vanderbuyst, Attic).  Highlights include "Spirits of Fire" and "I'll Die For You".  Rating ?/5.  Review in the works.

Also ...

Again I just had to gush about a book that came in.

"The Complete Books of Charles Fort" is something I've been wanting for about ten years now and finally I can read the original works of the original investigator of 'unexplained phenomena'.  If you don't know Charles Fort kind of popularized the whole paranormal thing as its own field of research.  His first book, "The Book of the Damned", was published in 1919 and since then his work has influenced countless writers, thinkers and philosophers, etc.  His explanations are tongue in cheek and his idea of a 'cosmic joker' has also gained traction as a popular theme for explaining anomalous or weird events.  He also has a magazine named in his honor, Fortean Times.

Weekly Mailbag for 12/10/12 - 12/14/12

A look at what came in the mail this week with quickie reviews ...

Blue Oyster Cult - Secret Treaties - BOC's third album is like the best parts of their first two combined, creating a more fully developed and mature overall sound to the record.  There are more boogie and funk elements than the proto metal / biker rock of their first album but there are still some fine wisps of the heavy stuff that typically manifests itself in punkier moments.  The band's slower, more whimsical side also gets a good workout in "Astronomy", a precursor to "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" from their next album. Highlights include "Career of Evil" and "Flaming Telepaths". Rating - 4.5/5

Captain Crimson - Dancing Madly Backwards - This is one of my favorites of the year, as evidenced by my raving review of the album.  "Lonely Devils Club" and the title track are two of the catchiest songs of the year.  The whole album is replete with monster riffs and balls out performances from front to back.  There was a ton of 70s inspired music this year and a lot of it was great, but few could match the energy of Captain Crimson. Highlights include "Wizard's Bonnet" and "True Color". Rating - 4.5/5

Hawkwind - Space Ritual - I normally don't like live albums and steer clear of them, but I mean, come on, this is 'Space Ritual'.  I had to give it a go.  First thing I was struck by was the high quality of the recording, it sounds better than most live recordings, probably from some studio touch ups.  Each song gets the Hawkwind treatment and beyond, extended jamming and some of the improvised tracks are really killer.  Listen to this, you'll wish you'd have been there.  The album title doesn't lie.  Highlights include "Born To Go" and "Upside Down". Rating - 4.5/5

Them - Now and Them - This is the first of two excellent psychedelic albums by the post-Van Morrison incarnation of Them.  There were a lot of former hitmaking bands and artists that were making the switch to psychedelia at the time, Them's pair of efforts are probably among the most obscure or, dare I say, overlooked.  Most of this album is very bluesy with a small handful that would qualify as pop psych, such as the Alice in Wonderland inspired "Walking in the Queen's Garden".  "Square Room" is a wonderful sitar freakout.  Great stuff.  Highlights include "Walking in the Queen's Garden" and "Square Room". Rating - 4/5

Vanilla Fudge - Renaissance - Vanilla Fudge's third album is their most accessible.  7 tracks (+3 bonus tracks on the CD), most of them self-penned, the songs are shorter, while still revealing a high level of thoughtfulness and artistry, but let's just say the band doesn't go overboard as in their first two albums.  At least not until the closing track, which just happens to be the longest song and the sole cover version, Donovan's "Season of the Witch".  It's a good recording, very much of its era and if I was Donovan, I would have loved the rendition. Highlights include "All In Your Mind [bonus track]" and "Faceless People". Rating - 4.5/5

And ...

Not music, I know, but a book that helped inspire some great artists who made some great music. The 8th Pan Book of Horror Stories selected by Herbert Van Thal (1967) features a story called "Sad Road To The Sea", which was almost certainly the inspiration for the title of the Leaf Hound song of the same name.  Peter French, singer of Leaf Hound has often mentioned in interviews how the titles of the stories in some of these books inspired him to write his own lyrics (that had little to nothing to do with the actual story itself).  Being a gigantic nerd I had to check these out for myself.  I can't wait to read it.  I also picked up The 3rd Pan Book of Horror Stories selected by Herbert Van Thal (1962), which features less contemporary fiction and more classic tales by the all-time greats like Poe, Blackwood, Faulkner, Wells and others.  Great stuff.  I plan on filling out a complete collection of these anthologies.  Pan always had the best looking covers too.

Weekly Mailbag for 12/03/12 - 12/07/12

A look at what came in the mail this week with quickie reviews ...

I took advantage recently of the All That Is Heavy sale (still going) by ordering all three Truckfighters albums and two by Electric Wizard.  Well, all five albums arrived as a single package and it was overwhelming.  Instead of burning through a band's entire discography in a single afternoon, I like to take things a bit slower and listen to one album at a time, and live with it for at least a week (which still isn't as much time as I should take but I'm impatient), preferably in chronological order to hear the growth / development of a band, etc.  So I'm thinking I'll spread this out over the next couple 'Mail Bags'.  The package also came with a very nice handwritten note.  I love that kind of stuff.

Blue Cheer - Outsideinside - First heard this album about 7 years ago and I always loved it.  Featuring more structured songwriting and less improvisation than their first album, this is a more focused record.  Unfortunately this is probably where my Blue Cheer collection ends because everything after this album hasn't been re-issued in years and is now way too expensive on Amazon.  Most frightening of all is it's beginning to look the same way for Hawkwind as well.  Highlights include "Come and Get It" and "The Hunter". Rating - 4/5

Electric Wizard - Let Us Prey - Their fourth album and follow up to career highlight 'Dopethrone', this one actually sounds like it could have been released between their self-titled debut and 'Come My Fanatics ...'.  As a follow up to a classic, it's a bit disappointing and is shorter than most Electric Wizard albums but it still features some heavy ass riffage and some prominent drumming not usually found on Electric Wizard releases.  Taken as its own entity and not as part of a larger story it's a very good album.  It was also the last album by the original lineup of the band.  Highlights include "The Outsider" and "We, The Undead". Rating - 4/5

Hawkwind - Hall of the Mountain Grill - I always liked the song "The Psychedelic Warlords (Disappear in Smoke)".  Just the title gives me that warm fuzzy feeling.  This is the first time I've actually listened to the whole album, including "Lost Johnny" which is weird to hear such a punky song (when done by Motorhead) be given such a spaced out treatment. This is Hawkwind at their spaceyest yet, it's laid back and very phantasmic / ethereal in sound overall.  Again, compare this and Motorhead's "Lost Johnny" and it's clear what Hawkwind was going for throughout this album.  Highlights include "The Psychedelic Warlords (Disappear in Smoke)" and "D-Riders". Rating - 4/5

Orcus Chylde - ST - It took me forever to track this down, ultimately I caved and went through Amazon.  Well, finally it came.  This album has the same kind of vibe to it as Graveyard's latest, a laid back retro rock album with many folky elements.  They are the mellow sonic cousins of Kadavar.  I don't imagine this album will appeal to many metal people out there, but it makes for a nice change of pace.  Highlights include "Orcus Chylde" and "The Day The Seventh Angel Came". Rating - 3.5/5

Red Desert - Damned By Fate - I got to admit, I didn't like this album the first time I heard it.  I definitely judged the book by its cover and I was expecting something real doomy.  I mean, look at it.  The cover just screams 'devil's third'.  What you get is 9 tracks of heavy, melodic rock and roll, but not the doom metal in the Electric Wizard vein I was expecting.  After a couple weeks I decided to give it another spin, this time knowing what to expect and having adjusted my expectations it became one of my top 10 favorites of the year.  Highlights include "Devils Curse" and "Lust Queen". Rating - 4.5/5

Satellite Beaver - The Last Bow - I freaked out about this EP when it first came out on Bandcamp.  This was one of the real highlights of summer.  Multi-tracked vocals create Alice in Chains like harmonies with a Marilyn Manson tone, the music itself is a real work of art, especially the track "Roadtrip".  A 5:23 journey through 4 movements and no repeating parts!?!  "Pershing" is a four minute blast of redlining fury and a swell introduction to the band.  At 18 minutes overall, I just kept coming back, listening to it on my break at work, etc.  Damn, I was excited to see this come in the mail.  Get it here.  Highlights include "Roadtrip" and "Pershing". Rating - 5/5

Thin Lizzy - Shades of a Blue Orphanage - Thin Lizzy is wonderfully predictable.  You know what to expect: half ballads / half boogie barnburners.  The quality of each song, be it one or the other style, is upped considerably on their second album.  "Baby Face", "Brought Down", "Call the Police" and "The Rise and Dear Demise of the Funky Nomadic Tribes" all satisfy the funk craving, while "Chatting Today" is a terrific song, even though it is a slow one.  "Buffalo Gal" is simply one of the best ballads ever recorded.  A wonderful song, with great lyrics to boot.  This CD also has "Whiskey in the Jar" as a bonus track.   Highlights include "Call the Police" and "Buffalo Gal". Rating - 4.5/5

Truckfighters - Gravity X - I watched Häxan the classic Swedish study of witchcraft as I listened to this, "probably the best band in the world"s debut album.  It was a good move.  The imagery of the film, combined with the fuzz groove went well together.  Truckfighters pull out all the stops here: horns, harmony, and a heaping helping of styles.  At 67 minutes it's a sprawling debut with tons of ideas, but ultimately what the band is known for are their big funky fuzz outs and those are the moments, peppered throughout the album, that really stand out. Highlights include "Freewheelin" and "The Deal". Rating - 4.5/5