REVIEWS ROUND-UP: Corey Taylor, Insolvency, Schemata Theory, Darkness Everywhere, and Møtivatiøn


Corey Taylor – CMFB…sides (Roadrunner)

Say what you like about Slipknot / Stone Sour vocalist Corey Taylor, whose ubiquity and happiness to share his thoughts on any and every subject put before him may well have contributed to his divisive standing, his love of music and willingness to represent the full spectrum of his tastes in his output is to be admired. And, while relentless touring may have previously restrained the recorded output, making the most of the opportunity to spend more time in the studio, the past couple of years have seen a rawkier debut solo record, and this sister piece.

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REVIEWS ROUNDUP: Lucifer, Shi, Crop, and The Lucid Furs


Lucifer Lucifer IV

With Lucifer releasing albums of a consistent style at a workman’s pace, it’s easy to overlook the underlying trajectory that’s been gradually in motion. There’s not much of those Occult Doom roots left on Lucifer IV (Century Media Records) as the band has seemingly completed their transformation from female-fronted Uncle Acid to what sounds like Karen Carpenter singing over KISS riffs. Fortunately, it’s hardly a drastic change as Johanna Sadonis’ sultry croon and the freerolling grooves remain as common denominators.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Kal-El – Dark Majesty



It’s fair to say that Kal-El’s fifth full-length is easily their most elaborate outing yet. The Norwegian quartet’s previous efforts have presented their brand of Stoner Metal with an increasingly spacy edge that seemed to peak with 2019’s Witches Of Mars. However, Dark Majesty (Majestic Mountain Records) sees the last signs of restraint fade into the ether; its eight tracks reach sprawling eight to ten-minute lengths that culminate to an hour-long experience, far eclipsing the runtime of albums past.

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Nick Oliveri Shares New Single – “I Am Your Sun”


Stoner-Doom royalty Nick Oliveri (Mondo Generator, Stoner, Dwarves, Death Machine, ex- Kyuss, Queens of The Stone Age) will release a new album, N.O. Hits At All Volume 7 compilation on Heavy Psych Sounds, July 2nd. Jam out to “I Am Your Sun” right now.

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ALBUM REVIEW – Boss Keloid – Family The Smiling Thrush


Following up a breakthrough album, such as Boss Keloid’s last opus Melted On The Inch (Holy Roar) which finished at #4 in Ghost Cult’s Album of the Year poll in 2018, is a challenging proposition. Stray too far from the magic formula and you risk undoing that giant stride taken forwards (even without being a band that has always taken efforts to ensure development and evolution of their sound is a given); repeat the previous approach and accusations of diminishing returns, or playing it safe, abound along with an invariably inferior product. Continue reading


RECAP + PHOTO SET: Crowbar – Live at Southport Hall


Shows are starting to come back as both the pandemic is lessening vaccination rates are going up, as well as bands and fans have the desperate itch to rock out again. As long as it continues to be safe, we’ll see more socially distanced smaller gigs and even bigger theater shows and festivals start happening. One such return to the stage was Crowbar who performed a pair of shows near their hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana, at the Southport Music Hall. The band played some crushing classics as they get tight for more live demonstrations of their power soon. They were even joined by former band member Sammy Duet of Goatwhore! n their way to releasing new music later this year or early next year via eOne Music. Check out this photo set from Evil Robb Photography who was there in person to document the night!

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Spirit Mother Shares New Live Video “Space Cadets” – Live In The Mojave Desert Livestream Incoming


 

Stoner Rock disciples Spirit Mother will participate in the latest edition of Live In The Mojave Desert: Vol.1-5 this weekend for Vol. 3 alongside giants and fellow rising stars in the series such Earthless, Nebula, Mountain Tamer, and Stoner (March 20)—the new project from Ex-Kyuss members Brant Bjork and Nick Oliveri. Watch this trailer featuring Spirit Mother “Space Cadets” now!

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Greenleaf Shares New Single/Video for “Tides” – New Album Due This Spring


Swedish Stoner Doom band Greenleaf has announced their new full-length album, Echoes From A Mass, due out March 26 via Napalm Records! The album is the successor to their 2018 release, Hear The Rivers, the ever-evolving band continues to reshape the genre with thor proggy, psychedelic stoner jams and this new album is the next chapter. Check out the video for the lead single “Tides” right now!

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ALBUM REVIEW: Bloody Hammers – Songs of Unspeakable Terror


Bloody Hammers are the Hard Rock husband and wife duo Anders Manga (Vocals, Guitar, Bass) and Devallia (Keyboards/Organ). Hailing from Transylvania County, NC, the Gothic-Metal rockers released Songs of Unspeakable Terror (Napalm Records). Of the Horror-Punk record, Manga says, “When the pandemic hit and I realized I’d be stuck at home for a while, I started thinking I needed to dig into a music project. I was oddly inspired by the unknown, and fear that this plague was gonna wipe us all out. I needed a creative escape.”

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ALBUM REVIEW: Miss Lava – Doom Machine



Let’s think of 2021 as the year that will reveal the ultimate artistic expression of all creators out there and, personally I am very excited with what the year promises pertaining to music releases especially in Metal. The year starts with the right foot with this release by Portugal’s Stoner Metal band Miss Lava and their fourth effort Doom Machine (Small Stone). This album explores how psychedelic and experimental sounds mix so well with Stoner Rock/Metal, with passages that go straight from heavy riffs into spacious soundscapes that will transport you somewhere else in the cosmos.

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