Category: Stoner Doom

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: July 9th, 2021 Feat. Lunar Cult, Green Hog Band, Dialith, & White Crone

7/9/2021

On (regrettably infrequent!) Fridays, 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 have been listening to this week at the Village HQ. We hope you join us in doing so!

On the docket for today, July 9th, 2021:
Lunar Cult, Green Hog Band, Dialith, & White Crone

Lunar Cult - Into Unknow Darkness
(Independently Released)

Over the past year, the UK's Lunar Cult has been delivering a highly respectable catalog of electronic tunage that sits pretty firmly in one of two camps: dungeon synth or chiptune. The former was prominent in February's excellent Death Cannot Contain You, an album that I loved as much now as I did then. In this latest effort, the two styles are married pretty damn seamlessly, resulting in what can only be described as an evolution that feels inevitable, albeit wholly unique. The bright sun and gothic chambers of the synth remains an undercurrent, while even brighter bleeps and beeps serve to add even more layers of melodic interest and intrigue. The atmosphere and sheer sense of drama throughout is beyond palpable.

Frankly? I'm not sure how Lunar Cult hasn't yet been drowned in commissions to create video game soundtracks. It's all here, video game producer people!

Find it on bandcamp here!

Green Hog Band - Devil's Luck
(The Swamp Records)

Speaking of notable prolificism: Green Hog Band has been puttin' in the work since their inception a year ago, dropping a healthy spree of EPs, splits, and albums proper in that time. I borrowed a track for our Caravan of Doom, and since, their brand of fuzzy 'n' scuzzy motorcycle-revving stoner doom has only grown in appeal and proficiency. The vocals (in Russian!) carry themselves with a gravelly gravitas, and the sheer thicc-ness of the fuzz is something to marvel out. Devil's luck features both a killer groove and a flair for a smoke-laden psychedelia that sits comfortably within the swampy ambiance--see "Luck of The Devil" for a prime example of the classic Green Hog Band package. While not breaking genre boundaries or reinventing their own particular formula, these boys have dropped another solid slab that will inevitably be receiving some additional airtime here at the Village during those many moments when we require a little doom and gloom.

Find it on bandcamp here!

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.

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: June 18th, 2021, Feat. Macabre Decay, Entierro, Heavy Temple, & Maha Sohona

6/17/2021

On (regrettably infrequent!) Fridays, 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!

As today is Juneteeth, Bandcamp will be donating 100% of their share of proceeds to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. As such, your dollars will simultaneously support artists and support the defense fund's ongoing efforts to promote racial justice through litigation, advocacy, and public education. Win/win!

On the docket for today, June 18th, 2021:
Macabre Decay, Entierro, Heavy Temple, & Maha Sohona

Macabre Decay - Into Oblivion
(Grind to Death Records)

Let's get this out of the way: Macabre Decay's true beauty is hardly innovation, but rather their dedication to the preservation of an era--namely, the days of Swedish death metal yore. I mean, just take a gander at that album artwork. If you enjoy the likes of Interment, Entombed, Grave, and, um, every other places-you-can-put-a-cadaver band, you'll undoubtedly enjoy--on a primal level--the (mostly) filthy riffage they offer. While not the most stimulating display by default, this crew has done a great job of delivering massively catchy grooves with a surprising dedication to melody to boot. Bottom line? There are simply no weak tracks, but Into Oblivion doesn't stand out among the OSDM hordes. If that alone is a sell, I certainly don't blame ye.

Find it on bandcamp here!

Entierro - El Camazotz
(Independently Released)

There's no time like a sunny summer Friday to dig back into our collective roots--namely, a little NWOBHM. This EP from Entierro fits the bill nicely, oozing a rough 'n' rowdy spirit that recalls Judas Priest's more quintessentially metal moments alongside the upfront aggression of Armored Saint. As expected, there's a little Fates Warning represented as well, courtesy of (ex-axeman) Victor Arduini. The twin guitar approach offers a tasty crunch and dynamism, the vocals are tough yet melodic, and the drums are gloriously assertive. Nothing here feels entirely new, but that's...well, that's kind of the point. If these guys were around in the heyday, they undoubtedly would have stood among the best.

Find it on bandcamp here!

RED BEARD WALL - 3 (Review)

5/8/2021

Written by: The Administrator

The Red Beard Wall experience has been--and always will be, I suspect--a deliberately jarring one, even for those who know to expect the immeasurable enthusiasm and bombast on display. This project's modus operandi is one of gloriously violent dynamics: every track is a sonic gladiatorial extravaganza. Unhinged screams, post-hardcore cleans, bouncy percussion, 90's-style alternative aggression, and thicc-ass sludgy stoner riffs meet head-on in the arena. However, rather than unleashing their pugilistic wrath upon each other, they somehow harness their unharness-able collective power, subsequently raining blood and thunder on the audience. Frankly, it's quite the sight to behold.

On the appropriately entitled 3, I am happy to report that human wrecking ball (and nicest man alive) Aaron Wall delivers his best performance yet--which says something, if you happen to recall my praise of 2019's The Fight Needs Us All. Much like his prior work, this album succeeds because it capitalizes so well on Aaron's bright and earnest personality.

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.

BLESSED BLACK - La Brea (Track Review)

2/11/2021

Written by: The Administrator

On the odd occasion, when we're feeling frisky, we slumbering scribes will give a single the same consideration as an album proper--a full review, in other words. Lots of sites don't, and we certainly can't blame 'em; it takes time and energy to write and revise a review, and one typically gets more bang for one's buck when that time and energy is spent on something more substantial. But sometimes a track deserved a little time in the limelight, and so we find ourselves here today, a new track from Blessed Black grasped tight in ink-splattered hands.

If a band names a track after La Brea, they had better have the goods. One does not simply evoke mastodon-swallowing tar pits without offering up something with a comparably monolithic je ne sais quoi. As such, Blessed Black play a dangerous game with their latest single--but worry not. "La Brea" pulls through.

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.