Sleep, Pentagram and Cult Of Luna Added As Headliners On Psycho California


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Psycho California is now set for May 15, 16 and 17, 2015 at The Observatory in Santa Ana, CA with Sleep, Pentagram and Cult Of Luna as headliners.

The rest of the previously announced acts include:

Kylesa
Earth
OM
Russian Circles
Orange Goblin
Bedemon
Conan
Eyehategod
Indian
Earthless
Pallbearer
Crowbar
Stoned Jesus
Old Man Gloom
Cave In
Acid Witch
Truckfighters
Tombs
Bang
Electric Citizen
Coffinworm
SubRosa
Eagle Twin
Mammatus
True Widow
Anciients
Bellwitch
Lord Dying
Death By Stereo
Radio Moscow
Ancient Altar
Samsara Blues Experiment
Elder
Mothership
The Well
Deathkings
Wo Fat
Rozamov
Destroyer of Light
Highlands
Bloodmoon
Slow Season
Crypt Trip
Lords of Beacon House
Tumbleweed Dealer
Sinister Haze
Blackout
Red Wizard
Banquet
Loom

Psycho California on Facebook


Ancient Altar – Ancient Altar


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It’s time for a new album from Scott Carlson, folks! But before all you Death-heads start foaming, this is the Iron Mtn. founder member, and for some of us that’s even more exciting. The LA quartet delivered only one half-hour EP of sick psych doom instrumentals during their short life, but it was enough to get the underground internet yattering.

 

New project Ancient Altar, formed by Carlson and fellow ex- Mtn. man Bill Cavener, seems set to fan those flames further.

 

This self-titled debut album (Midnite Collective) takes a different angle, being a nasty, sludgy little number. There’s a wonderfully deep tone to opener ‘Tidal’ thanks to a rumbling bass and a beefy production, retaining a mere hint of fuzz. A largely doom-paced opening to the track sees diseased roars and a malevolent hiss cover throbbing, low-end guitars, vaguely reminiscent of 50’s rock ‘n’ roll. That mellow riffing wears a dramatic and doleful face on the gloriously growing swell of ‘Ek Balam’, with the eventual quickening of the beat opening the gates to a brooding yet barrelling stoner growl almost black in shimmering sections as the track progresses. The lead work is all low chords, understated yet beautifully orchestrated to heighten the effect. It is a full five minutes before that hostile wail seeps evil gloop over the speakers, yet the track hasn’t suffered without it. In fact, on occasion, the roar descends into deranged territory akin to Captain Caveman, introducing (for those who remember the cuddly troglodyte) a sense of levity where there should be only pain and hatred.

 

There is, however, more than enough to compensate. Closer ‘Pulled Out’places the listener in a dank, desolate place with what is initially an almost balladic pace and tone and the track gradually builds as rhythms and drums lift and strengthen a slightly shimmering lead, the agonised roar telling a tale of real loss.

 

With such bruisingly heavy yet achingly emotive landscapes evident through a rich, dark and weighty tapestry of sheer enmity, this is an intriguing first foray possessing no little invention.

 

8.0/10.0

Ancient Altar on Facebook

 

PAUL QUINN