Category: Stoner

10,000 Years - II (Review)

6/30/2021

Written by: Shane Thirteen

I started this review like so many others: Scorched Green in a glass piece. As per usual I have spent a few days listening to the work I am to dive into. The very first time I gave this album a spin I knew I was going to dig it. II by 10,000 Years is spacey, sludgy, and fuzzy. Just how I like it.

You see, I don't do the technical approach to reviewing. Some do, and that is great. Breaking down the album song by song and giving opinion on the technical nature of the band. I give two shits about that. I approach all reviews as if I were a fresh faced young music fan who was just handed an album by a buddy to check out. I want to explore new music with the same gusto I had when I got into records back when I was about 14. The absolute emotion of the things is what turned me on. Albeit, my tastes have changed. But I still approach music as if I have only just begun.

JOINTHUGGER - Reaper Season (Review)

6/19/2021

Written by: The Administrator

I'm admittedly a little late to the draw on this one. That said, our endorsements of good music shouldn't be constrained, as we slumbering scribes are attempting to actualize, by the constant churn of the promo pit. In any case, let's not delay any longer.

Coming off the success of their stunning I Am No One--an album I liked so much I blatantly pressed the title track into service for our Caravan of Doom compilation--Norway's own Jointhugger dropped a single track EP on April 2nd of this year. It's an absolute stunner; the best thing they have done to date, and that's saying something. This 18 minute epic takes a slightly more progressive angle, illustrating the band's ability to build a complete and varied story across multiple acts. The musicianship across the board is as impressive as ever, and the hugely impactful songwriting places Reaper Season in the highest echelon of this year's doomier offerings.

BUFFALO TOMBS - Merkabah/Hekhalot (Review)

6/5/2021

Written by: The Administrator

Here at ye olde Sleeping Village, relaxation is a rare commodity and, as such, is exceedingly hard to come by--much like "food without maggots" and "medicine that doesn't kill you." But sometimes, when the workload and the stress becomes too much, this particular scribe will steal away some time to simply chill in the river, feeling the current, watching the clouds roll by, and allowing the ol' brain a a brief moment to simply breath. Of course, if you are one to partake of substances, they won't go amiss in this hypothetical.

Such occasions call for an appropriate soundtrack, and today, the debut EP from Colorado's Buffalo Tombs will do the job nicely. Merkabah/Hekhalot was released back in October of 2020--practically an eternity ago--but I return to it quite frequently, and feel like it deserves a lil' spot in the limelight, lest it fall prey to the sands of time. Let's dive in, shall we?

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: April 30th, 2021, Feat. GOREGÄNG, Greyhound, Becerus, Bevar Sea, Order of the Wolf / Pessimista, and Alpha Boötis

4/30/2021

Every Friday, a wagon arrives at the Sleeping Village’s crumbling gates, stuffed to the brim with our sustenance for the following week. Today is the day we must offload all this week's new and noteworthy music, and so, in the process, we thought it would be worthwhile to share some of our choice picks from this veritable mass of fresh meat. This is what we’ll be--and have been--listening to this week at the Village HQ. We hope you join us in doing so!

We slumbering scribes were slightly more productive this week than normal, so enjoy an additional two mini-reviews!

On the docket for today, April 30th, 2021:
GOREGÄNG, Greyhound, Becerus, Bevar Sea, Order of the Wolf / Pessimista, and Alpha Boötis

GOREGÄNG - Long Live The Grime
(Blood Blast / Listenable Insanity Records)

Now this...this is how you do a damn EP. This highly palatable appetizer from GOREGÄNG features four new tracks, four live tracks, and, as if that weren't enough, a White Zombie cover. For those unfamiliar, this particular GOREGÄNG presents an unholy combination of crust-infused Swedeath with the blatant brutality and swagger of their Floridian environ. In other words, they revel in filth, be it by benefit of the gross guitar tone or, well, the grosser vocal tone. This duo excels at the kind of high-energy pit-worthy performance that inevitably results in sweat and blood--a quality, of course, shines brightly on the live tracks contained within.

In terms of New Stuff, the fantastically dynamic "Farm The Mother" is possibly my favorite, but realistically, nothing here is worth skipping. If this unique brand of crust-punky death is your speed, I highly recommend you check this one out (as well as their excellent Neon Grave, which came out back in 2019.)

Find it on bandcamp here!

Greyhound - Dennis Exists
(Independently Released)

Wow. This is an album that I checked out due to a well-timed reminder email, and I'm really glad I did. This Aussie doom/ gothic rock/post-rock crew excels at constructing an atmosphere to a glorious crescendo--in their words, music "shimmering until it explodes into apocalyptic heaviness." Dennis Exists is primarily instrumental, which allows ample space for exploration and slow-burning evolution. It's a celebration of the landscape, and, as such, feels tangible and grounded in a way that music under the "post" umbrella typically is not. While the instrumentation that makes up the majority of Dennis Exists is quite intriguing, the spoken word narrative on "Riverbend" serves as the album's centerpiece. It's an excellent piece on it's own, and fits into the framework of the album surprisingly well. All told, this is a lush and gorgeous album that rewards attentive listening. I highly recommend throwing on a pair of earphones and letting the music take over for the duration.

Find it on bandcamp here!

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY - March 26th, 2021, Feat. Breaths, Celestial Sanctuary, Dope Skum, and Seven Serpents

3/26/2021

On (most!) Fridays, a wagon arrives at the Sleeping Village’s rusted palisade, stuffed to the brim with musical sustenance. Today is the day we must offload this week's new and noteworthy music, and so, in the process, we thought it would be worthwhile to share some of our choice picks from this veritable mass of fresh meat. This is what we’ll be listening to today at the Village HQ. We hope you join us in doing so!

It isn't bandcamp Friday, but...
...that doesn't mean it isn't a great day to support musicians!

On the docket for today, March 26th, 2021:
Breaths, Celestial Sanctuary, Dope Skum, and Seven Serpents

Breaths - Lined In Silver
(Trepanation Recordings)

Having premiered
not one but two tracks from this fantastic debut album, you can rest assured that it carries the (very official) Sleeping Village Seal of Approval. I won't delve too far into reiteration--I recommend reading said premieres for a more in-depth analysis--but in sum, Lined In Silver succeeds enormously at melding seemingly disparate genres in a fashion that feels both innovative and sincere. Combining traits of post-metal/rock, doom, hardcore, prog, and blackgaze, this album is all over the map, but manages to find a common aesthetic that perfectly serves the storytelling. Whether engaging in dreamy ambiance, immersive doomgaze, emotive abrasivity, angular aggression, or a general post-rock melancholy, Breaths maintains a wonderfully rare and pure sense of self. There's a tangible emotional weight on display here--the whole affair feels deeply personal. Lined In Silver is an album that rewards (and demands) multiple listens. Don't miss it.

Find it on bandcamp here!

Celestial Sanctuary - Soul Diminished
(Redefining Darkness & Church Road)

A confession: I personally have a really hard time writing about death metal. For whatever reason, my vocabulary simply won't warp to the sights and sounds that the genre typically offers. As such, my thoughts often feel stupidly rudimentary: "the riffs are riff-y, the death growls are death-y, and, by sheer benefit of engaging with this album, my head did much banging." Granted, in the case of an album such as Celestial Sanctuary's latest, that level of description/praise feels like it is enough. If you like death metal, you will absolutely enjoy Soul Diminished. It really is that simple.

That's not to say, however, that Celestial Sanctuary don't provide their own perspective. Among the OSDM are glimmers of more experimental fare--a flash of melody, a glimpse of lumbering doom. Notably, they possess the ability to hit hard while keeping light on their feet, and that alone is a quality worth watching. This crew is going places.

Find it on bandcamp here!

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY - March 19th, 2021, Feat. Clouds Taste Satanic, Seraph In Travail, Egor Lappo, and The Noctambulant

3/19/2021

On (increasingly frequent!) Fridays, a wagon arrives at the Sleeping Village’s crumbling gates, stuffed to the brim with our sustenance. Today is the day we must offload all this week's new and noteworthy music, and so, in the process, we thought it would be worthwhile to share some of our choice picks from this veritable mass of fresh meat. This is what we’ll be listening to today at the Village HQ. We hope you join us in doing so!

On the docket for today, March 19th, 2021:
Clouds Taste Satanic, Seraph In Travail, Egor Lappo, and The Noctambulant

Clouds Taste Satanic - Cloud Covered
(Independently Released)

The world's singlemost prolific (and consistently good!) instrumental post-doomsters are back in business after a remarkably short break--if ye recall, their singles series dropped, like, um, a month ago. On Cloud Covered, Clouds Taste Satanic deliver ten potent covers of tracks that have had a distinct influence on their craft. This, notably, does not disqualify bands and songs outside of the arena of doom and gloom. As such, tracks by unexpected acts such as Elton John, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Flaming Lips, and Cheap Trick make appearances. By virtue of their intrinsic riff-centric sound, these covers are significantly heftier than the originals, but even with a lack of vocals their spirit shines through across the board. A masterclass in how to deliver a cover album that simultaneously pays homage and feel like a fresh endeavor. If you like these guys--or stoner/doom in general--don't pass this one up.

Find it on bandcamp here!

Seraph In Travail - A Black Death Incense
(Independently Released)

If we're being honest, symphonic blackened death metal is not typically a genre into which we slumbering scribes venture. However, in the midst of extremity, one occasionally craves a lil' melodic effervescence. If you're looking to sample, "Dead Scream Kill" serves as a prime example of what this outfit can do when they are firing on all cylinders. There's a blackened bite, a gothic atmosphere, some death-laden aggression, and, above it all, a fun-loving sense of melodicism.

Plagued by less than vibrant production, however, the symphonic elements on this album lack the spit and polish (and hence the epic quality) that one might expect. Bottom line? Seraph In Travail could use a little refinement, but if you're in the mood for some death with a bit o' flair, A Black Death Incense is a solid choice.

Find it on bandcamp here!

STONUS - Sèance (Review)

3/15/2021

Editor's unsolicited opinion: Here's an aspect of the cursed reviewer life that I will always find endlessly gratifying: the prospect of witnessing a young and talented band evolve from a fresh face into a genuine presence in their respective scene. Way back in '18 we reviewed the first EP from this group, and then I was so impressed with their debut album that we featured in on our Caravan of Doom Vol. 1. Needless to say, these guys are on their way up.

Written by: Blackie Skulless

Not often does stoner rock catch my ear, but when it does it hooks itself deep within my brain. Stonus (how fitting) have come up with what’s now their third EP titled Seance, and it’s pretty enjoyable from front to back. With only three songs, they heavily reflect the style of Sundrifter, who dropped one of my favorite albums in 2018. What’s also neat is that this one was recorded completely live.

Because of this, there’s a very organic feeling that makes the repetitive nods showcased in all three tracks work decently. The middle track “Messianism” plays on that the most, being the longest one, and trailing off significantly at the end. I also found it to be the most explosive, riding on a rhythm pattern that “drops” (if you will) guitar chugs in gradual changes of pace. To contrast, you get vocals that add most of the melody, and a dash of howl.

20 WATT TOMBSTONE - Year of the Jackalope (Review)

1/10/2021

Written by: The Administrator

If you run in the death blues circle, (an admittedly select group,) you are undoubtedly familiar with 20 Watt Tombstone. Hell, if you like blues rock or stoner doom in general, there's a good chance you've heard the name. These guys play a down 'n' dirty amalgamation of ZZ Top-esque groovy southern blues rock with a grimy Clutchian desert-rock edge. In other words, these are hard rockin' tunes from the backwoods. There's nothing flashy in their formula: just heavy riffs, gritty vocals, and the spirit of Americana.

20 Watt Tombstone's next release is a brief-yet-tantalizing affair: a 2-track EP featuring two bangin' cover songs. Side A is a rollicking cover of the (oft-underappreciated) "Just Got Paid" by the aforementioned ZZ Top. Side B, a rendition of "Midnight Train to Memphis” by Chris Stapleton, offers a slightly more somber--although no less hefty--side of 20 Watt Tombstone. Though small in stature, this release packs a damn fine one-two punch.

SERPENT WORSHIP - Blood & Venom (Review)

11/29/2020

Written by: The Administrator

Back in the olden days of this here blog, we briefly reviewed, in conjunction, a couple of serpent-themed bands. One of ‘em—the appropriately monikered Serpent Worship—impressed me with serpentine riffage, undulating psychedelic backdrop, and a generally pythonian tone.

Snake-like sonic qualities aside, however, my favorite aspect of this one-man outfit was the remarkable ability to compose simple yet engaging tracks without the aid of vocals. Indeed, to lift my own words: “perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of Serpent Worship is the sheer intrigue layered into the composition; it genuinely wasn’t until the third listen that I realized there are no vocals.” On his latest 2-track outing, Blood & Venom, our serpent worshiping friend taps once more into this reservoir, but arguably delivers an even more enjoyable treatise on the effectiveness of no-nonsense fuzz.

FUZZNAUT - Haunting Mantra (Track Review)

11/22/2020

Written by: The Administrator

Given the current state of, well, everything, I've been taking a lot of walks lately. In a world that is seemingly stripping away means of comfort at an increasingly alarming rate, the prospect of fresh air, a little light exercise, and the ability to just leave the stress behind is something to which this particular scribe has clung as the weather becomes more foreboding. A good walk, however, demands a good soundtrack, and while the pure aggression of OSDM or thrash or black metal may do for the confines of our drafty scriptorium, the walk demands something a little more...meditative.

Enter the appropriately entitled "Haunting Mantra," the latest doomgaze-y single from solo guitarist and composer FUZZNAUT. I have been meaning to write a review for this thing since first listen, but better late than never, amiright?