tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39958772022138966552024-03-14T05:37:53.318+00:00ASTRAL DOOMASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-16734949276583572102024-01-12T09:40:00.008+00:002024-01-21T15:09:19.822+00:00T-Pain covers Black Sabbath's War Pigs.<p>Yep - most famously known for being that auto-tune guy.<br />Genuinely great rendition!</p><p></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/91ck0vJBygo?si=HGTYYL7W_IXwhrWO&start=2935" title="YouTube video player" width="320"></iframe></div>ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-52246146992015271652023-10-01T09:50:00.005+01:002024-01-03T10:18:10.499+00:00Cogumelo Records 40th Anniversary (DVD+Booklet)<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bVk9wuKX8TE?si=jikL98urIpIQg8AR" title="YouTube video player" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiR5NfnNh98tE4OdkUZL3olf80b91KHkLYi74RxV_w4aXlTs3Mx_NZY98YQDXkY-FJATZi-YPPYx8WLE87GSmNMKzMsSeflyZWUFHuNNwIZTqlUxzTjQdwRfHXdae3sU9xi4FGBvJCDyg-HjcfTEMktBbKYgwgVz5OcrawEs7f58CIUgEFyfQfEkwBDCI/s2116/logo_40_a.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2116" data-original-width="1779" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiR5NfnNh98tE4OdkUZL3olf80b91KHkLYi74RxV_w4aXlTs3Mx_NZY98YQDXkY-FJATZi-YPPYx8WLE87GSmNMKzMsSeflyZWUFHuNNwIZTqlUxzTjQdwRfHXdae3sU9xi4FGBvJCDyg-HjcfTEMktBbKYgwgVz5OcrawEs7f58CIUgEFyfQfEkwBDCI/w168-h200/logo_40_a.png" width="168" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpH-xTHqyXtvlurVxr7iOKzlMITQtsMoH5oBQ0kDkRuKXMm6sQbSzw131VGnQmTP8I4VWon9oDrCPl8l_m3wKLCHZ95txyA4hg0qKNR-3fVebZCXdgPe0xqxBToK8PcOSLgbxrXRFIzJXUL38BLfFIbnRvlKTZiqnD21jxMZ4D8K4qITobnMQH5gy6Ul8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="748" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpH-xTHqyXtvlurVxr7iOKzlMITQtsMoH5oBQ0kDkRuKXMm6sQbSzw131VGnQmTP8I4VWon9oDrCPl8l_m3wKLCHZ95txyA4hg0qKNR-3fVebZCXdgPe0xqxBToK8PcOSLgbxrXRFIzJXUL38BLfFIbnRvlKTZiqnD21jxMZ4D8K4qITobnMQH5gy6Ul8=w200-h199" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">For the extreme metal fan, this is quite the treat. I had my eye on <a href="https://www.discogs.com/release/27188421-Various-Cogumelo-40-Anos" target="_blank">this</a> as I really wanted the little booklet, which I will still do eventually, but due to cultural institutions funding this release in Brazil, it's also been released for free digitally. To make sure all is not lost, <a href="https://mega.nz/file/8G4kCQBR#NT6ChcQvuaa4ZicL98VRiv4_6232xepH2WnL-23GjIY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I've uploaded the PDF booklet here</a>, so it's always available. But wow! Talk about history. The booket is also dual language, I've not had a chance to soak it all up quite yet, but it's pretty clear to me how awesome this is.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_l964LL1K8eIcOWh91WPTLw5M0ky49skBJw2aZME0pIq2yUDJkzCyM8fyiXDMciEwtG3LyoJ07JgCBVlqYBEo95oirMugW1VOJOzlN62o7uAnXlnzJWnW5VrOXQ0yMbmYIzXoDal-7spTRNujjFjR7io8GPS76bLgdkwAxRPQirHUxidFqjm5dxvEJk/s4032/PXL_20231222_161557119.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_l964LL1K8eIcOWh91WPTLw5M0ky49skBJw2aZME0pIq2yUDJkzCyM8fyiXDMciEwtG3LyoJ07JgCBVlqYBEo95oirMugW1VOJOzlN62o7uAnXlnzJWnW5VrOXQ0yMbmYIzXoDal-7spTRNujjFjR7io8GPS76bLgdkwAxRPQirHUxidFqjm5dxvEJk/w400-h300/PXL_20231222_161557119.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>2024 Edit</b>: Delighted to have this physically - print quality is great! </div>ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-58859074837408217152023-09-30T16:17:00.006+01:002023-10-02T09:19:04.073+01:00Orbiter - Hollow World<p style="text-align: justify;">So in all fairness, I'm a miserable git on this blog - lots of bands send me awesome stuff, but if it isn't destined to be in my favourite records of the year, it pretty much gets swerved. But guess what, I got sent one of my favourite records of the year! I do try to listen to most things I'm sent, especially when it's a genre of interest. The first thing I heard when listening to Orbiter was how much the tone reminded me of one of my other favourite finnish bands, <a href="https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Tombstoned/3540334189" target="_blank">Tombstoned</a>. I like Tombstoned a lot and their '<a href="https://tombstoned.bandcamp.com/album/searching-let-go-7" target="_blank">Searching / Let Go</a>' 7" (if you have one to sell me, e-mail!) is quite genuinely one of my favourite Doom metal releases ever. I literally went immediately to check if they shared members actually.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Whilst there are some definite grunge and alternative rock influences here, as well as other female fronted Doom metal bands, frankly, it's negligent to even mention them. This band is doing something unique and vocalist Carolin Koss has a distinct voice, which still comes with a Albert Witchfinder twang, which makes me love them even more. Lots of half time drum beats which I also just really enjoy. The songs and execution are just great. The production on this thing is perfection, this thing sounds AMAZING.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jgQ_laB8BY0?si=LXNWElRaor0x1ZPi" title="YouTube video player" width="320"></iframe></p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1R9kLMrGkdQ?si=1cyYE-E2oF46ctsL" title="YouTube video player" width="320"></iframe></p><p>Bandcamp: <a href="https://orbiterconnection.bandcamp.com">https://orbiterconnection.bandcamp.com</a><br />Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/orbiterband">https://www.instagram.com/orbiterband</a><br />Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/orbiterconnection">https://www.facebook.com/orbiterconnection</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkT-_BnjZQAJQ9uM_xv9l9fB4tuUFskG8bhcMexjFPeA1YAMyA4KKN-7Kn3etXF-QSqqF18K0zbFs2qEAjbc0EgvaY-aaKoAAXY5RrfJDHUpAG6a9V9nIG7Qss9gs_zQ9bB_cx_7qUpxPWFg6FksX5vq91gYOzTydjtwkHya55zxjuLGUZmHk4DWLjxc/s4032/foto_no_exif.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4032" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkT-_BnjZQAJQ9uM_xv9l9fB4tuUFskG8bhcMexjFPeA1YAMyA4KKN-7Kn3etXF-QSqqF18K0zbFs2qEAjbc0EgvaY-aaKoAAXY5RrfJDHUpAG6a9V9nIG7Qss9gs_zQ9bB_cx_7qUpxPWFg6FksX5vq91gYOzTydjtwkHya55zxjuLGUZmHk4DWLjxc/w400-h264/foto_no_exif.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now just a little moment for Sabbath acquisitions:<br /><br /><i>Turn up the night Picture Disc 7" from 1982.<br />&<br />Hard Road Purple 7" from 1978.<br />B-side on this is Symptom of the Universe (!!) and to my knowledge, which involved scouring discogs, this is the first colour vinyl on any Sabbath single. So a nice little collectors piece. </i></div>ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-65807840815412835072023-06-30T11:35:00.008+01:002023-09-29T13:56:26.643+01:00Church of Misery - Born Under a Mad Sign (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuL40QU60FC8kIG7MlTxB-lMFiQaHgs6NhDh0AkVexwa7M7KdjdRB5x-7O9eATgDGEA6PbQeXwA5Cmz2dwg-5E79TJD_6tdqxGzuBU7cjZwKzAMYYIe9Dp0v9Jr2qGkT2Xho9t9A8FXcaYi5f4Z3R6_IgDPVYkGOhu--9KE1UIoTDsEa0z3RP-2ruWs5Y/s4032/PXL_20230630_100515556.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuL40QU60FC8kIG7MlTxB-lMFiQaHgs6NhDh0AkVexwa7M7KdjdRB5x-7O9eATgDGEA6PbQeXwA5Cmz2dwg-5E79TJD_6tdqxGzuBU7cjZwKzAMYYIe9Dp0v9Jr2qGkT2Xho9t9A8FXcaYi5f4Z3R6_IgDPVYkGOhu--9KE1UIoTDsEa0z3RP-2ruWs5Y/w400-h300/PXL_20230630_100515556.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Cornflower Blue Sparkle vinyl diehard: 200 copies + embroidered (blue trim) patch + A2 poster</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">and Yellow Sherbet: 200 copies Crash Records Store Exclusive pressing.</span></i></div></div><p style="text-align: justify;">M**********r. This is Church of Misery. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Quickly summarized – this release is for sure their most mature and outright consistent so far. This makes ‘Born Under’ stand out as a Church career highlight and therefore consequently a bit of a classic for any true Doom Metal enthusiast immediately.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Generally, the novelty of being from Japan tends to work for the benefit of most bands in the West. However, Tatsu Mikami’s tunnel vision dedication to serial killers and the heavy sounds of rock 'n' roll has meant that for some reason or another, Church of Misery have remained in the underground realm for decades. This guy is a LIFER. In the year I turned 17 (17 years ago, by coincidence), I bore witness to a Church of Misery show on Halloween Night. Tatsu had his bass low enough it a necessity to reflect the vital, thick low-end groove it produced. On vocals was Hideki Fukasawa, CoM’s longest serving vocalist who came out barefoot and dressed like John Lennon during his bed-in for peace era. Yes, strangers of the internet, I was a pig in shit.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">There is a reason why Tatsu indulged himself with a Motorhead homage project with the Exumer frontman, Mem. Like Lemmy he gets it – when you imbue your sound with rock ’n’ roll, it’s just comes harder, groovier, with riff and an urgency only hardcore and thrash comes close to matching. You think this is bullshit? go listen to Elvis’s version of Milkcow Blues Boogie, an acoustic song that has all the urgency of the aforementioned. But despite all this talk of rock’n’roll, don’t misunderstand me, Tatsu continues to stand by his infamous proclamation from the Master of Brutality record. This is Doom, make no qualms about it. You will have plenty of opportunities to headbang.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">After the most recent Sonic Flower album, I was hoping, wishin’ the new guitarist who absolutely kills it on that record (Fumiya Hattori) would be the axe-man on this release. Instead, we get something even more special and echoing another great additional to the Doom Metal canon, Place of Skulls ‘With Vision’ album, when Wino joined original Pentagram guitarist Victor Griffin’s project. Tatsu here teams up with fellow Japanese Doom Metal lifer Yukito Okazaki of Eternal Elysium.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The sound continues in the traditional vein of Church of Misery. Sludgey, doomy, rock ’n’ roll boogie centred around serial killers. But the execution this time around is just more confident and self-assured. The band are on top form and somehow, it’s manifested even its presentation. We get a Blue Note inspired cover and an album title that clearly plays on Albert King’s legendary ‘Born Under a Bad Sign’ record. The songs are maybe the best overall since Second Coming. Across the album you’ll find Sabbathian plods, bluesy licks and absurdly heavy grooves. My biggest complaint is the album ends somewhat abruptly.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For the purposes of this review, I’ve gone back and spent time with all studio album releases to more realistically determine where this sits for me in their catalogue. I believe that some particular songs off ‘Houses of the Unholy’ (Born to Raise Hell/Badlands) and Thy Kingdom Scum (Brother Bishop) undeniably trump any single song on this album. However, this album is so consistently strong, it really doesn’t matter and whilst ‘Master of Brutality’ and ‘The Second Coming’ remain canon this record can stand up as arguably their best since 2004.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Arigato for the all the grooves, riffs and whiplash Mr Tatsu.</p>ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-27178943940526104022023-04-06T16:07:00.006+01:002023-06-30T11:37:28.683+01:00Recent acquisitions.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9E3YQa3Vr3b6Hi2Jpy8dpsZvZO2lJNhmNdjfZKEGuuoIW5p2l95TJPOJrizGgvZLuYfoV-OVnLMRuD71h_CS4aGUgLaz2WcEZo-3Myi2vCqiRqHbexJBFEm5myKhi9ibPz7CeZpni6t0iU4IPuNnsRmVgJAi4BK-GsS3SmLqknD0D-ZbGA68d8sxg/s4032/PXL_20230406_130518736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9E3YQa3Vr3b6Hi2Jpy8dpsZvZO2lJNhmNdjfZKEGuuoIW5p2l95TJPOJrizGgvZLuYfoV-OVnLMRuD71h_CS4aGUgLaz2WcEZo-3Myi2vCqiRqHbexJBFEm5myKhi9ibPz7CeZpni6t0iU4IPuNnsRmVgJAi4BK-GsS3SmLqknD0D-ZbGA68d8sxg/w400-h300/PXL_20230406_130518736.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Just a first Brazilian pressing of Sepultura's </i><span style="text-align: left;"><i>Schizophrenia album (with typo!)</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i>and some special Ratos de Porao bits.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjaeUgEn6Uy0iwxPiP1-AKAy34wzt8sdzPjj2tW0FeRZZ91Ntiut8sOAtzHXqHUXvV6zeoPK5Y29JfEwv0NzsjgLD2-EarCEeUAA0aDAPOrY0ghUafbKYfT6DfD6ivn9NlKKbSImxIxapLv2QZDAj6jNolZdwz0OGM9fHnL4fru7v7HLowU5z3A97E/s4032/PXL_20230406_130735407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjaeUgEn6Uy0iwxPiP1-AKAy34wzt8sdzPjj2tW0FeRZZ91Ntiut8sOAtzHXqHUXvV6zeoPK5Y29JfEwv0NzsjgLD2-EarCEeUAA0aDAPOrY0ghUafbKYfT6DfD6ivn9NlKKbSImxIxapLv2QZDAj6jNolZdwz0OGM9fHnL4fru7v7HLowU5z3A97E/w400-h300/PXL_20230406_130735407.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>A first press Sabby, near mint with poster and swirl inner.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I've protected box/sleeve with <a href="https://deflectordc.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DC Deflector</a> and can definitely recommend.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Beyond grateful this found it's way to me. Thank you.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>with it? Night Crawler, the underground metal comic by </i><span style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/daggersintoflesh/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">daggersintoflesh</a>.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-57838379840568406472023-03-08T16:41:00.001+00:002023-03-22T09:30:21.092+00:00Spirit Caravan - Live in London (01/12/2000)<p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">This is actually an official bootleg purchased directly from the band in CD-r format.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've just upped the ante with some more effort in the presentation. Decent little set!</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLm8w4_eqnfmA6ltpcbkwf52DJE40uTgVJ_gA6-fVVsUDKLTEIaQxF0qx3n2jKmJjsRb7brgttpjKn2yy0UYRhNz59lGq5Sp7d4MIkcMIW4WWDlKMwBwfYgrK13MlXotiiBCvqUHiqNgp6icbtjj2D7XDmIP7N9sMV3QEfUBg3WGytLwK-FKE8B0ae/s1200/folder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLm8w4_eqnfmA6ltpcbkwf52DJE40uTgVJ_gA6-fVVsUDKLTEIaQxF0qx3n2jKmJjsRb7brgttpjKn2yy0UYRhNz59lGq5Sp7d4MIkcMIW4WWDlKMwBwfYgrK13MlXotiiBCvqUHiqNgp6icbtjj2D7XDmIP7N9sMV3QEfUBg3WGytLwK-FKE8B0ae/s320/folder.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> 1. Spirit Caravan - Black Flower (5:18)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> 2. Spirit Caravan - Healing Tongue (2:29)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> 3. Spirit Caravan - Courage (4:04)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> 4. Spirit Caravan - Retroman, Part 1 (2:22)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> 5. Spirit Caravan - Retroman, Part 2 (3:25)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> 6. Spirit Caravan - Cosmic Artifact (6:00)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> 7. Spirit Caravan - Dreamwheel (6:05)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> 8. Spirit Caravan - Elusive Truth (4:41)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> 9. Spirit Caravan - Powertime (3:34)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> 10. Spirit Caravan - Streetside (The Obsessed) (3:28)</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://mega.nz/file/NCQ0BKaa#o48qtk7eWpJsBxG92imX4TJW7ISxImFCFzEqNuP5bV8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DOWNLOAD HERE</a>.</div>ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-47123248275893120082023-01-23T14:18:00.002+00:002023-01-23T14:18:15.626+00:00Bobby Ramone - Rocket to Kingston<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2608222563/size=large/bgcol=333333/linkcol=e99708/minimal=true/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 350px; width: 350px;"><a href="https://guerillaasso.bandcamp.com/album/rocket-to-kingston">Rocket to Kingston by Bobby Ramone</a></iframe><div><br /></div><div><div><i>You can fool some people sometimes</i></div><div><i>But you can't fool all the people all the time</i></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mash-Up's are hardly the most original thing going on. But I find this Bob Marley and Ramones one to be so finely executed, I can't stop listening. It's just positive, uplifting and urgent. Hope you enjoy too.</div>ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-53276095500244957052022-12-05T17:47:00.004+00:002022-12-05T17:49:02.789+00:00Weight - Violence of the Divine<p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Absolutely ripping crossover/thrash in the style of Cro-Mag's Best Wishes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If I need to say more or sell it further, you're in the wrong place Holmes - <b><i>keep stepping</i></b>.</div><p></p><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1700162715/size=large/bgcol=333333/linkcol=e99708/minimal=true/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 350px; width: 350px;"><a href="https://weighthc.bandcamp.com/album/violence-of-the-divine">Violence of the Divine by Weight</a></iframe>ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-10288725659664400962022-10-11T18:34:00.003+01:002022-10-11T18:35:19.798+01:00Sky Pig - It Thrives in Darkness<p style="text-align: justify;">Considering how many Sludge Doom bands there are, I often find myself coming across wholly competent acts that don't quite capture my imagination. Here, Sky Pig captured me with that heavy mid-range phatness. Neat record to stumble on for sure.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I also like the artwork too? Photoshop but not lame like happens so often. </p><p><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3840563559/size=large/bgcol=333333/linkcol=e99708/minimal=true/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 350px; width: 350px;"><a href="https://skypigband.bandcamp.com/album/it-thrives-in-darkness">It Thrives in Darkness by Sky Pig</a></iframe></p>ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-52409686410490078142022-08-29T10:19:00.002+01:002022-08-29T10:19:39.839+01:00Tin Savage @ Screw Gallery.<p style="text-align: justify;">This week the most important visual artist of the British underground punk and hardcore scene had a solo gallery showing. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tin.savage" target="_blank">Tin Savage</a>. So me and a friend went to check it out.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">There is something so antagonistic and aggressive about his style. It's made to be repugnant and difficult to stomach. Simultaneously brutal and rustic yet highly detailed. The way he plays with light and contrast for me is a huge part of his works belligerent nature. The cartoon style is really playful as for me, it should soften the aesthetic feel of the work? Yet it does it opposite, imbuing it all with a immediate sense of deception. Needless to say, I'm a huge fan.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blindauthority.bandcamp.com/album/succumb-to-violence" target="_blank">Blind Authority</a>, <a href="https://shrapnelxxx.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Shrapnel</a> and <a href="https://theflex.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">The Flex</a> have all been immortalised in Tin's iconography.<br />All favourites of mine! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Aw4F60otqAt8HcTkUcGJ7Kb_3iG_uhf9cPu4MSoiMnfzagQFImmRTf3PRPiU2RFWsL0KhtE8-HMnc_6wOYdLDhJ9oriyM3e1XnlvjuDr1fExeR4RFQ5E0Vv3zTY9_3mRk5V9xLn1VTjz89VeQgecrk8t5PCreN5ACB8171mWHNDrltqikl66vbh9/s873/9f098cac-3743-4abd-8bd7-90bb5acdf93c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="873" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Aw4F60otqAt8HcTkUcGJ7Kb_3iG_uhf9cPu4MSoiMnfzagQFImmRTf3PRPiU2RFWsL0KhtE8-HMnc_6wOYdLDhJ9oriyM3e1XnlvjuDr1fExeR4RFQ5E0Vv3zTY9_3mRk5V9xLn1VTjz89VeQgecrk8t5PCreN5ACB8171mWHNDrltqikl66vbh9/w400-h379/9f098cac-3743-4abd-8bd7-90bb5acdf93c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="background-color: #dd7700; color: white;">Below you can 'click in' on the images to see the intricate dot work;</span></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVKpZ1FVlKJGNtd3Y1MWJhDIn4gWJPEgLi44DxHDAuXN8Gs4Tn8mWWz_dcJVpfMK_skzYVvszmyyBHjtyOQoJmueVe892yzdOQMDE6F05EC6cJwmM9TFxO50SgJu12Lh6eoc-TwDnDyEzCOrndflFmPkF86O54mlsN0rghuWXsFRh6XsyNcIfNrtB/s1426/9373fd69-3f48-40ef-b0d6-043202c97684.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="1200" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVKpZ1FVlKJGNtd3Y1MWJhDIn4gWJPEgLi44DxHDAuXN8Gs4Tn8mWWz_dcJVpfMK_skzYVvszmyyBHjtyOQoJmueVe892yzdOQMDE6F05EC6cJwmM9TFxO50SgJu12Lh6eoc-TwDnDyEzCOrndflFmPkF86O54mlsN0rghuWXsFRh6XsyNcIfNrtB/w193-h229/9373fd69-3f48-40ef-b0d6-043202c97684.jpg" width="193" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz63pXDwVYwcpdIbhJNAILQtvF4no-OgCA8ZEQ8DtDsS41pkpyXVJBN5Ku0KCGbUGIhAVahb3m0IR3XOiOxy21cyDNduo1buEEGQ7cZ_oJrXaziGyuES7riY2cDxNNk-NkHnS4OOiYZSZaBrLTHWybvh0MVmX1_r20CR1FdGYnpVr2Thb3tYMb9Al3/s1600/be7dc5ab-2e5c-4c3b-a4b2-aaa465f4d1a7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz63pXDwVYwcpdIbhJNAILQtvF4no-OgCA8ZEQ8DtDsS41pkpyXVJBN5Ku0KCGbUGIhAVahb3m0IR3XOiOxy21cyDNduo1buEEGQ7cZ_oJrXaziGyuES7riY2cDxNNk-NkHnS4OOiYZSZaBrLTHWybvh0MVmX1_r20CR1FdGYnpVr2Thb3tYMb9Al3/w172-h228/be7dc5ab-2e5c-4c3b-a4b2-aaa465f4d1a7.jpg" width="172" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">Tin's little gremlins exist in my mind like Eddie's distant, hills have eyes, little nephews.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You know they are nasty little gits. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnuWOq3dwfBIi_JjQbFq0jfHMnMFz7rbtwumAtFALvjYbYVPGFr6LXE8POQwSLfYs6OU2dzq36SSgxXpETm8C7L6aBCPJPYCgI_-W2EyvXyB_Y8dP0kmU2_6zmqUvtd9HU_I_mDl2jEfzyTNmT2_6euotjFHDbOK46k5BdbCu90AFf0M-nuSNPfRe/s1434/bfaaf51b-a8fd-43e6-996b-4c3c9cb17dec.jpg" style="display: inline; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1434" data-original-width="864" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnuWOq3dwfBIi_JjQbFq0jfHMnMFz7rbtwumAtFALvjYbYVPGFr6LXE8POQwSLfYs6OU2dzq36SSgxXpETm8C7L6aBCPJPYCgI_-W2EyvXyB_Y8dP0kmU2_6zmqUvtd9HU_I_mDl2jEfzyTNmT2_6euotjFHDbOK46k5BdbCu90AFf0M-nuSNPfRe/s320/bfaaf51b-a8fd-43e6-996b-4c3c9cb17dec.jpg" width="193" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">I also enjoyed this colourful series, done exclusively on airplane discomfort bags. Sick.</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTgjZeZBeoZbJwXjUBc1A8XnOrAXMWi1btzk1FsAVSu9v0UZMYW-zZ1R3nlX3Pnc5Dml1IOEaoxF5ANEm-qIrGDo-EcNr-WRZfZokEv_VfyL-1FWq0j9l7S6sNjYTjwzaUSmKzVPzlBfEWF2FT6mSO0tHBwgQJZvRVmlwKWgdRCZNS_1_79Yne9R3/s1600/16cdf282-7dc2-4cbe-b37b-4fc6ca590ab0.jpg" style="display: inline; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTgjZeZBeoZbJwXjUBc1A8XnOrAXMWi1btzk1FsAVSu9v0UZMYW-zZ1R3nlX3Pnc5Dml1IOEaoxF5ANEm-qIrGDo-EcNr-WRZfZokEv_VfyL-1FWq0j9l7S6sNjYTjwzaUSmKzVPzlBfEWF2FT6mSO0tHBwgQJZvRVmlwKWgdRCZNS_1_79Yne9R3/s320/16cdf282-7dc2-4cbe-b37b-4fc6ca590ab0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of my favourites.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaa5oZ5UfKizWpbor-NZxOyD3cCb8iJp0rhkwX4FEfiDdE3MgFsh3CXXF8ndGLpIxq5JJ7qAIZkVvD1wPu2dhBYDnaGUdqmN7yF_CDmcALUKU-pGfiuJHzovno9maaNLpvJWnwG1RzGtHICsxDpfgoTJJCuh87ZQEaIeMRy0ldLKIuoNErvbCKzhUq/s1490/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-08-28%20at%203.50.19%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1448" data-original-width="1490" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaa5oZ5UfKizWpbor-NZxOyD3cCb8iJp0rhkwX4FEfiDdE3MgFsh3CXXF8ndGLpIxq5JJ7qAIZkVvD1wPu2dhBYDnaGUdqmN7yF_CDmcALUKU-pGfiuJHzovno9maaNLpvJWnwG1RzGtHICsxDpfgoTJJCuh87ZQEaIeMRy0ldLKIuoNErvbCKzhUq/w200-h194/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-08-28%20at%203.50.19%20PM.jpeg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYxvxYM32h4UVw4sx9XWInBscN9G071cpL2KVKPHcDzZjfJ6oGBXA033CanCA_syUNvIHqeexTxE8jhk35CPelJWdIq00AIzH1yT3Kn0cR9Sr3W4U6YH1Ale32iWbNtOrOcOi577bBVlZC2QYz_VGDfbWi73msZOesMrToLSnunmYSK-S6svvmQ33/s1178/ddd64f87-747e-469a-a280-fc532b058aa4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1178" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYxvxYM32h4UVw4sx9XWInBscN9G071cpL2KVKPHcDzZjfJ6oGBXA033CanCA_syUNvIHqeexTxE8jhk35CPelJWdIq00AIzH1yT3Kn0cR9Sr3W4U6YH1Ale32iWbNtOrOcOi577bBVlZC2QYz_VGDfbWi73msZOesMrToLSnunmYSK-S6svvmQ33/w200-h191/ddd64f87-747e-469a-a280-fc532b058aa4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">These two were larger paintings on display, done on canvas. I thought the transition from stark black and white into almost a decaying pastel colours was really quite smart. The betty boop painting is definitely playing with pop culture iconography and Tin's own artistic tropes to pleasing effect. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTw5z-EE7hNjeaz22Qln_ZuMbXtMqxN9WrVACCkGrUdbDd_gALG7bhsYR77CesrkONPImh151PPvHrayCSe0LWbRhDHhfJeOIqANOOwjX9J9DmtjzEugiRCO2TnQxCQmPFwTlZg6Hse9Rsku5VLj6PMOnxMR6Z9gtFn_uhaHM_g3UTmq7H7KFNUTH_/s3944/PXL_20220828_151525640.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2604" data-original-width="3944" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTw5z-EE7hNjeaz22Qln_ZuMbXtMqxN9WrVACCkGrUdbDd_gALG7bhsYR77CesrkONPImh151PPvHrayCSe0LWbRhDHhfJeOIqANOOwjX9J9DmtjzEugiRCO2TnQxCQmPFwTlZg6Hse9Rsku5VLj6PMOnxMR6Z9gtFn_uhaHM_g3UTmq7H7KFNUTH_/s320/PXL_20220828_151525640.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And concluding, I'm now the proprietor of just a little bit of UKHC history.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cheers Tin!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tin Savage's <a href="https://www.instagram.com/" target="_blank">instagram</a>.<br />Tin Savage's <a href="https://tinsavage.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">bigcartel</a>. </div>ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-41010713244818339612022-07-10T16:18:00.003+01:002022-07-11T11:44:44.853+01:00Desertfest 2022 - London Edition.<p style="text-align: justify;">After a long 7 year hiatus and the covid gap - the longest period of time without going to see some live music since I started the habit. The stacked line up decided that it was time for Desertfest London 2022. Below are just thoughts, observations with some pictures from the festival. I’d just relocated and was sleeping in a less than full size single bed so I took it easy with my young manz sciatica.</p><p><b><i>29/04/22 - "Desertfest London</i></b><b><i>"<br />Spirit Adrift w/ Seven Sisters, 1000 Mods, Lowrider</i></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">So I happen to catch Lowrider’s return since the last time they played Desertfest. I’m very fond of Ode to Io and the performance is fine, but little more than this. But it got me grooving and they played the best song of the new album, which is important. 1000 Mods? Well, we all know about the Super Van Vacation album and well, they didn’t play enough songs from that record. But nevermind. I sound like I’m moaning, but you know… it’s just the reality, you can’t go see the Melvins and expect Houdini in full! I caught a little bit of Seven Sisters whilst ensuring early arrival for Spirit Adrift. Sounded good, lots of leads and speed/NWOBHM stomps.</p><p>Now… the main event, <b>SPIRIT ADRIFT</b>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QFOOnfVci4UthYUnYEzQnVyNVF0gLn4OWq__fwkZ0Dmxn2WoiRwjgPRcXQpC90pvtUFBVUNTXVTZCXWM4loa5H__CfJNSLg3hDmAODMGwSvPwSZFpPBA2KAOCarGiSsQfalpqIGRv6M4_8_s8EaASunvowbY1b1Tk1TaAnN2R5MEeiyXL6yE5Rn1/s4032/PXL_20220429_213825734.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QFOOnfVci4UthYUnYEzQnVyNVF0gLn4OWq__fwkZ0Dmxn2WoiRwjgPRcXQpC90pvtUFBVUNTXVTZCXWM4loa5H__CfJNSLg3hDmAODMGwSvPwSZFpPBA2KAOCarGiSsQfalpqIGRv6M4_8_s8EaASunvowbY1b1Tk1TaAnN2R5MEeiyXL6yE5Rn1/s320/PXL_20220429_213825734.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">This was I believe their first UK tour and why oh why they weren’t put on the main stage is beyond me. Heavy, melodic, catchy and still rock’n’roll. This was likely my entire fest highlight and best believe I was up the damn front. Their sound has evolved over the records, but just imagine a traditional heavy metal sound, sometimes leaning on 80’s Ozzy with those really warm Scorpions style leads. I often wonder, who will be the new headline acts of the future? These guys have got the opportunity for sure. After the ruckus of the set ended (two members crowd surfing after all the music stopped!) I bonded briefly with a German geezer, “this is the real thing!! This is the real thing!!!!!”. Too right mate. I went outside and purchased all available vinyl, hehehe. Their latest <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtIR6Y_vVxU" target="_blank">EP single</a> in particular just deserves to be on high frequency repeat on classic rock radio everywhere. </p><p><i><b>30/04/22 - "Desertfest London"<br />Orange Goblin w/ Greenleaf, Elder</b></i></p><p><i></i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pdwPe8sdd7sxK9rbDBZlxIeMWVDCDHMxDIWXff79MaUYYtgf57Try9Y55IV3J_UhxYIlOVSdM6GewPfD4vHtvgJw9Xx3Y2Mx6rNUViQaSzfINeLaUzhkoPOnyn01eyDKE9KIwLSXYn4vYUeNTBq5MVNp_VbX2_XlF0tPwTXZhBvAZbjGKkidozEh/s4032/elder.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pdwPe8sdd7sxK9rbDBZlxIeMWVDCDHMxDIWXff79MaUYYtgf57Try9Y55IV3J_UhxYIlOVSdM6GewPfD4vHtvgJw9Xx3Y2Mx6rNUViQaSzfINeLaUzhkoPOnyn01eyDKE9KIwLSXYn4vYUeNTBq5MVNp_VbX2_XlF0tPwTXZhBvAZbjGKkidozEh/s320/elder.jpg" width="320" /></a>So this was the most underwhelming day of the festival for me. The lack of bands I saw is mostly due to the fact that I fell asleep in the afternoon and woke up late. Clearly rest was required. I love Elder and really wish they would aggressively poise themselves to crossover out of the underground. Nick DiSalvo has the talent and the world deserves to hear this guy work on music full time, no doubt in my mind. My comments above about Lowrider’s performance being fine also applies to Elder really. That means I found Elder’s performance to be adequate but not poised for grand venues just yet. With Greenleaf, I just went in to kill some time and why did they kick my ass! Really good vibes. Funniest thing is listening to Greenleaf on studio record again, it still didn’t move me. But live the same songs really came to life - so fair play. Orange Goblin are stalwarts of the London scene and did their thing, I would have had quite a different set list but the local crowd enjoyed it all. Wasn’t too keen on the corny talk between songs but I know my younger self would feel differently after all.</p><p><i><b>01/05/22 - "Desertfest London"<br />Bongzilla w/ Yob, Eyehategod, Trouble Cover Band, Parish</b></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj68IjP6Q_zh4XuOTkSK1EKf4m3Xz9IYQLPPBmM8I-Z35VV9ueyTLZA2VYzjd0GJ-DKtvVgnZumd6jUgtCxIXmlaqldpGlfMueNv22qWyIOAYD50fJsDbbQCQqDFb_6hmRPelu4B5GqGxWzCNbf5dvFd4yZjQCcUnZx8rEjiM_K-uVl0viJbV_z1li/s4032/PXL_20220501_174432817.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj68IjP6Q_zh4XuOTkSK1EKf4m3Xz9IYQLPPBmM8I-Z35VV9ueyTLZA2VYzjd0GJ-DKtvVgnZumd6jUgtCxIXmlaqldpGlfMueNv22qWyIOAYD50fJsDbbQCQqDFb_6hmRPelu4B5GqGxWzCNbf5dvFd4yZjQCcUnZx8rEjiM_K-uVl0viJbV_z1li/w275-h206/PXL_20220501_174432817.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>Parish play a nicely proto-Doom sound with a nice little theme and I enjoyed. Same for the Eric Wagner tribute that played after (hello Rev Al!). Eyehategod? I thought the setlist selection was so-so, lots of new ones and a few classics that got me moving. They arrived late, Mike was pissed off, the crowd was pissed off and the sound wasn’t quite right in my opinion. You could feel the tension in the air though. By the end, the antagonists had played their part. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQy8UCP1p6f9YvIhiY3A5WZkSVgEeVWLO6p2YTZ1zoLC0KYvQRRps2AMR8NuxMOA2HfO8y7GozuXAL207pqy6waCEsfc_XPjxTwsJQPy9EKdAHgLmx148AeAVspLJa9cRE15uAk8hKVZ61DM9CF1drE5q0gSlZagule6uyLOYGcVd5i9qU1eaAW7MF/s4032/yob.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQy8UCP1p6f9YvIhiY3A5WZkSVgEeVWLO6p2YTZ1zoLC0KYvQRRps2AMR8NuxMOA2HfO8y7GozuXAL207pqy6waCEsfc_XPjxTwsJQPy9EKdAHgLmx148AeAVspLJa9cRE15uAk8hKVZ61DM9CF1drE5q0gSlZagule6uyLOYGcVd5i9qU1eaAW7MF/w530-h397/yob.jpg" width="530" /></a></div>Yob were extraordinary. For such an esoteric sound they filled the Roundhouse sonically. It just felt really powerful. They actually played songs from my least favourite Yob record and despite this, I was really impacted by the connection they managed to create. I thought the performance as well as the ‘sound’ were just much more sophisticated then what Elder managed - which is why I called their performance fine, whilst Yob’s managed to be majestic, almost transcendental. A tour de force in its execution. Next time they play anywhere near me I’ll be making efforts to go catch em. Thank you Yob. Namaste.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0sa_XPeVmcmJrXz5XzlaAyPiRpipVtITLFL0lrFBuHZ_dBcBl0YiopvUJd3tXXIQDRuqOfT5yMflrBFXce_6XEgw4BSP6XvepiNU90DiDARGNj9q4ocT-0wjxyEWwN_v7tYvGuEn0OsfCSxfAGt8x2_KI4QLZT9sN2rPdySnSG5F67yndmqXoGZo/s4032/PXL_20220501_210140908.MP.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0sa_XPeVmcmJrXz5XzlaAyPiRpipVtITLFL0lrFBuHZ_dBcBl0YiopvUJd3tXXIQDRuqOfT5yMflrBFXce_6XEgw4BSP6XvepiNU90DiDARGNj9q4ocT-0wjxyEWwN_v7tYvGuEn0OsfCSxfAGt8x2_KI4QLZT9sN2rPdySnSG5F67yndmqXoGZo/w355-h266/PXL_20220501_210140908.MP.jpg" width="355" /></a></div>Bongzilla where headlining a smaller stage. Both Yob and Bongzilla where some of the initial bands I had fallen in love with almost two decades ago. The Illusion of Motion and Gateway are important albums for me. Slowly over the years the incredible skill and drum work of Bongzilla’s Magma grew and grew on me. So to catch them both for the first time ever was one of the main reasons I attended this year.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Bongzilla’s set was just awesome. The drumming live was much more central than on the studio records in terms of performance. Fills for days. The kid who had dressed up like the Sleep druid was around and we got some horsehead moshing. The atmosphere was great and the thick warm fuzzy tone comforted me as I… headbanged and whatever to the music. </span></div><p></p><p>All in all, my favourite Desertfest of the bunch actually.<br />Don’t think I’ll attend 2023, but… let’s bloody see right?</p><p><i><b>ps. 10/05/21 - Tool w/ Brass Against</b></i></p><p style="text-align: justify;">My pal offered me a free ticket for Tool and 02 (once the infamous Millennium Dome). Not being a dumbo I instantly took him up on this offer! Having found '10k Days' to be songs not good enough to be on Lateralus, I really really enjoyed Fear Inoculum and it came out of the blue for me, like this god damn ticket. I had always been on the position, fuck spending £80 on a Tool show but, consider me god damn converted. Sober as shit, the sensory overload was real. Elite performance, elite show. This is exactly where I want to see Elder heading (have to go there a 3rd time), cause Nick DiSalvo got it homie.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtLoqT3GVn1f7jS5LnlLbwXG0F9xmmTd0ZH7GNYKrrLRUGjNOIa6lqVlFvdnttvk9BW-oWTqIRmmsKlaoHWCaPi7UI8-szN3et_RLQqtOJlKF-Ja8wKvD7GQCKLksM27N_pIx8drNsb0ES39JwrXpECnXyXjumHVeVTpgGlIk3dgpthnswq1vPA9A/s4032/PXL_20220510_214855601.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtLoqT3GVn1f7jS5LnlLbwXG0F9xmmTd0ZH7GNYKrrLRUGjNOIa6lqVlFvdnttvk9BW-oWTqIRmmsKlaoHWCaPi7UI8-szN3et_RLQqtOJlKF-Ja8wKvD7GQCKLksM27N_pIx8drNsb0ES39JwrXpECnXyXjumHVeVTpgGlIk3dgpthnswq1vPA9A/w532-h398/PXL_20220510_214855601.jpg" width="532" /></a></div><p></p><div><br /></div>ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-60364889582842292762022-06-10T17:19:00.007+01:002022-09-16T20:17:07.386+01:00A Doom Metal Manifesto by Earl of Void<div><b><span style="color: #ff6600;">UPDATE</span></b>. Thanks to an awesome reddit user, the scan of the original article as well as the text in Word document is now downloadable: <a href="https://mega.nz/file/QCBDWRRT#peQadInRbNrnF7aZqBZt1TJ46odeIlZFM7ealD0P4lU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><p align="center" class="western" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-size: 26pt;"><u>A DOOM METAL MANIFESTO</u></span></p>
<p align="center" class="western" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">as it was formulated by the hon. Earl of Void<br /></p><div style="text-align: -webkit-center;"><span style="text-align: left;">within Reverend Bizarre’s Holy Parish of Doom<br /></span><span style="text-align: left;">as the long winter of 2002 was closing to its end.</span></div><p></p>
<p class="western" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">:::LET
THERE BE DOOM</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">The
background, or the moving force, behind the slowness and the
heaviness of doom metal music has traditionally been the painful
burden of the human race; realizing not only the imminence of our
doom – that is, both the moral and the physical decay and,
eventually, destruction of this earth – but also the role we
ourselves have been (and still are) playing in this. It’s a dark
world, as the legendary Saint Vitus put it, and reflecting and
dealing with this darkness was a task doom metal bands originally
took upon themselves. The roots of today’s doom metal music can be
traced back in the dark heavy rock/proto-metal bands of the late 60s
and early 70s. Both Blue Cheer and Black Sabbath, probably the most
influential forefathers of the would-be doom metal genre, began their
crusades by clearly distancing themselves from the light-hearted
flower power contemporaries. For instance, Blue Cheer’s
nihilistically lifeless performances and, for the time being,
extremely heavy sounds have been described as quite different to the
messages of universal peace and love the hippie generation was famous
for. But it was not until Black Sabbath released their self-titled
debut album (1970) that the foundation for the doom metal genre was
laid. The very first minutes of “Black Sabbath,” the title track
opening this groundbreaking album, lay bare the essence of doom,
Tony Iommi’s crushingly heavy guitar walls combined with Bill
Ward’s slowly proceeding beat and Ozzy Osbourne’s desperate wails
are the most imitated formula in the history of doom metal. But it
did not rest in the sound alone, as another major contribution to
Sabbath’s doomed atmosphere was the appropriation of Christian
symbolism, ranging from the general markers of death to the
prophetical tales of deceit of the Old Testament. As a consequence,
the Christian cross became the ultimate icon of doom metal. It should
also be kept in mind that in the case of Black Sabbath and their
followers, the Christian symbolism was often just an attempt to
create a “Hammer horror” type image, a foreboding Gothic late
Victorian feel, to complement the music. Still, while many doom metal
bands have managed to remain at a relatively safe distance from truly
committed religious practice – at times by even appropriating <i>both</i>
Christian and Satanist themes in their lyrics and imagery – there
have also been several well-known doom bands on a genuinely Christian
mission. The use of Christian symbolism thus keeps confusing many
metalheads not closely familiar with the genre. As years passed by,
the Sabbathian sound and imagery was shamelessly utilized by the
band’s followers all around the Western world; the British
Witchfinder General, the American Saint Vitus, and the Swedish Count
Raven, to name just a few. Still, it took another Swedish doom metal
band, namely Candlemass, to force this formula down the throats of
the general heavy metal public.</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">:::MORE
TALES OF CREATION</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">Some
people claim there was no doom metal prior to Candlemass’ debut
<i>Epicus Doomicus Metallicus</i> (1986), an album often considered
to have coined the term in the first place. But this album did not
really give a name to doom metal in general – only to <i>epic</i>
doom metal, just as the title itself suggests. The more traditional
vein of doom had thrived in the metal underground long before
Candlemass finally made it widely public; bands like Pentagram
(starting as early as 1971), Trouble, The Obsessed, Witchfinder
General, and Saint Vitus (who actually refined the entire style in
the early 80s) already had a strong following by the time <i>Epicus
Doomicus Metallicus</i> took the metal crowd by storm. A style
nowadays known as doom metal, then had flourished in the tradition
kept alive by a number of bands, regardless of whether or not it was
widely considered a distinct heavy metal subgenre. Also, according to
my knowledge, Witchfinder General had been described as doom metal
already in the beginning of the 1980s, in an early issue of the heavy
metal magazine <i>Kerrang!</i> Very soon the label was given to bands
like Pentagram, Trouble, and Saint Vitus as well, and thus a
recognizable doom metal genre was born. Nevertheless, dismissing
Black Sabbath – to which even Ozzy Osbourne himself later on
referred to as ‘doom music’ – as a mere <i>prototype</i> of
doom is a largely controversial issue. Their early masterpieces such
as “Hand of Doom” (which many actually consider the origin of the
term doom metal), “Iron Man”, “Children of the Grave”, and so
on are prime examples of doom as we see it today, and only few
later-to-come followers of this vein have contributed anything
genuinely new and “original” to the genre. Surely, Black Sabbath
and their dark contemporaries were never as narrowly oriented in
their musical style as many of today’s so-called doom metal
musicians insist doom should be. But what these modern gloomsters
seem to have somehow forgotten is the fact that life is never plain
downhill. You cannot reduce the complexity of human emotions to mere
depression, and, in time, such attempts usually end up disturbingly
affected. Sincerity – let alone the lack of it – is something
music is very good at conveying, and it is precisely this aspect of
doom that many consider the ultimate marker of true doom metal. In
other words, a different song or two does not make a band less doom.
Come to think of it, even Candlemass were in this sense no doomier
than their predecessors. Just like Black Sabbath had their more
progressive moments and The Obsessed their punk rock roots, neither
were Candlemass ever all the way “100% pure” doom metal; they did
have their tender moments as well, not to mention the technical power
metal spurts with double bass drum workouts. Thus, if Black Sabbath
can be labeled as heavy metal today – and I’m certain no one
would call them plain proto-metal any more – when was the exact
moment their music turned from proto-doom to actual doom?</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">:::THE
FALSE PROPHETS</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">With the
well-deserved success of Candlemass, the term doom metal was quickly
taken into larger use in the mainstream heavy metal media. This led
to several misunderstandings, as doom suddenly became the word for
nearly anything that was deemed too slow for the listeners to handle.
Hence, doom did not necessarily mean strength any more, standing
straight under the weight of the world, but, on the contrary, it
became a synonym for boring. Very soon, this negative approach to
doom music was utilized by a new generation of metal musicians, who,
apparently, had no other name for their extremely slow style. Of
course, most of these bands did not themselves label their music as
doom; it was, again, the media. Stated Winter, one of the first bands
associated with the death/doom genre, in the liner notes to their
debut album <i>Into Darkness</i> (1990): “Winter refuse to be
labeled. On the surface it would be easy to mistake them for a death
metal/thrash metal band, but in no way are they affiliated with that
genre of music or the pretentious attitude that sometimes comes with
it.” What is clear, they obviously had no idea that someone might
actually mistake Winter for a <i>doom metal</i> band. In the case of
many bands in this new genre, the actual music seemed to consist of
slowed-down death metal, but with just as many the entire atmosphere
came from the gothic genres, as did their aesthetics and melancholy
and mourning as well. With both, however, the “grunting” vocal
styles were adopted directly from death metal. Of course, there were
also bands that soon, if not from the very start, incorporated in
their music clean female vocals and violins or other Western
classical instruments as well. This, however, at the same time often
took away a great deal of their overall heaviness, and eventually
many of them – e.g. Paradise Lost, Anathema, Theatre of Tragedy,
and Katatonia – even ended up switching to more or less
conventional gothic rock/pop. Thus, apart from the slowness, these
bands did not really seem to have anything in common with doom metal;
doom has its defining traits buried deeper in the song structure, the
overall atmosphere of the music, and in the entire doom culture
surrounding the music. The style of composition is very traditional
in doom metal, relying strongly on harmony, in many cases even the
blues scale (not always, though), etc., whereas the new bands –
e.g. Winter, Thergothon, Unholy, and early My Dying Bride – either
were more experimental or just applied directly the disharmonic
elements and structures of thrash and death metal. Furthermore,
whereas the bleak atmosphere of doom metal had traditionally been
strongly influenced by the hardships of a working class life, the new
generation found their inspiration increasingly in high cultural
philosophical investigations and the angst of the Romantic Genius.
Even today, some people think that slow, dark, heavy, and depressing
metal of any kind can be doom. This is not true, of course, since
doom is always much more than mere music, as many doomsayers have
pointed out. To illustrate this aspect further, let us consider
Cathedral, a highly influential band in the early 90s, which some
people locate in the traditional doom genre and others in the
“doom/death” vein. The main reason for the controversy around
Cathedral is probably caused by Lee Dorrian’s vocal style. Prior to
Cathedral, Dorrian fronted a widely acclaimed grindcore band named
Napalm Death. In Cathedral, however, his output was never simple
death metal growls; instead, Dorrian actually used quite a lot of
melody in his singing. Although his style was by no means as clean as
that of his fellow doomsayers, I definitely see him firmly engaged in
the Sabbathian tradition of doom metal. Moreover, neither the riffage
nor the drumming on Cathedral’s early albums resemble the music of
the bands mentioned earlier in this chapter. Hence, the only thing
linking Cathedral to the new “doom/death” style seemed to be
nothing more than the band’s overwhelmingly slow tempo. Of course,
some likeness can be heard in the vocal styles as well, especially if
compared to doom metal bands using exclusively clean and even
high-pitched vocals. In honour of the slow death/avant-garde metal
scene, let it be mentioned that they really came up with something
new. Not following the Black Sabbath vein, they still ventured to
play very slow and sorrowful metal. With no better knowledge, the
crowds, ignorant of the intention of the musicians themselves,
mistook this new style for another slow vein of metal – i.e. doom.
Sadly, this confusion has stuck until today.</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">:::FEET
FIRMLY ON THE GROUND</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">In the
early 90s, the doom scene witnessed another confusing development;
the psychedelic rock revival had brought about a new hybrid style,
which soon, again in the novelty-hungry media, was named stoner rock.
Stoner rock had its roots in some of the same early heavy rock bands
with doom metal, like Blue Cheer and Black Sabbath, but while doom’s
source of inspiration was the darker side of life, stoners chose to
put all this aside by concentrating mainly on the escapist fantasies
of the stoned hippie generation. With media coverage, the psychedelic
trend grew stronger and stronger, which, it seems, eventually tempted
even some very dark doom metal bands to make changes in their line.
After years of unrewarding roiling in the underground, here was
finally a chance to make something out of their work. But the change
from visions of impending doom to visions of cosmic consciousness was
a bit too much for the die-hard doomsayers who saw bands and labels
suddenly switching camps as mere commercial sell-outs – after all,
cosmic vibes and magic carpet rides are not the first thing that
comes in mind when thinking of what the word ‘doom’ really stands
for. In stoner rock, doom’s iconography of death and destruction
was replaced by things like mushrooms, space travel, and half-naked
women. Likewise, whereas the starting point of doom had traditionally
been tales of human suffering, stoner rock became more concerned with
fast cars, good trips, and positive vibrations in general. The actual
music relies mainly on groove, although the tempo can vary a lot.
While the more popular mainstream stoner rock is often plain up-tempo
retro rock with only few if any slower parts, the more underground
stoner can get extremely slow as well. This slowness, however, seems
to differ from doom metal’s slowness in that is usually lacks the
utter heaviness of doom. Also, instead of seeking the saddening
impact extremely slow music may have on the listener, stoner slowness
often stems from and/or is meant to enhance the impact of the
musicians’ altered sense of time caused by drug-taking. Another
style commonly associated with both doom metal and drugs is sludge,
also known as sludgecore, sludge doom, etc. sludge started off as a
very raw mixture of doom metal and hardcore, and the style is
characterized by shrieking vocals, piercing guitar feedbacks, and
generally rough production. While stoner usually approaches drugs by
celebrating them quite uncritically, sludge, in its overall
negativity, has wallowed in the darker sides of drug addiction as
well. Thus, considering sludge’s negative outlook on life in
general, the relation between sludge and doom would be, at least in
my opinion, a lot closer than that of stoner and doom. The main
difference between these two styles is that while doom as a genre can
be situated in heavy metal, sludge is more often associated with
hardcore punk.</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">:::THE
CURSE OF DOOM</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">Doom metal
has always tended to be underrated due to its refusal to join the
Western continual progress bandwagon. But in this world of constant
changes and ever-so sudden developments, it is good to have something
familiar and safe at hand. To many doom fans, this is exactly what
doom metal has always been about. Witchfinder General, Count Raven,
Iron Man… All of these bands were, in their time, criticized for
being mere uninventive Black Sabbath copycats. Unfortunately, what
their critics did not seem to realize was that it was precisely this
recognition of tradition in which the strength of these bands lied.
In other words, if making “progress”, pushing forward, and
relying on the novelty value alone is all that music is about, then
why are there still people playing and listening to e.g. classical
music and folk songs? Plain and simple: because they love it. And
just because art music developed into highly experimental
noisescapes, and rock’n’roll into elitist displays of technical
virtuosity, this does not mean everyone should forget Bach and
Tchaikovsky nor The Beatles and Budgie. Still, this seems to be the
trend within many modern metal scenes, definitely not least within
the so-called death/doom and gothic doom genres (nowadays also
referred to as ‘nu-doom’), in which 80s heavy metal music is
often ridiculed for is assume out-of-date simplicity and, to put it
straight, stupidity. Furthermore, I personally find it rather
contradictory that while some people in the metal scene demand
constant progress from bands and musicians and belittle those who
keep doing the same kind of stuff year after year, still the same
people are often the first to dismiss e.g. nu-metal and other more or
less new forms of metal as completely unworthy excuses for music.
Obviously, then it is not about progress in itself, but about
progress <i>only as people see fit</i>.</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">:::WORDS
TO END ALL WORDS</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">Even
though many today question the need for labeling and categorizing
metal/music styles in general, the debate on what is and what is not
doom shall go on, that I am certain of. And, come to think of it, how
could we not label, how could we not categorize? The argument most
often heard against categorizing music is the fact that you will know
whether you like something or not only after you have listened to it
yourself; no labels are needed – “music is just music.”
Unfortunately, this is also the weakest possible argument, as no one,
in reality, can get to listen to <i>everything</i>. It is not just a
matter of time, but of resources and possibilities in particular;
everyone does not have an Internet access through which to listen to
sound samples of promising bands, and there is no record shop that
would carry every single item for the customer to check out before
purchase. This problem is strikingly evident when it comes to doom
metal, an underground style on which is may be very difficult to
gather information even if you had all the privileges of an urban
middle-class metalhead. On the surface, there seems to be a consensus
in the underground scene concerning the division between classic
doom, death/doom, and stoner. It is said that “we all know what
doom means”, and that further arguing is unnecessary. Still, many
stoner fans find the music of the so-called funeral doom bands
unbearably boring, just like many “death/doom” bands tend to find
stoners annoyingly light-hearted. Furthermore, some stoner rockers
consider even the classic Sabbathian doom too slow and heavy for
them, while, likewise, the most extreme “funeral doomsters” may
dismiss the very same style as stoner rock. Thus, it is <i>not</i>
all “just music”, as tastes do vary; people who want to take it
easy, smoke some weed and relax in the sunshine do not necessarily
wish to be bothered by the negative aspects of doom, and those in
mourning do not necessarily appreciate the artificial bliss portrayed
in care-free stoner rock. And then, of course, there are also those
who want their slice of doom “the way it was meant to be” – a
down-to-earth as heavy metal. This is why we, and dare I say we <i>all</i>,
keep categorizing music; to make sure we talk about the same thing
and get what we expect. This is practical, nothing more to it. When
the media mistakes for instance stoner rock for doom metal, this does
harm to both genres. First, people who do not like what they heard
(e.g. in the radio) associate their dislike with the wrong term, thus
perhaps missing and entire music culture they might have otherwise
found strength in. second, people who <i>do</i> like what they heard
may end up wasting a lot of money on disappointing records after
reading misleading reviews by journalists who associate the term with
wrong bands. In many areas, the situation has already gotten so bad
that, eventually, you can rely only in the bands themselves by
browsing through their interviews and websites, trying to make out
what they are really about. Still, even then it may be very difficult
to discern the way in which adjectives like ‘dark’, ‘slow’,
and ‘doomed are used. And if you have no contact to the metal
underground, let alone knowledge of its existence on the whole…
Well, all you can do is wait for a <i>Forest of Equilibrium</i> to
find its way to your local record shop or distro and show you the
way. Without the thank list of this classic 1991 debut by Cathedral,
Rev. Bizarre’s Holy Parrish of Doom might very well not exist.</p>
<p class="western" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">In
reality, you know where power is – in the music. Melody can move
mountains. – Scott “Wino” Weinrich</span></i></p><br />ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-68643917891913385812022-01-14T09:56:00.003+00:002022-01-14T09:57:22.762+00:00 Live it Down - The Last Judgement<p style="text-align: justify;">If you've got taste in hardcore, you like Clevo hardcore. Let's be real.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This new little EP from 'Live it Down' follows the general Holy Terror vibes with some additional Cleveland style influences. Really well executed. Unfortunately beyond this, I can't seem to find any further details about the band. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But needless to say, if you like Ringworm, Integrity or One Life Crew, you're gonna dig this. </p><p><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1167762496/size=large/bgcol=333333/linkcol=e99708/minimal=true/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 350px; width: 350px;"><a href="https://liveitdownhc.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-judgement">The Last Judgement by Live it Down</a></iframe></p>ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-70587421295940291452022-01-11T20:30:00.005+00:002022-01-14T09:41:47.666+00:00My album of the year (2021) and likely a while.<p style="text-align: justify;">Much to my own surprise, it's the new bloody Turnstile.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">After seeing a live energetic performance around 5 years ago (my pal had a ticket going spare), I warmed to the EPs but had never got into the swing of the two LPs that came after. Even then, my appreciation was so so. After initially not recognising how good these songs were, the album sampler EP - Turnstile Love Connection, worked it's magic on me.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Although being an alternative pop record it remains spiritually hardcore. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Plenty of urgency and utilitarianism underneath the jangly shiny pop going on.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I want to articulate my love for this record but honestly, it's hard to express into words.<br />I just know I will be listening to this album in 30 years time and it will make me feel young.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">It's got pop-punk, grunge, hardcore, thrash, beatdown, indie, electronica, shoe-gaze, nu-metal going on and a bunch of other stuff going on that I've probably not yet worked out. </p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WdJZlmhQXug?controls=0" title="YouTube video player" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;">^ Album sampler visual ep "Turnstile Love Connection".</div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DBIw3bXQX5I" title="YouTube video player" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;">^ Live show just after the release of the album, the vibe is just unreal. You know when the audience is singing along like this, their gonna blow. See em' now before it's too late. I've got tickets to catch them twice in 2022. Jealous? You should be. x</div>ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-1268928273341836932021-05-21T09:19:00.004+01:002021-05-26T09:07:03.792+01:00Awesome bands playing at awesome locations?<p style="text-align: justify;">When people consider the things they'd do when they win the lottery, they always think about houses, super cars and luxury holidays. </p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">I think about Electric Wizard (original line-up + Liz ofc) live at Stonehenge.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">That and Sunn 0))) at Chislehurst Caves - god damn. Let's make it happen Camelot.</div><p></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="180" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nJYEbyRfMKY" title="YouTube video player" width="320"></iframe> </p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="180" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q3Weip92Bno" title="YouTube video player" width="320"></iframe><br /><br /></div><div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="180" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ujo-cNJFPDE" title="YouTube video player" width="320"></iframe></div>ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-58409114598694999712021-04-25T18:00:00.005+01:002021-04-28T08:35:57.410+01:00Purification - 1455<p style="text-align: justify;">This kicks so much arse, total Reverend Bizarre stomp and it kills. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Quite easily one of the freshest Doom Metal bands in what feels a long time. The Cromwell theme works well and the music has a real interesting and purposeful sloppy feel to it. </p><p><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=568735370/size=large/bgcol=333333/linkcol=e99708/minimal=true/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 350px; width: 350px;"><a href="https://purificationdoom.bandcamp.com/album/1455">1455 by Purification</a></iframe></p>ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-57752767102753649462021-03-20T08:51:00.003+00:002021-03-20T08:51:43.863+00:00Garage339 Music<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="180" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVkyvzFj3dI" title="YouTube video player" width="320"></iframe><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="180" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XmTpj9YU9qs" title="YouTube video player" width="320"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Two posts in two consecutive days? </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Awww yeah. Enjoy.</div>ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-68880018361664172952021-03-19T20:59:00.003+00:002021-03-20T08:52:28.678+00:00Meth Drinker - Discography<p style="text-align: justify;">I don't post here very often at all. But this one was easy and instant for me to put forward to you. Possibly some of the best sludge ever produced in my humble opinion. The self titled was on heavy rotation back when it came out in 2014... and here it is for free and remastered (ridiculous). </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Even more ridiculous, the 2nd album is also free: <a href="https://thronerecords.bandcamp.com/album/oil-remastered-2019" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Meth Drinker - Oil</a>.<br />Perfect soundtrack for the continuing shite of 2021.</p><p><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=236585013/size=large/bgcol=333333/linkcol=e99708/minimal=true/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 350px; width: 350px;"><a href="https://thronerecords.bandcamp.com/album/discography-remastered-2019">Discography (remastered 2019) by METH DRINKER</a></iframe></p>ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-76961810473646749882020-09-20T17:21:00.003+01:002020-09-20T17:23:28.633+01:00Steinsopp - Steinsopp<p style="text-align: justify;">It's taken me so long to get around to posting this band that they've gone ahead and released a follow-up record before I got to posting about their self titled. I've always been a Dead Meadow fan who really got hooked in because of how they played with the inspiration of Led Zeppelin's No Quarter for a vibe and sound? Well imagine this same kind of thing but built around a more drugged out, hard rock format and you have <b>Steinsopp</b>. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Also bad ass painted artwork is always a winner?<br />Who ain't sick of photoshop?</p><p><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1546001569/size=large/bgcol=333333/linkcol=e99708/minimal=true/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 350px; width: 350px;"><a href="https://steinsopp.bandcamp.com/album/steinsopp">Steinsopp by Steinsopp</a></iframe></p>ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-65077932011158989572020-05-28T12:37:00.004+01:002020-09-20T17:21:48.401+01:00Spelljammer - Inches From the Sun<div style="text-align: justify;">
It would be pretty absurd if even during Corona lockdown I didn't get round to posting. But I will get my excuse in early as I have been working thorough out - which I consider none other than a blessing by the way.</div>
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Whilst browsing around checking for bands I'd liked and whether or not they had a new release, I noticed that some bands were hosting their earlier endeavours for free. This happens to be one of those records. If you want some sort of seal of approval about just how good this record is, I'll keep it simple: <a href="https://www.ridingeasyrecs.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">RidingEasy Records</a> pressed it on vinyl, for the first time, seven years after it was first released! If that isn't a sufficient endorsement for you, well, what can I say.</div>
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Their sound falls into the old "stoner doom" adage. The riffs are unmistakably heavy and really do fall into the doom category. The weird thing about Spelljammer is they're kinda Kyuss, kinda Electric Wizard but definitely neither? And simultaneously the "weird" thing about it is, their sound isn't anything unorthodox, just straight forward well executed stoner doom. Either way, this ultimately under plays the quality of the release. Listen to it for yourself!</div>
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I've been a fan of Lost Breed for a little while now and I do think the two records on the old classic label Hellhound (now sadly defunct) are seriously great. It also came as no surprise to me that prior to their release the legend that is Wino used to be a member. Recently he's involved once again with them and what better way to revive the blog then to showcase one of the genre's lifers doing what he does best?<br />
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ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-66132617506352674942018-02-02T17:58:00.001+00:002018-02-05T18:11:32.147+00:00Foreseen - Grave Danger (Review)In a break of the tradition of the blog, find below my very first review on the blog. <br />
This will be cross-posted on the eternally essential <a href="https://www.metal-archives.com/" target="_blank">Metal Archives</a>.<br />
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Foreseen’s sound is often described as crossover, but I think this is perhaps ever so slightly overstated. It’s true that the band’s bill sharing has been predominately dominated by hardcore bands as well as putting out releases on specialist hardcore labels (such as the brilliant ‘<a href="https://qualitycontrolhq.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Quality Control</a>’ from the UK). However on ‘Grave Danger’ it’s easy to observe a stronger influence of NWOBHM coming through. This isn’t to say the album is anything like a NWOBHM record, but rather it explores this melodic framework in a rustic, rudimentary and brutal manner similar to the ways ‘Show No Mercy’ or ‘Schizophrenia’ does. Chunkier riffs permeate this record along with some explorations into vocal hooks.</div>
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But make no mistake, the Helsinki savagery present from the first record continues in ruthless form. I absolutely love the drumming on this record. I think its part drum sound, part drumming style, but this guy reminds me of Pete Sandoval’s performance on ‘World Downfall’. There is an intensity and energy behind the kit, I can’t necessarily remember any illustrious drum fills but there are very few moments of respite – it’s sharp, fast and relentless throughout. There is also versatility on display, with some cool symbol work in places and even moments of d-beat, but predominately I hear Pete which… is a huge compliment and testament to the fact this guy is a genuine beast behind the kit.</div>
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There are several riffs, tempo changes and breakdowns. The mention of breakdowns, particularly in the context of a crossover band, sometimes causes concern but this shit is done correctly - tastefully deployed and with purpose. The few solos are nice but I never personally mind vulgar displays of virtuosity in heavy metal. But the guitars of course follow the theme already established of the rhythm department in never letting up any pace.</div>
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Vocals resemble a slightly off kilter bark, harsh and mostly difficult to distinguish until you have the lyric sheet, wherein you notice a tasteful accent to go with it. Good use of crowd shouts too. The lyrical themes explored are mix of modern social justice concerns along with Thrash’s age old anxieties of corporate and international power. The album is under half an hour, but in the context of its ferocity it’s absolutely perfect. Anything more would make it tiresome and potentially result in a less consistent quality throughout. So if you’re looking for an uncompromised, modern Thrash record that never lets up, you’ve probably already wasted enough time on this review..
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ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-84596702162379294112017-10-22T19:08:00.001+01:002017-10-22T19:08:31.252+01:00Mojo, Heavy Nuggets Compilations, Vol 4. <div style="text-align: justify;">
All downloads have been re-uploaded and links updated accordingly. Rest in peace Charles.<br />
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<u>2017 - Heavy Nuggets, Vol. 4</u></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">1. Cowboy Lovers - Poor Lord (1:55)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2. Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats - Mind Crawler (4:21)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">3. Charles Bradley - Changes (5:42)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">4. Wolf People - Ninth Night (3:16)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">5. Rival Sons - Thundering Voices (2:51)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">6. Elephant9 - Dodovoodoo (5:12)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">7. The Obsessed - Be The Night (Demo) (2:12)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">8. Sleep - Dragonaut (5:41)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">9. Grails - Self-Hypnosis (8:05)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">10. Boris - Pink (4:21)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">11. The Skull - The Door (5:37)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">12. Motorpsycho - Lacuna, Sunrise (9:46)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">13. Earthless - Violence Of The Red Sea (14:45)</span></div>
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<a href="https://mega.nz/#!0WIFEIyB!WX9CXdYVeh6BwL9XHT8w8xZNlSgpgZthHu0kcGhVw1w" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DOWNLOAD LINK HERE</a>.</div>
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ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995877202213896655.post-13646333885649799212016-11-29T21:11:00.003+00:002016-11-29T21:15:03.780+00:00Snowchild.<div style="text-align: justify;">
This one is so hot off the presses at the time of writing one of the songs still has a digital glitch on the bandcamp, which is fair enough, it was only released two days ago! So this is a a band from the Land of Oz (I'm talking Kansas dudes...). Anyway, unlike <a href="https://zodiacheavymetal.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Zodiac</a> who had a series of tunes or whatever behind them to fuel my continued interest (they actually are from the land of Oz), Snowchild had originally uploaded a few demo tracks, or maybe even just one single demo track up on Bandcamp. I can't even re-call but it was at least a year ago now. </div>
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So the first thing that struck me about Snowchild was the vocals that sounded so much like that Vol. 4 Ozzy that I was already pretty softened up.. but I also noticed some definite quality in the musicianship and composition. But holy fuck, these guys have put out a unbelievably mature and explorative Doom Metal record. The use of synths are incredibly well deployed and won't leave you feeling like you're listening to what to some now sounds like dated cheese - I am of course speaking in reference to "Who are you?" off Sabotage. The drumming is very tasteful, actual fills and some style behind the kit going on. The guitar has a displays an impressive level of subtlety and variety too. No mention about the bass because I've just noticed I've spun this twice over without it turned up on my speakers.... idiot. </div>
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Four songs clocking in at 40 minutes. Held my attention on repeated listens.. would not at all be surprised to see this ultimately re-released on Svart or StB or some shit like that. This deserves the turntable treatment, no doubt.</div>
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After several months without a laptop, the one I bought had the soundcard fuck up. However, it's now finally back for good. The dude at Lenovo obviously thought I was some prick who hadn't tried to fuck about with my drivers/software, but whatever. Promises of more regular posts will now be fulfilled. If anyone has another of them 'power of the riff' stickers they are willing to let go.. holla.</div>
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ps. Wu-Tang is forever baby. </div>
ASTRAL DOOM http://www.blogger.com/profile/16027497201688224025noreply@blogger.com0